Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, I do not claim any rights to any of the characters or concepts created or owned by Viz Video or Rumiko Takahashi. This is just the work of one fan to the others. The only characters or concepts that i claim are the ones I created or introduced. That said, I bring you:
Chapter 3:. Taming the Wild Horse's Daughter.
Later that same day, Qiang Pu was gently stretching with Tachi while they waited for Nabiki to change out of her work clothes, and into something more appropriate for the tai-chi she had requested when they returned home.
Qiang Pu looked towards Tachi and swallowed nervously. "Is why no tell Qiang Pu Nabiki is scary?" She asked the older warrior.
Tachi laughed "Would you have believed this One?"
Qiang Pu was not pouting. Warriors did not pout. She was just displeased. Yes, that was it. Displeased. Or, at least that is how she would rather see it.
"Qiang Pu no be believing. Is no make sense. Why Nabiki no like other outsiders?" Qiang Pu asked.
"You do not believe. It doesn't make sense. Why is Nabiki different? Is that what you meant to say?" Tachi corrected her.
"Is what said!" Qiang Pu said, then sighed. "Now Tachi do too. Why?"
"Because this One was asked to help you sound like what you are. A proud, intelligent young lady. Instead of a idiotic, airheaded country bumpkin.". She stated honestly, her single eye focusing past Qiang Pu before she bows deeply.
Nabiki bowed in return as she stretched, her finely toned body on display in her sports top and leggings. "Shall we, ladies?". She asked before flowing into the first form of the tai-chi exercises.
Qiang Pu flowed alongside her host, casting inquisitive glances over every once in a while. Nabiki was performing the Kaya's and exercises fluidly, with the grace and elegance she would expect from a warrior, not an outsider woman. That, combined with what she had seen of her yesterday made her a bit wary. Even if Nabiki treated her well, and was nothing if not polite and supportive Qiang Pu had to wonder what her motives might be.
Best to stay on guard with this one.
Maybe best to start thinking of this strange outsider woman as an Elder. It would help her stay on guard better. Her musings were brought to an end as Nabiki turned to address her directly.
"Tachi will be accompanying us today, since I expect our guests to be...upset...when they return. Oh, and you will have a new tutor starting tomorrow. Be nice, she isn't a warrior, but she is to be respected.". Nabiki said as she fixed Qiang Pu with her gaze, holding it until the young warrior swallowed and bowed in response.
"Qiang Pu understand. Will be nice for teacher. No let Nabiki down.". Qiang Pu said, her eyes down. She was surprised when a gentle finger lifted her chin and she met the warm brown eyes of her host.
"It's okay to act out some, Qiang Pu. You're still a young lady, it's almost to be expected. Just try to remember this is not your village in China. We have to live by the rules of where we are, while knowing the rules of where we come from. I have a lot to learn, as well. About you and your people, so be patient with me as well, okay?" Nabiki said with a gentle smile on her lips.
Qiang Pu nodded and gave a nervous little smile to Nabiki. "Can do."
"Who did you find to instruct our young warrior, this One wonders." Tachi asked.
"Koda will be instructing her. I asked Konatsu for a suggestion, and she immediately said that Koda would be best suited.". Nabiki answered as Qiang Pu watched the back and forth.
"She will be a good choice, this One thinks. She is knowledgeable and patient, and has a sharp mind.". Tachi commented.
Nabiki nodded and started into the next set of exercises.
The other two ladies followed suit as well, finding comfort in the gentle flow.
That night, Nabiki ordered food, as she talked to the two as her mind kept returning to the conversation she'd had with Konatsu earlier.
She glanced at Qiang Pu, wondering how she would react to knowing that it was Joketsuzoku that were after her.
What also worried her was the mysterious man who she had been told about. An almost feral individual wearing archaic armor pieces and able to somehow see past Konatsu's ninjutsu.
She hoped that Ranma was okay.
The next day, Nabiki is accompanied by Tachi and Qiang Pu to work, the air in the office is tense and charged, with several of the men and at least one of the women wearing suit jackets today.
Tense nods were offered to the boss as she walked through the office, as Nabiki offered easy smiles back to them. As soon as they entered her office, Tachi started to make tea, an act that drew a confused look from Qiang Pu.
"Why you make tea? Is no bodyguard?". Qiang Pu asked.
"This One is a geisha, a companion and entertainer. This One just happens to be good with a sword, as well.". She replied placidly, as she placed the tea cup for Nabiki.
It's only when Nabiki reached for the cup that Qiang Pu noticed how her knuckles were tight, at least till she took a sip, and visibly relaxed.
"Why all tense? Is expect fight?". Qiang Pu asked Tachi, but it was Nabiki that answered.
"Hopefully not, but it's a potential hiring day, and that can be tense around here." Nabiki said as she drank another cup of tea.
"Hiring day? What is?" Qiang Pu asked.
Before she could get an answer there is a loud ruckus in the outer office before the door to Nabiki's office is kicked off its hinges. The two goons from yesterday storm in, the older man with the visible tattoo showing from the pulled up sleeves of his shirt came in first, trailed by the very nervous looking younger thug.
"What the hell did you do, you frigid bitch!". The older one yelled as he waved the gun around.
"Are you talking about your offices being locked, the power being off and the 'closed' sign in the door? Or your former boss being called to see the family head?". Nabiki asked calmly as she stared in an almost disinterested way at his gun.
"All of it, bitch! Talk, or do I paint the walls with you and the other little bitches brains!". He shouted.
"Tachi." Is all Nabiki says, before there is the steely sound of a blade drawn, two lightning fast cuts and a hilt strike before the older goon collapsed on the floor, his gun neatly quartered and himself unconscious on the floor.
The younger goon carefully, slowly pulls his gun out by the barrel and drops it onto the floor.
"That's the first good decision you have made since you dropped out before finishing your degree, Mr. Ashida.". Nabiki dryly comments.
The young goon blinked and looked queasy. "How...do you know my name.." he asked nervously.
"It's my business to know all my associates. Especially the ones as sloppy as your former associates. Buying your company was frighteningly easy. But, that is that and this is this. I would guess you are wondering why you're not also asleep on my office floor right now, or why both of you are not dead."
He nodded slowly, his eyes wide and jerked when offered a cup of tea by the placidly smiling Tachi. He took it almost mechanically and stared at it.
"Please do sit, we have much to talk about. The tea is safe, I assure you. Sit, and we will talk.". Nabiki then looked at Qiang Pu "Qiang Pu dear, please wait outside. And let the others know it's okay."
Qiang Pu nodded slowly, then jumped a little as she opened the door and saw what she had assumed to be your usual weak, meek outsiders standing about, many of them with weapons of one type or another drawn.
Nabiki called out through the open door. "It's okay, everyone go back to your paperwork. And Mr. Wong, I told you no more machetes! No blades above five inches."
A Chinese gentleman sheepishly hid the offending weapon back inside his coat as Qiang Pu slowly closed the door, wondering just what was going on here.
Nabiki's secretary walked over, a soft smile on her warm features. "Are you okay, dear? You look a bit shell shocked." The middle aged woman gently leads the young amazon warrior over to a chair set off to the side, and sits her down as she prepares tea for her.
"Is you warrior too?" Qiang Pu asked, feeling more than a little off center as she saw the office people put away their weapons and settle back into their desks to resume working on the work that was assigned to them.
"Oh, heavens no dear! Most of us here are exactly what you would expect to find in an office like this. Some of the employees might have had a bit of a checkered past before they came here." She said as she sat down in her own chair and sipped at her tea.
"What mean checkered past?" Qiang Pu asked as she eyed them, noticing little details she had missed before. A few were missing a finger here or there, some had tattoos that were pretty much hidden under their shirts, and one woman was field stripping and reassembling her pistol while on the phone.
"Mrs. Tendo believes that no resource should be wasted, and that a person with talent should be given a chance to use it. Mr. Wong over there was at one time a low level enforcer, but her has a talent for numbers, so Mrs. Tendo offered him a job, and paid more than the people that had sent him to collect from her. Ms. Hashiro over there, yes the nice young lady hiding behind the glasses, was once a professional gambler. She ended up on the bad side of a bet, and owed a considerable sum to one of the local families. Mrs. Tendo bought her debt off, and offered her a job. Now, regardless whether she had taken the job or not, her debt was paid for. Our dear Ice Queen doesn't believe in holding debts over people, at least not like that." Nabiki's secretary says happily, like it's a normal thing around here.
"What happen to goon who come in then? Nabiki offer job, after try to steal from her?" Qiang Pu asked in a puzzled voice.
"Oh yes, Mr. Ashida happens to have been an undergraduate in accounting and financing, who just got into a bad spot. Made a few bad choices, you see. Right now, Mrs. Tendo is negotiating with him, the same deals that were made with all of our other reformed employees. He turns in what he knows, and Nabiki will offer him a trial job, and see about getting his sentence commuted for cooperating. She can be most convincing, when she wants to be." The secretary explained.
"Why call Ice Queen?" Qiang Pu asked.
"We call her that because it's what she is known as in the underworld, and in certain circles of the financial world. She is so cold and calculating, at least she can be, that it just stuck. We though love our Mrs. Tendo." She said fondly.
"Nabiki is no what thought." Qiang Pu admitted.
Her secretary laughed "That is not an uncommon reaction, dear. Mrs. Tendo is often underestimated, and she uses that to her advantage. I imagine Mr. Ashida will be joining us, and he will not regret that decision. So many people make mistakes, and get lost along their way. Sometimes, fate decides that where you should be is not where you thought you were going. It's in those occasions that you find out how flexible you are, how well you adapt." She said sagely, smiling as the door opened and Mr. Ashida walked out with Nabiki alongside him, a bemused looking Tachi following behind.
"Can you call for a pick up of one, please? The police, not the Teahouse." Nabiki said.
"And that is my que. It was a pleasure talking to you, Qiang Pu. I do hope that we get to talk more another time." The secretary said as she stood up, brushing off her immaculate skirt. "Of course, Mrs. Tendo. Right away." She said before she bustled off to her desk to make her calls.
Nabiki handed Mr. Ashida off to one of the other office workers and walked over to where Qing Pu was still sitting. "Now that that bit of excitement is over, how about we go get some lunch, dear?" She said with a warm smile.
"Qing Pu….I...would like that, Elder Nabiki." Qing Pu said with some effort to make it clearer.
Nabiki smiled warmly. "Better. Much better, dear. And elder? I know I'm older than you, but still…." Nabiki said with a wry smile.
"Is Joketsuzoku thing." Qing Pu explained, or tried to.
"Then I guess it's something I will have to look into, hrm?" Nabiki said with a warm smile.
"Yes, is something you look into. Qing Pu...I...will try. Be better Japanese. No bring shame to House of Tendo." Qing Pu vowed.
"I am sure you won't, dear. Shall we? I know a wonderful little Italian place." Nabiki said as she walked alongside Qing Pu, with Tachi in tow, a knowing little smile on her otherwise placid features.
*A/N*
Thank you all for reading and reviewing!
I love having a past and present instance of Qing Pu going in the two stories, or is it present and future? Anyhow, it's fun to see how the character evolved, and where she started from!
Plus, I do love my Nabs :)
Take care and stay Frosty!