Chapter 5 - Birth of Ice

See chapter 1 disclaimer. I would like to thank my prereader Koala Kitty. Author's notes are at the end.

Panda Signs
thoughts

Nabiki had almost surrendered her consciousness to the peaceful oblivion of sleep when she again thought of the mistakes she had made and how it all began. It was almost twelve years ago now since her mother passed away and almost two years since Ranma had come.

Nabiki had been seven at the time when her father walked her through the door to the hospital room. A nurse was attending to some machines. Nabiki wondered why she was disconnecting the thin red hose that went to her mother. She pulled on her daddy's arm and asked what she was doing.

Soun didn't understand. That machine was helping Kimiko. Why would they disconnect it? It didn't make any sense.

"Um excuse me? What exactly are you doing?"

"The doctor is discontinuing use of the dialysis machine."

"But that machine is helping keep her alive."

"It was her choice. It wasn't helping anymore. I'm sorry."

Soun started to grab the nurse and demand that it be reconnected, when Kimiko managed to weakly grab his arm. "It's ok dear. It's will be ok."

Soun saw the sadness in her eyes and realized the implications. He couldn't take it and ran out the door.

The nurse said a simple, "I'm sorry as she pushed the equipment away."

"Come here Nabiki and give your mommy a hug."

Nabiki was a little confused. They took the machine away that was keeping her mother alive and her daddy had run away. It was not that Nabiki lacked the intelligence to understand. No, it was anything but that, but her mind slipped around the truth as if in not making the final connections it protected her for a little longer.

Nabiki mechanically went over to her mother and gave her a hug. She wanted to say something but she couldn't find the words, couldn't find the thoughts to even begin to think of the words.

Kimiko did her best to hold tightly onto her daughter, but it was at best a gentle embrace. The doctor had told her that it was only a matter of time now and this way she would at least be alert for most of the little time she had left. It was a simple choice really. She wished Soun hadn't run out. There was so little time left and so much she had not done, had not said. Soun was always a bit of a coward, but she loved him so.

"Nabiki, Mommy is going away for awhile."

"When will you be back?" She somehow knew the answer but couldn't bring her mind to face it so asked in the hopes she was wrong. She so wanted to be wrong. Her hands clenched slightly in her effort to hold it off.

"It will be a long time my precious daughter. One day I will see you again, but until then I need you to promise to be strong for me and to help take care of our family."

She still didn't truly understand the concept, at least not how she would come to understand it in the coming years, but intellectually she knew what it meant. Her mommy was going to die. She did the only thing she could do. "I promise mommy."

Before long a nurse brought in Kasumi and walked Nabiki back to the waiting room where Akane was playing. Nabiki really wished that she could be as happy and carefree as Akane.

In the years that followed Nabiki learned to help Kasumi around the house and did what ever she could to help Akane be happy. Kasumi and her father helped with this. Somehow it seemed only right that one of them be allowed to be happy and Akane was daddy's little girl.

It didn't take Nabiki long to figure out what their greatest problem was. Put simply the money from their few investments and her mother's life insurance was spread too thin and would run out in a few years if they didn't do something. Her father was never the same. Classes faded away after her mother's death. Her father was too lost in his own sorrow to be much of a teacher. He would sometimes read the same paper for hours only occasionally giving Akane a half hearted lesson in martial arts. He didn't do it for the sake of the art, but to see the smile on his little girl's face. At times that smile and face would remind him too much of his dear Kimiko and he would make some excuse to go back to his newspaper and saki.

Nabiki soon began to collect aluminum cans from around the nearby neighborhood. Recycling brought in little though. Her sister's cooking continued to improve by leaps and bounds, while her own, while tolerable never got close to that level. Akane never had a desire to cook, always practicing in the dojo to become the worlds best martial artist or showing tricks to her friends.

Almost six years after her mother's death shortly after Nabiki turned thirteen she was again searching desperately for ways to earn money. Kasumi and her had managed to stretch the money they had much father than she thought it could ever go. Combined with what little she was able to earn from the few odd jobs she could get from kind neighbors and Kasumi's skill at doing wonders with even the poorest grade of food and other supplies they had made it this far, but they were almost out of money.

The idea came in the form of a television show. A small girl was selling lemonade off of her front yard. She grinned and went to talk with Kasumi.

It was hard work, but their bake sale did amazingly well even given the limited hours they could do it because of their school commitments. They even had put a couple small tables in the guest room and served a few people that way. Nabiki knew it was partially the kindness of the neighbors and partially it was her sister's wonderful food, but for just over a year they did well. Akane remained blissfully in her own world and in truth she was much better in martial arts than all her friends, but then none of her friends practiced the art. Both Nabiki and Kasumi practiced some, but not enough to overshadow their younger sister. If for no other reason they simply didn't have the time Akane had. They mostly practiced the soft arts that their mother had taught them so long ago. It didn't have the flair of anything goes, but it was effective in its own way, and in Kimiko's opinion was far more graceful. Kasumi seemed almost happy during that time instead of her usual vapid smile since people would often complement her on her grace and her wonderful cooking.

It ended when Ken Osuraka died. Ken was a very influential man and while he did not know all of the truth about the work Nabiki and Kasumi had done to keep their family afloat, he suspected much of it. He was the one ultimately in charge of enforcing the rules that said children under the age of fifteen were not allowed to work. He knew the law was meant to protect the children from being abused as child labor in factories and such and more importantly he knew that the Tendo family needed the money they made and that it was best to overlook the technical violation of the law. In fact he was a frequent diner there and would be well missed by both Kasumi and Nabiki. Kasumi for his continual complements on her wonderful cooking and Nabiki for the tips he left behind.

It wasn't long before Naoko Kinsen was promoted to fill Ken's old job. Naoko was perhaps well meaning, but allways insisted on following the rules exactly. Three weeks after Ken's death she delivered the official notice stating Soun Tendo would be fined heavily if Nabiki continued to work. Furthermore the restaurant would have to be closed down because it did not meet the zoning requirements for a food establishment. Nabiki was now 14 years old.

Nabiki tried to find a loophole in the law, but it required Soun to request a formal hardship exception and attend a formal hearing before a magistrate and the only way that would ever be approved is if they converted the dojo so that their restaurant met city codes. Her father would never agree to that. Further it seemed a bad idea to bring attention to the fact that their father still couldn't bring himself out of his depression to work. No, attention was definitely a bad idea. The government might decide it was in their best interests to put the children in a home that could take care of them. She could not allow that. She had promised and Nabiki Tendo kept her promises, well at least the important ones.

They had done well the past year, but it could be stretched a few years at best. Nabiki was now in junior high with Akane a year behind. Kasumi was just starting in high school.

Kethra was a junior in high school and she had reports on everyone. Also despite appearances she was not without sympathy. She knew that Nabiki and Kasumi had been working hard at their informal little restaurant. She had eat there often since the prices were good as was the food. It also gave her a place to discuss business since only a few loyal customers ever used the tiny dining area, although many more picked up food to bring back to their families. Kethra found it quite amusing that many of those families didn't know it was takeout. The loss of the restaurant was an annoyance, but there were other places she could do business. Of a much greater interest was Nabiki. She was young, but very sharp. Yes Nabiki would be a great asset in gathering information and helping her organization. For that matter she would need someone to take her place when she left, and so far no one else had showed any promise at all.

And so began Nabiki's life learning the ropes of spying and blackmail. It was ironic that this was where she had a chance to practice her early martial arts knowledge and expand on it greatly. She learned a very great deal in secret from Kethra. That knowledge had kept her in one piece many times when a boyfriend or such would get angry at being blackmailed when she didn't have support around her.

At first Nabiki didn't like her new work, but it did pay far better than anything else she could do especially with the rules that were now being enforced on children working. Nabiki grimaced at that. Oh well, it didn't matter, she would do it for her family. As time passed a predatory smile could often be seen on Nabiki's face in unguarded moments.

Kethra was amazed. By the start of her senior year Nabiki was so good it was scary. She truly had the drive, but she was a bit worried that the power it was gaining Nabiki was corrupting her. She almost regretted bringing her in. It wasn't that she was bad at her job. After only a year's worth of training she had excelled beyond her wildest expectations. Her skills in the art of ninjitsu that she was teaching the younger girl were progressing at a frightening pace. Some of this could be explained by her early martial arts training, but not all. No, Nabiki Tendo was just good at most anything she put the effort in to be good at. She hoped her father never found out that her daughter was learning the skills of a ninja since it was likely that he would disapprove greatly.

Her regret was for the kind young woman she had first met. She knew, the why of it, or at least most of it. Nabiki simply justified anything she did that earned money as being for her family and therefore ok. It was amazing how even the brightest woman can be led astray by the purest of intentions. Kethra sighed and vowed to continue her training and try to do what she could to help her young friend before the year ended and she left for college.

It was the beginning of the first year of High school when she first met Tatewaki Kuno. He had apparently been requested to leave a prestigious private school for discipline problems.

She stared out the window at the odd newcomer who had the habit of reciting Shakespeare, badly, to various women who peeked his interest. That and he was also reputed to be an expert in Kendo. He was cute she realized and as she stared a bit longer she realized something else.

I'm attracted to him? Why him? I didn't think there was anything other than money that my heart could love anymore. Then again he is rumored to be rich. I wonder, if I could make him fall in love with me... Yes that might just solve our money problems. Besides he is cute.

And so began Nabiki Tendo's quest to win the heart or at least the wallet of one crazy kendoist. She soon had gathered data on his interests and proceeded to try to spin him around her little finger, but in the process of trying to catch the fish she had unwittingly put herself in the net and let herself truly fall for him. He sounded so romantic sometimes that her heart truly did melt.

The later months of the school year, they could often be seen kissing in a quiet corner. She had even forgotten all about trying to extort money from him. Then the end of the school year came and Kuno left with his rather odd sister on vacation till the beginning of the next year.

Kethra was glad that Nabiki had found someone although she was a bit worried about that someone being Tatewaki Kuno. Still she had done all she could and it was time for her to move on.

With Kuno and Kethra's absence the pace of Nabiki's extra curricular activities picked up over the summer and when time for school to begin again came her reputation as the ice queen had become the Nabiki that most everyone knew today.

Kuno had missed the first week of school and Nabiki was really getting anxious. She had talked to Sasuke and he said something about family business and that he would be there the following Monday.

The following Monday came and Kuno walked through the gates. Nabiki tried to give him a hug, but was shook off.

"Unhand me you vile wench. My eyes hath been opened and I will no longer be deceived by the temptations of a harlot."

Nabiki could not take it. The only thing that made sense was that he somehow had leared how she made money. Still it gave him no right to treat her like a whore. She didn't know where it came from, but suddenly there was a large wooden mallet in her hands and she used all of her strength to plaster him into a wall knocking him unconscious.

"You bastard. We are through." Some thought they saw a few tears in her eyes as she ran off, but most dismissed it as their imagination. The concept of Nabiki crying was just too unbelievable for them.

Less than a week later Kuno came to her asking for info about her sister Akane Tendo that he had begun to take an interest in and who had already rebuffed him several times.

"10,000 yen." After all if she was to him was a mercenary, then by heck he was going to pay.

"You expect the noble scion of the house of Kuno to pay such a price?"

"20,000 yen."

"Sold."

She was really surprised when he actually handed over the money and regretted ever making the offer. She hardened herself saying it was for her family and for the next hour answered questions about her sister. It was for her family after all and well maybe for that new outfit she wanted. She pondered what colors she would buy as she mechanically answered the idiots question. His rejection still hurt, but she comforted herself in the joy of fleecing him for money.

In time the slight guilt she felt at selling out her sister faded. Akane had grown spoiled over the years. In some ways she denied reality more effectively than Kuno ever could and there was a part of Nabiki that was happy to see Akane get harassed. It was very entertaining and satisfying to see Kuno lusting after her sister and not able to get what he wanted. It served the bastard right.

When the time came that Kuno issued that moronic challenge that anyone wishing to date Akane must first beat her in honorable combat Nabiki did nothing, well nothing other than open the betting pools. She rationalized it as being good for business. Besides her sister was pretty good at martial arts and it would give her an excuse to work off stress. The justifications sounded hollow then and now as she was fighting to get to sleep continued to sound hollow. A small mental voice even suggested she was jealous, but she beat it into submission and it stopped its commentary.

Every step on the journey of her life had seemed important somehow, yet she cried softly the childhood she had lost and the pain she had unwittingly helped cause her younger sister. All for money. She had made a lot of it, at the cost of a lot of tears for others. Perhaps this thing with helping Ranma was to be her redemption. Or perhaps just having Neko purring on top of her brought a small peace to her heart. It didn't matter any more tonight, for she was tired and it was time to rest. Her last thought being that Ranma would have never betrayed her like Tatewaki did.

Author's Notes.

First off my prereader didn't like this chapter that much and my small revisions are unlikely to change that. Nabiki is arguably OOC and my justification for closing the restaurant is a little weak, but there really is a law for underaged workers in Japan. Ultimately despite giving it some time to think about inspiration failed me and I decided to stick largely with my original version and move on. I'm including a link I used for the age information. Replace the punctuation as appropriate.

www:right-to-education:org/content/age/japan:html

Yes this chapter is one large flashback. I thought of the idea and realized if I wanted future events to have the most meaning, then Nabiki's past needed to be fleshed out.

If anyones wondering, I find it very unlikely that it will be a Kuno matchup with anybody. Ultimately Kuno betrayed her, at least in my telling, and that is something that cannot be easily forgiven. I suppose some wish me to pick RaNa or RaAk or something and well I'm open to suggestions, as long as they come with a little bit of reasoning behind them. I confess to having a bit more fun with this story in that I don't know exactly how it will end myself yet, and by keeping my options open well it may be a bit of a surprise for me as well. I do have a plan though. Its the pesky details that are hiding from me.

No one much complained about my treatment of the lost boy, but don't worry Ryoga isn't completely out of the story, although it may be awhile before he is heard from again.

Don't forget to leave a review and let me know what you think of the story. To be honest I'm curious if anyone will like this chapter since Koala Kitty did have some valid points. Ultimately though, its one chapter so hang in there. Story suggestions and corrections can be useful as well although I really doubt I will do major changes to this chapter given that I already gave it quite a bit of time. The more reviews I get the more likely I am to find motivation to work on a story.