Chains of the Past
A Ranma ½ / Tenchi Muyo Crossover
Chapter Five
And now, cue the music.
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Late in the afternoon Ranma decided it was time to have a talk with Katsuhito. Ranma found the priest in the dining room area alone drinking some tea. When he walked up to the priest, Ranma sat across the table from him. Katsuhito looked a bit intrigued. "Hello Ranma. May I help you?"
"Could we talk for a moment?"
Katsuhito smiled. "Of course, what is on your mind?"
Ranma cleared his throat. "I want to ask for your help."
"Help with what?" Katsuhito asked, already guessing the question.
"Well…" Ranma turned his head towards the window. "It's kinda difficult for me to say." Ranma glanced back at the priest who had a raised eyebrow. "It's about Nabiki."
"You want her to open up to you, isn't it?"
Ranma looked at Katsuhito with a look of wonder. "How…"
"Ranma, my boy, when you live as long as I you tend to learn certain things. I've watched you and Nabiki for the last two months and while I do say you have improved, she hasn't."
"Improved? How?"
"Take for instance, right now. Two months ago you were more guarded and avoiding. Now you come for help with what seems to be an ongoing problem. I bet you didn't even consider asking for advice two months ago, now did you?"
Ranma shook his head. "Not really. It's just that I've grown… distrustin' over the last couple of years. I'm sorry if I seemed rude during my stay."
Katsuhito shook his head. "You do not need to apologize. When your mother called over here telling me of your arrival she said that you and Nabiki had problems and you would talk when you were ready. I trust her judgment just as much as I trust my son-in-law's, but we're getting off topic. You wanted to talk about Nabiki, correct?"
Ranma nodded. "Yeah. I'm worried 'bout her. She keeps herself guarded all the time, even to me. True I have seen more sides of her than most people, but…"
"Communication is important in a relationship Ranma. And communication is more than just talking about the weather or each other's day. Also this goes two ways as well."
Ranma nodded. "Yeah, I know. I just wanna get her to tell me what's wrong, but I'm afraid"
"That she will cut you out altogether," Katsuhito finished. "A common problem for relationships in their early stages." Katsuhito took a sip from his tea. "Relationships are fragile in the beginning, but they grow stronger over time. An important aspect of the relationship is trust. The trust in each other. Do you trust Nabiki?"
Ranma looked a bit confused. "You're losing me."
"What I mean is do you trust her enough to not hurt you emotionally and physically?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I?"
"Of course to say something and to do it are two separate things Ranma."
"Masaki-san, if I thought she would betray me, I wouldn't be here right now."
That took Katsuhito by surprise. "I'm afraid now you are losing me."
"If it were just me alone, I would be long gone by now, probably in China lookin' for a cure for my curse. Don't get me wrong, I'm more used to it now than before, but it's still a pain. But I wanna be with Nabiki, and I don't wanna risk anything happenin' to her. I love her Masaki-san, and I don't want to lose her." Ranma sighed. "I know I'm not the best when it comes to relationships. Hell, take a look at my track record. I wanna make this work, and I know it won't be easy, but she's worth it. I trust her with my life and everythin' I own. Does that answer your question?"
Katsuhito smiled. "Yes, yes it does. Now let me ask you another. How did you and Nabiki first meet?"
Ranma gave the old priest a smirk. "Still harping 'bout trust?" The old priest nodded. "Let me give ya a shortened version of the story. When we first met, I was a girl at the time. Genma was bringin' me to the Tendos to pick a fiancé, but I didn't know that. When we arrived there was some confusion and it ended up me bein' engaged to her younger sister, Akane. A year went by. After some events I will not go into, I started to distance away from Akane."
Ranma paused for a few moments. "Looking back it wasn't either one of our faults, but at the same time it was. We still remained engaged, but after a while me and Nabiki started to get close. At first we were mostly friends, but as time went by things progressed. After a few months we became boyfriend and girlfriend, but we kept it secret. There were some outside complications that forced us to do that. Then I asked her to marry me." Ranma smiled. "Her smile was the biggest and the brightest I'd ever seen. I'd do anything to see it again. Anyway we still kept that a secret as well, but we were workin' on getting the outside complications solved. Then I learned of Genma's… betrayal."
Katsuhito noticed that Ranma's mood and aura darkened.
"I will never call that thing my father ever again. His actions… I don't even want to think about it." Ranma took a few moments to calm down. "When I learned of it, I wanted to distance myself from the Tendos, since they were in danger because of me. Nabiki caught up to me at mom's house. After a long talk and a plannin' session, we decided to come here."
Katsuhito nodded. "I see. That is quite a story, though I would like to hear more. For your original problem, I suggest, while waiting for her to open up is an advisable option, trying to ask her to talk. What ever you do, do not be forceful, or that will cause her to do what you don't want her to do."
"To close up completely. Thank you Masaki-san. I'm in your debt."
"Now, now Ranma, think nothing of it, and please call me Katsuhito. Nodoka does all the time."
Ranma slightly smiled. "Okay Katsuhito-san."
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Early the next morning, Ranma came down from the shrine to the house for some of Sasmi's cooking. It greatly reminded him of Kasumi's cooking, and he was missing that terribly. After a good meal he was lounging around outside thinking of when to try to talk to Nabiki, who was in the shrine finishing up some work for the finances. Of course he caught sight of Ryoko hovering over the lake. 'Wonder what's she doing.' He watched her sink into the lake. After a couple of minutes, she returned to the surface with an object in her hands. With a smile she walked into the house. After debating to himself for a few moments he decided to follow. That would prove to be a mistake.
He walked in just as what appeared to be an egg hatching in a nervous Tenchi's hands. The thing that came out set him a bit on edge. It was small, furry, brown, had long ears like a rabbit, but a face like a cat. The body was also a mix of cat and rabbit. Everyone in the room watched as it finished hatching and got out of its egg. Having an intelligent mind, it said it's first word.
"Miyah."
And all hell broke loose.
"C-C-C-C-C-CAAATTTTT!"
Ranma ran out of the living room, through the kitchen, through the hallway, out the front door, and jumped onto the roof. Sasami, Ayeka, Tenchi, and the cat stood there stunned.
Tenchi was the first to come out of the stupor. "What was that all about?"
Sasami looked worried. "Is there supposed to be something scary about cats?" She picked up the newly hatched furball. "But she's so cute."
"Actually that's not a cat," Ryoko stated. "It's a cabbit. And her name is Ryo-ohki."
"Ryo-ohki? As in your spaceship?" Ayeka questioned.
Ryoko nodded. "Yep. It reproduced itself."
"Would anyone mind telling me what's going on?"
Everyone stared at Katsuhito who had footprints up and down his body. Tenchi chuckled nervously. "Well… it seems Ranma is afraid of Ryo-ohki."
Katsuhito raised an eyebrow. "Who is Ryo-ohki?"
Sasami took Ryo-ohki to Katsuhito to show him. "This is Ryo-ohki. Isn't she cute." Ryo-ohki purred happily. She loved the attention Sasami was giving her.
"Femboy had the audacity to call my spaceship a cat. Can you believe it?" Ryoko crossed her arms in disgust.
"A cat?"
Ayeka turned towards the sliding glass door. "Oh, Nabiki-san, when did you get here?"
Nabiki ignored the question and walked up to Sasami who was petting Ryo-ohki. Once she quickly looked at Ryo-ohki she grumbled, "Not good."
"Nabiki-san, what's wrong?" Sasami asked worriedly. She liked Ryo-ohki, but she was also worried about Ranma's reaction to her, amongst other things.
Nabiki sighed. "Where is he?"
"Last I saw him he went out the front door," Katsuhito said calmly.
Nabiki nodded and followed Ranma's trail. Katsuhito followed. Tenchi shook his head. "What a day."
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On the roof Ranma sat there hugging himself. He heard a ladder hit the side of the roof. Soon after he saw Nabiki climb onto the roof and walk up to him. Ranma sighed. "Some man I am, huh. 'Fraid of some new born fuzzball."
Nabiki sat down next to him. "It's okay Ranma."
"No it's not. Genma… that fuckin' bastard. He knew. He knew exactly what would happen, and he used it. It pisses me off."
Nabiki put her arms around Ranma's shoulders. He responded by leaning up against her. "Don't worry, we'll find a way to fix it. I promise."
Katsuhito watched and heard the exchange. 'This is going to be an interesting story.'
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About ten minutes later Katsuhito saw Ranma and Nabiki climb down the ladder. "You have quite a powerful charge there, Ranma."
Ranma looked a bit embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to run over ya like that."
"It's quite alright, but an explanation is in order."
Ranma nodded. "I'd figure you would say that. Could ya gather everyone. I'd rather only say everythin' once."
Katsuhito slightly smirked. "Actually everyone is still in the living room. They've been waiting for you."
Ranma nodded and headed towards his destination with Nabiki in tow. Katsuhito brought up the rear.
Once they made it to the living room, Ranma sat down on the couch and Nabiki sat next to him. She was holding his hand in support. Ranma decided it was now or never. "I guess you're wonderin' what happened."
"That's an understatement!" Ryoko blurted.
"Ryoko, don't be rude. It's obviously a very hard thing for him to tell and you are not making it any easier." Ayeka smiled. "Please continue Ranma-san."
Ranma nodded. "Thank you. Well, how to begin. Genma taught me martial arts. That's basically all he taught me. I went with him for a ten-year trainin' trip through Japan and China. During this trainin' trip he decided to teach me an invincible technique. It's called the Neko-ken."
When Ranma mentioned the name of the technique Katsuhito eyes grew a bit wider. Everyone else was caught up in Ranma's story. Ranma continued. "It involves taking the trainee, that's me, wrappin' him with different fish products, dropping him into a pit of starving cats, close pit, sit back, and wait."
Everyone there sat there stunned. After a few moments Sasami and Ayeka started to turn a bit green while Ryoko looked furious. "Who would do that to another person? That ain't right!"
Katsuhito shook his head. "I've heard many horror stories about the Neko-ken, many that are unfit for young ears. To think that the technique is actually real."
"That's not the worst of it," Ranma stated calmly. "When I am around c-c-c… felines for too long, my mind shuts down. I don't remember much when it happens, but everyone says that I basically start to act like one."
"Act like one?" Ayeka asked.
"He starts to act like a cat," Nabiki replied. "He has their instincts, their flexibility, and, amazingly enough, he has their claws as well."
"I'm a bit confused, though," Ryoko sated. "I mean we all agree that it was a bad experience, but they way you reacted was quite disturbing."
"There's a reason for that," Nabiki answered for him. "He was six when it happened. He's been afraid of them ever since."
"Six," Ayeka mouthed. "He was a child? By the emperor."
"How could someone do that to a child?" Ryoko asked in disbelief and anger.
"Why would Genma do that to you?" Katsuhito asked. "Is he that stupid?"
Ranma shook his head. "No, he isn't, and that what angers me the most. He knew what would happen. He knew how it would turn out, and he was using it to use me."
"Use you?" the old priest asked curiously.
Ranma and Nabiki looked at each other for a few moments. Anyone with a set of eyes could tell that they were having a conversation without words. After a nod from both of them the turned back to their audience. "We trust you all," Nabiki started. "We ask that you do not act on what we are about to tell you until we say that's it okay."
"For those who didn't know, Genma is my biological father," Ranma stated with a slight scowl. "He appears to be stupid, but that's no the case at all. He's smart, manipulative, back-stabbing, greedy, and an all around bastard."
"When I was five, he took me on a ten-year training trip to teach me his martial arts." Ranma shook his head. "The shit he put me through I won't say since there is a young one here, but trust me, it isn't for the faint of heart. The Neko-ken is just one of the things he did. He also used me as a bargainin' chip when dealin' with various people. I had over thirty fiancés that I know about."
Ranma leaned back against the couch. "At the end of the trainin' trip we went to Jusenkyo where I acquired my curse. He acquired a similar curse that changes him to a panda. Afterwards we made our way into an Amazon village where trouble was started and I ended up gettin' a kiss of death from the village champion. They have a law statin' if beaten by an outside female," Ranma made a cutting motion across his throat, "kill them. If beaten by an outside male, marry them. Since I was a girl when I beat her, she started to hunt me down. We decided to return to Japan to get away from her."
"Genma took me to the Tendos place in Nerima to marry one of his best friend Soun's daughters."
"I am one of them," Nabiki interjected. "My older sister Kasumi and my younger sister Akane were the other two. He ended up being engaged to my younger sister."
"Something Genma was very happy about," Ranma stated while shaking his head. "While I was in Nerima a lot of stuff happened and my fiancés started to find me. At first there was only Akane, a girl named Ukyo, and an Amazon named Shampoo. She was the village champion that I defeated. When she found out I was actually a guy I learned of the other half of the law. "
"After livin' there for a while more of my fiancés started to show." Ranma sighed. "I was able to get rid of a few, but they just kept comin'. Luckily mom started to come in and take care of the mess, but Genma was increasin' the pressure to marry Akane. A little over two months ago I learned why."
"I'll take it from here." Nabiki cleared her throat. "As it was stated earlier Genma may appear to be stupid, but he's not. The reason he was pressuring Ranma into marrying my sister was that when they did marry, Genma would gain control of my family's dojo. It would have been given to Ranma and Akane as a wedding gift, but while they were under twenty, it would be handed over to Ranma's guardian, who was Genma." Nabiki paused for a moment. "He planned on selling the dojo and running with the money."
"To make sure that I would chose only Akane, he started tippin' the scales as they say," Ranma said slightly angry. "Using underhanded means he influenced all the fiancés to make them appear to be unfit or a bad choice."
"He also raised Ranma to be ignorant and unintelligent to control him easier. All of the other fiancés were used to keep Ranma occupied with them vice Genma."
Ranma slightly growled. "I found this out when I overheard him talkin' with a potential client for the sellin' of the dojo. Genma was boostin' on how he was securin' the property and usin' me to do it." Ranma clenched his fist. "I so wanted to kill him then and there."
Nabiki slightly smirked. "The client Genma was talking to was a good friend of mine. He found out about the sale and investigated. Once he secured the information, he called me. I went to find Ranma, but when I couldn't find him, I immediately guessed where he was heading and made my way there."
"We had been datin' for a few months and I had already proposed to her. When I learned of Genma's plan, I decided to get away from Nerima so that he couldn't use me to harm the Tendos. It may seem selfish and stupid, but I was tryin' to keep them safe," Ranma lowered his head, "even if it meant bein' alone again."
Nabiki placed an arm around Ranma's shoulders. "When I caught up to him, we had a long talk. After coming to an understanding and an agreement, we talked with Ranma's mother to find a way to stay together and to stop Genma. She proposed to come here and to lay low until I turned twenty. On my twentieth birthday, we will marry. That will put the dojo into my hands and not Genma's."
"So now ya know. Any questions?" Ranma asked the group.
The rest of the group had sat there quietly throughout the explanation. When Ranma opened the floor for questions, Ryoko was the first one to ask. "So why is it we can't kill him exactly?"
"Simple. I wanna see his face when I tell him that his plan failed." Ranma smiled. "Then I plan on punishin' him myself for everythin' he's done."
"Quite an extraordinary story Ranma," Katsuhito commented. "Is there anything we need to watch out for while you are here since I doubt that what you told us is everything."
Ranma nodded. "If a guy named Ryoga wanders by here, don't tell 'em about me or Nabiki bein' here. He wears a yellow and black bandana and has a very big backpack. If you see a pig with a yellow and black bandana around it's neck, it's him. He has a curse as well."
"Basically anyone who's asking for either of us don't say we're here," Nabiki continued. "There are many people who's after Ranma for one reason or another."
"The two months of peace here was the most we've ever had. We want to enjoy it as long as possible, but knowin' my luck that will change eventually."
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Later that day Nabiki found Ryoko lying on the couch watching the television. Ryoko noticed Nabiki walk in the living room. "Don't even say it. I'm not gonna cause you two any trouble with what you said earlier."
Nabiki raised an eyebrow. "Oh, and what made you think that I was going to say anything about that?"
"I'm not stupid, dearie. I may of made some mistakes in my life, but I know what is taboo and what isn't." Ryoko stretched and shifted on the couch. "Besides, I like to cause my trouble face to face, not using others."
Nabiki nodded. "I see. Maybe you aren't as bad as I thought." Nabiki turned to walk out the living room.
"Oh, and one piece of advice. Talk to Ranma, and not just a polite conversation. I can tell there's more to the story than you said, and I also know that he's worried about you." Ryoko started to flip through the channels. "Who knows, maybe you'll feel better afterwards."
Nabiki nodded and left, not saying a word.
A/N: I liked how this one turned out.
Next chapter will have more stories to tell and why is Sasami looking at Ranma like that?
Until next time, remember: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, just shoot me.
