Somehow I cant imagine that Nabiki would notice something about a martial
artist's abilities that Ranma would miss.
Also, one hit would not put Ranma out of commision. He's taken a lot of
beating from a lot of people and come back for more.

----- Original Message -----
From: Ammadeau <roy.fokker@unspacy.org>
To: <ffml@fanfic.com>
Sent: Monday, May 10, 1999 1:59 AM
Subject: [FFML][Ranma]Locket 2 of 2

Locket 2 of 2

He managed to block it, but it was clear to Nabiki that he had felt
the sting of her strike.  Izuma didn't seem to be pulling her punches
in this fight.  She was out to teach Ranma a lesson.
Insults forgotten, Ranma concentrated wholly on dodging.
His arm still stung from Izuma's punch and he wasn't going to risk
another one like it.  All he had to do was wear her down and he
could win a free meal without landing a blow.  The only problem
was despite the lateness of the hour and the previous match, Izuma
didn't seem to be tired while he knew that he couldn't keep up his
dodging forever.
While not physically tired, the match was starting to wear
on Izuma.  Frankly, she was bored.  She had expected more from
Ranma.  They were going through a dance like automatons, strike,
dodge, strike, dodge, and Izuma for one was tired of the monotony
of it all as she was sure Ranma was as well.  Sensing an advantage
there, she lured him into a predictable pattern, then suddenly
exchanged a punch for a snap kick to the gut.  Ranma was so
unprepared for it that he was left wide open, unable to dodge or
even block the kick that hit him with enough force to slam him into
the dojo wall.
Ranma groaned from the floor.  He could still feel the kick
on his stomach, even more painful than one of Akane's mallet
strikes.  There was definitely going to be a bruise in the morning.
Akane rushed over to him to see if he was okay, but once she was
sure no lasting damage had been done, she slapped him on the back
of the head and said, "Baka! You got what you deserved."  And
then stormed off to her room.
Izuma stood over him for a few minutes, waiting for him to
look up at her.  When he did he saw a Nabiki-like grin and she told
him, as if there were any doubt, "You lost Ranma, to a girl,
because you wouldn't fight back.  If I used my full strength on that
kick you'd be on your way to the hospital right now.  Holding back
because of someone's gender is a sure way to loose."  And with
that departing shot, she follow Nabiki to her room.

Izuma made herself comfortable on the spar futon as Nabiki
got ready for bed.  The mercenary girl was actually giggling from
Izuma's final taunt against Ranma.  It had to be one of Ranma's
most humiliating defeats yet, beaten by a girl with a single kick.
And the way she turned it around so the whole loss was his fault
was just priceless.  The only saving grace for Ranma was it hadn't
happened in public.  She was glad she went with her instincts and
didn't refuse this girl when she had come to her for help.  Over the
months of phone conversations Nabiki and Izuma had developed a
tentative friendship and Nabiki had few friends as it was. "You
really put Ranma in his place tonight," she finally told the girl, "I
don't think that I could have done better."
"Thanks for the compliment," Izuma replied with a grin,
"but his 'I don't fight girls' line inspired my creativity.  Almost
feel sorry for doing it, he didn't seem nearly as much as a jerk on
the way here."
"Oh," Nabiki said with one raised eyebrow, not resisting
teasing, "and just what did you two do on the way here?  From the
way you were falling down laughing it must have been something
interesting."
"It was nothing like that," Izuma replied, picking up on
Nabiki's insuation, "We basically swapped stories about how
strange our lives have been, especially about my cousin Ryoga.  He
talked a little about his fianc� problem and I talked a little about
the problems I had at my school.  It was all completely innocent."
Nabiki gave her a 'yea right' look and changed the subject.
"Speaking of school, are you sure you want to attend Furikan while
you're here?  With all the problems you've had the past, you'd
think you'd want to take a vacation from school."
Izuma sighed.  "If only I could.  With my quest nearly
complete I've decided to take it easy and search for the final piece
over the weekends.  But pops will only allow me to stay here a
month if I attend school, since I've missed so much of it during this
quest already.  It's better than going back to my old school."
Izuma had told Nabiki a lot of the problems she had with
her old school and decided to change the subject once again.