Charlotte's Sequel
Chapter 17
Fight! Fight! Fight!
The next beautiful morning Ryoga woke up and Nabiki was not with him. He yawned and opened the door and began to head downstairs when he realized he was walking on the branch of a tree.
Okay, he was out of it. He wasn't normally this bad . . . was he?
He climbed over the tree branch back to Kasumi's window, slipped fell and rang to doorbell instead.
"Hello!" Kasumi answered the door, blinked at him and smiled, "My, my, my, your sense of direction certainly keeps me guessing Ryoga-kun."
"Y-yeah. Sorry about that." Ryoga said. Hey wait, had she just called him "kun"? It wasn't like there was anything wrong with that, it was just that she didn't really do it all that often so . . . what was the deal?
She was being really nice lately.
Ryoga decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth and accepted Kasumi's niceness at face value. She took his hand—boy her hands were soft—and led him to the table, where Nabiki was sitting, and eyeing them with annoyance.
She set him down next to Nabiki and quickly got him a plate. Then she skipped around and took a seat across from him. She tilted her pretty head to the side and rested her cheek on her palm as she watched him and Nabiki. No . . . wait . . . she was mostly watching him. Gazing intently at him, he felt like he should wave or something, but she broke the tense silence by asking "Do you two have anything planned today?"
"Not really." Nabiki and he said together.
"Then maybe you could help me, Ryoga. I wanted to do some cleaning, and reorganizing. With father and Mr. Saotome away I'll be able to rearrange the family room, and with auntie Nodoka gone I will be able to burn the futon we were letting her use."
"Those all sound like good plans." Ryoga nodded.
Kasumi fluttered her eyelashes—wait, she what? She never did that before! Well maybe he'd imagined it. None the less she smiled widely and said "I could use a pair of strong arms to help me. Will you help me, Ryoga?"
Ryoga shrugged. "Sure." He said.
"No he wont." Nabiki snapped. "He's busy."
"But you said—" Kasumi said.
"No, I just forgot is all. Ryoga and I are going to go . . . fishing."
"Fishing?" Ryoga asked.
"You know . . . fishing." Nabiki said with a wink.
"No . . . I don't." Ryoga said.
Nabiki brushed her hair out of her eyes, "You know . . . we go out to the woods by a lake for a few hours, come back without any fish, but we say we were fishing?"
"If we're not fishing what'll we be doing?" Ryoga asked reluctantly, he wasn't in the mood for one of Nabiki's "how to make money off of your disabled sense of direction" seminars.
Nabiki drummed her fingers on the table and said, "Spending time doing what couples do, Ryoga baby."
Oh. Arguing. Ryoga frowned, "Couldn't we do that here?"
"I prefer privacy." Nabiki said.
"Maybe I could borrow him before your alleged fishing trip?" Kasumi offered. "Or maybe . . . I could go along and chaperone, make sure you two behave yourselves."
"That's the last thing I need." Nabiki scoffed.
It seemed she was going to say more but Kasumi got up to leave, "Oh my, I've forgotten the . . ." Kasumi was saying as she rushed off.
Nabiki seemed ready to say more anyway when there was a gentle knock on the wall.
By gentle of course I mean a gigantic hole appeared when Mousse "knocked" it down.
" Tendo School, I Mousse, champion representative of the Koruda School of Combat have come to challenge you, Ranma Saotome, and you, Akane Tendo, to righteous battle!"
Nabiki blinked. Ryoga did too. She turned to him and sneered, "So who do you think he's mistaking you for, Ranma or Akane?"
Ryoga scoffed and stood up, "I, Ryoga Hibiki will accept your challenge!"
"Ryoga Hibiki? Fah, just as well for I have come to destroy you as well, piggy-boy!"
"Say again?" Ryoga coughed, "Did you just tell me you wanted to die?"
"And have you nothing to declare, Ranma Saotome?"
Ryoga grinned, "Oh do declare Ranma." He said to a bored looking Nabiki.
"I declare you all a bunch of comic book rejects who clearly need to get lives. I need to speak to my sister." She said, and went off after Kasumi.
"Uh . . . okay." Ryoga said. "So . . . I guess I'm alone.
"Oh no yer not!" Ranma said suddenly, appearing in the doorway of the guestroom, "I, Ranma Saotome will not accept that, I will not turn my back on a chance to show off—uh I mean to protect the Tendo Training Hall, I will fight!"
"And me too!" Akane cried, appearing from her bedroom dressed in some rather cute pajamas that had a pattern of little panda bears, but zero combat value.
Ryoga sighed. He'd rather have been on his own to show how truly awesome he was, but if this was how it was going to be, this was how it was going to be.
"Hey wait, aren't there usually five of you?" Ryoga asked.
One of the K-Figters, the only one wearing a helmet groaned, "Oh . . . I forgot that other guy . . . he's probably all right, so long as they didn't demolish that building yet . . . today is Friday right?"
"Uh . . . right." Ryoga said, feeling pretty sure it was actually Saturday. "Well three against four, I like those odds!"
Ranma led the charge, Mousse came at him, hidden weapons flying from his sleeves, but Ranma dodged each one easily!
He leapt high into the air—and hit his head on the ceiling.
"Hey, let's take this outside!" Ranma said.
"It does not matter to me, Ranma Saotome!" Mousse cried, leaping backwards, "I will fight you anywhere!"
"Oh yeah? Will ya fight me on land?" Ranma asked, lunging for Mousse and punching him square in the face, the Chinese boy flew back into a tree in the backyard, staggered and stood up tall and firm.
"Certainly." Mousse said, cracking his knuckles.
"And in the air?" Ranma lunged forward, dropped down onto his back and kicked up, hitting Mousse square in the lower jaw, sending him up into the tree branches and through them, Ranma followed him and the two exchanged blows midair.
"Would you fight me at sea?" Ranma sneered.
"Of cou—what?" Mousse wailed as Ranma hit him triangularly—because he was tired of hitting him squarely—on the head, knocking him down into the koi pond.
" Saotome School of Anythin' Goes Martial Arts, Marine Corps Technique!" Ranma laughed as Mousse hurtled down towards the water.
The duck quacked indignantly and only grew angrier as Ranma landed on top of it, using it to soften his landing.
"Like that duck boy? Just thought it up, was gonna use it on Ryoga, but you're just as good." Ranma grinned, "And now it's three on three even!"
Akane shuddered as Tomoko's kick slammed into her arm, Anzu came in from behind with a blow that would have laid a lesser woman out cold!
Akane felt an odd sensation go through her as she faced her two opponents, Anzu and Tomoko.
It was invincibility; she was Akane the great again!
"All right Anzu, lets see which of us is the better heir to the greater school!"
"Problem there hon is that I'm here to back the little powder puff up." Tomoko said.
"Oh yeah well I—" Akane began but Anzu cut her off.
"Now just a minute, 'powder puff'? What the heck, Tomoko?"
"What? I didn't mean anything. I was gonna say 'princess' but I thought you'd get mad."
"So you call me a powder puff instead?" Anzu demanded.
"Uh, hey . . . we're fighting." Akane pointed out.
"No, we're fighting," Anzu corrected, "You're behind on the times, Tendo."
"Look, if you don't like it pretend ya didn't hear it and—"
"I cant believe you'd say that, it's almost as if—"
"Um, hey if you two don't want to fight we can reschedule and call this one a forfeit." Akane offered.
"I mean ya are kind of a sissy, that time you broke your arm you cried—"
"All I'm saying is if the dice lands on a four it's a four, if it falls off the table—"
Akane was about to say something else when the two arguing young women suddenly lunged for her!
A trap! They lulled her into a false sense of security by pretending to be idiots!
Anzu came in from the front and Akane knew that Tomoko was probably coming in from the rear, Akane braced herself for the back blow and put her arms up to block Anzu!
Anzu's kick laid her flat, but nothing came from Tomoko, as Akane hit the ground she saw the other Koruda martial artist had been intercepted by Ranma!
So he had his uses . . . that Ranma . . .
But it was too late for her, Anzu came for her, katana drawn, raised and ready to plunge into Akane's heart, which really seemed a bit extreme considering the fact that Akane was already beaten!
But then something big and sort of gray knocked Anzu out of the air!
Mercedes had saved the day! He was now licking Anzu's face like there was no tomorrow, and Anzu-pinned beneath the dog squirmed and screamed as she tried to get free.
"Oh no! He's licking my face, it's everywhere! It's sticky, what's he been eating? Oh my mouth, it got in my mouth! Help me, I'm being violated, a dog just slobbered into my mouth! Help me, help me! I'm not a lollipop, the cherry flavor is just my perfume, I swear! I don't even like you as a friend!"
Akane sat back and grinned.
She supposed she'd better save the Koruda girl, but then again Anzu had come at her with a sword so . . .
Maybe a little longer.
Jun watched the battle alongside Tosa. "The Great King is not really exerting himself."
"And why should he, against such an opponent?" Tosa asked, running a hand through her red hair.
"When he fought me it was light fighting with a god!" Jun said.
"As it should be, but this K-Fighter is a nobody, he does not even remove his helmet. The Great King will not kill him, not unless he becomes careless, and in that case it will not do."
Jun nodded. "What shall we do?"
"Pardon?" Tosa blinked. "What shall we do? Why nothing of course! We are only observing. When the proper moment to strike arrives we will know, and we will take the chosen one then."
Jun nodded. "When Ryoga Hibiki is turned into a helpless pig he will be ours."
"Indeed." Tosa said calmly. "You have the support of the entire Nekekami now, another agent: Fenrir, will be here shortly to join us."
At that moment a huge german shepherd appeared on the battle field. "Punctual of him." Jun said.
Tosa stared at him for a moment. "That is not Fenrir." She said after an awkward silence. "That is a dog."
"Yes, an unnaturally large dog. And the name Fenrir, I just assumed . . ." Jun said. "Agent Fenrir's profile detailed him as an Unusual."
"That it did," Tosa admitted, "One who joined us just two years ago. He betrayed his old guild at the battle of Hong Kong."
Jun shrugged. He'd been in Hong Kong with Lo-Chun during the battle. It had been crazy, though it had been reported as nothing than a surprising crime outbreak in truth several great assassins had lost their lives in a wasteful conflict, and a lot of Hong Kong had been scarred from the fighting in ways normal people might not notice.
It was exactly the sort of thing that wouldn't have to happen any more if Ryoga would awaken and take control of the guilds.
Before it was too late.
Ryoga leapt backwards as the masked K-Fighter came at him, but he seemed to be moving slower than usual.
The K-Fighter reached him and threw his fist back preparing to punch Ryoga.
He seemed slowed down too, it was odd, Ryoga felt somehow heavier than normal.
And suddenly things returned to their normal speed as the K-Fighter's fist flew towards Ryoga like lightning!
It was harder than a normal punch, but not enough to really bother Ryoga, he laughed and head butted the K-Fighter!
It was easier than he thought it would be, his head moved faster and he struck harder than he had planned, and the K-Fighter flew back, hitting the ground so hard that he left a crater.
Was he dead? Ryoga walked over and prodded him with his foot.
The helmet was cracked, the K-Fighter removed it with shaking hands revealing a dazed face with eyes slightly crossed.
"Ugh!" The young man groaned as he staggered to his feet, he glared at Ryoga, "N-No, I've come too far to give up now. I've got to find Jun, and the only way for me to do that is to beat you!" His eyes narrowed and he lunged forward, striking for Ryoga!
Jun? What did this guy have to do with Jun? Ryoga spun out of the way in time to avoid being hit in the stomach . . . but then suddenly he was falling!
Well he was flying really, backwards towards the Tendo family's stone wall that surrounded the garden, except it didn't feel like flying the way it did when Ranma hit him, it felt as if he were falling from a building!
It was confusing and made Ryoga's stomach uncomfortable, he slammed into the wall as if it were the ground and lay there.
A bizarre idea occurred to him and he stood up.
On top of the wall, as if it were the ground, staring at the grass as if it were a wall..
He had to look up to see the other fighters who fought normally on the proper ground.
Then gravity began to work properly again and Ryoga fell flat on his face.
He got to his feet and charged, the K-Fighter thrust his hands forward again, and again Ryoga felt gravity shift.
But it didn't matter! Even if it meant running up a vertical surface he ran on until he reached the K-Fighter, whose eyes widened, he slammed his fist into the other man's face, though it was with less force than he wanted for he started to slip and fall again.
Now he was starting to feel a little queasy.
He hit the ground hard! Or rather he hit the wall hard, so hard he broke it!
But he also broke whatever spell he was under, and he attacked again, standing on actual ground properly, this time leaping high into the air instead of running forward Ryoga soared high, and came down on the K-Fighter!
He pinned the armored invader, the K-Fighter coughed and tried feebly to shove Ryoga off, but Ryoga's fist shot down to his throat!
Slam me into a wall will you? Ryoga thought darkly.
He drew back his fist meaning to knock this nuisance out cold when suddenly he stopped.
Ranma had his fist and held it firmly. "Hey, hey, that's enough. We won." He said.
Ryoga stumbled away from a surprised but mostly uninjured K-Fighter. The young man looked at Ryoga closely and shook his head. "I should have known better than to try to face the man who may yet be the Chosen One." He said, and he simply left, leaping onto the roof and from there proceeding from rooftop to rooftop.
"Wait!" Ryoga called after him, but he was gone. "What do you have to do with Jun?" He whispered to himself.
Ranma shook his head, "That's right, I am the chosen one, chosen to defeat any who stand against me—er I mean against this training hall!"
Idiot. Ryoga, or at least the voice in his head thought bitterly, He didn't mean you.
The other K-Fighters stuck around however, Anzu showered thoroughly and then dressed in some of Nodoka's cloths since Akane said "Mrs. Saotome wont notice if those go missing since they spend so much time on guys' bedroom floors." Ranma had protested but half-heartedly.
"It's crazy," Anzu had said, "I just showered for like an hour, but I feel kind of unclean as soon as I put these on. Hey, what're these hard spots?"
Jun blinked twice when he saw the young man without his helmet. He looked at Tosa, "Did you read his lips? He said Chosen One!"
Tosa's expression hardened. "He's one of us."
"A Nekekami?" Jun blinked, feeling impending dread or relief depending on the woman's answer.
"No, he's not Nekekami, but he's definitely part of a guild. And he's an Unusual . . ."
"What makes you say that?" Jun asked.
"The way he fought. He's either controlling the wind, which would make him a type D, Elemental Master, or worse."
"What do you mean worse?" Jun scoffed. He didn't really understand Unusual gibberish. He knew Han was a type C Neko-gankyu which had resulted in her late admission to the Nekekami, but beyond that everything else was just gibberish.
"Unusuals are categorized into danger ratings that usually rate from A to E, with the S ratting reserved for our Chosen One down there, and a few other special cases. If that wasn't wind, if that was what I thought it was . . . he's an A rank, highly dangerous."
"I don't care what you think you saw, is a type A dangerous to the chosen one?" Jun demanded.
"No, of course not." Tosa said with a smile. Jun smiled back in relief, but heard Tosa cough under her breath, "But he could take you."
Jun scoffed, and decided to ignore that bit of nonsense as the third assassin arrived.
Now, with three Nekekami assassins standing ready, and the entire guild supporting them there was nothing that could stand between them and the awakening of the Chosen One.
While the martial arts inclined fought bravely on the field of honor, Nabiki was waging a little war of her own.
She grabbed Kasumi's arm and spun her older sister around, "What's up with you?" She demanded.
"What do you mean?" Kasumi asked.
"What happened to 'younger men bore me' hmm?" Nabiki demanded.
"What are you talking about?" Kasumi asked, this time she looked confused.
"You're flirting with my fiancé, he's a younger man."
Kasumi frowned, "Oh? But I'm not flirting with him at all."
Nabiki scoffed. "Yeah right. Look sis, if you want him just say so, and we can work something out for the right price."
Kasumi looked offended, Nabiki, feeling she'd crossed a line with her joke half expected Kasumi to slap her in a rare but not nonexistent "angry Kasumi" moment.
But it didn't come. Kasumi just shook her head. "Poor Ryoga."
"What do you mean 'poor Ryoga?" Nabiki demanded.
Kasumi looked sad, "I wont lie to you Nabiki. I love Ryoga."
Nabiki could have screamed a few choice words at Kasumi, but wisely she kept silent long enough to hear the rest of Kasumi's speech.
"I love him like a younger brother. He's a part of this family now, whether or not he realizes it, just like Ranma and Mr. Saotome. I'm worried about him, sure he fights with Ranma, but if he's not with you he's almost always alone. I've been extra nice to him lately to try and show him that we care about him because I don't think he knows that we do."
Nabiki folded her arms and leaned against a counter. "Okay, so maybe that explains offering to walk him to school. Sure, that's a big sisterly act. So why are you holding his hand? Why are you massaging his shoulder? Why do you keep staring at him? It's written all over your face Kasumi, any school girl can tell what it is you want."
"I don't see a problem with holding his hand, Nabiki. It is not as if I am . . . oh, say, kissing him. Yes I let him sleep in my bed, but not with me. Can you make that same claim? And can Tatewaki Kuno make such a claim about you?"
Nabiki shook her head. Kasumi had had her at the kissing remark, to throw in Kuno's name, to lay bare the fact that she knew only made Nabiki feel even worse.
"Poor Ryoga." Kasumi said softly. "The woman he loves doesn't love him back, or at least doesn't act like it."
"I love him!"
"You can't love two men at once Nabiki. That's not what love is." Kasumi said.
"Well I don't love Kuno." Nabiki scoffed.
"It looked different to me. The way you kissed him, it was as if you couldn't stop."
"I'm that way with Ryoga!" Nabiki protested.
"Sometimes." Kasumi granted. "Every now and again, if you think no one's watching you're quite nice to him, even loving. Whenever anyone else is around however you're dominant, possessive, you treat him like a trophy, not like a lover."
Nabiki shrugged, "That's . . . I do love him."
"I know." Kasumi said. "So do I. Just not the same way you do Nabiki. So don't worry."
"What if he misunderstands you?" Nabiki demanded.
"I'll try to view myself from the outside when I'm with him. Try to remember how easily misled he is." Kasumi said.
"Promise?" Nabiki asked.
"I wouldn't lie." Kasumi said.
Nabiki frowned. "All right . . . if you really aren't going to steal Ryoga . . . I guess I've got no quarrel with you."
"Good." Kasumi said with a smile, "I do so hate to fight."
But Nabiki wasn't so sure. Something about Kasumi didn't seem normal.
Nabiki had heard that Dr. Tofu had two nurses now, was Kasumi jealous?
"Kasumi . . . Ryoga . . . he's not a . . ." She took a deep breath. "I'd never use my feelings for him to get back at anybody. I'd never pretend that I loved him just to be able to make other people jealous."
"Of course you would, you show him off all the time, you taunt Akane because you're having sex and she isn't." Kasumi said with a wry smile.
"But . . . I mean . . . I really love him. I wouldn't be having sex if I didn't. I might lead him on, like I'm doin' with Kuno, but only if I had a good reason, and there was something in it for me. Even still I'd try to keep his feelings in mind. Ranma's a little more resilient, but Ryoga's like glass: easily shattered."
"I know." Kasumi said. "That's why I think you need to stop being with Kuno."
Nabiki sighed. "Well . . . maybe I can get Kuno baby to talk the college into letting me bring P-Chan along?"
"No." Kasumi said firmly, "No, he needs to remain here."
"What do you mean?" Nabiki asked, "You were just saying—"
"Nabiki, if the Nekekami want Ryoga they will use you to get him just like before. You could get hurt. Ryoga on the other hand is vulnerable, he'll get lost sooner or later and we'll have no way of finding him, helping him." Kasumi looked down, "He must remain here with us, there's no safer place right now than this house. I've spoken with father's old master, and Happosai has agreed to remain here to "train" both Ranma and Ryoga . . . mostly Ranma mind you, but he will keep an eye on Ryoga."
"How much did that cost you?" Nabiki blinked.
"All of them. Including the ones I was wearing at the time." Kasumi said with a frown.
"Cold?" Nabiki snickered.
"That's besides the point, Nabiki . . . and yes. But the funny thing is I think he'd have agreed to it for free if I hadn't mentioned that we'd be willing to pay him for his services . . . but I meant in yen . . ."
Nabiki shook her head. "All right. I'll tell Ryoga he needs to stay here and help you guys out. But if he does, and I find out you slept with him . . . I am going to kill you, you know that right? Well okay, maybe not kill, but I'll make you really miserable."
"I know." Kasumi nodded.
Nabiki waved her hand in front ofher sister's face, "You do not want to sleep with my boyfriend."
Kasumi sighed and said, "You know that annoys me. I'm not weak minded, why do you keep thinking that'll work on me?"
Nabiki shrugged. She and her sister laughed weakly for a while, then Nabiki leaned back against the wall and said "Kasumi . . . I want you to promise you wont have sex with my fiancé."
Kasumi looked taken aback, "Of course!" She said. "I would never!"
"Good." Nabiki nodded. 'Because I know,' she thought 'that all that stuff you told me about loving him like a little brother . . . was a load of crap. Don't lie to a professional liar.'
Fuming.
That's the word to describe Yoshimi as she entered her home that evening. She had traversed a long distance to return home, and she had heard her father's helicopter lifting off shortly after she'd set foot inside the mansion.
Well that was a shame. She'd have liked to visit with him for a while, enjoy his company and catch up with her more or less estranged parent.
But that wasn't what she'd come home for.
No, not at all. She raised her hand and shouted, "Ninja!"
Like a flash scores of pink ninja appeared from various hiding places in the livingroom, more poured into the room from other rooms, they struggled and fought to be the first to bow in front of her.
Then the first to bow in front of her was trampled by the second, who was determined to bow closest to her.
Then the second was trampled by the third who wanted to bow closer too, but didn't want to invade Yoshimi's personal space, and therefore stood on the shoulders of the second.
Yoshimi shook her head, "Enough! I need you for a special mission, my ninja! I must have a group of you pose as police men, three of you to pose as health inspectors, one of you to pose as a food critic, and one of you willing to die for me."
Not surprisingly there were many volunteers for each position, except the last. 'And they call themselves ninja' Yoshimi thought.
"Very well then, dying for the cause is a little extreme, who here will become very sick for me?" Yoshimi compromised, there were some half hearted volunteers now, and that was good enough.
She selected her strike team and sent the others away. She said to her ninja, "Here is your target!" She cried, showing a picture of Ukyo, "This is her location," She showed a picture of Ucchan's restaurant, "Here is your mission, you will go in there and you three will perform an inspection, you will critic the food, you will pretend that it makes you sick, you fall then pretend to be dying while you—" she pointed back to the critic "begin to follow suit and act as if you too are dying. You three will then call the police and have Ukyo arrested, I have connections in the women's prison that will give Ukyo a nice, comfortable cell where she will be able to enjoy the rest of her life in peace, and far away from my Ryoga."
The ninja all seemed to understand so Yoshimi pointed to the door, "Go now my pink masked minions, go and let the cause of true love be served!"
The masked minions went and Yoshimi laughed maniacally to herself. Then decided she was hungry. She raised a hand again, "Ninja!" She screamed.
Again the massive assembly, the attempt to bow first and closest. "Who here knows how to make a seven course meal that offers less than one gram of fat and absolutely no calories?"
Two ninja raised their hands.
"Who can make it taste good?" Yoshimi demanded.
Nobody raised their hands.
Yoshimi sighed. "Fine. Make me a double bacon cheese burger, smothered in mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup, two slices of cheese on each layer!"
Five ninja complied and did exactly that, Yoshimi drew her gun and shot each burger out of their hands. "Fools!" She cried, "That was a test and you've failed! Not only do you bring me fattening American food, you forget the milk shake and fried potatoes! Now bring me some lasagna, a twelve by twelve centimeter cube if you please!"
The ninja complied and Yoshimi shot the plates out of their hands, giggling madly to herself. "Teehee, how dare you bring me fattening Italian food, disgusting! Okay, okay, bring me some sweet and sour chicken over fried rice. No, no, I'm serious this time."
The ninja complied again and delivered eight bowls, Yoshimi of course shot them all and luahged wildly, "So gullible, haha so gullible! Hehehe I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Seriously this time, seriously! Bring me a tuna fish sandwich!"
A little reluctantly the ninja complied and Yoshimi had ten tuna sandwiches presented to her.
She filled them full of led and laughed like a maniac, "Oh you're too much! You're so gullible, I love it! Oh-hohohohohoho! Teeheeheehee! I cant! I cant! My side hurts, oh that's rich! Oh! Oh! Oh! Teehee!" She held her side and fell to her knees in laughter, then waved her hand, "Okay! Okay! Seriously this time!"
Ryoga was laying back in Kasumi's incredibly comfortable bed, resting as Kasumi had ordered.
There was a knock on the door, and without waiting for an answer Nabiki opened it and came inside. "Ryoga," She said softly, "I need to talk to you."
"Okay . . ." Ryoga said.
Nabiki came over to the bed and sat down on the edge. "Ryoga, I want to start by apologizing to you. Also I'm going to have to handcuff you to the bed."
"Uh, hey I'm not into—"
"Shut up, I know that. You think I don't know that by now? Anyway this is just a safety precaution."
"Whose safety?" Ryoga asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Never you mind. Now Ryoga . . ." Nabiki said, she hesitated and she sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't try harder to find you when we were at . . . that terrible park."
"Y-yeah well . . ." Ryoga trailed off, not really sure what to say.
Nabiki however said "Ryoga, there are a few things I need to tell you, and I want you to listen to everything."
"Okay." Ryoga nodded.
Nabiki took a deep breath. "First, you need to stay with Kasumi. Don't you dare leave her side, but try not to be alone with her either. If you do leave her side, make sure you keep Ranma, or Ukyo, or one of the other local Martial Artists with you, but not Akane. Put up with Happosai because we don't want him to leave the house for too long."
Ryoga shrugged, "Why?"
"Don't interrupt. Kasumi is going to tell the Koruda School that father is moving to Hawaii so they'll have to challenge him there, so there'll be no real fighting while Kasumi is in charge of this place."
Ryoga nodded slowly. "Why?" He repeated.
"Because . . ." Nabiki trailed off. "Listen, I just . . . I want to make sure you'll be safe while I'm gone. There are people out there looking for you, I don't want them to get you."
Ryoga nodded. She means my followers of course. My servants, I'm the chosen one of the Nekekami. That is what you mean, isn't it? I can tell. Ryoga thought darkly.
Nabiki looked at the ground. "Now . . . what I'm going to tell you is going to make you angry, but I want you to swear to me on your oath that you'll still obey my first set of instructions anyway."
"Got it." Ryoga nodded.
Nabiki took a deep breath. "Ryoga . . . I've been seeing other guys."
Ryoga's eyes narrowed. The admission!
"It started out of shear boredom, a con to keep myself on top of my game you know? And so I went out with this one guy, then the other took pictures and he wanted to blackmail me—"
"What kind of pictures? What were you doing in these pictures?" Ryoga demanded suddenly.
"That's none of your—oh right. Sorry. Well I was kissing this other guy . . . and it was a total and complete accident, he jut kissed me and I couldn't stop it. But that's all that happened, just the kiss, okay?"
Ryoga scoffed.
Nabiki frowned at him, "I'm still in love with you. But I'm starting to get confused, and I wont deny that I've had doubts about us."
Ryoga nodded.
"So . . . when you got lost the other day . . . I . . . I didn't bother to look for you because I was with the other guy." Nabiki looked away. "You hate me, I know. I'm sorry . . ."
Ryoga broke the handcuffs, Nabiki squeaked as he reached out for her neck!
Just kidding. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, "I love you!"
"This . . . is not quite the reaction I was expecting." Nabiki informed him.
"I know! I know already, I saw you at the theme park, when you kissed Kuno, that's why I was so upset that I let Ukyo kiss me, I saw you two together!"
"Wait, you did what?" Nabiki demanded.
"I never thought you'd care enough to tell me, but now I know you do!" Ryoga said.
"Oh now wait a minute!" Nabiki snapped, "Wait just a minute, you saw another guy kissing me and you didn't do anything?"
Ryoga frowned as she shoved him away, "What was I supposed to do?"
"Be a man and punch him in the face for starters." Nabiki said. She folded her arms, "What am I worth to you if you're not willing to fight for me? You pig! I can't believe you saw me and didn't say anything!"
Ryoga was bewildered! Here she'd confessed to infidelity and he was suddenly the one being scolded? "Well you seemed so happy in his arms kissing him, I just sort of figured . . ."
"Figured what? That your mother was right about me and I'm some two bit tramp?" Nabiki demanded.
Yeah. Pretty much. Ryoga thought. "Uh, no, no way! I just thought . . . wait . . . uh . . . I wasn't thinking. That's it. I was filled with a blinding rage! But even so I did not want to risk harming you, or the man you valued above myself. I felt that if you had made your decision, I would honor it."
"So you gave me up then? But here you are leading me on like I'm still your girlfriend! What were you trying to get a few more good lays out of me before you broke the news?"
Wait, what? Ryoga distinctly remembered turning her down the previous night. "Uh, Nabiki I never—"
"I can't believe it! What if he'd been forcing himself on me?" Nabiki demanded. "What if I were being raped you jerk?"
"Well it'd be different then," Ryoga said, getting a little annoyed that no matter what everything was always his fault, "For starters you'd put up some kind of fight, I'm sure, and also you wouldn't be so eager to kiss him back."
"You son of a—"
"I was gone for a moment, didn't you bother to look for me at all before you started locking lips with Kuno?" Ryoga demanded, "And how long was it happening? How long were you two together? How often have you two shared such intimate kisses?"
"That's none of your business!" Nabiki said.
"Oh of course not. After all, I'm just your fiancé."
"Not if you think I'm worthless." Nabiki said warningly.
"I don't think you're worthless!" Ryoga protested.
"You don't think I'm worth fighting for." Nabiki said.
"No, I just wanted you to be happy so I let the slime live!" Ryoga said, standing up and clenching a fist, "Every fiber of my being wanted to rush over there and pound his face in so he'd never kiss anyone ever again, I stopped myself because I thought if you were going to choose him I'd make his continued well being my final gift to you!"
Nabiki shook her head, "I can't believe this."
"What?" Ryoga demanded.
"You're telling me that after I cheat on you my happiness is still your top priority? Sounds like an excuse to me. You saw me with Kuno, and instead of fighting for me like a real man would have, hell like even a half man like Ranma would have, you go off and kiss Ukyo! And is that all you did with her?" Nabiki added, an accusing light in her eyes.
Ryoga scoffed, "Forget Ukyo, and forget Kuno, this is really about us! You're seeing other guys, I'm getting kissed by other girls, it's got to stop!"
"Why?" Nabiki scoffed, "Why don't you just break up with me, then we can both do whatever we want with whomever we want!"
Ryoga blinked, "What?"
"You heard me." Nabiki said calmly, though her hands were shaking, "We're finished. You go knock up Ukyo, or Kasumi or whoever you like. I don't care. I'll go be with Kuno and anyone who catches my eye and the college, how's that suit you? Why don't we just break up?"
Ryoga slumped. "Because I . . . I'm still in love with you."
"Well that's a lie. I know I still love you, but if you really cared about me you'd prove it." Nabiki got up and headed for the door. "To think I wanted to apologize for what I did. In the end you're ten times worse."
How does she arrive at that conclusion? Why is she always blameless? Why is it always my fault? Ryoga wondered.
"Nothing to say?" Nabiki scoffed. "Fine. Goodbye Ryoga Hibiki." Nabiki said calmly, untying the bandanna around her neck and leaving it with Ryoga, she left.
Ryoga sat there for a while feeling worthless, but at the same time at wild thought got into his head.
She wants me to prove my love in combat . . . fight for her . . . fight Kuno . . . Ryoga's lips became a twisted smile, Fight for my beloved Nabiki? Why . . . I'd kill for her.
Was it the voice in his head thinking that or was it him? He wasn't sure. Maybe it was a bit of both. He smiled darkly and reached for a piece of paper and a pen. He began to write a letter of challenge, the last Tatewaki Kuno would ever receive.
Then Nabiki would understand how he felt.
Once I show her, once I show everyone my power . . . everything will be all right. It'll be just like waking up from a long, terrible dream. Ryoga thought darkly. Once I kill Kuno . . . once I kill.
Ukyo leaned against the counter and observed the patrons, Konatsu was waiting on tables. It was a good way to get her mind off of Ryoga . . . and how she'd kissed him.
How jealous Ranma would be, and though that was her whole plan she felt like the jealousy Ranma would feel over said kiss would not be the sort that she wanted. In fact it might not be jealousy at all, it might be outright indifference.
What if Ranma honey didn't care that she'd kissed Ryoga? Could she live with the fact that that implied? That he truly did love Akane more than her? Sure they had a wedding date set, but still . . . Ukyo had some hope.
She noticed that a lot of people seemed to be dressed oddly tonight. Three health inspectors were dressed for winter though it was just the end of summer, one man claiming to be a food critic was wearing a night gown, bad makeup, and a wig despite his thick beard, and one of her customers was wearing his underwear on the outside of his pants, and a cape.
Whatever the blazes was going on, it made Ukyo uncomfortable.
Suddenly the super hero customer gagged, fell to the ground and began to cough and sneeze.
The health inspectors rushed over to him, Konatsu looked confused and several of Ukyo's regulars began eyeing their okonomiyaki.
Suddenly the food critic keeled over, the health inspectors began to panic, "Call the police! Call the police!" They screamed.
They ran about in circles until two police officers burst into the room.
Now Ukyo recognized them as police officers, none the less one was clearly a Military Policeman, and the other dressed like a constable.
"Halt, that young woman is under arrest for food poisoning!" Constable cried, blowing a whistle and suddenly several more law enforcement officials burst in through the windows, one looked like he belonged on the S.W.A.T. team, another looked like an old western sheriff, there were police officer uniforms from various different departments and countries, and they all seemed to want Ukyo taken away.
But the young woman would have none of that! She nodded to Konatsu, who took up a fighting position, and she picked up her battle spatula, "All right you freaks, I don't know what you're doing, or who you think you're fooling, but you're not coming any closer to me unless you're going to make an order, so back off!"
"We're going to arrest you Ukyo . . . Ukyo . . . whatever your last name is!" The MP said.
"Is that right?" Ukyo scoffed, "Well come and get a piece of me, but I warn ya—" Ukyo began but suddenly a customer stood up.
"Now just who called the police?"
"What? Uh . . . well . . ." The S.W.A.T. guy said, smiling disarmingly.
"Yeah, and hey those two dead guys are just fine now, see? They're finishing off their meals!" One woman pointed out.
"It's a conspiracy! It's a silence by the government! They want to take away our right as a people to eat okonomiyaki!"
"We cant allow that!"
"N-now wait a moment," One of the phony-officers said, but the customers were up in arms.
"We wont have it!" They cried and charged the "police officers" and the health inspectors! Ukyo just leaned against her spatula and watched in amazement as her loyal patrons kicked, punched, bit and clawed those who would threaten their dinner plans.
Someone threw a chair and it was all over, with that minor provocation the crowd began to riot and a full blown melee broke out! Everyone began to fight, old and young, officer and patron, they battled one another and took it clear out into the streets!
Ukyo sighed. "Wanna close early?" She asked.
Konatsu just nodded.
They followed the battle into the streets, where real police officers were unsure as to whether they should arrest the false officers, or back them up.
Ukyo shook her head and rolled up her sleeves, "This ought'a be a good work out!" She said, cracking her knuckles.
It'd help her get her mind off of Ranma honey and that dopey Ryoga anyway.
So she lunged into the brawl, followed closely by Konatsu.
To Be Continued . . .
Next Time: Mercedes is back and enjoying the good life when it is discovered that he can act as Ryoga's directional "seeing eye dog" but what happens when Mercedes just takes Ryoga where he (the dog) wants to go instead of where he (the boy) needs to be? Ranma and Akane must work out some issues when Soun finds Akane's dirty drawings, and Kasumi might just be hiding the truth about what she feels for Ryoga, but is it possible that these feelings are brought on only because of her current feelings towards Dr. Tofu, or is this something genuine? Ryoga will challenge Tatewaki to a battle for Nabiki's hand, but will it turn out to be more than he expected?
A/N: A Kasumi + Ryoga pairing has been just lying below the surface since Charlotte's Web 1, it is likely that if Nabiki had not taken on with Ryoga then Kasumi would have eventually. I wanted it to happen in that story, it didn't. But it will happen in the sequel. There was some flirting in Charlotte's Web 1, much of it was removed or reworded in the revisions but it was more like actual flirting, batting eye lashes and what not. What Kasumi does in this story is meant to be more akin to an actual advance or proposition however with so much of their flirtatious history removed I felt things should advance slowly and more subtly than originally projected, while keeping them obvious enough (to everyone but Ryoga) that Nabiki would notice and want to do something about it.
In this story Kasumi is to Ryoga what Kuno is to Nabiki, a new love interest who makes a lot more sense in some ways, but even less in others. This means that we have Ryoga who could end up with Nabiki, Kasumi, or maybe even Ukyo, and Nabiki who could end up with Ryoga, Kuno or Kinnosuke. Incidentally a Nabiki + Ranma possibility will be introduced though likely not pursued since back in the day I used to be a major RaNa fan.
There is no chance of anyone ending up with Yoshimi. Not even one of the pink ninja.
