A/N: I'm back! (: Been terribly busy lately... but enjoy the new chapter! Feel free to leave comments and criticisms!
And to Silent Tears of Agony, this will be a RA fic!
To whomever it was that sent me the email regarding Tofu's name, I'm so sorry I couldn't reply because I accidentally deleted the email! In any case, I guess what I meant was that the webpages I went to listed the Ranma characters as Saotome Ranma, Tendou Akane etc. but also Tofu as Tofu Ono. Thus, I got a bit confused. Don't worry, I know about the last names being in front thing! After all, being Chinese myself, my own last name comes before my first name.
A big thankyou to AnnechanB, pieee, Keisha, The Liz, TetsuoTsubushi, Azureclouds, blah, Silent Tears of Agony, Tornado(Reviewer, Alamandorious,!
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Mellow
Chapter 3
"I'm home."
It had been a long time since Nabiki had said that. She smiled for a split second as she dropped her bags and stood, waiting patiently. Almost at once, a flurry of activity manifested and inwardly she chuckled knowingly as the sliding doors flew open and a familiar attractive dark-haired woman all but hurled herself at her, letting loose a cry of mixed relief and distress.
"Whoa, Akane..." was all Nabiki managed to get out before her younger sister began hugging her tightly, squeezing the breath out of her. Behind them, Kasumi walked out serenely, her eyes lighting up at the sight of them. Nabiki was just about to try to call out a greeting to her oldest sister when without warning, the older woman slipped her arms around the both of them, holding her siblings with a grip she had never knew Kasumi possessed.
"Welcome home, Nabiki-chan," Kasumi murmured quietly. Her voice was deceptively calm, but... she could feel Kasumi shaking lightly...
All thoughts were gone as Akane opened up her hug to include Kasumi. When she looked up, Akane's eyes were suspiciously bright even as she laughed and made a teasing comment about the length of her tiny black skirt. Kasumi merely smiled, her firm grip on the two of them barely lessening.
And when they all collapsed into a myriad of soft laughter and tears, Nabiki, in an uncharacteristic moment of tenderness that surprised even herself, pulled her sisters close and shut her eyes, wondering why there had suddenly appeared the sting of fresh wetness from beneath her eyelids.
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Lunch was wonderful.
Kasumi had really outdone herself this time, Nabiki leant back calmly and reflected. It was as though she had transferred her happiness at seeing them back in the same house into her cooking, and considering her everyday cooking was more or less fantastic, this was the equivalent of a feast. Tofu had been by her side, and despite looking slightly tired and upset, the longhaired woman had smiled and laughed, gentle hands carefully cooking and preparing everything.
Although, her laughter did come across as slightly strained at times. Nabiki's eyes narrowed. She would look into that.
Akane... Well, Akane had grown. For two years she hadn't seen the girl, what's with their busy schedules and all. Sure, they kept in contact through emails, letters and phone calls, but with everyone's busy work, two years had passed by in frenzy. Then, out of the blue Akane was back. Slender, bright-eyed and breathtakingly beautiful, Akane had filled out very nicely, if she did say so herself. If she had been cute in her teenage years, she was now nothing short of strikingly alluring. Nabiki smirked. She had always known they had inherited good genes. Kasumi was beautiful, Akane was beautiful, and Nabiki for one had no lack of suitors. This was no boast, merely a fact, and she knew it.
She also knew that she wasn't the only one who had been appraising Akane during lunch. The young man next to Tofu, for instance, obviously still bore affections for her younger sister. Ah, Ranma.
Oh, Nabiki was an observant one. Very observant indeed.
It had been a long time since she last saw Ranma as well, the woman mused to herself. Six years actually. The Internet helped, but of course that simply wasn't the same. Ranma had changed, and for once she realized she wasn't as able to read into him like she used to. Six years ago, Ranma was a boy still growing, still choosing and searching. At the moment, however, Ranma seemed to have lost the boyishness that made it so easy for her to tap into his moods and use them to her advantage. Physically he still had the same boyish grin, but if she dared say so herself, he seemed more... guarded, somehow.
Nabiki let her eyes drift shut for a split second before she opened them and listened to the sound of the wind chimes.
Well, now that she was here and the Tendou Doujou seemed in one piece, she supposed Ranma would be free to leave. That was, if he wanted to. Her eyes glinted abruptly. On the other hand, if he wanted to stay... things were going to get rather nasty. She could practically feel the hostile vibes coming from Akane every time she looked at Ranma.
Akane wasn't really angry, Nabiki believed. She was angry, yes, but not really angry. It was a little trait of her sister that had been apparent all through her teenage years.
To Akane, anger was a much easier emotion to harness.
Once in a while, Nabiki wondered just how things would have turned out if Ranma hadn't left.
The story was simple enough. One fine morning in Nerima, one Kunou Kodachi somehow got it through her thick head that her darling Ranma-sama and the redheaded hussy were the same person. Thus began an elaborate plan that happened to include Ukyou, Shampoo, Kunou and even Ryouga, to sort out the enigma known as Saotome Ranma. For some reason, random explosions, poisoned feasts and fake marriage certificates had somehow been weaved into it. To top things off, the fathers decided to push forward with yet another wedding. This went on continuously for two weeks.
Perhaps the last straw had been the unknown arsonist who torched Saotome Nodoka's home late one night.
In the end, Ranma snapped. Kunou, Kodachi and Ukyou ended up in hospital with severe second and third degree burns. Nodoka was admitted for severe smoke inhalation. The wedding was called off and Ranma disappeared without warning from Nerima one night. Nodoka, once able to speak, furiously declared all engagements null and void.
That, Nabiki reflected grimly, had been the only time she had seen Ranma's mother so livid and agitated, to the point where she had began to sob uncontrollably and had to be sedated by the hospital staff.
Without Ranma, Nerima sank into a state of dream-like ominous silence. The Amazons returned to China. The last she saw, Shampoo had been pale and trembling, uncharacteristically weak to the point where she was willing to even borrow the support of Mousse. It was completely shocking to be met with the sight of the normally strong Amazon so pale and vulnerable-looking.
Genma and Nodoka moved away not long after, Genma strangely downcast. They never did write to tell the others of their whereabouts, and frankly, Nabiki didn't blame them. Akane sank into depression and soon moved away to the other side of Tokyo, choosing to continue her university education from there. Ukyou packed up and left, only stopping to send a note that was never answered, seeking forgiveness from the Saotome matriarch. Ryouga never did manage to return to Nerima after that. The Kunou siblings returned to their mansion, and they apparently sobered up quickly.
Those were dark days. Nabiki looked out grimly. Away at Tokyo University, she never did find out what happened. Akane simply refused to speak about it, shutting herself up for hours at a stretch. The rest of those involved similarly refused. It was as though a chapter had been written and the book sealed shut. Bit by bit Nabiki had managed to extract information, but she never did find out the entire story.
How ever did something as simple as a devious plan thought up by a blinded fool like Kodachi ever get so out of hand? How on earth could something like this happen? In Nerima, incidents considered bizarre and impossible by an outsider were seen as normal and everyday, but this... this was too much, too complicated, and too deep for it to be taken lightly. Nothing had ever been so serious and uncontrollable before.
There had been no clear ulterior motive. No well-thought plan. No carefully-crafted ideas. Just a muddling mess of grief and pain. Suffering that did nothing except drive them all apart.
But people heal, Nabiki supposed. The last she heard, Shampoo had married Mousse. Ukyou somehow ended up taking Ryouga in, and supposedly Ryouga proved to be a rather good cook, that was, if he didn't get lost around the kitchen. Akane became an actress, and a fast-rising one, at that. Kasumi married Tofu four years ago, in a small private ceremony attending only by family. Kunou became a lawyer, and a damn good one, if Nabiki allowed herself to admit. She snorted. Must have been something about his stubborn-like-a-bull nature. Kodachi became a chemist. That was rather disturbing, though. The horrors that woman was capable of unleashing upon the world... And for Nabiki herself? Well, business had always been her forte...
Well, she could deal with this 'deep dark past' business later. Right now it appeared that she had a guest of some sorts. Smirking, Nabiki allowed herself to face the young man who had intruded on her rather languid reflection on the patio.
"Ranma-kun," the woman addressed, watching as he took a seat not too far from when she sat. "It's been long, hasn't it?" He made no reply, merely choosing to stare out intently at some invisible speck in the distance. Nabiki resisted a small chuckle at his expense. Did he really think keeping mum would help things around here? At the age of seventeen she was known as the Ice Queen of Furinkan High School. Now at age twenty-seven, her whole job involved dealing with people, and in some cases, manipulating them as and when required. She smiled coldly. Honestly now, Ranma, you should know that. Almost at once her thoughts turned solemn.
"Right, Ranma-kun," she drawled calmly. "You've done what I asked you to do. I extend my heartfelt thanks to you. You can leave now, if you like."
He nodded, and stood.
"Although," she added thoughtfully just as he took a step towards the living room. "No one said you couldn't stay. I think it would help someone in this house if you stayed."
There was a long pause.
"I'll think about it, Nabiki." And he was gone. She did not bother looking to see where he had gone.
He would do what was right, she knew.
Once in a while, Nabiki would sit back and think. She spent a lot of time thinking, technically, but this was more of reflecting and reviewing her observations. This way, she learnt more. This was, perhaps, why she proved to be so successful. This was also why, perhaps, she always chose to keep out most of the happenings, preferring rather to be the one in the background silently monitoring and dissecting the people around her, resulting in her coming across as distant and aloof.
Oh, she wasn't aloof. She cared more than most people think. She just happened to prefer doing things the more, ah... subtle way.
But age had mellowed Nabiki, of course. This she knew.
She waited.
An hour later, she walked to the front door and saw that Ranma's shoes were still there.
Smirking, Nabiki returned to her spot on the patio.
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The day had seemed early, but in the blink of an eye, it had slipped past, leaving her with nothing but the dark of the night and the soft glow from the stars. She was alone, quiet and contemplating, but alone. Yet for once Akane decided she liked the quiet. Such a nice stark contrast from her everyday life.
She could not remember why she had crawled out onto the roof, draped in nothing more than a flimsy nightgown and a thick woolly sweater that she had pulled around herself tightly. The night was cold, but she did not feel it. The only things that she was even dimly aware of were the few stars that dotted the dark inky sky.
"Do you see, Akane?"
"See what, Daddy?"
"The stars. Your Mama. She's in the stars."
That had been a long time ago. One late night when she had awoken, calling for her mother, and wandered out onto the patio, one hand fisted tightly around the arm of a teddy bear. There she saw her father, not crying for once, sitting alone. And in the tenderest act of affection he had ever shown to her, he patted for her to sit down beside him on the patio, telling her to look up to the stars.
His eyes had been dry, and he had been smiling, albeit sadly.
That was how she fell asleep that night, curled up slightly against her father. When she awoke, she had been in bed; covers tucked neatly under her chin and she faintly recalled listening intently to the sounds of her sisters' slow deep breathing in the middle of the night.
The house was quiet now. The lasts he had seen, Nabiki had been in her old room, carefully calculating a rather intimidating bunch of sums and typing them neatly into her laptop. She thought Kasumi had been tired and had retired to her room early, but when she walked past the room her sister shared with Tofu, Akane thought she heard crying. Minutes later, as though Tofu had sensed her uncertain hovering at the door, he had appeared, and kindly reassured her that Kasumi was all right. Ranma was still in the house, though he had retreated to the guest room his used to occupy for most of the day, doing goodness-knows-what, and frankly, that suited Akane just fine. She had no particular wish to see him, and had pointedly gone out of her way to avoid him.
She could have gone to her room, but she felt somewhat tired of it. And so, in a moment of impulsivity, Akane had grabbed her sweater and made her way up the roof. Making her way up had been surprisingly easy. When she had been younger, she used to rely a bit on a ladder of some sorts to climb up. Now, all she needed was to find a good grip and somehow, she managed to swing herself up quite effortlessly.
"Hey, Akane."
She craned her head slightly to see the top of Nabiki's brown head appear over the edge of the roof. Nabiki, unlike her, did not seem to have improved much when it came to the Art, Akane noted, smiling faintly when she saw the way the older woman glanced around in distaste and discomfort as she attempted to climb up a ladder. Waving a little in welcome to her sister, Akane leant forward and reached out, pulling her sister up.
"Hey Nabs," she returned, smiling, and watched as Nabiki finally dropped to a casual position next to her, blowing out a deep breath. Studying her sister by the moonlight, Nabiki pursed her lips thoughtfully.
"You look like shit," Nabiki informed her flatly.
Akane frowned, but made no comment. Hey, just because she happened to look really bad at the moment didn't mean she had to kindly inform Nabiki that a leaf had caught in her hair. She smirked happily. Let the neighbors tell Nabiki...
Nabiki reached up and pulled the dried leaf out calmly, letting it flutter off helplessly into the night. Akane made a face.
"So, Nabs, what's up?" the younger woman asked lightly, stretching out her legs on the roof. Her sister was quiet for a moment, gazing intently at Akane's bare toes as she wriggled them harmlessly.
"Well, Akane..." Nabiki looked off into the distance. "I've placed an obituary in the papers, and made arrangements for the funeral. The day after tomorrow." She let the words hang, and unconsciously Akane shivered.
"Will...will he be buried?" Akane asked somewhat hesitantly, drawing her knees close to her body. Leaning forward, she gradually touched her chin to the top of her knees, arms coming up to encircle herself tightly.
In spite of herself, Nabiki snorted and let out a short laugh. "Daddy was smarter than we took him for," she spoke plainly, smiling a smile with something akin to tenderness. "Remember the plot of land next to Mother's grave?" At Akane's slight nod, she continued. "Daddy's reserved that since a long time ago. AT least, now he'll be next to Mother. He'd like that, don't you think, Akane?" Nabiki mused thoughtfully, her forehead crinkling slightly in the darkness.
Next to Mother, Nabiki said. Akane grew quiet, fingers touching her chin lightly in a fluttering pensive manner. Mama was everything to Daddy. Of course he would be happy.
"I think he would be happy," she finally answered. Nabiki nodded, as though satisfied with her answer.
"Good." Regarding Akane beneath lidded eyelids, Nabiki tilted her head lightly. "Get some sleep, Akane. I still think you look like shit." Without really waiting for a reply, Nabiki pushed herself slightly to her feet, intending to return to the house. Unlike her dear sister, she didn't take too kindly to sitting out on the roof in the middle of some cold autumn night. In fact, her room was looking much more cozy... In any case, she had a bit of unfinished business to tend to. That envelope that had arrived with the evening's mail had the word "Urgent" stamped on, and if she had seen correctly, she believed it had been addressed to a Tendou Soun...
"Nabiki, wait!" She paused, and looked back at her sister. Abruptly, she felt herself softening at the sight of Akane sitting in the moonlight.
She looked exactly like their mother. The same dark hair, the same honey-brown eyes, the same pale delicate features. Except, a troubled shadow had settled on the younger woman's face, and she looked utterly lost.
"I'm cold," she told Nabiki hesitantly.
She could have rolled her eyes at Akane there and then, but at the moment, she wasn't feeling up to such acts of immaturity. So get inside the house, you silly girl...
"Can I hug you, Nabiki-oneechan?" Akane's voice was soft, and scared.
Nabiki was never one for open displays of affection. In fact she found them a complete waste of time and energy, what with all the nonsensical sobbing and hugging and passionate declarations of affection. But... she wasn't inhuman. And Akane did sound terribly lost... so...
Sighing softly to herself, Nabiki opened her arms and allowed Akane to hold her tightly, the younger woman's body shaking violently with the impact of silent sobs.
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