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:
For Love and Money, Chapter 8: Friends and Enemies.
Nabiki sat silently as Konatsu went about the quiet ritual of the tea ceremony. These meetings had become a regular thing, ever since Qiang Pu had stumbled half dead into her life. No matter how nervous Nabiki felt, Konatsu would never break from her routine unless the situation was dire. In a way, it served to ease her nerves, just a bit. The cursed, or blessed as one would see it, kunichi was a stickler protocol, Her hospitality was never in doubt, that was for sure but still, Nabiki could feel her nerves getting to her before she wrapped her hands around the cup of tea that was offered to her. She took a long, slow sniff of it and felt her nerves settle. It never failed, whatever blend she used always had this effect on her when she was nervous or upset.
"So, have you heard anything? Seen anything? Are they coming for her, for us again?" Nabiki asked, knowing that she had rushed their usual routine, but she had been on edge all week.
Konatsu smiled softly and settled effortless back onto her side of the table. "This One has not seen any major movements, honored guest." As she saw how Nabiki stiffened at the quiet rebuke, Konatsu dropped her placid mask and smiled warmly at her friend. "Really, Nabiki. I would tell you right away if there was a threat to any member of your family, and all of us at the Teahouse already consider Qiang Pu to be part of your family." Konatsu reached across and laid a gentle hand on Nabiki's, as she gave her hand a little squeeze.
"Then...She is safe? We are safe? I figured that they would make another attempt before long." Nabiki said as she breathed a soft sigh of relief.
Konatsu shook her head gently, as she took a sip of her own tea and laid it gently back on the table. "We have seen no major movements. If there are more of them, they have entered the country in small groups or alone, and have not made any attempts to reach out to the local Yakuza or Tong. This One and her children will keep a watchful eye, but for now at least there seems to be no immediate threats. That said, you need to be watchful still, Nabiki. We haven't heard from Ranma yet, but I imagine that we should before long, or at least that is my hope. Once he reaches the village, I imagine he will waste little time in letting us know what has happened there."
Nabiki nodded as she sighed heavily. "Do you think I am doing the right thing with Qiang Pu? Putting her in school, hoping she finds friends here, builds connections… Is it my place to try and keep her, knowing that she has a home in China? That she has a mother there, family. I know, I know… The shape she was in when she arrived in our life doesn't bode well for what happened in the village, but still… Am I overstepping my limits here, Konatsu?"
Konatsu took a long, slow drink of her tea as she pondered what Nabiki had said "This One thinks that it is only natural for you to reach out to her. She is the daughter of the one that you love, and she arrived hurt and lost. What kind of mother would you be if you didn't reach out to her, didn't attempt to ease her pain and uncertainty? She is a resourceful, strong young lady and I think that she is learning much in her time here. Now, whether she returns to China or not, that will depend on what Ranma find's, and you all decide what to do about it. Even if everything is okay in her village, her mother might decide that it is best, for now, for QIang Pu to continue her education in the outer world. We won't know until we hear from Ranma. For now, this One thinks that the indomitable Ice Queen already knows what she wants and needs to do, and that this One has complete confidence in her wise and honored guests' well feared wisdom and intelligence."
Nabiki laughed as she took another calming sip of her tea. "I will never figure out how you can say so much and so little at the same time, Konatsu."
Konatsu smiled demurely as she looked down. "You honor this One too much, honored guest."
Nabiki wasn't fooled, not anymore. She had caught the barest hint of the teasing smile that Konatsu had intentionally let slip. "And I am getting wise to your little games, Konatsu." She said in a mock scolding tone before she shook her head fondly. "What ever would I do without you and the rest of the ladies here?"
"You would manage. You and that formidable partner of yours, you would manage as you always have." Konatsu said with utter certainty.
Nabiki laughed and took a sip of her tea. "You know if you had told me two years ago, before all of this happened, that I would be rubbing shoulders with the top families of the Yakuza, and living with a sex changing martial arts master, I would have laughed. I might suggest that you watch less T.V., or maybe read fewer manga. Now, I honestly couldn't imagine any other way to live."
Nabiki chewed on her lip as she cast a furtive look towards Konatsu "Do you think that I am doing the right thing for Qiang Pu in this? Should I be trying to build her a life here, when we don't know what is happening back in China?"
Konatsu sighed as she looked at Nabiki "This One thinks that you are worrying too much. Until we know what is happening there, then it is best to prepare for all possibilities. That is why we are watching over you both. Has this One told you that we have one of our ladies in that school you choose?"
Nabiki looked startled as she stopped with her tea cup half way to her lips "Wait, what? You already placed someone there after Qiang Pu entered the school? But...It hasn't been that long…."
Konatsu chuckled softly and shook her head "No, we did not. One of our geisha works at that school as a teacher, and is the sponsor for the cultural club. Her name is Rei Izumi, and she has been with us for a number of years. She is not one of the Blooming Lilies of the Teahouse, but this One would trust her completely."
Nabiki nodded, and smiled as she felt a bit better. It would seem that chance and the kami were looking over her family once more.
Elsewhere, in Qiang Pu's classroom, history was about to start.
"Good morning, class. I apologise for not being here last week, but I had business that took me away. I'm glad that Mr. Yamada was able to fill in for me. And it says here that we have a new student? Miss Qiang Pu, can you raise your hand please? Ah yes, thank you.". Qiang Pu and Rei's eyes meet, and at the jolt of recognizaton Rei clears her throat. "Qiang Pu? Can I talk to you for a moment after class? Thank you."
Yaayaa looked at her friend with an arched eyebrow, to which Qiang Pu just shook her head and offered a hesitant smile. "Is okay, probably just wants to see where I am in my studies?" Qiang Pu lied before she looked back at the teacher, a woman she knew from her time at the Teahouse.
What was one of the geisha doing, teaching at her school?
It was a question she should be able to get an answer for once class ended, at least she hoped so.
The rest of the class went well. Ms. Izumi was a highly proficient teacher, a fact that Qiang Pu was aware of from the few lessons she had received from the young geisha. She taught with a passion and genuine interest that drew in her students, and made them want to learn, to know more.
Qiang Pu could already tell she was going to enjoy this class.
After class ended, Qiang Pu followed Ms. Izumi out and to a quiet corridor, where the young teacher looked at her and shook her head. "I knew you were going to start attending classes, but I never expected you to be here. I'm glad that I get to keep teaching you, you're a delight to teach. Now, that said, you can't tell anyone about my other job, okay? It could cause me all sorts of trouble."
"I won't say anything, but why do you not want anyone to know? Is not being geisha seen as an honorable job?" Qiang Pu asked, more than a bit confused.
Rei laughed and nodded. "It is, but I want to keep my two lives separate if I can."
Qiang Pu thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "No worries, I will not say, okay?"
"Thank you, Qiang Pu. Now, you should hurry back to class, and I need to get to my next one. Take care, and welcome to our school!". Rei said before she hurried off, leaving Qiang Pu to make her way back to class.
"Is everything okay?". Yaayaa asked as Qiang Pu sat back down.
Qiang Pu grinned and gave her friend a thumbs up.
When lunch break came, the two friends were sitting off by themselves, when three other girls came over to join them.
"Is this seat taken?" The tall, elegant looking girl in the middle asked as she brushed her long, dark hair over her shoulder.
Qiang Pu cocked her head to the side and shook her head no. "It is open?"
The tall girl nodded and sat down, followed by her companion's. "Hello, I saw you two sitting off by yourselves, and figured we could come sit with you. I'm Asuka, and these nice young ladies are Misato and Ruri. I hope you don't mind if I just use first names? After all, I'm sure we are all going to be great friends."
Yaayaa just stared at the three, before she met the questioning look of her friend. Yaayaa leaned in case and whispered softly. "These are the three most popular girls from the class next to ours. Asuka is the queen bee of the school…"
Asuka laughed and shook her head "I'm not anything so glamorous. Just a fellow student who wants to get to know the girl I have already heard so much. I'm sure we are going to be great friends, right, girls?" She said as her companions nodded and started in on the small talk, drawing the other two girls into their conversation.
Asuka smiled as she looked at Qiang Pu, remembering well what the new transfer student had said. Everything was going well, it would seem. Just like the strange girl had said.
Earlier that week..
Mr. Yamato smiled at his homeroom class. "We are honored to have a new student joining us this year. Ms. Pyn, if you would?" He said and motioned to the student who was standing just outside of the classroom.
The exotic-looking chinese girl with her dark hair and blue eyes walked into the classroom, bowing a proper bow before she stood back up and smiled, locking eyes with Asuka for a long moment before she introduced herself.
"Hello, my name is Xaph Ti Pyn. Please take good care of me. I'm sure we are all going to be the best of friends." She had said with her slight british accent in her perfect Japanese.
The introductions continued, but Asuka hadn't really been able to focus, drawn in as she had been by the startling blue eyes of the new girl. The class had continued, while Asuka answered her questions by rote, not able to focus completely. After class, she had the chance to talk to the new girl for some time, and to say it had been enlightening would be an understatement. She honestly could not remember everything that they had talked about, but it was clear that Xaph Ti Pyn was the person she had been looking for, of that she was certain.
And if she had been asked for a teeny, tiny little favor, who was she to say no, after all?
And in the end, it was just to play a little, harmless prank on the girl that could very well steal her position as the queen bee of the school, so it would help them both, right?
Asuka drew her attention back to the present, and used her best smile on the two girls. Yes, she could do this, she had to do this. For her dear Xaph Ti Pyn.
Meanwhile, back at the residence of Nabiki Tendo and her family…
Nabiki sighed as she looked at the various herbs, solutions, and odd regents that were scattered around her guests bathroom counter. Hastily scribbled notes in Chinese with the Japanese translations for various plants and herbs were scrawled in a notebook, headed with the designation "Formula #110".
Honestly, Nabiki had thought that she had made it clear to Qiang Pu that she had to at least ask permission before she played around with whatever odd experiment the girl was working on now.
And what was up with this "Xai Fang Heng Gao" that headed the next page, with what looked like a detailed chart and explanation on how to… Wash hair?
Nabiki shook her head and carefully cleaned up at least some of it, putting it in neat, organized piles instead of the mayhem that was strewn across the bathroom.
Honestly, she would have to have a talk with Qiang Pu when she got home.