Too Close For Comfort
Ranma Fanfic by Seras4545
A/N: Hmm... Not as many reviews this time. Am I doing something wrong? Oh well. I'll continue this just because I want to. To answer the question as to what period of time my fic is based in it is based on current to little futuristic times, though it doesn't really matter in a fanfic does it? Hope you enjoy it. If you don't, then write your own and enjoy doing that, instead of reading a story you don't enjoy. Let the show go on!
Ch. 2 School Is No Place For Horsing Around
Nabiki's Room 6:27 A.M. Nabiki's POV
Nabiki shot up in bed when she heard a loud splashing sound. She rubbed her eyes to clear them and looked around. She noticed that Ranma had left and had folded up the futon and put it away. Now where has he gotten off to? She thought as she grumbled and got out of bed. She looked at her clock and groaned. She was not a morning person, she wasn't used to getting up at any time before 7:15.
She heard someone shouting from the direction of the koi pond and she walked over to her window that overlooked the backyard. She looked out and saw Ranma and his father fighting. She couldn't believe they were up and fighting already! Can't they let a girl have her beauty sleep! Oh well, I was planning on asking Ranma to train me anyways, so I guess I'll have to get used to getting up early again.
Nabiki sighed in resignation and got out of bed, slipping into her house shoes as she did. She walked downstairs and took a look at the battle between father and son. They were fighting in midair more often than not and had considerable hang time, more than what could be logically explained. "My, aren't they energetic this morning?" She said as they threw punches at each other at eye watering speeds. Nabiki distantly heard Akane mutter "Well, I guess they are pretty good." Pretty good? Ha! Don't you remember who made you eat soap yesterday? If they are pretty good, then you are abysmal. Nabiki thought with a smile on her face. She would always remember that.
Kasumi came in with breakfast and called out to the two martial artists. "Ranma! Mr. Saotome! Let's have some breakfast shall we?" The two continued to fight and Nabiki could see that Ranma wanted to take out his anger on Genma for being cursed. "They're so energetic, and on an empty stomach too." Kasumi said with a smile.
Nabiki watched as they traded a particularly vicious round of blows and separated again. Ranma, with a glare at his father, launched up again and Genma leaped up to meet him. Ranma did some strange twist in the air and somehow had grabbed Genma in the process and launched Genma into the koi pond. Genma came back out of the pond and pulled a steaming teakettle out of somewhere and poured it on himself, changing back into a man.
Ranma smiled mockingly at his father. "What, is that all you got pops? Guess that will teach you for going to China when you couldn't even speak a word of chinese. If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have been cursed. Anyways, let's go have some breakfast."
Genma grew angry, he rushed up to Ranma and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "Ranma! You sound like a girl!" He yelled as he threw Ranma into the koi pond. "You're getting sloppy, boy!". Ranma got up and Nabiki could see the look of hurt on her face. Then she looked over at Nabiki and she started to smile.
"So what? I'm half girl anyways. I accept that." She yelled as she picked up a wash tub full of cold water and hurled it at the surprised and dumbfounded Genma, who was first splashed by the water then hit with the tub square in the face. "Now look who's being sloppy!" She said.
Nabiki didn't have enough time to yell out a warning to Ranma as Genma ran up and smashed the tub onto Ranma's head, knocking her out. Nabiki shook her head as Genma walked away triumphantly. "It must run in the family." She said as she walked over to wake Ranma up so she could eat breakfast.
Kasumi looked thoughtful for a moment. "Oh my. I imagine Mr. Saotome will need something different for breakfast." She said as she proceeded to pull out a dish of fresh cut bamboo for the panda to eat.
After the meal and thanking Kasumi, Ranma and Genma left to take a bath to change back.
General POV hall in the Tendo Dojo 6:58 P.M.
Ranma walked alongside Genma as Genma talked in a placating tone. "...Well we are going to be staying awhile." This was the tail end of his argument over why Ranma should go to the local school. Ranma had nothing against school, it was just his knowledge that Genma had always thought that education was a hindrance and had always did everything in his power to keep Ranma from spending too much time learning something other than martial arts. So this had to some kind of ploy of his.
Not wanting to let Genma think that Ranma was actually eager to go, he argued as he normally would have. "Well, what about what I think! Don't I have some say in this! Who died and made you boss!" Ranma shouted in as a righteously angry tone as he could muster. He topped it off by kicking Genma into the now nearby koi pond. "So there!"
At this time Nabiki came out of the living room dressed in her school uniform and with a bright smile on her face and Ranma gazed at her, speechless. Wow, she looks so beautiful in that dress! Now I want to go even more.
Nabiki let him stare for a little longer then broke the silence. "Hey, it's not so bad! You'll be going to the same school as me and Akane." She leaned closer to him and added in a whisper "You'll be in my class so don't worry about Akane." She leaned back as if nothing had happened.
"So you coming with me or do I have to go alone?" She asked, obviously expecting the former.
Ranma was a little flustered, not only with Nabiki's behavior but also with the fact that he wanted to go but didn't have any of the stuff he would need.
"But I don' have the stuff I need and even if I did I wouldn't be ready to go." He explained.
Nabiki's face fell a bit until Genma popped up and shoved a schoolbag into Ranma's arms.
Here's your things.
Now get going boy!
He signed while eating a shoot of bamboo.
Ranma glared at his father as if he didn't want to go but as soon as he turned to Nabiki he smiled and they headed out the door.
Genma and Soun watched them leave, anticipating the fruition of their plans.
Ranma walked alongside Nabiki in silence for awhile, then broke it. "Hey Nabiki, I thought you said that both you and Akane go to this school, so how come she's not with us?"
Nabiki turned to him and asked in a serious tone. "Why? Do miss her? Would you rather walk with her than me?"
Seeing Ranma get nervous and start to stutter out that no he wouldn't and that he was just curious she started laughing. "Ranma, you are just too easy to tease. Akane's not with us because we are going there early. I have some people I would like you to meet and I have a problem I would like you to help me sort out. I also need to tell you about the things I do to keep the dojo afloat and the household running."
Ranma nodded to this, wondering exactly what kind of problem she had that she couldn't handle herself.
Nabiki assumed a business like tone. "First, I run betting pools on any kind of event at school. Also I sell photos of various people and I sell information. That about covers it when it comes to things that are absolutely legal." Ranma frowned at this, not wanting her to have to do anything against the law just to finance her home and family.
"I often blackmail people and extort money and goods from them. I also own many websites that sell semi-legal services and products. Now, one of the main reasons I'm telling you this is because I need your help in the legal activities. Being new to the school and being a great martial artist, you will attract a lot of attention. The betting pools and events will revolve around you mainly. Also..." She proceeded to pull a couple of pictures out and showed them to Ranma. Ranma's jaw nearly dropped and he had a hard time keeping his emotions in check.
" I would be able to make a fortune off of these pictures alone, enough to pay for the budget for weeks, if not a whole month. However, I wanted to ask your permission first." she handed him the pictures. "It's your choice, if you refuse I will not sell anything in regards to you."
Ranma knew she was entrusting him with a very important decision. She could have easily have sold these and he would have been none the wiser. It made him feel very good to know that she would trust him so much. However, he would benefit as well, he was not new to this business thing and he felt he could hold his own and even help out if needed. He didn't care if she sold such things of him. It had actually happened before.
Ranma put on a business like frown. "Let me get this straight. On the surface you run school based betting pools and are a loan shark. You also sell softcore pictures of people when you can get such pictures. Then you have underhanded business which is borderline illegal. And you want my cooperation and even my help with this?"
Nabiki nodded, wondering where he was going with this.
Ranma smiled a predatory smile. "Hmm... Well all right." Nabiki let out an audible sigh and was about to thank him when he raised his hand, indicating he had more to say.
"I didn't say for free. It's gonna cost ya. I also have a few demands." Nabiki nodded grudgingly, making a mental note to never underestimate Ranma in any field. Apparently he regards almost any activity as something he must master and be the best at, just like martial arts.
" So how about I get 10 percent of all profits from activities that involve me and/or have a connection to me?" Nabiki knew instantly what to do, so she bartered with him, enjoying it as well. It was good to find someone who could do business almost as well as most of her lackeys, though he had a long way to go before he was at her level.
They had eventually settled on 7.5 percent which Nabiki thought was a little much and Ranma felt was a little low, so they both knew it was the best compromise.
After he gave her the photos back Nabiki looked questioningly at Ranma. "So, what were those demands you talked about?"
Ranma smiled at her. "They're simple enough. All I ask is that once we are generating enough money, that you give up activities that are borderline illegal. Also, I need your help in getting my pops a job and getting your father to start training again and to reopen the dojo. We also need to see about getting more free time for Kasumi so that she can pursue her own happiness."
Nabiki was stunned. He had actually thought this through thoroughly. He also was showing that he cared not just for her but for her whole family as well. She just had to ask.
"Why? Why do you care so much? You've barely even been with us for a day."
Ranma stopped and smiled at her, glad she had asked. "'Cause I felt at home since I got here, you all feel like family to me, you're all my friends. Also I l..lo..Care about you the most. When I got cursed, you didn't treat me like some kind of freak. You showed that you cared, you helped me through it and pulled me back together. You have no idea how much that mattered to me. That's why I care."
Nabiki felt a surge of love for the man walking beside her, knowing he really, truly cared, was worth more than a mountain of yen. She looked at Ranma who looked like he was searching for something in his pockets.
When he finally found what he was looking for he pulled it out and smiled at her as he placed it in her hands. She gasped when she saw that it turned out to be a perfect, uncut diamond and a rather large chunk of what appeared to be pure gold. She looked at them in awe and then gave Ranma a look as if to say 'How?'
He shrugged. "I found them during my travels, it took a lot to hide them from pops but I managed somehow. You can do what you want with the gold but I want you to keep the diamond for yourself. It's to be my wedding gift to you, but even if we don't get married I want you to have it. We can get them appraised later."
Ranma was rather proud of himself, these two findings were rare at best and he knew that they were practically invaluable. He had no real use for them however and so he passed them on to Nabiki, who he knew would be able to make the best of them.
Unexpectedly she jumped at him and enveloped him in a tight hug. It nearly knocked the breath out of him and the way her breasts squeezed against his chest felt started to make him slightly uncomfortable.
Suddenly she released him, though rather reluctantly he noticed. She had tears of joy in her eyes and a look of gratitude and happiness on her face.
"Thank you so much Ranma! You have no idea what this means to me and my family. We'll go have this appraised as soon as we get out of school, alright?"
Ranma nodded his agreement, glad this had helped. He jumped up on the fence next to the canal and began walking on it.
Nabiki gave him a quizzical look. "What are you doing up there?"
Ranma looked down and smiled. "Balance training. If there is one thing that pops taught me that was truly wise, it was to turn everything I could into training. So while walking to school I can walk along the fence, improving my balance and giving some muscles an extra workout."
Nabiki thought on this for awhile, surprised that the idiot panda actually had some useful wisdom. Then she couldn't help herself, she wanted to do it too. "Hey Ranma, could I ask you for a favor?"
He looked down at her and smiled. "Go ahead, shoot."
She smiled back. "Could you teach me? Martial arts I mean?"
This seems to have caught him off guard and he nearly fell off the fence. He regained his balance and jumped down and gave her a calculating look. Then he smiled broadly.
"Of course! I'd love to teach you! You have no idea how long I've been wanting to ask you if you wanted to. Thanks Nabiki." He hesitated for a second, then gave her a light kiss on the cheek.
Nabiki blushed beautifully, as did Ranma. They remained in uncomfortable silence for a few moments until Ranma broke the silence.
"So, what kind of problem did you need fixed?"
Nabiki thought it over for a moment, then decided to tell him about how Tatewaki Kuno had arranged for the male population of the school to challenge Akane for a date and how it had happened every morning since then.
Ranma had no particular feelings for the tomboy, but what Kuno had done was unforgivable in his eyes. He knew that this is what was behind Akane's constant and uncontrollable anger and her dislike for boys.
"Alright, I'll make sure that Kuno is eating through a straw when I'm finished with him."
Nabiki smiled gratefully. "Just don't hurt him too much, he is one of the richest clans in the area and his father is the principal of our school, though he is on an extended vacation in Hawaii for some medical reason. Also he is where I get much of my money from, as he isn't the brightest bulb in the box and he is also slightly delusional."
Ranma thought on this for a moment. "Who is the doctor around here?" Nabiki proceeded to tell him of Tofu and gave him directions on how to get there.
Ranma memorized the directions and nodded in satisfaction. "I'll just take him there afterward then."
Nabiki nodded her agreement. She then looked at Ranma with an expectant look. "So, about that balancing thing, do you think I could try it?"
Ranma gave her an appraising glance and nodded, as if satisfied by something. "Can you balance well enough to ride a bike without using your hands, ever?"
Nabiki remembered doing something along those lines a while back, so she just nodded.
Ranma smiled. "Well, I guess I could start your training now then. Just a warning though, you are not gonna be good at this right off the bat and you will be sore after some practice."
Nabiki didn't care, it was worth the cost. Ranma helped her up onto the fence and stood her up, stabilizing her when she needed it. Soon she was walking slowly in front of Ranma, her arms out to keep her balance. She soon felt like she got the hang of it and began walking faster, though she could feel the strain of some of the muscles she had to use constantly just to keep her balance.
She reached a section of the fence that hadn't been secured properly and it wobbled, instantly throwing her off balance, sending her falling into the canal. Ranma tried catching her but stepped on a wet section of the fence that Nabiki had somehow dodged. He managed to get Nabiki back on the fence, but took the plunge in her place, triggering the curse.
Ranma got up and jumped back over the fence, wet and a little irritated.
"Ranma, are you alright? Sorry I got you into this mess. We can go to Tofu's place and get some hot water." Nabiki felt really bad, today was Ranma's first day at school and she felt she had ruined it for him/her.
Ranma looked up at the sky and sighed lightly. "Nah, it's alright Nabiki. It's gonna rain soon anyways so it doesn't really matter. Thanks for offering though. We might be late if we had to take any kind of detour and I still have to settle the problem of Kuno."
Nabiki was a little surprised, if she were in Ranma's position, she probably would have tried to reverse the curse as soon as she could. "But, Ranma, it's your first day at Furinken! You don't want to go as a girl do you? Everyone will know about your secret!" I'm also a little worried about how Kuno will react to her.
Ranma shrugged her shoulders. "I learned that the sooner someone learns about the strange things about you, the easier it will be for them to accept that strangeness and get to know the real you instead. There are only a few exceptions to this rule that I know of, one of them being Akane. They are bound to learn sooner or later anyways."
Nabiki thought this over for a bit and decided it was good advice, if slightly flawed. Deciding to let Ranma handle the curse the way she feels it needs to be handled, she moved on to the issue of the engagement.
"Just as a heads up, I would like to keep our engagement a secret." Seeing the questioning look from Ranma she elaborated. "Just for awhile, I would like to milk the subject for all it's worth first, then I'll charge a huge sum of money for the final answer. Then we get to enjoy the general chaos that would have happened anyway, but this way we benefit from it."
Ranma considered this for a moment and then agreed, seeing that it was the best way. They continued down the street and eventually the gates of Furinken rose up in their view. Ranma could see the crowd of boys from varying clubs and groups awaiting the arrival of Akane. Ranma could also sense a large source of ki hiding behind a tree in the back of the crowd and knew that it was Kuno. Ranma bristled with anger at the kendoist. Now he is really pissing me off! Not only did he arrange for this travesty of a challenge, but he also hides until his opponent is weakened from having to fight the mob off. He is going to be in a world of pain when I get done with him!
Nabiki led her over to two girls who were talking with each other. When they saw them approaching, they seemed to be expecting them. Nabiki motioned for Ranma to come and meet them and Ranma went along for now.
"Ranma, I would like you to meet two of my best friends and the best informants and assistants in the school. She is Sayuri." She indicated the girl with long red-blond hair. " and this is Yuka." The other girl with short light brown hair nodded at Ranma.
"Girls, this is Ranma, the one I told you about over the phone." The two girls looked slightly confused at this statement.
Yuka spoke up. "But Boss, I thought you said Ranma was a guy! And aren't you two supposed to be engaged? What's going on here?"
Nabiki was not surprised at their confusion. "She is a guy!Well... sorta. Look it's hard to explain in full but let me give you the basic rundown. Ranma has been cursed and water changes his gender. Cold turns him into a girl and hot turns her back."
Seeing the incredulous looks on their faces, Nabiki sighed and pulled out the photos. "I can't give you a demonstration right now since Ranma doesn't feel like changing since it's gonna rain soon, but these should be enough."
She handed the pictures to them and they began admiring them, especially those of Ranma's male half.
"Wow, he is such a hunk! You're so lucky Nabiki!" Yuka said with a dreamy look on her face.
Sayuri merely nodded and one could see a small trail of drool at the corner of her mouth.
Nabiki let them fantasize for a little longer and then got down to business.
" Alright, what I want you to do is make copies and sell as many of those as you can. Oh, and sell rumors of the engagements but no specifics, and any info on Ranma you feel like except the curse and of course the engagement. I'll take care of those myself. Also if Ranma ever needs anything, anything at all, give it to him. Got it?"
Seeing them nod an affirmative Nabiki shooed them off to do their jobs. She turned to Ranma and smiled.
She smiled back. "Thanks Nabiki."
Nabiki shook her head. "No problem Ranma, after all, today is going to make more money than I have ever seen in one spot and it is all thanks to you. Now I'll go and start the betting pools on the fight between you and the hentai gang and your upcoming fight with Kuno. I'll leave the way you start that fight up to you, just make sure to end this farce today by getting Kuno to agree, alright?"
Ranma nodded her agreement and left Nabiki to her business. She took a look at the groups of boys and decided that their overall martial arts capability was abysmal. She doubted that they could even work in a team.
Ranma always was a direct person, so she didn't hesitate to issue a formal challenge against the male population of the school.
When she had their attention, she noticed that many of the boys were drooling. Oh kami, that's gross. They are complete perverts! No wonder Akane is so angry all the time. Suddenly an idea came to her and she smiled evilly. If what she knew of Kuno was correct then he wouldn't be able to resist the challenge, no matter how fixated he was on Akane.
"Listen up! I challenge all of you! If I lose, then I will go out on a date with each and every one of you still standing in the end!" She waited for the whistles, cheers, and general perverted banter to die down while trying to keep herself from puking. "However, If I win, you must stop this nonsense at once and you will forfeit the right to challenge Akane for any reason!" This quieted them down a bit but they still seemed up to the challenge.
"If you agree, then lets get this over with!" They immediately charged Ranma. As she had thought though, they did not work well in teams, and constantly tripped each other up and sometimes even took one of their own out completely. As Ranma danced through and around their ranks, she could sense Kuno watching, waiting for the end of this charade.
She used pressure points and swift knockouts to end this quickly without hurting anyone too badly. After all, they were just normal perverts, not the superlech that Kuno seemed to be. When Ranma saw there were no more standing, she sighed, slightly disappointed that it hadn't been more of a challenge. She saw Nabiki gathering money from those who had lost bets and giving it out to the very small number who had won theirs.
Ranma sensed an incoming ki signature from Kuno's direction and caught the rose he had thrown at her. She took a look at his ki closely and then threw the rose away in disgust. His ki was twisted and a sickly green. Ranma guessed that he must be suffering from partial insanity that had been caused by something like drugs or a blow to his head, maybe both.
Ranma turned to face her new challenger, who was dressed in samurai robes and was wielding a bokken. He was tall and had hair that was slightly along the same lines as Ranma's male half, just cut short and well groomed. Ranma's opinion of the man went down when he started spouting Shakespeare, and very badly at that. (If he had any idea what the lines meant, then he would understand why Ranma felt justified in his beating.)
"But earthlier happy is the rose distilled than that which withering on the virgin thorn grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness."
While Ranma wasn't the smartest person, she had read many lines from Shakespeare before during her year of education, and knew exactly what it meant. Her blood began to boil and she couldn't wait to get her hands on him. (In a lethal way of course, you perverts)
He walked out from behind the tree and confronted Ranma, seeming completely at ease and confident. Ranma simply waited for him to be finished with his ranting.
"These weaklings! Such a boorish lot, truly. They fought for the privilege of your company, oh pigtailed beauty. May I ask your name?"
Still ready for an attack, Ranma smiled, though it had no warmth in it. "The name's Saotome. Saotome, Ranma. Don't bother telling me yours, I already know it. Tatewaki Kuno, correct?"
Kuno, oblivious to anything else, beamed at the fact that the fiery beauty before him already knew of him.
"Seems my reputation has gone far indeed. Well, Ranma, would you spar with me? If you defeat me then you may date with me!"
Before Kuno could launch his attack, Ranma shook her head.
"No, Kuno. That was not the provision of my challenge. I will restate it, so that all is clear to you. If you win, you may date with me. If you lose, then you lose all rights to challenge Akane for any reason."
Kuno was taken aback for a moment. He had no wish to lose Akane, but he so wanted to date the wild, energetic girl before him. Sure of his abilities, Kuno agreed.
"Very well, you have the honor of fighting the undefeated captain of this school's kendo club, the rising new star of the school fencing world! The sound of my voice strikes fear into the hearts of mine enemies. My peers call me the blue thunder of Furinken High!"
This last piece created an impressive echo and Ranma was impressed with Kuno's ability to control the lightning enough to have it flash behind him as soon as he finished, something that would have caused others to doubt their abilities.
"Tatewaki Kuno, age 17."
Distantly Ranma heard Sayuri and Yuka speaking with Nabiki.
"Did he just call himself blue thunder?"
"Have you heard that before?"
"Nope, it's news to me."
"Last I heard, he was calling himself 'Shooting Star'."
Ranma smiled at this.
"Nice special effects Kuno, now lets get on with this. I have no desire to be late."
Ranma fell into a ready stance and Kuno charged, bokken raised above his head for a powerful stroke...
To Be Continued!
A/N: Sorry for cutting off here, but seemed like a good spot to stop and the chapter was getting long. Besides, you'll like the title of the next chapter, I'm sure. So please R&R.
Seras Out. Till Next Time!