Lonely Match Chapter One First Day, a ranma fanfic

Ranma alternate fanfic

Started - 15 October 2003 Completed – pending

Last revised - 18 June 2004 Reason – new chapter added

Disclaimer: Ranma ½ and all associated characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi and are used without permission. This fan-fiction isn't intended for commercial use but is rather a tribute to the Ranma ½ universe.

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Lonely Match by Cloud Dreamer

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Chapter 1 – The first day

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Nabiki grimaced as she idly watched the somnolent girl lying on a pallet on the guest bedroom floor before her. She almost felt a bit guilty about foisting Ranma off on her baby sister several hours earlier. Between Akane's temper and the quirks of the aqua-transsexual before her, well, she was sure that Ranma was going to bear the brunt of Akane's temper far too often.

She was momentarily alone with the boy currently turned girl as her elder sister Kasumi had just left to start dinner and given Nabiki instructions to watch over their unexpected guest. Nabiki moistened the cloth on the girl's forehead as she patiently waited for her to recover from injuries caused by Akane breaking a table over her head more than an hour earlier. Nabiki hoped it wasn't a concussion that was keeping the other girl down. Kami knows they didn't have any extra money to pay for any medical bills caused by Akane.

She sighed as she watched over the other girl. She smiled a bit as she remembered how excited she'd been when she'd first seen Ranma. Ok, so she'd thought that the cute redhead was a short cute guy at the time. She idly smoothed Ranma's fiery locks where they formed bangs and wondered as she watched.

Ranma felt another's presence as she slowly awakened and cautiously masked her return to consciousness while she took stock of the situation. Let's see, 'how? Oh, yeah; the girl with the attitude that said she wanted to be friends . . . Akane, yeah that was it. She hadn't taken kindly to Ranma pointing out that 'she' had the better body between the two of them and had nailed her with a . . . table? Crap, yeah that was what she barely remembered seeing out of the corner of her eye. The girl had attacked her when Ranma's back was turned. Miss 'I'm a martial artist'; yeah. NOT!'

Ranma softly sighed to herself being careful not to let it show. Damn; and 'he' was engaged to her too. It wouldn't be too bad if Akane hadn't already shown Ranma how shallow her offer to be friends was. Not that she was ready to let on about that wistful hope. She knew her pop and the slightest evidence of compliance and the old man would have had them married by now.

Ranma was silently startled as the girl whose voice she now recognized as being Nabiki began to idly talk to herself. As Ranma listened he realized that the short haired girl was wrestling with recent decisions and overall family matters.

As Nabiki rinsed out the cloth and moistened Ranma's forehead again, Ranma realized that the older girl had apparently been set to watch over Ranma and was spending the time trying to make heads or tails of the whole overall situation. Ranma empathized with her; she was still struggling with the effects of this damn curse and she'd had it for several weeks now. Nabiki had been exposed to it for only a couple of hours. It was no wonder that she was wrestling with the whole situation. If she was anything like Ranma, her whole worldview had taken a hit, big time too. Who would have believed that magic was real?

Ranma did. The Tendou's now did too. Ranma stealthily peered at the other girl as she talked to herself. It was enlightening to watch the play of emotions over her face as she animatedly muttered to herself. This did puzzle Ranma a bit as her earlier impression of the girl was one of a cool carefully controlled exterior.

Ranma paused and recycled that thought. 'Nope, it wasn't quite accurate. Nabiki had been that animated when they'd first met too. The calm cool persona had shown up only when the redhead was revealed as a girl. Something had closed down in the short haired girl at that moment.'

Ranma got a clue as she listened.

Nabiki mumbled to herself as she restlessly watched and waited. "I really, really wish today hadn't happened. It started out with so much potential too. Now it's the pits. Pits might be a good term for it if Ranma eats like his father did when Kasumi served snacks earlier. Our budget is too tight to handle two major time freeloaders by ourselves." Nabiki sighed with stress and then continued. "It was a shock to hear about one of us being engaged, but . . . oh, heck, I have to admit that I was really excited about finding somebody who might like me instead of Akane. I guess that is why I wore my best kimono."

Nabiki got up and stretched. Ranma took the chance to carefully peer at her thru nearly closed thick eyelashes. She watched as the other girl reseated herself. Ranma had to wonder, 'she hoped somebody might like her? Why? She's really pretty. I bet she has lots of boys at her beck and call. But . . . she did get dressed up to meet me. She was the only one if I remember right.' Ranma studied the other girl and her words as Nabiki resumed her monolog.

"Ranma sure was cute when I first saw him, er, her. I guess that was the problem. I wasn't expecting him to be cursed. Kami, I still find it hard to believe that magic like this actually exists. Magic, magic was something I was really hoping for though; just not this type. I was hoping for the magic of 'love' I guess . . . silly schoolgirl stuff really." Ranma heard a quite chuckle that had overtones of sadness. Nabiki continued a few moments later. She glared down at the girl faking unconscious and said, "What a trip you put me on. Sky high hopes that plummeted to the ground in less than ninety seconds." She sighed again and admitted; "I really guess that it's not your fault. You didn't know anymore about the marriage stuff than we did and I'm sure you didn't want to be cursed." She paused, "Still, what are we going to do about this whole situation. Daddy doesn't work anymore so I have to earn the money somehow. I think daddy is serious about this engagement, but I have to wonder about the Saotomes'. They look really poor. I hope this isn't some scheme to rip us off."

She got a pensive look on her face and absently studied the girl lying before her as she explored the possible ramifications of that thought silently. Ranma eased her lashes nearly closed so she could barely see the other girl as she also thought about what Nabiki had said.

Ranma hated to admit it, but Nabiki did raise a good point. Ranma couldn't tell you how many times she and her old man had left in the middle of the night. Almost always Genma had connived or outright stolen something to make this action necessary. Ranma fumed to herself, 'I hate being part of the old thief's schemes. But what can I do. I'm only 16, too young to get a job and my majority is still 4 years away. Till then, my ole man can legally make a lot of decisions for me.'

It was almost as if Nabiki was reading Ranma's mind for she suddenly asked, "I wonder, do you think that's his scheme? Ranma marries an underage Tendou girl. He's still underage too so Genma has control over the dowry which just happens to be the house and dojo so that daddy can avoid estate taxes." Nabiki grimaced because of a hard decision. "I can't take the chance. I'll just have to make sure that none of us marry Ranma until he's at least 20 or I'm sure that we can trust them." She added softly, "Whatever it takes. That's what I'll do to protect my family."

Ranma fumed at her words. 'Damn that old man. Damn him for being a thief. How dare he plan on taking advantage of them that way. Damn him . . . wait, I'm not sure that's what he's planning. On the other hand, it would be just like him to sell the dowry and take off leaving me and the Tendou's with nothing. This place was pretty nice. It could be sold for a lot; enough for the old man to live off for a long time. I wouldn't put it past him to ditch me for the chance at his 'big one' to get set for life. Damn him.' Struggling to hold back tears of anger, frustration and shame, Ranma made the decision that she would cooperate with Nabiki's plans. 'Nabiki was right, whatever it took.'

Nabiki gently brushed her fingers through the red hair again and sighed, "I wonder if I made a mistake. Ranma is a jock that's pretty obvious. But I don't really think he's a jerk or pervert like Akane says. He's pretty rough around the edges but then I guess nobody could blame him since he's spent his life on the road with just his father for companionship and as a role model."

Ranma noticed Nabiki's face was pretty pensive at this point. She snorted softly to herself, 'Role model; the old man! Ya gotta be kidding.' She'd wised up about him about the time she had started counting birthdays in double digits.

Nabiki's frown faded as she wistfully studied the redhead's slightly pouting face. "Oh, Ranma, now that I think about it; you would have made me a good girlfriend and well as my first boyfriend." She sighed yet again. "Actually, you might have been my first friend." There was a long pause, "Whatever it takes. That's what I do to keep food on the table. As a result I have no friends and I'm becoming somebody that I really don't like all that much. But, whatever it takes is what I do." She paused and then continued with a glimmering of tears in her eyes and voice, "It's just that I had hopes that maybe you'd be my prince coming to rescue me. It was really dumb but I . . . I get so lonely at times."

Ranma's eyes widened slightly at this, 'it sounded like she really would have wanted to be friends unlike her sister.' Ranma grinned slightly, 'sounds like a good deal to me.'

About that time, Nabiki caught the slight widening of the eyes and lips. "Ranma! How long have you been awake?" she angrily hissed. She started to get to her feet only to have the redhead gently restrain her.

Ranma softly answered as she sat up, "Long enough to hear things that you needed to say and that I needed to understand."

This was just sufficiently cryptic to catch Nabiki's attention and she relaxed instead of trying to get to her feet. She cocked her head and arched an eyebrow.

Ranma nodded in understanding of the implied question. "You're right about my ole man. We lived on the road from hand to mouth most of the time. He's stolen more often than I can count let alone remember. I don't know if he would really rip your father off. Yeah, I really don't know and that sucks. He might so you're right to be on guard. As for me, well, let's just say that the ONLY thing I really own is my honor. I guard it. I keep my promises and I don't steal ever since I realized it was wrong." Ranma sighed sadly, "I respect my father as a martial artist but that is all."

Ranma stood up slowly and handed Nabiki the damp cloth that was no longer on her forehead. "It's been a long time since pop was my role model in anything, but on the other hand, I don't gotta lot other examples of how to do stuff or even talk."

As she also stood, Nabiki's frown was bordering on grim, "So he's bad news?"

Ranma sighed, "There is no situation bad enough that he can't make worse."

"What do we do?" Nabiki asked. "What CAN we do?"

Ranma grinned disarmingly, "Whatever it takes. That's what you said. I think you are right and I'll help all I can." Ranma blushed and added as an aside, "I thought you looked really nice in your kimono. Thank you for dressing up to meet me."

Nabiki blushed slightly in return and said, "Thanks, I didn't think you noticed." Then she studied the rest of the room; hesitant to look at the redhead. "You probably aren't going to like what happens to you and him if I have to do what I think I need to do."

She would have continued but Ranma interrupted and said; "Not a problem. Give me some warning and let me help if I can instead of just being part of your problems." Seeing the puzzled look on the older girl's face, Ranma continued as she held out her hand. "After all, it's what friends do. I'd like to be your friend."

Shocked, Nabiki could only stare between looking at the outstretched hand and the friendly eyes above them. It was only as Ranma's grin faded and her hand started to drop that Nabiki suddenly responded. She quickly embraced Ranma to make up for her initial hesitancy. "Yes, yes I'll be your friend."

Ranma hesitantly returned the hug. Of course that is when Akane walked in to check up on Ranma. Seeing the redhead apparently molesting her sister, Akane stormed to the rescue. "You pervert! Get your hands off her!"

As Akane rushed toward them, fist streaking forward, Ranma, desiring to protect her new friend, gently pushed Nabiki to the floor safely out of the way. Ranma, still emotionally smarting from Akane's friendship betrayal, continued her pivot and while lying on her back used a simple foot throw to toss the 'I'm a martial artist too' out the window. Ranma and Nabiki ended up lying on the floor together almost face to face. At the sound of the splash in the koi pond below them and the angry screech that followed, they grinned at each other.

"She's gonna be mad." Ranma hazarded an opinion.

"Won't matter if she can't find you," Nabiki said with a chuckle at the end.

Nabiki rose and pulled the shorter girl to her feet and after her. Nabiki quickly peered out the door and hurried to the end of the hall and entered another bedroom. She stopped Ranma when she started to close the door. "Unh, unh; don't close the door," she whispered as she placed a finger over Ranma's lips to forestall a reply. "It would be a dead giveaway that we are here in Kasumi's room." She gently tugged Ranma behind a changing screen near the closet and they huddled together behind it.

"Why?" whispered Ranma. "Why are ya helping me?" The confusion on his face was very evident. He added almost too softly for Nabiki to hear, "Nobody has ever helped me like that before. Not without wanting something in return."

They then heard Akane storm up the stairs and begin searching the upper part of the house. She even briefly peered into Kasumi's room but didn't search it and thus missed finding the hiding pair.

Nabiki had started to ask for her 'fee' but the last phrase was enough for her to change her mind. She softly answered, "We're friends, and friends help each other." She added almost to herself, "Friends also trust each other."

A bit later, after hearing Akane go downstairs, Nabiki towed Ranma back into the guest room where all this had started. Nabiki closed and locked the door. Then the two of them resumed their conversation.

"So what are we gonna do now?" wondered Ranma aloud.

Nabiki shrugged, she had too little information to really answer meaningfully.

Peering at Ranma's present form, Nabiki hesitantly asked, "Ranma, how much does the curse change you." Seeing the confusion she clarified, "Is the physical change complete? Do YOU change? I mean is boy Ranma a different person than girl Ranma or are you the same person all the time."

Ranma started to fume as the question could be construed as questioning her 'manhood' but then she caught the curious look on her friend's face, 'Her friend.' Ranma swallowed her pride and just answered the question. Kami knows it was one 'he and she' had asked often enough after being cursed. "I think the physical change is complete." Ranma blushed and softly added, "It ain't like I'd really know for sure."

Nabiki grinned and mischievously suggested, "Well, how about the next time I bathe, you come along and we'll 'compare' and see how you 'stack' up to a real girl."

Ranma's blush was almost bright enough to read by. Seeing a wide grin facing her, she decided to continue answering the first question instead of responding to the last suggestion. "As far as I can tell, I'm always 'me' no matter what."

Nabiki caught the uncertainty immediately. "As far as you can tell?" seeing the hesitantly on Ranma's face, she said; "Ranma, did you know that the 'plumbing' isn't the only change that happens when you become a girl?"

"Oh, yeah, I know that. I mean my hair color changes, I'm suddenly shorter and the joints work just a little bit differently . . ." Ranma was cutoff as Nabiki softly interjected.

"The brain is different too. Not to mention the hormone level is completely changed as well. Both of those can affect behavior." Seeing the shock on Ranma's face, Nabiki added, "Note that I said behavior, not personality. It is possible that you would act and perceive things differently as a girl yet still be the same person."

"The brain changes too?" There was a pause and then Ranma asked no one in general, "Does that mean that my girl side is suddenly gonna start liking guys?"

Nabiki could see the fear in the redhead's eyes. "It's possible but not necessarily going to happen," Startled at the depths of both fear and hope suddenly visible on Ranma's face, she continued. "Ranma, think of it this way, you have two brains. One is the physical brain which is different for each body. It is what helps you move that body in the way that is best for it. It could cause you some problems because some responses are 'hardwired' into it." She grimaced, "Unfortunately, one of those responses is that you 'might' like boys a little." Forestalling Ranma's protests with an upraised palm, she continued; "Fortunately personality is also an important factor. It is represented by the second brain, which is, well, for a lack of a better term, a spiritual brain. It is the 'you' that is unchanged no matter what your gender." She paused and then added, "Your dad is a good example of that. His brain changes to handle the different body conformation of his animal form; yet he seems to remain the same person despite the fact that the panda brain is so much smaller than his human form." She paused in thought and then shrugged and observed, "That really doesn't make sense, but then applying logic to magic is a sure way to start chasing your own tail."

Ranma heaved a sigh of relief, but after a moment asked; "Nabiki, you said something about hormones?"

Nabiki nodded, "Yeah, that and the different brain chemistry and structure could throw a few curve balls your way." Seeing the confusion and curiosity on the redhead's face she continued her explanation. "When you are in girl form you may react differently to some stimuli. You may respond as a girl would to some situations simply because that is the way a girl's brain is made. Some things may taste differently; you may be more prone to feeling and expressing emotions and stuff like that. It doesn't mean you are turning into a girl or are any less a guy, it just means that your girl body responds differently than your boy's." She paused and decided to rephrase it in a more understandable context for the young warrior. "Ranma, think of it in this way; each of your martial arts moves has to be adjusted for the different physical size, mass and conformation of your differing forms. A move that may be a perfect response in a given situation for your boy side may be a disaster for your girl side. In other words you have to adjust ALL your responses for the form you have; not just your martial arts moves though."

"Oh, wow. I hadn't thought of that." Ranma paused in deep thought and then heaved a disgusted sigh, "That means I gotta really start practicing in my girl side or I'm gonna get hurt 'cause I won't be ready if I havta fight seriously in my girl form."

"Ranma," she asked. "Just how good are you in the art?" Seeing the other girl start to swell up and bluster, she added, "Cut the crap girlfriend. Just tell me the truth."

"GIRLFRIEND" yelped Ranma.

Both of them turned to the door as a sudden baleful presence was detected. As Akane kicked the door in, Ranma made a grab for Nabiki and jumped with her in Ranma's arms out the window leaving a fuming Akane to glare down at them.

Nabiki was hyperventilating. "Window . . . just jumped out the window and not even hurt." She calmed a little and started to glare at her friend as she was set back on her feet.

Ranma nonchalantly replied, "Like you said, friends look out for each other and trust each other." At Nabiki's incredulous expression, Ranma continued, "As far as skill in the martial arts, well, I'm one of the best of my generation. I'm already in the 'world-class' ranking in my opinion."

"You're world-class!" echoed Nabiki and Akane in stereo; one in surprise, the other in disdainful disbelief.

As Akane vanished from the window, Nabiki softly said, "Sis is in full tantrum mode Ranma. Please don't let her take it out on you again."

Akane stormed downstairs again and Ranma once again dodged the youngest Tendou by scooping up Nabiki and jumping with her in her arms to the second story roof of their home. Nabiki recovered quickly this time and she smirked down at her sister. "Come on up Akane. After all, you did say you were better so this should be a snap."

As Akane glared up at the two, Nabiki gave into an impulse and leaned over and kissed the redhead on the cheek. "Thanks for the rescue, my princess charmingly," she husked to the now frozen boy turned girl.

"Eww!" hissed Akane. "Nabiki, she's a girl now. How can you kiss that pervert like that; even if it was just teasing?"

Nabiki cocked her head and said, "Ranma is a person, not a body. No matter if Ranma is a he or she, it's always the same person; right?" she asked the redhead.

Ranma nodded and hesitantly agreed, "Yeah, I'm always me. I mean if the curse worked any differently then my dad would be a better person when he became just a 'dumb' animal. Trust me, it don't work that way. Even in the panda form, he's still a lying, conniving, thieving, dishonorable . . ."

"Ranma!" yelled the sometimes pandaified old man while Kasumi looked up at Ranma disapprovingly.

"Ranma," gently remonstrated Kasumi, "you shouldn't say such things about your father."

Ranma was a bit confused, "But I wasn't even finished yet!"

Kasumi merely sighed and said, "Oh, my, well come down, it's supper time."

Ranma looked over at Nabiki and they both looked down at Akane who was popping her knuckles and waiting below them with a feral smile. Nabiki whispered, "Ranma, I have a request."

Ranma nodded, "Don't worry; I won't let her hit you."

Nabiki lightly smacked the redhead on the back of her noggin. "She's not after me. The favor I want is for you to NOT let her hit you. She's been getting more and more violent because of problems in school and I'm worried that it's starting to become habitual. For all of us, yourself especially, will you defend yourself or at least not allow yourself to become another one of her punching bags? I don't want her to hurt you again and I don't want this to become habitual of her either."

Ranma's gaze became intense as she studied both of the Tendou girls in turn. Finally she nodded and said in serious voice, "Ok, but I'll want more information later, agreed?"

Nabiki nodded and then leaned toward Ranma as the other girl extended her arms out to pick up Nabiki. Gently cradling Nabiki in her arms, Ranma jumped off the second story roof. As Akane swung a haymaker at her, Ranma crouched, swept Akane's feet with one outstretched leg and knocked her into the pond again before standing and setting Nabiki back on her feet.

Nabiki was wide-eyed, "Maybe you weren't kidding about being world-class," she breathed. She grinned as Ranma blushed. "Don't be modest" she teased.

Ranma on the other hand just blushed a bit more and thought; 'Modest! Me? That ain't it but there's no way I'm gonna tell Nabiki just how much I liked holding her.'

The two of them wandered into the house together, Ranma briefly stopping by the kitchen to get hot water and changing into a guy before he seated himself at the dining table between Kasumi and Nabiki at the latter's urging.

Akane stormed into the house but wilted under Kasumi's disapproving gaze, both at her temper and the pond water she was dripping on the floor; again

Akane made a quick trip into the bathroom, while Kasumi fetched clean clothes for her. Shortly thereafter, they were all gathered around the table for their first meal together.

Nabiki covertly studied both Saotomes. The events of the past few hours were forcing the normally unflappable, mercenary girl into the realization that both of these rude males were probably destined to become 'family' to her of some sort. She shuddered as she saw Genma eating; it wasn't a sight for the faint of heart. She was glad that he was bracketed by Akane and her father instead of sitting next to her. She moved her bowl a little closer to herself as she saw him eyeing it hungrily.

She grinned as Akane's fist impacted his face shortly after Genma stole a pickle from her bowl. Ah, yes, little sister's temper was definitely doing a slow boil this evening.

The panda blearily held up a sign as he sat up in the pond, 'WHAT? It was only a little speed training!'

'Now as for Ranma,' a small smile graced her pretty face as the thought came to her that 'he was trainable and it'd probably be fun to do.' She wondered though about what his relationship with her would be. They had already become friends. This was much more than she'd thought would happen even in her best daydreams since her father had told her about Ranma's pending arrival. The thought reoccurred to her that perhaps she'd made a mistake not pursuing him. He certainly was easy on the eyes. A faint blush briefly appeared but only Ranma noticed it and he said nothing.

Akane glared at her new fiancé and snarled, "I don't care what our fathers say. We are NOT going to get married." She then stomped upstairs and barely flinched when she heard her father's commentary.

"WAAAAAAA, my daughter is getting married;" Tendou Patriarch Waterworks (TPW).

"As if I'd want anything to do with a violent chick like you," muttered Ranma.

Akane hesitated but settled for a glare at the three males before entering her room and slamming the door.

"I agree old friend, a perfect match," soothed Genma after dousing himself with the hot water offered by Kasumi, the graceful hostess always. The flinch that flashed across Kasumi's face and body at these words was just a figment of somebody else's imagination.

"We must celebrate!" declared TPW.

"Now you're talking, where's the sake?" smirked Genma. 'Yep, old buddy Soun is still just as easy to manipulate as ever,' he thought.

Too bad he had the unfortunate habit of thinking aloud at times. Nabiki glared at him then transferred the glare to Ranma who only sighed and shrugged as if to say, 'I told you so.'

As the two fathers reseated themselves on the far side of the room next to the liquor cabinet, Nabiki rose to her feet and hissed to Ranma, "Come."

Ranma sighed dejectedly, already envisioning another lost friendship because of his idiot father. But he obediently rose and followed Nabiki up the stairs and into her room.

Nabiki turned to confront Ranma only to stop upon seeing the downcast expression on the boy's down turned face. She intuitively guessed that this wasn't the first time he'd unjustly reaped a crop his father had sown. Her anger didn't flee but it was no longer directed at her friend. She leaned in and lightly wrapped a hug around him and confided; "I'm not mad at my friend. He tried his best to warn me and I'm finding that I can trust him. I like that. I like him." She giggled as he blushed. Something moved inside her as she saw the look of grateful thanks appear on his face, his oh so open and honest face.

"Th . . . thanks, Nabiki. It means a lot to me that you aren't blaming me. I . . . I li . . . like you too. I mean as a friend, yeah a friend," Ranma hurried clarified.

Ranma was startled as Nabiki's face froze and she glared at the door. A finger to his lips silenced him as Nabiki strode to the door and yanked it open. Four figures fell into the door and 4 water glasses rolled across the floor toward Ranma.

Nabiki glared at Akane, Kasumi, Soun and Genma. In a cold tone that had an artic chill, she stated. "You owe me. I WILL collect."

The four of them cringed and hastily removed themselves though Akane paused to glare at Ranma before Nabiki gently re-closed the door in her face. She and Ranma then moved over toward the window. She sat on the back corner of her bed with her legs crossed and her back leaning against the wall. He sat opposite her at her desk in a chair next to the window.

The two of them just sat there in companionable silence for awhile.

Finally she sighed and observed, "It was pretty neat the way you jumped to the second story roof. Theoretically that is impossible you know."

Ranma grinned, "Maybe that's an advantage of not having no book learning." He snickered in a 'down-home country tone.'

She was caught off guard, the giggle escaped before she could help it. The 'innocent' look on his face completed the prison break of her emotions. She collapsed face down on her bed giggling and hiccupping as she tried to stop.

Ranma just leaned back. He didn't think it was all that funny, but who was he to argue with his new best friend.

Eventually she got herself under control, but decided to leave the doors to her emotions open. Oddly enough, she felt safe with someone for the first time since her mother had died. It was a nice feeling.

"Ranma," she began, "You were joking about school weren't you?"

Ranma scratched his head nervously and glanced at the door. "Yes and no Nabiki. Pop always said that school and other stuff like it ain't for me 'cause it got in the way of my martial arts training." He sighed, "Sometimes I think that if it wasn't for the truancy officers, I might not have ever attended school. Pop almost went to jail because of that once or twice and ever since then he's been a lot better about me going to school." He paused a moment in somewhat troubled thought, "Course it might have had something to do with what that sensei over in Kyoto said too a couple of years ago." Seeing Nabiki's questioning look, Ranma continued. "It was a really nice dojo, I remember pop was sneering at the diplomas the sensei had on the wall. At least until the sensei laughed at him and said those mere pieces of paper were why he was a rich successful sensei and pop was a vagrant who was only allowed to teach relatives." Ranma grinned, "Pop was pissed; especially since it was not only true but the sensei proved he could pound his ass in nothing flat too." Ranma scratched his head and added, "Course, pop was still a bit hung over too."

Nabiki looked over at Ranma, "And how do you feel about school?"

Ranma grimaced, he was on the spot. He didn't want his friend to look down on him but he wasn't willing to lie to her either. "Same answer I guess. Most of the time I'm bored out of my mind; I mean what does ancient history got to do with now. How am I gonna use math to be a sensei?" He smiled slightly, "I really do enjoy PE and shop and stuff like that."

Nabiki sighed to herself, 'yep, definitely a jock.' Normally she didn't care about someone else's opinion but this was her friend. "Ranma," she began as she fixed him with a glittering eye to make sure he was attentive. "That sensei in Kyoto was correct. Without a college degree, the best you'll ever be is somebody else's assistant or just like your father, a vagrant trusted to teach only by family sometimes." Ranma winced but Nabiki continued. "Ranma, tell me, do you really not see how math or writing skills will affect your ability to run a dojo?"

Ranma thought and slyly said, "All I need to know is how to count students and how many pushups they do. Right?"

Nabiki hung her head momentarily before asking. "Are you going to teach for free? Is someone else going to keep your student records up for you?"

Ranma sat back a bit shocked at the implications of the question. He could already see the trap he had laid for himself with his earlier answer.

"So, let me guess," she drawled, "you're going to let your father charge the fees, manipulate the records, count the money, do the banking and maybe hope he gives you a pittance of an allowance for all your work."

Ranma grimaced, 'crap, his old man would really go for that idea.' Ranma paused at that idea, he wondered aloud; "You don't suppose that that was part of his plan all along do you? Do you think he intended to keep me ignorant of stuff like that so I'd have to depend on him and he'd be in control of me all my life?"

Nabiki's eyes widened considerably as Ranma realized he'd just answered his own question. 'Hell, yes his old man would do that; HAD done that to him so far.'

Ranma growled, "Ok, that does it. I LEARN from now on." Ranma blushed and looked down as he realized he had no idea of how to do that.

Nabiki glanced at him. She fully concurred with his assessment of the situation and his conclusion, but his present behavior puzzled her. "Ranma, what's wrong?"

Ranma met her eyes with embarrassment on his face. "Well, ah;" he paused to try and get his words together as a blush appeared. "Nabiki, I don't know how to learn school stuff." He sighed, "Martial arts I can learn easy, but this book stuff just puts me to sleep."

Nabiki thought about what she could do. 'Did she really want to spend the time teaching this ignorant jock how to learn academics? She didn't have a lot of free time; she'd probably have less now that she had to try and boost the income to keep them fed.' As she watched Ranma nervously shift in his chair while he waited for her reply, another thought came to her. 'Did she want to spend time with him? YES,' she realized. 'Doing what?' She shrugged, 'Studying was ok with her, so be it.'

"Ranma," she began, "I'll teach you how to study if you'll help me."

Ranma of course jumped to a conclusion different than what Nabiki was considering. "Hey, that would be great." He frowned, "I wouldn't mind teaching you some martial arts in return, but I'm not sure how well I'd do since I don't like to hit or fight girls."

"Ranma, that's not what I meant."

Ranma interrupted her at that moment. "What else could it be, that's all I really know? Besides," he added approvingly, "You're a natural. You could be jumping roofs in a month, two at most."

As the silence between them extended, Ranma began to get worried, 'had he said something wrong?' He finally glanced over at his friend only to see that Nabiki's mouth was hanging open in shock. "Nabs? You ok?"

A frown crossed the other girls face, "NABS?" she questioned.

Ranma grinned, "Yeah, seems to suit you somehow, it's sort of sweet but one isn't sure, yep, Nabs it is." Ranma was sort of surprised at himself; it was just so easy to talk naturally to this girl as if he'd known her for a long time.

Nabiki sighed for the inevitability of it; she couldn't manipulate a friend, "Alright, but just in private ok?" She'd get even just as soon as she figured out an appropriate name for him, her too.

Ranma mused, "I wonder what the old man has planned? I wish there was a way of finding out."

Nabiki smirked and said, "When I want to find out things like that, I investigate." Seeing the question on his face she clarified, "Have you ever searched your father's backpack for instance, or his wallet when he's bathing or something?"

Ranma sat there stunned for a moment. 'Why hadn't I ever thought of that?' A wide grin split his face and he casually remarked, "Be a shame to let all that sake go to waste."

Nabiki's answering grin was almost as wide. She immediately slipped to the door and peered out. "Good, it looks like both Akane and Kasumi are down as the lights are off in their rooms," she observed.

The two of them started downstairs, Nabiki pointed out the step to avoid so that a 'squeak' wouldn't betray their presence prematurely.

They found the two fathers passed out next to the liquor cabinet which was now nearly empty. Both of them began to carefully search Genma, Ranma noticed the near professional skill that Nabiki exhibited. He nodded in appreciation as it was a skill his father had attempted to impart to him but he had rebelled at theft years ago. They retrieved his wallet and then found a hidden belt pouch carried like a money belt. Nabiki took both but frowned as she watched Ranma begin to search Soun. She reluctantly nodded, 'yes, this was also necessary.'

The two of them retreated to Nabiki's room and while she began to carefully and thoroughly search the contents of both wallets and the money belt, Ranma went into the guest room and retrieved his father's backpack.

Nabiki made short work of her task. Nothing of interest had been found in either wallet but the belt pouch had contained at least one nasty surprise. "Ranma," she hesitantly began. "What do you know about your mother?"

Ranma looked up and carelessly shrugged, "Not much, I think she died when I was really young. I don't remember her and pop never answered any questions about her."

Nabiki looked at the contract, the partially completed postcard and the picture she'd found in Genma's pouch. She noticed that the woman in the picture looked a lot like Ranma's cursed form. 'In fact,' she studied the photo a bit closer trying to retrieve the memory that was trying to surface in response to the image. 'She looks familiar; I wonder what her name was? Nodoka? Ah, yes, now I remember.'

"Ranma," she hesitantly began, "I've got some good news and some bad news." Seeing she had his attention, she handed him the photo, "This is your mother; she's still alive. In fact she visited here about three years ago. I don't know why but I'd guess she was searching for you and your father." She handed him the postcard, "This is her address, I believe."

Ranma shakily took the photo and stared at it. Finally, he found his voice and softly asked, "And the bad news . . .?"

Nabiki wordlessly handed him the seppuku contract.

Ranma's face blanched as he read and understood the document. He stared disbelievingly at his childish handprint that signed the paper. As his shoulders sagged in a response to a painful heart blow, Nabiki uncharacteristically moved in and gently embraced him; she pulled his face into her breasts unmindful of the contact as she knew without a doubt now that he was no pervert despite Akane's accusations. She'd spent too many hours with him to believe otherwise.

Ranma loosely wrapped his arms about her and sighed a deep heartfelt groan as he asked, "Why does it always have to be screwed up? Seems I'm always losing those I care for, somehow."

"Ranma, maybe it's not as it seems. This was something over 10 years ago, maybe it was just meant to apply to your father and not you." She hugged him a bit tighter and whispered, "Let me see if I can find her phone number and the two of us can 'investigate' the matter later. Deal?"

Ranma nodded as he returned her hug, "Thanks girlfriend," he paused as he heard Nabiki giggle. He blushed as he said, "That's not what I meant! I mean you're my friend and a girl; not that you are my 'girlfriend'."

Nabiki ignored his confusion as she stepped back and asked, "Well, did you find any thing in the pack?"

Ranma shrugged and said, "Naw, I haven't looked yet. I thought that two pairs of eyes and hands might have a better chance of finding hidden stuff than just me alone."

Nabiki nodded in appreciation of the implied compliment as she knelt beside the pack and began to empty it. All of the contents of the pack were quickly examined and dismissed except for a flat document envelop they found in the bottom.

While Nabiki opened the envelope, Ranma continued to study the apparently empty backpack. He was startled by Nabiki's angry hiss.

He looked over her shoulder and she began to explain. "This," she said as she held up a booklet type report, "is a covert appraisal of the value of the Tendou property including potential buyers! These," she gestured to several blank documents laid to one side, "are blank real estate contracts such as those used to sell said property. And THIS" she almost screamed while never raising her voice, "is a draft of a court order giving Genma control over your affairs based on your incompetence due to insanity." She paused as she looked at a scribbled note attached to it. "Ranma, what is the cat-fist? This note says to show your cat-fist but to be careful to not let 'the boy' explain it."

Ranma paled as he heard this. He softly said, "That BASTARD! Never again will I trust him or anything else concerning him, this I swear." He turned sad and betrayed eyes to Nabiki, "I'm sorry, I didn't know he was planning this. Perhaps it would be best if I just disappeared, that way he could never use me to hurt your family."

As he started to rise to his feet, Nabiki swiftly shifted and used a leg sweep to knock his feet out from under him. Her face was next to his as she snarled, "Spare me the pity party and just answer the damn question."

Stunned, Ranma just sat there on his rear for a moment before he began to mechanically respond to her demand. "When I was seven, pop came upon this 'unbeatable' technique called the ca . . . cat-fist. It can only be taught to kids, young kids. You first dig a big deep pit and fill it with . . . those things. You starve them for a couple of days before you wrap the kid in fish sausage and other stuff like it. Toss in the kid and he either learns the ca . . . neko-fist technique or dies." Ranma shuddered at the memories and softly added, "I was too young to be able to count high enough to tell you how many times he tossed me back in the pit, bleeding from partially healed scratches and screaming not to do it again."

Nabiki was suddenly holding him as he refused to let any tears fall. She cried silently for his remembered torment. Ranma finished the story; "Eventually, I went insane, turns out that that is the only way to learn the technique. I literally became a ca . . . feline in my mind. A feline in a boy's body, a feline with chi claws capable of shredding the steel plate door over the pit and putting my old man in the hospital for some badly needed quilting work." Ranma sighed as he unconsciously snuggled into Nabiki's arms. "At least so I'm told. Truth of the matter is that I never remember what happens when I go 'ca . . . feline'."

"Go cat?" She noticed that Ranma flinched at just hearing the word.

"Yeah, if I'm around a ca . . . one of them things, too long or can't get away, I revert into the neko-fist, a feline's mind. I can be pretty dangerous to those I don't like I guess. On the other hand, I'm also told that a ball of yarn will distract me too. That makes the 'unbeatable' technique pretty useless overall since there is no real control over it." Ranma sighed, "I come out of the technique if I can take a nap some place that I can trust. The first time I came out of it in an old woman's lap. She sort of reminded me of my grandmother I think."

Nabiki snarled, "Damn Genma and double damn him for even planning on using this against you like this."

Ranma shifted out of her arms, uncomfortable with her anger. He softly said, "Nabiki, this I promise. Never, I mean never, whatever it takes, including my death, never will I allow you or your family to be put in a position where 'Genma' can take advantage of you."

Stunned by his vow, Nabiki could only nitpick at the moment. "Ranma, why did you call your father by his name like that?"

"He's gone too far this time!" Ranma hissed. "I will never again acknowledge that he is my father. From now on, he is 'Genma' and nothing else."

She nodded and said, "Well, I guess we had better put all this back."

"Hold on a moment," he said. "There is something funny about the pack and frame junction on this backpack. It's nothing that I can see, but it just somehow feels different."

Nabiki inspected it but couldn't tell anything. She shrugged and handed it back to Ranma.

Ranma studied it for a moment and then sat in a lotus position with the pack in his lap. He sat for a few minutes with his eyes closed before he opened them and began to carefully study it again.

Nabiki saw a faint glow on the tip of his fingers as he traced the edges of the seams along the back lining of the backpack. Suddenly a small black opening appeared. Responding instantly, Nabiki reached in, grabbed hold on whatever was in there and yanked it out. Both of them were stunned to see a full sized leather briefcase sitting on the floor before them.

"What the hell just happened?" sibilantly hissed Nabiki with just a little bit of fear.

Ranma shook his head in disbelief, "Somehow Genma was able to make a 'magical' pocket on the backpack frame that is a lot larger than the frame itself."

Nabiki studied Ranma a moment before carefully asking, "And how did you open it?"

Ranma scratched his head, "Don't know how I opened it. I can just barely sense it and I sure as heck don't have any idea on how to make it." He paused and said, "Wonder what's in the case that's so important that Genma went to all this trouble to hide it?" Ranma reached over and opened the case up and they both blankly stared at the carefully organized teaching scrolls that appeared before them.

Ranma took the first, glanced at it and handed it to Nabiki with the comment; "Anything goes basic moves, learned it by the time I was 6." Nabiki glanced at it and returned it to its slot.

Ranma similarly disposed of the next four in line as well. At the sixth scroll, he paused and studied it for long moments before admitting. "A lot of this is new stuff." He quickly glanced through the remaining 8 scrolls before hissing, "It's all new stuff after that. The damned old man has been holding out on me."

"THIS! This," he gestured to the briefcase, "is my true inheritance." He pulled out the final two scrolls again and pointed to the line that indicated the creator of the techniques, "As far as I can see with just a quick look, not only were these two scrolls made by 'Genma' but they seem to be the most dangerous of all the techniques shown. Not really the most powerful, but most dangerous in that they are designed to kill instead of just defeat."

Ranma angrily slammed the lid shut again. He fumed before he asked Nabiki, "Nabiki do you have any place we can hide this? It's mine, both as my inheritance and my due because of all the crap he's pulled in my life."

Nabiki thought for a few moments. This was not a casual request; Ranma was asking for help in hiding something from a master thief. "Let me think on it Ranma. The best way to hide it is to not let him realize that it's gone. You go ahead and put the rest of pack back the way it was while I make copies of these other documents before I return them."

Ranma had to wait while she scanned the documents in the envelope into her computer before he could start repacking. Meanwhile, he decided to look over some of the unknown scrolls a bit more. Four of them he noticed, had markings on them that indicated that they were the property of someone called 'Happosai'. He shrugged internally, as far as he was concerned, 'if Happosai ever showed up looking for them, it was Genma's problem, not his.'

As Nabiki was finishing up, he placed the briefcase under her bed temporarily. He watched with interest as she skillfully used her computer. Seeing his interest she promised, "I'll teach you about all this later, right now is not the time."

Ranma nodded and as soon as she was done, he hurriedly repacked the rest of the backpack and placed it back in the guest room. Nabiki was also briefly gone to replace the wallets and belt pouch.

The two tiredly met in the hall. They briefly smiled wanly at each other and then entered their own rooms to try and get some sleep.

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Author's note: Additional Ranma fan-fiction can be found on my Web Pages.

C & C to clouddreamer2000yahoo.com

Main Web-page - www.geocities.com (slash) clouddreamer2000

And alternate - mysite.verizon.net (slash) cloud-dreamer/index.html

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