Quoting Nicholas Stone <bnstone@comcast.net>:

Me again...
 
Long time since I posted.  Here's one that's been promised/sitting
on
the shelf/finally finished and looking for some C&C.
Have fun, Part Two is waiting in the wings...
 
************************************************************************
************************************************************************
*****************************************
 
 
 
Ranma 1/2
 
 
Nabiki? � Impossible!
 
 
by
 
 
Nicholas Stone
 
 
 

 
Foxed�
 

 
Chapter One
 
         Summer�s long spell over Japan was finally beginning to
fade;
cool breezes sweeping in from the north delivered a welcome break
to the
citizen traversing Nerima�s streets.  The hustle and bustle of
people
hurrying to find a quick satisfying lunch made them appear like
ants
scurrying about a forest floor, all searching never tiring drones
trying
to maintain their livelihoods in the tough world known as life.
        This seemed quite ironic to the well-dressed man sitting
casually in a chocolate caf� booth silently observing the streets. 
His
demeanor conveyed a level of respect and obedience; firm hands
toying
aimlessly with a stylus over a PDA, occasionally taking a short
peek up
just enough to look over the top of his menu as if on watch,
waiting for
someone.
        Okura Maeda continued writing, mind set on patience.  A
local,
he was around his late forties, clean-shaven and dressed in a
fine,
charcoal-black business suit, matching shoes, his dark-gray fedora
on a
small stack of papers on the table.  With him were two men and one
woman
taking quietly, but frequently one of the men would make a casual
look
around, eyes filled with caution.  The men were also Japanese, but
the
blonde-haired woman was an American well into her late thirties,
but
appeared younger.

although she appeared younger.

      Okura signaled to their waitress asking for the check.  �I
would
not talk that way about my new, soon to be Accountant,� he replied

You capitalise "Chief Financial Officer" or "Vice President in Charge
of Lint".  But "accountant" is a profession, not a title.  

      A tap on the shoulder brought him around.  �And we are doing
what
now?� asked Victoria.
      Okura tucked his phone away.  Giving Vicky a light pat on the
arm
he answered, �Going back to the estate.  There�s still much do. 
Much to
do.�
      �By your expression, I�d think you�ve got everything just
about
wrapped up.�

Well, that was a bit of a time waster.  

      �You could say that.�  Maeda paused giving the street behind
him
one last look.
      �Let�s go home��
 
 Chapter Two
 
      Nabiki Tendo awoke to the sound of her daily alarm clock
tuned to
the morning business station, letting out a long low yawn as she
stretched her arms and legs.  Seven o�clock just like she liked it,
the
warmth coming from the sun�s rays warming her through the window.

You know, Nabiki was definitely not a morning person in the source
material.  If she could sleep in, she would. 

      �You should concentrate on landing a man, not accumulating
vast
piles of wealth,� she could still hear Kasumi say.  Really?  Such
an
idea my sister has, thought Nabiki walking down the street towards
the
Nerima Central Park.  Not accumulate wealth?
      It went without saying that Nabiki indeed desired a husband,

Oh does it?  

but
there was no law saying she could not combine business with
pleasure,
and no doubt she wasn�t exactly innocent.  Something odd flowed
through
Nabiki then.  She pondered what life would be like without
marriage.
Could she live like she was doing for the rest of her life? 
Tatewaki
wasn�t exactly the brightest man in the world� but he did have
�skills�
she wanted to experience more, and the main thing he was rich.
      She giggled, thinking about that last part.  This brought her
back
to her current rendezvous here in the next few minutes.  The
streets of
Nerima were alive with activity today noticed Nabiki.  A good sign
that
profits would be good in next few weeks.  Without the threat of
outside
influences, people around here worked and shopped unafraid of the
hassles found in the rest of the cities and townships around
Tokyo.
Much of this was due to her planning and support from friends and
siblings who helped to keep Nerima streets free of such activity.
      Nabiki rounded a turn and as she walked passed the pane
windows of
a shop, her keen eyes picked out a well-dressed man across the
street
pacing her route.  His eyes were averted but she could see he was
keeping right along with her and that brought caution to mind.
Immediately, her paced picked up and the stranger mimicked her
steps.
      �Uh-oh.  Looks like I�ll have to call out the guard here,�
she
muttered, taking a sharp right at the next corner.
      The stranger waited before following, talking into a phone
mic as
he rushed to catch up with his intended target.  Sensing that Tendo
was
on to him, he alerted his companion�s positions carefully along the
way,
ordering them to move in.  In the meantime, Nabiki had diverted
away
from the park and was heading straight for the closest friendly
face
when a black limousine suddenly pulled up ahead.  Out the back
stepped
another well-dressed man accompanied by another dwarfing him in
size.
She slowed her pace as they moved to block her path.
      And I hate screaming, she thought, and slid a hand into her
jacket
pocket for the mace inside.  It was obvious these two had business
with
her and she stopped.
      A standoff ensued then Nabiki asked, �Can I help you?�

ensued, then

      �Well, you better be ready to explain yourself, Mister
Hamada,�
commented Nabiki with a smug look.
      Sachi grit his teeth trying hard not to just knock this
arrogant
woman out and stuff her in the trunk of the limo.  

Doing that, right in front of two cops who aren't on your pad might be
regarded as a trifle blatant.  Incidentally, isn't it just a trifle 
impractical for Ryoga to work as a police officer in Nerima when he
lives on a farm?  

      �It was not exactly a lie, Nabiki,� Victoria suddenly said to
her.
      �Its not?�

It's

      �Oh no, Nabiki Tendo,� continued Maeda, �I have every
intention of
offering you a position in my establishment.�
Nabiki�s demeanor immediately settled back into its usual
aloofness.
That was until Okura next comment.

      �I agree, Nabiki.  Whole heartedly, trust me on this.�

Wholehearted

      �So then you understand why I must go.�
      She turned and at the same time both Chino and Tanyun moved
to
block her way.  Her eyes narrowed as she made ready to press the
button
on her cell phone that would bring the police running.  �Mister
Okura, I
trust you have no intentions of keeping me here against my will?�
she
said in a threatening tone.
      �No I do not, Nabiki,� he replied.  The two men parted and

No,

      �Not any more,� answered Maeda, �or would you like me to
release
your after hour activities to the newspaper and tabloids?  I�m sure
your
beau; Tatewaki Kuno would enjoy the scandal that would follow.�

So...what's so scandalous?  And why would Nabiki care that much if Kuno
got embarassed?  Hell, he used to embarass himself on a daily basis. 
As you describe the photos, they'd be as much a matter of pride as
embarassment.   

      �This is blackmail!  What have I ever done to you?�
      �Absolutely nothing, Miss Tendo.  Now then, you will start
with a
base salary of� oh shall we say, 200000 Yen a month.�
      �Two Hundred Thousand Yen a month!� cried Nabiki, shooting

"Two hundred thousand yen a month!"

the
cabbie.  �ME!  Nabiki Tendo� forced into regulatory work (augh!)

regular

Fifty-five,
Nabiki was pushing her luck, she thought.  I hope that girl is not
trying to call Maeda�s bluff by failing to show.  She does not know
how
merciless he can be at times, and he certainly was not bluffing
about
exposing her and ruining the reputation she has.

Gosh, Nabiki cheats on her taxes and is the worlds greatest lover.  
Everyone will be shocked.  

      �Why?  I�m being forced to work against my will for a man who
is
cramping my style.  Cheer is not on my list of things to be today,

to have

Miss

      �Ahhh!  Now I�m a Hostess!  Maeda didn�t say anything about

Also not a title.  

like
you all to meet my new accountant; Nabiki Tendo.�
      Several slight nods greeted her and Nabiki swallowed her
pride
giving them a tenuous grin.  �I-I-I am H-Honored to meet all of�

uh-honored

you,�
she managed to say.
      �Likewise, Miss Tendo,� said one of the directors. 
�Hopefully you
will not experience any fishing accidents like your predecessor.�

      �I�ve� I�ve never been in a situation like this, ever.  Never
in
my life have I been on the loosing end of anything.�  She stopped;

losing


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