When Ranma and Kassy got back to the Tendo Dojo, the pigtailed girl’s earlier cheerfulness was all but gone and she became really edgy. Experience had taught her that if anything good ever happened to her it was not to last. Thus, she was pleasantly surprised at the lack of the usual accusations and insults she had become accustomed to. But then, with Akane gone, there was one less annoyance to deal with. Thank God for small miracles. She really liked Akane and she may have had deeper feelings for her at some time, but ever since meeting Kassy and experiencing real love, they had completely died down, especially since she had come to realize that her feelings for Akane, the first person in Nerima to offer her friendship in Nerima before rejecting it shortly after, had never been more than simple puppy love. No, real love was much better.
“We’re back they said in unison and put on their house shoes.
The fathers were playing shogi and didn’t react at all. Kasumi had been busy in the kitchen, but came out to greet them.
“Hello, Ranma, Kassy. How was your afternoon?” Kasumi asked the pair.
“It was really great, Kasumi.” Kassy answered. “We trained a lot and afterwards Ranma took me out for some ice cream. She really gives girls everywhere a bad name with her ice cream scamming skills.”
Ranma colored a bit. She was still getting used to being praised, and coming from her love the words meant even more to her.
“Yeah, yeah!” A grumbling Nabiki answered as she entered the room. “Ranma’s good at using her charms. So what?” A very annoyed Nabiki continued. She would never admit it, not even to herself, but she was jealous of Ranma’s success with both the boys and the girls, especially when it came to getting what she wanted. Sure, she could charm the counter boys too, but was a lot less successful than the younger girl. If the jock wasn’t so clueless and honorable (s)he could definitely become very dangerous to the mercenary’s plans. But then, with all the dirt she had on the martial artist and the incredibly large debt he had sustained, he’d never manage to get out of her clutches.
“Rough day?” Kassy enquired, successfully hiding the smirk that formed on her face. She always loved it when one her pranks had the desired effect. And it would take quite some time for the people to completely forget the incident that would probably even make national headlines.
Nabiki just grunted and went into the kitchen.
“Well, I’m tired. I think I’ll watch some TV until dinner is ready. Are you coming, Ranma?”
“Sure, Kassy. I’ll just change back first. I’ll be there in a minute.” Ranma went into the kitchen to get the kettle just as Nabiki left with a glass of juice. Before the short girl could enter Nabiki had grabbed her arm.
“One moment, Saotome. There are things we need to talk about. Follow me!” She ordered in her no nonsense voice.
Ranma couldn’t suppress a gulp. She knew that tone all too well. And Nabiki was wearing her business face. That never bode well. She just hoped that Nabiki didn’t know Kassy’s and her pleasurable activities after their training. Head bowed in resignation she followed the middle Tendo to her room, feeling like a prisoner who was being led to the gallows.
“Sit down!” the brunette ordered. “I’m sure you remember the discussion you, Kassy and me had this morning. Well, I have a set of pictures that might interest a lot of people.” She took some pictures out of a folder showing Ranma and Kassy kissing. ”You know? I could make a lot of money selling these. But I could be convinced to leave it be if you agree to work for me for a month. If not… well, you know me and what I am capable of. Just think about what would happen to your girlfriend if Shampoo or Kodachi should get their hands on these.”
The pigtailed girl turned white as a sheet as she imagined the scene. “That—That’s low. Even for you. You—You wouldn’t dare.”
Nabiki raised and eyebrow and gave Ranma the coldest stare she could manage. “Oh? Wouldn’t I? You should know me better than that by now. There’s no low deep enough I wouldn’t sink to if there’s profit to be made. Now, get out. I’ll call you as soon as I need your help.”
The redhead sighed but did as she was told and left the room. A quick trip to the bathroom and Ranma was a he again. He then joined Kassy on the couch all the while wrecking his brain as to how he could get out of this new complication in his life. He shouldn’t have acted so impulsively, especially since he knew what would happen if anyone ever found out. Maybe Kassy might have an idea. So far she’s been the only one who has ever stood up for him and he had already decided that he’d never hide anything from his girlfriend if he wanted their relationship to last, especially since the pictures involved her as well. Ranma himself wasn’t worried about the fiancées since he could endure everything they could dish out, but Kassy didn’t have his training. She might be tough, but against a group of experienced martial artists she wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Kassy?” He asked in a very subdued voice, surprising the blonde as he had been in such a good mood earlier on. “We need to talk.”
Ring! Ring! Ring!
“Hello?... I see… I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Ichi-kun Ichinohei Rivalsan put the phone down and grinned. They’d done it once again. Not that she had any doubt since the Rivalsan Ninja Corporation only employed the best of the best.
She got out of her chair and slowly walked to the elevator. Less than 5 minutes later she calmly entered the Control Room of the data center where one of the computer wizzes was eagerly awaiting her arrival.
“Hi, boss!” He casually greeted the kunoichi. “Mission accomplished successfully. We have located the hacker.”
“I’m listening,” she said impatiently. “You know I hate it when people don’t get to the point.”
“Right away, boss. The hacker is from Nerima. And it seems like he used one of the public computerd from Furinkan High School’s computer lab.”
Ich-kun raised an eyebrow. “Indeed?”
“Yes, no doubt about it,” the technician confirmed. “Probably one of the students who wanted to test his hacking skills. What do you want us to do? Should we file a complaint?“
The middle-aged woman thought about it for a while. She was sure there was more behind it than just a kid trying to best their security systems. After all, what were the odds that the origin of the attack was the exact school her niece was attending? She had her suspicions as to the identity of the culprit, especially if the information she had gathered on the people frequenting Kassy was correct. To survive in her profession, good intel was paramount. And she had ordered a thorough background check on everyone living in the Tendo compound and other people around Kassy. And if the information she got on that Nabiki Tendo was correct, and she was sure it was, she would definitely be bold enough to try something like that. Since she didn’t have proof, having the girl arrested wouldn’t work. And she couldn’t risk a scandal by having an innocent arrested. No, she needed hard evidence. And then the girl needed to be taught a lesson. She knew the type. Mercenary to the bone and arrogant enough to think no one would ever catch them. Ichi would teach her a lesson she wouldn’t forget. After all, she was very well versed in underhanded and ruthless tactics. As the vice CEO of one of the largest companies in the world she had to.
“No, that won’t be necessary. I’ll deal with the hacker myself. In the meantime, we should leave a little surprise for them. Rape their hard drive and get all the information you can before leaving a nice little surprise for the next time they use the computer. Got it?”
“Okiedokie, boss. I’m on it!” the man giddily answered before returning to his post and doing what he did best... hacking into other people’s computers.
“Saurotobi!” The dark haired woman called after she’d left the room.
“Yes, milady?” A deep voice answered before a lean black-clad man appeared out of thin air and kneeled before her.”
“I have a mission for you. I need to someone around Kassy’s age for an infiltration mission. They should be able to pass as a typical high school student.”
“Yes, milady. I already have someone in mind.”
“Fine. You have your orders.”
“It will be done.” An instant later the ninja was gone, leaving a pensive Ichi-kun behind.
‘This might get interesting’, she thought. ‘Finally something exciting to relieve my boredom’.
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(Posted Sun, 01 Mar 2009 13:59)
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