Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Chapter 17
"There's no place like home..."
Fifteen minutes later
The wind and snow blustered through the empty streets, covering the group of people currently walking down the main road in a sheet of white.
Nabiki chattered her teeth involuntarily. Wow, Kasumi really wasn't kidding when she said it was cold... She was walking with her arms over her face, her new thick overcoat giving her some good protection against the cold, but the high winds still threatened to knock her over.
Her posture was mimicked by Monlon and Sarutoru, their lighter figures not used to the intense gale. Lime with his dense muscle was able to walk unhindered, shaking off the snow with remarkable dexterity. Pantyhose, while his figure betrayed his relative light amount of physical prowess, he was nonplussed at the blizzard, walking onwards without losing his stride.
Maybe seeing Happosai is the only thing that's keeping him going... Nabiki mused, while focusing on her destination. Gees, this is tough going...
They were entering deeper into Nerima, and the snow now reached up to just below their knees, and progress slowed down fast.
"Dammit... This'll take hours." She looked to Pantyhose. "Taro, can you fly us to the dojo?"
He stopped and folded his arms, the condescending smirk on his face. "What, you want me to save your weak little legs from collapsing now, huh?"
Nabiki grit her teeth. Shit... He's a tough nut to crack. "Look, I'm not asking you to carry us to Osaka or anything, just high enough to get out of this snow. Will you do that?"
He narrowed his eyes, and answered simply. "No."
Lime hissed and snarled, grabbing Pantyhose by his collar, lifting him up slightly. He didn't seem intimidated in the least. "Hey, she's only asking for some help, and you throw it back in her face!"
"So?" He stared off to one side, as if the threat posed by Lime was that of a mere ant. "I don't see any reason why I should do anything to help her."
Lime showed his teeth more. "If you don't help her, then there'll be hell to pay."
"Oh?" He was amused now. "Are you going to be the one to hand out punishment?"
"Lime, leave him be..." Nabiki held his arm tight and dragged it off Pantyhose. "If Taro doesn't want to get his name changed quicker, it's up to him." She chuckled to herself as his expression grew more excited.
It lowered somewhat, and he decided to reply. "You don't think I want to fly to keep out of this wretched snow! I can, but I can't at the same time!"
Nabiki was puzzled this time. "Huh? Why?"
Pantyhose steamed for a few seconds, before shouting out. "I CAN'T FLY IN THESE CONDITIONS!"
They all looked up and saw the sky darkened by clouds, hail, sleet and snow whirling and dancing about in random patterns, and at differing speeds. Nabiki nodded.
"I see... The wind is too strong to fly..." She looked around and saw the most obvious solution present itself to her. "Well, no two ways about it... We just have to fence walk, that keeps us off the ground. Roof hopping with all these crosswinds would be dangerous." She looked up to the nearest one. "Lime, I give you permission to carry me, any funny business and I start breaking fingers..."
"Y-Yes ma'am!"
He saluted her, but couldn't keep the part happy grin, part leer and blush from his face. Picking her up gently, holding her as one would hold a baby, he leaped onto the wall separating someone's property from the road outside. Monlon and Sarutoru followed by immediately after, and felt much more secure on easier footing.
"It's probably icy here, so keep your footing steady and don't run too fast." Lime nodded and began walking but stopped when a voice reached him.
"Hey! What about me!"
Pantyhose was still in the snow, trudging slowly after them, his face that of shock that they would leave him.
Nabiki smirked, knowing that in his current form he had no such ability. "Sorry, Taro, but it looks like we have to leave you behind this time..." She lost her superior expression, remembering how much it angered Ryoga, who was much weaker than Pantyhose in his cursed form. "If you keep your cool and try not to kill me later, I'll hold Happosai at the dojo until you arrive so you can get your new name." She smiled weakly. "Sorry, but I have to be there quickly, I don't know how much time I have left before my family leave." As Lime started walking off, she shouted one last time. "I'll see you in a bit!"
Pantyhose's agonised cries were lost in the wailing wind. He muttered several more curses but plundered on through the snow, keeping the promise of a new name in his mind all the while.
Half an hour later
The winds and snow really made it hard to travel, whatever the form of transport. While fence walking was considered the easiest, it still wasn't as fast as it could have been. Slick surfaces, awkwardly positioned hailstones, and slicing winds made the journey treacherous to even the expert martial artists that currently ran to their destination.
"Take a left here." Nabiki stated, and Lime jumped the corner across to avoid turning on a tight edge. His run was closely followed by Monlon and Sarutoru, who took to mimicking his actions to prevent any damage to their selves.
"Okay, we're nearly there, slow down now."
Lime's full pelt run had now decreased and his feet began to plod harder, making his long steps become more forced and increasing his stability. Soon they had reached the final corner, and were now facing off to the left the sign for the Tendo dojo.
"Home..." Nabiki whispered, and she felt a warm feeling blanket over her.
Thinking for a second that Lime was roaming with his hands again, she checked and found him staring at the sign with an odd look of trepidation. It took her a few moments to recognise the feeling of nostalgia and familiarity that comes with returning to the home that you spent most of your years. Memories of her time there flooded her senses. From being a grumpy child in mornings, eating her mother's cookies, bribing a young Akane with a sprout to give her own cookie over and laughing when she cried at the taste, to standing at her mother's grave beside Kasumi, learning the power of money through television shows, and applying them in real life at school.
She sighed. Perhaps I do miss it a little... She smiled when she thought of how she left. I have had fun though, this trip has been great!
She nodded to Lime and he jumped down into the snow again, letting her down gently. The other two joined them.
"Well, let's go and knock..." Nabiki walked up to the door and rang the bell. They waited for a minute before she decided to open the outer doors. Fetching the keys from her backpack, she unlocked it and walked in, needing Lime's help to push as the snow built up on the other side.
She rapped lightly on the house entrance, and wasn't surprised when no one turned up. They must be gone... She looked back at the others.
"Wait here while I go inside and check quickly."
Going inside, she shuddered at the cold, which had permeated the wood. Without heating, the house was forbidding and icy, her breath could still be seen. She checked each room first before going into the living room. Frowning at the lack of people, she went into the kitchen and saw a note on the fridge, beneath a magnet. Pulling it out, she read it.
"Nabiki,
We've gone to the shelter, the JGSDF said it would be best for us. If you find this note, please come see us, we'll be in the gym at Furinkan High until the 22nd January. I hope you can catch up to us.
Lots of love,
Kasumi
Date: 15th January 1998"
Nabiki took the note. They're leaving tomorrow... There's no time to lose... She ran out of the house, taking care to lock it behind her.
The others watched her carefully, Monlon saw the concerned look. "Is everything alright Nabiki?"
Nabiki shook her head. "They're leaving tomorrow, but knowing how the Japanese government works, I wouldn't be surprised if they sent them out a day early."
Sarutoru nodded. "Indeed, in that case we must make our way to their shelter before they are moved on." He looked at the walls and the nearby lamppost. "I'm afraid that visibility is incredibly poor here, I cannot see further than ten metres."
Nabiki nodded sagely. "Yeah, I know, but it's okay. I know the way to school, I took that journey every day for many years."
Lime was pumped gesturing with both fists. "Then what are we waiting for! Let's go quickly!"
Nabiki stared at him for a few seconds, and giggled at his childish antics. "Okay... Lime, carry me."
Back in their usual positions, they started running on the walls. Nabiki and the rest noted the neighbour next door had light inside the window, the old lady sitting near a heater and watching her television. Well, it looks like not everyone is ready to abandon Nerima just yet... She frowned at the last memory of her. I almost caught a cold that day when she splashed me... Lime noticed her face change but didn't say anything.
"Lime, turn left here."
She kept her eyes forwards, recalling her route to school.
Ten minutes later
"Right here, then straight on..."
They were now parallel to the fence that Ranma used to walk each and everyday, the water drain beside it. A large gloomy building loomed into focus.
"Damn, my senses are all messed up in this weather..." Lime growled. "I can barely smell you, so I can't tell if anyone is there." He peered closer, but heard a shout from behind him.
"There's one tank and two people carriers ahead!" Sarutoru declared. "I recommend we slow down before they consider us enemies."
Nabiki agreed. "Good point. Lime, take me down, we're going to walk the rest of the way."
Jumping down they began their slow scrunching in the deep snow to the shelter.
Five minutes later
The front gate of Furinkan High beckoned them in, the blizzard calming somewhat to show that it was open. A man wearing a white outfit in an overcoat and dark green face mask was standing guard. He approached them.
"What are you doing out in this blizzard!" He seemed more concerned about them than worried of their odd outfits. "Quickly, get inside!" He pointed the way and they ran across the thinner cover of snow to the door. They must've scooped away most of it so people can get in or out easily...
They were met at the entrance to the gym by another soldier, who was ready for them. "Please, get inside. There are some empty areas by the north wall." He unbolted the door and allowed them in, closing the door quickly once they were inside.
After brushing off the snow that had stuck to their clothing, the first thing that struck them was the heat inside. The second was the number of people.
There were hundreds of little compartments, nothing more than a flimsy curtain or panel separating each one, but each partition seemed solid. There were varying numbers of sleeping bags per makeshift room.
"We're going to have to look for them... There's doesn't seem to be any signs outside the rooms..." She paused and looked at her crew. "Unless..." She leaned in close and whispered to them. "Can you find them by ki?"
They all paused, searching out with their senses. "I detect large powers in the far corner." Sarutoru answered first.
Lime sniffed the air. "There's another group of people that smell familiar, they're closest to this wall."
Monlon scrutinised each feeling she got. "There are two people on the left wall with less power, and three more with only a slightly higher ki level than the rest of the people."
Nabiki nodded. "Okay, Lime, you lead the way. The strongest people are probably Cologne, Shampoo and Mousse, so it's best to stay away from them." She looked to them. "I hope you've hidden your ki, I don't want anyone to find you and start a fight with all these soldiers around."
They smirked, and she returned it. "Sorry, I forgot that you're all used to battles. You probably do it on an everyday basis." She became pensive. "Cologne would probably be able to figure out that you're a lot stronger than you actually are, but there's nothing we can do about that for now..." She looked at them directly. "Go to an empty one and wait there. If you want to find me, just search for my ki and get my attention somehow." She grinned wryly and gazed at Lime. "And one that doesn't involve groping me or smashing the wall down."
"Hey!" He wasn't amused. She knocked him on the head.
"Chill... I was only kidding." Her eyes narrowed. "But not about the groping, got it?"
He gulped and nodded rapidly. He stopped walking and pointed off to a closed compartment. "The people are in there."
Nabiki thanked him. "Good, now go and relax in an empty one, I'll see you later." They waved goodbye and walked in the direction the soldier pointed them in.
Here goes nothing... First peeking in the small gap to see that it was the right one, she casually pulled the curtain back.
"Hi everyone, how've things been?"
The stunned looks of surprise turned to shock, horror, and happiness.
Soon Nabiki was surrounded by tight hugs.
"My daughter has returned to me!" Soun's tears weren't melodramatic, just the everyday tears of a parent who had found his long lost child again.
"N-Nabiki!" Akane's tears were in full, wetting her cheeks faster than her top could absorb.
Kasumi's tears were much mellower, tiny globules on either side of her eyes. "Welcome home, little sister."
Nabiki was confused at the fourth pair of arms that encircled her, especially since they belonged to a maroon haired person.
"Nabiki! I was so worried for you!" Nabiki raised her eyebrow in mild surprise at the concern in Nodoka's voice.
Genma waved from behind, not used to expressing his emotions outwards. Nabiki nodded to acknowledge him.
She finally pulled away from everyone, and squeezed her top to dry off the salty tears that had wet her from beneath her overcoat.
"Sorry, I had some things to sort out, I'm sure you understand."
The women began staring at her face. Akane started first. "Nabiki, what happened to your forehead?"
Oops... I forgot about that... "Well, I had a little accident, you see... Gas explosion nearby." She kept to the story in case they chose to look into the matter further.
"But, your beautiful face is scarred!" Nodoka was in tears again.
"Waah!" Soun began his typical response. "Now my daughter will never get married!"
Kasumi hushed everyone by taking Nabiki off to one side and pulling out her make-up and first-aid kit just in case. She took off her sister's overcoat and hung it on the rack. As she began applying some concealer to the forehead, she whispered under her breath, and kept her happy expression.
"Did you find him?"
Nabiki shook her head slightly.
"Was this caused by someone you met?"
She nodded and replied. "Pantyhose, he got annoyed when I shouted his name out, like he usually does."
The miniscule tensing in Kasumi's features indicated she wasn't happy. "That's unfortunate. I'll have to let him know that hurting a woman is bad..." She pulled back with her puffer. "There! It's mostly hidden, but there's nothing I can do about your eyebrow."
Nabiki sighed. "I know sis, I know... I just need to earn some money to get some surgery done on my face."
"Surgery?" Kasumi seemed sadder. "Is that necessary?"
"If I want to get rid of the scar and this horrid gap in my eyebrow, then yes."
She looked around their room. Somehow, with a meagre amount of belongings, Kasumi had managed to make it look homely. The television was on in one corner, though the signal was bad. Genma was slapping it on the top and adjusting the aerial, but nothing was working.
"So, what's been going on lately?" Nabiki asked.
"Things have been quiet, the Army is going to move us later today to a new home for relocation while they figure out what to do here." She moved in closer. "Father and Mr Saotome have been asking them to postpone our departure until the last possible minute, so that you can return." She smiled, her serenity bringing back a joyous feeling in Nabiki's heart. "I'm glad you're back now, we can move on together."
"You know... I'm only here because I've run out of clues. There must be something left that I haven't considered."
Kasumi titled her head to one side, placing a hand on her cheek. "Well, that's okay, just relax at home before you carry on looking. I miss having an extra mouth to feed."
Nabiki smiled good-naturedly. "Sure thing, sis. I'd love to have some of your home cooked food again."
"I'd be happy to -"
Her words trailed away as a deep rumbling echoed, and the building began to shake.
"E-Earthquake!" Some panicked voices cried.
"Everyone!" A soldier shouted out. "Get to the walls quickly!"
Hmm… Déjà vu... Nabiki got up with her family and ran for the nearest wall, only to see through the high windows of the gym that there was a new blinding light streaming in.
No way... It can't be!
Nabiki barged past a group of people to the nearest emergency exit, and looked through the fireproof glass. Unable to believe her eyes, she pushed the bars to let her out, but was annoyed to find it impossible to budge.
"Argh!" She began kicking the push-bar harder. "LET... ME... " She took three steps back and charged forwards, arms forward and palms flat out for the metal pipe. "OUT!"
The blast of snow entering the room froze her for a second, as people began to scatter from her.
"Hey you! Get away from the exits!" One of the soldiers cried out, and a group of them began to close in on her.
But Nabiki wasn't paying attention to any of that. Instead, her focus, and that of those who could see outside from behind her, was on the image in front of them.
A long distance away, a portion of the eternal cloud cover had parted in a circular fashion, though this was due to the enormous blue pillar of light that had penetrated it, which continued to ascend until it coalesced into a large luminous ball.
Nabiki began to run out into the wind, heedless of the snow sticking to her arms and icy water causing her clothes to cling to her skin.
"Ranma!"
Her words were drowned out by the sudden acceleration of wind. Her clothes whipped around her, and she could barely stand up, her arms brought up to stop the snow blurring her vision. Her eyes widened as she recognised what had appeared.
Beneath the ball of blue light, a familiar formation of wind grew, until it reached the clouds, neatly holding the strange power in the air. The tornado refused to dissipate, nor move from the position, and raged on, sending snow in every direction.
The sounds of voices behind her reached her ears.
"Get inside miss! The tornado might turn at any minute!"
"Nooo!" She kept going forwards, despite her movement restricted by the power of the wind.
"Nabiki!" Lime's voice rang out from the shelter.
Aside from that, another sound entered her mind. What's that? I could've sworn that was screaming...
Her vision centred on the tornado, and through the swirling mass of snow and hail, something tiny flickered, rising upwards towards the sphere.
What's that? Is it...? For a clear moment two shades of colour were present. Red and black!
"RANMA!"
She screamed his name over and over, even as the globe split into dozens of pieces from red lines crisscrossing the surface. Two strong arms grabbed her from behind and dragged her back to the gym, leaving her feet trails in the snow.
"Let me go!" She struggled against the firm grip. "I see Ranma!"
"Me too..." Lime replied, his eyes sad, then growing determined. "But I'm not going to let you kill yourself to get to him..."
Nabiki refused to look away, and went on with her fight, watching the shadowy figure fall out of sight. Even as the door shut, she pressed herself up against the window, as the tornado spread the blast further around it, the smaller portions flung from the wind out into the clouds.
Soon the soldiers had pushed everyone away from the exits, protecting the people nearest to them against the ground as the earth continued to shake, the light flickering through the windows.
Nabiki fell back into Lime's arms, and waited.
---
Author's Notes
For those of you into Lime/Nabiki fluff, I hope you enjoyed the little touches (or was that gropes?) during this chapter. Also, some small revenge against Pantyhose is always nice too.
I hope I got across the significance of what happened in this chapter, just how powerful the last scene was supposed to be.
Only three more chapters until the end… I look forward to your reactions.
- J