"Of Loss, Life, & Love"
Chapter 9: Pledge
A Ranma Fanfic by Luna12
Author's Note: Rated T for some sexual innuendo and nudity, but nothing worse or more graphic than was present in the manga/anime.
* ding-dong *
The door to the Nekohaten chimed merrily, in stark contrast to Nabiki's emotionally flat face.
Cologne was at the door to greet her, a curious smile on her face. "You're early."
Nabiki ignored the comment on her punctuality. "Let's get down to business."
"Of course..." Cologne's enigmatic smile never faltered as she led Nabiki to a remote corner of the restaurant, far away from any dining guests.
Cologne silently studied the girl, and despite the poker face she wore, there was an unmistakable air of hostility. Something had drastically changed the middle Tendo's attitude, more so than just the death of her father. At the funeral, Nabiki was calm, stern and in control, without a trace of anger or resentment. She had invited them to the wedding and the funeral, eager to use any opportunity to squeeze out a buck. What had changed? Surely she wasn't annoyed over the little match Shampoo had with Akane?
Nabiki began, her voice innocent and sharp all at once. "Do you enjoy living here, more than in China?"
Cologne's eyes narrowed, but betrayed no other hint of annoyance. "It is an experience," she answered, neutrally.
The ball was back in Nabiki's court. For once, she was finding it difficult to keep her game face intact. The original plan was to fish more of the truth out of Cologne, to explore her motives and confirm the intel she received from Mousse. Now, Nabiki felt unbearably impatient. The verbal games she rejoiced in playing lost their appeal when she remembered Akane entering their home, disheveled and injured.
So, Nabiki came straight to the point. "What will it take for you to divorce Shampoo and Ranma?"
Cologne cackled a hoarse laugh. This girl had gumption. "What makes you assume that is something that could ever be bought? I want son-in-law."
Nabiki eyes narrowed, and she waved her hand dismissively. "Come now. You want his children, but I know you don't want Ranma himself."
Cologne's eyebrows rose, bemused, surprised, and a little impressed. Nabiki had studied her motives and had arrived at the truth. Cologne was indeed weary of staying in a foreign land. The small enjoyment of testing Ranma's skills and training him in the Amazonian arts was over, the boy was a master himself now.
For months, Cologne had sensed the need to end the stagnant status quo of futile wooing and wayward plots. Sadly, drugging and kidnapping the boy would be akin to 'grabbing a tiger by the tail'. Ranma was not only chaotic, but a dangerously capable warrior. Taking him against his will was not a wise option.
Even worse, Cologne had missed the opportunity to permanently deal with Akane. She had toyed with her at first, magic potions of forgetfulness and the like, but with the two constantly bickering and bemoaning the arranged marriage, Cologne was complacent in assuming Akane was no immediate romantic threat.
Since the latest excursion to Jusenkyou, everything had changed. Cologne had forced most of the story out of Shampoo and Mousse. Between the blind duck and her granddaughter, she reached a few golden truths; Ranma was dangerously in love with Akane, and likely she with him. Tendo Akane was officially an obstacle, but Cologne was helpless to act. Ranma had slain a god and destroyed a cure to his curse, just to save Akane's life. If the girl died by their hands, there was no telling how rashly Ranma would act in revenge.
"Ranma's a worthy warrior to join our Tribe." Cologne bluffed. "It would be a tragedy if his personal strength were lost to us."
She didn't call him 'son-in-law', Nabiki mused, gleefully. She recognized the beginnings of proper haggling, and inwardly swelled with confidence. "But the cost-benefit analysis has changed from when you first arrived, neh?" She paused for a beat, then continued. "Ranma is naturally quite disruptive and uncontrollable. You have many other fine warriors. His loss is not so much."
Cologne shrugged. "Perhaps..." she allowed, "...but there is also the matter of Law and Honor."
Playing the 'honor' card already, hag? Nabiki thought to herself. "Which is why a proper, legal divorce would settle that."
Cologne found herself inwardly approving of the Tendo family. Not only was one of their daughters a passionate fighter, but this one was intuitive, shrewd and clever. If only Mousse wasn't so helplessly in love with Shampoo, she would welcome a match between him and a Tendo.
Cologne let out a theatrical sigh. It was time to get to the heart of the matter. "A divorce so soon would reflect poorly on Shampoo, and does not provide the Tribe with stronger children."
Nabiki let free a sideways smile. "What if Ranma agreed to be the father of Shampoo's child, as long as he was granted a prompt divorce?"
Cologne scoffed openly. "Then you are dreaming. Ranma is not the letch he appears to be." He had refused Shampoo so many times before, Cologne was almost in doubt to his orientation. However, Nabiki didn't seem to be offering an empty promise.
The Amazon matriarch was intrigued. "But if that were to happen, I would be willing to grant a divorce. With Law and Honor satisfied, we would leave Japan for good."
"Then it's agreed. If Ranma gets Shampoo pregnant, you will leave the Tendo family and Ranma alone, permanently."
Cologne eyed Nabiki with suspicion. How was the girl so confident when she and all her arts had failed?
"Hmph. I have trouble believing you capable of such a task, youngling."
Nabiki remained unfazed. She bent closer to the old crone, and whispered the details of her plan.
"You hate my grandchild that much, money-lover?" Cologne probed.
"Let's just say I don't appreciate people who try to snap my sister's neck while in a defenseless doll form."
Cologne's eyes widened minutely, years of training and discipline forcing a calm facade when in fact she was deeply surprised. This was the first time she had heard of this. If her Shampoo had been that tempted to kill a rival outside of ritual combat, then the situation was more dire than her granddaughter told.
This was no bluff or manipulative show of emotion from Nabiki. The girl's sudden change and seething attitude now made perfect sense. Nabiki was protecting her sister at all costs. Cologne could admire that.
"Well, then. It seems best to resolve my restless granddaughter's spirit."
For the first time in Nabiki's life, she felt the urge to hit someone. This crone had the gall to sugarcoat Shampoo's attempted murder as "restless spirit". She struggled to keep on her business mask.
Cologne continued. "My hands are to remain clean. You're the business woman. Deliver the goods, and I'll see through to my end of the bargain."
Nabiki nodded, and reached into her briefcase. She handed Cologne the contents.
Cologne chuckled. "A written contract?"
The left corner of Nabiki's mouth twitched into a snake-like grin. "A blood-pledge."
For a moment, Cologne lost her self control and allowed herself a grumble of annoyance. "How do you know of this?"
"Research. Will you bind our agreement in blood, or not? I'm told it's the only way to keep you Amazons at your word."
Cologne glanced over the document and signed. "Very well."
Before Nabiki could blink, Cologne had drawn a dagger, it's hilt was jade, carved in the shape of a dragon's mouth.
Two finger pricks later, and the deal was made.
"Ah-Choo! Ah-Choo!" Ranma blinked and rubbed his nose. Was someone talking about him? He shrugged. Although he had encountered more than his fair share of the supernatural, he wasn't one to believe in superstitions.
Ranma walked into the Tendo bathroom, casually tossing aside his sweaty workout gi to the floor. Since Kasumi mentioned Akane was away doing the grocery shopping, it was the perfect time to take a well earned soak.
The bathroom was already very steamy, the visibility low. Ranma paused momentarily. He had seen Kasumi in the kitchen, and ran into Nabiki as she was leaving the house. His mom was out visiting a friend downtown. Maybe Pop was already in the bath?
Ranma proceeded confidently before freezing in place. Who he saw was definitely not his father.
Akane's naked body was before him. She sat on a teak stool drying herself off with a towel, her back towards him and unaware that he had entered.
Ranma knew he should leave. His brain was rapidly firing messages of "Retreat! Retreat!". As Akane hadn't spotted him yet, he could still escape this accidental encounter unscathed.
However, other parts of his anatomy were blocking the flight response.
Ranma was a healthy, straight, teenage male, but he had nearly become desensitized to the sight of a naked woman. It was one of the embarrassing side effects of his curse. Frequently seeing a reflection of himself as the opposite gender naturally had that effect. What made matters worse was that his form as "Ranko" was very voluptuous, almost to a distorted fault.
In stark contrast, Akane was realistically petite and evenly proportioned, an athletic shape that managed to remain feminine. How many times had he mocked those legs for being thick? Joked that her bust was too small? He mentally shook his head. She was so much more than the sum of her parts; in her own way, Akane was beautiful.
Ranma felt his heart pumping furiously, the blood flow altering his nether regions. Ranma took a step backwards, but was too late.
"RANMA?"
Akane's voice had reached a deafening volume of shock and anger.
"Akane, I, uh, didn't mean to peek -"
"You pervert, GET OUT!"
Akane was livid, with one hand trying to hold a small towel around her, the other was busy launching whatever make-shift projectiles she could find: conditioner bottles, sponges, even a bucket.
Consumed with embarrassment and rage, Akane neglected to watch her footing. Her left heel caught the edge of a bar of soap.
* SMACK! *
It was not a graceful fall.
Caught by surprise, and still fiercely clutching the towel to her naked form, Akane fell backwards and failed to catch herself. The painful smack on the tile was the sound her head made when contacting the tile floor.
For a moment she lay there, dazed and seeing bright spots of light dance before her.
Their state of nakedness completely forgotten, Ranma worriedly rushed to the fallen Akane. He was leaning over her, making sure she was conscious and able to respond.
"Is everything - Oh!"
Ranma couldn't believe his luck. His mother was home early and had apparently rushed into the bathroom after she heard all the yelling. Ranma realized how awful the scene looked, with him leaning over a scantily towel-clad Akane and himself in the buff.
Nodoka had the grace to look mildly embarrassed, but beamed a proud smile. "I'll let you continue," she apologized and started to back out.
"It-it's not what it looks like!" Ranma tried to explain, but Nodoka had already left the room.
Akane groggily tried to sit up, but failed. The room was spinning and she had trouble remembering what happened. Her hand held her throbbing head and she was beginning to make out a worried face hovering above her. "Uhhh...Ranma?"
Ranma wasn't going to wait for more people to pile into the bathroom. He quickly hoisted the dazed Akane in his arms. Before Akane could react, she found herself being carried out of the bathroom, into the hallway, and gently paced on her bed.
"Hey, you okay?" he asked.
Her surroundings had finally stopped spinning. Akane nodded, then regretted it as it increased the pounding in her temple. She tentatively rubbed the back of her head, feeling a goose egg sized lump forming.
Slowly, she regained her wits. She was in her room, barely covered by a towel, and Ranma was standing next to her, butt-naked!
"Ranma!" Akane blushed furiously and turned her head.
Ranma finally remembered his own state of nudity. He tried to hide his embarrassment. "I'll, uh, be right back."
Ranma left and Akane quickly donned her own bathrobe. She could hear Nodoka's voice outside her door scolding Ranma.
"I'm proud to see how manly you are, son, but do try to be more gentle while lovemaking."
Akane felt she could die of embarrassment. If it had been anyone else in the household, she would have argued and yelled about the truth of her humiliating spill, but there was no point trying to argue with Nodoka. They had already gone through heaps of trouble to convince her that Ranma was 'manly', and Akane knew how important it was for Ranma to have his mother be proud of him.
She wouldn't yell at her future mother-in-law, but she was certainly going to give Ranma a piece of her mind.
There was a shy knock on the door, and Akane prepared herself to let Ranma have an earful.
Ranma came in, a towel firmly enclosed around his waist, carrying an ice pack. He sheepishly handed the cold peace offering to Akane, and she felt her storm of anger diminish. She was still upset with him, but she recognized his thoughtfulness and accepted the ice pack.
"Are you ever going to stop being a Peeping Tom, Ranma?" she scolded.
Ranma breathed a sigh of relief. Akane was certainly frustrated and annoyed with him, but she didn't look like she wanted to kill him anymore. "It was an accident, I swear! Kasumi said you were out getting groceries."
Akane rolled her eyes. "Didn't you notice the steam? Or sense that I was in there?"
Ranma reacted defensively. "Didn't you notice the soap, you clumsy tomboy?"
Angry, Akane threw the ice pack at his head, but he deftly caught it in mid-air. The throw had dislodged her robe slightly, exposing her left shoulder. In the clear light of her room, Ranma frowned.
"What happened there?" he pointed at her exposed skin. Purple and blue finger-shaped bruises were imprinted to the left of her neck on her shoulder. In the improved lighting, Ranma found himself noticing the other recent scrapes and scratches on her limbs. Ranma always made it a point to pull his punches and minimize her bruising during sparring sessions. These injuries were new and he couldn't account for them.
Akane quickly readjusted her sleeves. She did her best to make her voice casual. "Oh, those?" Ranma's treatment towards her was so puzzling. One minute he'd be making fun of her tomboyish strength and the next he would be annoyingly overprotective. She was glad he hadn't gotten a good look at her front ribs. As painfully ugly as her shoulder looked, her sides were worse.
Ranma's eyes narrowed. It wasn't like Akane to be this evasive. "Yeah, those."
Akane had a feeling she was in for another one of his overprotective spells. Part of her enjoyed Ranma showing such concern for her well being, if only he didn't take it too far. "It was just Shampoo wanting to have a match in the middle of the street."
Ranma's eyes widened. "What the hell were you thinking, fighting Shampoo?" Shampoo was ruthless and one of the fiercest opponents he'd encountered. Even though he always beat the Amazon, his victories never left him unscathed. The only other opponent able to give him more of a challenge was Ryoga.
He studied Akane carefully. She was casually clenching her right side, and he suspected she was hurt more than in just her shoulder.
Akane glared at him, a mixture of anger and another emotion he couldn't quite read. "I didn't start the fight, baka. And I didn't lose, either!"
"What?" Ranma couldn't hide his shock. Shampoo had a lifetime of intense training from Cologne. As much potential as Akane had and with all her recent improvements, he still couldn't imagine her defeating Shampoo.
"You actually beat Shampoo?" he repeated dumbly.
For a moment Akane looked bashful. "Technically a draw, but I did smash her nose pretty good."
Ranma's jaw dropped open.
"Is it so hard to believe I can hold my own?" she demanded, anger and disappointment blended together.
Before Ranma could answer, the door opened.
"Akane, I'm looking for - Oh, hello." Nabiki found herself staring at a topless Ranma, his meager towel leaving little to the imagination. Nabiki smiled devilishly. It was quite clear why Ranma had so many admirers. With his chiseled physique, he looked prime for a cover on a cheesy Western romance novel. She had her turn at being engaged to him, and though she had no regrets in handing him off to Akane, she wasn't going to pass an opportunity to take in the hunky view.
Nabiki glanced at her sister, scantily clad herself in a silk bathrobe that ended at the knee, and gave the two a suspicious double-take.
"Am I interrupting?" she purred teasingly.
On cue, the couple burst into simultaneous denials of any hanky-panky. However, neither were they shouting out insults of 'pervert', 'baka', or 'tomboy', either.
Ranma hadn't felt self-conscious before, but the way Nabiki was staring at him made him turn red with embarrassment. "Uh, I'll be going now." He handed the ice pack back to Akane and gratefully left the room.
Previously at the Nekohaten...
The door chimed dutifully as Nabiki departed.
Cologne let out a deep breath. She felt an odd stirring of emotions; relief and excitement to have a new plan in motion fought with disappointment and nostalgia. Her contract with the business woman wasn't admitting defeat, but it was hardly the victory she envisioned when they first arrived on this island nation.
She called out to the kitchen door. "You might as well come out, I know you've been listening."
Shampoo entered the room, her head held high without any trace of shame at being caught eavesdropping.
"Grandmother so clever, get Nabiki help Shampoo woo Ranma."
Cologne chuckled lightly. "Don't try and butter me up, child. You and I both know this is our last chance."
Shampoo frowned and dropped all traces of her earlier flattery. "Shampoo happy to have Airen's children, but Shampoo want husband, not divorce."
"Child, that may no longer be an option."
Shampoo's face flushed red. "I want him! The best fighter, the most worthy, the most handsome, strong, brave -"
"Not to mention the most destructive, stubborn, unwieldy, disrespectful, uncontrollable, chaotic male we could curse the Tribe with!" Cologne finished for her.
Shampoo was silent for a moment, at a loss to contradict the painful truth.
Cologne continued, firmly. "He is not suited for Amazon life. His genes are an asset, not the boy himself."
Shampoo pouted like a child whining for her favorite piece of candy. "Shampoo love Ranma."
Cologne rubbed her temples. Her granddaughter was certainly infatuated with the boy, and there was no denying he was a handsome catch to stir any woman's passions, but love? Still, Cologne had lived in the world long enough to know there was no point arguing with a young thing on matters of the heart.
"At Mount Phoenix... you tried to kill the Tendo girl."
Shampoo shrugged, hoping the matter would be dropped.
The lack of denial was all the answer Cologne needed.
"OW!" Shampoo rubbed her head from the impact Cologne's cane had made.
Cologne clucked at her. "You know our laws. Obstacles are for killing, but in ritual combat only. We're not savages, after all."
"Shampoo only threaten, no really kill, so Ranma make love," the girl explained, still pouting.
"And did your plan succeed?"
Shampoo crossed her arms as she relived the moment. "No. Ranma save stupid, ugly food-waster and trap Shampoo in egg."
Cologne felt reassured in her decision to deal with Nabiki. Ranma wouldn't even have sex with Shampoo to save Akane's life? Things were looking dire indeed. At this rate, Mousse would have better luck wooing Ranma.
"Anyway," Cologne stretched her ancient back, letting each vertebrae crack before resuming her hunched position, "the week is up. Feel free to call on son-in-law, if you wish. You can still try to get pregnant the old fashioned way, right?"
Shampoo bowed her head. "If Shampoo with child, we must leave, forever?"
Cologne showed Shampoo the blood pact, the crimson signature already fading to rusty brown.
"Yes, but better that than to fail utterly."
Back at the Tendo residence, a thoroughly dressed Ranma left the bathroom, his body refreshed but his thoughts troubled.
While in the tub, his head spun as he processed everything he had heard. Shampoo had picked a fight with Akane. A serious one by the look of it. He knew Shampoo's fighting techniques. For the Amazon to have left distinguishable fingerprint marks meant she had tried to levy one of her pressure point attacks, at full strength no less.
It used to be harmless rivalry, the jealous way Shampoo would make fun of Akane. There were the occasional potions and magic charms, but they had always been temporary and without risk of any physical harm.
Today was entirely different.
Shampoo had chased him across most of China and all the way to Japan when she was determined to kill his female persona, but she had never seemed that intent on following through with her Kiss of Death towards Akane. The worse Shampoo had done was wipe Akane's memory with that Xi Fa Xiang Gao technique. Maybe Shampoo had assumed Akane was too weak an opponent to be worthy of pursuing it? There was also the fact that no one else from her Tribe had witnessed it, unlike her very public declaration against Ranma. So, what had changed her mind?
Jusendo. As much as he tried to forget what had happened, it had changed everyone. It was the first time he had ever witnessed Shampoo directly threaten Akane's life. Shampoo had witnessed his reaction to Akane's near death, and the Amazon had labeled his fiancee an "obstacle for killing" once more.
Even if Akane had managed to hold her own against Shampoo today, she was in serious danger. Of course, trying to tell Akane this would only get her upset with him. That macho chick hated to be told her limitations. He remembered the incident with Happosai's moxibustion chart and sighed in frustration. It was just like Akane to stubbornly insist on handling everything herself, reckless of the danger.
He would have to go to the Nekohaten, beg Cologne to call off the Kiss of Death... or something. His mind whirled. He hadn't even managed to get out of his own Kiss of Death, it had simply been turned into a marriage pledge. How was he going stop Shampoo? He couldn't just fight her, or at least, even if he did, she would just more vehemently want to attack Akane in the future.
Dammit, he was not going to let anyone harm Akane. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to forget the ledge of stone on Mount Phoenix, the shock of holding a lifeless Akane in his arms, her chest still and unmoving. Not again. Not ever again.
Nabiki cleared her throat loudly. Ranma hadn't even realized she had been waiting in the hallway for him, he had been so engrossed in his own concerns.
"We have a problem," she stated bluntly, arms crossed. The playful, mischievous demeanor from before was gone.
"If you mean Shampoo, I'm on it." Ranma replied, full of confident bravado. "I won't let her fight Akane again."
"Oh really?" Nabiki asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "How were you going to manage that?"
Ranma felt momentarily unnerved by Nabiki's piercing gaze. "I'll think of something," he defended touchily.
Nabiki rubbed her temples, exasperated. "Uh huh. So you'll, what, follow Akane around like a bodyguard day and night?"
Ranma frowned. That actually had been what he was planning, but the way Nabiki put it made him feel like an idiot doomed to failure. "You have any better ideas?" he ventured.
Nabiki's Cheshire cat grin returned. "I thought you'd never ask."
Author's Note:
What could Nabiki possibly be plotting? Mwahaha, wait and find out, faithful readers! Feel free to leave your guesses in the reviews. I'm more than happy to reply back to signed reviews.
I wanted to bring some humor back into the story, as it's been tense and angsty for a bit. Not to mention highlight that Ranma does feel some physical attraction toward Akane. Hope I succeeded.
I've been told the Tendo bathroom is actually on a different floor than the bedrooms. Let's just pretend it's on the same floor for comedy's sake, okay?
