Living the Martial Way
Chapter 5
The expression of gratitude that filled Nabiki's face was the best thing I'd seen since arriving. I was so distracted by her, that I didn't notice how far my shirt sleeves had been pulled up.
"Oh my!" Kasumi's expression of shock rivaled Nabiki's look of gratitude. "What on earth happened to your arm?"
'Shit, I knew this shirt was getting too small for me.' Aloud I say "It, it's nothing." I pull my hand back to my side and adjust my sleeves and collar so that they're covering the scars. "…Just a training accident. Nothing serious."
"Are you sure Ranma?" asks Akane, "Those looked pretty bad."
"Like I said, it's nothing. I've had them for about ten years anyways." 'I gotta change the subject.' "Umm, you said you were looking for a new sparring partner, right Akane? How about we test each other out?"
The three of them seem to realize that my scars aren't a topic that is up for discussion. "Sure," says Akane. "Let me show you to the dojo." As we all rise from the table Kasumi says.
"I think I'll go start dinner. It's getting late and I want to make sure there's enough for everyone."
"I'll…I'll just be in my room." Nabiki bows as she says, "It was very nice meeting you Ranma, I'll see you at dinner."
"It was nice meeting you too." I say as she walks away. She has her head down, but I catch a smile on her face.
"Ahem." I jump when Akane clears her throat, my shock puts a grin on her face. "If you're done staring at my sister," she says teasingly as I blush again, "the dojo is this way."
As we walk to the dojo, my mind keeps drifting back to Nabiki. 'What is it about her? She's so…so…what?'
Akane's question interrupts my thoughts. "You like her, don't you?"
Again she catches me off guard, I barely manage to stammer out a reply. "I, uh, I…think she's…very nice." 'Why did trying to answer that make me blush? Do I like Nabiki?'
"So you think Nabiki is nicer then me and Kasumi?"
'What?' "I didn't say that. I mean, I think you're all nice."
"But not "very" nice, is that it?"
"I, uh…I mean…That is…" I can't come up with anything. Akane's mischievous smirk prompts me to ask "What are you really asking me?"
"I'm only pointing out what I see." She replies in all seriousness.
"And what, may I ask, do you see?"
"I see a polite, handsome, and very kind young man who I think is exactly what my sister needs to help her break out of her shell." She chuckles as she leaves me behind, struck dumb.
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I love music. I played a little before the accident. But once I lost my sight I threw myself into learning how to play my favorite instruments. I went past the stage of learning pieces years ago. Now I just, play what I feel. I don't like dumping my problems on my sisters. And Daddy doesn't understand, he just ends up overreacting. So I pour my soul into my music. I'm so absorbed in the flute, that I don't notice the creak of the doorframe until I pause in the music and Kasumi speaks.
"That, has to be one of the happiest things I've heard you play in a very long time Nabiki."
I don't want to know how red I'm turning. "I thought you were making dinner."
"A watched pot never boils little sister." She says as she sits next to me on the floor. "And besides, I'd much rather know what has you in such a good mood. Although, I think I already know."
"It, it's not like that. Besides we only just met."
"Yes, you just met a polite young man who seems to want nothing more then to be your friend. You just met a sweet young man who didn't let your blindness get in the way of getting to know you. You just met a-"
"Ok, ok I get it. I get your point."
We sit there for a moment while I try to digest her words. 'He couldn't like me, could he? What can I offer him? But still…' I remember how it felt when he held my hand and blush again.
"Maybe I do…just a little. But that doesn't mean anything, does it?"
"That depends, on what you do with it."
Kasumi gives me a hug as she leaves. She didn't say much, but then, Kasumi never has to. That doesn't help me figure out what to do though. 'I suppose, that I'll just have to see what happens. Hmm, maybe something a bit more romantic?' I think as I put my flute away and reach for my harp
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Akane may not be at my level, but she's still a decent opponent. When I told her as much, she immediately asked me to teach her. When I agreed it was like Christmas came early for her. I stayed in the dojo to get in more of a workout while she went to clean up before dinner. I was so absorbed in one of the katas I was trying to finish designing that I didn't notice Mr. Tendo until I was finished. I don't know if he always looks that serious, but I can guess the mood he must be in after fighting with the old man.
"So Ranma, what do you think of my girls?" His tone is as serious as his face.
"They're all very nice. I'm glad that I can be friends with them." That must have been the right answer because his expression immediately softens. He claps a hand on my shoulder and says.
"That's excellent news, I'm very happy for you all." His face turns serious again as he sighs, "Ranma, I told your father that he is no longer welcome at my home. I hope you aren't offended."
I can't help but smile. "Not at all. Honestly, I don't know how you put up with him for the last four years."
"Yes well, it was…difficult. To tell the truth I would have thrown him out years ago, friend or no friend, except that he kept hanging you over my head"
"…So he used me as a bartering piece…again."
Soun sighs again and crosses him arms. "I'm afraid so. You have to understand, when your father and I trained together he was…a much better man then he is now. We parted ways after we each met the women we later married, but we parted with a promise that our families would be joined through our children. That's why he was able to…abuse our friendship these past four years. Well, what I wanted to say was that I threw your father out without realizing what time it was. I can give you the address for your home and you can leave tonight if you like, but I'd like to invite you to spend the night here."
'Well that was unexpected.' "Thank you Mr. Tendo, that's very kind of you."
"Think nothing of it Ranma. Now why don't you go get cleaned up before dinner. Trust me, you'll love Kasumi's cooking"
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At dinner, Kasumi gave her usual seat to Ranma, so that he was sitting next to me. He was just as nice at dinner as he was when he first arrived. More often then not, people who aren't used to me think that they need to point out where something is, or they'll move what they think I'm looking for to make it "easier" for me to find it. Ranma seemed to realize that I was more then capable of feeding myself, and that if I was looking for something then I knew that it would be right where I left it. He was very polite and answered pretty much all the questions my family asked him. Mostly it was just filling Daddy in on what Ranma had told us earlier. I kept quiet throughout dinner, I didn't quite trust myself to speak with the way I was blushing every time our hands touched, or when our arms brushed together.
"That was delicious, thank you Kasumi." The satisfaction in Ranma's voice made me think he hadn't had a homemade meal in a long time, "If it's alright with everyone, I'd like to get some sleep, it's-" he interrupted himself with a yawn, "been a long day."
"Oh of course Ranma, let me show you to your room." Kasumi was always quick to make sure a guest was comfortable. "Akane, could you please start the dishes for me?"
Akane didn't say anything so I figured she just nodded. "Actually," I say "I'm kind of tired too. I think I'll go to bed early tonight." I head upstairs with a small chorus of "goodnights" following me. As I get ready for bed, I can't keep my mind off of Ranma.
'He's so different from other people I've met. He doesn't assume I'm weak, or that I need help with basic things…and he…values me.' I let that be my last thought of the day as I get into bed. 'He values me.'
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Growing up on the road, especially spending most of my nights camping, made me a light sleeper. I wake up immediately when I heard someone crying in the next room. Getting up, I look out into the hallway.
'Isn't that…Nabiki's room?' I peek through her doorway and see her tossing on her bed, murmuring something through her tears. I'm at her side in an instant trying to wake her up.
"Nabiki, come on, wake up." Shaking her doesn't seem to be working, it's only upsetting her more. I can hear what she's saying now.
"Mommy? Mommy don't leave! Please don't leave! I can't see you! Mommy? Mommy! MOMMY!"
She snaps awake, sobbing. I do the first thing I can think of. I don't think she even realizes that it's me holding her in my arms, gently rocking her, rubbing her back, telling her that it's alright. She won't stop sobbing. She's so upset that she's soaked in sweat, her hands are fisted into my shirt. Why won't she stop crying?
I nearly begin to cry with her. "Nabiki, what happened to you?"
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I hope everyone has enjoyed this chapter. I put a lot of effort into making it a decent length. It was difficult, but I think it was worth it. I'm going to try to have all chapters be this long from now on. For those of you who are wondering, I don't have a definite idea for how many chapters I'll have. I'm kinda playing it by ear at the moment. I know what I want to have happen, when it will happen remains to be seen. Anyone to correctly guess how Ranma got his scars will be mentioned in the authors notes of the next chapter. The next chapter will be written and posted in a few days as always. I look forward to hearing from all of you. Again, the reviews have been fantastic.
