CH 8: Better Left Unanswered
A/N: The second of my big two part post. Yes, I know, the title was kinda…ya know. Anyway, I thought it fit nice since this was the big chapter where everyone finds out about Akari's origin.
***Yesterday After School***
"What do you mean you can't find anything?!" It really wasn't her fault, but right now Nabiki was too stressed to be quite so logical towards her underling.
The girl got down on the ground and bowed. She recognized that cold tone, even colder that Nabiki's normal Ice Queen tone, suggesting an upgrade from Ice to Arctic. That tone always meant that Nabiki was pissed, and it would be wise to stay on her good side so you could be in the clear when the dust settled from whatever she did to release her "displeasure" on her target. After all, there used to be a competitor for Tofu Ono's practice, until Nabiki found out her sister liked the doctor. Now a mention of competition made everyone look around nervously and decide that they wanted to not know that person anymore.(Nabiki really is devious isn't she?)
"Gomen Nabiki-sama, but there was no information on her. No birth certificate, no parents, no previous residence, no elementary or primary school, no transfer records… it's as if she just appeared out of thin air and showed up at your house." (How right she is, ne readers?)
Nabiki took a concerted effort to calm herself. It really wasn't this girl's fault, but she was the 15th out of the 20 people she had assigned to this task who had given this same answer. She took a deep breath and let out a sigh. She massaged her temples with one hand.
"And the envelopes?" The girl brightened considerably, finally having something positive to tell her.
"All of the envelopes containing information about Ranma were distributed without detection, although it did take my team a while to find the Hibiki boy."
"Fine, you are dismissed." The girl leapt up and scrambled away, glad to be away from an upset Nabiki. It wasn't really the failures, and Nabiki didn't even mind not making a profit on the information to the various people involved in Ranma's life. No, this went far deeper, practically challenging her entire belief system.
Nabiki firmly believed that any information could be found, given you had the right means to acquire it. This dilemma rubbed against her so bad because there didn't seem to be any information on this girl.
**Present***
What did I do to deserve this? Ranma found himself asking any kami who were listening, whilst he ran away from his fiancé brigade.
***Earlier that Morning***
*CRASH* Nabiki made a mental note to bill Shampoo for the wall repair.
"Ranma! Why you cheat on Shampoo?"
Now, let us pause and reflect. Anywhere else, a well endowed girl breaking through ones wall with bonbori and full Amazonian battle gear, flames in her eyes, would have been met with quite a racket. This was Nerima however, and events such as this had become so common place that all the neighbors and residents of the Tendo Dojo just lost interest and turned back to whatever they were doing.
"Oh Shampoo, how are you today," came the completely oblivious voice of Kasumi, "would you like some tea?"
"I'm sorry Kasumi, but my great grand daughter and I have some pressing business to discuss with son-in-law, " came the voice of Cologne, whacking Shampoo upside the head and admonishing her for not using the door like a sensible person.
"Oh my, that's too bad." Kasumi turned back to what she was doing. Cologne turned to Ranma.
"Seriously son-in-law, what were you thinking?" Akari counted. 4-3-2-1 mark.
"Ho ho ho ho! Who has defiled you Ranma-sama?"
"Foul sorceror Saotome. Not only do you corrupt the fierce tigress Akane Tendo and the Pigtailed Girl, but you also dare to cheat on them as well! I, Tatewaki Kuno, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, cannot allow it!"
"Ran-chan, what's this I hear about you having a kid?" Ranma slapped his hand over his face. Not Ucchan too. Upon hearing this bombardment of comments(especially that last one), Several reactions occurred at the Tendo table simultaneously.
"BOOOOOY what is the meaning of this!"
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, now the schools will never be joined!"(this was accompanied by a generous amount of water works.)
"Oh my, how improper."
"Ranma!!!"(This one was followed by a glowing battle aura and the appearance of a Ki mallet.)Akane's head slowly turned towards Ranma' spot.
"Hehe…" Ranma pointed towards the genkan, "look a distraction," and he promptly dashed out to the back yard, fiancé brigade in hot pursuit.
"Ranma!! How dare you cheat on Akane! Prepare to die!"
Even Ryoga! Ranma ran around like crazy, "Why does this happen to me!!!!"
Akari's eyes darted around the room. Shampoo and herself were the only one's there during her slip up (which she hadn't realized till everyone started causing a ruckus about it), so unless Shampoo went around giving out blackmail material (which she didn't) there was only one other person who could have done this. Her eyes narrowed as she saw the slight snear on Nabiki's face.
"Nabiki-san, may I see you for a minute." Her voice was so cold you could store fish in the room. Nabiki schooled her features. "Of course Akari-san." Akari and Nabiki went into the living room. Akari had her hand up, a finger pointing at Nabiki's face ,her mouth open and about to let her have it when Ranma managed to somehow trip and fall in a perfect position to be knocked out by one of the rocks around the koi pond. Yeah, he's good like that. Akari turned to see what was going on and sighed.
"Ma taku(1), this is starting to turn out like a bad fan fiction."(YF sweat drops) She turned back to Nabiki.
"This isn't over," she said in a voice that bridged no argument. "Denkou Ippo (Lightning Step)," she mumbled, and in the blink of an eye she was standing protectively over her mother. "Go Tesaki no Makai," Akari shouted as she held up a hand and pointed it at the oncoming fiancés. Five small red balls of Ki flew out of her hand and hit the oncoming line. A massive surge of Ki saturated the area, and pounded the oncoming martial artists(including Akane) into the ground.
"Listen up you poor excuses for martial artists." Akari's eyes started to glow, reminding all present(the conscious ones anyway) of an oni. "From this point on, Ranma Saotome is under my protection. Anyone who wishes to touch my Okaa-san will have to face the Grandmaster of the Denkou Kobushi Ryuu!" Various groans came from the bodies in front of her. "Good, now get outa my sight. Go Tesaki no Tentou." She pointed the other hand at the group, and five more bundles of Ki(this time white), burst forth and blasted all of the various fiances away( she managed to leave Akane here).
(1)-Basically means something to the effect of "Jeeze" or if you are a Shikamaru fan, "Troublesome". Basically a mild exclamation of annoyance with the situation or world in general.
A/N: Anyone wishing for the translated names of the attacks simply slap that request on the end of your review and I will gladly give you a follow up.