The days crept by at first as the Tendos and Saotomes waited for Shampoo to return with some new claim to either Ranma or Genma, but after the first couple days of silence the household returned to the usual steady thrum of activity. Nabiki kept a clandestine eye on the new Chinese restaurant opening a few blocks away -- she didn't trust that much coincidence all at once.
Which was honestly starting to bug her. It was beginning to feel like Ranma had been a part of her life forever, which gave her a warm feeling she wouldn't trade the world for, but ever since that redhead showed up in a torn summoning circle life had spun wildly out of control. In those quiet hours Ranma was off with friends (the secret to a healthy relationship was a respectful amount of me-time, after all) she admitted to a small longing for the time she could simply summon an imp and gain a handle on everyone around her. Now, she was throwing those handles away.
It wasn't all bad. She was still the Ice Queen, centerpiece of an information network that was strongest in Furinkan but covered the whole of Nerima. Any information worth knowing crossed her desk within a day of it becoming valuable. There were challengers and competitors, but there were always such. And instead of blackmailing them into poverty, she bought them off and put them into her network. It took longer and hurt her bottom line, but when that expense was accounted for, profits were steadily increasing. More people were willing to talk to her people and buy information (or silence; there were always rumors people didn't want spreading.) And bets were up across the board. Beyond Furinkan, contacts she had built up in good faith (blackmail had limits in a prolonged working relationship) were more at ease with her, and she experienced a renaissance in just what was coming her way. Not just information, but advice. Tips. Conjecture. Friendship, even. It was weird.
Nabiki tapped her chin and looked back at her homework. "No, it's not weird. It's nice." She scribbled a reminder to buy a birthday present for Phil, the local contractor that repaired their dojo. If that was the last time someone walked in through a wall, she'd eat Ranko.
Okay, she'd do that anyway, but that's besides the point.
Ranma sneezed. Hiroshi looked over. "You okay?"
Ranma waved him off and went back to his ramen. "Yeah, I'm fine. So what were you saying?"
"A few days back this crazy chick came in here with Akane's pet piglet. Poor thing had a pink collar on with a heart shaped tag and was doing his best to get away."
Ranma pictured Ryoga with a heart collar and burst out laughing. "Serves the pig right!"
Daisuke glanced at Hiroshi and decided not to ask why the pig deserved it. "We always thought the pig was a boy, though."
Ranma stopped. "P-chan? Yeah, he's a pigboy. Why?"
"The tag read 'Charlotte.'"
Ranma was able to hold a straight face for a record five seconds.
Mara studied the Nerima reports with growing anger. Nabiki was making amends, burning through favors, and making working, healthy relationships throughout the ward. She was useful when she hated her fellow man. This was a disaster!
Still, she was still the Ice Queen and an increasingly larger information broker. There was only a razor's edge between broker and blackmailer, and Nabiki was still greedy. And Shampoo couldn't have played her role better. Befriending Nabiki and hunting the same boy...with the Amazon Laws compelling "obstacle is for killing" that was going to get ugly, fast. And Nabiki would see how little friendship was good for.
Kodachi was less useful. She added pressure, but was too unpredictable. Still, that made her a wild card in the mind of Nabiki as well. More interestingly, current predictions showed a much lower chance of a formal relationship with Ranma in the near future with "all the crazies" who would object. And that was only going to get worse. Eventually, Nabiki would wish for them to all go away.
Mara reread Gosunkugi's report. He had planted a seed of how close Nabiki and Ranma were, but it needed to sprout to make sure that Nabiki realized how dangerous admitting the relationship could get. The Neko-ken might provide the right impetus. She drafted a memo.
Gosunkugi bit back a scream as the collar of his enslavement set his nerves on fire. The pain formed words as clear as any sound. Worm. Enlist the Kuno boy to attack Ranma's weakness. Do not let up until the attack is complete.
Gosunkugi collapsed as the pain faded. He stared at the ceiling, anger flushing the pain from him. "This is all Nabiki's fault."
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(Posted Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:37)
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