C&C please. I need it. 
The final draft of part one is now complete and yes Kunou 
does get his hits in. It's ready for posting on RAAC but I'll 
probably wait till I'm done with all three parts.

HELP! Anyone know a Villain  (Ranmaverse) that needs a 
Severe Thrashing? I need one for part three. This is NOT
turning out the way I thought it would. Again: anyone 
who spot's Mura's deal early gets the bonus points

The title change is because of the other fanfic that is out there
and this one applies in three different ways.

Thank you all who sent me C&C on part one.
Patrick/Mura




            Sugar and (Sp)Ice (Formally: For Lov of Money)
A Ranma � Fanfic
  
These Characters (except for Mura) are not mine. Thank you 
Takahashi Rumiko for making such a world


     It was not a typical day at the Tendou residence. The sounds of practice 
coming from the Dojo were typical. Kasumi busy in the house cleaning was 
typical. Soun and Genma cheating at Go was typical. What was not typical was 
the fact that Nabiki was in the dojo with Akane watching from the side as 
Ranma and Mura sparred.
     "He's pretty good" Akane said, looking out the corner of her eyes at 
Nabiki. She honestly could not remember the last time that Nabiki had come 
out to the dojo to watch someone practice.
     "Ranma's holding back Akane" Nabiki said, never moving her eyes off of 
the fight. She grimaced as she watched Mura get nailed yet again.[I have to 
give Mura an  A' for persistence though.] she thought to herself.
     Ranma stepped back and signaled an end to the bout. "Pretty good Mura, 
you're coming along. Of course you'll never be as good as me..."
     "Yea, well... I don't think I'll ever be as good as you are. The few 
moves that I knew and you didn't you already have mastered now. I'm still 
struggling. Of course I didn't start training as early as you either." Mura 
dropped to one knee and breathed deeply. "That's doesn't make me want
to want to stop learning though. I need to know this if for no other reason 
than one day I may have a student that can do these stunts of yours and I need 
to know how to train him."
     "It's your endurance that's really hurting you Mura." Ranma said looking 
at him. "You do well at the beginning but you tire to easily in the long
fights." 
     Mura looked towards Nabiki quickly and then looked away. "That's always 
been my downfall. I've tried training it and around it but it's no use so far." 
[small lie, Mura. Why can't you tell them?] he thought to himself.
     "Oh."Ranma didn't know quite how to deal with this statement. He wasn't 
used to others admitting to a weaknesses. He sure didn't. "Uhmm... let's work 
on Chi blasts then. Okay?"
     "Sure Ranma. What do you want to know?"
     "Huh? No. Not me. You. I noticed that when you nailed Mousse and Ryoga 
that you didn't do a blast you just sort of powered up and then hit them. Why?"
     "I know how to do chi blasts Ranma. I just don't use them." [Another lie, 
Mura.] he thought to himself [I know how] He reminded himself. [It's just that 
I CAN'T use them.] "It doesn't make sense to me to  throw chi' at someone and 
miss that's all. If I power up my chi I want to make sure
that it's going to connect. So, I focus it into my fist or into a headbutt and 
then I'm sure. If for some reason I can't hit them than I can reabsorb it into 
myself. [Where I have a much better use for it.] If you miss it's wasted.
     "Hhmm... I hadn't thought of that use..." Akane and Nabiki shared a small 
smile [Even 'The Great Ranma' can learn something from one of us lesser mortals 
ne?] thought Nabiki. 
        "Man, Ryoga's in for a surprise whenever he manages to find his way 
back." Ranma laughed. 
     Akane frowned a little at this statement.
	"Do you mind if we call it quit's for today Ranma? Nabiki and I have 
our first dinner date tonight." 
	Nabiki suddenly flushed at this. She wasn't used to the feelings she 
was having lately. To have someone who was interested in her was a novelty. 
She looked at Mura critically. [Hhmm...Good looking, reasonably skilled at 
martial arts, acts like a sensai should. Most importantly he has a mind!] 
Nabiki smiled to herself at that one. [Plus... I don't know ... he makes me 
feel .... wanted. Yes, wanted. Needed. I think I like this.] 
	In the three weeks since Mura had asked to date her he had been at 
the door every morning to walk her to school. [He talks to me as a person, 
Gets all of my jokes. Well almost all. He hasn't tried to borrow money from 
me. And most of all: He listened. That was a true miracle around here.]
Suddenly the words he had said to Ranma worked their way thru to her [Date. 
Dinner. Tonight. Oh Gods!]
	Mura looked over at her and the frozen feeling went away. [Everything 
was going to all right I know it will. Well, at least we won't have everyone 
trying to stop us the way Akane and Ranma do]
	"Mura? Ranma ? We're going in now..." Nabiki waved at them as she 
and Akane headed towars th house.
	Ranma waited a moment until he was sure that they had gone then 
he looked at Mura
	"Why Nabiki.?" he asked suddenly. "I mean...uhmm.... Nabiki? Mura 
just looked at him waiting for Ranma to finish. Unknown to either one of 
them Nabiki had heard her name and she and Akane had quietly walked back 
towards the Dojo window.
	Mura decided that Ranma wasn't going to continue so he answered 
the unspoken questions as well as the spoken one. 
	"Well, let's see. Kasumi is dedicated to the family and from what 
I have heard and seen here in the last few weeks she's in love with 
Tofu-san."
	 Ranma had a blank look on his face at this news. He hadn't known 
that Mura knew Doctor Tofu.  
		"Akane is... well... I wouldn't be in the running for her 
even if I was interested in her." He said as noncommitingly as he could. 
[She's a violent, jealous,hot tempered tomboyish-pain in the...} Is what 
he was really thinking about her. [If you want to get smacked around all 
day by her you can have her!] "As for Nabiki... I think she is beautiful."
	Ranma looked unconvinced at this. Nabiki blushed a deep red while 
Akane wached amused.
	"I really do Ranma.I like her wit and the gleam she gets in her 
eyes." Mura looked down at the floor. "I don't know if you believe in 
love at first sight Ranma. I didn't. Not until Nabiki."
	Nabiki covered her face with her hands for a moment and then ran 
towards the house.akane stood there for a moment dumbfounded. Nabiki? 
Crying? She hurried to follow.
	"Nabiki? Onee-chan? Are you allright?" Akane asked as she entered 
her sisters room. Nabiki just sat there on her bed, crying qietly into her 
hands. "Nabiki? What's wrong? I don't understand."
	"I...I...She started gulping, fighting past the tears. I never 
thought anyone would feel that way about me" She sat there looking up at 
Akane with tear filled eyes. "Kasumi is always pining after Doctor Tofu 
and you already know how he feels about her. And you. You've allways had 
all the boys after you." The bitterness was back in full force in Nabiki's 
voice.  (and had even brought the sarcasm along as an accomplice) The 
bittrness that Nabiki knew so well. They've allwats been after you. 
I've had no one for so long..." Her voice suddenly softened "Now this.
 I... believe it or not I don't know how to deal with this... " She 
trailed off and put her hands over her face again."
	Akane was way out of her depth on this one and knew it. It wasn't 
like she could punch out love. She did the only thing she could .
	Don't move �Biki." She said as she headed out the door to find 
Kasumi. "We'll be right back."
	Not knowing the scene that was playing in Nabiki's room Mura 
finished helping Ranma clean up the dojo and picking up his bookbag 
headed toward his house to get ready for the night out.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


It was a nice resturant, Not the best in town perhaps but still very 
nice. Nabiki sat there at the table waiting for Mura to come back from 
the men's room. It seemed he always needed to go right before a large 
meal. She was dressed in a very nice emerald geen dress which 
made her look exceedingly pretty. White gloves and a purse that matched 
here dress finished the outfit. Mura came back to the table still toting 
his ever present book bag.[another time with it.] he thought [Gods I hate 
this] As he set it down there was the muted sound of glass hitting glass. 
The bag was completely out of place with the suit he was wearing and 
Nabiki frowned to herself.
	"What's wrong Nabiki?" Mura asked as he sat down. 
	"I have to ask. What is the deal with the bookbag Mura?" she 
asked after a moment.
        [Oh boy,] he thought to himself quickly [think of something Mura. 
Quick!] Another part of his mind was screaming at him.{The truth you idiot!! 
The Truth!!} He settled for half the truth. {It's still half a lie!} 
[Oh shut up.]
	"Well it has books in it of course. I like to read a lot as you 
know. And ... It has my father's yearly tribute to Master Happosai in it. 
I don't dare let it out of my sight until I deliver it." 
	"Tribute? What kind of tribute?" Nabiki asked puzzled.
	"Well it's more like a bribe actually. We send him these yearly 
packages and he agrees NOT to visit us." Mura and Nabiki both laughed at 
this.
	"So, what is it?"
	Mura looked around and and then lowered his voice. "Twelve pairs 
of panties, Eight bras,four garter belts, a Fredricks' of Hollywood 
Catalog and a �Not interested' reply from Madonna.
	"You mean...?"
	"Yep, We finally found someone that that even Madonna wouldn't 
date: Happosai"
	They both laughed long and loud at that Eventually Nabiki wound 
down and looked at Mura wiping the corners of her eyes. 
	"Oh that was precious. I love it." She suddenly became serious 
again." Mura, please don't be upset, but where is all the money coming 
from?" For the first time in her life Nabiki was actually embarassed 
talking about money. "I mean, you have a small but nice place, nice 
clothes, and you allways seem to have enough money. Daddy said that 
the Master of the marial arts school didn't have access to the family 
business." She faltered momentarily. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..."
	Mura leaned forward and took her hand. It's okay Nabiki, really 
it is.Mura sat back and regarded Nabiki. He'd expected the question to 
come eventually, he just hadn't known when. "It's great to have my future 
wife interested in her husband." He quiped at her, waiting to see her 
reaction. It was worth it. He'd timed it for when she had a mouthfull of 
her drink. He almost ended up wearing the mouthfull but it was worth it. 
"Gotcha." He handed her a napkin as she glared at him in mock anger.
	Well let's see. I taught martial arts for three years setting up 
for this. Japan is expensive as you know. A good portion of my expensives 
will be covered by this. The rest of it comes from my father. He said that 
he was the one who made the agreement with your father and that the least 
he could do was provide for me comming here. [And then some.] he added 
bitterly to himself. "I wasn't quite expecting to stay here for a full 
school year." he finished while staring into her eyes.
	"Oh."

	The conversation turned to other, nicer subjects, and the night 
went on. They spent the rest of the night being what they were: A pair 
of teenagers on a date.

        It seemed to good to be true to Nabiki. So of course it was. 
        It seemed that this could last forever. So of course it wouldn't.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


             Four weeks passed without incident for Mura and Nabiki.
 Of course the usual mayhem was still occurring around Ranma and Akane 
but that only affected them in the money that Nabiki made and the laughs 
it provided for them both.
             Plans were made for a second date. Skating and then dinner 
and a movie. It sounded like fun. 
    
             "Mura, Let's go eat first okay?" Nabiki asked suddenly as 
they left the Tendou household. "I'm starving."
             Mura looked at her and then briefly at his bookbag. [Damn. 
Is there any in there? The timings off but I don't want to disappoint 
her.] " Okay Nabiki, no problem, but I need to go by my house first. 
Is that alright?"
             "That's fine Mura. All prospective wives should see how 
bachelor's live." Mura stumbled and almost tripped as she said this. 
He looked at her in astonishment. "Gotcha." she smirked.
             
             "Well.. This is it." he said opening the door and with a 
bow and a flourish he waved her inside. "It's not much and it's rented." 
             They entered into a small and slightly messy house, books 
and magazines were strewn everywhere. There was no television but a 
decent stereo system took up a bit of room considering the number of 
CDS. Nabiki looked around intently as she walked over to the CD rack.
             "Oh Gods. Mura how could you? That's it. The dates off." 
Nabiki looked at him in outrage. Mura looked at her in confusion. She 
held up a CD by the corner as if she was holding something slimy. 
        "Country music? How could you?" She finally burst out laughing 
at him. "Oh Mura it's okay. I'm just picking. I don't know how you can 
stand the stuff but as long as you don't try to make me listen to it, 
it's okay."
             Mura sighed in relief as he headed towards his room. 
"I'll be out in a moment, make yourself at home." Once inside he 
immediately headed for the small refrigerator in the corner of the room. 
Searching thru it he quickly found the bottle he needed. He could hear 
Nabiki as she poked and prodded thru the other room.
             "Interesting bunch of books you have." She called to him. 
[Everything from Sun Tzu to Shakespeare] She frowned at that one [Doesn't 
he here that enough from Kunou?] She picked up a beat up book by someone 
named Lackey. [Lots of fantasy books and a lot of business magazines. And 
martial arts books too of course.] She set the book down. [What is taking 
him so long?]
             She stepped across the room and opened the door.

             Her world turned to ashes in an instant.

             There stood Mura with his left sleeve rolled up and a 
hypodermic needle in his right hand. He was inserting it into his arm. 
A small ampule of some kind sat on the small refrigerator next to him.
             He looked up at her in astonishment. "Nabiki...
             "You bastard." she hissed at him. "You miserable bastard. 
At least now I really know what's been in that bag!" she backed up 
steadily towards the front door.
            " Nabiki.... No. It's not what you..." He reached out for her.
             "You disgusting... don't you touch me. Don't you dare touch 
me. I never want to see you again! Never!!" She sceamed the last and bolted 
out the door.
             "Nabiki... No... Please listen... please" He stuttered to a 
finish and looked down at the needle in loathing. [awww... shit.]

             He got to the Tendou house as fast as he could. It was already 
to late. Soun Tendo met him at the door and wouldn't listen to a word he 
had to say.
             "Leave my house now." He said. "You are a disgrace to your 
family name and only my respect of your father... " He trailed off and 
stared impassively at Mura.
             "Tendou-san, if you will only let me explain..." That was as 
far as he got before being cut off by Soun.
             "There is no explanation to be heard. Leave now. Do not come 
here again." With that Soun closed the door in Mura's face. [How could he?] 
Soun thought as he headed towards a nearly hysterical Nabiki. [I really was 
starting to think he would make a wonderful son in law]  
             Mura stood there for a long moment before shuffling down the 
road towards his house.
        [It's not like that] He thought to himself as he stumbled down the 
road. [You didn't let me explain. You didn't let me... ] Unshed tears stung 
his eyes as he walked.... not to his home. His home was where Nabiki was. 
             He didn't think he'd ever see home again.


End of Part Two

Anyone ready to pulveize me yet?
did you jump to conclusions?