Here's chapter 2...
Disclaimer - I don't own the copyrighted characters in this story. Any new
characters though are mine.
Content - Uh, just to be cautious there are sexual references in the story.
Every nerve in Ranma's body screamed at him in a twisted symphony of
pain. His every thought was the same.
*Gotta protect Nabiki! Gotta protect Nabiki! Gotta protect Nabiki!*
Nabiki was cowering under Ranma, who was physically shielding her with
his body. He could feel her body shaking with the same fear that threatened
to take him. He could just make out the horrid sound of her muffled sobs of
pain and fear over the rising din of starving, viscous cats.
*Gotta protect Nabiki! Gotta protect Nabiki! Gotta protect Nabiki!*
The claws ripped at his flesh and the teeth sank into it. The darkness
blinded him. It made it seem as if there was no hope for him. But he knew no
matter what he had to keep Nabiki safe. So, he couldn't give in to the silent
urge he felt. He had no idea what it was.
*Gotta protect Nabiki! Gotta protect Nabiki! Gotta protect Nabiki!*
Suddenly he received clarity. He knew, he _knew_ that this urge, whatever
it may be, would protect Nabiki if he gave into it. That's all he had to do
and his objective would be complete. He could then and only then give in to
the utter horror of the situation.
As Ranma gave up his silent battle, Nabiki barely felt his stance
changing. So subtle was it that if she were not a martial artist she knew
that she wouldn't have recognized it. Especially not in her current situation.
As suddenly as the waking nightmare had begun, it ended. Ranma, who was
carrying Nabiki by the back of her shirt haphazardly with his teeth, leapt up
and out of their mock prison, which was (in actuality) nothing more than a
simple pit dug into the ground with a wooden board for a roof placed on top
of it. As Ranma landed and set Nabiki down, his father, Genma, looked at him
proudly. "I knew you could do it, Ranma! You've learned the Neko-ken!"
Ranma watched but felt as if he weren't really there. Like he was more of
a spectator watching a movie through the eyes of the of lead actor. But this
was no movie and so he quickly became panicked. His panic turned into
complete terror as Nabiki patted him on a head and said, "Yes, Ranma, you're
such a good kitty. You learned the Neko-ken and freed me at the same time."
*No! No! I'm not a cat! I'm just acting like one! I'm still human!
Please!*
Nabiki and Ranma ½ Part 2
By: Mike Malaspina
"Ranma! Ranma! Wake up!" Nabiki exclaimed, shaking her fiance with vigor
knowing full well the horror he was going through. She too had nightmares
about much of the training Genma had put them through, but nothing as bad as
Ranma who had them almost nightly. And tonight seemed to be one of the worse
ones.
"..no.... no.. 'm not a c..... ust ac...... 'm sti.... hum.... ple..."
Muttered Ranma in his slumber. "NOOOOOOOOOOO!" He screamed as he shot up,
fear in his eyes and sweat drenching his entire body. When he saw Nabiki next
to him, concern etched in her deep brown eyes, he fell into her embrace and
cried upon her shoulder. Nabiki gently rocked him and murmured him assurances
that everything was all right.
--------------------
The door suddenly flew open, a light came on and Soun Tendo and two of
his daughters, the youngest and oldest, burst into the room. "What's wrong?
Is everything all right?" Asked Soun carefully eyeing every detail of the
room searching for any sign of something wrong.
"We heard a shout.. What's going on?" Akane asked next also looking
around the room for any sign of perhaps an intruder.
"Oh, my! You really shouldn't be sleeping together before you're married
Nabiki." Said Kasumi.
"We already are Kasumi." Replied Nabiki quickly returning her attentions
to Ranma who too out of it still hadn't noticed the intrusion.
"Oh, well then... Oh, my!" She exclaimed noticing the crying Ranma, "Is
Ranma all right?"
"Yes, he'll be fine," she started before turning back to Ranma. "Shhh..
It's Okay, Ranma, I'm right here. It's Okay.." She turned back to her
gathered family. "Ranma, has nightmares about some very bad things that have
happened to us on our training journey. Sometimes they're very.." She again
had to turn back to Ranma, "its Okay, Ranma. It's Okay. Shhh.. I've got you.
It's all right," she once again turned back. "Sometimes they're very bad and
this is what happens. Why don't you all go back to bed? I can handle this
fine by myself."
Soun, who had started crying and whining about "My poor little girl!"
when Nabiki had said us after bad things and that have happened to, suddenly
stopped and looked sternly at his middle daughter.
"Are you sure you're both all right and you can handle this?"
"Yes, I'm sure, Daddy."
"Okay then. Girls, let's go back to bed and let Nabiki take care of her
fiance." Soun said, turning to his other daughters and ushering them out of
the room Nabiki and Ranma shared. He shot one last glance of concern towards
Nabiki and left also.
--------------------
*They are already?* Kasumi thought for a second as she paused outside her
door. "I'll have to ask Nabiki about that tomorrow."
--------------------
*At least Ranma won't remember them being here. I don't think he would
notice a train going by when he wakes up from those damned nightmares.*
Nabiki sighed and thought back over the days events, after she had explained
Jusenkyo to her father, that had led up till now.
--------------------
"Now that we've got that figured out, Daddy, what about sleeping
arrangements?" Questioned Nabiki.
"Well, that's easy, you can have your old room and Ranma and Genma can
sleep in the guest room." Replied Soun.
Nabiki sighed. *This should be easy but I have a bad feeling.*
She had just finished explaining Jusenkyo after her father's faintings
and her own had subsided and she was already going to have to deal with
another mess Genma had gotten them in. "Uh, Father, what would you say to..
uh, well, Ranma and... I sharing a room?"
"WHAT?!" Screamed Soun in full Demon head mode. "If Ranma's taken
advantage of my little girl so help me I'll..! I'll...!"
As Soun searched his mind for something suitable Nabiki interrupted him,
"Daddy, Ranma did no such thing! We... sorta got married already."
"What?! How could you Nabiki? Why, oh why, has my little girl deprived
her father the pleasure of being at her wedding!" Shouted Soun as he began to
wail.
*I knew I had a bad feeling about this.*
"Daddy! Get a hold of yourself. We _had_ to and it was a ceremony just to
make it official. We plan on having another wedding right here." Nabiki
quickly said, trying to cut down one the water damage bills.
"Oh. Why did you _have_ to get married?"
Nabiki sighed as she launched into her story, "The reason is that shortly
after Jusenkyo we sort of ran Mr. Saotome off. Well, Ranma did anyway. And
when Ranma finally cooled down we went looking for him and found him in an
Amazon village."
"Why was Genma running from Ranma?" Asked Soun, looking bewildered.
"Mr. Saotome, who already insulted Ranma way too much about him being
soft, had just turned him into a girl."
"Ah, the life of a true martial artist _is_ fraught with many perils."
"Yes, as I was saying though, we found him in a remote village of Chinese
Amazons where he was caged in panda form."
"How did you recognize him?"
"If it weren't for his glasses we wouldn't have. But we did and were able
to save him from a grisly fate as a main course for an upcoming feast." As
Nabiki said this Soun's eyes bulged. "We did so by telling the villagers that
he was a human who was Jusenkyo cursed. We ended up becoming guests of the
Amazons when Ranma, female at the time, and I were able to defeat the
village's two best martial artists in a duel for Genma's life."
"Nabiki, why was his life at stake?"
"He ate the village champion's victory feast."
"Genma hasn't changed much has he?" Soun asked rhetorically.
"Yes, I think Ranma and I were very lucky that day though."
"Why is that, my daughter?"
"Well, I already explained the Neko-ken to you in a letter so I won't
waste time retelling that. But what I will say is that the only reason we
weren't killed after the fight, I believe, is because Ranma went into the
Neko-ken when my fight started to turn ugly and against me."
"That's right. You said two things activate the Cat Fist. Cats and Ranma
perceiving you to be in being in serious, immediate danger. Correct?" Stated
Soun.
"Yeah, and when the Elder Cologne," Soun looked at Nabiki strangely at
the mention of the Amazon elder's name, "saw and recognized what it was she
halted the fight immediately and welcomed us to her village. After I calmed
Ranma down the Elder, Ranma and myself had a very interesting conversation.
As a result of that we ended up guests of the tribe and she also offered to
train us. Ranma accepted right away and I'm glad he did even though there
were some strings attached."
"Uh, Nabiki if you don't mind me interrupting, this is all very
fascinating but what does it have to do with why you _had_ to get married?"
Asked Soun sounding perfectly calm, even though most would be getting
impatient by now.
"I'm just getting to that part, Daddy." Said Nabiki getting a little
impatient, being one of the most. "The strings that were attached to the
training were that Ranma and I become members of the tribe. Unfortunately
since Ranma was really a man only I could join the tribe without marrying
into the tribe but Cologne offered to train him anyway as long as he was
married to an Amazon. So, I became an Amazon, Ranma married me and we got
extensive training for ten months."
"Ah, I see. In that case you were just doing it to further yourselves in
the art. I see nothing wrong with that then." Said Soun, looking very wise as
he nodded to himself.
"Thank you, Daddy," said Nabiki. "Does this mean Ranma and I can share a
room?"
"I don't see why not as long as I get to start planning your _real_
wedding right away."
"Fine by me. But could you make it something sort of short? The Amazon
wedding may have been just a formality but it was a very long one." Stated
Nabiki sounding as if she was still tired from said wedding.
"Well, I've heard that Western style weddings aren't too long."
"Sounds good. I always liked their wedding gowns."
"Then it's all decided?"
"Mm hmm. You can plan the wedding but nothing too extravagant or long,
Daddy"
"Of course nothing _too_ extravagant. I'm not rich after all."
"Yes, perhaps I should pay for my own dress then. I'm sure I could get
enough money for something very nice together in a week or so."
Soun big sweated as a predatory grin rolled across Nabiki's face.
--------------------
When Nabiki had finished talking with Soun she joined Akane in the dojo.
Said Tendo sister was busy destroying bricks. Nabiki silently watched from
the door as Akane slowly breathed in and out, concentrated and finally lashed
out with extreme prejudice at the brick. It shattered into tiny chunks that
joined many other of their brethren on the floor. Akane let out her breath
and picked up a towel. As she dabbed at her forehead she turned to find
Nabiki clapping and smiling in the doorway.
"Bravo Akane. Very nice form." Said Nabiki who was truly impressed with
her little sister. She was great for the amount of training she had gotten.
She only knew an estimate but even if she had more than what Nabiki
understood she did, she was very good.
"Thanks. Would you like to do a little sparring?" Asked Akane, hoping
that her sister would. She still didn't know whether or not her sister was
better than she was and she really wanted her to not be. So, she figured she
should find out and get over it that much quicker if Nabiki did turn out
better than her.
"Sure."
Akane smiled and as she cleared away the bricks Nabiki entered to the
center of the dojo. Akane stood across from her in a ready stance. Nabiki
held a half-ready stance but looked very relaxed. Akane looked worried as she
thought, *What's she doing? She's not even in a proper stance!* Akane
shouted, "Ready, set, go," and began with a rapid punch combo. She was
stupefied to find Nabiki blocking each one half way to its target. She must
have been in shock because next thing she knew Nabiki was standing over her
with worry clear on her face.
"Akane! Akane, are you all right? Did I hurt you? Speak to me!" Said
Nabiki who was holding Akane up and shaking her shoulder.
"Oohhh... What happened?" Croaked Akane.
"You suddenly stopped after your combo and I landed a kick in your right
side. You really should have been able to block that."
"I.. I know. I was just.. surprised that you were able to block my
punches."
"Why?"
"Well, the way you were standing I didn't think you'd be able to block my
punches so effectively."
"Oh, that's a little something Ranma thought up. If you don't look ready
when your opponent attacks he won't think you're ready. It surprises them and
you have a quick advantage. You should work on doing that yourself. Its very
effective."
Akane rubbed her right side as she said, "I can tell. But I think I will
try that. You know Nabiki you're really good."
"So are you."
"I know I am but, you.. You're amazing. No one has ever beaten me before.
And I have to say I'm really glad that it was you and not Ranma."
"You have something against Ranma?" Asked Nabiki taking a defensive tone.
"No, I don't know him well enough yet. I'm just glad that my first loss
was to a girl."
"There something wrong with guys?"
"Nothing really. It's just that they're always so snotty when they fight
me. They act like just because I'm a girl I can't fight!"
Nabiki thought for a moment and decided she too was glad she had beat
Akane and not Ranma. The vehemence with which Akane insulted boys in general
bordered on psychotic hatred. "Oh, well, maybe it was a good thing I fought
you first. Ranma tries his best not to hit girls when he can avoid it and I'm
sure that would have caused quite the scene."
"Yeah."
After almost a minute of silence Nabiki cleared her throat. "You know
Akane if you want you could train with me and Ranma. I'm sure we could help
you improve tremendously."
"Really? You'd help train me?"
"Not just me but Ranma too."
"Wow, I'd love that, Sis."
"Well, then how about we start tomorrow?"
"Okay."
"But now I'm going to go take a bath."
"Okay, enjoy yourself. I'll be in here if you want me."
--------------------
"Who thought a simple furo could feel so good?" Said Ranma aloud. He
leaned back and remembered a few of the times he really could have used one
out on the road with Pops and his Fiancee. *I wish Nab-chan were here to
share this with me.*
As the door to the bathroom from the changing room slid open Ranma looked
over to see Nabiki entering. "Well, ask and you shall receive."
"What's that, Ranma?"
"Just before you came in I was wishing that you were here to share the
furo with me."
"Well, then you're lucky that it _was_ me Ranma. You forgot the sign."
Said Nabiki, smirking and holding up the forgotten sign.
"Whoops.."
"Yeah, whoops. Imagine the scene if Akane or Kasumi had walked in on
you." Said Nabiki as she hung the sign and closed the door.
"I'd much rather that I didn't." Said Ranma, wincing.
Nabiki sat down on her stool and began to soap up as Ranma once again
leaned back and closed his eyes. Nabiki dumped a bucket of cold water over
her head to rinse off, shivering at the temperature. He hurriedly walked over
to the furo and slid in next to his fiance. She put an arm around him and
Ranma returned the favor. They began to snuggle up to each other when the
door suddenly opened. They both shot looks at the door, Nabiki covering her
upper extremities with her free arm.
"I'm sorry, I thought you were done Nabi.. Eep!" Akane blanched as she
saw Ranma in the furo with her sister. "I'm sooo sorry! I'll be going now!"
Exclaimed Akane quickly turning, sliding the door shut firmly and thanking
the kami she had been wearing that towel.
"Nabiki, you wanna get out?"
"Well, I would enjoy a nice long soak with you but we should let Akane
have the bath. She's been working out, dinner's almost ready and I'm sure
she'd like to wash up beforehand." Said Nabiki disappointed she wouldn't be
spending much private time with Ranma until later that night.
As Ranma stood up he offered Nabiki his hand. "May I?" He asked in a very
formal tone.
"Of course you can my darling." Said Nabiki, playing along. As he pulled
her up they shared a laugh and began to dry off.
--------------------
At the dinner table Ranma sat close to Nabiki while Genma sat, at a
farther distance, on his other side. Soun sat at the head of the table and
Akane and Kasumi were across from Ranma, Nabiki and Genma. As they ate
quietly Soun decided to start up a conversation. "Nabiki, why don't you tell
us more about these Amazons?" He asked.
"All right, Daddy," she started, "first, there's Cologne. She's the
village elder who trained us and accepted me into the tribe. I had to pass a
series of tests usually reserved for Amazons wanting to be warriors of the
tribe to prove my worth first. She said I did better than most Amazons who
took the test and so she adopted me as her great granddaughter."
"What!? Oh, no! My little girl only came home to tell me that she's no
longer my little girl! She's not..WAAAAHHH!" Before Soun could continue he
broke into incomprehensible crying. Nabiki big sweated while Ranma and even
Genma stopped eating to do the same.
"Daddy, don't be absurd! I'll always be your little girl. I just have two
families now." Said Nabiki.
Soun suddenly stopped and looked at Nabiki, "Oh." Soun didn't say
anything else but the smile spread across his face and shining eyes screamed
'JOY!'
"Now as I was saying Cologne adopted me into her family and to make Ranma
an Amazon, he as an outsider male defeated me in combat." Said Nabiki before
Akane interrupted.
"What? You mean he had to beat you up to marry you?" Asked Akane, a
puzzled look on her face.
"Not exactly. By Amazon law any outsider male that defeats an Amazon must
marry her. An outsider female is another case though. The Amazon has two
choices. One marry her or two kill her." Said Nabiki casually. Akane looked
faint.
Kasumi's brow furrowed. "It's quite rude to kill someone just because
they defeated you."
Akane looked at her oldest sister and somehow her eyes got wider. She
mouthed 'kill' as if just hearing that part.
Nabiki nodded. "I know, Kasumi. But the law is standard stuff for tribes
that still live as primitive as the Amazons do. It's very rare though that,
that particular law ever comes into play so it's not as bad as it sounds."
Kasumi was smiling again, "Oh, that's good. Why don't you continue your
story now?"
Akane went further into shock when the implications of the fact that the
law about killing outsider females rarely being brought into play kicked in.
"All right Kasumi. I already told you all that Ranma and I beat the
village's best martial artists, Mousse and Shampoo, to prove we were worth
not just killing, what I didn't mention is that Shampoo is also Cologne's
great granddaughter. At first she was rather stuck up to Ranma and me but as
she got to know us she and I became great friends. She's more like a real
sister actually. She and Ranma became friends too but Ranma spent more time
with Mousse or hanging out around Cologne trying to pick up some extra
lessons. Ranma?" Asked Nabiki interrupting herself. Ranma was too busy
eating, and not listening, to hear her.
She asked again, "Ranma?" Still he didn't stop eating.
"Ranma!" Yelled Nabiki as she waved a hand in front of his face. He
looked up and around startled.
"Huh? Oh, um, what is it Nabiki?" He asked.
"Ranma, I was telling them a little about Shampoo and Mousse and wanted
to know if you'd mastered the Weaponspace technique Mousse showed you yet?"
She said, asking her question.
"Oh, almost." Going back to eating Ranma noticed that his portions had
gotten smaller. His head quickly snapped over to look at his father's plate
where he saw a large amount of food that hadn't been there before. He began
to glare at Genma when he grabbed a glass of water and doused himself. He
rolled on his back and began playing with a beach ball. Wondering where that
had come from was the farthest thing from Ranma's mind when Genma-panda held
up a sign with barely legible writing on it.
#Why are you looking at me like that? I'm just an innocent widdle panda.#
Soun and Akane big sweated as Ranma stood up and punted the panda and
ball into the backyard. A splash and 'growf' later a sopping wet Genma-panda
was at the door. He started to come in but Kasumi interjected.
"Ah ah, Mr. Saotome. I just cleaned the floors earlier today. You'll have
to wait out side until you dry off." Said Kasumi, apologetic but firm.
Genma looked as disappointed as a panda could when Ranma shrugged and
dumped the contents of Genma's plate onto his own and smirked. "Can't let it
go to waste now can we, Pops?"
As Ranma began to eat Nabiki started again. "Where was I?"
"Shampoo." Supplied Kasumi helpfully.
"Ah, yes. Shampoo, is a little fast with the bonbori but once you get to
know her she's very nice. Mousse thought Ranma was after Shampoo and was
rather hostile to Ranma at first. Once we were married he saw that Ranma and
I were both very much in love with each other and he and Ranma became good
friends. Mousse is an all right guy but a little too obsessive in his
pursuits. He's absolutely infatuated with Shampoo. I've never seen anything
like it. She acts like she couldn't care less and beats him up more than she
doesn't, but I could tell she cared for him." Nabiki said. Ranma now actively
listening looked up at this.
"You sure 'bout that Nabiki?" He asked, his face a mask of skepticism.
"Oh, I'm one-hundred percent sure Ranma." Said Nabiki. Ranma nodded and
knew it was true when her 'I'd bet on it' face made an appearance.
"As for their martial arts ability they are both great. They gave us each
a run for our money when we fought them. Shampoo is very good with or without
weapons while Mousse almost relies in them." Nabiki continued.
"Yeah, but luckily for Mousse it's almost impossible to disarm him." Said
Ranma, obviously with some first hand knowledge.
"Why is that, Ranma?" Asked Soun.
"He can store weapons in, and pull them from, thin air. He showed me how
but I still can't get it right yet myself." Answered Ranma. The tone of his
voice complied that the yet was just a mere formality.
"Besides that," Nabiki began, "the only other thing to tell about the
Amazons is the special circumstances surrounding us. Normally when outsider's
become part of the tribe they have to stay in the village. Because we both
had families outside of China they decided to let us live here in Japan but
if there's ever a threat to the village we'll be summoned back to help. Also
if for some reason Shampoo isn't able to take Cologne's position as an Elder
on the Council Ranma and I will move to the village and I'll do it.
"Well, that sounds like a fair deal." Said Soun. "And I'd like to hear
more about your training trip but I am very tired all of a sudden. I'm going
to retire to my room."
"All right, Daddy, later then?" Suggested Nabiki.
"All right." Said Soun as he got up and headed for his room.
Ranma finished up his meal and went out to the dojo for a quick workout.
Akane, Kasumi and Nabiki did a little chit chatting. Mostly about Ranma but a
little more about the Amazons. Akane kept asking if girl Amazons really
married other girls. Nabiki kept saying yes. Kasumi kept frowning about the
other half of the law about female outsiders defeating an Amazon.
--------------------
Ranma and Nabiki were in their room, one in night gown the other in a
pair of boxers and tank top, in bed. They silently watched each other in the
dark. Neither said a thing but just looked into the other's eyes. They
drifted off to sleep in warm, peaceful embrace that unfortunately wouldn't
last through the night. The embrace yes, just not the peaceful part.
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"I try to keep it positive and play it cool. Shoot up the play *
ground and tell the kids to stay in school." - Eminem *
*
"It's all fun and games till somebody pokes an eye out. Then *
it's just fun you can't see." - James Hetfield *
*
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