Broken
Shadow Knight
Chapter 16: Stitches
Disclaimer: Ha. . I wish
-#-#-
NOTE: If I made some mistakes in here with words or what not, sorry, but I was trying to hurry and get this out. Thanx. :P
-#-#-
"I wish I could escape all this. . ."
With a sigh, she slipped the door shut. She shut it against the anguish she saw on Ryoga's face, the pain of having to face him every day,. . . . everything. She wanted the numb feeling in her feet to spread to every inch of her body, her limbs, her mind, and. . her heart. Raising her hands, she cradled her face, trying to force away the memories from so long ago, painful ones that persisted to tangle with her emotions.
Suddenly, she clenched her fists, breathing slowly in and out. As her breath slowed, she peeled her nails from her thin palms and stretched her lips into a cracked smile. "I must go prepare breakfast, or else father and the others will be hungry."
Entering the living room, a small whimper fought in her throat like a strangled beast. Her smile jumped awkwardly on her face as she approached the kitchen. Glancing around, she spoke to herself out loud, "Let's see, if I get some eggs and . . . oh dear. . no, that wont do. . . oh dear. . . but. . oh no. ."
Her breath began to quicken, the animal clawing at her throat. Hands twittering, she began to wring them, staring at the kitchen with an alien fear written on her face. "No. . no. . no. . . this wont do at all. . . oh my. . oh my."
Lungs heaving, she stared around frantically, everything suddenly become more dangerous, more lethal in her eyes. The knives were wickedly sharp and the flames from the stove seemed to jump about, reaching about to lick at her flesh. Her eyes grew wide as she stared. In her mind, she whispered a small plea, "help me. . . ."
"K. . Kasumi?"
She had barely noticed the hand shaking her shoulder just seconds before. As she heard the cracked voice, she turned, with a sudden wash of fear. Yet, when she turned and saw the face of her sister, Kasumi, pulled down on the reins of her fear and let a crooked smile grow on her face. "Yes, Nabiki? What can I do for you?"
Kasumi watched as her younger sister eyed her face wearily, her hand slipping off her shoulder. Something cracked inside her every time Nabiki gave her that look. It spoke of the time in the past when she wasn't able to help her younger siblings, when she was a weak and vulnerable as them at their Mother's death.
It reminded her of the shame she had felt. . . for leaving her sisters and crying alone behind the locked door of her bedroom. She had vowed never to leave her sisters to fight these emotions alone ever again. . . but that's exactly what she was doing. This was how her sister had become the "ice queen" and now. . , now how she had lost any fire she had left.
"Nothing. I was just seeing if you were making breakfast. Just so you know, I'm going to eat out. So, don't bother making a portion for me," she replied stiffly, backing away toward the hall.
"Alright, I'll see you later," Kasumi spoke, almost as if asking her with a weak hope.
She watched as Nabiki's eyes cast down to the ground. Kasumi could see her knuckles grow white from the grip on her handbag. "I wont be coming back tonight. I'm going to stay over at Kuno's."
Kasumi's smile dropped. But, she picked it back up in its broken pieces. "Then. . .I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
Nabiki lifted her hand to brush through her smartly cut locks, "I. . .I wont be back until Friday. I have some business to contend to. The money has been down lately at the club so I'm going to do some extra work." She paused to laugh harshly and look up to Kasumi with cold eyes, "I doubt I'll even be back Friday. I'll be back sometime. See you later."
She turned stiffly and stalked down the hall way. When Kasumi heard the front door shut smartly, she gave up her attempt to keep up her façade, and let the frown return to its former place. Remembering that she had a meal to cook, she quickly reached up to the cabinet and grabble a small white bottle. "No wonder I was acting so funny this morning," she mumbled with sideways grin, "Silly me, I forgot to take my pills."
Downing two, she sighed and stood staring at the knives. They were still inconceivably sharp, but they seemed to be dulling as she waited for the medicine to kick in. She had never thought she would act this way. But she supposed bemusedly that that was just what stress did to you. She remembered the feeling when she tried to hold together the family when Mother died. It was maddening. When Akane left. . . it knocked up the feeling another notch.
That had been her breaking point.
She glanced at the knives once more. They were becoming old friends again, just slowly enough. Kasumi closed her eyes as she recalled the day when they found her after the last straw had been put upon her back. She still felt flickers of the day when she had been shaking on the floor, trying to erase herself from existence. She had just been cutting the vegetables when. . . .
Reaching a hand to her mouth, she strangled a sob that threatened to escape. Hot tears prickled at her eyes. Glancing down at her arms, she worried at her lip. She could still see the pale lines that marred her beautiful skin. Kasumi quickly pulled down her sleeves and covered the hurtful reminders. Moving her eyes distractedly to the knives she could see that they were once again, simple, and not malicious, cutting tools to help her cook.
"I must. . .be getting breakfast started," she muttered numbly.
-#-#-
She was doing it again.
Reaching a hand up to her face, she jammed her manicured nails over her eyelids, forcing a feeling back that she detested. Her eyes opened and she let her hand fall to her side. She could not be weak. Never would she let such a useless emotion take control over her.
Her episode over, she let her body relax on the black leather of the seat beneath her. Staring blankly at the roof theof car for a moment, she let a wave of bleach shred the troubles that worried at her mind and thought of nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was her own way of immediate and. .
"Ms. Tendo? Are you alright?"
. . . incredibly short bliss.
"I wouldn't worry about my condition, Hiroshi, I'd worry about whether or not I'm going to fire your ass if you ask me a stupid question like that again. Turn around and pay attention to the road. I'm not paying you to be my therapist," she snapped, giving him a harsh glare.
"Yes, ma'am," the nervous driver stuttered, turning around sharply.
Nabiki, disgusted at the gall of this punk asking her such a question, quickly cut off further contact with the click of a button. Satisfied with the barrier of black glass between them, she slung her legs over the back seat and pulled a pack of cigarettes from her pocket. Her fingers were quick and efficient as she lit the cigarette. Inhaling deeply, she let her tense body relax once again and sank onto the plush seat. Pursed between her dark painted lips, the cigarette quickly shortened at her deep breaths, her mind thinking about nothing and everything.
"It's funny. . . ," she mumbled quietly to herself from around her cigarette, "I never thought things would turn out like this. . ."
She sighed and combed her fingers through her short hair. Nabiki was tired. . . tired of having to deal with all the problems at home. That's why she liked to run away, escape in her little black limo and focus on business. It let her forget that her father was just a shell of his former self, never talking, never showing any anger, sadness, or contempt. . . he showed nothing. She liked erasing the fact that her sister had had a nervous breakdown and was still suffering from it. She liked dismembering the fact that her little sister was gone.
That she had failed at finding her baby sister.
"I never knew making that deal with her would be permanent."
With a quick tap of her red fingernails, she dusted off the ash and stumped out her cigarette. Sitting up, she leaned against the window, gazing off into the distance. Suddenly, her eyes passed over some teenagers passing down the street, running with carefree smiles on their faces. She. . she had been like that once. Back then. . . when everything was simple.
Frowning, she turned from the window and tried to focus on something else. But the feeling persisted, chewing away at her apathetic exterior. With a frustrated sneer, she clenched her fist angrily. "Damn you," she whispered harshly, "Damn you Akane! Why did you have to leave us as a broken family?"
Something burned in her throat and she once again raised her fingers to press against her eyelids. But when she would step out of the car, her driver would notice that his employer's eyes seemed red around the rims.
-#-#-
"Ranma?"
Drawing back her hand, she sighed knowing it was useless. Useless like Ryoga's routine, and useless like her trying to return to the past. She quietly opened the door, balancing the tray of food in her hands. The darkness in the room was downing on her spirits, but she refused to let it get to her. She kneeled down by his still form, not paying attention to his blank stare.
"Well, Ranma, I bet you're hungry. Here's some food for you. I'll let you go now. But why don't you come downstairs today? Some fresh air will do you a world of good. Hmm?"
She really didn't expect an answer back, but gave him a hopeful smile and watched his face. When he didn't react, she knew that she had spent her time. She quickly made her way to the exit.
"Why. . . why do you always ask me that?"
Kasumi froze as she heard his cracked voice rasp out to her. Turning sharply, she stared at Ranma's still form, still facing the window. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she replied, "Because. . . because I think that it would be good for you. I don't think you should just sit around like this. It's . . . it's not healthy for you. It can't be."
He didn't speak for a few moments. Bowing his head suddenly, he spoke from behind his hand as if he were holding his face in them. "Kasumi. . . how could you still. . .how could you still be so nice to me? I. . . I tore your family apart. I tore it apart with these two hands," he suddenly swung around to face her.
Kasumi's heart screamed inside as she saw the expression on his face. He looked like a child, reaching out for comfort from a mother. His eyes were pleading with her, pleading for her to blame him and let him drop into an abyss of guiltiness and self-suffering. She closed her eyes for a moment against the sight. It reminded her too much of herself when her mother had died. It hurt too much.
"Ranma," she whispered, her eyes closed, holding back tears, "I don't blame you because you didn't do it. Shampoo did it. And even though she gave you the drugs, and did all of this. . . I still can't blame her either. She was desperate, young, confused, and in love. . . or so she thought. People do crazy things when they want something badly enough. But now. . .I think she understands what she did wrong. I just hope that she wont do something like that again."
She sat down beside Ranma and hugged him lightly, ignoring the distance he was trying to put between them. If she couldn't be there for her sister, she could at least try to be there for him. "Ranma," she explained, hugging him as a mother, "Don't ever blame yourself for what happened. No one does. You need to live and never stop being you. I don't want to see you like this and I'm sure that Ak. . . Akane wouldn't either."
Kasumi felt him flinch at the mention of her sister's name. She hugged him tighter and rested her chin on his head. Slowly, as if her words broke a barrier of pain within him, he lightly wrapped his arms around her waist. He wasn't didn't let go immediately. She sat there for several minutes.
She didn't say anything when she felt the tear drops hit her shoulder silently.
-#-#-
"Ms. Tendo? Your ride is waiting outside."
Nabiki glanced over the rims of her reading glasses. With a cold glare, she looked at the young man before her. "Hiroshi. . . didn't I specifically instruct you not to interrupt me when I calculating figures in my office?"
At the question, he gulped nervously. "Ah. . ah. . Yes, ma'am."
She removed her glasses and let her stare go into full force. Drumming her immaculate fingernails on her desk, she continued, "Ah yes. And didn't I instruct you that you were to come in at exactly nine o'clock?"
"But, ah ma'am, it is nine," he whimpered.
Reaching across her desk, she turned a small black clock around to face the anxious driver. Tapping its top lightly she spoke low, "You see this clock Hiroshi? It says it's 8:58. That's not nine."
Hiroshi flustered at the sight, "But, ma'am! I didn't know! My watch says nine-."
"I don't give a damn what your watch says. You run on my time. Adjust your watch to this or you'll be finding yourself unemployed. Got it?"
The poor driver could only gape at how cold she was. "Y. . Yes ma'am."
As he was turning to leave, Nabiki called his name. "Hiroshi, I want you to remember this and never screw up again. But, go ahead and get out. I'm going to walk today."
Hiroshi stared after his boss. This place was over forty miles from where he picked her up. Seeing his questioning glance, Nabiki's eyes softened for a moment. "Don't worry about it. I'll probably catch the bus or something. I just want to be alone for a while."
Standing there, still watching her, Nabiki suddenly turned cold. "Hiroshi?"
"Yes, ma'am?"
She pointed toward the door. "Leave. Now."
"Yes, ma'am!" He ducked his head quickly out of the office.
Nabiki sighed and relaxed in her chair. Casting an eye on her papers, she grimaced and grabbed her purse. "I'll do it tomorrow," she muttered.
Now outside, she quickly locked up the building, and started walking down the street. Thoughts of the long walk ahead of her made her mind start to wander. She shook her head roughly and pulled out her pack of cigarettes again. Stopping, she stared into her pack blankly for a second. "Damn," she mumbled to herself, "I've got to start cutting down."
Shrugging, she quickly lit it and rejoiced at the feeling of the false feeling of calm. For just a second she was in heaven. There were no stressed sisters to worry about, no dying fathers, no lost sisters. . . .
Nothing but smoke.
Inhaling deeply, she began walking down the street once more. Closing her eyes for just a moment, she nearly dropped her cigarette when she heard the sing-song voice pass closely by her ear.
"That's not very good for you."
Nabiki immediately was jerked awake from her small bliss and glanced back and forth down the street. There was no one. As cold sweat started running down her face, Nabiki grabbed her cigarette from her mouth. No one made a fool of her.
"Whoever you are, show yourself," she yelled into the empty street, her hands shaking.
No one answered back as she stood there, her body erect and shivering. Angry at herself for showing her fear and frustrated at the lack of response, Nabiki resumed walking. She was about to raise her cigarette to her lips when suddenly she froze.
Just for a second. Not even in the blink of an eye. . . she had seen someone. She stood, rooted to the spot as she played over the image in her mind. Long, dark hair, framing a young but harsh face. The eyes staring at her with a defiant and playful shadow. Forgetting her damning before, Nabiki felt the words slip past her lips in a fervent hope.
"Akane? . . .Ouch!"
Swinging her hand wildly in the air, Nabiki dropped her short stub of a cigarette. Blowing on them gently, she tried to ease the pain of the burn she had received from the end of her cigarette. Satisfied, she stamped out the butt of the cigarette and carefully walked down the street.
Shaking her head for a moment, she sighed and combed her hair once again. No, she thought with a despairing thought, it couldn't have been her.
-#-#-
Alright, I know that I haven't updated in forever, but believe you me, I've had a lot going on. So, anywho, I hope you guys enjoyed this. Sorry for taking so long. Been trying to figure my way around a major writer's block. This thing smacked me in the face before I even saw it. Well, I know there's quite a bit of explaining to do, so I'll try to sum it up as best as I can and as shortly as I can. Here we go:
-HOW MUCH TIME HAS PASSED?: Well, I don't really know, so please don't ask. Really, it can vary. You pick for now.
--Okay, as for the whole Kasumi, Ranma, Soun, and Nabiki change, well, I think you guys can figure that one out on your own. Basically the strain of losing someone, even if they ran away can be quite a lot. Especially if you already lost someone, like your mother.
--- As for Hiroshi? He is not the same character as Hiroshi, Ranma's friend. This one is just Nabiki's limo driver. Oh yea, and she runs her own business. As for now I don't know, but the interactions between them is kind of like the comic relief.
---- Alright, the last thing I can think of is the last scene. I bet a lot of you were probably expecting Akane to pop in at the next scene, but I'm trying to create an air of mystery and stuff. Plus, it isn't exactly as you think it is. And the last scene at the end of the last chapter is pretty much who you all think it was. . . . I think.
Well, that's all I'm going to bore you readers with. Hope you all enjoyed it. Please be kind to review, with whatever: criticism, comments, or questions. I'll try to answer/respond to them however they are.
Ciao. :P
Shadow Knight
Chapter 16: Stitches
Disclaimer: Ha. . I wish
-#-#-
NOTE: If I made some mistakes in here with words or what not, sorry, but I was trying to hurry and get this out. Thanx. :P
-#-#-
"I wish I could escape all this. . ."
With a sigh, she slipped the door shut. She shut it against the anguish she saw on Ryoga's face, the pain of having to face him every day,. . . . everything. She wanted the numb feeling in her feet to spread to every inch of her body, her limbs, her mind, and. . her heart. Raising her hands, she cradled her face, trying to force away the memories from so long ago, painful ones that persisted to tangle with her emotions.
Suddenly, she clenched her fists, breathing slowly in and out. As her breath slowed, she peeled her nails from her thin palms and stretched her lips into a cracked smile. "I must go prepare breakfast, or else father and the others will be hungry."
Entering the living room, a small whimper fought in her throat like a strangled beast. Her smile jumped awkwardly on her face as she approached the kitchen. Glancing around, she spoke to herself out loud, "Let's see, if I get some eggs and . . . oh dear. . no, that wont do. . . oh dear. . . but. . oh no. ."
Her breath began to quicken, the animal clawing at her throat. Hands twittering, she began to wring them, staring at the kitchen with an alien fear written on her face. "No. . no. . no. . . this wont do at all. . . oh my. . oh my."
Lungs heaving, she stared around frantically, everything suddenly become more dangerous, more lethal in her eyes. The knives were wickedly sharp and the flames from the stove seemed to jump about, reaching about to lick at her flesh. Her eyes grew wide as she stared. In her mind, she whispered a small plea, "help me. . . ."
"K. . Kasumi?"
She had barely noticed the hand shaking her shoulder just seconds before. As she heard the cracked voice, she turned, with a sudden wash of fear. Yet, when she turned and saw the face of her sister, Kasumi, pulled down on the reins of her fear and let a crooked smile grow on her face. "Yes, Nabiki? What can I do for you?"
Kasumi watched as her younger sister eyed her face wearily, her hand slipping off her shoulder. Something cracked inside her every time Nabiki gave her that look. It spoke of the time in the past when she wasn't able to help her younger siblings, when she was a weak and vulnerable as them at their Mother's death.
It reminded her of the shame she had felt. . . for leaving her sisters and crying alone behind the locked door of her bedroom. She had vowed never to leave her sisters to fight these emotions alone ever again. . . but that's exactly what she was doing. This was how her sister had become the "ice queen" and now. . , now how she had lost any fire she had left.
"Nothing. I was just seeing if you were making breakfast. Just so you know, I'm going to eat out. So, don't bother making a portion for me," she replied stiffly, backing away toward the hall.
"Alright, I'll see you later," Kasumi spoke, almost as if asking her with a weak hope.
She watched as Nabiki's eyes cast down to the ground. Kasumi could see her knuckles grow white from the grip on her handbag. "I wont be coming back tonight. I'm going to stay over at Kuno's."
Kasumi's smile dropped. But, she picked it back up in its broken pieces. "Then. . .I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
Nabiki lifted her hand to brush through her smartly cut locks, "I. . .I wont be back until Friday. I have some business to contend to. The money has been down lately at the club so I'm going to do some extra work." She paused to laugh harshly and look up to Kasumi with cold eyes, "I doubt I'll even be back Friday. I'll be back sometime. See you later."
She turned stiffly and stalked down the hall way. When Kasumi heard the front door shut smartly, she gave up her attempt to keep up her façade, and let the frown return to its former place. Remembering that she had a meal to cook, she quickly reached up to the cabinet and grabble a small white bottle. "No wonder I was acting so funny this morning," she mumbled with sideways grin, "Silly me, I forgot to take my pills."
Downing two, she sighed and stood staring at the knives. They were still inconceivably sharp, but they seemed to be dulling as she waited for the medicine to kick in. She had never thought she would act this way. But she supposed bemusedly that that was just what stress did to you. She remembered the feeling when she tried to hold together the family when Mother died. It was maddening. When Akane left. . . it knocked up the feeling another notch.
That had been her breaking point.
She glanced at the knives once more. They were becoming old friends again, just slowly enough. Kasumi closed her eyes as she recalled the day when they found her after the last straw had been put upon her back. She still felt flickers of the day when she had been shaking on the floor, trying to erase herself from existence. She had just been cutting the vegetables when. . . .
Reaching a hand to her mouth, she strangled a sob that threatened to escape. Hot tears prickled at her eyes. Glancing down at her arms, she worried at her lip. She could still see the pale lines that marred her beautiful skin. Kasumi quickly pulled down her sleeves and covered the hurtful reminders. Moving her eyes distractedly to the knives she could see that they were once again, simple, and not malicious, cutting tools to help her cook.
"I must. . .be getting breakfast started," she muttered numbly.
-#-#-
She was doing it again.
Reaching a hand up to her face, she jammed her manicured nails over her eyelids, forcing a feeling back that she detested. Her eyes opened and she let her hand fall to her side. She could not be weak. Never would she let such a useless emotion take control over her.
Her episode over, she let her body relax on the black leather of the seat beneath her. Staring blankly at the roof theof car for a moment, she let a wave of bleach shred the troubles that worried at her mind and thought of nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was her own way of immediate and. .
"Ms. Tendo? Are you alright?"
. . . incredibly short bliss.
"I wouldn't worry about my condition, Hiroshi, I'd worry about whether or not I'm going to fire your ass if you ask me a stupid question like that again. Turn around and pay attention to the road. I'm not paying you to be my therapist," she snapped, giving him a harsh glare.
"Yes, ma'am," the nervous driver stuttered, turning around sharply.
Nabiki, disgusted at the gall of this punk asking her such a question, quickly cut off further contact with the click of a button. Satisfied with the barrier of black glass between them, she slung her legs over the back seat and pulled a pack of cigarettes from her pocket. Her fingers were quick and efficient as she lit the cigarette. Inhaling deeply, she let her tense body relax once again and sank onto the plush seat. Pursed between her dark painted lips, the cigarette quickly shortened at her deep breaths, her mind thinking about nothing and everything.
"It's funny. . . ," she mumbled quietly to herself from around her cigarette, "I never thought things would turn out like this. . ."
She sighed and combed her fingers through her short hair. Nabiki was tired. . . tired of having to deal with all the problems at home. That's why she liked to run away, escape in her little black limo and focus on business. It let her forget that her father was just a shell of his former self, never talking, never showing any anger, sadness, or contempt. . . he showed nothing. She liked erasing the fact that her sister had had a nervous breakdown and was still suffering from it. She liked dismembering the fact that her little sister was gone.
That she had failed at finding her baby sister.
"I never knew making that deal with her would be permanent."
With a quick tap of her red fingernails, she dusted off the ash and stumped out her cigarette. Sitting up, she leaned against the window, gazing off into the distance. Suddenly, her eyes passed over some teenagers passing down the street, running with carefree smiles on their faces. She. . she had been like that once. Back then. . . when everything was simple.
Frowning, she turned from the window and tried to focus on something else. But the feeling persisted, chewing away at her apathetic exterior. With a frustrated sneer, she clenched her fist angrily. "Damn you," she whispered harshly, "Damn you Akane! Why did you have to leave us as a broken family?"
Something burned in her throat and she once again raised her fingers to press against her eyelids. But when she would step out of the car, her driver would notice that his employer's eyes seemed red around the rims.
-#-#-
"Ranma?"
Drawing back her hand, she sighed knowing it was useless. Useless like Ryoga's routine, and useless like her trying to return to the past. She quietly opened the door, balancing the tray of food in her hands. The darkness in the room was downing on her spirits, but she refused to let it get to her. She kneeled down by his still form, not paying attention to his blank stare.
"Well, Ranma, I bet you're hungry. Here's some food for you. I'll let you go now. But why don't you come downstairs today? Some fresh air will do you a world of good. Hmm?"
She really didn't expect an answer back, but gave him a hopeful smile and watched his face. When he didn't react, she knew that she had spent her time. She quickly made her way to the exit.
"Why. . . why do you always ask me that?"
Kasumi froze as she heard his cracked voice rasp out to her. Turning sharply, she stared at Ranma's still form, still facing the window. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she replied, "Because. . . because I think that it would be good for you. I don't think you should just sit around like this. It's . . . it's not healthy for you. It can't be."
He didn't speak for a few moments. Bowing his head suddenly, he spoke from behind his hand as if he were holding his face in them. "Kasumi. . . how could you still. . .how could you still be so nice to me? I. . . I tore your family apart. I tore it apart with these two hands," he suddenly swung around to face her.
Kasumi's heart screamed inside as she saw the expression on his face. He looked like a child, reaching out for comfort from a mother. His eyes were pleading with her, pleading for her to blame him and let him drop into an abyss of guiltiness and self-suffering. She closed her eyes for a moment against the sight. It reminded her too much of herself when her mother had died. It hurt too much.
"Ranma," she whispered, her eyes closed, holding back tears, "I don't blame you because you didn't do it. Shampoo did it. And even though she gave you the drugs, and did all of this. . . I still can't blame her either. She was desperate, young, confused, and in love. . . or so she thought. People do crazy things when they want something badly enough. But now. . .I think she understands what she did wrong. I just hope that she wont do something like that again."
She sat down beside Ranma and hugged him lightly, ignoring the distance he was trying to put between them. If she couldn't be there for her sister, she could at least try to be there for him. "Ranma," she explained, hugging him as a mother, "Don't ever blame yourself for what happened. No one does. You need to live and never stop being you. I don't want to see you like this and I'm sure that Ak. . . Akane wouldn't either."
Kasumi felt him flinch at the mention of her sister's name. She hugged him tighter and rested her chin on his head. Slowly, as if her words broke a barrier of pain within him, he lightly wrapped his arms around her waist. He wasn't didn't let go immediately. She sat there for several minutes.
She didn't say anything when she felt the tear drops hit her shoulder silently.
-#-#-
"Ms. Tendo? Your ride is waiting outside."
Nabiki glanced over the rims of her reading glasses. With a cold glare, she looked at the young man before her. "Hiroshi. . . didn't I specifically instruct you not to interrupt me when I calculating figures in my office?"
At the question, he gulped nervously. "Ah. . ah. . Yes, ma'am."
She removed her glasses and let her stare go into full force. Drumming her immaculate fingernails on her desk, she continued, "Ah yes. And didn't I instruct you that you were to come in at exactly nine o'clock?"
"But, ah ma'am, it is nine," he whimpered.
Reaching across her desk, she turned a small black clock around to face the anxious driver. Tapping its top lightly she spoke low, "You see this clock Hiroshi? It says it's 8:58. That's not nine."
Hiroshi flustered at the sight, "But, ma'am! I didn't know! My watch says nine-."
"I don't give a damn what your watch says. You run on my time. Adjust your watch to this or you'll be finding yourself unemployed. Got it?"
The poor driver could only gape at how cold she was. "Y. . Yes ma'am."
As he was turning to leave, Nabiki called his name. "Hiroshi, I want you to remember this and never screw up again. But, go ahead and get out. I'm going to walk today."
Hiroshi stared after his boss. This place was over forty miles from where he picked her up. Seeing his questioning glance, Nabiki's eyes softened for a moment. "Don't worry about it. I'll probably catch the bus or something. I just want to be alone for a while."
Standing there, still watching her, Nabiki suddenly turned cold. "Hiroshi?"
"Yes, ma'am?"
She pointed toward the door. "Leave. Now."
"Yes, ma'am!" He ducked his head quickly out of the office.
Nabiki sighed and relaxed in her chair. Casting an eye on her papers, she grimaced and grabbed her purse. "I'll do it tomorrow," she muttered.
Now outside, she quickly locked up the building, and started walking down the street. Thoughts of the long walk ahead of her made her mind start to wander. She shook her head roughly and pulled out her pack of cigarettes again. Stopping, she stared into her pack blankly for a second. "Damn," she mumbled to herself, "I've got to start cutting down."
Shrugging, she quickly lit it and rejoiced at the feeling of the false feeling of calm. For just a second she was in heaven. There were no stressed sisters to worry about, no dying fathers, no lost sisters. . . .
Nothing but smoke.
Inhaling deeply, she began walking down the street once more. Closing her eyes for just a moment, she nearly dropped her cigarette when she heard the sing-song voice pass closely by her ear.
"That's not very good for you."
Nabiki immediately was jerked awake from her small bliss and glanced back and forth down the street. There was no one. As cold sweat started running down her face, Nabiki grabbed her cigarette from her mouth. No one made a fool of her.
"Whoever you are, show yourself," she yelled into the empty street, her hands shaking.
No one answered back as she stood there, her body erect and shivering. Angry at herself for showing her fear and frustrated at the lack of response, Nabiki resumed walking. She was about to raise her cigarette to her lips when suddenly she froze.
Just for a second. Not even in the blink of an eye. . . she had seen someone. She stood, rooted to the spot as she played over the image in her mind. Long, dark hair, framing a young but harsh face. The eyes staring at her with a defiant and playful shadow. Forgetting her damning before, Nabiki felt the words slip past her lips in a fervent hope.
"Akane? . . .Ouch!"
Swinging her hand wildly in the air, Nabiki dropped her short stub of a cigarette. Blowing on them gently, she tried to ease the pain of the burn she had received from the end of her cigarette. Satisfied, she stamped out the butt of the cigarette and carefully walked down the street.
Shaking her head for a moment, she sighed and combed her hair once again. No, she thought with a despairing thought, it couldn't have been her.
-#-#-
Alright, I know that I haven't updated in forever, but believe you me, I've had a lot going on. So, anywho, I hope you guys enjoyed this. Sorry for taking so long. Been trying to figure my way around a major writer's block. This thing smacked me in the face before I even saw it. Well, I know there's quite a bit of explaining to do, so I'll try to sum it up as best as I can and as shortly as I can. Here we go:
-HOW MUCH TIME HAS PASSED?: Well, I don't really know, so please don't ask. Really, it can vary. You pick for now.
--Okay, as for the whole Kasumi, Ranma, Soun, and Nabiki change, well, I think you guys can figure that one out on your own. Basically the strain of losing someone, even if they ran away can be quite a lot. Especially if you already lost someone, like your mother.
--- As for Hiroshi? He is not the same character as Hiroshi, Ranma's friend. This one is just Nabiki's limo driver. Oh yea, and she runs her own business. As for now I don't know, but the interactions between them is kind of like the comic relief.
---- Alright, the last thing I can think of is the last scene. I bet a lot of you were probably expecting Akane to pop in at the next scene, but I'm trying to create an air of mystery and stuff. Plus, it isn't exactly as you think it is. And the last scene at the end of the last chapter is pretty much who you all think it was. . . . I think.
Well, that's all I'm going to bore you readers with. Hope you all enjoyed it. Please be kind to review, with whatever: criticism, comments, or questions. I'll try to answer/respond to them however they are.
Ciao. :P