Last part of the story, still looking for some c&c...
Ranma 1/2
Nabiki? � Impossible!
by
Nicholas Stone
A Dish Best Served Cold�
Chapter Sixteen
It was a brisk Monday morning at the offices of Benki Freight
Lines, a bright sun warming up the start of a new work week. There was
much to do, much to gain, but in the penthouse office that belonged to
Okura Maeda, there was nothing to be cheerful about not with the recent
calamities that had befallen him personally.
The expected recovery of the sensitive data and Nabiki�s head
failed to materialize over the weekend worrying Okura that the police
would soon be arriving at his home to take him away. This never
happened; in fact the news was oblivious of the activities in and around
Nerima the past few days. Much of it was also a mystery to him; mainly
because Tanyun, Sachi, and a good number of his hired hands went into
the accursed township and were not heard from again until just now.
Both men stood before Okura�s desk disheveled, bruised and
sporting black eyes while Maeda sat furiously eyeing them dismayed by
the results of their actions. He rocked back and forth in his chair
barely able to maintain control over his urge to kill them, and then
stopped leaning on the desk tapping the tips of his fingers together.
�So,� he began, �by the look of things Nabiki and her associates
have retained my property?�
Tanyun and Sachi exchanged looks hoping the other would reply.
Finally, Tanyun gathered up enough bravery and answered.
�Yes, boss. It kind �a was a screwy weekend. I mean, Nerima is
a strange place to be in.�
�We had no problems there when we first visited. Why now?�
�Had to be Nabiki, boss,� said Sachi. �She�s put the word out on
us.�
�So!� shouted Okura, sitting back. �Did you not contact all of
our associates in the surrounding townships?�
�Yes.�
�And?�
Sachi innocently shrugged. �Well� I told�em we were going to hit
Nerima, but as soon as I did they all gave me� excuses.�
�Excuses! What excuses?�
�Doing laundry, had a cake in the oven, sick friend out of town,
you name it.�
Okura was stunned. �So nobody showed up?�
�Yes, and this went on for most of that Saturday.�
�So what happened Sunday?�
�You don�t wanna hear what happened Sunday,� said Tanyun.
�Yes I do, I�m not talking to hear myself speak! What happened?�
Tanyun explained. �Okay, so I pulled every one of our men from
the grounds, the city, even the heavies around the docks. Stripped�em
clean.�
�And this wasn�t enough?�
�Getting to that, boss. So Sachi takes half, send out a group to
go to the Tendo residence while he leads the rest down to find Kuonji.
Did you know she owns a restaurant?�
�I don�t care about that! What happened?�
Sachi cleared his throat. �Uhm, well we got down to her place
around noon or after and you know what, those two trannies that were
hounding you are working for her!�
The dark glare told Sachi he better continue on with his story.
�So, we think this is a piece of cake. Sadly we were wrong. That
Kuonji babe breaks out this huge spatula and proceeds to hammer the
guys!�
�One woman?� said Okura, shocked at Sachi�s failure to overpower
her, �One woman�.�
�With a right hook that would stop a gorilla dead in its tracks,�
said Sachi. �Not only that, but that dark haired tranny, she or he or
whatever pulls off their kimono and turns out to be a ninja master!�
Okura frowned. �And the second �tranny�?�
�We didn�t stick around to find out. After those two decked
several of the guys, we high-tailed it out of there.�
Sachi drew back from the withering stare Okura gave him,
shielding his face with his arms. Maeda suddenly looked at Tanyun.
�And you?�
�(Ahem)� well we didn�t have it any easier, boss. I had received
a lead on that purple-haired chick with the big tits. Found out she
works down at a restaurant called the NekkoHatten. We went down there
and� well; we got a bit of an ass kicking there too.�
Maeda stiffened in his chair, setting back glaring hotly at
Tanyun. �Go on.�
�We went in ready to tear up their restaurant when suddenly there
was this flash of white hair, and then this little tiny withered up old
lady wielding a stick started blitzing the guys. I mean she was
bouncing all over the walls, ceiling, twirling that stick around. It
was kind of amazing.�
�And she beat you all?�
�Nnn-not by herself� that purple-haired chick shows up on the
second floor, takes one look, ducks back then comes out holding these
two huge� clubs!�
�Clubs?�
��big round things, boss! She lets out a blood-curdling cry and
leaps over the railing into the fight.�
�So �Two� women defeat you?�
�Nope� that third tranny�.�
�Tranny?�
�The Whimperer� it shows up right behind the purple-haired chick,
and joins in the fight. I didn�t even see him/her/whatever come down
the steps. One minute up stairs, the next on the floor pulling an
assortment of weapons right out of thin air on us.�
�And I suppose �it� was responsible for�.� Okura pointed to his
eyes questioningly.
�Nah, that old broad did this,� replied Tanyun.
�I don�t believe this!� shouted Okura. �We are the most powerful
organization this side of Yokohama, and you two can�t even subdue a
small band of shop owners?�
�Tough shop owners, boss,� Sachi said.
Maeda�s fingers gripped a pile of papers on the desk, crumpling
the top sheets in anger. He started to lay into Sachi when a buzz from
the intercom sounded.
�Yes, Vicky?�
[Mister Maeda, you have a guest here to see you.]
�Not now, Vicky. Take a message and tell them I�m currently too
busy to see them right now.�
He shut off the intercom, glaring at his men again. �So what
about Tatewaki Kuno?�
�That�s me again, boss,� said Tanyun. �That little battle in the
NekkoHatten, well I heard the cops coming and with what few men I had
left, retreated before we could get arrested. We hop a train over to
the Kuno estate and� ran into more troubles.�
�I knew it,� grumbled Okura. �What sort of troubles could happen
at the Kuno estate? I know the man is rated Class A with the sword, but
you should have easily overpowered him.�
�We didn�t get to Tatewaki, boss.�
�You didn�t?�
�No� I held back and sent the guys� ahead just in case, you know.
They didn�t even get to the gates.�
�What stopped them?�
�This large cloud of black rose petals blew in out of nowhere.
The boys dropped like mosquitoes in a cloud of insecticide.�
�They were gassed!�
��Put to sleep� and then I heard this scary laugh. Sort �a like
a woman�s titter, creepy. Very Creepy. The Kuno grounds are protected
by spirits, boss� and I left.�
Tanyun shuddered, leaving Okura too ponder his words. �Okay, no
Kuno. Did anyone get to Nabiki Tendo?� he finally asked.
�I saw her, boss,� answered Sachi.
�You did?�
�Yeah. Remember we set some of the guys down to the Tendo home?�
�Yes.�
�That was a mistake. You see�.�
Maeda�s intercom beeped again. �Yes, Vicky?�
[Okura� sorry to bother you again, but I think you really need to
talk to�.]
�Not now, Vicky!� shouted Maeda. �Tell whoever I will speak to
them later!�
[But Okura�!]
He cut her off. �Continue, Sachi.�
�Uh, well after the Kuonji debacle, we went down to the Tendo
address expecting our guys to have subdued them and had Nabiki ready for
transport.�
�I know this is not going to be good, but tell me, was she?�
asked Okura.
�Ah, no, Boss. We got there and things were quiet. I go to the
gate and find it locked. That was odd, so I knock and wouldn�t you know
it, one of the boys� answers.�
�So they did have the grounds under our control?�
�Not exactly, Boss. He tells me to wait�.�
��he told you to wait?�
��and goes back inside. After a few minutes, the gate opens and
there are guys sitting around the grounds feasting on a banquet that
made our party look bad!�
�They were eating?�
�Kasumi Tendo was out there serving and chatting with�em like
there was no trouble at all.�
�So you captured her?�
�No� the boys wouldn�t lift a finger against her.�
Maeda thought and it dawned on him what happened. �They
defected!� he shouted, crumbling up more of the papers on his desk.
�Them� and the guys I brought with me too.� Okura�s fist slammed
down on the desk, startling Sachi and Tanyun. �Hey, boss, you have to
admit her food is killer.�
�Nabiki! What about Nabiki?�
�Sachi continued. �Nabiki� well once I got done eat� uh, skip
that, one of the boys led me around back to the patio. Nabiki was there
along with two girls; one might have been her sister, the other was that
maid needing about five hundred full course meals to give her some
bulk�.�
�Tendo!�
��and an old guy; might have been her dad, another withered old
fiend and this large Giant Panda Bear.�
�A bear?�
�A bear.�
�There?�
�There, boss.�
Okura paused. �And that was all?�
�Mmm, well there were four of the boys also standing behind me.
�I see. So you managed to �escape�, I take it?�
�Well I wasn�t about to tell Nabiki Tendo I wanted to break her
neck, boss. I told her a small lie, and left.�
Quietly, Okura cut his eyes from Tanyun to Sachi, thinking about
what they had told him. He frowned, mumbling and gesturing to himself
putting things into perspective in his mind.
�And you just now are getting back to me about this?� he finally
asked.
Tanyun laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. �Uh,
well this is the funny part, Boss.�
�I�ve heard nothing humorous about anything so far, Tanyun.�
�Yeah� Uh, you see Sachi and I finally caught up with each other
and decided that this operation was a bust.�
�Evidently.�
�So we headed back to our cars and� sort �a got� arrested.�
�Arrested!�
Sachi cleared his throat. �Those two cops that were there the
day I first pick up Nabiki� they were there waiting for us.�
�And why did they arrest you?�
�I kind of made a small mistake telling that one cop my name...
He ran a check on it and� you know I could have sworn we had those
records taken care of.�
�And what, Sachi?�
Sachi swallowed. �He, uh, found out about my past charges.�
Maeda stared dumbfounded at him then looked at Tanyun.
�Guilt by association, boss,� he told him. �Took us down, booked
us and we spent the rest of the day in the can.�
�And you came back here� I am surprised we haven�t been raided by
now.�
Resting his head in his hands, Okura let out a deep sigh not
believing the potential disaster that could befall them at any moment.
He shook his head in disbelief, feeling this was at the lowest point
ever in his life and all because of some small time accountant from the
township of Nerima.
An extremely intelligent and devious accountant that now held a
knife at his throat ready to destroy all he had worked for.
�She has won,� he said. �Nabiki Tendo has done the unthinkable
and is now running around loose somewhere out there� gloating over her
victory� allowing me to writhe in agony before unleashing the hounds to
finish off my carcass.�
�She�s not going anywhere, boss,� said Tanyun.
Maeda looked up. �She�s not?�
�Nope. When they let us go this morning, they let the boys they
arrested yesterday go as well. So I put a few of them on watch around
her home with orders to let us know the second she steps foot outside
the grounds.�
�Well done, Tanyun,� said Okura. �Now I can get a few of our
specialist on the phone, then maybe we can salvage this debacle.�
So saying, Maeda picked up his phone and started dialing when
through the office door entered Vicky. She strode up to the desk, gave
Tanyun and Sachi a brief once over and then waved at Okura.
�Not now, Victoria,� he said. �I am trying to thwart Nabiki
Tendo before she can harm us.�
�Okura, you really need to speak to your guest outside,� she told
him.
�Vicky! Tell whoever it is I am busy right now! Send them
away!�
Vicky smirked casting a wry look upon him. She shrugged and
turned heading for the door. �Okay� but I thought you wanted to speak
to Nabiki Tendo,� she casually said.
�WAIT!�
Shock and stunned looks greeted Victoria when she turned around.
Okura held the phone up just to his ear, the voice of somebody on the
other end calling out to him. He set the receiver down in its cradle
and sat back.
�Nabiki Tendo is here?� he asked.
�Yes. She�s out there chatting with Chino right now.�
Hateful glares cut over to Tanyun; who nervously cleared his
throat whiles slipping away from the desk.
�Well there goes that �well done�,� commented Sachi.
Maeda regarded Vicky calmly. A short sweep of one arm cleared
away the piles of crumpled papers on the desk; Okura fixed himself up
and lit a cigarette.
�Bring her in, please, Victoria.�
Vicky opened the door and in walked Nabiki dressed in her best
business suit carrying a medium sized black bundle under one arm. Chino
followed close behind, eagerly listening to every word Nabiki was saying
to him as he did.
��and I�ll make sure Moussa knows that you still desire her,�
said Nabiki.
�Chino!� snapped Okura, and the big man started sharply. He
backed away sulking over to the far side of the room where Tanyun and
Sachi stood.
�You know, we should tell him about that �girl�,� whispered
Sachi.
Tanyun looked back over his shoulder at Chino and then shook his
head. �Nah, we�d better not. It�d kill him.�
Meanwhile, Nabiki pulled up a chair in front of Maeda�s desk,
beaming brightly at him without so much as concern for her wellbeing.
Vicky pulled up a chair and they sat staring quietly amongst each other.
�Okura� so glad to see you again,� Nabiki said. Tanyun and Sachi
moved up to either side of her and she glanced at them with a smile.
�Hello, boys. Enjoy your stay at Hotel Blue?�
�Now, boss, now!� begged Sachi, ready to tear into Nabiki.
�Get back,� ordered Okura and his men reluctantly drew away from
Nabiki�s chair. �So, Nabiki� from your demeanor, I suspect you think
I�m at your mercy now?�
Nabiki pretended to think over Okura�s comment, letting out a few
hums and haws before answering him. �Yep,� she said.
He grunted angrily, hands shaking with fury. Another drag from
the cigarette and then Okura forced back his rage. �So what�s to stop
me from having Tanyun and Sachi drag your miserable self up to the top
of this building and throwing you over the side?�
�Several things. One; obviously the information I now possess on
you and your operations, and two; my brother-in-law, you know the police
officer? He�s waiting for me downstairs and if I show up in any other
way shape or form besides on my own two feet in the next oh� twenty
minutes� you are going to find out what it feels like to have the Tokyo
S.W.A.T. team lodged knee-deep in your ass.�
�Listen to this bitch!� shouted Tanyun, �why I aught�a��
�BE silent, Tanyun!� shouted Okura.
Maeda fumed glaring a Nabiki sitting there with a smug look on
her face. He sneered and crushed out his cigarette, leaning forward.
�You are smart, Nabiki Tendo, very smart but you did not come up here
for nothing.�
�Right you are, Okura!� Nabiki picked the black bundle up from
her lap and gently placed it down on the desk before him. He stared at
it and then Nabiki pulled on one of the cords. The cloth dropped away
revealing all of the stolen items that had been in his personal safe.
�It�s all there,� she told him. �Well all but that stuff you had
on Tatewaki and I. You can�t have that� no, no, not that.�
Maeda was stunned, looking to Victoria who also sat staring in
disbelief at the pile. He picked up one of the ledgers and opened it
checking to see if it was authentic.
�The originals,� said Nabiki.
He set the book down. �Why?� asked Okura.
�Why what?�
�Why are you giving this back when you had me at your mercy?�
�Oh� because I don�t need them now.� Nabiki smiled triumphantly.
�I had time to glean though your stuff and found leads to more �juicier�
evidence on you and others of your esteemed organization.�
�Really? So with that evidence why are not trying to force me
out of my position then? Takeover, like I know a person like you would
want to do?�
�Tempting, but I have another company in the works right now
which is fitting me just fine. No, Okura, your position does not
interest me.�
Maeda arched a brow. �Then why?�
Nabiki laughed. �When I went through this I found out that you
are not a bad thing to have around after all. A necessary evil to put
it bluntly.�
�Hmm� But you did not come here just to be nice. You want
something I am sure, Nabiki Tendo.�
�Oh, I�m going to get my pound of flesh you can bet that. You
surprise me, Okura. Oddly enough your organization actually helps out
the Kuno Industries, keeping the more hazardous contraband out of their
properties, managing the workers. I was really impressed by your
thoughtfulness.�
�Why thank you, Nabiki.�
�But you must tell me where you�re getting the Moonshine from.
We sampled some of that� good stuff.�
Maeda grunted laughing at her remark. He thumbed through several
of the pages in his ledgers and then sat back. �Okay, Nabiki� what do
you want?�
�A few things. First; stay out of Nerima. It belongs to me and
I do not share. No new ventures, no side stores, nothing. Second; the
Kuno Industries are also off limits. We might entreat some kind of deal
concerning worker management and shipping arraignments, but as for their
other investments� stay out.�
�Is that all?�
�No� thirdly; leave my friends and my family alone. No harm
comes to them in any manner. One problem, one inadvertent accident and
you will pay.�
�Boss!� exclaimed Sachi, �Are you going to let this bitch dictate
to you like that?�
�Be quiet!� shouted Okura. He frowned at Nabiki but knew she had
him in a vice ready to squeeze the life out of him if need be. No, he
would play her game for now.
�Any more demands?� he asked.
�Couple more. I want all of the money you extorted from me
returned by this Wednesday, and I want my full pay that you owe me.�
�Now wait just one�.�
Nabiki waved a hand, shaking her head. �No, this is not
debatable. You worked me like a dog and only paid me a fraction of what
an accountant would make. No, Okura, I want my money and I want it
all.�
Again, Maeda eyed her with a dark stare. �Humph,� he muttered,
and nodded.
�Good!� continued Nabiki. �Now there is only one last thing I
need for you to do.�
�And what is that?�
The cheer fell away. �Give back Vicky�s Passport.�
Her request drew a visible start from Maeda. His mouth hung
open, eyes wide and speechless. He looked over at Victoria accusations
dancing in his eyes, but Nabiki rapped her knuckles on the table drawing
him back to her.
�No, she had nothing to do with my plan,� she told him. �I just
don�t think it is right for you to be holding her hostage like you are
doing. It�s not right and it�s not fair.�
Of all the things dear to him, Vicky held the highest spot and
Okura did not wish to loose her. Nabiki�s demands although steep were
not that damaging, but to allow Vicky too leave him brought a pain new
to his heart. He found himself looking over at her, distressed and then
wondered if he was being selfish denying her the right to leave if she
wished. She had become more than just his secretary and realized then
that meant more to him than the entire company itself.
Maeda turned away, meeting the expectant stares from his
companions, and then sighed. �It will be done,� he said.
�Now,� demanded Nabiki.
He tensed narrowing his eyes at her. Slowly, Okura reached into
his jacket and pulled out the dark green passport, placing it down on
the desk and slid it over to Victoria. She stared at it for a moment
then Nabiki asked, �So you�re free too. What now?�
Vicky picked up the passport. �Like I told you, Nabiki, I like
my job and I like the company I�m with,� she said, giving Okura a warm
smile. �That is to say we will probably be visiting the States this
Christmas.�
�One to you, Okura,� said Nabiki. �I can�t win them all. I will
credit you with one other thing, Okura. No man has ever bested me in my
entire life. You are the first and most likely the last. That is a
feather you can put in your hat.�
She glanced down at her watch. �Ooo, look at the time. I better
get going. My brother-in-law might start to get worried here soon.�
Nabiki stood up ready to leave and paused as a thought came to
her. �Oh yes, Okura. I finished going through all of your accounting
records, a feat you will also be paying me for. It seems that there is
a large discrepancy between these records and your other records.�
�What?�
Maeda opened up one of the ledgers and started thumbing through
it.�
Nabiki pointed at the pile, �(Heh, heh, heh,) you will not find
it that way. I left you a detailed list of my findings in that folder
there.�
He picked up the folder in question and opened it up reviewing
the contents. After a moment his eyes lit up. �That much?�
�Oh yes. It appears that some of your �associates� have been
taking liberties with certain transactions. I don�t want to say
�skimming�, or �diverting�, but those words do come readily to my mind.
Turns out that my predecessor too discovered this imbalance and was
about to make a report on it when he fell foul to some accusations
directed against him.�
Nervous coughs and fidgeting came from Tanyun and Sachi enduring
a scything stare from Okura.
�So,� continued Nabiki, clasping her hands together, �Looks like
you�ll be pretty busy these next few days and nights. I�ll just be
moving on, and you can consider this my two-weeks notice. It was nice
doing business with you. Ciao.�
Nabiki headed for the doors when Vicky suddenly called her. The
secretary literally ran to catch up with her casting timid looks over
her shoulders at the men.
�Nabiki� I uh, I still want to know how you did all of that
�stuff� you were doing in those pictures?�
�Excuse me?�
�You know, all of that leg twisting and body bending.�
They looked at each other and then Nabiki stepped back leaning
from side to side giving Victoria a quick examination. She held her
chin in thought, arching one brow.
�Bring your skimpiest bikini, three large towels, a bottle of
muscle relaxants, and two large bottles of liquid CRISCO oil. I�m
giving a class starting tonight at eight in my fathers dojo� don�t be
late.�
�Should I bring�?� Vicky pointed back to Okura.
�And spoil all of your future fun?� answered Nabiki. Vicky
giggled, returning to her chair.
�Nabiki,� called Okura.
He paused, casually turning though a few more of the pages in her
folder. �Your job here�.�
�What about it?�
�Its yours whenever you come to claim it.�
Maeda closed the folder and their eyes met. Nabiki chuckled,
breaking out with a brief laugh. �You�re kidding,� she said, heading
for the doors.
The tap of her heels echoed around the room, the pace gradually
slowing down to a stop when she reached the doors. Nabiki grabbed the
handles and opened them, paused and then slowly looked back over her
shoulder at Okura Maeda.
�I�ll think about it, Mister Maeda,� she said before closing the
doors behind her�
Fin