Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Rumiko
Takahashi and other respective companies and I am
in no way making any profit from this story. This
is just for my personal enjoyment and for the
enjoyment of those who may read this.
Rated: PG-13
Email me with C&C: simplyshy@hotmail.com
**************************************************
For the Love of Money and A Kiss To Boot: In The Fields
SM
**************************************************
Nabiki came to a halt by a willow tree as soon as she reached the Furinkan High field.
She almost fell to the ground and chided herself for running so damn fast. Just because there was the possibility that one of the school's more hunky, athletic, and charming (in his own demented sort of way) guys was probably waiting for her with open arms did not mean she had to run off to meet him like some two cent tramp.
No, a brisk walk and maybe a slow jogging pace would have been good enough.
In any case, she scanned the field looking for some sort of showy arrangement that Kuno may have orchestrated in order to show her how deeply ashamed he was of his earlier attitude towards her.
Nothing.
Her head shot up...maybe he had hired a hot air balloon or better yet, a blimp with a message stating that he was a thoughtless, arrogant jackass who deserved no less than to get beaten to a pulp by the kendoist club.
No such display.
More than a little annoyed at the moment, Nabiki narrowed her eyes, looking down at her watch.
Oh, she grinned sheepishly, she had been a tad early.
Well, judging from her rapidly beating heart and the sweat that was traveling down her arms and neck she had been a bit too eager to make it to the meeting point.
Actually, she had arrived fifteen minutes before the allotted time, which was just as well.
That gave her time to think about how long she should make Kuno beg for forgiveness. She'd also have to practice keeping her face emotionless for a long period of time, just to make him nervous.
Her devious thoughts were interrupted by a pair of screaming voices followed by a girlish squeal.
"Dammit Hiro...how many times do I hafta tell ya that I'm still the same GUY, Ranma Saotome, and that even *I* do NOT like having these---breasts touched?"
Nabiki shuddered. Oh dear kami.
"C'mon Ranma! We're your friends, and what's a grope or two amongst friends? Besides, it's just *harmless* groping."
Hiroshi signaled to Daisuke to get behind the redhead so that Ranma could neither run forward nor back.
"There's nowhere to go Ranma-chan. Just stand there like a good little girl and let your friends have some fun."
Daisuke gave Ranma a lecherous grin that would have made Happosai, master of the Anything Goes When Trying to Cop a Feel art extremely proud.
It was interesting to see, really. Any stranger who happened to wander onto the grounds of the school would have certainly thought that a helpless redhead was about to be molested by two lecherous and utterly pathetic pubescent boys.
That stranger would have then learned that this was no ordinary redhead. This was a redhead who would have kicked a pair of teenage butts had they not belonged to two of her only normal (and the term is used loosely) friends.
Any stranger would have then witnessed a remarkable turn of events as the redhead suddenly jumped straight up into the air only to land on a branch directly above the resting Nabiki Tendo.
At this point, most strangers decided that they either needed to get a stronger medication from their doctors or they that this was the Japanese version of the Twilight Zone and they had accidentally stumbled upon it.
Others just fainted and woke up only to discard it as some sort of weird dream.
In any case, Daisuke and Hiroshi were forced to run for their dear lives as Onna-Ranma shot small twigs at them.
Normally, twigs wouldn't have fazed even the most unathletic person (in the Ranmaverse this does, of course, refer to Gosungki).
But when said twigs were being thrown at 100mph by Ranma Saotome...they hurt like hell.
And thus the Hentai Duo retreated, not in shame, but with a deep disappointment that they had been unsuccessful in their attempts to feel the buxom redhead's breasts.
For Nabiki Tendo this was the best form of entertainment and her laughter easily caught Ranma's attention.
"Hey, Nabiki. Weren't ya supposed to collect some debts today?"
He waited for Nabiki's laughter to subside.
"Yeah. I collected most, except Sayuri's but as long as the interest grows, I'm happy. Weren't you supposed to go get some hot water so you and Akane can..talk?"
Nabiki looked up at Ranma, her eyebrow raised and the redhead shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, I woulda 'cept those two idiots blocked my way with some talk about me jumping and doing splits and stuff. Boys...feh."
Ranma executed a jump off of the tree's branch and landed softly beside Nabiki.
"So, what're you doing here? As far as I know, sitting in the fields where your best Prita suit can get dirtied isn't exactly your thing."
Ranma's last comment caused Nabiki to promptly roll her eyes. Really, she knew Ranma was uncouth and a bit dense but honestly, was it that hard to remember that they were *Prada* suits?
"I can easily take it to the cleaners and let _them_ worry about getting stains out. Besides, it's none of your business that I'm here for a business meeting."
Now, Ranma Saotome was not exactly the smartest or the brightest of the Furinkan bunch but he knew that it was not like Nabiki to conduct _any_ business transaction in the fields. But then again, she was right...it wasn't any of his business and after thinking about it for a second or two he decided that he didn't particularly care what Nabiki was up to as long as it didn't concern him, a bathing suit, and a Polaroid.
He gave Nabiki a skeptical look and shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, I'll go ahead and leave you alone to your...waiting-I guess that's what you're doing-so's I can go look for Akane before she comes after ME."
He shuddered before running off, glancing around nervously for any signs of
Hiroshi and Daisuke.
Nabiki gave a wistful sigh and looked at her watch once more. That little scene between the Hentais and Ranma had taken up about ten minutes, which meant that, if Kuno was as prompt as he usually was, she still had about five minutes left to spare.
She wondered what the rich kendoist had planned for her. Maybe he had hired a private jet that would land in the middle of the field and whisk her off to some exotic resort where she could lounge around without any worries.
Or maybe he was planning to take her on a hot air balloon ride where he would show her the stars and confess that none shone brighter than her lovely eyes.
Bleh, that was too much, even for her. Nabiki was too practical for such romantic nonsense and, although she had often dreamed of being wooed in such a fashion the actual thought that someone would actually go through with it made her more than a bit nauseous.
She stood up and stretched her arms out above her. When the time came for Kuno to appear, she'd decide whether or not he had done enough to accept his apology.
That reminded her of the spiteful things he'd said earlier and Nabiki decided that it'd take a helluva lot for Kuno to earn her forgiveness.
She stared off into the horizon and was surprised to see that the sun had begun its decent. It was actually quite beautiful and she wondered how she'd failed to notice that this was a great place to watch the sun set.
Hmm. That meant a great money earning opportunity. She could set up bleachers at the exact spot and charge the students for the chance to see the spectacular show. Nabiki felt the familiar tingle go through her body as she imagined the amount of money she could make when couples tried to think of something to do for Valentine's Day.
Sometimes her panache for making money impressed even her.
She closed her eyes and took a gulp of the fresh evening air. So this was what her mother had meant when she said that solitude wasn't always a bad thing.
Suddenly, a sweet aroma invaded her senses, and Nabiki recognized it as the smell of her favorite flowers...violets.
She also recognized the scent of the cologne coming from the person holding the bouquet close to her face.
The anger and hurt she had felt earlier resurfaced and she almost gave into the urge to open her eyes and bop the intruder over the head with said bouquet.
But something stopped her. For some strange reason, she stayed still and decided to let Kuno make the first move.
"I did a little investigating and found out that you like violets so I bought them for you."
Nabiki said nothing.
"I thought it was a bit odd, you know, seeing how violets are not as extravagant as the things you usually like but...there are a lot of things I don't know about you."
Kuno sighed and looked at Nabiki's face. He'd never noticed the way her eyelashes curled softly and the way her eyebrows were arched in such a way that it was easy for her to give her trademarked sarcastic looks.
She obviously wasn't about to make things easy for him.
"I was a jerk earlier..for saying what I said, I mean."
Nabiki's expression changed to an inquisitive one and that gave Kuno some hope that he wouldn't have to resort to begging in order to get her to forgive him.
"It wasn't meant, I mean I didn't want..."
Kuno ran a hand through his hair being careful not to drop the bouquet in his other hand.
"Sometimes I just don't think and that gets me into trouble, you know?"
He laughed softly and reached for Nabiki's hand.
It was, unsurprisingly, soft and feminine.
Kuno placed his hand over hers and gingerly unclenched her hands and placed the bouquet in her palm.
He closed her fingers once more and let his own hand drop beside him.
"I did a lot of thinking while I was in the infirmary, Nabiki. Yeah, believe it or not the great Kuno Tatewaki is able to think logically and rationally once in a while."
Nabiki suppressed a smile...he still hadn't said enough for her to forgive him.
"Last night...last night I felt something I hadn't felt before."
Kuno leaned against the same tree Nabiki was resting on and stuck his hands in his pockets.
"Not with your sister. Not with the pig-tailed go-...with the red-haired girl."
He tried to find the right words to let her know exactly what he meant.
"It didn't have anything to do with fantasies or lust, well maybe it had a little to do with lust, but..."
Kuno looked down and kicked at the patch of grass beneath him.
"I was _intrigued_, Nabiki. For the first time in my life I actually wanted to know more about a girl."
Nabiki raised her hand as if to touch him but stopped and let it drop once more.
"With the others it's usually just, a game. To see how many girls I can add to this, this fantasy I have of being this god at Furinkan High and..."
There was a brief silence as Kuno seemed to be at a loss as to what to say.
"And with me?"
Kuno looked over at Nabiki, who had opened her eyes, which looked back at him in earnest.
"How am I any different from your pig-tailed goddess and my beauteous oneechan?"
Kuno licked his lips, wondering how it was that they could be so damned dry.
"With you I felt this need to get to know you and be with you. You're more than just a fantasy...you're, you're a goal."
Nabiki was startled as Kuno grabbed one of her hands and raised it to his cheek.
"I know you're not about to make it easy for me and I deserve that but unlike other times...this time-"
His eyes were ablaze with defiance and Nabiki fought down the urge to take him right then and there.
Damn, he was good.
Oddly, their roles were now reversed, as Nabiki was the one who stood just as Kuno had the night before after she had given him the second kiss.
Kuno cupped her chin in his hands and raised her face to him as kissed her.
This kiss was not like the ones they had shared the night before. It was soft, gentle and, much to Nabiki's surprise, uncertain.
After it was done Kuno leaned down to whisper in _her_ ear and everything was surreal in Nabiki's mind.
"I'm willing to pay the price."
And that was how Nabiki Tendo was left standing alone in the fields, a bouquet of violets in her hand and a shocked expression on her face.
****************************************************************************
Author's Notes: Wow. So many Nabiki+Kuno fans out there (well, actually, only 18 have read this 'fic but I'm sure there are many more who will stumble upon it sometime soon). Let's see, I had to make them a little more OOC during the second half of the story because I vowed to give Nabiki her girlish fantasy and she got it. Things should get back to normal after Nabiki snaps out of it and now _she_ is the one who will have to respond to Kuno's request by going after _him_. I.e., her serve. Now she has to give *Kuno* some sort of response and it won't exactly be the one Kuno' hoping for. I know Kuno's speech is, I dunno, a bit exaggerated but I couldn't imagine him saying anything other than what he's said in this piece. These words are ten times more flowery and romantic than all the nonsense he spouts at his beauteous Akane Tendo and his pig-tailed goddess. And they're a lot easier to understand. Give me feedback on this chapter...I'm really having fun with the story. As always, either leave comments in the fanfiction.net feedback forum or write me smijaresc@my-deja.com
Until next time,
Sonia M.
Takahashi and other respective companies and I am
in no way making any profit from this story. This
is just for my personal enjoyment and for the
enjoyment of those who may read this.
Rated: PG-13
Email me with C&C: simplyshy@hotmail.com
**************************************************
For the Love of Money and A Kiss To Boot: In The Fields
SM
**************************************************
Nabiki came to a halt by a willow tree as soon as she reached the Furinkan High field.
She almost fell to the ground and chided herself for running so damn fast. Just because there was the possibility that one of the school's more hunky, athletic, and charming (in his own demented sort of way) guys was probably waiting for her with open arms did not mean she had to run off to meet him like some two cent tramp.
No, a brisk walk and maybe a slow jogging pace would have been good enough.
In any case, she scanned the field looking for some sort of showy arrangement that Kuno may have orchestrated in order to show her how deeply ashamed he was of his earlier attitude towards her.
Nothing.
Her head shot up...maybe he had hired a hot air balloon or better yet, a blimp with a message stating that he was a thoughtless, arrogant jackass who deserved no less than to get beaten to a pulp by the kendoist club.
No such display.
More than a little annoyed at the moment, Nabiki narrowed her eyes, looking down at her watch.
Oh, she grinned sheepishly, she had been a tad early.
Well, judging from her rapidly beating heart and the sweat that was traveling down her arms and neck she had been a bit too eager to make it to the meeting point.
Actually, she had arrived fifteen minutes before the allotted time, which was just as well.
That gave her time to think about how long she should make Kuno beg for forgiveness. She'd also have to practice keeping her face emotionless for a long period of time, just to make him nervous.
Her devious thoughts were interrupted by a pair of screaming voices followed by a girlish squeal.
"Dammit Hiro...how many times do I hafta tell ya that I'm still the same GUY, Ranma Saotome, and that even *I* do NOT like having these---breasts touched?"
Nabiki shuddered. Oh dear kami.
"C'mon Ranma! We're your friends, and what's a grope or two amongst friends? Besides, it's just *harmless* groping."
Hiroshi signaled to Daisuke to get behind the redhead so that Ranma could neither run forward nor back.
"There's nowhere to go Ranma-chan. Just stand there like a good little girl and let your friends have some fun."
Daisuke gave Ranma a lecherous grin that would have made Happosai, master of the Anything Goes When Trying to Cop a Feel art extremely proud.
It was interesting to see, really. Any stranger who happened to wander onto the grounds of the school would have certainly thought that a helpless redhead was about to be molested by two lecherous and utterly pathetic pubescent boys.
That stranger would have then learned that this was no ordinary redhead. This was a redhead who would have kicked a pair of teenage butts had they not belonged to two of her only normal (and the term is used loosely) friends.
Any stranger would have then witnessed a remarkable turn of events as the redhead suddenly jumped straight up into the air only to land on a branch directly above the resting Nabiki Tendo.
At this point, most strangers decided that they either needed to get a stronger medication from their doctors or they that this was the Japanese version of the Twilight Zone and they had accidentally stumbled upon it.
Others just fainted and woke up only to discard it as some sort of weird dream.
In any case, Daisuke and Hiroshi were forced to run for their dear lives as Onna-Ranma shot small twigs at them.
Normally, twigs wouldn't have fazed even the most unathletic person (in the Ranmaverse this does, of course, refer to Gosungki).
But when said twigs were being thrown at 100mph by Ranma Saotome...they hurt like hell.
And thus the Hentai Duo retreated, not in shame, but with a deep disappointment that they had been unsuccessful in their attempts to feel the buxom redhead's breasts.
For Nabiki Tendo this was the best form of entertainment and her laughter easily caught Ranma's attention.
"Hey, Nabiki. Weren't ya supposed to collect some debts today?"
He waited for Nabiki's laughter to subside.
"Yeah. I collected most, except Sayuri's but as long as the interest grows, I'm happy. Weren't you supposed to go get some hot water so you and Akane can..talk?"
Nabiki looked up at Ranma, her eyebrow raised and the redhead shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, I woulda 'cept those two idiots blocked my way with some talk about me jumping and doing splits and stuff. Boys...feh."
Ranma executed a jump off of the tree's branch and landed softly beside Nabiki.
"So, what're you doing here? As far as I know, sitting in the fields where your best Prita suit can get dirtied isn't exactly your thing."
Ranma's last comment caused Nabiki to promptly roll her eyes. Really, she knew Ranma was uncouth and a bit dense but honestly, was it that hard to remember that they were *Prada* suits?
"I can easily take it to the cleaners and let _them_ worry about getting stains out. Besides, it's none of your business that I'm here for a business meeting."
Now, Ranma Saotome was not exactly the smartest or the brightest of the Furinkan bunch but he knew that it was not like Nabiki to conduct _any_ business transaction in the fields. But then again, she was right...it wasn't any of his business and after thinking about it for a second or two he decided that he didn't particularly care what Nabiki was up to as long as it didn't concern him, a bathing suit, and a Polaroid.
He gave Nabiki a skeptical look and shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, I'll go ahead and leave you alone to your...waiting-I guess that's what you're doing-so's I can go look for Akane before she comes after ME."
He shuddered before running off, glancing around nervously for any signs of
Hiroshi and Daisuke.
Nabiki gave a wistful sigh and looked at her watch once more. That little scene between the Hentais and Ranma had taken up about ten minutes, which meant that, if Kuno was as prompt as he usually was, she still had about five minutes left to spare.
She wondered what the rich kendoist had planned for her. Maybe he had hired a private jet that would land in the middle of the field and whisk her off to some exotic resort where she could lounge around without any worries.
Or maybe he was planning to take her on a hot air balloon ride where he would show her the stars and confess that none shone brighter than her lovely eyes.
Bleh, that was too much, even for her. Nabiki was too practical for such romantic nonsense and, although she had often dreamed of being wooed in such a fashion the actual thought that someone would actually go through with it made her more than a bit nauseous.
She stood up and stretched her arms out above her. When the time came for Kuno to appear, she'd decide whether or not he had done enough to accept his apology.
That reminded her of the spiteful things he'd said earlier and Nabiki decided that it'd take a helluva lot for Kuno to earn her forgiveness.
She stared off into the horizon and was surprised to see that the sun had begun its decent. It was actually quite beautiful and she wondered how she'd failed to notice that this was a great place to watch the sun set.
Hmm. That meant a great money earning opportunity. She could set up bleachers at the exact spot and charge the students for the chance to see the spectacular show. Nabiki felt the familiar tingle go through her body as she imagined the amount of money she could make when couples tried to think of something to do for Valentine's Day.
Sometimes her panache for making money impressed even her.
She closed her eyes and took a gulp of the fresh evening air. So this was what her mother had meant when she said that solitude wasn't always a bad thing.
Suddenly, a sweet aroma invaded her senses, and Nabiki recognized it as the smell of her favorite flowers...violets.
She also recognized the scent of the cologne coming from the person holding the bouquet close to her face.
The anger and hurt she had felt earlier resurfaced and she almost gave into the urge to open her eyes and bop the intruder over the head with said bouquet.
But something stopped her. For some strange reason, she stayed still and decided to let Kuno make the first move.
"I did a little investigating and found out that you like violets so I bought them for you."
Nabiki said nothing.
"I thought it was a bit odd, you know, seeing how violets are not as extravagant as the things you usually like but...there are a lot of things I don't know about you."
Kuno sighed and looked at Nabiki's face. He'd never noticed the way her eyelashes curled softly and the way her eyebrows were arched in such a way that it was easy for her to give her trademarked sarcastic looks.
She obviously wasn't about to make things easy for him.
"I was a jerk earlier..for saying what I said, I mean."
Nabiki's expression changed to an inquisitive one and that gave Kuno some hope that he wouldn't have to resort to begging in order to get her to forgive him.
"It wasn't meant, I mean I didn't want..."
Kuno ran a hand through his hair being careful not to drop the bouquet in his other hand.
"Sometimes I just don't think and that gets me into trouble, you know?"
He laughed softly and reached for Nabiki's hand.
It was, unsurprisingly, soft and feminine.
Kuno placed his hand over hers and gingerly unclenched her hands and placed the bouquet in her palm.
He closed her fingers once more and let his own hand drop beside him.
"I did a lot of thinking while I was in the infirmary, Nabiki. Yeah, believe it or not the great Kuno Tatewaki is able to think logically and rationally once in a while."
Nabiki suppressed a smile...he still hadn't said enough for her to forgive him.
"Last night...last night I felt something I hadn't felt before."
Kuno leaned against the same tree Nabiki was resting on and stuck his hands in his pockets.
"Not with your sister. Not with the pig-tailed go-...with the red-haired girl."
He tried to find the right words to let her know exactly what he meant.
"It didn't have anything to do with fantasies or lust, well maybe it had a little to do with lust, but..."
Kuno looked down and kicked at the patch of grass beneath him.
"I was _intrigued_, Nabiki. For the first time in my life I actually wanted to know more about a girl."
Nabiki raised her hand as if to touch him but stopped and let it drop once more.
"With the others it's usually just, a game. To see how many girls I can add to this, this fantasy I have of being this god at Furinkan High and..."
There was a brief silence as Kuno seemed to be at a loss as to what to say.
"And with me?"
Kuno looked over at Nabiki, who had opened her eyes, which looked back at him in earnest.
"How am I any different from your pig-tailed goddess and my beauteous oneechan?"
Kuno licked his lips, wondering how it was that they could be so damned dry.
"With you I felt this need to get to know you and be with you. You're more than just a fantasy...you're, you're a goal."
Nabiki was startled as Kuno grabbed one of her hands and raised it to his cheek.
"I know you're not about to make it easy for me and I deserve that but unlike other times...this time-"
His eyes were ablaze with defiance and Nabiki fought down the urge to take him right then and there.
Damn, he was good.
Oddly, their roles were now reversed, as Nabiki was the one who stood just as Kuno had the night before after she had given him the second kiss.
Kuno cupped her chin in his hands and raised her face to him as kissed her.
This kiss was not like the ones they had shared the night before. It was soft, gentle and, much to Nabiki's surprise, uncertain.
After it was done Kuno leaned down to whisper in _her_ ear and everything was surreal in Nabiki's mind.
"I'm willing to pay the price."
And that was how Nabiki Tendo was left standing alone in the fields, a bouquet of violets in her hand and a shocked expression on her face.
****************************************************************************
Author's Notes: Wow. So many Nabiki+Kuno fans out there (well, actually, only 18 have read this 'fic but I'm sure there are many more who will stumble upon it sometime soon). Let's see, I had to make them a little more OOC during the second half of the story because I vowed to give Nabiki her girlish fantasy and she got it. Things should get back to normal after Nabiki snaps out of it and now _she_ is the one who will have to respond to Kuno's request by going after _him_. I.e., her serve. Now she has to give *Kuno* some sort of response and it won't exactly be the one Kuno' hoping for. I know Kuno's speech is, I dunno, a bit exaggerated but I couldn't imagine him saying anything other than what he's said in this piece. These words are ten times more flowery and romantic than all the nonsense he spouts at his beauteous Akane Tendo and his pig-tailed goddess. And they're a lot easier to understand. Give me feedback on this chapter...I'm really having fun with the story. As always, either leave comments in the fanfiction.net feedback forum or write me smijaresc@my-deja.com
Until next time,
Sonia M.