TREASURE HUNTER: Chapter 1
A RANMA 1/2 FAN-FIC
BY:GREG HOUSLEY
I posted this chapter sometime back in early January, so some might
recognize it. If you do, read it again and refresh your memmory. If you
don't good, read it! I've also posted chapter's 2(Also written and
posted in january) and 3(A complete never before seen chapter... It may
be subject to change. Depends on reader response!) I Really Really want
responses for these three chapters so please take the time to do so. The
reason I quit this earlier is not enough people seemed interested. So if
you want this continued email me at coldmatrix@hotmail.com and tell me
why!!!
-Greg
DO NOT REPLY TO THIS ADDRESS
If you reply to this address I won't see it
EMAIL ME: Coldmatrix@hotmail.com or post your comments on the FFML I'll
see them there!
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Kasumi entered the den with her usual bright countenance carrying a
small stack of papers. She glanced about the room at the several
oblivious members, engaged in their own individual activities. Nabiki
and Akane were busy staring blankly at the TV watching their daily soap
opera while Soun and Genma were busy arguing over where the missing
shogi pieces were disappearing off to. Ranma had engaged himself in a
small work out just outside the door. Kasumi glanced back down at the
papers she had in her hand and looked back up. "Nabiki." She addressed
Nabiki glanced back at her older sister. "What's up sis?"
"You have some mail, isn't that nice?" Kasumi continued. "Ranma?" She
called. Ranma paused from punching at a rope wrapped post and looked up
through the door. "You have some mail to."
"Really? From who?" Ranma asked as he grabbed for a towel and proceeded
to enter through the open door.
Kasumi looked down at the envelope. Nabiki grabbed for hers and looked
it over.
"IRA" Kasumi answered as Ranma reached for his.
"Hey so's mine!" Nabiki looked up from her envelope quizzically.
"Doesn't that stand for Irish Republican army?" She asked no one
imparticular.
"Yeah I think so." Akane answered taking an interest in what was going
on.
"Irish repub what?" Ranma asked looking somewhat confused.
"Irish republican army." Akane repeated.
Before the conversation elevated into what possibilities the Irish
republican army would write them for, if in fact it was the Irish
republican army, and why it was Ranma and her were the only ones they
addressed, Nabiki slipped open the envelope. She pulled out the folded
piece of paper and began to diligently read. "International Recruiting
Agency..." She said in confusion and continued reading in silence.
Ranma had already pulled his letter free of it's envelope and was
reading as well.
Nabiki finally came to the conclusion of her note and looked up at
Ranma waiting for him to finish as well. When finally Ranma had looked
up from his letter, Nabiki noticed her confusion mirrored in his eyes
and realized his letter read the same.
"Well?" Akane asked anticipantly.
"What is it boy?" Genma asked now taking interest in the conversation.
Soun was looking quizzically at the two as well.
"It say's that my qualifications are identical to what they're looking
for based on a series of school taken test." Ranma answered simply.
"So's mine." Nabiki agreed.
"What does that mean?" Akane asked sharing the rest of the family's
blank look.
"Well let's see..." Nabiki said glancing back at the note. "It states
that a series of test were taken about six weeks back. Hmmmm..."
"Hey I remember that!" Akane spoke up. "Something about testing our
interest and aptitude."
"Oh yeah now I remember." Nabiki acknowledged.
"I don't." Ranma said with disinterest. He cast the note down on the
table and began to head back out the door.
"Hey, now wait a minute." Nabiki called after. "Your not even going to
find out what this is about?" Nabiki asked somewhat tauntingly.
"Why should I?" Ranma answered back.
"It says there's a lot of money involved." She smirked, knowing the
trap she had just set and sprung.
"Money!!!" Genma's head popped up at his favorite word (aside from
food). "well what are you waiting for, boy!" He shouted as he grabbed
Ranma around the shoulder. "Oh I knew you'd do your old man proud one
day." He brought Ranma up in a gigantic bear hug, tears began rolling
down his cheeks. "To think I ever doubted you."
"Pop! AIR!!!" Ranma choked out from underneath Genma's iron hold.
Genma looked down at his son's paling face and let go. "Sorry there
boy, don't want to suffocate the money maker of the family." He let out
a hearty chuckle and pat Ranma on the back.
"Gee thanks, pop." Ranma thanked sarcastically.
"What is it their looking for?" Akane asked diverting her attention
back to Nabiki.
"It doesn't say." Nabiki answered. "However it does mention, travel,
paid expenses, training, fame and fortune." She said almost sounding
interested.
"So what." Ranma spoke up. "It's probably some stupid gimmick anyway.
Nabiki let a sigh and laid the letter down. The rest of the family
continued to stare in open anticipation.
"Well?" Akane asked not wasting anymore time.
Nabiki looked over at Ranma and realized his gaze was directed back at
her. "I suppose I'll go to the place mentioned in the letter tomorrow
morning. Ranma, are you coming?"
"What are you talking about of course he's going!" Genma interrupted.
"You are going aren't you boy?!" Genma's face pleaded.
"N-... I-... Arrr." He growled in frustration. "Yeah sure, whatever."
He finally caved.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ranma lay in the dark next to Genma panda, unable to get to sleep.
Whenever he curled up in a ball his boxers would ride. Whenever he
stretched out they'd start to creep off. When he turned on his side his
shirt would begin to slide up. When he turned on his stomach he had
trouble breathing, and the one thought that seemed to plague him was
what was that letter all about. He had tried to busy himself for the
better part of the day. Not wanting to think about the letter anymore.
He had seemed uninterested in front everybody, sure. But the truth was
he was dying to know more. He hardly ever got mail to begin with and
certainly not mail that stated that he had been selected for anything.
In fact the only mail he ever seemed to get read something along the
lines of "prepare to die Saotome." or "Meet me at a designated time and
oh by the way prepare to die Saotome." or even "If you want to see Akane
alive meet me at a designated place at a designated time. PS Prepare to
die Saotome." Never anything that read You have been selected. He rolled
over onto his back and was forced to pull his boxers back up. Then was
forced to pull them back down because he had pulled them too far up.
Frustration was starting to settle in and Ranma was beginning to grow
hot. He tossed the covers off and lay there momentarily trying to decide
if that was enough. Deciding it wasn't he also removed his shirt.
He finally grew still. It wasn't just what he and Nabiki had read to
the family that bugged him. It was what they hadn't...
He felt his boxers begin to ride once more and proceeded to struggle
with relocating them in a more comfortable spot. Finding this a more
difficult task than he felt it should be Ranma finally gave up and just
decided to get some air.
He silently stood himself up making a semi-effort not to wake the
panda, and slipped out into the hallway. The house as expected was dark
and absent of activity. He walked his way over to the stairway and
descended down into the den, there he approached the back door and slid
it open. A shadowy figure sitting on the edge of the porch caught his
eye and he realized that it was staring back at him.
"Ranma?" He heard a familiar feminine voice ask, and he proceeded to
take a seat next to her.
"Yeah it's me." He confirmed.
"Couldn't sleep either, huh?" Nabiki asked in a small whisper.
"Yeah." Was all that Ranma said.
"Where's your shirt?"
"I got hot." He looked up at her gaze and misread it. "Why you want me
to jump in the pond for you? Need some new photo's?
"No." Nabiki answered unconcerned. She let her chin rest on her knee's
as she pulled them in. "What do you make of the letter?" She finally
asked.
"You're asking me?" Ranma asked surprised.
"Don't let it go to your head Saotome, I'm just curious is all." She
responded without looking up.
"I'm not sure." Ranma replied. "I wonder why it's classified. Why we're
not supposed to tell anyone what we're doing."
"Who knows." Nabiki answered. "It was specific enough to instruct us in
what could be told, and what couldn't be wasn't it?"
"Yeah but I don't see why the fact that it's dangerous is such a
problem." Ranma stated.
"Because whatever it is might be illegal." Nabiki Hypothesized. "After
all they were cautious enough not to say what the job really is."
"I suppose." Ranma sighed.
"Did you burn your letter like it said?" Nabiki asked looking back up
at him.
"Yeah... I almost didn't though. None of this makes sense." Nabiki
simply nodded.
"Ranma lets just get some sleep. We'll have our answers in the
morning." Nabiki then got up and headed inside through the back door.
Ranma watched after and then proceeded to do the same.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The next morning to Ranma's distaste came early. He was greeted by the
usual faces around the house and groggily marched himself into the
washroom. He dropped his boxers to the floor and began to run the water.
"Ranma?" He heard through the door. It was Nabiki.
"If you don't get your butt in gear we're gonna be late."
Ranma shut the water off. "Yeah yeah, be out in a minute." He said
uncarringly. He jumped into the tub and immediately jumped out. "It's
freezing!"
Ranma-chan threw on her boxers and proceeded to storm downstairs and
into the den. "All right what's happened to the hot water?" She demanded
Kasumi walked in from the kitchen and took notice of Ranma's bare
chest. "Oh my, Ranma. All the hot water must've been used up when Mr.
Saotome took his bath. Ranma's eyes narrowed as she turned her
attention on Genma. "I'll warm you some water." Kasumi offered
disappearing back into the kitchen.
"No time Kasumi." Nabiki called after as she came down the stairs. She
noticed Ranma's battle aura switch on and caught her by the arm. "Ranma
stop wasting time and get some clothes on." Ranma's aura dropped and she
spun around to meet Nabiki face to face. Something there seem to
register in Ranma's eyes and she proceeded to do as told.
Nabiki simply let a grin as she watched the red headed martial artist
scurry up the stairs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ranma-chan as usual was walking along the fence top with careless ease,
while Nabiki walked silently next to her on the ground. They had been
walking for a good ten minutes, each with her own thoughts. Ranma had
finally dressed and was now wearing her green jusenkyo suit while Nabiki
was wearing a nice striped shirt tucked into a pair of tight jeans.
Ranma looked down at Nabiki and wondered inwardly what she was thinking
about. Nabiki caught the look and smiled. "What is it Saotome?"
Ranma was caught off guard and quickly tried to make something up. "I
uh. ummm. Well I didn't see Akane this morning." She finally said.
'Smooth Ranma, smooth...' She thought.
"We talked last night." Nabiki began. "She's upset that I said she
couldn't go."
Ranma looked down at her surprised. "Oh?"
"Yeah well, she wanted to see where it was we were going and asked if
she could tag along. I said it was none her business and she got upset."
"No doubt." Ranma replied. 'Which means she might be following us.'
Ranma concluded to herself. "Yeah that stupid tomboy! Always trying
stick her nose where it doesn't belong."
Nabiki looked up at Ranma-chan with a question written on her face.
"Hey what can I say? Akane doesn't know when to keep out of other
peoples business. Hell she's always tryin to follow me around. 's like
she's obsessed or somethin. I mean geez she's as clueless as an ox and
built like..." Ranma just barely managed to sidestep a large mallet as
she felt it brush past her and into the fence.
"OBSESSED AM I?" Akane shouted.
"Akane! Fancy meeting you here, of all places!" Ranma-chan gloated
tauntingly.
'Wow.' Nabiki thought dully impressed. 'Ranma actually did something
smart!'
Akane immediately recovered and realized her error. She looked over at
Nabiki's stone gaze and felt a chill in her spine. "Nabiki hey! Imagine
me running into you two like this, I was just jogging and..."
"Save it Akane." Nabiki said flatly. "I told you not to follow us."
"I know but... Fine whatever. See if I care." She looked back over at
the triumphantly grinning redhead. "Baka!" She spat and proceeded to
bury her mallet in her original destination. She then spun around with a
"HMPH!" and stormed off in the opposite direction.
Nabiki looked over at Ranma-chan an felt a smile creep on her lips.
'That's my little sister for you.' "Ranma you okay?"
Ranma seemed to pull herself out of the crippled like position and
looked over at Nabiki. "Fine."
"Come on we're half way there."
Ranma jumped down from the fence and next to Nabiki. From there they
both continued their trip to the IRA building.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
They came to a stop outside the indicated building and paused. "Ryoko
Masaki's dry cleaning?" Nabiki asked, puzzled. "Are you sure this is
where were supposed to go?"
"This is the address they gave." Ranma-chan answered equally confused.
"Well lets try it and see." Nabiki finally decided. They pushed the
double glass doors open and walked in.
"I can't believe their making me work." They heard someone mumble as
they entered the shop.
Nabiki approached the front desk where a young woman with wild white
hair stood. "Excuse me." She said politely.
"Yeah what do ya want." The woman grumbled.
"I think we are supposed to meet someone here." She continued.
"Yeah well if your not sure come back when you are." The woman grumbled
again obviously annoyed.
Nabiki's eyes narrowed though the woman didn't notice. "I'm Nabiki
Tendo, and this is Ranma Saotome." Nabiki introduced. The woman looked
the two over disinterestedly
"Yeah so?"
"Is there anyone else here?" Nabiki asked growing somewhat annoyed
herself.
"Maybe." The woman answered flatly and turned to do something behind
the counter.
"Excuse me?" Nabiki asked again.
"Now what?" the woman asked as she whirled around. "We were both sent a
letter instructing us to meet someone here."
"Look I'm busy right now." The woman growled. "Why don't you buy a coke
or something from the machine and I'll get back to you." Nabiki let a
small growl slide from her throat and turned to Ranma. "We're never
going to get anything out of her, Ranma let's go!"
"Wait, Nabiki." Ranma stopped her. "A coke doesn't sound bad."
Nabiki rolled her eyes. "Ranma do you have any money?"
"Well no." Ranma-chan let her eyes drop.
"And you want ME to buy YOU a coke?" She asked accusingly.
"Well I was kinda hoping." Ranma almost whispered.
"Ranma you know better than to try the cute act with me." Nabiki
scolded. Ranma didn't look back up. Nabiki was growing even more
frustrated by the moment. "Fine, here, but you owe me dinner or a back
rub or something." Ranma-chan not hearing the condition swiped the money
from Nabiki's hand eagerly.
"Thanks Nabiki!" She ran over to the large red vendor and entered in
the correct amount of money. She looked down at the selection and
decided on a coke, which she then proceeded to punch the correct button.
Ranma squatted down to the part of the machine where you get your drink
and waited... Nothing happened... "Hey!" She yelled. Finally she heard a
clicking noise and the face of the machine slung open nearly knocking
her off her feet.
Nabiki and Ranma were both forced to stare as a passage from within the
machine was found. Nabiki looked over at the woman and found her busy at
the daily grind, oblivious to what was transpiring.
"Nabiki?" Ranma-chan whispered.
"What?" Nabiki whispered back.
"You suppose we follow this passage?" Ranma questioned further.
"Why not." Was Nabiki's response.
They entered in through the open machine and pulled the door shut
behind them.
Inside was a dimly lit descending stairwell that curved to the right at
it's end. They slowly began their descent, carefully taking stock of
their surroundings. Which wasn't much. The staircase spiraled down
several more times to the right before finally coming to an end outside
what looked like an office door with an opaque glass window.
After giving a glance back at Ranma, Nabiki knocked on the door.
"What's the password?" Was the response they got in a thick British
accent.
"We weren't given one." She answered.
"Oh really? What's your name?"
"I'm Nabiki Tendo."
"And I'm Ranma Saotome."
"Oh I see..." There was a long pause at the other side of the door.
"You sure you weren't given a password?" The voice asked.
"No I'm pretty sure if I'd been given one I'd have seen it." Nabiki
answered.
"Yes, ah... I suppose so..." The voice agreed. "Well then why are you
here?"
"We don't know. We were hoping you could tell us." Nabiki said somewhat
irritatedly.
"Hmmmm. Yes....Well, what's your favorite color?"
Nabiki arched an eyebrow. This was becoming pointless. "Blue." She
answered.
"Aha!" The voice stated triumphantly. "You cannot be the real Nabiki
Tendo because we have her test and she answered Green."
Nabiki rolled her eyes. "Maybe I was lying." She offered.
"Uh... No that can't be. She also stated that she does not lie." Nabiki
heard Ranma snicker.
"Yes but if I did lie, wouldn't it stand to reason I might lie about
that also? And perhaps I also lied about my favorite color." She
smirked.
"When?" The voice asked simply.
"Both times." She answered. "But then maybe I'm lying now? Of course
you also didn't take into account that I might have simply changed my
mind since I took that stupid test."
"Yes...I suppose so." The voice seemed to sound defeated. There was an
audible sound of footsteps approaching the door and then the lock
slipped. The door opened to reveal a middle-aged man wearing a black
suit.
"Nabiki Tendo?" He asked.
"Yes." She answered.
"I'm Sean Oliver. Come in." Nabiki entered in through the door and the
man walked behind a large cherry oak desk and seated himself. "Ranma
Saotome?" He questioned, directing his gaze at Ranma.
"Hai!" Ranma answered cheerfully. They took notice of two other
gentlemen similarly dressed seated on either side of the room.
"Have a seat." Ranma began to oblige but then took notice of Nabiki's
lack of movement and continued to stand.
"What exactly is this about sir?" Nabiki asked to the point.
"A job." He answered. Nabiki's eyes narrowed. "A job that you two
seemed best qualified for, assuming you didn't lie about everything
else." He elaborated.
"We've been told as much from your letter, what is the job."
The man let a chuckle. "Yes you are exactly as your test indicated."
Nabiki blinked at this. "We are a small self employed group of treasure
hunters, if you will. But as you can see, myself being the youngest, we
are starting to become unfit for the task. You see we have just recently
obtained... well... I'm jumping ahead of myself. The point is we need a
new generation of youth to continue where it was we left off."
"So you issued that test to all the schools across Japan in search for
a couple of heirs to your business?" Nabiki asked surprised. She finally
took a seat and Ranma followed
"More like a couple of lackey's" Ranma added.
"Oh no." The man started chuckling. " That test is funded by small
groups like ourself, but certainly not issued by us, and not just in
Japan, either. The entire world. It's a little thing started by private
organization's like us to seek out new additions and possible
candidates. The international police use it. The American CIA, FBI, and
NSA use it. other elite government agencies around the world use it. A
couple based in Japan, and independent agencies such as ourselves. Pay
the fee, receive the results. That's basically all there is to it. Oh
and no not lackey's as you put it young lady." He responded finally
looking over at Ranma. "We haven't much need for money anymore." He
continued indicating the other two gentlemen. We only require a small
share of your profit. This helps pay for your training, your air fare,
the location of various treasures, and other expenses, such as food,
lodging, guides, and travel gear. All we're really looking for is
someone to continue our work." He then looked over at Ranma and seemed
to consider something. "Young lady I was under the impression that you
were a young man."
"I am most of the..." Ranma began but Nabiki elbowed her in the ribs.
"I beg your pardon?" He asked even more confused.
"Long story." Ranma stated simply.
"Uh, she likes to think of herself as a guy sometimes. Her father
raised her that way." Nabiki quickly recovered not willing to trust the
three gentlemen yet.
"Nabiki, I..." Ranma-chan started to protest, but she caught a warning
look from Nabiki and ceased.
"She's a little modest too I'm afraid." Nabiki assured. She was forced
to bite her lip at that lie.
"Uh....yes... Well can we depend on you two? Realize that this cannot
be discussed with anyone other than yourselves not even family. We
cannot afford to be discovered.
"First I've got some questions!" Nabiki replied, taking control of the
conversation
"Yes of course!" The man spoke cheerfully.
"Okay, what was it on our test that suggested to you that Ranma and I
would be most fit out of everyone else for your job?"
The man seemed to purse his lips in thought. "Well, several things
really. You see we're only given a handful of candidates by the
organization that handles the test. We submit what attributes we're
looking for, an age group, and a general location we're most interested
in receiving candidates from and then submit our money. Your test
results were accompanied by eight others. Three from Great Britain, one
from America, four from china, and yourselves."
"And what made you choose us out of the ten candidates you received?"
Nabiki continued.
"Well out of all our candidates you two seemed most liable to
compliment each other in skill. The fact that you both already knew and
lived with each other made it a quick decision."
Nabiki looked at the other two gentlemen in the room and then back to
the man behind the desk.
"What specifically was it about our test that indicated us as
candidates?" Nabiki pressed on.
"Well, you specifically expressed an interest in large wealth and
something that would get you out of the chaos at home."
"So how does that differ from anybody else?"
"Well specifically the way that you wrote this information for
instance. But more than that your ability for puzzle solving was rated
most high in the exam. Not to mention compromisable moralality was also
indicated."
"Why would that be a necessity?" Nabiki asked cautiously.
"Not really... A necessity..." The man seemed to think his words
carefully. "More like a...Plus." He finally finished.
"I see." Nabiki replied not really certain if she did. "What else
suggested me?"
"Well you seem to have a real nac for bargaining and manipulation, this
was indicated in the same section as morality."
"Enlighten me!" Nabiki proposed.
"Well let's see..." The man pulled out a drawer and began to fumble
through several papers. "Aha here we go!" He pulled out a familiar small
booklet that Nabiki concluded was her exam. "Uh, Hmmmmm." He began to
flip through the pages as if looking for something particular.
"Uh yes, this will do. This is under the section of short essay's.
Huhmmm" He cleared his throat. "You are a computer software engineer for
a major software company. While evaluating a co-worker's program you
discover a thread of command's that will cipher funds from the users
account to the programmer's. The programmer is a good friend of yours
and you know him to be tight on money. What would you do? Ms. Tendo you
wrote, First I would edit the code to cipher funds to the company's
account. Then I would hack his account and set it up to appear as though
he was still receiving money. Then I would blackmail my friend as he was
the programmer of said software. After the software had been produced
and distributed I would accuse the company of trying to cipher funds
into their account and blackmail them. If the company should refuse and
try to pin the whole ordeal on me, I will then be forced to expose the
pictures I have of the CEO and his secretary that I no doubt would have
obtained by then and black mail him with those as well. Using the fear I
will have by this time vested unto the company I will climb my way to
the top crushing anyone who opposes me until finally I have taken
control of the company for myself. But that's only based on the idea
that that the company was stupid enough to have let the original
unedited programming code slip by unnoticed to begin with." The man
looked up from the exam at Nabiki. "Most of the answers in this part of
the test connect some sort of profit or control in your favor. Now with
this job that will not be necessary. You will be forced to keep a low
profile at all times. And as far as money, rest assured you'll have
plenty." He smiled.
"Why is that anyway?" Nabiki asked changing the subject. "Why all the
secrecy?"
"Well, that might prove difficult to explain to your satisfaction." He
hesitated. "You see, we," He indicated the other two men again. "Have
over time accumulated alot of enemies. And it might suffice to say that
the treasures we know of are, well, of the most rare and valuable sort.
Which makes these enemies most interested in us."
"Competitors?" Nabiki asked wryly.
"Some..." The man answered. "Some are of a darker sort."
"Like what?" Nabiki asked genuinely interested.
"That is something you must discover for yourself."
"Hey didn't you play that James Bond guy several years back?" Ranma
finally made herself known again. Nabiki rolled her eyes.
"That was Connery!" The man said somewhat testily.
"No it was Bond!" Ranma-chan argued.
"No I mean the man who played him was Sean Connery not me, Sean
Oliver."
"Oh!" Ranma stated defeatedly.
Nabiki looked back over to the man. "Mr. Oliver, might I ask how it was
Ranma was selected?"
"Of Course." The man obliged. "Her answers seemed to leave room for
imagination, was one reason. She seems adept to expecting the unexpected
and living and surviving under extreme conditions. Also her athletic
records seem to hold her as one of the best!" Those are all qualities
that are required Ms. Tendo, and with you two working together it makes
the perfect team. You see as a trio, each of us had something to add to
the group. This is also true with you two that is why you two will work
out perfectly. What one lacks, it seems the other does not."
"You think you could elaborate on Ranma's qualifications?" Ranma looked
over at Nabiki with a wry look.
'Geez you'd think she didn't want to work with me!' Ranma thought to
herself.
"Yes, well one I particularly liked was this." He reached back in his
drawer and pulled forth another small booklet. "You are at your wedding
just before walking the isle and stating your vows. An obsessed x-lover
unable to part with you forces you to the ground and begins to forcibly
and repetitively kiss you. Your fiance happens to walk in at that time.
What do you do?
Ms. Saotome writes, Well given my past performance I'd probably babble
uncontrollably until the Baka takes the initiative to whap the hell out
of me with a large mallet. Then hopefully seep into unconsciousness or
even death, because the wedding was arranged anyway! I swear I'm gonna
kill my pop! This is all his fault. And there's the undeniable fact that
some deity must have it out for me which is clearly evident by the fact
that my only known friends wish to marry me or kill me." The man looked
back up at Nabiki. "You see that's imagination!" Nabiki mumbled
something incoherent.
"What really does that have to do with the job?" Nabiki asked
skeptically.
"Nothing really, just struck me as humorous." The other two men agreed.
Nabiki sighed. "Look, sir, What happens if we agree?"
"You'll be given one week to wrap up any of your obligations and then
report back here. From there we'll take a jet to our first location and
begin your training. You'll be given weekly salaries until you can start
supporting yourself. And all other expenses will be taken care of by us.
"Weekly salaries?" Nabiki asked.
"Yes five thousand US Dollars." The man answered seriously. "Which I
believe converts to roughly five hundred and twelve thousand of your
Japanese yen. And three thousand one hundred of our United Kingdom
pounds."
Nabiki stared in utter shock. "Five hundred and twelve thousand yen a
week?"
"Yes that's right! But don't worry that's just icing on the cake
compared to the treasures you'll be hunting."
"Icing on the cake?!" Both girls mouthed this silently.
"The man chuckled. "Can I expect your answer tomorrow?"
"Y-yes sir." Nabiki stuttered. She was used to having complete control
of a situation but was finding it difficult with the direction the
conversation had taken.
Ranma-chan was ghostly quiet as well.
"I'm sorry but we can't allow you more time. But tomorrow is final. Be
here eight o' clock in the morning, sharp, with your answer. Good day."
"Come on Ranma." Nabiki slowly stood up and grabbed the redhead by her
arm and pulled her to her feet. "let's go!"
They exited the office shutting the door behind them.
'Man that was strange.' Ranma thought silently, and followed Nabiki up
the spiral staircase and back into the dry cleaners.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
End chapter one.
Thanks to everyone that read!
(PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, RESPOND!!!)
-Greg
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