It took some prompting the next morning, but Nabiki managed to convince Akane to get out of the house for a day of fun between them. 'That girl can be too stubborn for her own good.' Before long Nabiki had lead them to their destination. She noticed that Akane was looking at it rather oddly. Akane finally spoke and sounded confused. "Why are we at the Airport Sis?"
Nabiki was at a loss to that question herself so she answered truthfully. "I have no idea sis." 'Ok maybe that was a lie.' "Be prepared for anything." She watched as Akane sweat dropped at the odd statement. They slowly walked from terminal to terminal with no real pattern to their destination. Finally the announcement she had been waiting for had went over the PA system.
"Flight 1113 at gate 1012 is now boarding. Will seat holders 35 through 40 now approach the gate." Nabiki is quick to act. "That's our cue Akane, lets go!" She grabs her hand and drags her to the gate. Akane allows herself to be dragged but ask a question all the same. "What cue Sis?, and why are we boarding a plane going to America?" Nabiki shots back at her. "No time, we will miss our flight." Akane let herself be dragged around as if she was a rag doll. 'Mamoru has to be behind this. He just has to.'
As they approach their seats in the back of the plane a long black haired flight attendant who carried herself as a person with authority approached them, "Tendo Sisters?, if you will be so kind as to follow me." It was not a question and Nabiki knew it. She followed the flight attendant and dragged Akane with her. The flight attendant spoke as they went along. "Your tag is currently buying a ticket for the flight. We must hurry, please put on these uniforms"
After putting on the jumper Akane notices that they both look like ground crew personnel and mentions it. Nabiki smirks at her sister's comment. 'She can be brilliant at times.' She frowns at the next thought. 'A pity it's not all the time.' "We are losing our tail sis. I must admit that I'm surprised he went to this sort of expense for us."
Soon enough they find themselves being lead across the tarmack. Their escort smirks as she looks in the direction of Nabiki and Akane. "The less time your tail has to react the better. You two moved right sharply. Right now your tail is tearing apart the plane looking for you two.
Nabiki was surprised she had this kind of information. 'Mamoru must be pulling out all the stops. "So what flight will we be boarding?" Their escort responds, "Private Charter." Nabiki notices her sister blink at the answer. Before her sister embarrasses herself Nabiki answers the question. "We get the whole plane to ourselves sis." 'Damn Mamoru went to a lot of expense. What the HFIL is going on' She looks in the direction of their escort. "It's unmarked?" Their escort does not look back, but still answers. "It belongs to a friend of a friend, of a friend. There is no way it can be traced back. You have a real level head miss. Ever consider detective work?"
Nabiki considered the use of the word detective rather strange but let it slide. "Thank you for the complement, but no. I've had to help people lay low in the past, but I never had to do anything this elaborate. I'm more interested in information holding and exchange, and product distribution." The trio walks silently after that until they reach a Lockheed-Martin 1057. (AN: I think that's the right designation. Flew on it before. Hated the ride, made me nervous as hell. Give me a Boeing Air Craft any day of the week.) Not the most impressive of commercial plains, but damn impressive for a private just. Their escort spoke before boarding. "Here is your jet, good luck." Without another word their escort walks off.
The climb up the steps into the back of the plane was most likely the longest for either Tendo sister. They were both relived when they found themselves being greeted by Mamoru himself. "Welcome aboard Rescue 1 ladies. If you will please be so kind as to follow me."
(AN: This is were I would have left off at my 2000 word goal. A pitiful place to break off.)
Nabiki looks around and finds a plaque that has the layout of the plane. The plane had three compartments not counting the cockpit and the rear kitchen. The decor she could see was modern and plush. It seemed almost homey. Overall it is a very nice plane. She looks at her sister. "Hey Sis, we never got to rescue you in this sort of style. It seems almost unfair. Mamoru smiled at the compliment. "I was just going to do standard air fare, but Washu was tagged when she dropped off the instructions." Nabiki raised an eyebrow at that... "Then why did you send us tickets to the States?" Mamoru smiled at her causing her to blush. "Just a precaution. Just in case that envelope was some how stolen or intercepted." Nabiki nods at the wisdom of this. She watches as Mamoru hits an intercom button. "Captain, everyone is aboard, if you could be so kind as to get us up into the air." His answer was the sound of engines starting up.
Mamoru was leading them to the front of the plane for the take off when the realization of what was happening hit Akane. "I can't believe we are actually going to go rescue him." She seem giddy to Mamoru's eyes. He smiled at her happiness. "Believe it Akane, Believe it." Nabiki smiled internally at the banter between Mamoru and Akane. She had not paid much attention to her environment when she entered this compartment. She then noticed some people seated in the back. She would ask later after the plane leveled off. She cursed herself inwardly for not paying better attention. She was better than that. After the plane leveled off she got Mamoru's attention and pointed toward the back. "Mamoru, Who are they?"
Mamoru glances towards the back to make sure the passengers in question were still in place. Before he could answer he heard Akane squeal in delight and runs towards them answering Nabiki's question if only partially. "Usagi, Ami, Rei, Makoto, Maniko! I can't believe you're on this plane. It's been so long, how is everyone doing?" Usagi smiled at her distant cousin and friend. "We are all fine Akane-chan. We heard you ran into some problems with some nasty Amazons." Akane blinks at the statement. "That's right Usagi-chan, .... But how on Earth did you know?" Usagi smiled the smile of a cat that ate the canary. "Ranma and you helped us out of a jam a few months ago. Take a real good close look at us and think back.
Nabiki hears the exchange and looked at Mamoru in confusion. She hated being confused. "Mamoru, what's going on?" Mamoru was looking at how things were proceeding when he heard Nabiki ask him a questing. He looked down at her and gave her a wink causing her to blush again. In a staged whisper he answers her question half way. "Akane has met them all before. She just needs to put two and two together. Lets go talk in private for a minute." Nabiki watched him walk off and followed. She hated it when people made her blush, but for whatever reason it did not seem so bad what he did it. She inwardly cursed when she could not even ease drop on Akane's conversation when she entered the new sitting room.
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Not noticing her sister and Mamoru leaving the compartment Akane continued to concentrate on the five girls sitting in front of her. She suddenly remembered helping out five girls a few months ago with Ranma. It had been a horrible fight. One they almost did not return from. "You five are the Sailor Senshi." It was more of a statement than a question. Ami smiled at her conclusion, "Bright girl." Usagi nodded her head in agreement. "Ranma never said she wasn't, just an uncute tomboy. That has nothing to do with smarts." Akane blushed, then glowed red, "That, That!.."
Makoto hated being on planes due to the loss of her parents in a plane crash. An angry Akane is a dangerous Akane. She tried her best to calm her down, "Akane, please calm down, you don't want to break our transportation do you?" Akane vents her frustration by taking a page out of Ranma's book, speaking without thinking. "I'll break him after we rescue him!" Maniko was Ranma's twin when it came to speaking without thinking. "Akane, there is more than one way to interpret that declaration." Everyone immediately blushed bright red at Maniko's attempt at trying to correct Akane's statement. Rei was the first to regain her composure. "Maniko! No Hentai!" Akane blushed even redder at Rei's outburst because that thought had crossed her mind more than once. Ami was a close second in redness being uncomfortable with that kind of talk."
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Mamoru looked at the young woman standing before him. Now was the time to put to test what he truly thought about Nabiki. "Nabiki, I need you to swear to me on your honor that what I'm about to disclose to you is never to be treated as public information." Nabiki looked at him, 'This must be big.' She had taken too long to answer. Mamoru hardens his face into a glair. "Swear it Nabiki, or so God help me, I'll put you off this plane right now." Nabiki blinked at the threat. "But Mamoru, we are 6 kilometers in the air." Mamoru softens his look and then places his hands on her shoulders. "Nabiki, I have put my life and many others on the line by my bringing you along. You have a rather harsh reputation. I need that promise Nabiki."
(AN: End of Notebook #1, 59 hand written pages on Wide Ruled paper. Humm... to cliff hanger here, or go on.....)
(AN: I know if I cliff hanger here I will more than likely be signing my own death warrant.)
Nabiki shuddered when she realized he was serious. Should she betray his trust any hopes of a relationship with him was gone. She tried to speak but stumbled at first. "I see... I swear that what you are about to reveal to me will be taken to my grave." Mamoru sighed in relief. Not that he would have really thrown her off the plane. She did not need to know that, "Thank you Nabiki. You were wondering about the additional guests on board the plane?" He smirked to himself as Nabiki leaned forward giving him her full attention. "Yes?" Mamoru decided to let the drama build a little then watch her face fault as he told her a half-truth. "They are friends of Ranma and Akane." The face fault that Nabiki gave him was priceless. She finally managed to regain some semblance of composer and poked him in the chest. "Is that all or are you just yanking my chain?" Mamoru laughed and answered her question. "No and Yes! They are also the Sailor Senshi."
Nabiki falls onto her butt at this announcement. Mamoru not wanting to alienate her keeps his laughter to himself. Once she regained some of her dignity she whistled appreciably. "I knew Ranma had secrets, but this one takes the prize." She then locks her eyes into Mamoru's. "I won't reveal this information to anyone." Mamoru smiled at her in appreciation. "Both the Senshi, Akane, and Ranma appreciate that Biki. You see, Ranma and Akane helped them out of a really tight spot a while back. Ranma has been secretly training them." Nabiki nodes in understanding, "He really is a nice guy when push comes to shove. I should be nicer to him, but the way he treats my sister some times...."
Mamoru considered her words. It was time to break the news to her. Nabiki, do you remember the first night after finding out his secret?" Nabiki nodded yes, but wondered what his point was going to be. Mamoru looked down at the floor. "What you don't know about that night is that Akane had extended her hand in friendship to him. As you know, Genma did not allow him friends out on the road. "Interfere with the training he would say." He was rather raw in his emotions at the time. His entire life had just been turned on its ear. He was hurt, lonely, confused. --- Then right out of the blue Akane extended her hand in friend ship, and then boom, everything else in his life he thought worth having was once again ripped away from him. Call it thin skinned if you wish, but that's more than most men go through in their entire lifetime."
Nabiki's eyes raise just a little. "I can understand the rough start a little better, but still, his behavior should have improved at some point." Mamoru spoke in the saddest voice she had ever heard. "His behavior did change that very night. He had gone up to Akane's room to apologize. Do you remember your conversation with Akane? The one where she said, "I'm engaged to my own worse nightmare!" That entire sentence has been the entire balance of Ranma's trust to Akane." Nabiki looks at him as if he suddenly sprouted to heads. "How would ....?" Realization hit her like a ton of bricks, and her eyes grew wide. "He overheard her didn't he? Any trust he had extended to her was destroyed and it all went down hill from there?"
Mamoru sighed and looked her square in the eye. "Yes." Nabiki's only response was to look down at the floor and utter a single profanity.
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That's it for this chapter. Had a rough time at work recently and I've been in some pain. Working on the fic has not been my highest priority. Come home lie down and pray to God I can make it another day. I'm doing a lot better now. I've decided to draw this story to a close and am almost done with the rough draft. I'm leaving a hell of a lot of room for the next arch I have in mine but it will be a while before I get to it. I have got to get that Harry Potter fic written which is my next big project. Till next chapter.
Note: I used plane as a generic term vs. typing out airplane all the freaking time.
Ookii Mamoru
Crystalstorm21 : Thank you for your kind words. Sorry I did not update sooner, but life does have a habit in getting in the way. Back pain can be intolerable at times
Nabiki was at a loss to that question herself so she answered truthfully. "I have no idea sis." 'Ok maybe that was a lie.' "Be prepared for anything." She watched as Akane sweat dropped at the odd statement. They slowly walked from terminal to terminal with no real pattern to their destination. Finally the announcement she had been waiting for had went over the PA system.
"Flight 1113 at gate 1012 is now boarding. Will seat holders 35 through 40 now approach the gate." Nabiki is quick to act. "That's our cue Akane, lets go!" She grabs her hand and drags her to the gate. Akane allows herself to be dragged but ask a question all the same. "What cue Sis?, and why are we boarding a plane going to America?" Nabiki shots back at her. "No time, we will miss our flight." Akane let herself be dragged around as if she was a rag doll. 'Mamoru has to be behind this. He just has to.'
As they approach their seats in the back of the plane a long black haired flight attendant who carried herself as a person with authority approached them, "Tendo Sisters?, if you will be so kind as to follow me." It was not a question and Nabiki knew it. She followed the flight attendant and dragged Akane with her. The flight attendant spoke as they went along. "Your tag is currently buying a ticket for the flight. We must hurry, please put on these uniforms"
After putting on the jumper Akane notices that they both look like ground crew personnel and mentions it. Nabiki smirks at her sister's comment. 'She can be brilliant at times.' She frowns at the next thought. 'A pity it's not all the time.' "We are losing our tail sis. I must admit that I'm surprised he went to this sort of expense for us."
Soon enough they find themselves being lead across the tarmack. Their escort smirks as she looks in the direction of Nabiki and Akane. "The less time your tail has to react the better. You two moved right sharply. Right now your tail is tearing apart the plane looking for you two.
Nabiki was surprised she had this kind of information. 'Mamoru must be pulling out all the stops. "So what flight will we be boarding?" Their escort responds, "Private Charter." Nabiki notices her sister blink at the answer. Before her sister embarrasses herself Nabiki answers the question. "We get the whole plane to ourselves sis." 'Damn Mamoru went to a lot of expense. What the HFIL is going on' She looks in the direction of their escort. "It's unmarked?" Their escort does not look back, but still answers. "It belongs to a friend of a friend, of a friend. There is no way it can be traced back. You have a real level head miss. Ever consider detective work?"
Nabiki considered the use of the word detective rather strange but let it slide. "Thank you for the complement, but no. I've had to help people lay low in the past, but I never had to do anything this elaborate. I'm more interested in information holding and exchange, and product distribution." The trio walks silently after that until they reach a Lockheed-Martin 1057. (AN: I think that's the right designation. Flew on it before. Hated the ride, made me nervous as hell. Give me a Boeing Air Craft any day of the week.) Not the most impressive of commercial plains, but damn impressive for a private just. Their escort spoke before boarding. "Here is your jet, good luck." Without another word their escort walks off.
The climb up the steps into the back of the plane was most likely the longest for either Tendo sister. They were both relived when they found themselves being greeted by Mamoru himself. "Welcome aboard Rescue 1 ladies. If you will please be so kind as to follow me."
(AN: This is were I would have left off at my 2000 word goal. A pitiful place to break off.)
Nabiki looks around and finds a plaque that has the layout of the plane. The plane had three compartments not counting the cockpit and the rear kitchen. The decor she could see was modern and plush. It seemed almost homey. Overall it is a very nice plane. She looks at her sister. "Hey Sis, we never got to rescue you in this sort of style. It seems almost unfair. Mamoru smiled at the compliment. "I was just going to do standard air fare, but Washu was tagged when she dropped off the instructions." Nabiki raised an eyebrow at that... "Then why did you send us tickets to the States?" Mamoru smiled at her causing her to blush. "Just a precaution. Just in case that envelope was some how stolen or intercepted." Nabiki nods at the wisdom of this. She watches as Mamoru hits an intercom button. "Captain, everyone is aboard, if you could be so kind as to get us up into the air." His answer was the sound of engines starting up.
Mamoru was leading them to the front of the plane for the take off when the realization of what was happening hit Akane. "I can't believe we are actually going to go rescue him." She seem giddy to Mamoru's eyes. He smiled at her happiness. "Believe it Akane, Believe it." Nabiki smiled internally at the banter between Mamoru and Akane. She had not paid much attention to her environment when she entered this compartment. She then noticed some people seated in the back. She would ask later after the plane leveled off. She cursed herself inwardly for not paying better attention. She was better than that. After the plane leveled off she got Mamoru's attention and pointed toward the back. "Mamoru, Who are they?"
Mamoru glances towards the back to make sure the passengers in question were still in place. Before he could answer he heard Akane squeal in delight and runs towards them answering Nabiki's question if only partially. "Usagi, Ami, Rei, Makoto, Maniko! I can't believe you're on this plane. It's been so long, how is everyone doing?" Usagi smiled at her distant cousin and friend. "We are all fine Akane-chan. We heard you ran into some problems with some nasty Amazons." Akane blinks at the statement. "That's right Usagi-chan, .... But how on Earth did you know?" Usagi smiled the smile of a cat that ate the canary. "Ranma and you helped us out of a jam a few months ago. Take a real good close look at us and think back.
Nabiki hears the exchange and looked at Mamoru in confusion. She hated being confused. "Mamoru, what's going on?" Mamoru was looking at how things were proceeding when he heard Nabiki ask him a questing. He looked down at her and gave her a wink causing her to blush again. In a staged whisper he answers her question half way. "Akane has met them all before. She just needs to put two and two together. Lets go talk in private for a minute." Nabiki watched him walk off and followed. She hated it when people made her blush, but for whatever reason it did not seem so bad what he did it. She inwardly cursed when she could not even ease drop on Akane's conversation when she entered the new sitting room.
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Not noticing her sister and Mamoru leaving the compartment Akane continued to concentrate on the five girls sitting in front of her. She suddenly remembered helping out five girls a few months ago with Ranma. It had been a horrible fight. One they almost did not return from. "You five are the Sailor Senshi." It was more of a statement than a question. Ami smiled at her conclusion, "Bright girl." Usagi nodded her head in agreement. "Ranma never said she wasn't, just an uncute tomboy. That has nothing to do with smarts." Akane blushed, then glowed red, "That, That!.."
Makoto hated being on planes due to the loss of her parents in a plane crash. An angry Akane is a dangerous Akane. She tried her best to calm her down, "Akane, please calm down, you don't want to break our transportation do you?" Akane vents her frustration by taking a page out of Ranma's book, speaking without thinking. "I'll break him after we rescue him!" Maniko was Ranma's twin when it came to speaking without thinking. "Akane, there is more than one way to interpret that declaration." Everyone immediately blushed bright red at Maniko's attempt at trying to correct Akane's statement. Rei was the first to regain her composure. "Maniko! No Hentai!" Akane blushed even redder at Rei's outburst because that thought had crossed her mind more than once. Ami was a close second in redness being uncomfortable with that kind of talk."
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Mamoru looked at the young woman standing before him. Now was the time to put to test what he truly thought about Nabiki. "Nabiki, I need you to swear to me on your honor that what I'm about to disclose to you is never to be treated as public information." Nabiki looked at him, 'This must be big.' She had taken too long to answer. Mamoru hardens his face into a glair. "Swear it Nabiki, or so God help me, I'll put you off this plane right now." Nabiki blinked at the threat. "But Mamoru, we are 6 kilometers in the air." Mamoru softens his look and then places his hands on her shoulders. "Nabiki, I have put my life and many others on the line by my bringing you along. You have a rather harsh reputation. I need that promise Nabiki."
(AN: End of Notebook #1, 59 hand written pages on Wide Ruled paper. Humm... to cliff hanger here, or go on.....)
(AN: I know if I cliff hanger here I will more than likely be signing my own death warrant.)
Nabiki shuddered when she realized he was serious. Should she betray his trust any hopes of a relationship with him was gone. She tried to speak but stumbled at first. "I see... I swear that what you are about to reveal to me will be taken to my grave." Mamoru sighed in relief. Not that he would have really thrown her off the plane. She did not need to know that, "Thank you Nabiki. You were wondering about the additional guests on board the plane?" He smirked to himself as Nabiki leaned forward giving him her full attention. "Yes?" Mamoru decided to let the drama build a little then watch her face fault as he told her a half-truth. "They are friends of Ranma and Akane." The face fault that Nabiki gave him was priceless. She finally managed to regain some semblance of composer and poked him in the chest. "Is that all or are you just yanking my chain?" Mamoru laughed and answered her question. "No and Yes! They are also the Sailor Senshi."
Nabiki falls onto her butt at this announcement. Mamoru not wanting to alienate her keeps his laughter to himself. Once she regained some of her dignity she whistled appreciably. "I knew Ranma had secrets, but this one takes the prize." She then locks her eyes into Mamoru's. "I won't reveal this information to anyone." Mamoru smiled at her in appreciation. "Both the Senshi, Akane, and Ranma appreciate that Biki. You see, Ranma and Akane helped them out of a really tight spot a while back. Ranma has been secretly training them." Nabiki nodes in understanding, "He really is a nice guy when push comes to shove. I should be nicer to him, but the way he treats my sister some times...."
Mamoru considered her words. It was time to break the news to her. Nabiki, do you remember the first night after finding out his secret?" Nabiki nodded yes, but wondered what his point was going to be. Mamoru looked down at the floor. "What you don't know about that night is that Akane had extended her hand in friendship to him. As you know, Genma did not allow him friends out on the road. "Interfere with the training he would say." He was rather raw in his emotions at the time. His entire life had just been turned on its ear. He was hurt, lonely, confused. --- Then right out of the blue Akane extended her hand in friend ship, and then boom, everything else in his life he thought worth having was once again ripped away from him. Call it thin skinned if you wish, but that's more than most men go through in their entire lifetime."
Nabiki's eyes raise just a little. "I can understand the rough start a little better, but still, his behavior should have improved at some point." Mamoru spoke in the saddest voice she had ever heard. "His behavior did change that very night. He had gone up to Akane's room to apologize. Do you remember your conversation with Akane? The one where she said, "I'm engaged to my own worse nightmare!" That entire sentence has been the entire balance of Ranma's trust to Akane." Nabiki looks at him as if he suddenly sprouted to heads. "How would ....?" Realization hit her like a ton of bricks, and her eyes grew wide. "He overheard her didn't he? Any trust he had extended to her was destroyed and it all went down hill from there?"
Mamoru sighed and looked her square in the eye. "Yes." Nabiki's only response was to look down at the floor and utter a single profanity.
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That's it for this chapter. Had a rough time at work recently and I've been in some pain. Working on the fic has not been my highest priority. Come home lie down and pray to God I can make it another day. I'm doing a lot better now. I've decided to draw this story to a close and am almost done with the rough draft. I'm leaving a hell of a lot of room for the next arch I have in mine but it will be a while before I get to it. I have got to get that Harry Potter fic written which is my next big project. Till next chapter.
Note: I used plane as a generic term vs. typing out airplane all the freaking time.
Ookii Mamoru
Crystalstorm21 : Thank you for your kind words. Sorry I did not update sooner, but life does have a habit in getting in the way. Back pain can be intolerable at times