Ranma ½
Chapter 5
Woes of the Heart
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.
I would like to first personally thank all of those reviewing my stories. I enjoy reading your comments, and try to correct the grammatical errors I miss with my final read-through as well as my spell checkers. The suggestions you all make will help make this story better for everyone to enjoy, as well as allow my to fix some plot holes I may unintentionally leave. I would also like to personally thank dogbertcarroll for pointing out a stupid mistake I made in chapter 2, which has been corrected.
The ideas I placed at the end of the last chapter were not things I was thinking of adding to this one, they were ideas for separate stories. I find that if I let thinks sit for a while in my head; I can play them out farther. Plus by trying and keeping my chapters between 2500 and 3000 words, it helps keep me from making the story slide out of control, turning a diamond to a pile of shit.
One more thing, can anyone please tell me what OOC refers to, I see it a lot, but have no clue to its meaning.
Now, on with the show.
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Nabiki was soaking inside the tub, trying to make certain her muscles had recovered since yesterday. She had two hours left to get ready for Ranma's arrival, and she didn't want to waste them. But her muscles still had a slight ache from her seizure yesterday, and helping Akane with her training this morning hadn't really been her brightest idea.
"DAMN IT TO HELL!"
She looked towards the window again, smiling to herself. And after another failed attempt at to grab the chestnuts from the fire, our dear sister shows us all her frightening shouting abilities.
I have to tell you, I don't like the odds of what could happen today.
Why? What's got you so spooked?
For one thing, trying to teach Akane the Hiryü Shöten Ha means she has to control her temper. Now this temper is what kept her and Ranma apart for so long. So, shouldn't we be trying to keep her angry?
It doesn't matter. When she finds out Ranma is a guy, she will flip out, maybe not as bad as she did the first time, but enough to dissuade Ranma from going for her. As long as I try to be his friend first, and not clingy or demanding like Shampoo or Ukyo, then we will be the front runner. He told me one time, how Akane had asked if she could be friends with him when he was a girl. You saw how well that turned out when he was a guy.
I still can't believe she came in here. Didn't she want Ranma to have some privacy? I didn't know our sister was such a pervert.
Both Nabikis laughed at that line.
I can just imagine our poor, sweet little sister bounding around town, acting like a female Happosai.
Outside, Akane was about to try the Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken once more, when she heard a loud laugh come from the bathroom. "What the hell is Nabiki laughing at?"
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The girls had gathered in the dining room, looking at their father. He had summoned them here, telling them that it was very important. Kasumi was in her usual apron and light work clothes, while both Akane and Nabiki were in their Gis. Not like I don't know what is about to happen. Nabiki looked around while their father was still trying to figure out how to phrase his words. Maybe I should have worn the kimono again?
Nah, you were planning on showing him what you could do. Might as well look the part. Now calm down before you give us a heart attack. Besides, father is already speaking.
"Fiancée?" asked Kasumi?
"Yes," said Soun Tendo. "The son of a very good friend of mine. His name is Ranma Saotome. If one of you three girls were to marry him, and carry on this training hall, then the Tendo family legacy would be secure."
"Hey, wait a minute here!" Akane was becoming visibly upset. "Don't we get to have some say in who we're going to marry?"
With an attitude like that sister dear, I don't think you have to worry.
"He'll be here any minute." Soun stood up from his seat. "Him and his father have been on a training mission; recently they crossed into China."
Better say your line girl. "Oooh, China."
"So he hiked all the way to China." Akane folded her arms, trying to look as unimpressed as she could. "Wow, big deal."
"Father," asked Kasumi, "how old is this Ranma?"
"Is he cute?" asked Nabiki. Not like I don't already know, but I guess I got to play the role.
"Young men are so...young," spoke Kasumi.
This is where I asked what type of guy he is. I won't bother asking what type of guy is he. That will just start father laughing again, and make Akane madder. I have to play this just right.
It was then they heard noises outside, followed by someone opening their front door.
"We have visitors," said Kasumi.
"Saotome, my friend," claimed Soun as he and his eldest daughter went to answer the door.
Akane continued to stare out into the backyard, upset that this fiancée was being forced on her. She turned to look at Nabiki, who was sipping on some tea. Why is she so calm? I'm mad as hell; Kasumi even became different upon hearing of this Ranma guy. But Nabiki is staying calm, acting like nothing out of the ordinary is happening. Why is she...?
She wasn't able to finish that thought, hearing her oldest sister scream.
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"Would you please stop that?" asked Ranma. She was tired of Soun poking her in her breasts, and was about to bean the man across the room, if not for the fact that he was a friend of her father's.
"A girl?" Soun looked like he was about to faint, sweat dripping from his head.
At least his first memory of me won't be me feeling him up. Both Nabikis laughed at this, making certain no one would see this on the outside.
"I'm sorry girls," Soun said, leaning back against a wall. "I assumed my friend Genma's son was a boy."
Nabiki looked over at Ranma, seeing the disappointment in her eyes. Even I know what that look means. I knows he's lonely.
Then we have to do this. No hesitations.
No hesitations.
Nabiki now stood before Ranma, fighting every fiber in her that demanded that she take her in her arms, and begin crying; telling her everything would be all right, now that they were together again.
But she held it in. Placing her hand out; she spoke to him. "Hello, I'm Nabiki, and this is my sister Akane. Would you like to be friends?"
Ranma looked at the two, almost afraid to reach out and accept Nabiki's hand. Finally, a need to be accepted outweighed her need to be secretive. She took Nabiki's hand as they dragged her off to the dojo, telling their father that they were going to go spar with Ranma.
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Nabiki watched as Akane and Ranma sparred against one another. Even though Akane had trained with her sister for the last few days, she was still no match for Ranma's speed, but she had shown some improvement. Ranma actually had to block some of her punches, where the last time she simply dodged and weaved around them. But eventually Akane's temper got the better of her, and Ranma finally landed a tap on her head. Smiling, the female Ranma said "I win."
Akane fell backwards on the ground, laughing. "You're pretty good. It's a good thing you aren't a boy, I couldn't stand losing to you if you were."
Ranma looked sad for a little bit, before she felt Nabiki put her arm around her. "Enough of this after-match fanfare. My turn."
Akane looked a little worried. "Are you sure sis, I mean after yesterday...?"
"Don't worry," said Nabiki. "I'll be fine. It's not like Ranma will keep pounding on me after I yield. Ready Ranma?"
"Uh, yeah." What happened to her yesterday, I'll have to ask her. I hope she didn't get too hurt.
Both fighters assumed their stances, with Akane sitting back, noting how serious her sister looked right now. Ranma noticed that Nabiki's stance looked somewhat similar to that Shampoo person, who had been trying to kill her for the last two weeks, but discounted the possibility that Nabiki was an Amazon; she was too nice to him.
"You can have the first move Nabiki," Ranma said, not exactly knowing how strong the middle Tendo daughter was.
"OK then." It's now or never. Ready for me to try it?
Are you certain we can pull it off?
We're about to find out.She rushed towards Ranma, and she got near her, she shouted out "Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken!"
Though Ranma was fast, she was not fast enough to block all of those punches, and was surprised as she flew back, impacting on the wall. Nabiki just stood where she had struck Ranma, looking at her hands. I did it, I finally mastered the Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken, and my arms are still attached. "Ranma, you OK?"
The red-headed girl pulled herself out from the wall, rubbing her chest a little. "Damn Nabiki. Where did you learn that?"
Akane rang in before her sister could respond. "That was the Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken; it can deliver over 500 punches in fewer than five seconds." She then turned towards her sister. "I thought you said you hadn't mastered it yet?"
Nabiki looked down at the floor, rubbing her head. "I just did. I figured it was now or never, and I knew Ranma could take it." She finally looked up at her, seeing the enjoyment in her eyes. Now there's something I missed seeing. "You know Ranma, if you want, I could teach it to you?"
"REALLY!" The red-headed girl looked almost ecstatic. "I would love to learn that move. You know of any others?"
"Yeah," Akane chimed in again, happy to see her new friend was enjoying herself. "She had been showing me some new katas, as well as something called the Hiryü Shöten Ha."
"Oh man," came the happy response from Ranma. "You've got to teach me everything you know. I'll do anything."
Anything huh? Nabiki took some time to think about this. She could hear her younger self urging to request some pictures to sell, but she mentally chided her younger self, saying now wasn't the time to ask him such things. Finally, she decided what to do. "Ranma, I'll teach you, but you owe me a favor for every move I teach you."
Ranma was about to respond, saying how she happily would accept Nabiki's offer, when once again Akane chimed in. "What are you doing Nabiki?" She figured her sister was going to start asking for pictures of Ranma to pass out to the horde at school, and there was no way she was going to let her new friend be taken advantage of like that.
"Don't worry Akane, it won't be anything dirty. I wouldn't do that to Ranma."
I would, pictures of her would fetch way more than Akane, and of course Kuno would pay a high price for either of them in a bikini shot.
"I merely meant it as an innocent favor. If Ranma isn't comfortable with it, she can say no at any time, and I'll still teach her the move. So, do we have an agreement?"
"Sure," replied Ranma, mentally reminding herself to ask either girl later on about what Akane's little outburst was about. Man, she must have done something big for Akane to be afraid about Nabiki teaching me.
"OK then, it's all settled." She went up to Ranma, and placed her arm around the girl again. "But for now, you better head to the bathroom and wash up. Kasumi will be serving dinner in an hour, and I'm certain you would enjoy a nice, warm bath."
Bath, oh no! If I get a bath, they'll see the real me.
Akane stayed in the dojo, trying to once again work on the Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken; refusing to stop now that her sister had mastered it, saying she would get a bath after Ranma. Nabiki showed the new guest towards the bathroom, but noticed how nervous Ranma was. I guess he's afraid that after the bath, we won't like him anymore, that we'll see him as a freak.
"Ranma?"
"Yes."
"I figure something is going on that you don't want to tell us just yet." Ranma looked at the girl, a look of panic and fear in her eyes, a sight Nabiki had seen once too often in the same eyes of Ranma's future self. "So I now name my first favor. In order to teach you the Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken, I want you to never think for a second that I will ever reject you or hate you.
Ranma stopped at hearing those words. What is she talking about; does she know about my curse?
Nabiki continued to talk, turning around to face Ranma. "We all have secrets we don't want to let everyone know, little things about ourselves that we fear if anyone were to find out, they would immediately hate us. But I don't want you to think like that. I want you to know that if any of your little secrets come out, no matter how bad they are, or how embarrassed they make you, I want you to know that I will always be your friend. Never forget that, and I will teach you the Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken. What do you say, we have a deal?"
Nabiki extended her hand to Ranma, whose eyes had a near confused look to them, but also the presence of happiness. She has to know I will accept her no matter what happens, no matter what is different about her.
Ranma reached and took her hand. "Deal."
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Nabiki was down stairs, waiting. She knew what was coming. She knew what was about to happen. But all she had to do was place herself strategically, to ensure not only would Ranma not be hurt, but to ensure that she was the first one to comfort him.
Then, they all heard it. They heard Akane scream. "PERVERT!"
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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.