Innocence of Mine Chapter 3 Peeling the Onion, a ranma fanfic

Innocence of Mine

By Douglas Helm and "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl

Those characters that are original and the story "Innocence of Mine" are copyrighted ©2006 ShoujoFiction .com by Douglas Helm and Will Wolfshohl. Ranma ½ characters are copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi.

This story and our many other stories reside at our Shoujo Fiction .com domain. Comments are welcomed and encouraged.

Chapter 3 - Peeling the Onion

The next couple of days were less stressful for Nabiki Tendo. She managed to rouse her younger self in time from slumber to use the restroom, thus preventing a repeat of her earlier bed-wetting experience (although she had never thought disparagingly about her younger self's bed-wetting). After all, she had been guilty of it herself as a child, especially during the aftermath of her mother's death. The fact that "Aunt Akane" was insensitive to her niece for something that she was obviously having trouble with, just stirred the teenager's instincts of support.

During this period, there were three major stressors for Nabiki Tendo and in her opinion, that was plenty. The first was Naomi. The teenager was afraid that third-grader would pommel her shy counterpart into mincemeat at the first opportunity. Her stress level was made worse because her younger part, the part she was had come to think of as Na-chan, was completely oblivious to the danger. In fact, she wanted to make friends with the bully in a misguided sense of compassion, i.e. if you were friends, then Naomi wouldn't be mean. Perhaps, it was fortuitous for the teen Nabiki's jangled nerves that Na-chan wasn't able to implement her plan.

The second major stressor was elementary school. Nabiki had always received above average marks in school throughout her life, superior to either of her sisters. Therefore, this almost Ranma-like inattention at school and unmoving unconcern that she might be held back truly grated on the little girl's unwilling passenger. What pushed her nerves nearly to the breaking point was when she discovered that some of the more complicated math problems were no longer effortless to solve.

The third and final item that was playing upon the nerves of Nabiki Tendo was the simple fact that her young host was a spoiled brat. Not that her eight year old self misbehaved; her manners were nearly impeccable. It was just that whatever the youngster wanted, she tended to get by using her "cute attack". Ranma and her own father seemed especially susceptible.

It was on the third day that the teen finally lost her battle with her rising temper and allowed it to erupt. It happened while they were sitting in the furo during their evening bath. Normally, the warmth of the furo would have been relaxing, especially with Kasumi present. She was reciting an old myth about a fish. Even the teen portion of the girl could not find this offensive. It had dredged up memories of Kasumi cuddling her at night from her own childhood, so that wasn't what broke her resolve. Nor was it even the fact that her eight year old self was playing with a bright orange bath sponge made in the shape of a koi, like a child of four might. No, what truly enraged the teen was the fact that the furo was filled with soapy pink bubbles. Said bubbles had been demanded of her mommy and of course, she gave into her cute daughter's pleas.

'You!' Nabiki Tendo hissed in the type of voice that would even have set Happosai scurrying for cover, 'Need a good spanking!'

"Nani?" Na-chan squeaked in surprise. 'I'm a good girl! Mommy and Daddy say so!' Why was this girl in her head always mean to her? Her eyes misted over and even before Kasumi could recover from her daughter's sudden outburst, the little girl started to cry.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" Kasumi asked in a very concerned tone of voice while reaching out for her daughter.

'Kami-sama! Na-chan no baka! You don't put bath bubbles in a furo!'

"But I like 'em!" the youngster wailed.

"Na-chan?"

"SHE's being mean AGAIN, Mommy!" the little girl exclaimed.

"Nani? Who?"

"HER!"

"Well, if your friend's being mean, Na-chan, she'll just have to go."

"Hai!" Na-chan sniffled while her mother hugged her. 'You heard Mommy... GO 'WAY!'

'I wish I could...' Nabiki thought sadly to her younger half and then just to be spiteful added, 'I wouldn't be your friend ever!' Of course, this set the eight year old off into another fit of crying much to the chagrin of her bewildered mother.

# # # # #

The next day after school, little Nabiki Saotome left the main building, head down. Her cheeks were aflame in embarrassment. As she approached the gate, she didn't see the small figure waiting for her. She only looked up when a familiar voice asked, "What's troubling you, Na-chan?"

The youngster's head lifted up and her eyes, misted by tears, took in the blur for someone she knew very well. "Happosai-ojiisama!" the child cried. She rushed forward and flung her arms around the ancient martial arts master's neck.

"I'm glad to see you as well, my dear," Happosai remarked while hugging her back. He dropped the large gunnysack he was carrying in the process. "But why such a sad face?" Nabiki let go and lowered her head again, all the while fidgeting from foot to foot.

"Nothing..."

He gave her a sharp look and then said in a gentle voice, "You can tell me, Na-chan. You know I'll help you."

"Well..." was the reluctant response.

"Come on. You know I'd do anything to help you. We're friends, ne?"

"Hai!" the eight year old answered stoutly, and then gave the old man a long look before saying softly, "Well Ojii-sama... I-I... had an accident."

"Oh?" Happosai asked. Nabiki nodded. "How?"

The youngster blushed again but proceeded to tell the master of her father's school of martial arts what had happened. It had all began when Nabiki had gone to the girls' bathroom after baton club to use the toilet before heading for home. Inside, she happened upon Naomi coming out of a stall. When the older girl saw Nabiki, she got a predatory look her eyes and advanced upon her.

"She didn't try to hit you, ne Nabiki-chan?" the old master asked in a serious tone.

"Iie!" she replied and then went on to explain that all Naomi had done was backing her into a corner. "I told Naomi-chan I REALLY REALLY needed to go and she said I could but she wouldn't get out of my way." The youngster's voice trailed off and she scuffed the ground with the toe of her black Mary Janes. "She only left after it was too late." 'Why did she laugh at me?'

"I see... So she was picking on you?"

The little girl shook her head. "I want Naomi-chan to be my friend, Ojii-sama, but I couldn't ask her... I got too scared."

"Perhaps there is something I can do, my child. I think I need to talk to your father."

"Iie! Daddy'll get mad at me, Ojii-sama!" the young Saotome exclaimed. Happosai seemed surprised at this exclamation.

"I don't think he will, sweetheart."

"But I'm not brave like Daddy and I don't study 'The Art' or nothing. Gomen nasai, Ojii-sama."

'Na-chan, he loves you and is definitely proud of you!' Nabiki Tendo remarked sternly. She had been waging a protracted battle against her younger self's inferiority complex. 'He'd do anything for us!' Of this, she had no doubt. 'Honto? Hai!' As the little girl talked to the funny older girl in her head, Happosai's eyes narrowed for a moment before he shook his head and smiled.

"Na-chan, what say I take you to the Cat Café for supper?"

"Honto?" Happosai nodded. The smile on the youngster's face flickered slightly then faltered. "But Mommy says I'm supposed to go straight home, Ojii-sama."

"See that phone booth over there?" The girl nodded. "We'll phone your house, and you can ask your mommy, ne Na-chan?"

"Hai!" the eight year old replied, feeling much better than she had just moments before. He picked up his gunnysack and slung it over his shoulder.

# # # # #

"Saotome Residence," came the calm and cheerful voice of Kasumi Saotome. In the background, little Nabiki could hear her aunt yelling about something.

"Konnichiwa Mommy!" the youngster chirped brightly. "Can I go to the Cat Café for supper?"

"Nabiki, you know you're supposed to come right home from school. You don't need to be bothering Shampoo..." her mother remarked gently.

"Aw... But Ojii-sama said he'd treat me! Please Mommy!"

"Happosai-ojiisan is there with you, ne?"

"Hai!"

"Let me talk to him for a moment, Na-chan." Obediently, she handed the handset over to the old man who had been busy rummaging through his sack of women's undergarments.

"Moshi moshi? Kasumi-chan?"

"Happosai-ojiisan, you don't have to take Nabiki out for supper... I've made more than enough for..."

A booming voice blasted forth from the handset at such volume that it rattled the phone booth. "YOU DIRTY PERVERTED OLD LEECH!" Nabiki stared in wide-eyed shock as her aunt yelled at the top of her lungs at her great-grandfather. Why didn't her aunt like him? She never would explain why. The verbal barrage only lasted a few moments though and Kasumi eventually came back on the line.

"Oh my. Perhaps, it would be best to go with your idea, Happosai-ojiisan. Akane seems to be in a bad mood," Kasumi explained in a slightly distressed voice. "I'll ask Ranma to drop by when it's safe."

"Check, Kasumi-chan!" Happosai remarked and then to Nabiki instructed, "Say good-bye to your mom, Na-chan."

"JA NE, MOMMY!" Nabiki called out, waving at the handset. As Happosai hung the phone up, she asked, "Ne, Ojii-sama, why is Akane-obachan mad at you?"

"All I wanted to do was give Akane a present," Happosai said mildly. "See..." He dug into his sack of ill-gotten gains and pulled out a set of tiger-striped silk panties. "I just asked her if she'd like to wear these."

The eight year old paused momentarily while the older girl in her head muttered something about Happosai's actions being typical. "If Akane-obachan doesn't want them... Can I have 'em?"

"Iie!" both Happosai and the older Nabiki answered sharply.

"Why not?" the youngster asked, "I could be strong like Lum-chan!" The old lecher stared dumbfounded at the child while the older Nabiki started howling with laughter. "Well, I could!" Nabiki Saotome remarked to the older girl in her head.

"Gomen, Na-chan, but... these babies are a little too big for you."

"Oh..." Na-chan pouted disappointedly and then suddenly brightened, "You can give those to Daddy, Ojii-sama!"

Happosai froze in his repacking of his sack as the busty image of Ranma Saotome in girl form wearing nothing but the tiger-striped panties flashed through his mind. This delightful thought was just settling into the old man's mind when his young companion remarked, "Daddy could give 'em to Mommy."

Suddenly, the very sexy looking Ranma-chan morphed into an enraged looking Ranma-kun. "Uh..." Happosai squeaked out, "Let's get going, Na-chan! I'm starved!"

# # # # #

"Nihau Nabiki-chama!" Shampoo cried upon spotting the little girl. The buxom Amazon maiden deftly flung the bowls of ramen that she had been carrying to the waiting customers and rushed to pick up the youngster.

'Chama?' the teenager wondered as little Nabiki was lifted off of her feet and crushed to the teenage girl's bosom in an affectionate hug. 'I dunno,' Na-chan responded.

Shampoo had found herself torn between calling the little girl "Nabiki-sama". After all, the eight year old was her savior's daughter. Addressing the little girl in a more befitting fashion was therefore mandated by Amazon law. It was a Japanese television show that had solved her dilemma. Simply put, the Amazon had melded the two together. As far as the eight year old was concerned, it was just some strange form of address that Chinese people used.

"Happosai," Cologne remarked as she hopped over on her staff to glare down at the old man with his gunnysack of stolen undergarments, "What brings you here to our humble establishment... and in the company of this cute young lady?"

"We came for supper, and to let Na-chan clean up."

"Why Nabiki-chama need clean up? You no look dirty to Shampoo." Little Nabiki blushed brightly and stared away from the beautiful purple-haired girl.

"Na-chan had a little accident while leaving school, my dear," Happosai remarked. "And she would prefer not t... uh let Ranma find out."

"Hai!" Na-chan remarked promptly.

"Mousse, mind store," Shampoo called to her would-be suitor, "Shampoo get you all clean! You come." She offered her hand.

"Arigato, Shampoo-chan," Happosai replied. "I think I might..."

"Stay right here, Happosai, and tell me EXACTLY why you came sniffing around here," Cologne demanded. Nabiki giggled as the two ancients glared at each other, and then she took Shampoo's offered hand and left with her.

# # # # #

After a very nice bath and a very large meal, little Nabiki Saotome was feeling rather contented. She was dressed in silk pajamas (apparently one of Shampoo's from when she was little) and a very warm fuzzy pink bathrobe.

"Now," Cologne began as the three of them settled onto comfortable pillows around a low table, "Normally Mousse would see to any cleaning but Shampoo does not trust him to do it properly."

"If Shampoo-oneechan doesn't let him do it, he won't learn how to do it, ne Cologne-obaasama?" Nabiki commented. She shifted to a more comfortable position on her cushion while at the same time eyeing a plate of chocolate chip cookies that were on the table.

"True," Cologne agreed. She saw the look the little girl was giving the cookies and pushed the plate forward while saying, "Except Mousse does not wear his glasses as he should. If he did, he'd be fine."

'He's still blind as a bat with them,' the older Nabiki supplied. "Oh..." the youngster squeaked but she didn't take a cookie. She hadn't been given permission after all.

"Help yourself, dear," the old Amazon offered. She took one. The old woman then sighed and snapped at Happosai, "Must you do that?"

"Nani?" Happosai asked innocently, a red silk demi bra pressed to his cheek.

"That!"

"Oh!" the old man remarked, "Well... I was just checking the quality of the material and..."

"Later, Happosai, you wanted my advice, so you can paw your 'collection' some other time." The old man sighed then after a moment, he placed the bra back into his gunnysack with great care.

"Nabiki-chan," Happosai began gingerly, "Can I ask you something?"

"Nani?" the little girl questioned with a mouthful of cookie.

"Well... Do you have a friend we can't see?"

"She's not my friend. She's mean!"

Both elders' eyebrows rose knowingly. "Honto? Why is she mean?" Cologne inquired.

"Just 'cause..." Nabiki replied evasively.

"Would it be okay if we talked to her? Maybe we can help." The eight year old shrugged. "What's her name?"

"She's named Nabiki like me, Obaa-sama."

The two elders regarded one another before Happosai sighed. "Would you do something for me, Na-chan?"

"Hai!"

"Close your eyes and pretend that you're sitting in a really comfy chair."

"Why?"

"Can you do it, Nabiki-chan? You have a good imagination."

"Hai," Nabiki agreed before stuffing the rest of her second cookie she had been eating in her mouth. She closed her eyes and pictured herself as her great grandfather requested. She did not see Happosai take on a reddish glow. She felt a tickle behind her left ear and giggled slightly. When she heard the old man's voice again, it sounded like it was echoing slightly.

"Now, Na-chan, can you tell 'Nabiki' to come where you are?"

"She's mean, Ojii-sama," Nabiki remarked.

"I know, sweetheart. Don't worry. We're gonna tell her to be nice to you." Little Nabiki Saotome had always wanted to make friends with the girl inside her head. It seemed all the older girl ever did was criticize her. If Happosai and Cologne could make her behave, it would be really nice.

Cologne, and Happosai who was still glowing red, watched the eight year old intently in silence for a few moments then the little girl spoke again, "She's here."

"Hai. Now I want you to get up out of the chair and let your friend sit down." The youngster pouted at this request. "Come on, Na-chan, be a good girl."

"Hai. I s'ppose so," the little girl agreed with reluctance. About thirty seconds of silence passed before her body slumped forward. Nearly another minute passed before the youngster straightened. Her eyes snapped open wide and appeared to be looking around.

"Shimatte!" exploded out of the youngster's mouth but it was in a different voice. Both elders blinked in surprise. "This feels weird!"

"Do you see her ki change too, Happosai?" Cologne asked. The old man nodded but continued to stare at the little girl in surprise. "Nabiki-chan said your name was also Nabiki."

"Hai. That's right, Nabiki TENDO."

"Tendo? Like my student, Soun Tendo?"

"Hai! I'm his musume," the youngster confirmed while trying to sit up straight. She immediately fell back. "Whoa... Gomen... Remind me not to do that again. It's making me dizzy. I don't think I could even walk in this body."

"Indeed. Why not?"

"It's about nine years younger than mine for a start, Happosai."

"Why did you possess little Na-chan here, Nabiki? Are you some kind of disenfranchised spirit?" Happosai demanded in an agitated voice while pondering, 'Nine years? Did Soun sire a musume, who died, after Kasumi?' It didn't seem likely; Soun was no lady's man.

"Kaji."

"KAJI?" The ancient master of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts leapt away from Nabiki as if she'd just brandished a set of Genma's old boxers. In the process, he brushed against his gunnysack causing a small pile of purloined lingerie to spill onto the floor. "Oh Kami-sama!"

"Who is Kaji?" Cologne asked, now watching Happosai who was looking more than a little worried.

"Oh, my poor pretties!" the diminutive master moaned distractedly while he starting to repack his treasures. He yelped when Cologne rapped him hard with her staff. "Watch it, Old Ghoul!"

'Some things never change... Hai! Poor Ojii-sama.'

"I said WHO IS KAJI?" the Amazon Elder demanded.

"A demonic arbiter," the old man replied while rubbing a large bump on his head.

'What's an 'R biter'?' little Nabiki questioned the older girl, 'Does he eat R's?' Both adults looked strangely at Nabiki as she giggled. 'What's so funny?' Na-chan demanded.

'Well...' Nabiki started, paused for a moment, and then explained, 'An arbiter is someone who helps people stop fighting. He makes sure both people follow the rules.'

'Nani?' the youngster replied after a moment, 'Sounds boring.'

The youngster's face wrinkled slightly as the teen Nabiki remarked, 'Well, you follow the rules all the time, ne?'

'We're s'pposed to... ne? Hai! So? So? I asked first!'

The teenaged Nabiki shook her head and sighed. 'I'm confused.'

'Me too,' the little girl admitted and mentally snuggled back against the older girl. 'Are they still talking?' The eight year old looked up to see both Cologne and Happosai ignoring her, which was annoying.

The two adults were unaware of the internal banter that occurred between the two Nabikis. The ancient Amazon elder, after a few moments of silence, had only one comment, "Oh my." She did so in a fashion that strongly reminded Nabiki of her sister Kasumi.

"That evil bastard. Why did he do this to my poor innocent Na-chan? Damn him. He'll pay dearly..."

"Happosai!" Cologne hissed and pounded her staff on the floor. "There's a child present!"

'Nani? Did Ojii-sama say a naughty word?' Na-chan asked but was ignored.

"Not to her, baka! TO ME!" Nabiki shouted at Happosai while standing up. Unused to her smaller body, she wobbled and would have toppled to the ground if not for Cologne catching her. "Arigato, Cologne."

"So why did he do this to you then, child?" It seemed so odd hearing polite little Nabiki speak like this.

"Um... He's not happy with me."

"Why?"

There was a fairly lengthy pause and then Nabiki seemed to answer someone other than the two people in the room with her. "I guess you could say I was very naughty."

"Indeed. But why does Na-chan think you're mean?" Cologne chimed in.

"Um... You see... It's 'cause I told her that she needed a good spanking!"

"Why?" Happosai questioned.

"She's a major brat at home. She demanded to have bubble bath in the furo." What irked her is how easily Mommy... Kasumi gave in to it.

The old master's only reply to that was a rather large sigh before saying, "Not again..." He cleared his throat. "Na-chan usually wants to make friends with everyone, Nabiki. Why aren't you two getting along?"

"That's because I want her to work on improving her math score and there's a..." Suddenly, the youngster gave a yelp of pain and flinched. "Ouch! Na-chan, don't kick me!" This brought a snicker from the old man. "Listen, please, Cologne, Happosai, you have to help me!"

"Gomen nasai, Nabiki-san. I can't," Cologne remarked promptly.

"Why not?"

"To tangle with a demonic arbiter would bring hardship to our tribe. I have a duty to protect them first."

"I'll help, if only to help Na-chan out," Happosai offered. "I think I might have something I picked up..."

"In other words, stole from the Amazons," Cologne interjected.

"I'll have you know, Cologne, it was not! I worked hard for it!"

"And what exactly is it, Happosai?" Nabiki questioned.

"A certain mirror... It should help you."

"Well, Kami-sama... Haul the damn thing out then!" A pause. "Gomen, Na-chan."

Happosai suddenly looked pensive. "I guess I could go get it."

"I thought you said you HAD it?"

"I DO... but it's stashed somewhere safe OUTSIDE of Nerima."

"Oh no... So exactly how long is this gonna take?" Nabiki inquired tapping her foot.

"I don't know," the gnomish man tapped his chin in thought, "A couple of days maybe... three at the most." He bowed his head. "Gomen nasai, Na-chan."

The youngster's body suddenly slumped and after a few moments, righted itself again. "She went away, Happosai-ojiisama," came the voice of Nabiki Saotome. "I wanted to sit on her knee so we could both talk. Didn't work..." The little girl sounded very disappointed. "Nabiki-oneechan's pretty... You're welcome."

"Don't worry, Na-chan," Happosai remarked. "I'm sure she'll be friends with you now... but you should work on your math."

"But it's REALLY hard," the little girl whined.

"I tell you what, Na-chan. If you get over ninety on your next test, I'll get you a present."

"Honto?"

"I promise!" Happosai remarked and patted her gently on the head.

Just at that moment, Shampoo burst into the room glowing as if all her dreams had come true. "Ranko-oneesama here!" No sooner had she set foot further into the room when Ranma Saotome appeared, or rather the female version of Ranma Saotome appeared.

"Hubba hubba. Nice outfit!" Happosai exclaimed.

"Ranko-obachan!" Nabiki squeaked in delight. Getting up, the child rushed to her father. Meanwhile, the teenaged Nabiki was in shock. Ranma was not only in girl form but also wearing a rather fetching pink skirt and red sweater combination with a yellow bow in her long hair.

"You like, minna," the rather well-endowed twenty-six year old redhead asked the room as she twirled about before lifting little Nabiki up into her arms.

'I'll say!' the teen Nabiki commented, 'Woof!'

The youngster wrapped her arms around her father and hugged him. "Ranko-obachan?"

"Nani sweetheart?"

"What does bastard mean?"

End of Chapter 3

Coming next in Chapter 4 - Differing Points of View