Everything You Want
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Disclaimer: Ranma ½ is Rumiko Takahashi's. Ho hum.
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Epilogue: Aftermath
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The sun beamed radiantly the next morning, and poured with an almost honey- like slowness onto the old, much repaired Tendo home. Nabiki Tendo stretched languidly in her bed as the sun hit her face, and yawned sleepily. Sitting up in bed, she shook her short brown hair to clear her sleep-fogged mind, and surveyed the room around her. Resting on every available surface were stacks of pictures tied neatly together and files overflowing with papers. After Akane and Ranma had run away from the yard, Nabiki had taken her roll of film and headed to the nearest photo shop. Though she normally developed pictures herself, she wanted these two shots- one of them embracing, one of them kissing-in a staggering amount. Thankfully, like almost every other shop in Nerima, this one she could blackmail, so she had it all done for free. How the photo shop had worked so fast when she had wanted 150 copies, she didn't know. But that didn't matter-she would ask one of her ever-faithful-or rather, fearful-contacts.
After the photos were picked up later that day, she had headed to her room and pulled out her audio recorder. She had recorded everything that was said, and she started to type it up. Then she had photocopied it 75 times. This too, was done for free, for the same reasons the photo shop had.
This morning, she had to make sure everything was ready to be sealed or filed away. She counted the bundles of pictures. There were 75 of each one. "Wonderful," she said quietly. Then she picked up one of the stray papers from a file. This was the conversation record she would be selling. She surveyed her work carefully:
Ranma: So, why did you call me here?
Akane: I really wanted to talk to you about something.
Ranma: I've really wanted to talk to you for a long time about something important, too. Maybe it's the same. What d'you want to talk about, Akane?
Akane: About us. I want to talk to you here though, because it's so calm and beautiful.
Ranma: The way your life was before I came?
Akane: (silence)
Ranma: Look, Akane, I'm sorry about everything. All the craziness I cause just by being here-I'm sorry.
Akane: Ranma, you don't need to be sorry. Having you here, with me, that's enough to make me not care about all the insanity. Because I love you, Ranma. I love you more than anything.
Ranma: I love you too, Akane. I'd do anything for you.
'Perfect.' Even though it wasn't exactly what was said, it was close enough. It didn't matter. No one would really care, anyway, and the end- product would remain the same: everyone would see that they loved each other. However, what was actually said along with the tape of it would remain in her files. You never knew what could be used to reach your ends. Those she put in the bottom-most drawer of her desk, the one with the lock which other important files.
Smiling contentedly, she pulled out a package of 100 manila envelopes from a drawer in her desk. The mercenary-like girl started the painstaking, tedious job of putting one speech record and two photos into each envelope. And while she worked, she smiled to herself. 'It's about time those two fools saw how much they love each other,' she thought. 'And this is as a caring sister, not a cool businesswoman. They were hurting each other by denying it whenever they thought about it. If that had gone on for much longer, one of them would have had their heart shattered. And seeing how thick-headed the two of them are, the other one wouldn't have noticed.' She shook her head. 'Those two are such frustrating people. Thank Kami that they finally spoke to each other.' The brown-eyed girl sighed deeply. She felt kind of guilty, violating the privacy that they had wanted. But then she remembered the money she had earned, and all such thoughts quickly emptied themselves out of her mind.
She finished sealing the last sturdy brown envelope with a flourish and a song on her lips, and gathered them all together. She carefully placed them in a bag next to the desk, and stretched again. Consulting her watch, she saw that it was 9:30. 'Great,' she thought, 'I'm on schedule.' She planned to meet some of her regulars and sell most of these to them. They would then in turn give them away at a higher price to others who found the entire Ranma/Akane situation interesting. There were bets going on as to when the pair would finally realize things, and these files would help settle them. However, there were about five that she wanted to vend personally.
She changed into a lavender t-shirt and her favorite, faded blue jeans, and gathered her valuable bag. Leaving her bedroom, Nabiki walking sedately down the hall. She stopped at Akane's door, and peeped in. Good. She was still sleeping. She wouldn't bother Nabiki. She in turn went to Ranma's door, who was sleeping as well. Nabiki smirked. The two had come home yesterday around six o'clock. According to some of her people, they had gone to the park, eaten some ice cream, avoided cold water at all costs, and done other things that young couples did. However, they had still gone to a restaurant for the sole purpose of getting hot water.
Smiling to herself, she pattered lightly down the stairs, making sure to jump over the squeaky fourth stair. She strolled into the kitchen, where Kasumi was preparing breakfast.
"Oh, Nabiki," Kasumi greeted pleasantly. "Would you like something to eat? I'll quickly prepare something for you."
"No thanks, sis," Nabiki said, waving away the offer with her free right hand. "I have some work to do."
"But you should at least have something to eat!" Kasumi wheedled.
"Okay, I'll have a pork bun," Nabiki said offhandedly, much to the older girl's obvious distaste. However, Nabiki was firm, so Kasumi gave her one of the buns from last night's meal. How this one survived the night without being eaten by Genma or Ranma, Nabiki didn't know. But she had the sneaking suspicion that it had something to do with Ranma and Akane's discovery yesterday and their little excursion in the park.
Nabiki said a quick goodbye to Kasumi, and bit delicately into the pork bun. Despite being a day old and chilled, it was still delicious. After that bite, she devoured the rest of it avidly, all the while heading over to Furinkan High where her first buyer was.
After some spirited haggling from the boy which only landed on deaf ears, he finally gave into Nabiki's price of 30,000 yen for twenty of her envelopes of joy. She had given him a 'discount'-it wasn't really, she had that factored into the main price-of two-thousand yen, which is what sealed the deal. She met five more buyers, and sold fifty more of her 'presents'.
Rifling through her profits of 105,000 yen, she whistled to herself. Today was a good business day-over 100,000 yen in just thirty minutes! Then she put them safely away in her bill holder, and stuffed the bulging pack back into her jeans pocket. She checked her bag, and saw five left. 'Perfect,' she thought. She had plans for these.
Her first stop was the Kuno residence. Knocking on the vast door brought Sasuke to open it. "Miss Tendo! What brings you here?"
"Sasuke! I have something here that Kuno-baby and Kodachi would love!" She brandished the manila packet in front of his face, and pulled it back to her side.
Sasuke frowned. "Miss Tendo, I know that what you bring is probably terribly urgent, but I also know that what you bring isn't cheap. How much is it for them?"
'Miss Tendo' smiled brilliantly. "For my Kuno-baby and his sister, how about... seven-thousand yen?" She knew she was horribly over-pricing it, but the Kunos were always looser with their money than anyone else. "And listen to this-instead of one envelope, I'll give you two for the same price. One for Kodachi and one for Kuno. You know how they squabble over things all the time."
"Oh, Miss Tendo, you shall make us go bankrupt soon!" Sasuke wailed, as Nabiki had expected.
"Fine then. Eight-thousand yen."
Sasuke nearly cried. "Miss... Miss Tendo...!"
"Take it or leave it," she said, a smirk plastered onto her merciless face.
The midget-ninja sighed deeply, and pulled a wallet out of his back pocket. As he was pulling out the money she demanded, Nabiki had a guilt attack.
'I really shouldn't be doing this to Ranma and Akane.... When the Kunos see those pictures, all hell will break loose. They deserve a day of peace.'
As Sasuke held out his hand with the money, Nabiki told him, "Look, how about a deal? You don't give those envelopes to the Kunos until tomorrow, and the price will go back to seven-thousand yen. Deal?"
Relief flooded Sasuke's face. "Of course!" he exclaimed, and pulled a thousand yen note out of his hand and threw it back into the wallet. He accepted the envelopes and hid them under his arm.
"Pleasure doing business with you," the chestnut-haired girl smiled, while Sasuke mumbled something in reply. Picking the bag up again, the medium- built girl strode back down the walk towards the business section of Nerima. She passed her home again, and the silence from it was unnerving. None of the suitors had tried to deliver food yet, then. Good.
But she spoke too soon. As she came into sight of the Nekohanten, she saw Shampoo's bike and her violet-haired head speeding in the direction of the Tendo Dojo with a take-out box in hand. Nabiki sped up her steps as she saw the lone white figure slumping in front of the restaurant.
Mousse was outside, sweeping the walk in front of the restaurant with a definite lack of energy. His glasses, as usual, were on top of his head instead of in front of his eyes. "Hey, Mousse!" Nabiki shouted to him as she came into hearing distance.
The nearly blind boy looked up. He cheered up a little when he saw who it was. "Ah, Nabiki Tendo! Greetings!" The brunette couldn't help but realize that he was speaking to the cat statue next to the restaurant's door. Sighing, she reached over and dropped his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. "Oh!" He turned around and greeted her again. "I am sorry. So, Nabiki, why have you come?"
"I have something here that all of you crazy Amazons would... ah... love." She smiled encouragingly, and held up one of the sachets. Her other hand rested confidently on her waist.
"Oh? What is that?" Mousse was about to grab it out of her hands, but Nabiki stopped him with the menacing finger.
"Nuh-uh. You won't see the contents until you buy it."
"Why should I?" Mousse asked, and leaned the broom against the cat sculpture.
"Because you'll love it. Didn't I say that already?" She smiled dazzlingly, and Mousse sighed.
"Fine. How much?" He had taken his glasses back off, and was staring at the broom inquiringly.
"For you, my sightless friend, a thousand yen." Nabiki didn't really feel like making poor Mousse pay full price. Besides, the Kunos' purchase made up for it.
Mousse muttered a little, but grudgingly pulled out the money from his voluminous sleeves.
Before she gave it to him, however, she told him in a low undertone, "Don't show this to Cologne or Shampoo or even speak about its contents until tomorrow, okay? You'll see why when you open it. Just hide it up one of your sleeves until then." She then handed it to him, and he grudgingly handed over the money. However, he seemed to be genuinely curious of what it contained, for he had put his glasses back on without prompting and was gazing at it with a thoughtful expression.
"Nabiki Tendo, am I permitted to look at it now?" he asked hopefully.
She smiled warmly. "Yes you can, duck-boy, but don't say anything about it or make any sound at all in reaction when you see it." She turned around briskly and walked away. When she looked over her shoulder back at Mousse, however, she could tell that she had just brightened his day. He had resumed sweeping the walk, but was doing it with a bounce in his steps. The envelope has no where to be seen.
Nabiki smiled even wider, feeling pleased with herself. She often felt sorry for duck-boy and Ryoga. Those two were the some of the nicest of those involved some way with Ranma. Besides, those two rarely damaged the house. 'Unlike Shampoo and Ukyo. And speaking of Ukyo....'
There were two envelopes left in her bag, one for Ukyo and one for-not Ryoga, but anyone who may ask for one later. Ryoga, no doubt, had probably guessed the reason Akane had turned down his proposal besides the fact that she loved him like a brother. So it would cause her no real profit, and continue to destroy his spirit.
Sure, she may love money, but she couldn't just destroy someone's soul so ruthlessly. Especially someone who really didn't deserve it. It wouldn't matter to Shampoo, because she had a strong spirit and wouldn't really believe it-never mind be hurt by it! 'But when she storms over to find out the meaning of it... Kami help us. But Ukyo....' At that moment, Nabiki made a decision. She took out the packet meant for Ukyo, and rummaged through it. The picture of the kiss was taken out, and so was the script. Those she put into her bag. It wouldn't hurt to have a copy of her own fake script to use as reference. The only thing the envelope now contained was the picture of the couple's teary embrace. That was the gentlest thing that would hurt her heart least. And she wouldn't make Ukyo pay for this.
Nabiki came into seeing distance of Ucchan's, where Ukyo was standing in the doorway, looking dispirited and lonesome. The okonomiyaki chef sighed deeply, and slumped back into her store.
'What's bothering her?' Nabiki thought. Of all the days to be sick, her contact for Ukyo decided that today would be best. Nabiki put a hand to her temple, and leaned against a building, doing some quick thinking. And checking her watch. Eleven-forty.
'She could just be upset that no customers are waiting. Even though Ucchan's only opened at twelve on Sundays, there would normally be at least five or so regulars queued up at the door by eleven-thirty. Those she let in early. And Nabiki was positive on this point-she had a file on Ucchan's visitor-habits at home.
'Maybe that's the reason.... She isn't really friends with any of the kids from Furinkan, so none of them probably told her. She has no reason to be upset.' But Nabiki considered the girl a little further. 'She's bright, though-not as dense as Ranma and not as oblivious as Akane. She might have noticed... the way they felt.' After all, it was Sunday, Ukyo's normal feed- Ranma day. She never missed Sundays, and always delivered before eleven! And as she passed the Tendo house, all was quiet. And all during her interchange with Mousse, she hadn't seen anyone jumping from roof to roof. It was kind of hard to miss that sort of thing.
'So maybe she does know-' Nabiki was about to think further, but was rudely interrupted by an anguished shout:
"WHERE IN THE WORLD AM I NOW?!" Nabiki's head whipped around, and she finally caught sight of the eternally lost boy.
He was standing with his back to Ucchan's, and desperately trying to recognize his surroundings. And at that moment Ukyo came out of her restaurant, smiling radiantly. She said something to Ryoga, something Nabiki couldn't hear for she was too far away. Ryoga turned around, his face alight with joy. He said something that incredulous, and walked briskly towards her, never blinking his eyes. When he reached her, he grabbed both her hands. He told her something, she seemed surprised-but then she smiled even more brightly than before. Nabiki was certain that if she was closer, she would have been sun-burned by its intensity. Then she told him something, and it was his turn to look stunned and elated. If Nabiki didn't know better... she would have sworn that Ranma and Akane had had the same expressions on yesterday by the koi pond.
Good, then. Ukyo wouldn't care about Ranma and Akane. In fact, she probably already knew and had gotten over it. She could have an unexpectedly strong spirit sometimes.
Ukyo squeezed Ryoga briefly, and taking his hand, lead him back into the restaurant. She stopped at the door and did something to it before going in
Out of sheer curiosity, the hazel-eyed girl went up to see. And she smiled.
On the door was a sign that read, "Closed for the Day".
'I don't need to give her one,' Nabiki thought as she walked back home. 'So what will I do with the two packets left over?' Suddenly an impish idea occurred to her. Wearing an enigmatic smile that passers-by wondered about, she replaced the script and picture back into the envelope that had once been meant for Ukyo. 'I think Akane and Ranma would like to have one. And-' her enigmatic smile changed into a devilish one-'the fathers are sure to love them.'
Contemplating the amount she'd make the daddy and Mr. Saotome pay, Nabiki walked home with light spirits.
And a heavy pocket.
The End
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It's finally over! Took nearly a year... *hits herself* I am such a lazy baka sometimes.... But it would have been finished in January or something if the stupid internet didn't keep on going down. *kicks cable box* I hate Comcast....
So anyway, please review with what you think! Thank you so much to all the people who kept on encouraging me! Bye for now! ~ AmberWings
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Disclaimer: Ranma ½ is Rumiko Takahashi's. Ho hum.
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Epilogue: Aftermath
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The sun beamed radiantly the next morning, and poured with an almost honey- like slowness onto the old, much repaired Tendo home. Nabiki Tendo stretched languidly in her bed as the sun hit her face, and yawned sleepily. Sitting up in bed, she shook her short brown hair to clear her sleep-fogged mind, and surveyed the room around her. Resting on every available surface were stacks of pictures tied neatly together and files overflowing with papers. After Akane and Ranma had run away from the yard, Nabiki had taken her roll of film and headed to the nearest photo shop. Though she normally developed pictures herself, she wanted these two shots- one of them embracing, one of them kissing-in a staggering amount. Thankfully, like almost every other shop in Nerima, this one she could blackmail, so she had it all done for free. How the photo shop had worked so fast when she had wanted 150 copies, she didn't know. But that didn't matter-she would ask one of her ever-faithful-or rather, fearful-contacts.
After the photos were picked up later that day, she had headed to her room and pulled out her audio recorder. She had recorded everything that was said, and she started to type it up. Then she had photocopied it 75 times. This too, was done for free, for the same reasons the photo shop had.
This morning, she had to make sure everything was ready to be sealed or filed away. She counted the bundles of pictures. There were 75 of each one. "Wonderful," she said quietly. Then she picked up one of the stray papers from a file. This was the conversation record she would be selling. She surveyed her work carefully:
Ranma: So, why did you call me here?
Akane: I really wanted to talk to you about something.
Ranma: I've really wanted to talk to you for a long time about something important, too. Maybe it's the same. What d'you want to talk about, Akane?
Akane: About us. I want to talk to you here though, because it's so calm and beautiful.
Ranma: The way your life was before I came?
Akane: (silence)
Ranma: Look, Akane, I'm sorry about everything. All the craziness I cause just by being here-I'm sorry.
Akane: Ranma, you don't need to be sorry. Having you here, with me, that's enough to make me not care about all the insanity. Because I love you, Ranma. I love you more than anything.
Ranma: I love you too, Akane. I'd do anything for you.
'Perfect.' Even though it wasn't exactly what was said, it was close enough. It didn't matter. No one would really care, anyway, and the end- product would remain the same: everyone would see that they loved each other. However, what was actually said along with the tape of it would remain in her files. You never knew what could be used to reach your ends. Those she put in the bottom-most drawer of her desk, the one with the lock which other important files.
Smiling contentedly, she pulled out a package of 100 manila envelopes from a drawer in her desk. The mercenary-like girl started the painstaking, tedious job of putting one speech record and two photos into each envelope. And while she worked, she smiled to herself. 'It's about time those two fools saw how much they love each other,' she thought. 'And this is as a caring sister, not a cool businesswoman. They were hurting each other by denying it whenever they thought about it. If that had gone on for much longer, one of them would have had their heart shattered. And seeing how thick-headed the two of them are, the other one wouldn't have noticed.' She shook her head. 'Those two are such frustrating people. Thank Kami that they finally spoke to each other.' The brown-eyed girl sighed deeply. She felt kind of guilty, violating the privacy that they had wanted. But then she remembered the money she had earned, and all such thoughts quickly emptied themselves out of her mind.
She finished sealing the last sturdy brown envelope with a flourish and a song on her lips, and gathered them all together. She carefully placed them in a bag next to the desk, and stretched again. Consulting her watch, she saw that it was 9:30. 'Great,' she thought, 'I'm on schedule.' She planned to meet some of her regulars and sell most of these to them. They would then in turn give them away at a higher price to others who found the entire Ranma/Akane situation interesting. There were bets going on as to when the pair would finally realize things, and these files would help settle them. However, there were about five that she wanted to vend personally.
She changed into a lavender t-shirt and her favorite, faded blue jeans, and gathered her valuable bag. Leaving her bedroom, Nabiki walking sedately down the hall. She stopped at Akane's door, and peeped in. Good. She was still sleeping. She wouldn't bother Nabiki. She in turn went to Ranma's door, who was sleeping as well. Nabiki smirked. The two had come home yesterday around six o'clock. According to some of her people, they had gone to the park, eaten some ice cream, avoided cold water at all costs, and done other things that young couples did. However, they had still gone to a restaurant for the sole purpose of getting hot water.
Smiling to herself, she pattered lightly down the stairs, making sure to jump over the squeaky fourth stair. She strolled into the kitchen, where Kasumi was preparing breakfast.
"Oh, Nabiki," Kasumi greeted pleasantly. "Would you like something to eat? I'll quickly prepare something for you."
"No thanks, sis," Nabiki said, waving away the offer with her free right hand. "I have some work to do."
"But you should at least have something to eat!" Kasumi wheedled.
"Okay, I'll have a pork bun," Nabiki said offhandedly, much to the older girl's obvious distaste. However, Nabiki was firm, so Kasumi gave her one of the buns from last night's meal. How this one survived the night without being eaten by Genma or Ranma, Nabiki didn't know. But she had the sneaking suspicion that it had something to do with Ranma and Akane's discovery yesterday and their little excursion in the park.
Nabiki said a quick goodbye to Kasumi, and bit delicately into the pork bun. Despite being a day old and chilled, it was still delicious. After that bite, she devoured the rest of it avidly, all the while heading over to Furinkan High where her first buyer was.
After some spirited haggling from the boy which only landed on deaf ears, he finally gave into Nabiki's price of 30,000 yen for twenty of her envelopes of joy. She had given him a 'discount'-it wasn't really, she had that factored into the main price-of two-thousand yen, which is what sealed the deal. She met five more buyers, and sold fifty more of her 'presents'.
Rifling through her profits of 105,000 yen, she whistled to herself. Today was a good business day-over 100,000 yen in just thirty minutes! Then she put them safely away in her bill holder, and stuffed the bulging pack back into her jeans pocket. She checked her bag, and saw five left. 'Perfect,' she thought. She had plans for these.
Her first stop was the Kuno residence. Knocking on the vast door brought Sasuke to open it. "Miss Tendo! What brings you here?"
"Sasuke! I have something here that Kuno-baby and Kodachi would love!" She brandished the manila packet in front of his face, and pulled it back to her side.
Sasuke frowned. "Miss Tendo, I know that what you bring is probably terribly urgent, but I also know that what you bring isn't cheap. How much is it for them?"
'Miss Tendo' smiled brilliantly. "For my Kuno-baby and his sister, how about... seven-thousand yen?" She knew she was horribly over-pricing it, but the Kunos were always looser with their money than anyone else. "And listen to this-instead of one envelope, I'll give you two for the same price. One for Kodachi and one for Kuno. You know how they squabble over things all the time."
"Oh, Miss Tendo, you shall make us go bankrupt soon!" Sasuke wailed, as Nabiki had expected.
"Fine then. Eight-thousand yen."
Sasuke nearly cried. "Miss... Miss Tendo...!"
"Take it or leave it," she said, a smirk plastered onto her merciless face.
The midget-ninja sighed deeply, and pulled a wallet out of his back pocket. As he was pulling out the money she demanded, Nabiki had a guilt attack.
'I really shouldn't be doing this to Ranma and Akane.... When the Kunos see those pictures, all hell will break loose. They deserve a day of peace.'
As Sasuke held out his hand with the money, Nabiki told him, "Look, how about a deal? You don't give those envelopes to the Kunos until tomorrow, and the price will go back to seven-thousand yen. Deal?"
Relief flooded Sasuke's face. "Of course!" he exclaimed, and pulled a thousand yen note out of his hand and threw it back into the wallet. He accepted the envelopes and hid them under his arm.
"Pleasure doing business with you," the chestnut-haired girl smiled, while Sasuke mumbled something in reply. Picking the bag up again, the medium- built girl strode back down the walk towards the business section of Nerima. She passed her home again, and the silence from it was unnerving. None of the suitors had tried to deliver food yet, then. Good.
But she spoke too soon. As she came into sight of the Nekohanten, she saw Shampoo's bike and her violet-haired head speeding in the direction of the Tendo Dojo with a take-out box in hand. Nabiki sped up her steps as she saw the lone white figure slumping in front of the restaurant.
Mousse was outside, sweeping the walk in front of the restaurant with a definite lack of energy. His glasses, as usual, were on top of his head instead of in front of his eyes. "Hey, Mousse!" Nabiki shouted to him as she came into hearing distance.
The nearly blind boy looked up. He cheered up a little when he saw who it was. "Ah, Nabiki Tendo! Greetings!" The brunette couldn't help but realize that he was speaking to the cat statue next to the restaurant's door. Sighing, she reached over and dropped his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. "Oh!" He turned around and greeted her again. "I am sorry. So, Nabiki, why have you come?"
"I have something here that all of you crazy Amazons would... ah... love." She smiled encouragingly, and held up one of the sachets. Her other hand rested confidently on her waist.
"Oh? What is that?" Mousse was about to grab it out of her hands, but Nabiki stopped him with the menacing finger.
"Nuh-uh. You won't see the contents until you buy it."
"Why should I?" Mousse asked, and leaned the broom against the cat sculpture.
"Because you'll love it. Didn't I say that already?" She smiled dazzlingly, and Mousse sighed.
"Fine. How much?" He had taken his glasses back off, and was staring at the broom inquiringly.
"For you, my sightless friend, a thousand yen." Nabiki didn't really feel like making poor Mousse pay full price. Besides, the Kunos' purchase made up for it.
Mousse muttered a little, but grudgingly pulled out the money from his voluminous sleeves.
Before she gave it to him, however, she told him in a low undertone, "Don't show this to Cologne or Shampoo or even speak about its contents until tomorrow, okay? You'll see why when you open it. Just hide it up one of your sleeves until then." She then handed it to him, and he grudgingly handed over the money. However, he seemed to be genuinely curious of what it contained, for he had put his glasses back on without prompting and was gazing at it with a thoughtful expression.
"Nabiki Tendo, am I permitted to look at it now?" he asked hopefully.
She smiled warmly. "Yes you can, duck-boy, but don't say anything about it or make any sound at all in reaction when you see it." She turned around briskly and walked away. When she looked over her shoulder back at Mousse, however, she could tell that she had just brightened his day. He had resumed sweeping the walk, but was doing it with a bounce in his steps. The envelope has no where to be seen.
Nabiki smiled even wider, feeling pleased with herself. She often felt sorry for duck-boy and Ryoga. Those two were the some of the nicest of those involved some way with Ranma. Besides, those two rarely damaged the house. 'Unlike Shampoo and Ukyo. And speaking of Ukyo....'
There were two envelopes left in her bag, one for Ukyo and one for-not Ryoga, but anyone who may ask for one later. Ryoga, no doubt, had probably guessed the reason Akane had turned down his proposal besides the fact that she loved him like a brother. So it would cause her no real profit, and continue to destroy his spirit.
Sure, she may love money, but she couldn't just destroy someone's soul so ruthlessly. Especially someone who really didn't deserve it. It wouldn't matter to Shampoo, because she had a strong spirit and wouldn't really believe it-never mind be hurt by it! 'But when she storms over to find out the meaning of it... Kami help us. But Ukyo....' At that moment, Nabiki made a decision. She took out the packet meant for Ukyo, and rummaged through it. The picture of the kiss was taken out, and so was the script. Those she put into her bag. It wouldn't hurt to have a copy of her own fake script to use as reference. The only thing the envelope now contained was the picture of the couple's teary embrace. That was the gentlest thing that would hurt her heart least. And she wouldn't make Ukyo pay for this.
Nabiki came into seeing distance of Ucchan's, where Ukyo was standing in the doorway, looking dispirited and lonesome. The okonomiyaki chef sighed deeply, and slumped back into her store.
'What's bothering her?' Nabiki thought. Of all the days to be sick, her contact for Ukyo decided that today would be best. Nabiki put a hand to her temple, and leaned against a building, doing some quick thinking. And checking her watch. Eleven-forty.
'She could just be upset that no customers are waiting. Even though Ucchan's only opened at twelve on Sundays, there would normally be at least five or so regulars queued up at the door by eleven-thirty. Those she let in early. And Nabiki was positive on this point-she had a file on Ucchan's visitor-habits at home.
'Maybe that's the reason.... She isn't really friends with any of the kids from Furinkan, so none of them probably told her. She has no reason to be upset.' But Nabiki considered the girl a little further. 'She's bright, though-not as dense as Ranma and not as oblivious as Akane. She might have noticed... the way they felt.' After all, it was Sunday, Ukyo's normal feed- Ranma day. She never missed Sundays, and always delivered before eleven! And as she passed the Tendo house, all was quiet. And all during her interchange with Mousse, she hadn't seen anyone jumping from roof to roof. It was kind of hard to miss that sort of thing.
'So maybe she does know-' Nabiki was about to think further, but was rudely interrupted by an anguished shout:
"WHERE IN THE WORLD AM I NOW?!" Nabiki's head whipped around, and she finally caught sight of the eternally lost boy.
He was standing with his back to Ucchan's, and desperately trying to recognize his surroundings. And at that moment Ukyo came out of her restaurant, smiling radiantly. She said something to Ryoga, something Nabiki couldn't hear for she was too far away. Ryoga turned around, his face alight with joy. He said something that incredulous, and walked briskly towards her, never blinking his eyes. When he reached her, he grabbed both her hands. He told her something, she seemed surprised-but then she smiled even more brightly than before. Nabiki was certain that if she was closer, she would have been sun-burned by its intensity. Then she told him something, and it was his turn to look stunned and elated. If Nabiki didn't know better... she would have sworn that Ranma and Akane had had the same expressions on yesterday by the koi pond.
Good, then. Ukyo wouldn't care about Ranma and Akane. In fact, she probably already knew and had gotten over it. She could have an unexpectedly strong spirit sometimes.
Ukyo squeezed Ryoga briefly, and taking his hand, lead him back into the restaurant. She stopped at the door and did something to it before going in
Out of sheer curiosity, the hazel-eyed girl went up to see. And she smiled.
On the door was a sign that read, "Closed for the Day".
'I don't need to give her one,' Nabiki thought as she walked back home. 'So what will I do with the two packets left over?' Suddenly an impish idea occurred to her. Wearing an enigmatic smile that passers-by wondered about, she replaced the script and picture back into the envelope that had once been meant for Ukyo. 'I think Akane and Ranma would like to have one. And-' her enigmatic smile changed into a devilish one-'the fathers are sure to love them.'
Contemplating the amount she'd make the daddy and Mr. Saotome pay, Nabiki walked home with light spirits.
And a heavy pocket.
The End
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It's finally over! Took nearly a year... *hits herself* I am such a lazy baka sometimes.... But it would have been finished in January or something if the stupid internet didn't keep on going down. *kicks cable box* I hate Comcast....
So anyway, please review with what you think! Thank you so much to all the people who kept on encouraging me! Bye for now! ~ AmberWings