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 5: Turning over a new (tea) leaf.
Nabiki looked on with her usual placid expression as inside she crowed with pride and delight as she was served a very nice, traditional cup of japanese tea in the old style by none other than the girl she was quickly coming to consider her own daughter. Qiang Pu had thrown herself into her studies with Koda and anyone else that would teach her with a hunger and drive that spoke volumes of who her father was. In the month and a half that she had been here, the differences between the wild amazon and the young lady dressed in a traditional kimono were stunning. It almost made it easier to consider the next steps that were to be taken if Qiang Pu were to stay here, with Nabiki.
Of course, the topic of school was going to be a challenging one, she had thought. Imagining the wild, willful force of nature that had arrived half dead on her doorstep stepping into a school and not breaking it would be a stretch of the imagination. Now, this twelve-year old girl who was performing the tea ceremony perfectly, if she did say so herself, was a different matter. She was still worried, of course, but it was not nearly as bad.
She just hoped that Qiang Pu would be on board with this idea as well. She had been quietly looking into the local middle schools, but without knowing what her education back in her village had been like, it was proving to be a bit of a challenge. She could see about a placement test, but that in itself posed a number of problems. She did have a little time to figure things out, and for all she knew Qiang Pu could be on her way back to China at that point.
The sudden ache in her chest was unexpected, to say the least as she watched Qiang Pu give a little self-satisfied smile as she finished the ceremony and settled gracefully back into her place.
Nabiki reached out, a tiny smirk escaping her as she gently lifted the tea under the watchful gaze of the young chinese amazon. She took her time, sampling the smell, the consistency of the tea before she gently took a sip. She carefully placed the cup back down before she met the expectant eyes of the young lady across from her. She held that placid, disinterested look for a long moment before she let the genuine smile she had been fighting slip loose. "It's very good, Qiang Pu. I am quite proud of you, even for someone raised in Japan a proper tea ceremony can be difficult."
Qiang Pu visibly swelled under the praise of Nabiki, then blushed slightly as she remembered to bow and thank her properly. "Thank you, Nabiki. Qiang Pu...I.. am very glad you liked it." She said stiffly, obviously following the instruction she had been given. But it was an amazing improvement in such a short time.
Nabiki made up her mind then and there as she reached out and gently touched the hand of the young girl, drawing her gaze to meet her own. "I have been thinking about sending you to school, while you are here."
Qiang Pu gave her a wide eyed look, then looked down "You is wanting to send Qiang Pu away? Is I do something wrong?" She asked hesitantly.
Nabiki blinked, then sudden realization dawned on her. "You have been reading those manga again, the one about the girl who got sent to boarding school." Nabiki sighed and shook her head with a fond, exasperated smile on her face. "No, I will not be sending you off to a boarding school, dear. It's something I have been thinking about for a week or so, and I think that while you are here, it would be a good idea for you to get a proper education. Now, before you ask, I do not expect you to stop learning from Koda and the rest of them. Honestly, how many of them are tutoring you now?" Nabiki asked.
Qiang Pu had to think about that for a moment, a fact that Nabiki found amusing. "Is see. Koda teach manners and proper behaviour. Spar and learn flower arranging from Tachi. Michi help with Japanese, and say will help with english. And Madam Konatsu say she may help too."
Nabiki shook her head. "What a bunch of mother hens. So, are you going to learn ninjutsu from Konatsu then?"
Qiang Pu shook her head, blushing. "No, Madam Konatsu no teach ninjutsu to Qiang Pu, she teach dance. She say Qiang Pu as subtle as bull, Tachi is more suited to ninjitsu than QIang Pu is…." She said in an almost sulking tone of voice.
Nabiki laughed, a warm smile on her usually frigid features. "You are so much your father's daughter, dear. It sounds like you have quite the line up of tutors at the Teahouse."
Qiang Pu nodded happily. "Is true! If Qiang Pu….If I stayed in village, would no have chance like this. I only learn Joketsuzoku way of doing things, no learn Japanese way. Not even learn Chinese way. Just Joketsuzoku. Think before that enough, now…. Now not sure."
Nabiki nodded as she settled back, taking another sip of the tea. "So, what changed? Why are you unsure now?"
Qiang Pu chewed on her lip, looking uncertain of what to say.
"Go ahead, say what is on your mind, dear. You won't offend me, I promise. Honestly, after reading the book that Konatsu gave me on your people, I can't imagine how jarring the outside world is, and how much it clashes with all that you have been taught." Nabik said as she smiled reassuringly at Qiang Pu.
"If Qiang Pu...If I no come to Japan, no learn new things, would think that Elder Nabiki was...Not what is. Would see her as...inferior. Weak. Useless. See Koda same. Only respect Tachi and Madam Konatsu as warriors, not...as people. Qiang Pu.. I.. would still be blind." Qiang Pu said hesitantly, obviously struggling with her words.
Nabiki smiled at her proudly as she rested her hand on the younger girls "I am proud of you, Qiang Pu. It's hard for anyone to admit that they have more to learn. Ranma always says that the day we stop learning is the day we truly die."
Qiang Pu nodded, a sad look on her face. "Wish could see Father. Know that he only mans, so in tribe seen as...Just good for making warriors. But, want to see hims. Spend time with hims. See who he is. See if find out who Qiang Pu is, as well."
Nabiki hesitated, then nodded once to herself before pulling the surprised young warrior into a warm, gentle hug as she held her there until she heard a quiet fussing from the bassinet next to her. "Oops, I'm being called. His Royal Highness needs me." She said with a cheeky little grin and wink at the chuckling younger girl.
"Someday, Qiang Pu have little one of own, hope be good mother like Nabiki." Qiang Pu said as she watched with a soft smile.
"I don't think you will be as good as I am, Qiang Pu. I think you will be better. I think that you will see the mistakes that others make, and decide not to make those same ones yourself. You will make mistakes, of course. We all do, after all. But, I can say with confidence you will be an amazing mother, if that is what you choose to be." She smiled down at her son as she took care of him. "No matter what others expect of you, or what you think they expect of you, make your own decisions, dear."
Qiang Pu nodded slowly, still not used to hearing things like that. After all, all her life she had been told what people expected of her, what she would do and be, even after she took her place on the Council of Elders. It was, honestly, a bit disorientating, to hear that she could make choices about what was to come of her own life.
"Is… up to Qiang Pu what do, what want to do?". She asked with a bewildered look on her face.
Nabiki laughed and smiled "To a large extent. There are going to be times when your parents .you, guide you, but in the end? You .what you make ."
"Elder Nabiki? Qiang Pu think that want to try school." Qiang Pu said with a cautious smile.
Nabiki smiled back at her and nodded. "Then, we will see about arranging for it to happen. I think that you are going to like school, dear. It's going to be a challenge, but I'm sure that you can handle it."
Qiang Pu grinned "I never back down from challenge!" She said as she nodded her head.
Nabiki laughed happily "You are so much your father's daughter."
"Is good, yes?" Qiang Pu asked as she blinked her blue eyes at Nabiki.
"It is very good, dear. It just makes me miss him a little bit." Nabiki said with a smile.
Qiang Pu nodded and looked a little nervous.
"What's on your mind, dear?" Nabiki asked gently.
"Qiang Pu...I… miss father too." Qiang Pu hesitantly admitted.
Nabiki nodded and reached over, giving the young girl a gentle hug. "It's okay, dear. I miss him too."
"Qiang Pu should not. Is not Joketsuzoku way." Qiang Pu said in a small,. .
"If you miss someone, then it's .feel sad, dear. That just means they are special to you, that they mean something. Never be ashamed of having that kind of connection." Nabiki said gently.
Qiang Pu nodded quietly, hesitantly returning the hug from Nabiki.
Nabiki smiled and nodded. "How about we visit the Teahouse for supper, and you can give the news to Tachi and the rest of the girls?" Nabiki said, as she watched as Qiang Pu nodded and smiled, looking a bit more relaxed as they broke from the hug.
"Is would like, very much. Thank you, Elder Nabiki." Qiang Pu said happily.
"Then it is settled, dear. We will start looking into getting you enrolled next week. It does mean you need to work on your Japanese more, dear." Nabiki said with an amused look in her eyes.
QIang Pu Sighed and nodded, much to the amusement of her host.
Needless to say, the lady's at the Teahouse are happy to hear of Qiang Pu's plans, to no small amount because of the possibility it speaks of, of the young Amazon staying for a longer time in Japan. Tachi and Nabiki exchanged a knowing look, as the other women of the Teahouse swarmed the young girl with congratulations, and promised to help her with the subjects she will need to succeed.
"We are very happy to hear of your decision to improve your education, little one." Tachi said as she gazed at her young student. "Now, this One has the excuse she has needed to really work you hard." The serene smile on Tachi's face sends a shiver down the spines of some of those who had been 'fortunate' enough to be taught by the Scarred Lilly.
Needless to say, the happy smile and deep bow of Qiang Pu is hardly unexpected, seeing as the young girl has risen to every challenge with gusto and even some sense of glee.
She is, after all, very much her father's daughter.
It was a very content Nabiki that rocked her son as she watched the girl she truly did think of as her own as she started to bloom before her very eyes into the young woman that she would one day become.
Elsewhere, in Beijing, China.
The tall, dark woman sat with a serene look on her face as she field stipped the guns in front of her, for the moment ignoring the figure kneeling before her. She waited a while, before looking up and observing the smaller figure before her, head bowed respectfully.
"Our first attempts to recover the heir have not been successful. We lost one of our warriors, and one of those sent by our allies, to an unknown force in Japan. Our second didn't fare any better, as they ran into one of the local Yakuza groups and were lost. Do you really think that you will fare any better, hrm?" She asked in a cold voice, as she watched the smaller figure intently.
She heard the little swallow as the smaller figure bobbed her head. "I will Mother. I have learned all that you have taught me well, and I can blend in better, get closer, than the others. My sources have said that the Japanese woman has made some covert movements towards some of the local schools. I will see about entering the school that she attends, and take care of the problem. I will not fail you, Mother."
"You had best not. I will not have wasted the last twelve years raising and training you, girl. I would send more resources, but you know what we will be dealing with soon enough. He is coming, and there is little we can do to stop him before he gets to where he intends to go." The older woman said in a grave tone of voice.
The blue eyes of the smaller figure defiantly looked into the dark eyes of the older woman as she nodded. "I will not fail you, Mother. I will eliminate or capture the Heir. After all, obstacles are for killing." She said before she bowed her head respectfully.
"That is my good girl." Rai Zur said with a smirk.
"Thank you, Mother." The young girl intoned, as she lowered her head respectfully.