Big Gold had been waiting so long. Too long for this. But she could wait. Just a little while longer. No risks this time, just calculated attacks, dividing and conquering. Revenge would be so sweet when finally tasted and devoured. Just a little while longer. But the Iczel had found the partner. They would not synchronize to be powerful enough, and she had insured that Iczer Liros would not reach them in time. Nowhere near. But the partner could still be dangerous. Finding her potential would make her as powerful as any Iczer. But they needed time for that. That would give her more time herself. But she would not let this opportunity slip by. The Iczer had not yet found them. Opportunities abounded. Her gold light pulsed in the darkness of space, separating a small globe to the surrounding night. Inside, a woman rested in the fetal position, peaceful in her little world. But now was not a time for peace.
DAUGHTER. RISE AND SERVE ME.
Golden eyes shot open, a cold stare radiating total understanding. The gold orb shattered and dissipated as the woman straightened to her full height, her tall naked body dwarfed by the bright light of her mother. Clothes appeared on her, a silver bodysuit which shone to reflect the light bouncing off long, straight, platinum blonde hair. She brought up her arm in front of her chest in a silent salute, and with only a slight nod, slipped away through space in a ribbon of gold light, hurtling herself towards a small blue planet, harboring the even smaller island country of Japan.
With an expertise born of endless repetition, Shampoo cleared, cleaned and reset the small restaurant's table with it's appropriate accoutrements: chopsticks, napkin, and several re-filled spice jars. Over time, it had become a rote blur, enough, almost, to make her forget that she had ever had a life before this. She found herself wondering sometimes what had brought her here. But the reminder was never far behind.
Ranma... What could she do? What would it take? Even before her love for him, she had a duty to fulfill. She was Joketsuzoku before she was anything else. It was what she was born into, it was what she was raised to be, and she would die that same proud warrior.
But right now, she didn't quite feel the warrior she was. Waitress, maybe, sexpot, yes, but definitely not a warrior. And in that lay the problem.
Ranma love Shampoo. So why take so long? Why I need use so many tricks? If only could get rid of angry Akane. Everything be much easier. Everytime I try to be alone with Ranma, she beat him, and he have to go back. She sighed, growing tired of a train of thought that had become too commonplace.
"Just want to go back home..." The words slipped out unbidden, but Shampoo couldn't regret their passage into the outer world.
"Would you return in shame child? You were lucky that I found you before you returned the first time. The elders would not approve of one of their future successors returning without having fulfilled at least one of the two most important duties of the Joketsuzoku." Cologne stared blankly at her great granddaughter. Certainly not the first time they had this conversation, and she was definitely getting tired of repeating it. This line of Shampoo complaining and her reminding the girl what was required always ended up going nowhere.
"But Great-grandmother! Maybe Ranma not-- maybe Ranma not--"
Finally, the truth sinks in. Cologne balanced on her walking stick thoughtfully, hoping the girl wouldn't break down too badly. She would offer no sympathy. Love had nothing to do with the laws of the Joketsuzoku. Power. Getting it and keeping it. The tribes were too small to give that up. Love had to be secondary. If it was found and fell within the tribal laws, all and good, but otherwise... well, the world was never an easy place.
"What if Ranma no-- Ranma no--" Shampoo sputtered and choked on the words, fighting to admit to them.
"Spit it out girl! Face it now and get it over with!" Cologne set herself rigid on her perch.
"What if Ranma-- afraid of Akane and can't leave?!"
Cologne's form crashed sideways into the ground like an upended bell tower. After a moment's reflection, she rectified her position and decided to stay on the floor, walking stick in her hand at her side. I guess I deserved that.
"No can blame Ranma for fear of Akane! She is brute! She no deserve him!" Shampoo was quickly losing her temper. "If Shampoo could kill, then would!"
"If you want Son-in-law to follow you willingly, then that's not an option."
"But nothing work until now..." Shampoo's head dropped dejectedly, knowing it was true. She didn't hate Akane, exactly, but the girl was definitely an obstacle.
SLAM!
Both heads swiveled synchronously and with lightning speed, both young and old woman ready to take on any attack. Their bodies went limp and stern faces dropped with disgruntlement. They watched the figure that had crashed into the glass door of the café nonchalantly dust off his white tunic, fix his glasses, and walk without a sound inside.
"What want, Mousse?" Shampoo was not in the least happy to see him. As if she didn't have enough thorns in her side.
"Just wondering what you were up to this time. I never thought you would have it in you to actually try to have Akane Tendo murdered. Would you go that far, old woman?" Mousse somehow managed to give the diminutive elder a pointed stare in the right direction.
"Mousse stupid. Shampoo and Great-grandmother not do anything. We here all morning, unlike stupid Mousse who disappear since yesterday." Shampoo turned to walk back towards the bar grill, and stopped dead in her tracks. Murdered?
Could we be so lucky? Could the story actually have been true? Cologne held her breath. She had overheard whispers from the kitchen that afternoon that something had indeed attacked Akane and Son-in-law, and that could prove to be a boon to take advantage of. "What do you know Mousse? Neither one of us has done anything today, and you should at least have something useful to say after having been gone so long."
Mousse straightened his glasses thoughtfully. If these two weren't behind it, then... " Apparently Akane Tendo and Saotome were attacked by some creature at their school--"
"Ranma!? Is okay? What happen--"
"Shush, girl, and let him speak." Cologne raised her hand to block Shampoo from physically following after the answers to her questions.
"It was obviously some kind of animal, but the stories seem to get more bizarre as they pass from person to person. They both made it out okay, and since no one had claimed the attack for their own, I assumed that you would certainly have had something to do with it."
"I had heard something to that effect yesterday afternoon. And nobody knows what attacked them?" If Cologne could at least try to get enough information to use, they could absolutely use this to their advantage. With the Tendo girl out of the way, Son-in-law would have nowhere to go but with them. And no blood or guilt hanging over them.
"Nobody will say for sure. Only those two saw it. And Nabiki Tendo refuses to sell any information. But one thing without question is that it was definitely after Akane Tendo. And Saotome wasn't strong enough to stop it."
"So that is the whelp's name, now is it?" All three bodies spun to meet the owner of the rich, mocking voice. A voice whose owner had not only made it past locked doors, but more importantly, past the highly trained warrior's senses of three Joketsuzoku. A realization leaving each very ill at ease.
"Who are you? What you doing here?" Shampoo stepped forward besides Cologne, taking a ready stance for a fight.
"You are not so weak, as you look, are you? Either of you, actually." The woman watched the trio in an amused fashion. Cologne returned a steady gaze, weighing. The woman had not just walked in here. That much she knew. Even the slightest bit of friction against the tiles on the floor and she would have heard it. This woman had remarkable skill. She carried the air of power around, and seemed very comfortable wielding it. Cologne instantly disliked this woman. But three hundred years of wisdom and experience told her this woman was not here for a fight, so she waited silently. "It appears we have common interests, you and I." Solid yellow eyes disregarded the younger two, zeroing in on ancient black eyes. "This may work out better than I had hoped. You are not fond of this... Akane, am I correct?"
"Akane is nuisance. Husband come to marry me, but family stop him. She is violent, crazy girl. " Shampoo clenched a fist in rising anger. Her body relaxed from her fight-ready posture, but her eyes still gleamed, ready for anything thrown at her, literally or figuratively.
Mousse stared at the three women, speechless. The direction this conversation was heading towards was disturbing.
"You're the one trying to kill Akane Tendo, aren't you?" He wished, even with his glasses, that he could clearly see the look on the stranger's face. In her silence he found an answer he wished he hadn't sought. He held no real grudge against either his rival or his fiancee. He merely wished to force Shampoo to see the truth about the man she was after. But death for either was not an option. Nothing they had done, even all the things Ranma had done, deserved that. The next question came naturally. "Why?"
"My reasons needn't concern you. You seem to have enough reasons of your own." She cocked her head to the side, the smile never leaving.
"They don't deserve that! Nothing they've done--"
"Mousse! Be quiet! What you want to do? Maybe we consider." Shampoo took a tentative step forward, trying to hold herself up to the tall woman facing her. If she offered an answer to her problem, then she could follow willingly. There was no guilt in taking back what was rightfully hers. If Akane dared to stand in the way, then let her suffer the consequences.
Cologne silently cursed Shampoo's youth and her barefaced nature. To be so interested, so soon, showed they were needy-- desperate, in fact. That put them at a definite disadvantage. However, Cologne herself couldn't help but feel anxious. To finally and truly end this charade that had lasted over a year. That might be worth losing a little face. And at least the people who mattered the most would never know.
The woman continued her friendly facade, hiding her true feelings for those facing her. They were disgusting, the two female ones particularly. One trying too hard not to be interested, the other not trying hard enough. The male might be a problem, but one easily taken care of. That was what bedems were for.
Humans were such weak, petty creatures, only consumed with what immediately surrounded them, blind to the realities of what was really occurring. These two could be useful or a time, to get done what was needed without interference from the Iczer. After all, even to protect their own partner, no Iczer would involve herself in such a fight-- a 'domestic' dispute, as it were. They were so involved in their honors, human, Iczers and Cthuwulf alike. It was no wonder they were so attracted to each other. And they would die by that same attraction. She would see to that. It would be as Mother had ordered. She laughed.
"What is so funny?" Cologne could take the silence no more and finally allowed herself some shamelessness. They had lost this skirmish anyway. But the end battle would be theirs. Whatever this woman wanted would not stand in their way after everything was done.
"Yes," She chuckled, long, white-gold hair swaying as she spoke. "I think this will work out just fine."
Lunch time at Furinkan High was always full of activity, but there seemed to be a particular buzz of involvement around one table, aimed at one person in particular. Cash was waved around as if to fan the heated late spring air. But with heated queries being thrown, and voices piled upon voices to match the student bodies, any real air circulation was highly unlikely. Nabiki smiled in her ever-wise, all-business manner. This would hurt her more to say than for the group to hear.
"Now, now people, calm down. I don't have any info for anybody--yet." Maybe after all this craziness was over, and certain people's involvements were removed entirely. Oh, but she hated this! A perfect opportunity that had to be spoiled for the need of privacy(!) of all things. It wouldn't be fair to Akane, nor would it be safe. Who knew what anybody needed the details for, and for what purposes, besides morbid curiosity. Theories were already brewing in her mind. She shooed all the people surrounding her with a wave of her hand. They were like flies, in that respect. More like worker bees, and she the first bee to return to give instructions to the others. Not quite the queen, but important enough. You couldn't take center stage and still expect to control everything. But the money would have been soooo good. In a typical high school like this, any excitement was worth a couple of hundred Yen or so, and they bought the tales eagerly. As people bought information from her, they would spread them, and the more they spread, the more garbled it got. And that would bring everybody right back to her to buy the right information. She sighed, frustrated. Finally, realizing there was nothing to be gained here, the other students returned to their daily routines, as if nothing had ever happened. Except for the disgruntled murmurs she heard every now and then. Oh well. Next time maybe.
She was surprised that the interest had lasted this long. With Ranma and all his tagalongs, things stayed pretty exciting. And the betting pools were still surprisingly active.
A quick tap on her shoulder piqued her interest but didn't bring her to turn around. She didn't have to. She would meet Yuuki later behind the girls' gym. The girl had definitely been a friend worth making. She worked part time in the police precinct, preparing herself for her own career there. She only worked in records, but Yuuki had gained considerable trust there and had access to a lot. Yuuki had been reluctant, but since Nabiki didn't need names, only places and situations, she had eventually relented. Nabiki never would have thought such access, even as limited as it was, could be so useful. And she hated it now that it needed to be. But there was nothing to be accomplished in resentment. She leisurely finished her rice and let the time slip by.
Nabiki's brow furrowed the deeper she read into the folder before her in her bedroom. Papers were strewn carelessly across her bed, a small stack of police photographs turned face down on the floor. There was no way she wanted to look at those. The quick glance she had ventured when they were handed to her had made her stomach turn. She flipped back and forth through a few papers, index finger sliding down each page to locate information.
I am way in over my head.
We all are.
The thought bothered her.
But she couldn't help it. Certainly not the one to enjoy admitting
that she couldn't keep in control of things, but at least she
knew her limits. Here lay all the proof she needed. It couldn't
be anything other than those creatures that had attacked Ranma
and Akane. Bedems, or whatever they were, were hostile. Very hostile.
She had already had to leave the room to take a distancing walk--twice.
She didn't even want to consider what the photographs would have
done to her. The details given in the reports, even in the dry
language of science, had been more than graphic in their depiction
of the violence. What it all amounted to, and what frightened
her the most, was it's execution-- random, vicious, and fast.
Peoples heads being crushed like so many ripe melons. People spontaneously
exploding to kill other people. And nobody could figure out why.
The police were blaming a pack of feral dogs and were scouring
the streets. Nabiki wondered what they would think of the truth.
It sat like a lead weight in her stomach. Maybe she should take
a walk again. But Kasumi had caught her last time, had seen the
look on her face, and had tried to feed her some bitter herbal
tea. She could swear her sister was trying to poison her. But
then, this was Kasumi cooking, not Akane.
A uncontrollable bone chilling shiver spread through her as she
stood from her seat on the bed. She shook it off as best she could
but it stayed with her. She'd been getting way too many of those
lately. She really needed to leave. But where?
Sometimes I envy Ranma that. He's like a monkey. He can go anywhere he wants. Nabiki thought about that. Maybe I don't envy him. So she would do what she could as Nabiki. She would go back down to the sitting room and fend off Kasumi and her potions as best she could. And try to think a way out of this mess.
Nabiki was grateful. Somehow she had been able to fend off the motherly Kasumi and now found herself sitting in the dining room, watching a war in the brewing outside. She couldn't hear their words as they were carried in the opposite direction by a brisk spring wind, but she really didn't need to. It always amazed Nabiki that Ranma and Akane didn't get bored with their fights. The same insults thrown time after time, the same punches, the same scowling looks. She wondered if they actually looked forward to these fights. Why, was beyond her, but she had seen stranger things happen.
This one seemed to be a territorial dispute. She knew it had to be too good to last. Akane and Ranma actually getting along on the way home. Then Akane had gone to practice in the yard, and Ranma and his father's fight over some left over onigiri had spilled out into that same yard. Soon Ranma was flying right at Akane. Nabiki had to praise her sister's daily training. Otherwise, she was certain she would have hacked Ranma into pieces with that light sword of hers. She wondered absent-mindedly just how tempting that opportunity must have been for Akane. Especially with the embarrassment of having to play landing cushion for the airborne Ranma. But rather than apologize, Nabiki knew, Ranma would throw insults. And Akane would get (rightfully) angry. So of course now they were fighting. Nabiki only fiddled with her onigiri and settled to watch the rerun outside.
It was almost funny the way Akane actually met Ranma eye to eye in that suit of hers. Nabiki wondered if that made a difference to Ranma, now that his target was actually the same size. Probably not. Ranma never let himself be daunted by anything, and that was still Akane under that suit. She watched Genma walk away bored as he finished eating his win by default and realized that Ranma had a new fight to lose.
Nabiki barked out a surprised laugh as Ranma was shoved unceremoniously into the koi pond. Well, that's certainly a change. Normally Akane would send Ranma to orbit the heavens above Nerima for his crimes. She certainly must be in a better mood. Still, Ranma's behavior wouldn't do if what she had in mind was going to work at all. They would have to actually be getting along, and this was not what she had in mind. Ranma dragged herself out of the water and towards the house. Nabiki watched silently as she approached. The temptation upon her entering, however, was too great.
"You probably did deserve that you know," Nabiki stated on the sly, never looking at Ranma as the short redhead sloshed past. She could hear a low, angry grumble that originated from Ranma, and was certain it was something nasty. In better spirits now, she decided that was okay. But she was definitely going to have to talk to Ranma, in whatever gender he happened to take later.
The high pitched cry tore a hole in the late afternoon, and sent both girls racing for the kitchen, a pained cry that they would have rather have died than ever have to hear.
Akane watched the now female Ranma stalk off back towards the house, and turned brusquely back to her practice. She pushed out heavy breaths to try to chase out the aggression she felt, and swung her saber heavily in the air around her to follow her practice.
She stepped forwards once and swung her arms down, the basic kendo practice stance. Again, and again, each time taking an enormous breath in an attempt to focus. That was what she needed now, to lock out the outside and really get back to practicing. There was too much for her to learn. She swiped down rigidly, placing all her attention into the hum of the saber. Again. And again. With a final sigh, she let go of Iczerio and dropped her arms heavily.
"I can't do this now," She groaned and covered her face wearily.
The scream ripped through her distraction, pulling Akane with a jerk to face the house, her eyes drawing taut and wide in panic.
"KASUMI!" With a bursting flash of green lightning, Akane disappeared into the crisp spring air.
Ranma and Nabiki burst into the kitchen, Ranma roughly shoving the middle Tendo sister behind her. Nabiki stopped short to avoid a collision with the diminutive martial artist as both skidded to a halt at the sight. Kasumi, apparently unharmed, stood in the midst of vegetables and noodles strewn all over the floor, a large pan laying carelessly to the side. But the scene in front of them which held them in place.
Akane felt herself break into a sweat under the strain of power she held around her, the large shield attempting to embrace both her and Kasumi, and a large portion of the entrance to the rest of the house. The cold eyes that watched her seemed to exert even more pressure on her, although their owner did nothing at all. Pupil-less, golden, and steely eyes with total control, and worst of all-- mocking. The body in which they were housed-- tall, thin, and cradled by a rich mane of platinum blonde hair, bespoke that same natural ability to rule a situation, and as Akane struggled to maintain the shield which she and Iczel Blue had created, she realized that this strange woman had dominated here as well. With only a glance as her weapon, Akane felt herself steadily weakening under the strain.
Hold on Akane, I know we can. Iczel Blue's voice, however, betrayed a certain unease. A shield was by no means a difficult object to construct or maintain in Iczerio. But here they were, both fighting the crush of their own shield upon them, Iczerio turning in on itself. It knew, and Akane knew, that the key was to fight back, but there was just no opportunity. All their abilities now were focused on just defending. Protecting. It was all they had.
And it made Akane angry. This woman was going to crush her, and the gods only knew what she would do to the rest of them when she was finished. She had made a promise. Not just to Iczel Blue, not just to her family, not just to fight Big Gold. She made a promise on the very first day her father had taught her the first stance in Musabetsu Kaktou Tendo-ryu kenpo, a promise ultimately every martial artist made when first studying the art. A promise to be held on to until the day you died, whether you continued your studies or not. Protect the weak, defend those in need. To use your talents and your training to set things right.
And here she was, literally a foot away from breaking that promise. If she failed now, doing what only she could do, there was no way for her to keep that promise. And it fed her anger. She would not give up. She would not let herself be won over that easily. She would not be destroyed. She had made a promise and she would keep it. Iczerio pulsed within her, and she knew it was hers. She could see it in the slightly widened golden eyes that had once watched her so amused, but now had a definite focus. Akane recognized her ally, and let it swallow her, the bulging hunger of Iczerio rising off her like waves of heat. There was a cry in the back of her mind. Someone calling her name? It didn't matter. She could see those eyes shrinking back, the beginning of worry, a defensive holding of her shoulders. More focus in those cold eyes.
And it fueled her. Iczerio gathered about her like a warm cloak, slowly gathering and swelling in her hands. Black flickered at the edge of thought. It didn't matter. One shot. That's all it would take. And it would all be over. This woman was the cause of all their problems. It was all her fault. She would end it. Now. And keep her promise.
The great ball of Iczerio in her hands flared and the woman took a tentative step back. It would all end here. Steely golden eyes narrowed and faced wide angry brown.
"STOP!"
The cry jolted both out of their silent confrontation. The silver-suited woman shifted to the side to face a much better quarry than the young human before her. Akane continued to stare at her foe, holding the glowing bomb of Iczerio in her hands. The woman started to move away, to face the black clad warrior now standing in front of Ranma and Nabiki. A chance was a chance, and she was going to take it.
"Akane, please stop," With the gentle words, Iczerio was harshly ripped from her grasp and released harmlessly into the air. She looked behind her in panic, and realized Kasumi had spoken, placing her hand on the younger's shoulder. She felt as if she'd just awoken, and for the first time realized that someone new was in the room.
"The Iczelion is not for you, Aurus." Night and day faced each other in the two warriors, and neither seemed at all pleased.
"What a surprise, Iczer Liros, for you to come to your little partner's rescue so soon. I must admit, the choice must have been quite difficult," Aurus waved an open hand about her in a single, fluid movement. "With such latent talent surrounding you."
Iczer Liros said nothing and raised her hand to draw her saber. A flicker, then nothing. Her eyes widened in surprise. She was still weak herself, and until Iczer Robo was fully repaired, she would be at a disadvantage, but even the saber should come when she called. Iczerio flared briefly within her, then was gone again.
"Don't bother," Aurus shrugged her shoulders as if bored. "There is nothing you and I can settle here. We'll merely have to leave this for a later date, I suppose..." It doesn't matter. My win is assured either way. With a lazy smile Aurus disappeared in golden lightning, and Iczer Liros stood grimacing after the now empty air.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!" Ranma trudged forward as threateningly as she could, but settled for demanding instead.
Iczer Liros blinked, returning to the present time, and met the young red-head.
"You are...?" Iczer Liros tried to place a name to the face in front of her. She had studied Akane's family well before first approaching her, but she did not know this one. And she was still perplexed as to why Iczerio had failed her. It left her feeling unsettled, something she could not afford.
"That's my line! I--"
"Iczer-- Liros..." Akane tested the name on her tongue, memories returned in a slow, steady trickle as the original image stood now as a concrete object before her. Despite having once remembered the dream in full, in the past few days it had faded to a forgotten relic. The beam of light jolted her out of her reverie as she and Iczel Blue separated.
"Big sis!" Iczel Blue launched itself at the Iczer, who caught the small robot in a low embrace, but betrayed only a puzzled look on her face.
"Yes," A smile fought its way out as she met Akane's confused eyes, relieved that all was well. She knew she needn't have worried. Iczel Blue would continuously be with the girl to protect her and assist her where she needed it. Iczel Blue released her and she turned to the rest of the family and a fuming flame-haired girl. "I am here to help you protect your planet."
Ranma walked by brusquely towards Akane, Kasumi, and the ever-present pot of hot water on the stove. "Eh," it was more a skeptical sound than a questioning one. "So you're the chick who's gonna take Akane as your partner, huh?" She overturned the kettle on herself, features changing her back into her rightful sex.
"She's the only one I can synchronize with--" Iczer Liros froze as the red-head poured the hot liquid over herself, red hair turning to black, body growing longer and leaner, features turning decidedly masculine. She was not wholly familiar with this planet Earth, but she did know what they were capable of and what they weren't. This could only mean one thing, and this time, Iczerio did not fail her.
Cries rose out as the Iczer launched her attack, saber out and descending with frightening speed upon Ranma. Ranma found himself shoved roughly to the side as one particular cry followed itself with action.
"NO!" Lights sparked as sabers clashed, Akane holding up her own weapon to stop the Iczer's. Iczer Liros recoiled and withdrew her weapon, Iczerio vanishing back into it's rightful place.
Ranma stood frozen as he regained himself, Akane totally blocking the taller woman from him. She still stood holding the saber, ready to use it while she had it, her chest visibly heaving with panicked breaths.
"Akane, I'm sorry-- she-- he-- is--" Iczer Liros fought to try to understand. Hadn't they seen what had just happened to this person?
"It's okay, he's like that. You get used to it," Iczel Blue broke in, and Iczer Liros looked to him dumbly. It shrugged back. "I don't understand it either, but apparently there are a few humans that do that. But they're not bedem."
"Can we please agree not to kill each other now?" Nabiki had decided to remain outside. This type of war was not her forte, and it was certainly not her place to try to 'help out' in these situations.
"Yes, I think the kitchen is too small for this." Kasumi seemed oblivious to the others' panic, wariness, and confusion. Instead, as was her way, she approached everything with the careful grace of a well-groomed hostess, a Zen master who had long ago achieved the perfect state of nirvana. "Shall we sit in the dining room?"
Few things ever befell the Tendo household peacefully, the only thing at the moment the lengthening shadows as the sun sank slowly in the horizon, turning the sky a melange of husky reds and blues. Dinner had come and gone with little fanfare, family members attempting to return to the more normal family life that had of late been markedly lacking
Ranma sat idly watching TV, flipping channels without really seeing the shows which passed by before the remote's button was pressed again. Once in a while an errant eye roamed past the open doors into the garden, searching dim early night for movement.
Saber lights flashed and streaked in the air as the two combatants swirled about each other in a dizzying arrangement of steps, dancing around the sporadically lit yard as they parried and attacked, lithe figures almost identical in the heavy dusk before nightfall.
But he would have known which figure was hers even if he hadn't been watching. Which he wasn't. She was clumsy, slow, and her attacks were totally readable. Okay, she wasn't that bad, but certainly compared to her sparring partner in the Iczer, she may as well have been. The button pressed again, and the pictures on the large television changed without notice once more.
She's really good... He didn't need to watch long to guess that. Even though Akane seemed to attack pretty aggressively (as she did everything) it was only because the other woman let her. She was obviously holding back. A lot. That she could have sliced them in half without even a thought did not escape him. That wasn't quite right. He knew he could have dodged it. It was only dumb luck that Akane had blocked that swing. What the hell had Akane been thinking? Did she think she could get that good? Probably not. Akane just didn't seem to ever think that way. And anyway, this woman might even give the old hag a run for her money.
All this was going to do was get Akane deeper and deeper into a situation that would more than likely get her killed. Or in enough danger that she'd be lucky to get out alive. Too many close calls. Too many times when she'd throw herself into danger without thinking of the consequences. Too many times when he'd almost lost her.
Every muscle in his body tensed as the memory of a mountain cliff in China resurfaced in his mind. She had been so still, so peaceful. He had been hopeful for a little while, that everything would turn out okay, as it always did. But she wouldn't move, wouldn't answer his calls for her. She just lay there in his arms, perfectly still, a larger version of the doll she had been just before he had called the dragon tap. What had been realization had wrenched him in two. Yelling out her name had not even begun to release the anguish he had felt. Muscles squeezed tighter and tighter, fighting to keep back that same despair as it threatened to take hold again.
But reality began to pull him back, away from the threat of being swallowed whole by his own memories. It first eased and guided, then pulled harder and with a little more urgency, finally with a loud crack and desperate yanking, he came back to himself in the present tense.
"OW!" Nabiki fell back on her rear, holding the small black remote, now rendered useless, in both hands. With a groan, she stared down a startled, blinking Ranma who seemed surprised to see her there. "Ranma, we've discussed this already," She dangled the split remote between thumb and index finger to highlight her point.
"Huh?" Slowly he returned to himself.
"Don't 'huh' me! These things cost money, and if you're going to go indiscriminately destroying things, you're going to have to pay for them!" She waggled her finger at him admonishingly. "And you don't have much of that to work with, you know."
Ranma mumbled something apologetic absentmindedly, and returned to watching TV. Nabiki, apparently appeased, lifted herself and returned to her seated place with her reading at the table.
"Besides, you'd probably just get better results if you just told Akane you were worried about her, and maybe you two wouldn't fight as often."
"Worried?! Who's worried?! I'm not worried! She can do whatever she wants, I ain't sayin' nothin'!"
Nabiki watched him with half an eye, and half a smile on her face. He was a horrible liar, which probably explained his poker playing. The fact that he had blanched to the white of paper didn't help him any either.
"Whatever." Up came the financial section once more.
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