Ranma ½

Chapter 2

There and Again

Disclaimer: I don't own this series or any other series. I am just floating an idea. I am making no money, nor plan to, off this venture. If you think of suing me over this, then grow up.

Quick note: 1. This is a thought of a character.

2. This is the thought of past Nabiki, known as the mercenary girl.

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She woke up in her bed, her old bed. She raised her head from the pillow, trying to force her way past the monstrous headache now threatening to blow her skull apart. Did it work, am I back?

She forced herself unsteadily to her feet. The headache was lessening, but still was taking a toll on her. She barely managed to stay standing as she worked her way towards her desk, where her planner would be. It had to work, if I came back too late, Ranma will be pissed at me for one of my stupid money-making ideas, and stuck loving Akane. If I'm lucky, I came back early enough to make certain I don't have to use poor Ranma for anything, other than as a person to love. Unless of course my sisters try and go for him again. But I am not dumping Akane on him. He deserves better than that.

Since day one, that sister of mine played with his emotions constantly letting any situation Ranma was in make her jealous and attack. Maybe that's why she cheated on him, without the jealousy from Ranma and herself, what was there?

But I can't be angry at my sister now. She hasn't done anything, plus I guess having to deal with that pervert horde at school every morning isn't helping matters. I have to make certain Ranma will stop it, or at least make Kuno see the back side of the school walls for a while.

But this is all a mute point unless I know when I am, as well as what that mirror meant. 'My past self must reach an understanding with my present self.' What the hell is that supposed to mean?

She finally located her planner underneath all the clutter of her desk, her headache gone for the moment, but not forgotten. She then began tearing through the pages, trying to find the current one, the only one without an "X" throughout the entire page. Let's see, the date. It is one week before Ranma arrives. She screamed out in joy, instantly silencing herself before her sisters would've came upstairs to figure out what there sister was up to.

All right, let's see here. I have a week to prepare for Ranma's arrival. I need to get a new kimono, my hair done...

What am I thinking? I need to make certain I have enough money so I don't seem like a greedy bitch when he arrives.

Who's a greedy bitch? I just like making money, that's all.

Who said that? She looked around, but saw no one in her room.

I'm in my head. Who the hell are you and why are you going through my stuff, and who is Ranma.

It was then that Nabiki finally understood the mirror's message. She has to convince her younger self to be different, or else the stress would kill them.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE STRESS WOULD KILL US? WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?

All right, calm down, and let me explain. This all started, I mean, will start in one week.

And so future Nabiki spent the next hour reliving her highs and lows with her younger self. Anyone watching her would have only noticed the young woman with her eyes closed, sitting on her bed, looking as though she was meditating.

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So now you understand?

So you want me to go out with a guy who turns into a girl when hit with cold water, because you had a one night stand with him after our younger sister cheated on him with his best friend/ bitter rival. Plus you wish me to not use him in any way, shape, or form to make money off of so that he will feel appreciated and safe here. All this, even though in a few weeks time, all hell will break lose as his other fiancées show up, trying to claim him and kill us. Is this what you want?

Yes. It was a little simply put, but yes. This is what I want.

Sister, you must be out of your god damned mind.

This will take longer than I thought. Anyway, are there any bets around right now where we could make a lot of money from?

How big?

She could sense her younger self was interested. I need something with long odds I would never normally bet on that will pay a huge return since I know how it will end.

Damn sis, I forgot you would know how the big bets would go down. Maybe we can work something out.

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"Hello Kouji, this is Nabiki."

She was talking on the phone with one of her old friends, a guy who had helped her set up the gambling ring at Furinkan High, before moving on to bigger and better things at college. They spent some time catching up, before she asked him to place a huge bet for her on a game the would be a big winner, and with the exact score she already knew would be the outcome, she new exactly how to phrase the bet so she would win the most money, without any of the other gambling bosses tracking her down. Kouji was the best at hiding a gambler's name, but would lament to the bosses that that person would never be allowed to bet again. As she hung up the phone, after giving Kouji the information he would need to deposit her winnings, she was forced once again into a conversation with herself.

That was our entire life savings you idiot, what if the game was rigged. The family would be broke, then what?

Don't you think I knew that, why do you think I chose this game. I remember Kouji telling me how it was one of the few games without some catch to it. And it is too late now for the pit bosses to try anything now. Besides, our bet won't raise any flags, and the bosses will still take home eighty times what we are going to win. They won't care. Plus, we won't have to do anything bad to Ranma or Akane to keep this family afloat. Besides, you always wanted a big score.

Great, now I can hire body guards for when the other fiancées show up to try and kill me.

That won't be a problem. She then turned to her father, who had just entered the hallway. "Father, I need you to help me in the dojo, I need to run through some katas, and need you to make sure I'm not messing up."

Her father began to let loose his infamous rivers of tears. "My daughter once again wants to take up the art. I am so proud of you Nabiki."

As they walked to the dojo, she could here her younger self speak. Tell me, in the future, is he still like this?

Yep. Never quits, wait until Ranma gets here. The damn floor will always be wet.

Remind me again why this is a good thing?

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She began flowing through her kata, finishing one then immediately beginning another. Each one showing a grace that Soun Tendo never knew his daughter had possessed, even showing moves he himself had never seen or taught his daughter. She had given up the art when her mother died, and if the rumors he had heard were true she had done so to make money for the dojo and save them from the poor house. My daughter is just as graceful as her mother, almost showing an understanding of the art before her time. I am so proud of her, but in a way, I feel so ashamed. I have been wallowing in my own misery for so long, I had almost forgotten about my children. The fact that she has learned so much about the art without me makes me wonder if I am no longer needed.

Nabiki was entering her fifth straight kata when her younger self chimed in. This feels weird. How long have you been doing this?

Since I found out my husband was sleeping with his male secretary. It was either this, or cheat on him and get divorced. And at the time, I still needed the money.

But you did cheat on him, with Ranma.

That young man gave me the strength to see myself and my life for what it had been. I resolved to live a better life.

We live in a crappy one room apartment and work at a fast food joint, was that what you wanted, what I will want?

It was my own fault for marrying that jerk, and he brought me down, granted I got payback, but it cost me everything. I was tired of being the Ice Queen of Furinkan High. I will live my life for myself, for my happiness, and for the happiness of those close to me.

At least we have the money.

That money is to make certain we have food on our plates, a roof over our head, and send Kasumi to medical school. You know how she loves those books. Hell, maybe we can get her and Dr. Tofu together a few years early, if we can snap him of his crazy habits.

But you still want this Ranma guy, or is it girl?

The older Nabiki was quickly beginning to lose patience with her younger self. I shared my memories with you, my passions with you, everything I felt about Ranma, everything you would have felt for him. No matter what form he is in, he is still a guy, and I love him. It is my dream that I will treat him better than my sister ever would, since she would just end up with Ryoga in the end anyway.

Right, whatever. But what makes you think I will go along with it. After all, I can give you a massive migraine anytime I want to stop you, or if you are doing something I don't like. Maybe I'll just make everyone think that you are allergic to Ranma, and then problem solved.

Aren't you tired of being alone, of having no one to console you when you are sad, no one to share your joys, your dreams with? Of being alone all the time, even in a crowded room?

Her other self remained silent. She didn't even notice that by now, she had started her eighth straight kata, bringing a giant smile to her father's face.

I know you are, because I am. I remembered all those happy couples; smiling, holding hands, kissing and such. I remember how I felt, how hard it was for me to keep from screaming at the top of my lungs for them to stop. How hurt I was whenever someone would comment about how if a guy was interested in me, I would just take him for everything he was worth, and then drop his penniless ass. I know how much it hurt when Akane dropped him on me, only for me to lose him like everyone knew I would, back to her. I remember what it was like to get excited by the prospect of him coming here that first time, that I might be chosen, since Akane would immediately hate him for being a man and Kasumi wouldn't go for him because he was three years younger than her. I remember how disappointed I was when he arrived as a girl. Do you want to know what that was like; would you like to revisit all my memories of how it felt when the Ice Queen had a shred of hope for love, for compassion from a male with no strings attached?

Her younger self was silent for a time. No. But why does it have to be him?

Because in that one night together, he made me feel more love than in the last twenty years. Because he made me feel more alive then I had been since mom...since mom passed on. Even the elder Nabiki could feel how sad her younger counterpart became. After we are done here, I will share those memories with you, how he made me feel that night. Afterwards, I dare you to tell me you don't want it to be him, I dare you to tell me that he isn't deserving of our love. He may be younger and rougher now, but I still love him. And after sharing those memories with you, I hope you will too.

She was finishing her final kata before turning to her father. "So dad, how was it?"

Her father stood up, and walked to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Nabiki, I am very proud of you. You preformed those katas with perfection. Though the last ones, you almost looked like you were going to cry, but I guess even you have some hard times trying to understand your feelings. I wish I had taught those to you, but your old man lost a lot of himself when your mother left us. But I believe I have finally found the strength to begin to move on. Thank you daughter." With that said, he pulled her into a tight hug, almost suffocating her.

Great, now he grows up.

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"Hurry up boy; I would like to be in Nerima by the end of the week"

The elder Saotome was walking lightly, enjoying the brisk, warm day, as the wind flew across him.

"Hey pops, why don't you get off your ass and help with the supplies? I don't see why I have to carry all of them."

"Training my son, training."

With that said, the two took off for Nerima, with Ranma having no idea why they were heading there, as his father thought it best not to tell the boy he was going to pick up his fiancée.

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If I messed anything up, then let me know including typos.

Any suggestions on how I should continue the story or improve it would also be accepted.

Also, if you have any suggestions for how this should go, let me know. My own imagination, while vast, always enjoys a new thought. Also, catch me if you don't think I am making the characters true to form, or a way to make them better.