The Amazon and the Moneylender: Episode 7, Part 2: The
Mistress of Nerima Returns
-------------------------------------------------------
"Ah, terra firma," Nabiki said happily. She
maintained her grace and dignity despite the stiffness
left over from various cuts and bruises.
"This is Japan right?" Ryouga asked.
"Of course it is," Nabiki hmphed. "And if I'm not
mistaken that girl with the sunglasses over there is
Ukyou." The crowd cleared a little, and then they
could see everybody there waiting for them. Well,
Ukyou, Ranma and the Tendos at any rate.
"I wonder why she's wearing sunglasses," Ryouga
wondered. Nabiki sighed irritably.
"Hey guys," Ukyou called out cheerfully, if
somewhat nervously. Ryouga arched an eyebrow trying to
see past the sunglasses.
"Oh NABIKI!!" The middle Tendo had just enough time
for her eyes to pop wide before her father glomped
her. "You've come home!!" The man let loose with the
water works, threatening to drown the lot of them.
"Oh, Father is so happy," Kasumi sighed.
"Hey, Mr. Tendo you're crushing her!" Ranma
shouted.
"Dad, let go!"
"It is so GOOD to see you home, safe and sound."
"I'm happy to be home too, Daddie," Nabiki gasped.
"Now perhaps�.you can put me down?"
"Does anybody smell beef?" Ryouga asked, and the
turned to see Ukyou growling. "What did I say?"
"Long story," Ukyou glared at where Akane and Ranma
were trying to pry her father off her sister. When
they finally succeeded, the four of them went flying
over the airport floor and into the other people
around them.
"Well, thus concludes the downfall of my dignity,"
Nabiki grumbled, dusting herself off. "Ukyou, what did
you do to your face?"
"If you don't get off of me right now�" Ukyou let
it trail off. Nabiki shrugged and stood up, getting a
little help from Kasumi as she did. Apparently the
eldest sister was the only one to escape the tumble.
"Please do not get paranoid on me now," Nabiki
lectured, enjoying the chance to tease Ukyou a little.
The chef had certainly been rather annoying to her of
late. Ukyou grabbed her sunglasses and stood up
glaring at the middle Tendo.
"Okay," Ranma asked as he dusted himself off. "What
was that about?"
"Don't ask me," Akane commented. "I think it is
perfectly logical to be paranoid of Nabiki."
"Thanks for the kind note, sis," Nabiki rolled her
eyes.
"Ack!" Ryouga shouted and pointed to Ukyou as she
slipped on her sunglasses. "What happened to you?"
"Grrr�"
"Oh, uh we were sparring," Akane said. Ukyou
glanced at her confused before catching on.
"Oh yeah, that's right."
"Sparring? That's n�" Akane and Ukyou snapped
glares at Ranma and Kasumi sort of stared at him.
Nabiki, not knowing what was going on, shrugged and
answered the unspoken call for female solidarity and
stared anyway. "Yeah, Akane got lucky."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Akane demanded
icily.
"Ukyou never saw it coming," Ranma suggested,
cautiously.
"Are you saying I'm a weak martial artist?" Ukyou
growled.
"But�"
"Did you just insult Ukyou, Ranma?"
"Would you all just leave me alone?!?" And
everybody laughed. "Ha ha, very funny."
"Hmm, you two should be more careful sparring,"
Nabiki commented in manner that told Ukyou: "I'm going
to learn what really happened, and you can't stop me."
"Okay, now that everybody is collected," Ukyou
declared. "Let's get to our respective homes, Ucchan's
is supposed to open in another two hours, and I'll
need some of that time to get him home," Ukyou jabbed
a thumb at Ryouga.
"How lost can I get with you right here?" Everybody
looked at him and stared.
"Ryouga," Ranma started. "Do you seriously want one
of us to answer that?"
"Uh�..no."
"Has anyone figured out where the beef smell is
coming from yet?" Soun asked. They had to restrain
Ukyou from attacking him.
Shampoo yawned and blinked clear her eyes as she
woke up. It was time to get up and get the restaurant
ready for business. She walked wearily into the front
room after getting dressed, walked past the dining
area to get some dishes ready and turn on the ovens.
Before Shampoo reached anything she walked back and
looked into the dining room again. At first she
thought that she was just more tired than she had
originally thought, but there they were. The two of
them were still staring at that bowl of ramen.
"Well, do you think we should try it?"
"We'd have to reheat it first."
"Maybe she's waiting for us to do that."
"You two here all night?!?" Kodachi and Mousse
looked up from the bowl of cold ramen.
"What?"
"I have work to do, Kasumi," Nabiki insisted.
"One of your friends can fill in for you," Kasumi
countered handing Nabiki a cup of tea.
"There are some things that require a personal
touch," Nabiki sipped her tea.
"They'll just have to wait," Kasumi said. "You're
battered, bruised, cut up, and I think you have a
sprained muscle or two here or there."
"I could leave anytime I wanted to."
"Nabiki, Mother taught us both," Kasumi said
sweetly. "Apparently you did not listen well enough to
her on the subject of direct confrontation."
"Ken was a judgement error," Nabiki admitted. She
suddenly arched an eyebrow and looked at her cup of
tea and then looked up. "You didn�" Nabiki slumped
forward onto the table.
"Oh dear," Kasumi gasped, spilling the tea. "Could
someone help me with Nabiki."
"What happened," Akane asked as she appeared to
help Kasumi carry their sister to her room.
"She must be more tired than she looked," Kasumi
shrugged as they left the room. About two minutes
later Nabiki cracked open her eyes.
"I'm in better practice," she hummed, spitting the
drugged tea into her trash can. She was gone through
the window in moments. It didn't take her long to find
Sayuri and Yuka.
"Pleasant day, isn't it?" The two girls nearly
jumped out of their skins, turning to stare at where
she had apparently come out of no where.
"Chief?"
"What happened to you?"
"I did something rather stupid," Nabiki commented.
"What was the old ghoul's answer?"
"She agreed to meet with you," Yuka noted. Nabiki
smiled.
"I thought she might, Kuno and Sasuke?"
"No one has seen them."
"Interesting," Nabiki noted. "Anything else I
should know about?"
"Ukyou Kuonji is learning the bakusai tenketsu."
"Hmm, that explains some things," Nabiki muttered.
"Make a quick search for the finances of the Hibiki
family, world wide if you can."
"Sure, Chief," Sayuri declared cheerfully. She
turned to face her leader. "Anything el�.where'd she
go." Yuka looked up from her soda.
"When is she going to teach us how to do that?"
"Is there a reason you two are staring at that bowl
of cold ramen?"
"We're trying to decide of whithered old crone put
something in it," Mousse said without looking up.
"Ah, the fun I miss by leaving town," Nabiki
snickered. Kodachi and Mousse blinked, then shivered
as a slight chill passed over them. They looked up to
see Nabiki standing over them.
"Nabiki Tendo?"
"Ukyou did tell you I was coming back," Nabiki
asked. "Didn't she?"
"Yes, but you're traveling with that
directionally-impaired barbarian."
"Public transportation is an amazing thing," Nabiki
smiled. "I can solve your problem for you."
"Really?" Mousse and Kodachi glanced at each other.
"How is that?"
"Five hundred yen."
"Indeed," Kodachi sniffed. "You can't be serious."
"That's my price, wait too long and it goes up."
"You don't really expect us to pay five hundred yen
for a little advice, do�."
"One thousand yen," Nabiki smiled. Mousse blanched.
"We don't really need help," Kodachi suggested. "We
can figure this out by ou�"
"Two thousand yen."
"Be reasonable!" Nabiki opened her mouth as if to
speak.
"DEAL!" Kodachi and Mousse shouted
"Money please," the girl asked. After digging into
their pockets and handing over the asked for amount,
Nabiki quietly counted the money,
"Well?" Kodachi sat there tapping her foot angrily.
"Oh, I'm sorry, did you want something?" Nabiki
asked.
"How do figure out if this is safe to eat or not?"
"Yes, I'm moderately hungry and sleepy after trying
to figure this out since yesterday morning." Nabiki
sweatdropped.
"The solution is perfectly simple," the Tendo told
them arrogantly. "Just dump the ramen and make some of
your own." Mousse and Kodachi blinked and glanced at
each other.
"Why didn't you think of that?" they snapped.
"Well, thanks for the�" Nabiki snapped quiet as
Shampoo's irritated face popped around a corner.
"�Shampoo." The amazon glanced at her and for brief
moment Nabiki could have sworn she saw Shampoo's face
soften. Then the irritated expression returned.
"Stupid money-girl should be home in bed," the
amazon snapped. "Not bugging Shampoo."
"You sound like my sister," Nabiki sniped, well
Shampoo was still angry at her. "Where's Cologne."
"Great-grandma in back," Shampoo answered.
"Why are you talking to that old crone?" Kodachi
demanded. Nabiki smiled slyly at her.
"Well now, that is an interesting question, tell me
when you figure it out." Then Nabiki walked to the
back of the restaurant.
"Not stay too long," Shampoo ordered her. Nabiki
turned towards Shampoo, but noticed Kodachi and Mousse
looking on. Those two were bound gossip a little too
much for Nabiki's taste. The Tendo girl settled for
shrugging her shoulders unconcernedly.
Cologne was sitting down across from her and
Shampoo's television smoking her pipe and just waiting
quietly. She looked up as Nabiki walked in and stiffly
sat down.
"You appear to have been caught in a rock-slide,"
Cologne noted, laughing.
"How very observant of you," Nabiki retorted
irritably. "But I don't think we have much time."
"Before you make your offer," Cologne exhaled a
fine cloud of smoke. "What is your interest in this
affair?"
"Quite simply, I want to see both my sister and
Shampoo happy."
"How is Shampoo your concern?" Nabiki smiled and
laughed quietly.
"I've already told you, happy customers spend more
money."
"As you wish," Cologne shrugged. "What is this plan
of yours." Nabiki retrieved a small flask from her
pocket and opened it.
"There is some risk to this plan," Nabiki admitted
as she poured a small stream of water out of the
bottle. The water rolled over a spoon, which warped,
twisted and split, leaving behind two spoons. "It has
been proven in the past that mixing springs has
unpredictable effects."
"How very interesting," Cologne smiled. "And would
you perhaps have any other types of water?"
"Of course," Nabiki smiled. "But one thing at a
time, Ranma will obviously know something is going on.
If it is known that Jusenkyo water is in Nerima?"
"If this works, both our families should be happy,"
Nabiki didn't finish the thought. "Assuming Ranma has
any feeling at all for Shampoo."
"As you said, this could have unexpected results,"
Cologne shrugged. "But it is an acceptable risk
considering the possible gain. How shall we go about
the implementation?"
The sound of laughter drifted quietly back into the
dining room.
"We need to keep an eye on them," Mousse decided.
"Do they really think that they're pathetic
plotting can thwart the Black Rose?" Kodachi asked.
"OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!!!" A rag flew through the air and
covered Kodachi's face.
"Crazy-girl scaring all customer!"
Nabiki smiled predatorily as she walked out of the
cat caf� unnoticed.
"Wow, the lost boy is back already," Hiroshi
commented as he caught sight of Ryouga wondering the
back rooms of Ucchans.
"Damn," Daisuke muttered. "I was hoping for at
least a month of fantasizing about Ukyou without him
getting in the picture."
"Excuse me?" They looked up to see Ukyou, and
prepared to die. "Can I take your order?" They both
visibly relaxed.
"How about that beef okonomiyaki that smells so�"
Ukyou growled at him. "Did I say something wrong?" The
spatula came out.
"Run�.NOW!" They didn't argue. In their rush they
collided with someone on the way out.
"Uh sorry, but we have to�" Daisuke shut up as he
saw just who he had knocked down. Nabiki glared up at
them. "But, but�sorry." The two attempted to break the
sound barrier in their retreat.
"Nabiki?" Ukyou saw the girl irritably trying to
stand up. "Do you need a hand?"
"Hey, Ukyou! Where's the dining room?"
"I'll be there in a moment, Ryouga!"
"If you please," Nabiki grumbled reaching out to
take Ukyou's offered hand up. "I'm all right if I can
get to my feet."
"I didn't notice you until you hit the ground,"
Ukyou said. "Shouldn't you be in bed or something?"
"Everybody seems to think so," Nabiki grumbled, she
took a moment and nearly fell again. "Though, I think
I'll sit for a moment."
*CRASH*
"I found the closet�" Ryouga's voice called out.
"Ouch."
"Okay I have to go find Ryouga," Ukyou said
frustratedly as Nabiki took a seat at the counter. "So
I'll be right back."
"Hey, Ukyou," Nabiki said as the chef was starting
to leave. "A full minute without acting like I'm going
to jump you, congratulations." Ukyou looked flustered
for a moment before leaving to hunt down Ryouga.
Nabiki laughed a little and stretched, all this
walking around was getting a little painful. From
Joketzoku to the closest airport she had mostly ridden
in carts and automobiles, plenty of time to rest for
the brief periods of activity in between. Still she
wasn't in as bad a condition as she could have been,
nor anywhere near as bad as Ukyou was immediately
after Kuno snapped.
"Okay, here we are," Ukyou said indicating the
dining area. "Now please just stay in the front for
the next little while."
"So how is your training coming Ukyou?"
"How did you know?" Ryouga and Ukyou both asked at
once.
"Oh please," Nabiki started ticking points off on
her fingers. "You no longer spend all your time
plotting to get Ranma to love you, you are a dedicated
martial artist, despite recent distractions, and your
boyfriend is one of the two best trained fighters in
the area. I thought you might be trying to catch up on
lost training time."
"Well, since you put it that way," Ukyou said
nervously. "Training is going fine."
"We've started the breaking point," Ryouga said
proudly. Ukyou craned her neck and glanced innocently
at the ceiling.
"So is Ukyou teaching you any of her techniques?"
Ukyou and Ryouga had a sudden image of the Tendo girl
recording everything they were saying.
"A little," Ukyou admitted and left it at that.
"All right then," Nabiki recognizing the signal for
silence passing between the two lovers. "I'll have a
beef okonomiyaki." Ukyou's eye's popped wide angrily
and she quickly worked up a beef okonomiyaki, setting
it before the smiling Nabiki.
"What is it with you and the word beef today?"
Ryouga asked curiously.
*CLANG*
"You do realize that thirty percent of your
customers order the beef okonomiyaki," Nabiki reminded
her. "Don't you?"
"Yeah, I suppose that I can't chase off everyone
that�" Ukyou paused. "Wait a minute, how did you
know�.?" Nabiki smirked at the shocked look she was
getting from Ukyou. Here was the proper form of
paranoia to be treating her with.
"Well, that was excellent as always," Nabiki
commented. "But I should be getting home soon." Nabiki
stood up stiffly, smiling, and walked out of Ucchan's
waving to the dazed Ryouga and shocked Ukyou.
Nabiki slipped quietly into her room and smirked,
noticing that the doll she had placed there was
undisturbed. Kasumi apparently had faith in her
sleeping draught. So it would probably be a while
before news trickled back to her older sister and this
day's wanderings were discovered.
"You need to practice more, sis," Nabiki laughed.
Nabiki was moderately surprised. Even more so than
herself, Kasumi was always there and unnoticed. Of
course, when she did make her presence known, Kasumi
had an influence that could bowl over king kong.
Nabiki had always excelled at intelligence gathering
and manipulation. These were areas of their art Kasumi
had no real interest in. Still, she hadn't thought
that she could fool her sister for the length of time
she had.
Kasumi was right, of course, she did need to get
some rest. She stuffed the old dummy, long unused
until today, and lay back into the nice, comfortable
blankets for some sleep. She was unconscious by the
time a figure walked softly from an unlooked corner
out through the room's door.
"Good night, Nabiki," Kasumi whispered quietly. The
eldest Tendo saw no reason to dash Nabiki's ego at the
moment. The multiple flasks of water that had been
transferred from Nabiki's pack to her drawer remained
completely unseen by anybody other than their current
owner.
=====
"Caffeinated Kender? What's that, a berserk spell?" -
Tribble, Kender Warrior of the Celestial Kingdom
Signed
He of Too Many Names (Thrythlind/Thryth/Luke/Hyperbole/Pika/Pooka)
http://members.aol.com/thrythlind/snake.html
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