Eric: I hate Skyway.
Sarah: we know... god do we know.
Eric: I hate counter to counters
Sarah: everyone knows that. but you realize that no one bothers
to give you any anymore.
Eric: thats cuz i make wise choices and never send them ctc.
Sarah: regardless... but lets review more fics! We have a guest
today... actually several guests... introduce yourselves please!
Yoiko: I'm Yoiko.
Ryoga: I'm Wakko.
Ranma: And I'm cute!
Yoiko: *laughing* I see you two have cheered up since our last
review!
-----Original Message-----
From: Donny Cheng <chengdo@shaw.wave.ca>
To: fanfic@fanfic.com <fanfic@fanfic.com>
Date: Saturday, October 11, 1997 1:11 AM
Subject: [FFML] [Ranma][Fanfic]What Price Love?
Disclaimer: All characters portrayed in this story are the
property of
Rumiko Takahashi and co. Please don't sue me.
This story takes place after volume 38 of the manga. It draws
ideas
>from both the anime and the manga. This is a sequel to For Love
or
Money. I hope you like it.
Sarah: humm maybe it would help if we read for love or money.
Eric: .... nah....
Yoiko: I read it! ^_^
Dim: I bet it was depressing.
Ryoga: I don't need to see it, then.
Yoiko: It was not! Dim, don't encourage him!
Ranma: Yeah, he already admitted in front of everyone that he's
wacko.
Ryoga: Hey! I...you...Ranma, shut up!
C & C welcomed. Flames not.
Eric: you hear that Sarah... no spontaneous combustion this time
around
Sarah: *sniff*
Yoiko: And no-
Ranma and Ryoga: We know. No fighting till the fic's over.
What Price Love?
Eric: roughly $100
Sarah: and how would you know?
Yoiko: Do we really want to know that?
By
Donny Cheng
**glomp**
Sarah: get off me you pig!
Eric:?
**bam**
Sarah: *produces firey green mallet*
**whack**
Sarah:*whacks Eric over the head*
Eric: GAH!
**slash**
Sarah: *pauses for a second...* slash with a mallet? Humm..
*transforms mallet into sword*
Eric: Ulp!
**bong**
Sarah:boy you are not making this easy on me. *transform sword
into frying pan*
Ryoga: Yoiko? Can't we fight just a little?
Yoiko: No.
Ranma: But they get to!
Yoiko: That's different, they're the hosts.
Nabiki waited quietly on the sidelines as the battle slowly
drew to a
Eric: roughly around the 50 yard line for her.
Ranma: She waited quietly? She wasn't taking bets with her
bullhorn?
Yoiko: There's no audience this time. After 38 volumes, people
got tired.
close. It was another one of those all out brawls that came out
whenever all of Nerima's premier martial artists met up in one
place.
Sarah: todays unfortunate locale was the Nerima stadium football
field.
Eric: how they got there... no one knows.
Ranma: They were probably following P-Chan and got lost.
Ryoga: Ranma, I'm warning you...
This was not a rare occasion. Amazingly enough, that seemed to
happen
Eric: actually its not amazing after all its not a rare occasion.
Sarah: i've grown used ot it.
Ryoga: Well, we have to do SOMETHING with our spare time...
at least once every few weeks. The battle finally ended after a
short
while. When the dust cleared, the only person left standing was
Ranma.
Eric: but if its all of them they usually gang up on Ranma.
Ryoga: He deserves it!
Sarah: but the women would naturally defend Ranma.
Ranma: Heh. When you got it, you got it.
Yoiko: Oh, please. Just watch it, or I'll invite Akane to the
next review.
Ranma: You wouldn't!
Ryoga: *sigh* Akane...
Yoiko: *waves a hand in front of Ryoga, who is grinning and
staring into
space.* Oh, great. Yup, he's out of it.
Nabiki walked over to Ranma with disgust on her face. "Do you
always
have to act so macho?"
Sarah: isnt that sorta dangerous?
Eric: thats right you never know what horror Ranma will unleash.
Ranma: *sniff* I DON'T fight girls.
Ranma tried his best to feign innocence. "What do you mean?"
She
couldn't know everything that went on in his mind. Could she?
Sarah: actually for $20 dollars Nabiki can read minds.
Ranma: *shudder* Scary thought.
Yoiko: If you keep thinking it, she'll hear you.
Ranma: Aaigh!
Nabiki read Ranma like a book. She lightly tapped Ranma on the
chest.
Eric: chapter 5, page 322
He fell over. "I mean that. You're clearly as beat up as the
rest of
Sarah: oic.. just like in the Skating episode.
Yoiko: He does do that.
the people, yet you insist on acting macho. Come on. I've got
to get
you to a bath. You stink."
Ranma: I do not!
Ryoga: Do, too!
Ranma: Oh, look who's talking, Mr. P!
Eric: why does he stink?
Sarah: what were they fighting with?
Yoiko: For the answers to these questions, and more, stay tuned!
* * * * *
Eric: oh i miss those underscores.
Akane, Kodatchi, Shampoo, and Ukyo all watched this exchange
from their
Sarah: hey wait a second. i thought they were all down for the
count.
positions on ground of the battle zone.
Yoiko: Well, they are on the ground.
Ukyo groaned as she picked
herself up. "What does she think she's doing? Ordering Ranchan
around
Eric: oh... okay makes sense.
Sarah: i wonder whats on Ranma's mind.
Ranma: Worrying about whether Akane's trying to cook again.
Eric: humph who beat up Ukyou.. sarah will make them pay.
Ranma: It must be Happosai's fault! Get 'im, Sarah!
Ryoga: Ranma, I'm sure whatever happened, it was ALL YOUR FAULT!
Sarah: *flares green* what?
Eric: ahem... no flames please.
like that. Like he would ever follow a woman's orders."
To all the girls' surprise, Ranma stood up and followed after
Nabiki.
Sarah: hey wait a second i thought he was really hurt!
Ranma: Ha! Nothing I can't handle!
Of course he was cursing at her from behind the whole time.
Eric: Curse you Nabiki... curse you i say!
Sarah: why is he cursing her.
Yoiko: Because he can't hit her.
Shampoo gave the girls a knowing look. "Nabiki blackmail
husband
again."
Sarah: the bimbo is the first one to come to this conclusion?
Yoiko: Well, she does call Nabiki "one tough cookie." Maybe she
respects
her as an equally devious female.
Ranma: You saying Nabiki's sneaky?
Ryoga: Are you rhyming on purpose?
Yoiko: And Shampoo's not as dumb as she looks.
Kodatchi, with hatred clearly written on her face, looked at
Akane with
Eric: in japanese or english?
Ryoga: Egyptian heiroglyphics.
distaste. "Can you not control that mercenary sister of yours?
It is
Sarah: for the price of a few yen she can be yours as well
kodachi. think of the fun.
Yoiko: Erk.
bad enough that evil pigtailed wench has control over my
Ranma-sama. He
now has to contend with that cutthroat you call a sister."
Eric: CATFIGHT!!!
Yoiko: No, Shampoo doesn't have anything to do with it at this
point.
"Hey! What ever Nabiki's got on him, the pervert deserves it."
Sarah: now dont hold back Akane.
Ryoga: Akane...*sigh*
Despite her words, Akane was ashamed of her money hungry sister.
Always
taking advantage of her Ranma. Did she just think her Ranma?
Eric: actually, you just thought Nabiki's Ranma.
Ranma: Hey, I'm not anybody's Ranma!
Ryoga: Ranma! You swine! You should be proud to call yourself
Akane's Ranma!
Yoiko: Boys, we have a fic in progress here! Settle down!
Ukyo smiled secretly to herself. She didn't mind what just
happened at
all. If Nabiki had found something to blackmail Ranma with, it
meant
that he was probably available on the market again. Though she
hated
resorting to buying a date with Ranma, she couldn't help doing
it.
Sarah: ahh leave it to Ukyou to think of the smart thing.
Eric: and here they say Kodachi's the brilliant one.
Ryoga: No, they say Kodachi's the scary one. That laugh...
*shudder*
Ranma: Ucchan wouldn't...would she?
Yoiko: Ranma, maybe you and I should have a talk.
With
so many girls competing for Ranma, she needed as much help she
could
get.
Eric: not if she was competing for me.
Yoiko: We know, Eric. ^_~
* * * * *
"I took a bath, now what?" Ranma grumbled as he flipped
through
Nabiki's window from the room.
Sarah: amazing... he just jumped out the window from nabiki's
room into the koi pond.
Eric: maybe being thrown around so often has made a masochist.
Ryoga: Ranma! You pervert!
Ranma: I am NOT!
"Here's your share of the money from the fight." Nabiki handed
five
hundred yen to Ranma.
Sarah: WHAT?!
Eric: Nabiki being generous! It must be one of those Nabiki and
Ranma fics!
Yoiko: Well...yeah.
Ranma: WHAT?!?
Ryoga: So that means...Akane's free!
Ranma: Now hold on there, Porky!
Ryoga: What did you call me?
Ranma: You heard me!
Yoiko: Look! Guys! I have Milk Duds!
Ranma and Ryoga: Where?
"How come so little?" Ranma asked as he looked at the meager
sum in
his hand.
Sarah: oh so this is a regular thing.
Eric: you should've indicated something earlier on when there was
a crowd in attendance at the the fight.
Ranma: *chewing Milk Duds* I thok fher vaffn't...
Yoiko: We thought there wasn't a crowd. *Ranma nods*
"There's my ten percent as manager. I took out money for first
aid
equipment. Band-Aids aren't free you know. There's also the
cost o
Eric: bandaids are too free, just break into the store and get
em.. he's ranma by damn.
Yoiko: *politically-correct, public service announcement-type
voice*
Kids, don't try this at home. The opinions expressed here are
not those of
FFML, its moderators, or Rumiko Takahashi. We in no way condone
shoplifting.
handling the betting pool. My time is valuable. And I took
money out
for..." Nabiki rambled on as she looked over her expense list.
Sarah: filled with a vareity of nonsense items.
Yoiko: Just don't let Nabiki hear you call it nonsense.
Ranma: Don't let her even hear you think about it.
"Okay! Okay! Forget that I asked." Ranma muttered to Nabiki.
Jeez,
you ask a simple question.
Eric: and you get a simple answer, just a much longer one then
you had anticipated.
"Oh! I almost forgot. There's also your share of the bills
for the
Sarah: so wait... Ranma's always pretending he's broke?
Ryoga: No, he's always broke.
dojo. You did agree to help out whenever you could." Nabiki
deftly
took back Ranma's payment.
Eric: ahhahha... you'd think he'd be used to it by now.
Ranma looked wistfully at the money being taken out of his
hands.
There went that triple decker fudge slice of cake. "Well, is
there
Eric: we all know you can get them for free by simply splashing
water on yourself.
Yoiko: That was a sexist remark.
Ranma: But...
Yoiko: Ranma, why don't you eat some more candy? You really
shouldn't
even TRY to say anything on this subject.
anything else you wanted, your majesty?"
Sarah: who me? ohkay.. well... something ferretvite to spread on
erics face next time he unleashes those evil ferrets at me.
Nabiki ignored Ranma's comment and thought for a moment. "Did
you
brush you teeth like I told you to?"
Sarah and Eric: yes ma'am.
Eric: good oral hygiene is very important!
Yoiko: *public service voice* Remember kids, brush and floss...
Ranma: Could you stop doing that?
Yoiko: I could.
Ranma: Good.
"Yes. I can't really see why, though. Mother and Kasumi are
going to
cook dinner in a while anyway."
"Your breath stinks." Nabiki suddenly grabbed Ranma's head and
brought
it down to her own. She french kissed him for a whole minute
before
Sarah and Eric: WOAH!
Yoiko: Oh, my...
Sarah: how about instead of french kissed him... kissed him
passionately. French kissing seems so vulgar you know.
Eric: Didja see that one coming Ranma?
Ranma: *blushing a little* Well, I...I mean, obviously I'm
irresistable!
Sarah: you dog Ranma!
letting him go. "Now get out. I've got to study." Ranma was
immediately pushed out the window.
Eric: I thought he had already flipped out the window.
Sarah: and maybe you should indicate that he was perched on the
window sill the whole time.
Ranma landed on the ground with a thud. To say that he was in
Eric: the ground!?!
Sarah: what about the koi pond, favored landing place of all
Ranma characters.
Yoiko: Maybe Nabiki's room doesn't overlook the pond.
shock
would be an understatement. No matter how hard he tried, he
just
Sarah: thats it... he's in shock...
Eric: what would you expect?
Sarah: denial.
Eric: are you in shock Ranma?
Ranma: No way!
Yoiko: See? A denial!
Dim: How depressing.
Ranma: I am not denying anything!
Yoiko: Ha! Another denial!
couldn't understand Nabiki. Ranma was still undecided about
their
romance. Ever since she became his fianc�e, their relationship
came at
differing degrees of hot and cold. At moments she would ignore
him for
days at a times. At other times she would lavishly pay
attention to him
like today. It may not look like that to others, but Ranma knew
better. Any time Nabiki spent more than a few hours away from
her
'prime money making hours' to be with him was an extraordinary
amount of
time. Also, she kissed him. Nabiki hardly showed much
affection most
of the time. But when she did, it sure was sweet.
Sarah: well you have some explaining to do now. So all this time
you've been letting all those women pursue as a what? *flares
into a green geyser of flames*.. as a backdrop? a safety net?
Eric: remember .. no flam-
Sarah: dont even think it.
Yoiko: Nabiki can hear you.
Ryoga: Ranma, you...you...Casanova!
Yoiko: Not during the fic.
Ryoga: As soon as this fic's over, I'm gonna break you!
* * * * *
"Three thousand yen." Ukyo coutered.
Eric: *sniff* poor Ukyou if you only knew... how harsh this can
be. Ranma you cold, cold bastard!
Ranma: It's not really me! It's the fic!
"I said five thousand yen and I meant it." Nabiki said through
her
teeth.
Eric: perhaps you should state through gritted teeth
Yoiko: Or clenched teeth.
Sarah: *still wrapped in flames* dont you have the slightest bit
of remorse Nabiki. You and Ranma ... and you are STILL taking
advantage of and making money by letting people believe!
"Okay already." Boy, Nabiki was in a bad mood. All of
Nabiki's prices
were usually negotiable. Lucky for her, Ucchan's had been
turning a
Eric: this is not good.
Sarah: *still wrapped in flames* no this is defintely not good.
Ryoga: It is if Ranma ends up with Nabiki.
very huge profit lately due to word of mouth. Ukyo paid Nabiki
her
money and went back to her restaurant. All she had to do now
was wait
for Ranma to show up.
Eric: and Ranma perpetuates this fantasy? I always claimed Ukyou
deserved better than Ranma :)
Ryoga: So does Akane.
Nabiki stared hard at the five thousand yen in her hands. Was
it worth
it?
Sarah: oh you've been doing it for awhile and now you question
its legitimacy.
Yoiko: Well, she didn't like him before.
Ranma: And now she does? You call that liking someone?
Yoiko: For Nabiki...yeah.
* * * * *
Ranma had the feeling of dread as he looked at the triple
decker fudge
slice of cake Nabiki was holding in front of him. "What do you
want now
Nabiki?"
Sarah: the way to a man's heart...
Yoiko: As long as it's not Akane's work.
Ryoga: Hey, I'd gladly eat Akane's food!
Ranma: He'd be the only guy in Intensive Care with a smile on
his face.
Ryoga: Shut up!
Nabiki looked at Ranma in shock. "Can't I do something nice for
my
fianc�e every now and then? Does everything I do have a
motive?" She
now looked like she was about to cry.
Eric: you know i just cant feel sorry for her, she's always
taking advantage of others.
Sarah: humm.. not to metion she considers herself his Fiancee.
Yoiko: That was set up in the first fic. The whole thing with
being his
fiancee again, I mean.
Oh man! If there was anything in this world Ranma hated to see
it was
to see a woman cry. He knew that Nabiki was probably faking it,
as
Eric: this is an interesting relationship here.
Sarah: he claims to care for her in some manner but he doesnt
trust her to act caring towards him.
Yoiko: She hasn't really given him reason to trust her. And
she's used
fake tears on him before.
she
used these tears often enough. Even though he knew this, it
hurt him
just the same. "Sorry, I said that."
Sarah: but still you say them.. do you never think ahead?
Ranma: Why?
Nabiki sniffed back her tears. "I forgive you. I want you to
make it
up to me. Take me out to dinner, okay?"
Eric: wow she asks him out..
Sarah: i cant wait to hear Ranma's response.
"Alright, I'll do it. I'll take you to Ucchan's, okay?" Ranma
Sarah: oh yeah thats a brilliant place to go.
Ranma: I would never take a girl to Ucchan's or the Nekohanten.
They'd
get killed!
breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that all she wanted was to
go out
to eat. Seeing as how he was broke again, Ranma had no choice
but to go
to a place where he could get free food.
Sarah: oh ye of little intelligence
Eric: de ye realize that Ranma is sitting right here?
Ranma: Even if it was free, not Ucchan's. Though I might pick
up the food
and take it with me...
Ryoga: And use poor Ukyo just for a free meal???
Nabiki nodded in agreement. All had gone as she predicted, but
she did
not feel happy at all.
Sarah: no actually it seems pretty miserable... wait a second
*erupts into flames*
Eric: you dont think...
Sarah: SHE WAS FAKING!
* * * * *
"Ranchan, that was just Nabiki on the phone. She said that she
couldn't make it and that you should eat without her. Since you
Eric: I cant believe it... thats awful
Yoiko: Kinda saw this coming, though.
have
nothing to do for tonight, do you want to go with me to the
movies? I
heard that a new martial arts movie just opened up." Ukyo told
Ranma as
Sarah: oh i'm going to be ill.
Ranma: I don't feel so good, either. I think it's the Milk
Duds.
she put down the phone.
Everything clicked into place for Ranma as he heard this. So,
Nabiki
Eric: i cant believe it! I'm shocked, that was just way too
mean.
Sarah: then again she has done it before. Ranma should've
recongized it as a set up.
had decided to use him again to make a little money. Though
this was a
very common occurrence, Ranma felt a heavy weight on his heart.
What
was he to Nabiki? Just some tool to be used whenever she saw
fit? "So
Eric: apparently... then again look at how you string along those
four women.
Sarah: well not so much Kodachi as the others.
Ranma: Hey, I don't string anybody along! My Pop's the one who
set up all
those engagements anyway!
Ryoga: Not Shampoo.
Yoiko: Sorry, Ranma, he's right. You made the mess with Shampoo
yourself.
Kodachi, too.
Ranma: I did NOT ask Kodachi to chase after me!
Yoiko: No, but you caved in as soon as she started crying.
Ranma: *sigh* Whatever.
how much did you pay for me, Ucchan?"
Sarah: dont you DARE get all uppity Ranma.
Ukyo stopped in mid pace and blushed. "Oh, not much. Don't be
angry
Eric: no you should be angry with him.
with me. If I didn't buy you someone else would have. I'm sure
I'm a
better choice than that psychotic Kodatchi or even that bimbo
Shampoo."
Eric: well i cant argue with that.
Every word made Ranma wince. It was probably true that Nabiki
hadn't
Eric: thats still $50 or so dollars... which can be quite a hefty
bill, considering that some dates dont even go over that price
range.
Sarah: you must be a cheap date.
Eric: ...
charged very much for him at all. It was also true that even if
Ukyo
didn't buy him, Nabiki would have found someone else. "Come on
Eric: hadn't bought
then.
Let's go see that movie." Ranma could not let Ukyo's money go
to waste.
Eric: another example of the stringing along.
Sarah: then again they know what they are getting into.
Eric: still he provides them with a false semse of hope.
Ranma: I'm just trying to be nice! I don't want to hurt Ucchan!
* * * * *
"Okay, that's it. What's wrong Ranchan? You're usually not
this moody
without some reason of another. Is it Akane again? Did you
guys get in
another fight? Did she cook dinner again? Come on, out with
it." Ukyo
and Ranma had come back to her restaurant after the movie for a
late
night snack. She noticed that Ranma had hardly paid any
attention to
the movie at all and was now declining seconds. Anytime Ranma
failed to
get upset about the fake fighting in a movie or refuse a second
helping
of food meant there was something on his mind.
Eric: ahh see she pays attention and genuinely appears to be
concerned for him.
Sarah: hummm. even so, she still does it for her own selfish
reasons.
Ryoga: Doesn't matter. He's still a jerk.
Ranma: Watch it, Pork Chop.
Ryoga: Shut up!
Ranma looked up at Ukyo and blinked in surprise. "Akane? No,
this
doesn't have anything to do with her." Actually Ranma hadn't
really
Eric and Sarah: *cringe as Ranma opens the bomb bay doors*
Ranma: I'm not dropping a bomb!
talked with Akane much of late. As a result, they got into
fewer
squabbles and tended to get along rather well when they did get
together.
Eric: i can feel disaster impending.
Yoiko: Akane and Ranma getting along? It's like lions and
lambs. Must be
Armageddon!
Ukyo knew something was wrong. The mentioning of Akane's name
usually
brought some type of reaction from Ranma. Whether it was guilt,
sadness, happiness, or anger, Ranma always had some kind of
emotion of
his face.
"Look, Ucchan. There's nothing wrong with me. I'm probably
just
coming down with something. I'd better get home. It's getting
late."
Ranma stood up and turned to leave.
Sarah: uh huh the old I' feeling sick routine.
Ranma: You got a better idea?
Yoiko: Honesty?
Ranma: Honesty only gets you a mallet to the head.
"Looks like this was a waste of a night. I wonder if I could
get a
refund from Nabiki." Ukyo said to herself under her breath.
Out of the
Eric: what did you expect?
Sarah: well for $50 .....
corner of her eye, she saw Ranma stop short at the mentioning of
Nabiki's name. Had he heard what she said? Nabiki? Could it
be that
those two are... It couldn't be. Could it?
Eric: *watches a handful of bombs drop down*
Yoiko: Oh, but it couldn't be that he's reacting to the idea
that she
wants a refund because he was such a lousy date?
Ranma: I am not a lousy date!
Yoiko: Ukyo wants a refund.
Ranma: I don't think I like this fic.
Ryoga: Oh, *I* like it. I like it a lot!
* * * * *
Kasumi looked worriedly at Ranma and Nabiki. It seemed that in
all of
Nerima, only she and auntie Saotome knew of Ranma's and Nabiki's
Sarah: ahh the UMF figures something out.
Ranma: UMF?
Yoiko: I'll explain later.
Eric: its been five fics and you still havent changed your ideas
on kasumi.
Ryoga: Kasumi doesn't change. She's the one constant.
feelings for each other. The engaged couple were at the moment
ignoring
Sarah: but they arent engaged!
Eric: wait a second remember him saying that this is a sequal.
Sarah: *boink* oh yeah... humm perhaps providing a synopsis?
Yoiko: In the first fic, Nabiki re-engaged herself to Ranma so
she could
make some money off him, then she started having second thoughts.
each other. Something had happened between the two of them.
She would
have to ask Nabiki.
Eric: nosy nosy.
* * * * *
Nabiki sat down with Kasumi. Her thoughts poured out in the
presence of
Sarah: of the UMF.
Eric: into an already overfilled bowl causing water to run down
the side of kitchen sink and onto the floor.
her caring older sister. "I can't get this feeling of guilt to
go
away. What do I have to feel guilty about anyway?
Ranma: Let me count the ways.
I've always
acted
this way when a moneymaking opportunity presents itself to me.
Why
should this time be any different?"
Sarah: well it might help to know why you got engaged in the
first place.
Ryoga: Because that's what Ranma does. It's his hobby.
"Because this time the man you love was involved." Kasumi in
her
seemingly infinite wisdom told Nabiki.
Eric: thats not wisdom its just common sense. its not even a
leap of logic of any sort.
Yoiko: But it's only SEEMING wisdom. ^_~
"So what!" Nabiki said back angrily. "He can't expect me to
change
myself just for him."
Eric: howabout you changing yourself for him.
Yoiko: Why don't they both change a little? Ranma has some
growing up to
do, too.
Ranma: I do not!
Ryoga: Do, too!
Ranma: So not!
Yoiko: See what I mean?
Dim: i would just like to interrupt and say that this fic is a
bit depressing.
Yoiko: Thank you, Dim. I'm sure we were all wondering what YOUR
opinion
on all this would be. ^_~
"Do you expect him to change for you? Do you expect him to
forget his
pride and sell himself just for you?" Kasumi asked Nabiki
insistently.
Eric: really nabiki these are thoughts that should've occured to
you.
Sarah: i agree.
Dim: she's just depressed.
Yoiko: No, I think she has thought all these things. It's just
different
hearing someone tell you the truth. It's harder to ignore that
way.
"No! It's not like that at all." Nabiki practically shouted
this out.
"Isn't it?" Kasumi pressured Nabiki.
Sarah: nothing can stop kasumi now... except for tiny little
bacteria... but we wont let that happen... will we Eric?
Eric: you're hurting my arm!
Yoiko: You know, Kasumi can be spooky when she's angry.
Ranma: When have you ever seen her angry?
Yoiko: When she made Akane promise her not to strike anyone in
anger.
"Ranma will understand. Tomorrow, I will take him out to
dinner and
treat him nice. He will be fine." Nabiki tried to sound
confident as
she assured her sister.
Eric: you are gong to ask him out... does anyone else see the
encroaching disaster of this.
Sarah: i though Nabiki was the intelligent one.
Yoiko: She's wise in the ways of business. Have you ever seen
her with a
boyfriend, though?
"If you say so." Kasumi's voice was full of doubt.
Eric: yah...
* * * * *
After school, Nabiki found Ranma and asked him to walk home
with her.
"Ranma, there's a new restaurant opening. Do you want to try it
out?
It'll be my treat."
Sarah: tsk... like he's going to trust you.
Ranma sighed deeply. "What is this time? Did Shampoo offer
you five
thousand-yen? Or was it Kodatchi?
Yoiko: Kodachi.
Maybe your price has gone
down.
Four thousand?" Ranma could see that Nabiki looked as if she
was hurt.
Sarah: see... i told you soo.
He immediately shut his eyes. If he didn't see the tears, they
wouldn't
be there.
Eric: ahh but what about the heart wrenching sobbing sounds.
Yoiko: They're not as effective as you might think.
Nabiki felt a stab of pain in her heart as she saw Ranma close
his eyes
to her budding tears. Perhaps she had cried wolf once too
often. She
forced herself to remain calm and continue. "No, I didn't sell
you to
another girl. I just want a night alone with my fianc�e. Is
that too
much to ask?"
Sarah: really i must read the prequel to this...
Yoiko: I liked the prequel.
Eric: of course her claiming him solely as her own is kinda odd.
What is it with the Tendos?
Ranma refused to look into Nabiki's eyes. "What? No girl
willing to
pay the price. Maybe you sold me to Kuno? You're just as bad
as my
Sarah: ohkay... hello... dont you think you are going just a bit
to far.
Yoiko: Well...
father is. I'm beginning to think that your loving me was just
another
scheme."
Eric: what is it with these people..
Sarah: if she loved you wouldnt you expect her to not sell you in
the first place?!
<Slap>
Eric: he had that coming.
Ranma: I think it was uncalled-for!
Ryoga: You made her cry, you jerk! It was very called-for!
Ranma opened his eyes to see Nabiki fleeing into the distance
and held
his cheek. He sank to the ground in absolute shock. What had
he done?
Eric: what you always do... make a bad situation worse.
* * * * *
Nabiki finally stopped running as she felt her legs nearly give
way.
It was all over. Her life was over. After what he had said and
what
she had done, there could be no turning back. For one of the
few times
in her life, Nabiki felt genuine tears threatening to burst from
her
eyes.
Sarah: like the past encounter with Ranma wasnt like that.
Eric: humm...
"Here, take this." A voice called out to Nabiki.
Nabiki opened her eyes to see the blurry shape of Ukyo holding
out a
handkerchief. Nabiki grabbed and quickly dabbed her eyes. She
couldn't
let anyone see her like this.
Sarah: hummm... Ukyou the selfless one again...
Eric: ohh poor Ukyou.
Ryoga: She deserves better.
Ranma: Who? You, I suppose.
Ryoga: What? She hates me!
Yoiko: She doesn't hate you.
Ryoga: She calls me a jackass.
Yoiko: She says that to everybody.
Ryoga: She's not Akane.
Yoiko: That...I can't argue with.
Ukyo watched as Nabiki quickly regained her composure and her
usual
demeanor. "So much like my Ranchan. Always have to save face
in front
of everybody. I could see why he might like you with so many
similarities."
Eric: *sigh* Ukyou ... Ukyou...
Sarah: shut up.
Nabiki glared at Ukyo for her use of 'Ranchan'. "He's not
yours or
anybody else's."
Eric: but you act at times like you own him.
Ukyo just smiled sadly. "Too bad you realized that a little
too late.
Ranma doesn't belong to anybody. He's just like his name. Wild
and
free. It's all for the best. It would never have worked out
between
you two."
Sarah: oh its not over yet i have a feeling.
Nabiki needed to vent her frustrations and found Ukyo to be the
perfect
target. "Why wouldn't it have worked out? I care about him,
isn't that
all that matters?"
Eric and Sarah: NO!
Yoiko: If she really cared, she'd know that his feelings are
half the equation.
"For the same reason it would not work out with Akane. Aside
from
dimensional hammers, toxic food, and telling everybody she's a
martial
artist also, Akane is too normal for Ranma. Ranma's dream in
life is to
Eric: too normal?
Sarah: too normal? nothing about Akane is normal.
Ryoga: I agree. Akane is exceptional. *sigh*
Yoiko: *rolling her eyes* Practically perfect in every way.
Ranma: I thought that was Mary Poppins.
Yoiko: The quote seemed to fit.
be the best martial artist in the world. You and I both know
that
staying in a dojo teaching is no way to become the best. You
have to
travel and fight the best to become the best. I don't know what
Akane
Eric: whose doing the talking here?
Yoiko: Ukyo. She's explaining to Nabiki how best to steal Ranma
away from
her.
wants in life, but whatever it is, it's in Nerima. She has
friends and
family here that she cares deeply about. She had a whole life
before
Ranma came along. Even if they did get married, I know that it
will not
last because of Ranma's need for adventure. Long and often
periods of
separation is not good for any relationship. Would Akane leave
with
Sarah: oi i see..
Yoiko: Should be long and frequent. Or the sentence could be
reworded.
Ranma: Hey, you haven't been doing any grammatical stuff!
Yoiko: I was having too much fun. *^_^*
Ranma? She might, but she will become embittered with the idea
of
leaving those closest to her behind. No, the marriage would not
last.
Would you be willing to leave your life behind to follow Ranma
around?
You know what? I would."
Eric: well yes because you dont really have anything tying you
down to nerima.
Sarah: then again Ranma may find the thought of settling down
appealing.
Yoiko: What do you think, Ranma?
Ranma: I think I'd better not answer that question.
Yoiko: Smart boy. Yes, he can be taught!
Nabiki stood there stunned at what Ukyo said. Was there no
hope for
her and Ranma at all?
Sarah: not if this fic has anything to say about it.
* * * * *
Nabiki walked home alone with her thoughts. What did she want
in
life? There was the obvious answer. Money. Was that all she
truly
Eric: well yes that and the porsche.
Yoiko: And Power.
Ryoga: Back to the images of Power again?
Yoiko: Wrong fic.
wanted? She herself had little use for money. She was not a
person
that needed to live a life of luxury. She looked down at her
clothes.
Eric: wait a second then why is so mercenary about things then?
Yoiko: For the fun of it.
Half of what she was wearing belonged to Akane. She spent very
Sarah: uhhh why does it belong to Akane?
Yoiko: Because she raids Akane's closet.
Ranma: She does?
Yoiko: According to this fic, she does...
little
of the hordes of money she made everyday. She averaged about
fifty yen
a student every school day for the last two years at about a
thousands
students. Most of the money was kept in the bank under her and
her
father's name. It was used mainly to pay bills and such. For
herself
she kept a constant amount of a million yen. No, money was not
what she
truly wanted.
Sarah: but it seems to be what you have gathered.
Then what did she want? She already knew the answer. She
wanted love
and companionship. Sure she had a life before Ranma came along,
but
Eric: wait a second where did this come from?
Yoiko: Nabiki's thoughts.
she
had long become bored of it. It was lonely for her without as
many
friends as Akane. Ranma was a like breath of fresh air. With
him, he
brought excitement. Though she could not fight like the others,
she was
never far from the action. Heck, most of the fights in Nerima
were
caused by her manipulations. Even before her feelings had
developed for
Ranma, Nabiki dreaded him leaving and returning everything to
normal.
Now, just the thought of Ranma leaving left Nabiki with the
feeling that
a piece of her had fallen away.
In the end there really wasn't much of a choice for Nabiki. She
looked
down the street at the Tendo Dojo and saw Ranma standing there
alone.
Now was the time to confront him and her feelings.
Eric and Sarah: *cringe*
* * * * *
Ranma shuffled his feet. He was not very good at apologizing.
"I'm
sorry about what I said, Nabiki. I wasn't thinking straight. I
was
just angry about being used again."
Eric: well you had been fooled a million times over.
"Hush." Nabiki put a finger to Ranma's lips. He tended to
stammer a
lot when he was uncomfortable. In spite of herself, Nabiki
found it to
be a very cute trait of his. "I should be the one to say that
I'm
Sarah: why in spite of herself?
sorry, Ranma. I've been very selfish, haven't I?"
Sarah and Eric: Now THERES a LOADED question.
Yoiko; Don't answer it. This is one of those times you should
be silent.
Ranma was afraid to speak
Yoiko: Good choice.
as if the moment would break. He could only
Eric: for fear the moment would end.
Sarah: yeah it not make sense as it is.
stare into Nabiki's shimmering eyes.
Sarah: all anime characters eyes shimmer.
"I've been using you without thinking about how you would feel
it. I
Eric and Sarah: *holding hands* chant... Goo go go go!
Yoiko and Ryoga: Go go go!
Ranma: Gimme a break...
promise that I won't do that ever again." Nabiki put her hand
to her
heart.
Eric: and to the republic...
Sarah: for which it stands
Ranma smiled affectionately at her. "Don't make promises that
you
can't keep. I know that the money that you make goes towards
keeping us
all fed. If I could help out just a little, I would."
Sarah: if you know this then why are you being so difficult.
Eric: and.. and... it doesnt excuse what you do.
Nabiki gasped as she looked at Ranma's face. She could still
see the
hand print that she left on his face. "Did I hit you too hard?"
Sarah: here next time use this *produces a mallet out of the air*
Eric: do all angry women know how to do that?
Yoiko: Ha! I need no weapon!
Ryoga: Don't make her angry. You wouldn't like her when she's
angry.
She
touched his face gently. It was warm to her touch.
Yoiko: Which you'd kind of expect, in a living person.
Ranma laughed out loud at that. He held her hand to his face.
"I've
been hit worse. Actually after I thought about it, your slap
felt kind
Eric: i'm sure in comparison to say... a mallet.
of nice. It wasn't the high powered attack of a martial artist.
It was
just a slap of a girl. It was very warm, very feminine and full
of
feeling. A slap that only you could throw."
Sarah: *sniff* awwww.
Nabiki blushed beet-red at hearing that description of her
slap. She
laughed out with Ranma the more she thought about it. "I didn't
know
you were into that kind of thing, Ranma."
Eric: well ranma's into all kinds of things ay?
Sarah: thats right he turns into a girl
Ranma: Hey! Don't go gettin any ideas!
Ryoga: *holding a convenient bucket of water* I think you
should cool off
a little, Ranma...
Ranma smiled as he heard Nabiki's quip. Things were getting
back to
normal if she could joke once more. "Seriously though. I will
probably
put my foot in my mouth once in awhile. Make sure you slap me
around
*in the background, thumps, bumps, and the sound of splashing
water*
Sarah: no no i insist take my mallet.
when I do."
Nabiki gave Ranma that charming crooked smile of hers. "I hope
you
don't enjoy it too much when I do."
Eric: heheheh.
Ranma: Here you go, Yoiko. *hands a dripping P-Chan to her*
Yoiko: 9.9 Thanks, Ranma.
Ranma bent his head towards Nabiki and kissed her.
Nabiki cried in happiness. It was the first time Ranma had
ever
initiated a kiss with her.
Eric: *sniff* this is sooo beautiful
P-Chan: Bwee.
* * * * *
Epilogue
Ranma gathered Nabiki in his arms as they looked at the dojo
one last
time. "No regrets?"
Sarah: i cant see Nabiki leaving behind with no regrets
Yoiko: But she has her man.
Nabiki cuddled closer to Ranma for warmth. Beside them were
two
backpacks filled with everything they would ever need. "No,
Ranma. No
regrets at all."
Eric: but did they leave without anyone else knowing?
Yoiko: I don't think so. Nabiki had a whole big deal in the
first one
about not wanting to hurt Akane. I can't believe she'd just up
and leave
without saying anything to anyone.
* * * * *
The End. (maybe)
Eric: a very well written story. its not to dark and borders on
realistic.
Yoiko: And Ranma and Nabiki lived happily ever after.
P-Chan: *happy* Bwee!
Sarah: i found nabiki and Ranma a bit hard to stomach though. I
felt little pity or remorse for them.
Eric: i disagree, they are obth mercenaries of sorts.
Yoiko: I liked them both. You two should read the first one, it
gives a
better idea of the character development.
Sarah: True but either way... nor do i like the implied ending.
Eric: why is that?
Sarah: it suggests that rather than face the mess they had
caused, especially ranma they just ran away... shirking
responsibility.
Eric: i agree.. but you cant fix everything in a fic.
Sarah: true... anyways... it was a very good story... well
done... bravo.
Yoiko: I agree with that. We enjoyed this fic, didn't we,
Ryoga?
P-Chan: *nod, nod*
Ranma: I guess. Hey, Ryoga, what about our fight? The fic's
over, you know.
Yoiko: Don't pick on P-Chan. And where did you leave his
clothes?
Ranma: They're around here somewhere.
Yoiko: Oh, well, we'll just get you some hot water first, and
then worry
about finding your clothes.
Ranma: GOOD night, everybody!
Yoiko: Wait. I thought that was a Yakko line.
Ranma: Yeah, but it seemed to work.
Yoiko: Whatever. It was a good fic, we enjoyed it. ^_^