Hello all. The story 'For Love Of Money' is officially renamed
Sugar and (Sp)Ice. For a multitude of reasons. Anyone who does not
remember part one and would like it please e-mail me and I'll send
it to you. I also hope to post part one to RAAC very soon (When my
server gets done messing with the system) A re-write of part three
is in progress and I should be sending it out on the ML in the next
couple of days.
I would really like some feed back as this has been the most difficult
part for me to write. That's besides my Word Perfect 6.0 eating two
copies of it and the spell checker going FUBAR. (I have no spell
checker now as it causes the system to lock up.) :-(
This is actually part two of my story as more than one person wanted to
know what happened in the background I had glossed over. This shows why
Nabiki is acting the way she does in part three and why she goes bezerk
when she thinks he's a druggie. Hope you like.
Patrick
Sugar and (Sp)Ice Part II
A Ranma � Fanfic
All Ranma � characters copyright Rumiko Takahashi
and are used without permission. No insult is intended.
* Means Panda signs.
[ ] Means thought baloons.
Nabiki woke up late Sunday as was normal for her. She
laid there and stretched, thinking that all was well with the
world. [Ahhh...collection day is tomorrow. Kunou wants more
pictures of both Akane and onna-Ranma. I'm engaged to be
married... ] That last thought re-percolated through her head.
[Engaged. Married.] "What?!" Nabiki sat straight up in bed.
"What got into me? I'm engaged? What am I? Turning into Kasumi
and Akane? No. Wait. I'm not engaged. I just have to go on three
dates, turn him down, and I'm off the hook." She laid back down
smiling to herself. [Hmmm... How much can I take him for first?]
Mura had woken up early as usual. Out in the yard he was
well into his daily workout. "I really need to find a sparring
partner." He said out loud as he repeatedly punched the dummy.
[I thought I was good 'till I got here. Hell, I am good, it's
just that they're a lot better here than I see in the states.]
[How much is Nabiki going to try and take me for?] He thought
to himself. He had no doubt in his mind that Nabiki was going
to try and sponge a lot of money off of him. [How do I convince
her that I really do like her?] [I am not going to go into this
with rose colored glasses. Not this time.] His thoughts drifted
back to a 'lady' by the name of Cherie Matherne. [She knew how
much I was worth to the penny,. And played me like a fiddle.]
He thought bitterly. [Hoturi was right. As usual. And I
wouldn't listen. As usual. Little brother, may I never doubt
you again.] He left the dummy and went back to practicing katas.
[Basics Mura, Always go to the basics and then build from there.]
He smiled to himself. [Thanks pop. Right as rain.] He flowed
from the basic kata into a slightly more advanced one. [Nabiki
is bound to find out about the money fairly quickly. How do I
explain that Hoturi and I had to 'trade' responsibilities? It's
not like he could be a martial artist from a wheelchair. No.
That's not fair Mura. He is amazingly observant and a damn
good teacher. It's not his fault he's in that thing.] Mura
sighed out loud. "Giri" he finally said. "If anyone is going
to understand giri it's a traditional Japanese family. [Now,
back to how to handle Nabiki...Kasumi. That's who I need to
talk to. With any luck I can get her to help me.] He smiled
as he wound to a finish. [And the Art answers all.]
Monday morning came bright and early at the Tendou
household.
"Uhnn..." Groaned Nabiki pulling her pillow over her
head. "They're at it again. That's it." She said looking at
the clock by her bed. The percentage rates of the money they
owed her just went up two points. "I told them they next time
they did a dawn workout they'd better be quiet." Nabiki was
not a morning person and detested getting up before the crack
of noon. She got out of bed and padded to the window. "Yep.
They're at it again. They'll learn."
Breakfast was as usual, with Akane and Ranma bickering
the whole time. [If that's what it means to be engaged leave
me out.] she thought savagely. As she headed for the door
Kasumi beamed at her.
"Have a wonderful day Nabiki-chan" She said smiling.
"Oh, I will Kasumi." She replied thinking about money due.
"I'm sure you will Nabiki." She said as Nabiki went out
the door. In a lower voice she added smiling broadly to herself.
"I'm sure you will."
Nabiki drew up suddenly as she exited the Main gate of
the house complex. Mura stood there, arms crossed, leaning up
against the wall.
"Good morning Tendou Nabiki." He said smiling at her
and holding out a single rose towards her. "May I have the
privilege of walking you to school?"
Nabiki was clearly taken aback by this. [A rose] she
found herself reaching out towards it. [No one has ever brought
me a rose before.] She took the rose and brought it up to her
face in order to smell it. [He. Has. Style]
Ranma and Akane stood there behind her in the gateway.
Ranma looked bored, and Akane had a whist full look on her face.
"Why can't you be like that? She said, looking at Ranma.
"Like what? Be all sappy?" That's as far as he got before
Akane belted him one.
Cries of 'insensitive pervert fool' falling behind them
Nabiki and Mura headed towards school.
"By the way," She said. "Please do not use my full name
like that. It makes you sound like Kunou."
"Not a problem Nabiki." Mura grimaced slightly. "I
definitely do not want to sound like him." He laughed sourly.
Nabiki laughed along. "And Mura..." He turned and
looked at her. "Thank you." she finished demurely. [What has
gotten into me?] she thought in wonder. [Okay, so no one has
ever brought me a rose before. That's no reason for me to get
all emotional.] They walked along in silence to school.
The gauntlet of boys was already pretty big by the time
they got there and they skirted the mob and headed towards
Natsume and some others.
"How's the betting going Natsume?" Nabiki asked walking
up and taking over the conversation.
"Not bad Boss" Most are figuring on a three to four minute
fight for Akane. Natsume lowered her voice. "Are you sure that
Kunou is not in the best of shape, Boss? He's been practicing a
lot lately. I heard he's gotten better."
"Don't worry Natsume,"She said equally low while looking
at Mura and remembering the battle royal on Saturday. "He's
hurting. I'm surprised that he can even pick up a sword today."
True to her prediction, they made a bundle off of the
betting. Akane wiped Kunou out in less than a minute.
"Yes." She said smiling as she counted the money. "It's
going to be a good day."
Lunchtime at Furinkan High School. A time for eating,
socializing, laughing, playing, and for one person: making money.
Nabiki walked up to Natsume and Yukio. "What is going on?'
she asked looking at a group of girls gathered around Bayushi
Kachinko. "What is she doing now?"
"She's running a betting pool Boss." was Natsume's reply
"And why is she running a pool and not us?" Nabiki purred.
"I'm going to..."
" Because the bets are about you Nabiki."
"What did you say? They're betting on me?!?" Nabiki's
voice started to climb.
Word got out about you and Mura and they're betting on how
long you string him along before you dump him." Natsume looked at
her slightly stunned friend. "Right now it's even money that you'll
wait until after the third date milk him for all he's worth and then
get rid of him." she added.
"Oh really." Nabiki started to smile evily. "Hhmmm..." she
walked away starting to hum to herself. [Now where is Tampako when
I need the little runt?]
"What do you think she's up to Natsume?" Yukio asked.
"Money, Yukio, money. I know that look."
A week of walks to school (and home from it) passed quickly.
A weeks full of talk and laughter. Monday morning found Mura standing
at the gate again. This time a small box of chocolates in hand.
"Another present?" Nabiki asked looking at him.It was a
fairly small box but it held all of her favorites. She managed (just)
to catch herself before she giggled in pleasure. [I am really not
looking forward t what I'm going to do to him...] They started walking
to school Nabiki being very quiet. [Oh well I'll make it up to him
after I take Kachiko to the cleaners.] [If Tampako messes this up his
grandchildren will be paying off the dept.] She thought to herself
angrily.
"Are you alright Nabiki?" Mura asked worridly. "You
seem upset."
Nabiki couldn't have asked for a better setup line. "I've just
been thinking, that's all Mura." "I've just been thinking..." She
trailed off and watched out of the corner of her eye as Mura digested
this. [Easy girl... This has to happen at school.]
Eventually they wound their way to school. The closer they
got to school they further away from Mura she distanced herself
emotionally. [Don't go soft now Nabiki.Okay so he is sweet and fairly
good looking. So he does listen. So he...] [Stop it] She thought to
herself angrily. [This'll pay for a LOT of stuff at the house. It'll
work. It'll work.] She repeated this to herself as if it was a mantra.
Lunchtime came slowly for Mura. Something was wrong and he
just couldn't figure out what he'd done. Kasumi had suggested the
small gifts telling him to not give Nabiki money as a present under
any circumstances. It would change him from potential suitor to prey.
He'd been attentive and (hopefully) witty. He'd done evrything he
could think of... Mura walked up to where Nabiki was sitting with
her friends.
"Hello Nabiki, may I sit with you please?"
"No. I don't think so Mura." Nabiki had to force herself to continue
after looking at his suprised and hurt face. "I've been thinking about
this whole date/fiance thing. I refuse to be treated as an object by
our parents. Loook at the trouble that's it's brought Akane. I don't
wish to see you anymore. Please leave me alone."
Mura couldn't believe what he was hearing. "N..N..Nabiki. I
thought that you at least liked me. Couldn't you at least give me
the chance to..."
"No." Nabiki interupted him. [This feels... Wrong] She made
herself keep talking, they had attracted a crowd by this time. "I do
not wish to see you anymore. And don't think to throw honor at me.
You've lived so long in the U.S. that you're half Gaijin now. What
do they know of honor?"
She went to far. She knew it even as the words left her mouth.
Mura flinched as if she'd slapped him. [I've really hurt him.]
[What have I done...?]
"I will leave you now, Tendou Nabiki." Mura said in a voice
devoid of all emotion. He strode away stiffly.
Nabiki watched him go feeling that she had done a major
wrong here.
Tampako came running up to her at the end of the fith period.
"Here you go Mistress Nabiki." He held forth a wad of yen and a
contract. "It went exactly as you figured. She didn't have enough to
cover that bet at the 12 to 1 odds she gave. Here's 150,000 yen and
her contract for the rest. You've got her." Tampako's voice took on
a weasely tone. "You will void out the money I owe you won't you?
Like you promised?"
Nabiki looked at the money in her hand. She nodded her head.
"Go away." As Tampako started to leave she fixed him with a glare.
"And if anyone hear's about this from you..." She trailed off.
"You're mother will discover your interest in the girls locker room
windows." Tampako paled at this and left in a hurry. Nabiki sat
there feeling miserable. She wasn't used to feeling bad with money
in her hands.
It wasn't going to get any better.
Natsume came running up waving a fax sheet. "You blew it
big this time Boss." She said breathlessly.
"What do you mean Natsume? What are you talking about?" She
took the fax away from her and started reading. It was the information
she'd requested on Mura and his family. Basic information on his Father
and his business, [Oh my... that much?] Mura and his status as UFC
Champion [What is the UFC?] Hoturi, his wheelchair bound younger
brother, [Younger brother... that means] his Mother's very Anglo
name and surname. [Oh gods...]
Her face fell.
Natsume saw the look on her face and said quietly: "Yea, who'd
have known that he really is a... "
"Don't say it Natsume. Don't you dare say it." She said flatly.
Her voice became more animated. "I've got to find him."
She left the classroom in a hurry but no one had seen Mura since
lunch. She never said another word but instead left school heading for
Mura's house. It was locked and dark inside so she headed towards her
own house with a sense of dread.
As she entered the house she noticed a sall package with
Happosai's name on it. [Now who would send that hentai a pres...]
Her thought's trailed off as she saw her Father and Kasumi sitting at
the table. Genma was nowhere to be seen. "Hello Daddy, hello Kasumi,
have you seen..." She stopped talking. They just sat there looking at
her. Kasumi actually frowned at her. It was like a scream from anyone
else.
"Come in and sit down Nabiki." It suddenly dawned on Nabiki
that she was not looking at Daddy. She was looking at her Father. A
man she hadn't seen in quite some time.
"He just left here a few minutes ago. He came to tell me that
the agreement between his father and me was no longer. He apologized to
me. Apologized for thinking that a, in his words, a half-breed could
marry one of my daughters." Soun's voice took on a flat metalic quality
as Nabiki droped her head. "You have dishonered yourself, and your
family." His eyes shone with unshed tears. "How could you Nabiki? How
could you?"
Nabiki reached into her purse and pulled out a wad of yen.She
dropped it on the table in front of her. "This is why, Daddy." She said
bitterly, pushing the money away from her. "I'm the one that's had to
make sure we had money Daddy. I'm the one who's done all the deals
that let's us buy food. You've sat there and done nothing. We have two
freeloading bottomless pits living here who destroy the house and dojo.
When Akane isn't punting Ranma through the roof that is. Kasumi has
done so much to hold us together." Her voice dropped down from the
shrill edge it had risen to. "It's all I know how to do. And this is
what I've become." Nabiki was miserable. She'd never looked real hard
at herself before. She didn't like what she saw. She sat there quietly
for a long time.
"He's packing to leave Nabiki." Soun said suddenly. Nabiki's
head snapped up at this comment. "If you tried you might, and I do mean
might, be able to stop him. I'm not sure though." He added. "You didn't
leave him with very much pride"
"Nabiki." Kasumi said gently."I know that you are hurting. So
is Mura. Go to him. He will forgive you, I know he will. He loves you.
Live again Nabiki. Please."
Nabiki looked at her sister in awe. [He loves me?] [But how...?
why..?] She thought back to the fact that he was there every day. Always
available for her. Listening without judging. The little presents he
gave her. The fact that he made her feel... good. She thought about what
she had said and done to him and her face fell again. [Could he forgive
me?] She looked at her sister again who gave her a small smile of
encouragement. [Should I...?]
She was at a dead run before she left the yard.
"You were wonderful Father. Nabiki said with a broad smile.
"Do you really think so Kasumi?" Soun asked as the tears fell
in streams from his face. "I didn't think I could do it Kasumi. Oh
thank you, thankyouthankyou."
A large furry arm holding a sign came around the corner of the
doorway. *Is it safe yet?*
"Yes Uncle Soatome." Kasumi replied heading towards the kitchen
smiling. "It's safe now. Why don't you and Father play a nice realxing
game of Go while I start dinner?"
Nabiki stood at Mura's door for a moment catching her breath.
She wasn't sure how this was going to go but she had to try.
The door opened quietly from a small push as it hadn't been
closed completely. Mura stood there in the middle of the room packing
a box with stereo equipment. "Well, it's a good thing I didn't bring
much. He said out loud bitterly. Then he realized he was being watched.
He turned slowly and looked at Nabiki standing there. Even now the sight
of her stopped him from being vicious towards her. As much as he wanted
to, he couldn't hate her.
"May I help you Tendou Nabiki?" He said as neutrally as he could.
He was still mad at what she had done. It had hurt him very much, but he
had to know what she wanted.
She stood there looking at him. Facing emotions she had kept
bottled for so very long. Dare she trust him with this? Could she dare
trust him to not hurt her they way she had hurt him. Could she dare not to.
"Can we talk please?" She asked quietly. [What is wrong with me?]
He motioned for her to sit and then sat down next to her.
She took a deep breath and began."I'd like to tell you a story
about a young girl and how she handled her Mother's death." Mura's eyes
grew wide at this. He realized that he was hearing things no one had ever
heard before. She was sharing a very private part of herself to him.
Halfway through her story she was crying so hard that Mura just
sat there and held her.
She never did finish her story. She just sat there and held on to him.
This was a bad thing.
Mura never did get to hear Nabiki's true secret. How a young
girl had managed to sneak into her Mother's hospital room. How the woman
had been so sick, so medicated, so drugged, that she didn't even recognize
her own daughter. That was the last time that she'd ever seen Mother and
the memory of it haunted her still.
End of part two
Thank you for reading
Patrick
Now LoneStar, you will realize that Evil will allways
triumph over Good... because Good is Dumb.