Hello!  This is the the concluding chapter in a series I wrote a while ago
and didn't finish.  The series is available at:  
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Ginza/5652


Tales of Ranma and Nabiki 10: Rough Draft
Her Majesty.


     Nabiki flipped through her note cards as she walked to school.
Shampoo suddenly jumped down from a rooftop and walked by the side of
Nabiki.  Nabiki looked up only briefly, and continued looking through
her note cards.  Shampoo frowned.

     "What up with you, Nabiki?"

     "I'm studying, for English.  Why?"

     "Shampoo just curious."

     "Just curious?  That's a joke."

     "Is the truth."  Nabiki looked up at Shampoo, annoyed.

     "Cut the crap, Shampoo.  I mean, go ahead and threaten me, or
tell me why Ranma is meant for you and you alone, or something."

     "That not what I here for.  I just want speak a second."

     Nabiki didn't look up.  "We don't have anything to say to each
other."

     "That not true," said Shampoo.  Nabiki paused, briefly.

     "Of course it is," answered Nabiki.  "What possible interest
could I have in some random girl from another country who randomly..."
Shampoo interrupted her, casually but forcefully.

     "We have the same fiance."

     "I don't care," answered Nabiki, as nonchalantly as possible.

     "That not true."

     "Huh?" asked Nabiki, a little put off.

     "Is...is what you call it?  Is bullshit.  You obviously mad at
me.  You say something, you say something now!  Shampoo want know it
from you, not hear Spatula girl tell me off!"

     Nabiki turned, a little surprised.  "So you think I *owe* it to
you to give some kind of explanation?"

     "Shampoo no care who owes who what.  Shampoo want know for own
sake: what your plans with Ranma?  You still try marry?"

     "Probably not," answered Nabiki, almost glibly.

     "What do you mean, 'probably not?'"

     "Exactly what it sounds like!  Probably not!  It's...caused me a
lot of pain.  I don't need that."

     "Then why only probably not?" asked Shampoo.

     "Because," said Nabiki, "because...because I'm not sure, OK?
I...I'm not used to this sort of thing.  The whole love thing." There
was a slight pause in the conversation.

     "So what?" asked Shampoo.  "You love lot people over course of
life."

     "You're probably right," agreed Nabiki, half-heartedly.

     "Then no problem, I go marry Ranma now!" responded Shampoo, with
a giddiness that was obviously forced.

     "Shampoo, no."

     "And why not?" asked Shampoo, forcefully.

     Nabiki saw the challenge and wasn't about to back down.  "Because
*I'm* the one who's engaged to him."

     "You branded Ranma, or something?  He yours to do with as
please?"

     "Duh!" replied Nabiki, cutting to the point.

     Shampoo smiled.  "Why it seem you care more for Ranma as a
contract than as a love interest?"

     "Don't act so holy, Shampoo.  You're in the exact same situation,
with your Amazon laws."  Shampoo paused.  It took her a while to
change subjects.

     "I heard you leaving Japan," she stated, in a terse voice.

     "For college."

     "Then you be gone anyway.  Shampoo free to do as I please."

     Nabiki turned at Shampoo.  "No.  Shampoo, he's still my fiance.
He couldn't, he *wouldn't*, even consider you unless..."

     "Shampoo say get over yourself.  You no own him, and if you leave
Japan, no reason for me to stay away!"

     "Wha...no!  Why not?!" asked Nabiki, a bit surprised.

     "You think you and Ranma keep love, then marry or something, when
you gone for years?"

     "We can write, and..."

     "That not love, that pen pal!  Love is being with person, seeing,
touching, knowing they around.  You want have it all in the head?"

     Nabiki turned, peeved.  She was very close to yelling.

     "That's...I mean, aren't we cynical.  You've got it so wrong.
And what would you know, anyway?"

     Shampoo smiled.  "More than you."

     Nabiki turned, and walked into the classrooms.

**

     "What the hell's in that?  Fish embryos?" asked Ukyou, confused.
She had never been big on sushi, but there didn't really seem anyway
around it in Tokyo.

     Nabiki laughed, catching a hint of patronizing in her own voice.
She responded as casually as she could.  "Oh.  No, it's pickled
garlic.  Try some, it's pretty good." Ukyou grabbed the plate from the
conveyer belt.  With hesitation, she put some in her mouth, winced,
and immediately rushed for her beer.

     "Strong taste!" said Ukyou.

     "You get used to it," answered Nabiki.

     "What else should I get?" asked Ukyou, enthusiastically. "I like
the maki!"

     "I don't know.  Octopus is mild," answered Nabiki.  Her voice
trailed off, and she looked at the conveyer belt of boats going around
the cheap restaurant.  Lost in thought...

     Ukyou interrupted the silence.  "Cut your losses, and move on."

     "Huh?" asked Nabiki.

     "I know you too well, Nab-chan.  You're brooding.  About Ranma."

     "So what?  Can't I brood?"

     "Sure you can, but it isn't going to get you anything.  There's
no point in re-playing out the past."

     "Ranma's not just part of the past.  I mean, I live with the guy,
after all.  I'll probably talk to him later today, even."

     "Then do something!  Tell him...whatever!"

     "It's not that simple!"

     "If not now, then..."

     "Sometime later!  For now, I just want to brood!  Give me a
break!"

     Ukyou paused, taking a bite of her sushi.  "I'm not trying to be
a jerk, Nabiki."

     "But you're *so* good at it."

     Ukyou ignored the reply.  "I just don't like seeing you like
this.  What's got into you, anyway?"

     Nabiki was still obviously a bit peeved as she replied.
"Nothing.  Just, well, I talked to Shampoo the other day."

     "Wow," Ukyou replied, jokingly, "I'm sorry."

     "No, she got me thinking.  Maybe...well, sometimes I wonder why
I'm into Ranma."

     "What do you mean?" asked Ukyou.

     "I tell myself there's something about him, something I love.
And there is.  When we've gone out..." Nabiki's voice trailed.

     "Then what's the problem?"

     "I wonder if I'm fooling myself.  Sometimes I think I treat him
like property, like the engagement is just another contract."  Nabiki
paused.  "Ukyou, do you think I'm materialistic?"

     "Maybe," agreed Ukyou, "but that's not so bad.  I'm a little
materialistic, too.  I mean, you have to be, if you want to go
anywhere in life."

     "Yeah, but you hate to marry somebody, just because you can't get
past it all."

     Ukyou smiled, a somehow encouraging smile.  "Don't be too hard on
yourself.  You're a lot more...more well-rounded now, than you used to
be.  You've grown."

     "Thanks, but if I'm still changing it sucks to commit to
something for the rest of my life."

     Ukyou shrugged her shoulders.  "Yeah, it does.  But think about
it: you're going to get married sometime.  And there's no stability in
life, just like in business.  When you see an opportunity you got to
take it or leave it, because it won't be there again."

     "You make it sound so simple," said Nabiki, half-complaining.
"Like a monk or something.  Isn't that one of the gospel truths, that
everything's changing?"

     Ukyou smiled along with Nabiki.  "I never get past the first one.
That all life is suffering.  Sounds about right, doesn't it?"

     Nabiki chuckled.  Looking to the side, she took a drink from her
beer.

**

     Ranma, still sweating from training, knocked on Nabiki's door and
entered without waiting for the reply.  Nabiki turned her head with a
jerk, startled.

     "Thanks for knocking before you barged in," she said, instantly
regretting it.

     "Yeah, sorry 'bout that," he replied.  "But I figured we needed
to talk."  He sat down on the bed beside her and put his arm around
her waist.  The closeness surprised her more than she cared to let on.

     "Yeah," answered Nabiki, "I wanted to earlier, but you've been
absent."

     Ranma forced a laugh.  "Well, what can I say.  It's not easy
hiding from an insane mother."

     "So she's still after you?"

     "Yeah, she's still after me.  I ditched her for now."  Ranma
paused.  "You know, she's not going to stop unless we get married."
He said it like a question.

     "I don't know what to say, Ranma.  I'm not going to be here much
longer.  It isn't too long until I leave for college."

     "I...I want to get married," said Ranma.  His voice was
surprisingly factual.

     "I want to also.  But not now, Ranma.  I...well, we won't even
date anybody else, and then when I get my diploma, I'm back from my
trip away, then."

     "I hope you don't..." Nabiki interrupted him.

     "What's a few years, Ranma?"

     "Huh?"

     "I...I could never get married so young.  I don't think we're
ready."

     Ranma paused.  "If that's what you think."

     "I'm going to be back in a few years.  So just go on some
training mission.  Find the cure for that Jusenkyou curse.  We can
write each other.  It won't be that long.  We can decide what to do
later."

     When Ranma had finally left the room, Nabiki couldn't help but
slam her face into the pillow.

**

     "Airen!" said Shampoo, in an impossible cheery voice.

     "Oh, Shampoo," said Ranma-chan, darkly.  "How'd you find me
here?"  He was in the middle of the Imperial Park, far from home.

     Shampoo stared directly at Ranma.  "Do Ranma believe in fate - in
destiny drawing two lovers together?" she asked.  If it wasn't for the
repressed smile Ranma wouldn't have realized the sarcasm.

     "Not really."

     "OK, then Shampoo follow you from home.  I wanted talk with you."

     "What is it?"

     "Shampoo heard Nabiki going to leave without you."

     "Yeah, but that doesn't mean we're not getting married or
anything."

     "Are you getting married right when she get back, then?" asked
Shampoo.  Ranma looked annoyed.

     "I guess.  I don't know," answered Ranma.  Shampoo smiled, and
moved herself as close to Ranma as really should be done in public.

     "You ready give Shampoo try as girlfriend?" she asked.

     "Shampoo, Nabiki and I really haven't splitten up or nothing..."

     "But you're not together, yeah?"

     "Shampoo..." Ranma said, and moved to the side, away from
Shampoo.  "Shampoo, I'm...I'm not interested.  I still love Nabiki."

     "Ranma not married!  If you no get married neither, why Ranma not
interested in Shampoo?  You don't want to marry first and only
girlfriend!"

     "It's not like that!  I'm just...not interested!  We made a
promise to each other, Shampoo.  I don't intend, I don't *want* to
break it."

     "And why not?  She doesn't have to know.  We perfect each other!
I love you!"

     "No, no we're not perfect for each other.  I love Nabiki,
Shampoo.  That's just how it is.  You and I are never going to get
married!"

     Shampoo didn't respond.  She looked down and started to cry.
Ranma looked at her.  Even as she cried, cried as hard as he had ever
seen anyone cry, really, there was a certain fierce intensity to her
that didn't go away.  It was just as impossible just to walk away as
it would have been to hug her.  Eventually, still crying, she turned
to look up at Ranma.

     "You really love Nabiki, enough to marry?" asked Shampoo.

     "Yes, yes I do."

     "You be fool to let her go off for four years," she said.  "You
grow too apart."

     "Shampoo, you're not going to change my mind..."

     "Shut up, Ranma, this not easy!", yelled Shampoo, her skin a
light shade of blue.  "Nabiki love you too, Ranma.  She mad at you but
she still loves.  Don't let her go off to California.  You regret rest
of life, Shampoo sure of it!"

     Ranma blinked twice, surprised.  "I already told her I wanted to
get married, though!"

     "And she glad of it, too.  She just needs a little convincing and
she not leave.  Just...Nabiki want all her money and business behind.
She no want go to college for it, she wants to start life over with
you."

     "How do you know this?" asked Ranma.

     "Shampoo read Nabiki like an open book.  I know.  And can't hurt
if is what you feel anyway."

     "But she's not an easy person to convince!"

     "Not half as bad as think, I'm sure."  Shampoo finally stopped
crying.  "Just insist.  Nabiki seem big pushover."

     "Not quite," said Ranma, smiling.  He looked at Shampoo, amazed.

**

     Nabiki opened the door to Akane's room and sat down by the side
of the bed, almost as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Akane, writing something down, tensed up, but pretended to not notice
anything out of the ordinary.  It took a painful length of time for
either sister to talk.

     "What are you working on?" asked Nabiki.

     "Just some homework.  Well not really homework.  I want to
practice something, like this writing or something," answered Akane,
nervously.

     Nabiki took note.  She hadn't known Akane was interested in that
sort of thing.  Lived next door and they never talked...

     "What sort of writing?"

     "What's it to you?" snapped Akane, carelessly.  She paused and
continued.  "Nothing.  Just something stupid I do in my own time."

     "Sounds interesting..." said Nabiki, not really knowing what to
say.

     "So what are you doing?  With college next year, I mean?"

     "Who knows?  I..." Akane suddenly interrupted Nabiki.

     "You've got to go," said Akane, "I mean, I'm going to beat you up
if you don't," she added, joking.

     "Your really think I should?"

     "Yeah, of course.  Why should you put off your life for him?
Or..." she added, as an afterthought, "why can't he find some way to
go with you?  What's he doing here that's so important?"

     "I see you don't think too fondly of him," said Nabiki, half-
smiling.

     "No...well maybe I don't.  I don't know.  It's not that he's a
jerk..."

     "Then what?"

     "I don't know.  Maybe there's something about the way he handles
himself."

     "It's that you dated him," said Nabiki.

     "No, not that," said Akane, and then her voice began to raise.
"Why are you bringing that up again, anyway?"

     "Because I'm jealous, what do you think?" said Nabiki, flatly.

     Akane broke her stare at Nabiki and looked down at her bed.  "I
did it to piss you off, Nabiki." Akane pause briefly, looked back at
Nabiki, and continued.  "I mean, it's not totally true, but I wouldn't
have done it if I wasn't trying to get you angry.  I'm...I'm sorry."

     "You're saying that from the start you were just trying to get me
mad?

     "Well, kinda.  I dunnow.  If it wasn't that you were betrothed to
him...maybe I was just the jealous little sister."

    Nabiki looked at Akane, letting a hint of a smile come through.
"Don't know if I believe that one, Akane.  I'd bet if you were the one
betrothed, you'd already be married by now."

     Nabiki smiled.  Akane half-smiled, but looked angry.  "Jeez!  I'm
trying to say I'm sorry, Nabiki.  Gimme a break!"

     "I'm just playing, Akane.  Of course you're forgiven."  Nabiki
paused.

     You know, "I'm glad you're my sister, Akane.  I mean, I'd be a
lot poorer without you."

     There was no response.  Nabiki turned her head, thinking Akane
hadn't heard her, and was hit on the head with a pillow.  Nabiki
laughed.

**

     "I love you, Nabiki."

     "I love you too, Ranma."  Nabiki blushed, slightly.

     "I..." Ranma paused.  The intensity of the moment..."I was scared
you had already left.  That I'd have to run, to catch up with you at
the airport."

     Nabiki smiled, making sure not to laugh.  "Yeah, I almost wanted
to leave early just so you would have to.  How cheesy would that be,
catching me in the airport terminal?"

     Ranma laughed, scratching the back of his head.  "I don't know.
I thought it might be kind of nice."

     Nabiki laughed.  "For such a disciplined martial artist, Ranma,
you seem like a character out of a soap opera."  She leaned forward
and kissed him.  It happened without her thinking it, like a force of
nature, and was met in kind.  Neither though it would end, and both
were surprised when, just as suddenly, the kiss stopped.

     Nabiki, looking at Ranma with what seemed a strange mix of
detachment and intensity, said "I wish I had it all over, to do again,
sometimes."

     Ranma dipped his head a little, smiling.  "I don't."

     "But I'm leaving so soon, and..."

     "And I want to go with you.  I don't care about leaving the
dojo...martial arts isn't just about doing what dad tells me.  It's
time I go off on my own."

     "But why...I mean, leaving Japan..." asked Nabiki, a little
stunned.

     "My mother's trying to kill me, Nabiki, and my father's a flake.
Every day it's another curse, another fight, or another fiance.
Nerima's insane, and it's trying to drag me down with it."

     Nabiki looked at Ranma, sincerely.  "But by running away from
everybody?" asked Nabiki.  "You have to address your problems
sometime."

     "I need space, or I'm just as insane as they are.  And besides,
I'm not running away from *everybody*, I'd be going with you.  I mean,
well, will you marry me?"

     Nabiki smiled.  "Why not?"



FIN

**

     I'd really appreciate any C&C on this puppy, it's been a while
since I've fanficced and I'm afraid I've gotten a bit rusty at it.
Was the melodrama the same as before?  Are the scenes laid out well
enough?  Is it a satisfactory conclusion?  The Ranma with Nabiki scenes 
need to be longer, yeah?  Anyway, I'm pretty clueless and any help would
be greatly appreciated.  Thank you very much,

Jeff