Kasumi's younger sister had been trying to convince aunty Saotome to help her with the prank she was playing on Ranma and Akane. She had used arguments on how much it would help their relationship. And that once the ice had been broken there would be no going back to their old ways when they found out that they had been deceived.
"It might not be what my husband and your father had hoped for when they thought up their pact," Nodoka said, "but I can see how it might actually be a good thing for Akane and my son. He needs to take more responsibility so he won't end up like Genma, and Akane is so headstrong and willful that she could do well with somebody to control her temper and take care of her."
Unfortunately for Nabiki, Nodoka did not seem to entirely grasp the idea that it had all been just a prank and that Akane was not really Ranma's slave.
"Well," Nodoka continued earnestly, "it is a good thing that master Happousai could be convinced to take Genma and Souun on a training trip for a few days. With the two of them gone, Ranma and Akane might actually find the peace and quiet they need to settle into their new roles at their own pace. I am happy that they finally have found their niche, even if you had to help them a bit."
"They aren't really master and slave," Nabiki tried again to explain to her, "I just made it all up. There is no such thing as an official slave contract."
"I think it is very nice of you to help your sister fulfill her dreams. You are a good girl no matter what some of the people in the neighborhood say, Nabiki," Nodoka told her unmoved. "In fact you might want to consider following her example. Men can get easily frightened by woman who are too forceful. That is the sort of thing that can cause unnecessary loneliness and bad reputations. I think that nice Tatewaki boy that you meet so often would be far more open to see you as the women you are if he wasn't so afraid of your predatory business tactics. If you submitted yourself to him, you would be far more likely to achieve your goals than by trying to dominate and control him."
Nabiki snorted. Kasumi had to agree that Nodoka with her sword might not be exactly the expert on avoiding of frightening men. And she doubted that there was any romantic potential in Nabiki's business-relationship with Tatewaki Kunou.
"The same goes for you too, Kasumi," Nodoka continued. "The right gesture might be all you need to snatch up that nice doctor friend of yours. I have heard that he is actually quite crazy about you."
Kasumi almost choked and Nabiki had to pat her on the back so that she could breath again. Was Nodoka talking about Dr. Toufuu? Did she just suggest that Kasumi should offer herself as a slave to him?
While Kasumi was still trying to get some air and wrap her mind around this absurd notion, Nabiki tried to explain things to Nodoka.
"My relationship with Kunou-baby really isn't like that. And I doubt that Dr. Toufuu would react all that well to an offer by Kasumi either," she said.
"Perhaps you are right," Nodoka relented, "but I still think that a master would be just the thing you need. Somebody who would give you love and care and discipline. If you had somebody who you were accountable to, you would not have done many of the things that have caused you such a bad reputation. You have to face it, Nabiki, you need someone to reign you in and curb your worst excesses; someone to take control of you for your own good. You might want to approach Ranma about this once he has settled down somewhat with Akane."
"Really, aunty Nodoka," Nabiki tried to dissuade the older woman," I don't think...."
"I am afraid I have to insist," Nodoka interrupted her. "You really need this Nabiki, or your self-destructive behavior could lead you to much hurt. If you continue to play with other people's minds and hearts, sooner or later some of them might be looking for revenge. You can get away with a lot because you are under Ranma's and Akane's implied protection, but if you played a mean joke one someone where that protection did not apply you might be in big trouble. Just imagine if a couple of angry martial artists found out that you had played a mean trick on them and came after you for revenge. You would not want something like that to happen, would you?"
Kasumi stared at Nodoka in astonishment. Had Kasumi just heard her right? Was she trying to blackmail Nabiki into becoming her son's slave. Maybe Nodoka did understand about Akane's slavery just being a prank of Nabiki better than she had thought.
"But... but... but," Nabiki stammered wide-eyed beside Kasumi.
"Oh, I don't mean right now," Nodoka said reassuringly. "We have to give Ranma and Akane some time to get used to their new relationship. But once they have settled in you might want to approach Ranma about taking on another slave. You really need a firm hand to guide you, Nabiki. And maybe you should think about the possibilities too, Kasumi."
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(Posted Sat, 12 Feb 2005 20:30)
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