Nabiki felt her eyebrow raise and heard her mouth say “Me?” in that calm, collected tone she used whenever someone was trying to bargain with her. That tone and that expression had cowed students, teachers, and more than a few spirits. And rarely had it been such a bluff as it was now. ME!? Daddy wants me to go hiking in the mountains on some crazy martial arts journey? I haven’t even been camping since I was ten! And I can’t leave my network behind, not to mention my studies!
Soun nodded. “It’s an important thing to share, that you know what your fiancé goes through so you can support him in the hard times.”
Ranma blinked and looked between the two Tendos. “Um, I’m not sure this is a good idea. I mean, mountain training is rough. It’ll be a lot harder with Nabiki tagging along. We couldn’t move as quickly, which means less time for training.”
Nabiki nodded. “And I have my own training to keep up with.”
“You can train with Ranma, then!” Soun declared happily. “Do you still have your old camping supplies?”
Ranma looked a little panicked at Soun’s unbendable resolve, but Nabiki just closed her eyes and smirked. “Are you sure you don’t just want Akane to be protected?”
As predicted, Akane barged into the room within five seconds and started raving at her father that she was a martial artist, too, and could take care of herself. With Soun so distracted, Nabiki led Ranma in a quiet escape.
“That was mean,” Ranma chided, but he couldn’t hide his laugh or his smirk.
Nabiki snorted. “I know it was my idea to kick up Akane’s training, but do you really need to head to the mountains?”
Ranma nodded and frowned. “Is there something wrong?”
Nabiki sighed and ran a head through her hair. “I still don’t have a solution if someone tries to summon you outside these wards. Now that the ‘Ranko’ story is gone, you’re more vulnerable than ever.”
Ranma grimaced. “Anything you can do, though?”
“I can summon you here,” Nabiki offered. “Like I did at the end of your China trip.”
Ranma considered that carefully. “Much as the idea of coming back here every day is interesting, I can’t risk leaving Akane alone like that.”
Nabiki groaned. “Then I guess I’m coming with you. But I’ll need to buy some new gear.”
Ranma waved his hands. “Wait wait wait. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right. Mountain training is about survival as much as martial arts. How long has it been since you’ve been in the wilderness?”
“At least a year,” Nabiki said slowly. “Maybe fifteen months?”
Ranma sighed. “Okay, I’ll help you pack.”
Nabiki frowned. “Shouldn’t that be ‘help Akane and me pack?’”
“Absolutely not,” Ranma declared quietly. “Teaching Akane to get along in the wild will be most of the training. If she brings a lot of stuff, that means more to carry. If she doesn’t, her survival will be harder. Either way, she learns something important about survival and gets some physical training in.”
“What about trust?” Nabiki asked dubiously.
Ranma smirked. “Right now I’m showing her I trust her to make her own decisions.”
“Which you don’t.”
“But she doesn’t know that. And later, she’ll need to trust me to show her how to survive despite her mistakes. Which is why I need to help you pack – to make sure you can’t share your food, tent, or anything else with her and survive yourself.”
Nabiki blinked at that. “That’s…pretty well thought out. But wait, Ranma, Akane can’t cook.”
Ranma shrugged. “So she’ll learn.”
“No, you don’t understand,” Nabiki said urgently, fear tingeing her words. “Akane really can’t cook. She can’t boil water. She can’t select ingredients. She can’t measure proportions. I had to seal her last meal under seven different wards before it stopped sprouting tentacles and molesting Kasumi!”
Ranma blinked. “You’re kidding.”
“About the tentacle thing, yeah,” Nabiki admitted. “Seriously, though, her meals are toxic at best. And she thinks she’s a decent cook.”
Ranma groaned. “Okay, I need to take care of this. Um…get together three outfits of practical clothing. No skirts, nothing loose, keep the material light. Also get together whatever camping gear you do have.”
Akane was in her room with a large pack. “Hmm. Will we need a spare blanket? Eh, couldn’t hurt.” There was a knock at the door. “Come!”
Ranma opened the door and glanced at the pack. No way she’d carry that monster all the way. “Akane, there’s been a slight change of plans. Because of my curse, Nabiki an’ me decided she should come along.”
Akane frowned. “I’ll need to pack a bigger skillet. And a bigger pot.”
Ranma winced. “Remember, anything you take, you hafta carry. I’m trustin’ ya to decide what ya need ta bring, but I’ll help if ya ask.”
Akane blinked. He trusts me? “Um…well actually I guess I’m not sure how to adjust for Nabiki.”
“Don’t worry about her,” Ranma said calmly. “I’m making sure that she has everything she needs. Jus’ figured you should know she’s coming along, so we won’t be movin’ as quick.”
Akane nodded in understanding. “Okay, so I’m still cooking for two. I can do that.”
Ranma raised an eyebrow. “Two?”
“You and me,” Akane said brightly.
Ranma gave her an even stare. “Are you sure you want to do that?”
“Of course,” Akane said firmly, a scowl starting to form. “Are you saying you don’t want me to cook?”
Ranma shrugged. “I said anything you take, you carry.”
“So you won’t carry your own food?” Akane growled.
“Of course I will,” Ranma snapped, his control over his own temper fraying. He tried to think about Nabiki and that cold, unfeeling sensation he picked up from her when she hid behind the Ice Queen façade. It helped, a little, but he couldn’t hold the image. The Nabiki that shared his dreams kept bleeding through. That warmth proved a lot more effective in weathering Akane’s rising temper, however. “But,” he continued, “I have my own pack with my own things. Nabiki has her pack with her things. You have your pack...with your things.”
Akane opened her mouth to yell when her brain finally caught up with her. “Wait. You’re saying I should only pack for myself?”
Ranma smiled, sagging in relief. “Yeah!” he said, a silly grin on his face. “Take what you need.”
Akane scowled. “Well why didn’t you just say that!?”
Ranma resisted the urge to facepalm. He didn’t get a chance anyway, as he was quickly chased out of Akane’s room by the angry tomboy. He stared at the door as it slammed and shook his head. “Well, that could have gone better.”
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(Posted Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:11)
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