Yesterday's Tale
A future Ranma Crossover
by Chikiko (Chikiko@thekirealm.com)
Webpage: (www.thekirealm.com)


Disclaimer:

Ranma ½ and its characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.


Yesterday's Tale Chapter 2

Nabiki sighed as she yet again awoke in Ranma's arms as they traveled through another forest. Since leaving the village they had stayed at after discovering they were hundreds of years in the past several weeks ago, waking up in his arms was becoming customary. She was getting quite sick of it. Every day was the same thing, she would wake up and eat, then they would walk some more before stopping to eat again, and finally Ranma would carry her for a while so they could travel a bit faster before finally stopping to make camp and sleep.

Before being thrown back hundreds of years in time, she had really liked traveling. Now, on the other hand, she hated it with every being of her soul. It wasn't even the fact that they had to pretty much walk all day or that it was gratingly monotonous. Genma's constant complAin'ts about how she was slowing them down, and having to travel all day on a virtually empty stomach, had made her lose any pleasure she might have once had about traveling.

Three weeks ago, they had run out of food. So for the most part they had been surviving on roots, bark, grass and the like. They had been lucky a week ago when they found and caught a rabbit, however besides that they hadn't been able to catch anything else.

Her musings were stopped when Ranma noticed she was awake and put her down. Ranma gave her a container with her portion of the stuff they had made for breakfast. "Here's your food, I'm gonna go practice a bit with pops. Just call when you're ready to go."

Turning to Genma, he said. "Come on pops, let's practice." Genma spared a glance at Nabiki who was unhappily eating the soupy concoction he had made earlier, before following his son to practice.

As they practiced, Genma was displeased to note that Ranma was distracted and sloppy. Seeing an opening in Ranma's defense, Genma quickly took advantage of it and sent Ranma painfully into a tree. With a glower Genma yelled at Ranma. "Boy, what's wrong with you? You're getting sloppy! I haven't seen you this sloppy in years!"

With a frustrated sigh, Ranma got up and yelled back. "Everything! What are we doing? We're just walking around starving ourselves for nothing!"

"Has living at the Tendo's made you that soft?! This isn't the first time we've gone without food while traveling. What's gotten into you?"

"That's not what I meant. It may not be our first time, but I know for a fact Nabiki hasn't! Even we haven't gone this long without being able to find food before, and if its kinda tough for us just think about her. I mean just look at her, any day now she's probably gonna fall over dead! She's sleeping longer, walking slower, and she has to quit walking earlier every day. Why is she even here? She ain't meant for any of this. I could understand Shampoo, Ukyou, or even the Akane, but why Nabiki? She ain't even a martial artist."

Genma sighed deeply. "Who knows Ranma? None of us asked for any of this, but regardless it is the path we must now bear. It's pointless to ask why. We have no choice but to keep going."

"I guess. We should probably hurry and start looking for lunch, Nabiki's probably almost done eating." He said before heading out to look for something edible to eat.

A few minutes later, he heard his father calling him and Nabiki. Running to where his father was, he asked. "What's up pops?"

"Look, down there on the horizon, just north of here, there's a village there."

"WHAT? A village?" Nabiki's excited voice asked. "How long until we get there?"

"We'd probably make it there sometime this afternoon, if we skip lunch and keep going all day."

"Well? What are we waiting for?" Nabiki asked sounding more like she used to.

"Gee! Someone sure got happy quick. Now let's just hope she'll stop being so grumpy."

Nabiki made a dismissing gesture. "Whatever Saotome. Let's just get going before I really start getting grumpy and believe me you really won't like that. Ranma shook his head and started heading off toward the village.

It took them the rest of the day, but they finally arrived just before sunset. "I thought you said we'd be here sometime this afternoon? It's almost evening?" Nabiki complained.

"Hey we're here, aren't we? Let's just see if we can find some food and a place to stay."

As they walked through town, people soon noticed the strangers and called the village elder. The village elder quickly found them and said. "Good evening strangers. I am the village elder here. My name is Anisho. Welcome to our village. It isn't often that we receive visitors here. How is it that you've come to such a remote village?"

"We are traveling martial artists. I am Genma Saotome and this is my son Ranma and -- uh his wife Nabiki." Both teenagers turned wide eyed toward Genma. Genma quickly spoke up again before either could say anything. "We have been traveling for many weeks now. We were wondering if it wouldn't be too much of an inconvenience to you if you could spare us some food and a bed to sleep in for a few days. We'd hate to impose, but you see the girl is pregnant and we still a large journey ahead of us."

Ranma was suddenly frozen in place with a wide-eyed look of fear, while Nabiki was visibly shaking in barely controlled rage. Seeing how tired she looked, the elder misinterpreted her shaking and felt sorry for her. He could only imagine the hardship she must have been going through to have to travel so long in her condition, so he readily agreed and led them to his house. When they arrived, he led them to the dining room. "Please have a seat. I'll have the servants prepare you some food. I have a few things I must attend to right now, but if you need anything just call for Kyoko. She is my head servant and can give you any assistance you may need."

Nabiki waited until Kyoko entered the kitchen to check on the food before turning to yell at Genma with a voice dripping venom and retribution. "What was that you said about me being pregnant and Ranma's wife?"

Genma raised his hands in a placating manner as he slowly moved away from her. "Now calm down Nabiki. I only said that to make them feel sorry enough for us to give us food and a place to sleep."

Not losing any of her anger she advanced on him and said. "Couldn't you have come up with anything better? I am warning you right now, don't even think of trying to switch the engagement over to me. I am NOT Akane, and I won't go through with it. We are going to china and we're going back to the twentieth century where we belong! You hear me?"

Before Genma could say anything, there was a knock on the door, and Kyoko hesitantly entered the room. "Dinner is ready to be served." She gave them a few seconds before signaling the other servants to bring the food in.

Nabiki smirked when she realized she had been given a bigger portion than either Ranma or Genma, then without preamble, she ravenously began eating. Ranma and Genma of course needed no urging and began eating with their usual gusto. Kyoko and the other servant in the room stared in open disbelief at the amount and speed at which they were eating. After the second plate of food was gone and now sign that they would be ending several servants ran from the room to the kitchen to prepare more food.

Noticing that Nabiki was keeping up with him in the amount of food she was eating, Ranma said. "So Nabiki, what is it you're always saying about the way me and pops eat?"

"Shut up, Saotome. I'm hungry, tired, and pregnant in case you don't remember. If I want to eat like a barbarian, then that is my own damn prerogative thank you very much!"

Hearing laughter, they all turned to see that the elder had returned. "The two of you must be newlyweds. Ah, to be so young and in love. Best of all, the girl is full of spirit! She reminds me of my dearly beloved Aiko. You're a fortunate man Saotome, may you be blessed with many more children."

Unaware that he was being talked to, Ranma continued eating until Nabiki pinched him under the table. "Ouch! Watcha do that for?"

She replied with a sugary sweet voice. "I think the elder was talking to you -- darling."

Ranma blinked in confusion. "He was? But I'm not -- ouch! Oh ya. Uh thanks um I guess."

The elder laughed at the exchanges between them. "Well I'm glad you're enjoying the food. The servants are making more food incase any of you want to eat more. I'm going to be turning in for the night. Kyoko will show you to your rooms when your done eating. Ah here is your food now, please eat as much as you'd like."

Waiting until they were alone again, Nabiki shook her head at Ranma. "I swear Saotome. You can be so dense at times!"

Ranma threw his hands up in an exasperated manner. "Well how the heck was I supposed to know he was talking to me?"

"Gee, let me think now. Is there anyone else here who is supposed to have a wife that's pregnant? Whatever, I'm going to bed. I'll see you two in the morning. Goodnight."

Ranma sharply eyed his father. "This is all your fault pops. Why'd you go and have to say something so stupid anyways? I mean who'd ever believe me and Nabiki were married? Sheesh!"

"Oh, Why must my only son be such an ungrateful brat! Have I not sacrificed my entire life to train him to be the world's greatest martial artist, and this is the thanks I get? Do you have no thanks for all the things I sacrificed for your sake?"

"Like what pops? Getting me cursed to become a girl whenever I'm around cold water, or how about all those stupid engagements, you made with who knows how many girls? Shoot, I wouldn't even be slightly surprised if us being sent back in time is somehow your fault!"

Ranma paused his tirade, when a sudden thought hit him. "Hey wait a minute! You were the first one up weren't you! Why were you ok, but me and Nabiki were out cold for days? You do have something to do with this don't you?"

Genma gave his son and indignant glare. "Of course not! I don't know anymore about us being here than you do! How in the hell could I be responsible for any of this? I told you when I woke up I found the two with high fevers, so I dumped the both of you in the lake for a while to try and break your fevers. I can't believe how ungrateful you're acting, if it wasn't for me the both of you would be dead right now. It was hard enough trying to take care of you as a panda, the least you could do is so some appreciation and say thank you for saving your life. Not accusing me of having started this whole damn mess."

"Ok! I'm sorry! You don't have to get so upset about it!" Standing up he began to gather the dishes and looking at all the plates Nabiki had he said. "Goodness! Did you see how much Nabiki was eating?!"

"Of course I did, I wouldn't be surprised if she even ate more than you. All this traveling has been really hard on her. It'll probably be in her best interest if we stay here a little while before heading off again."

"Really pop, what would've ever given you that idea? She's been walking halfway across the country while starving herself. Who woulda thought it might be hard on her."

"Oh shut up. Just because I don't say anything doesn't mean I'm not worried about her. You don't think I haven't thought about what happens when we reach Kysh and we have to start swimming? When we went to China we had to swim from Kysh to Iki to Tsushima to Korea and finally to China. Unless we start seriously training her from here to there, I don't see how she'll make it."

Ranma laughed. "Nabiki? Martial arts? Ya, that'll be the day! She Ain't gonna go for that. Not only ain't it her style, but it'll mean majorly slowing down the pace which you know she's definitely not gonna go for. So what are we gonna have to do then, take a boat?"

"Boy think before you speak! We couldn't afford passage for the two of us in our time, how on earth do you expect to get enough money to buy passage for the three of us in THIS time period?"

Ranma looked down at the plates in his hands and frowned. "I guess you're right. So what are we gonna do then?"

Genma sighed. "There's not much we can do. We have got to make her understand she needs to start training if she's wants to make it back home. There's no way we can avoid the swim to Korea, that's inevitable and if she wants to go home, she's gonna have to be able to make that swim. Once there we'll have to walk around the Yellow Sea if she doesn't think she can make the swim across it. Honestly Ranma, it's likely gonna be at least five years before we can make it home. You have to make her understand it's either training or staying here in the past."

Ranma nodded silently at his father as he thought about what he said. Without the use of cars to reach Tibet, where Jusenkyou and the amazon village were, it was going to be a very long trip. It would dwarf even his first trip there, since they had hitchhiked part of the way. As rare a moment as it was, his father was actually right. But how do you convince Nabiki that she's gonna have to start training in the martial arts? Deciding it was too much to think about for the moment, he decided to postpone it until tomorrow. Looking down at his hands, he realized he was still holding the plates. "Um hey pop? What do I do with these plates?"

"Just leave them there. The servants will pick them up. Let's head to bed. Tomorrow we're getting up early to train. It's been far too long since either of us have had the chance to get any real training in since this whole mess started. I'll go find Kyoko and have her show us where our rooms are."

Ranma put the plates down and waited for his father to return with Kyoko. When he returned, Kyoko led them to a room just down the hallway. "This will be your room Saotome-san." She said to Genma, then turned to Ranma and said. "If you'll follow me, I'll show you to your room young sir."

Ranma shrugged and smiled as he followed Kyoko. "Hey cool! We each get our own rooms. I'll finally get to sleep in peace, without pop's snoring keeping me up all night." Kyoko led him to a room just a bit further down the hall. Thanking her, he slid the door open a little and entered the room. The room was dark, but he managed to see where the futon was when he entered. He decided he was too tired to do any practicing before going to sleep, so he quickly undressed and laid down to sleep.

Three seconds later, he jumped out of bed when he felt another body next to him. Nabiki's sleepily annoyed asked. "Is that you Saotome? What are you doing in my room?"

"Nabiki! Ack! I -- uh sorry, Kyoko told me this was my room. She must've mest up and gave me the wrong room on accident. Just give me a second to find her, so she can show me which is my room."

Nabiki pulled her hair in frustration as she realized what happened. "Don't even bother Saotome."

Ranma sputtered in confusion. "W-what? B-b-but -- "

"They'll just bring you back here, anyway. We're married remember? So they just naturally stuck us in the same room together."

"Oh! So uh what should I do now? I guess I can go back and sleep in pop's room."

"Don't you think that might look a bit suspicious? We're newlyweds remember, we're supposed to be going at it like bunnies; Hence the reason for my condition. Just go sleep on the other side of the room. Besides it would be inhuman of me to force you to have to endure that panda's snoring. I don't know how his snores never kept me up before coming to the feudal age. It's loud and annoying enough to keep the whole neighborhood up. Anyway here, catch your pillow."

Ranma reached over and grabbed the pillow that didn't quite make it to him. "Uh thanks."

"No problem, I'll just put it on your tab when we get home."

Ranma shook his head and thought how something never change. Ranma considered talking to her about what he had spoken with his father about, but decided it could wait until tomorrow. After all although Nabiki snored a little, it was nothing compared to his fathers. He tried falling asleep, but the knowledge of what he was going to have to talk to Nabiki about the following day wouldn't allow him to sleep. After a long time of unsuccessfully trying to go to sleep, he thought he heard Nabiki turn over restlessly. Quietly, in case she really was asleep, he asked. "You still awake?"

"Unfortunately! Considering the amount of food I ate, the fact I actually have a semi comfortable bed to sleep on and blissful absence of your father's snoring, I should be sleeping like a baby right now."

Ranma snickered. "You're just getting used to toughing it out. It took me about a week when we moved to your house, to get used to it. Your house is probably the most comfortable place I've ever stayed at." He paused a moment and sullenly continued. "I'm sorry about you getting stuck in all this."

"That's why we're hunting down the amazons. We should be able to use that mirror of theirs to send us back to our time."

"Ya, but how are we gonna get there? When me and pops went there, we had to swim to Korea and then to china. Not to mention Jusenkyou and the amazons are way deep into China. I know the last few weeks have been pretty hard on you, just the swim there is gonna be murder on you."

Angrily Nabiki asked. "So are you suggesting we give up and stay stuck five hundred years in the past?"

Hearing the anger in her voice, he decided to stick to his original idea and wait till she's in a better mood to bring it up. "No! I mean -- I don't know. I'm just worried about you! I mean you're not a tomboy like your sister, so it ain't fair to you to have to deal with it."

Nabiki arched her eyebrows. "So it doesn't bother you that we're hundreds of years in the past?"

"I don't know. I guess not. It's that I exactly like it here, but I guess if you weren't here being stuck here forever wouldn't be the worst thing in the world."

"You know Ranma, sometimes, I just don't understand you."

"Well it ain't that hard to figure out. It kinda makes sense if you remember that this is how I've spent most of my life. So it ain't exactly a big deal. Besides you know how pop's is. Even after we moved to your house, we were still going on training trips ever few weeks and stuff."

Nabiki was quiet for several minutes. "You know Ranma-kun, I can't even imagine what growing up must have been like for you."

Ranma sighed and spoke in a forlorn tone. "It was very lonely. Sure I had pops, but that was it. I never really had any friends. Whenever we'd goto a town, I'd always see all the other kids playing and having fun, but pop's would never let me go with them. He always said I don't need friends, that friends are a distraction from the art, and that I should go practice. The few times I was able to sneak away from pop's, none of the kids ever wanted to play with me. They'd always call me names like weirdo or freak, and run away."

"You know, maybe pop was right. I mean look at what happened to the only two friends I ever had. Ukyou my best friend, had her life stolen from her cuz of me. She spent ten years of her life trying to hunt me down for vengeance and Ryouga's obsessed with killing me. Oh and let's not forget Akane. She was my friend for all of ten minutes. Then again, it was pretty fun at times too. I mean, I could do just about what ever I wanted, go to sleep whenever, and best of all I didn't have to goto school everyday!"

Nabiki laughed."Well that last part explains a lot about you Saotome."

"Oh never mind! I don't know what I was thinking tell you any of that anyway."

"It was a joke Ranma-kun, relax. Besides, I can understand what some of that must have been like. I'm not exactly miss popularity myself."

"See that's the one thing I really don't understand about you. You're like the smartest person I've ever known, you ain't bad looking, and you can be really nice when you wanna be. If you'd only wanna be more often, you could have plenty of friends and stuff."

"It's too late for that Ranma. For better or worse I'll always be the 'ice queen.' Nothing is going to change that."

"Why? You don't have to be. I know you mostly do it to help your family and stuff, but there's got be other ways of doing it that doesn't make people not like you."

Nabiki was silent for a moment. "It's no use Ranma. It's too late. Even if I were to suddenly become as nice as Kasumi. My reputation wouldn't go away, everyone would think it's just some scheme to make money off them. My family needs the money and nothing I do is gonna change that, so why even bother trying? Besides, who would even want to be my friend?"

"I would and I don't see why anyone else wouldn't." Ranma immediately responded.

That shocked Nabiki a bit. She had been expecting him to say Kuno or even one of her associates, but she hadn't expected him to suggest himself. She had been as much of a thorn in his side as Kuno, Mousse, Ryouga, or anyone one else who had bothered him. "YOU? YOU would want to be MY friend?"

"Ya! Why not? If you really meant it, then of course I'd wanna be your friend."

"Why? I've used you twice as much as anyone else? Why? How could you trust me after everything I've done to you?"

"Ok look at it this way. If you're not really serious about it, then nothing's really changed. I might be able to avoid one of your schemes now, but sooner or later you'll end up getting me anyways. Probably worse than you would have otherwise. But if you're really being serious about it and you really do want to be my friend, I may only really have one chance. If I say no to you now, I may probably lose the best friend I'll ever have."

"I know you're your trying to help your family out, and I only make it harder for you. With the mess my fiance's and rivals make, I'm sure half of what you make probably goes straight to repairing all the damage we cause or paying for all the hot water me and pop use. That's why I don't usually make that big of a deal about it when you do use me in one of your scheme's, cuz it helps pay for the mess that I cause."

Nabiki sat in stunned silence. The implications of what he had just told her, struck her in numerous ways. Combined with what he had mentioned before she saw an intense yearning for friendship, someone who he could connect with, so badly that he was willing to overlook past wrongs. She thought back to the day Ryouga first came to Nerima, and how he repeatedly tried to make restitutions with Ryouga so they could be friends again. Although most people seemed to have missed it, Ryouga's rejection of his offer of friendship hurt him.

Now here he was doing the same thing again, by indirectly asking her to be friends with him. It just amazed her. No matter how well she thought she knew Ranma, he always found some new way to surprise her. With a slight laugh in her tone, she said. "Ok Ranma. Friends it is. Now let me try and get some sleep while I can. Knowing Genma this might be my only chance to sleep in comfort for a long time."

Ranma yawned. "Ok. I'm getting tired too. Don't worry. It usually takes pop's three or four days to get kicked out of somewhere. So we should have at least two more *yawn* nights before we gotta run. Anyway pop wants to get some do some real training tomorrow, which means we'll probably be sparring till afternoon sometime. So goodnight Nabiki."

"Goodnight Ranma."

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