Living the Martial Way

Chapter 2

I waited at the sitting room table. Kasumi was preparing refreshments for when 'Uncle' Saotome's son arrived, and Akane had gone to the dojo to work off her own anxiety. Normally when I get anxious I'd play one of my instruments. But Uncle Saotome hates it when I play, especially when it distracts him from his precious shogi games. He had made it clear years ago that he…was uncomfortable around me. And we only had enough sake to get him drunk enough to tolerate my presence in the room. Playing music would be asking for trouble.

So I'm just sitting here waiting, fiddling with my kimono or my hair to relieve stress. I'm very proud of my hair. It's long enough to reach my knees and when I'm sitting it tends to pool in my lap. I spend time each day caring for it. Making sure that the tangles were gone, that it was clean and smooth. I haven't cut it since mother died.

The knock on the door startled me, and I can hear Kasumi talking to what must be this Ranma Saotome that we're all waiting for.

"Can I help you?" Kasumi asked.

"Hello, I'm Ranma Saotome. My father Genma told me to meet him here when I returned to Nerima."

"Oh, you are Uncle Genma's son. Please come in. He is in the sitting room with father. Please go and make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you Miss Tendo."

'Well, he certainly sounds very polite. Could he really be Uncle Saotome's son?' I wondered.

"Hello father. Hello Sir, are you Mr. Tendo?" asked Ranma when he entered the sitting room.

"Why hello there young man, you must be Ranma. Please, have a seat." Daddy said. "This is Nabiki, one of my daughters."

"It is nice to meet you Miss Tendo." Said Ranma.

"Thank you. I am pleased to meet you as well Mr. Saotome." I said as I bowed to him.

Shortly after he sat down Kasumi entered with a pot of tea and several cups.

"Kasumi dear, could you please go ask Akane to join us." Daddy asked.

"Certainly father, I'll be right back." Replied Kasumi.

While we waited for Kasumi and Akane to get back, I heard someone move the teapot, and a cup was set in front of me. I must have looked confused because I heard Ranma say;

"You look nervous, try to relax."

"Sorry," I said. "It's hard not to be nervous when you're talking to someone you may be getting engaged to." I heard him drop his teacup at my response.

"Please excuse me for a moment." He said. "Father may I speak to you? Outside."

"Huh, wha? Ranma? When did you get here?" Slurred Uncle Saotome. I'm not surprised he didn't notice Ranma. It took over a dozen bottles of sake to get him drunk enough to leave me alone. Any less and he would have been crueler then usual.

"I'll tell you outside." I can hear what must be Ranma dragging Uncle Saotome across the floor. He must be very strong to be able to do that.

Once they're outside I turn to Daddy. "I'm sorry daddy, I thought he knew already."

"It's alright Nabiki, I thought so too."

Ranma and Uncle Saotome are still arguing by the time Kasumi and Akane get back. They take their usual seats to each side of me and we wait for the Saotomes to come back inside. At first Ranma was doing all the talking, but the splash I heard must have been Uncle Saotome being dunked in the koi pond to sober him up. The argument gets pretty heated after that and we can all hear what they're saying.

"-Think you're doing making another engagement!" Ranma shouted.

"You will do as I say boy or so help me!" This came from Uncle Saotome.

"Don't you remember what happened the last time?"

"Forget about that. This arranged marriage has been decided since before you were born. Now do your duty!"

"What about getting to know them? Doesn't that matter?"

"Fuck that. One's already engaged and the other is useless! So pick the third and quit complaining!"

That last bit hurt. I can feel my sisters hold my hands for support but I shake my head, I've heard this before. I know 'Uncle' Saotome doesn't value women, and that he thinks even less of me. But did he have to call me useless just because I'm blind?

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And there is the second chapter of this piece. Thanks again for everyone who reviewed the last chapter, it really helped to motivate me to finish this one. Originally I was going to do a third person perspective, but I decided to go with first-person instead. I think it has more of an impact. And yes, Nabiki is blind. I have very good plot and character development reasons for why. I know that this chapter is short, but I felt that this was a good stopping point. The next chapter should be ready in a few days. Enjoy.