On Her Own Chapter 7
Episode 07: Three Dates
Nabiki stared at the computer screen. Things were REALLY shaping up
for the new business they were starting. Just a few blocks from
Ucchan's there was a much larger property that would be perfect for
the restaurant, and maybe... something else.
Ranma was a REAL martial artist, Akane thought she was one, but really
only played at it. Nabiki already felt she could catch up to Akane
with dedication, and Ranma's help. Who knew about Kasumi, though she
was picking up the Art quickly too. Of course it WAS a birthright they
all shared. Maybe some of the space could be used to start a new dojo,
after all... WHAT would Ranma do when she met the Master? Could their
fathers' schools survive having only FEMALE heirs?
Nabiki felt another presence in the room. Turning quickly, she
actually scared Shampoo. The surprised Amazon took a hop back,
swallowed a yelp, and blinked once. Nabiki pulled a nice but predatory
smile from her collection, and then put it on. "Well, well, Shampoo...
Any news on our little... project?"
Shampoo found her composure again, then couldn't restrain herself.
"Yes, yes. I found a very very old book in the library. It was written
in old kanji, but I read it. It tells legend of Kaisuifuu, and hiding
place." In her excitement, the young Amazon slipped back to ingrained
speech-patterns. "Teapot hidden in mountain near here, but far away.
Take train, go Treasure Mountain, find teapot. Bring back..." She
looked down as she finished, growing excitement dashed for some
unknown reason.
"That's great Shampoo!" She said with energy, which dropped sharply as
she continued, and observed, "What's wrong?"
Shampoo looked up, here eyes shimmering. "But... Nabiki. Ranma real
woman now. Ranma mother. Shampoo think Ranma no want. Gloss... Sakura
no want. Shampoo no want, any more. Shampoo hope not kill sister." She
finished in a whisper, and then looked down.
Nabiki didn't know what to do or say. Her smile was replaced with a
flat line, as she couldn't seem to find an expression to show how she
felt. She shook her head back and forth, trying to convince herself
that Ranma WANTED this. That this would earn Ranma's gratitude... but
would it? At last, she spoke. It was a tentative voice she used, one
she had forgotten shortly after her mother's death. "Well Shampoo,
maybe we should wait for a while. There's no rush to pick it up until
Ranma NEEDS it. And... if it's not there anymore when we finally visit
that place well, you and Ranma will be happy."
Nabiki felt a hand gently resting on each shoulder. She looked up, and
saw plainly sadness and pain and happiness combined on Shampoo's face.
"Nabiki, " A collected Shampoo began, "I'm glad you feel this way. I
love Ranma, but not the way one of you might, some day. To me, I just
want her to be happy because she's my only real sister. But, because
she was a man, she can only love a woman. Maybe someday, she'll WANT
to use the Kaisuifuu, but... SHE has to be the one to decide. And
whoever loves her has to be prepared for her NOT to use it."
The middle Tendou daughter nodded her head in understanding, and then
looked down, squeezing her eyes shut. Emotions hurt, that's why she
had abandoned a lot of them twelve years before. She had been thinking
only of herself, not the vibrant young woman who had crashed into
their ordered lives, setting everything on edge. She opened her eyes,
and studied Shampoo's concerned face. "Thanks Shampoo. You reminded me
what love really is. I guess I was hoping for a woman who could become
a man when I snapped my fingers. Take care of the house and kids AND
who could carry on the family business so I would become the daughter
to carry on our legacy, not Akane. Then I could do whatever the hell I
wanted in business, and she... or he... would be there for me. I never
really thought about Ranma, just the incredible opportunity to have it
ALL."
Shampoo's gaze became stern for just a moment, then just concerned.
"One of you might be able to earn Ranma's true love. The rest of you,
or maybe all of us, will at least become her sisters. And becoming
Ranma's sister changed my life, Nabiki. She made me think about the
world outside our village when she left. And now, I LIVE in that world
because of her and her mother."
Nabiki wondered if she would ever even have what Shampoo had, let
alone Ranma's romantic love. "Thanks for the update, Shampoo... chan."
Shampoo smiled at the affectionate addendum Nabiki had added to her
name. "Okay, Nabiki-chan! See you!" What a wave and a smile she was
gone.
Nabiki returned to the documents she was working on. It looked like
they would be able to scrape up enough funding to open in a month. But
if Ranma was maybe lost to her was it worth it? Yes, it was. This was
for all of them, no matter what decision Ranma might make at some
point in the future.
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