Nabiki gently massaged Ranma's slowly loosening shoulders as she continued to verbally sooth the martial artist. Surprising herself with the ease the comforting words came, she watched Ranma slowly calm. Meanwhile her mind was working furiously over her options. I wasn't expecting this to happen so soon, I really wanted to get Kasumi up in front too, she's worse the Ukyo in some ways, but if I push the game forward we might lose Ranma and that would be a disaster. What to do, What to do....
Making up her mind the bunny-girl took stock of Ranma, surprisingly he had his eyes half closed and had leaned into the shoulder massage. Huh, he like Massages? Now that's probably one of the most useful things I've learned all night, maybe I should thank little sis. Reluctantly stopping her massage, she twisted to look Ranma in the eyes, as his eyes opened fully she addressed him. “Ranma, I trust you know I did not plan for that when we started that game, and I'm reluctant to continue it now.” When she mentioned the game Ranma tensed, then relaxed when she finished. About what I figured. She thought. “However...” he tensed again “as it stands now it really isn't fair to Ukyo, she had to stand and let everyone stare at her, even though she has little reason she is extremely shy about her looks so it was undoubtedly a bit of an ordeal. If we don't have everyone else go at least once it won't be fair to her.” Ranma nodded, it was a reluctant, grudging, nod but a nod none the less. Crossing her fingers she presses on “So lets finish just the one round of that game, then we will move on to something that should be less...volatile, you have my word, alright Ranma?” Nabiki sighed in relief when Ranma nodded once again. “Alright, let me go round everyone up and explain that we are finishing the round then moving on to something else.”
As Nabiki walked off Ranma sat, staring after her, and mind all a whirl. This was crazy, all of it, what little sanity was normally present in this place had fled when the strip poker game began. He had snuck into the dojo...what only a few hours ago, right? It seemed like forever. He had snuck in thinking to try and prevent catastrophe when his mother's plan failed, and figuring, given past history, that his attempt would fail. Now he had somehow, and through no fault of his own, gained a six-girl “Harem” that included not only his fianceés but the ever-so-gentle and shy Kasumi, and a very strange acting Nabiki. A Nabiki who had obviously carefully masterminded the whole evening way way in advance, a Nabiki who was being clingy and not a little 'perverted' as Akane would say, a Nabiki...who had just spent a considerable amount of time comforting him and making sure he knew that what happened to Akane was not his fault. He could barely remember a time when someone had done that for him, but Nabiki had. What the hell?
Now Ranma wasn't stupid, many people may have thought he was just a savant at his art, but the reality was different, he was in fact quite brilliant in his own right. For example despite a major lack in his education, he had been able to test into his grade level on short notice and partway through a year. He had also learned a number of things for martial arts competitions which wouldn't have been do-able in such a short time by an idiot. No Ranma wasn't stupid, he simply didn't care for learning anything he didn't need NOW, he lived in the moment, always had, and if he had his way always would. It was that live in the moment attitude that had gotten him through the night so far...but it was also that attitude that left him utterly bewildered by what was going on around him. This is why, after running through his situation, staring at Nabiki's backside, all he could think was the singularly unhelpful thought...What the hell? Of course, it could also be that Nabiki's backside...well it was a bit distracting in it's own right.
His thoughts were interrupted by a white glow coming from off to one side. As he turned and looked he saw that Kodachi had joined Kasumi and Akane and she and Akane were both glowing white. He instinctively leaped to his feet in preparation to separate the two before someone was hurt, but before he made it even a step a restraining hand landed on his shoulder and Nabiki spoke into his ear. “Don't worry, I asked Koadchi to heal her. I meant to ask you first but you looked lost in thought.” she whispered.
He turned sheepish as he replied “Oh, I shoulda thought of that.”
“You just haven't had enough time to get used to what everyone can do with their new abilities yet, you'll get there.” was Nabiki's smooth reply. “Now I've told everyone that we must finish this round to be fair, then we will move on to something else, so lets head back over to the table.”
As everyone gathered at the table once more, everyone couldn't help but glance at Akane. Whatever Kasumi had said to her had managed to stop her tears and get her chin back in the air. Even so, she wouldn't look anyone in the eye, and was avoiding looking at Ranma entirely, or maybe it was Nabiki she wasn't looking at, it was hard to tell. As everyone gathered around Nabiki took a step away from Ranma and addressed them again. “Ok, we will consider the last turn a tie since it was interrupted, next up is...”
(Posted Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:42)
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