Nabiki was learning new ways of thinking today, because the whole of Furinkan was ablaze with the news that the Ice Queen's fiance was wagered on the upcoming match. A dozen variations had spawned, too. Some thought Akane wanted Ranma for herself. Some thought Ranma's curse would disgust Kodachi. Some thought Nabiki had wagered Ranma against a year's supply of rice and two pickles.
Even more amazing were the wagers. By the end of first class her lieutenants sent word of record-setting bets and a house edge that, at worst, would equal a full day's profits. People were betting on not only the fight but Nabiki's reactions to various outcomes, Ranma's responses, how Akane would act, Kodachi's next ambush, and much more.
"People are excited," Yumiko explained. "They've got a fight, a love triangle, treachery, passion, excitement...it's like a violent soap opera."
Nabiki just shook her head and stared at the ledgers.
But even that mountain of yen was not enough to distract from the morning's events. Bento in hand, she hunted down her fiance and dragged him to one of the more secluded parts of the courtyard.
For his part, Ranma was scared. He had learned to like then love Nabiki as a spirit, disconnected from school and most human contact. Ever since he "really" came to Nerima, though, he realized how scared other students were of Nabiki. Even though most thought she wasn't as spiteful as she was a couple months ago, everyone he met had told him to be careful not to make Nabiki angry. Well, she didn't look happy. "What's going on?" he asked.
"That's what I want to know," Nabiki snapped. She didn't like being in the dark. "Kodachi shows up and is all over you. Kuno wants you to date her. I've gotten more bets placed in the past hour than I do most months. What happened last night?" She winced at Ranma's emotional outpouring. OK, that was a little too bitchy.
Ranma sweated and tried a nervous chuckle before launching into his tale of Ryoga, P-chan, and then whanging Kodachi with a kettle.
Nabiki blinked. "And Akane thinks you were seducing another woman and cheating on me," she concluded. "Well, that explains that. A chunk of the bets have been on how I'll revenge myself for your indiscretion. Oh calm down, I believe you. You know how hard it is to lie to an empath."
Ranma nodded. No one had managed to lie to Ranko, although knowing someone was lying was not the same as knowing what they were lying about. "So no grabbing random objects and beating me senseless?" he asked dubiously.
Nabiki gave him a grin that was disturbingly catlike. "We both know I'm more inventive than that," she breathed, suddenly grabbing his shirt and yanking him down into a deep kiss.
"You were taking pictures of the Ice Queen kissing Ranma?"
Denial wasn't exactly an option. "Yes."
Hiroshi held up a thousand yen note. "I want three copies."
Gosunkugi stared at the yen and a slow smile appeared on his face. "I think you'd like to see something I took last night," he whispered. "Care to make a down payment?"
Nabiki, meanwhile, toned down her affectionate displays towards Ranma, partly to assuage Akane but more for her own well-being -- Kodachi was becoming increasingly incensed by her inability to be with Ranma-sama and her preemptive assaults on Akane became more grandiose, attempting to catch Nabiki as well. Ranma was mildly disappointed by the cooling of their relationship, but also relieved that he didn't have to worry about how to be a proper fiance for a while.
Then everything went off the rails when Akane the Klutz sprained her own ankle.
"Akane," Nabiki sighed, "how could you fight off Kodachi for nearly a week, then do this right before the match?"
"You'll have to withdraw," Kasumi said firmly, tightening the bandage. "You can't walk on this."
Akane tried to get up. "There's no one elsaaah!" she sat down again.
"See?" Kasumi asked kindly.
Akane turned to Nabiki with teared eyes. "I don't suppose you know any healing rituals or spirits?"
Nabiki smirked. "Oh, so now my magic is useful, rather than the corrupting influence of that pervert I sleep with? Sorry, Akane-chan. Best ritual I know is a lot of bedrest."
"But where can we find a girl to replace me? We'd need a martial artist, and the only girls left are either too weak or study the wrong styles."
Nabiki sighed. "I'll fill in for you."
Ranma frowned. "You can't keep up with Kodachi," he said, confused.
Nabiki smiled sadly. "And I suppose I couldn't grab her ribbon out of the air, either." She took a water glass from the desk and sipped it.
Ranma snook his head. "Nope, not a-HEY!" she cried, her voice turning soprano as her wet clothes fell to the floor. She glared at Nabiki, still holding the newly emptied glass. "What was that for!?"
Nabiki merely looked at Ranma expectantly.
It didn't take long. "Oh no. You can't be thinking that!"
Nabiki nodded. "I'm not happy about it," she turned to Akane, "but I owe you for letting those fights go on. Consider this a down payment."
Akane looked between her sisters and the open air Kasumi was staring at. "...what?"
"Ranma here will possess my body and fight the match," Nabiki explained.
Akane's eyes bulged and she threw the closest heavy object at the open air. "You are not going to defile my sister you pervert!"
"Hey, I don't like this idea either! Nabs, you could get seriously hurt. No way am I going to risk it."
Nabiki scowled. "I am fighting Kodachi tomorrow," she declared. "You can fight with me or not."
Ranma gauged Nabiki's emotions. "Yeah, okay. But we'll need to practice all night to get this together."
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(Posted Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:28)
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