Nabiki couldn’t help but grin. Ranma was in for quite a surprise. The bag from Zero to Hero rustled as she slid into the restroom.
“A large Dr. Pecker, a sweaty pair, and a couple of sliders, make ‘em cheesy, to go!”
Ranma just blinked. He had always wonder exactly who had come up with the language short order cooks used. Was it really too much trouble to actually call out what was ordered? Was there some waitress and cook, way back when, who got bored and started posing orders as riddles? Maybe Ukyou would know.
“Ahem.”
Hearing Nabiki clearing her throat behind him broke his train of thought, so he turned around to see what she had decided on from all the things she had been looking at while at the Hero shop.
“So what do you think?”
Nabiki gave a little twirl, showing off the form fitting set of bluish-gray coveralls she was wearing. A wrench and hammer on her belt completed the ensemble with just a glint of silver at the neck cluing him in to the fact that she had bought an amulet as well.
“Well?”
Nabiki stood with one hand on her hip and the other behind her head in a classic cheesecake pose.
“Looks good,” Ranma replied with an appreciative grin “but what do they do?”
Nabiki slid into her seat.
“Well, what you said abought working with your hands earlier intrigued me. Working with my own hands to make something that would also be profitable wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Beholden to no one and able to create has it’s attractions.”
Ranma smirked.
Exasperation colored her voice. “Come on Satome, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.”
Ranma somehow managed to increase his smirking level after that comment.
Nabiki rolled her eyes at him.
“Anyway. I wanted to get something useful without dealing with a lot of negatives. Like a sudden desire to take over the world or using gadgets that could make billions on patent rights to knock over jewelry stores for just a hundred thousand yen or so.”
Nabiki and Ranma thanked Sally as she slid their plates in front of them before continuing.
“So I asked abought some powerful items to get a feel for pricing and have something to compare to the items I planned on buying, if I could find anything. Just because I’m spending your money doesn’t mean I’m going to waste it. I figured I could get a better deal that way.”
Ranma nodded while eating at a normal speed for once. Genma being quite a distance from wherever here was he didn’t feel the need to use the Satome speed eating technique.
Nabiki took a sip of her soda and ate one of her fries before continuing.
“Anyway, to make a long story short, I managed to get three items for the price of one. I discovered that as long as picked I low powered items from a seldom used selection I could get more and varied abilities. I figure I’m much better as a support personnel type then a frontline fighter anyway.”
Ranma rubbed his right shoulder gently. “Now if only we could convince Akane of that.”
Nabiki winced. “Still hurt from when Akane insisted she could fight that Casserole monster and you had to jump in and save her from its projectile swordfish parts?”
Ranma started to scratch his shoulder. “Nah, just itches a bit. I think the damn spines on the thing were poisoned.”
“When does my sister ever cook something that isn’t poisoned?”
“Well she does make a mean curry.” Ranma grinned in remembrance.
“You mean the one that ate the neighbors cat and you take out to play fetch with in the park at nights?”
Ranma turned pale. “You know about Bob?”
Nabiki sighed “Relax Ranma. I’ve known about him all this time and I haven’t said anything, nor do I intend to. Kasumi even plays with it when we’re all at school.”
Color came back to his cheeks as he relaxed. “She doesn’t mind?”
“Not at all. She say’s it keeps the mice population down and is good company. She’s even been teaching it tricks.”
“Like what?”
“Well she said you covered all the standard pet commands, so she has been trying to train it to change form. Recently she got it to do a hot dog with bun and an igloo. She’s got it trained to do dog down pat, but even as a dog it's spiked, green, and armor plated, so I wouldn’t suggest taking it out in public.”
“Anyone else know?”
“Well P-Chan avoids the basement at all costs. He’s convinced there’s a demon down there.”
Ranma snickered.
“Sasuke pets it when he’s hiding in the floorboards. Kodachi has been feeding it on the sly when she’s sure no one is around. She spends hours talking to it when you go on training trips so it doesn’t get lonely.”
Ranma just sat there stunned. “So much for me being able to keep it a secret.”
“It’s not that bad. It just tends to whine when you aren’t around. That’s how Kasumi found it and you know how she is. She thought it was just adorable. Sasuke found out about it because it lurks under the floorboards during the day. Kodachi found out because of Sasuke and she saw you playing with it in the park. I asked her about it one night when I saw her sneaking into the basement. She thinks it’s simply darling that you have a pet and further proof that you have a gentle heart worthy of her.”
Ranma’s mouth opened and closed a few times, but nothing came out.
Nabiki just grinned. “Haven’t you noticed Kodachi has been a bit more circumspect in her quest for your affections or that Kasumi has been making sure you get the big piece of chicken when she serves it? Your pet is the ugliest babe magnet in existence.”
Nabiki laughed as Ranma began to shiver in fear.
“Please tell me your kidding!” Ranma begged.
“I wish I could. The Sailor Senshi even showed up one night because someone had reported it as a Youma. Kasumi convinced them not to dust it. Several of the girls were interested in meeting someone who would treat something that ugly kindly, until the green haired Senshi with the staff started beating them with it. She was cussing up a blue streak and made them swear to never attempt to meet you or she would do something with her staff they wouldn’t like. I saw several of them writing down our address anyway.”
It was at that point that Ranma passed out.
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(Posted Thu, 15 Jul 2004 19:18)
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