Nabiki starred at the ceiling. She could hear her older sister softly breathing beside her. The last few days had changed her. It was hard to sleep when your would be brother-in-law had his soul sucked out and dragged to hell. She was just a clever little girl that knew how to push the right buttons. What could she do against something like that. She pushed off her blankets and walked out of the small cloister. The harsh reality that there were powers big enough to sweep away Ranma had been hard for her to cope with.
They had spent a little over two weeks at the temple. The two had tried to go back twice. But neither could even stand the thought about being around their sister. It was almost as if there was a compulsion to blame her for Ranma's death whenever she showed her face. Nabiki hung her head in shame. In the serenity of the temple she could see that maybe it was a training accident. She could almost accept that her sister was a victim of a separate crime. Nabiki sat very still as she fought to hold back another bout of tears.
“It's not your fault you know.” Kasumi put her hand on Nabiki's shoulder as she sat down. “Things just got a little heated today. Everybody is grieving in their own way.”
Nabiki bit her tongue. Kasumi's own hypocrisy grated on her nerves, by the end of their little visit today the eldest sister was shouting just as loud as the rest. “Damn it. It's not that! Ranma gets stabbed and beaten to death. Then a demon gets to suck out her soul drag her to hell, rape my sister and probably do more of the same to Ranma in hell! Then we're yelling at each other like it's perfectly normal.”
“Nabiki...” Kasumi could feel her sister's pain. She remembered just how strangely people acted after her mothers death better than the other two. She didn't want to be anywhere near Mr. Saotome or his wife. Nodoka had practically moved in again to help the family and she hated it.
“No!” The middle sister shouted. “Somebody is fucking with us! People don't act like that. You don't get raped then say, 'It's alright I'm having Ranma's kid!' Ranma was in girl form when she died! Happy thoughts don't change the facts!”
The elder sister sat quietly as she retreated into herself. She supposed it was just inevitable for her family to give into anger. Kasumi walked away, distancing herself from her ranting sibling. “Sister...”
“I'm going to get even with that amazon whore, her bastard boy toy, that filthy fucking pig, the conniving thief that sat abused our hospitality and his slut of a wife! Asking me to congratulate her on a child before they've even set his ashes in a shrine.” Nabiki gasped for breath as she let it all out. Her incoherent rant reached its peak. Kasumi fled from her angry sister not sure what to say or how to say it. “Yea! Walk away, makes you just as guilty as them!”
“Questionable goals at best.” The an old man joined Nabiki in the courtyard. He looked over Nabiki's tear covered face. “There is a thin line between revenge and justice. You should calm yourself, order your thoughts.”
“And what pray to some fairy that doesn't exist or care.” She sneered at the old man. “Where were they when that demon came.”
“We were watching, waiting, observing.” He looked at her directly. “Just who's free will would you have us take away. Ranma's so he couldn't take that knife for Akane? Akane so she couldn’t be jealous of Ranma? Or how about Mousse and Shampoo.” His voice turned darker. “Clearly the easy choice, we should have had you take the blow instead of whispering you a warning.”
Nabiki paled at the thought. She would have never gotten in the middle of such things. Maybe if she knew the consequences but...
“Your mind could have been bombarded with a thousand images of what would happened. You would have thrown yourself on that knife without a thought.” He nodded at her. “Much like the curse on your sister and Mrs. Saotome.”
She looked at him with wide eyes.
“Your instincts were right. Something very subtle was at work today.” The old man sat down and put his cane between his legs.
Murder crossed her eyes as she closed on him. “How do I fix it.”
He stated with utmost serenity, “You don't. Just keep a calm mind around her and it will help.”
“So what now. Free will is all fine and good but what should I do with it.” The middle sister was at a loss she didn't know what to make of this creature. “Justice doesn't just happen! Ranma's still dead and in hell. I can't help my sister.”
“Perhaps, but you understand our position.” She made a rude gesture with her hand, but remained silent. The elderly spirit paused. He looked her over. “Are you ready to listen to advice?”
She flopped down on the grass and looked at the sky.
“Nekomi Tech is a very interesting place.” He looked at her glaring expression. “The motor club has produced some fine engineers and business women in the last few years.”
She turned to glare at him once more but he was already gone. Nabiki rolled her eyes. “Go to college, join a club. I could have found that advice in a ten step book.”
Nabiki awoke on the lawn the next morning. Her face was wet and cold. There was a slight chill in the air. She watched the sun as it began to creep over the hillside. Part of her wondered if the entire night was just some hallucination. Then again it was rather direct advice. Transferring to a different campus wouldn't be that hard.
One of the priests that ran the shrine stepped into her field of view. “You look like you had an enlightening night.”
“Are the gods always this infuriating?” Nabiki asked as she tilted her head to look past the man.
“Sometimes we are given the strength to change things. Sometimes we are given the strength to accept things.” He offered her a hand to stand up. The priest had no idea what the girl was talking about. So he gave her the generic advice one gives in that kind of situation. She grabbed his calloused hand and pulled her self to her feet. “And sometimes we take what we are given and turn it into something else.”
“Right.” She dusted herself off. “I'll get started on my chores. I have a lot to do today.”
“It seems you do. Your nap under the stars seems to have invigorated you. Maybe today is a good day.” He walked with her to her temporary room. “The stairs and the lower shrine today. It is still early yet. You can forgo the robes if you wish to get started quickly.”
Nabiki nodded knowing that he had only give her a token task. Sweeping the stairs and the lower shrine out would be a quick task this time of year. She quietly pondered living in Chiba. It wasn't a bad part of town. She worked quickly. Attending the technical school in the coming term would take a little effort.
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(Posted Fri, 09 Sep 2011 05:30)
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