And Life Goes On
 
                        Part 1, chapter 5: Won't You Dream of Me?
 
        
        Shampoo, very upset at what she has just seen, runs to Ranma
 and shakes him. "Wake up, Ranma! Fight is not over yet!" Kuno walks
 over to Ranma, just as surprised as Akane and Shampoo on his victory,
 but much more happy about it.
 
        "I always knew that Saotome was not worthy of my attention.
 Now, Tendo Akane, we can be reunited at last!" Kuno, overjoyed at
 this thought ran to one of his true loves, his arms outstretched.
 
        "Save it, Kuno." Unlike most people that would be flattered by
 speeches of love, Akane had grown all to used to it- and weary of it.
 Especially when it came from the lips of Kuno Tatewaki. So she pushed
 the love sick boy away, and checked the health of the unconscious Ranma.
 "I don't think he's going to get up anytime soon, Shampoo." Getting up,
 Shampoo clenched her fist and smiled.
 
        "Shampoo not worried, she sure Ranma will fight Kuno when
 he wake up. After all, I know he want marry me, he not let sickling
 like Kuno have me."
 
        "Er, Shampoo, what are you talking about?" Shampoo froze; she
 knew Akane  had no feelings for Ranma -well, Akane hated him, but
 that was about it and hated Shampoo as well. And when one hates
 another, they only cause trouble. If Akane heard about the law citing
 she had to marry Kuno, she'd probably come up with some scheme to tear
 her away from Ranma forever.
 
        "It not Akane business, is Ranma and mine alone." Shampoo
 picked up Ranma, and set him in the basket of her bike. "Now Shampoo
 take Ranma back to Nekohanten so that she can take care of him."
 
        "I don't think so Shampoo, we have to go to school."
 
        "Would Akane prefer to take care of Ranma herself?" Shampoo
 waited to see if Akane would rise to her challenge. Akane backed off,
 not wishing to show any signs of affection for her fiancee.
 
        "Do whatever you like with him." Akane turned around, and
 went again in the direction of school, as Shampoo began to pedal to
 the Nekohanten.
 
 
 
        Nabiki smiled from her hiding spot behind the bushes. In her hand,
 she held one of the mightiest, if not the mightiest weapons ever thought by
 man: a camera. A camera is truly a thing of beauty; small enough to fit in
 your hand, and if you use it correctly, could bring you your fortune. 
 
        This was great. Nabiki had expected Kuno to loose, of which she
 would take pictures of. The she'd show the pictures to Kuno, threatening
 to pass the proof of his defeat around the school. Sure, it was a well known
 fact that Ranma was forever beating Kuno, but Kuno refused to believe
 that, and always wanted to keep his records clean.
 
        However, this was much, much better: Ranma actually loosing!
 Ranma still had a reputation to keep clean, and his ego was just as large as
 Kuno's if not larger. He may be not as rich, but Nabiki could make him her
 'slave' for a few hours, and sell him. People were always eager to either
 go out on a date with him, or have him do favors that required strength or
 agility.
 
        A bit cruel, maybe. But any respect Nabiki had ever held for
 Ranma (Which had been quite a bit, to tell the truth) had been diminished
 the instant she found out he was a girl. Oh, Nabiki supposed she'd have
 gotten over it if he was a permanent female, but not even that he was!
 And she couldn't believe her father still wanted one of them to marry him;
 what kind of father was he? Engaging them off to some aquatransexual
 stranger...
 
        Seeing how stubborn her father was going to be with this fiancee
 business, she pushed the duty onto Akane's shoulders. She wouldn't let
 any of the Tendo sisters get married to some freak; if Kasumi had become
 his fiancee, Nabiki knew she'd marry him. Nabiki could take care of herself,
 but she really didn't want to bother. Akane was perfect; since she didn't like
 any boys, she didn't have to worry about not being able to get a boyfriend;
 and if anyone could get herself out of a predicament (using violence), it
 was Akane.
 
 
        Nabiki wasn't surprised when Ranma started showing signs
 of interest towards Akane; she had yet to meet a guy that hadn't
 fallen for her. And she loved it; poor Ranma would have to go
 through a heartbreak as Akane dumped him (Nabiki took perverse
 pleasure in watching Ranma suffer, from time to time, since she
 knew he'd never raise a hand against her).
 
        However, she was bitterly disappointed and extremely surprised
 when Akane herself started showing signs of affection to Ranma;
 Akane, the one who never remorse when she said a flat-down 'no' to
 someone asking her out on a date; Akane, who's' interested in men was
 about as large as the size of the brain of a cockroach; Akane, the girl
 who considered wearing something other than her gi or school uniform
 as fancy. Akane, her sister! Of all people to fall in love. And with Ranma.
 Please!
 
        Which was why Nabiki felt she had to be a little meaner to
 Ranma than most people. He had made her get all dressed up, set hr
 hopes high, only to make her dreams of owning the dojo shattered. Then
 he manages to attract Akane, and to pile onto that, he cheats on her.
 She tried to turn Akane away from Ranma, seeing how he was only
 going to bring her pain, but gave up when she realized it was a lost
 cause. So instead, she took advantage of Ranma every way possible.
        
        Yep, Nabiki thought, Ranma's gonna have to fork over a lot.
        


	Nihao! Just to lemme know there's still intelligent lifeforms
out there, offer me a comment or two, 'k?
	Nabiki's out of character. Not a lot, but she's still out
of character. I guess when ppl tackle characters, they have told mold
them into something they can understand and believe if if it's going
to be a nice character. 
	I'm not sure about Nabiki; she'll play both roles, I guess,
because to me she is. I changed her because this is how I view her;
which I know is incorrect, but that's ok, right? :)


	Isabel Arantes
		terrin@netcom.com