"What?!" asked Ranma.
Nabiki ignored him and kept listening to the phone. "Uh-huh... Uh huh... That's right, 'Saotome'... You do? Also paid for by Mariko? Well, I thought so."
"Kuso!" Ranma exclaimed, looking around frantically for an enraged cheerleader, out to transform him. Suddenly he brightened and jumped into the koi pond. "Ha! Now let's see them deliver their magic to 'Ranma Saotome'. Me? I'm just innocent li'l Ranko. Bwaahahaha!"
Akane snorted in disgust. "You're getting more and more like your father all the time."
"Am not!"
"Oh yeah? And how exactly is 'I'm just a cute li'l girl' any better than 'I'm just a cute panda'?"
"Sure it is! He's just usin' it to get outta what he's got comin' to him. I'm using it as a cunning disguise to fool my enemy."
"Right," Akane said. "Completely different."
Nabiki shook her head and wondered whether to point out to Ranma, that Mariko was far more likely to come looking for a female Ranma, since that was who she faced in battle. She turned back to the phone. "So, basically what we have here is a rogue employee of yours, who has the means of irreversible chimeric transformation at her disposal, is making up 'contracts', and delivers them without the consent of the recipient. You realize that there are easier ways to get sued into bankruptcy? ... Me? Heavens, no, I don't want to sue you - I have a business opportunity for you." She smiled predatorily. "Well, let's just say that I may have a way to make those transformations semi-reversible - to be switched off an on again at your customers' whim. ... No, I cannot make any definite promises at this point - but for the cost of transporting one naga to a specific place in China you'll get a definite answer."
Nabiki allowed herself a smile of victory. "Why, thank you. It's a pleasure doing business with you as well. I will await your contact for further details on the travel arrangements. Good bye and have a profitable day."
Nabiki's tail curled and uncurled happily, as she rubbed her hands with glee. This might just be the opportunity that she had been waiting for. Now, if Jusenkyou would come through for her, she would be in business with a company who might just have the new killer product on the beauty market.
She ran a hand along the coils of her tail, feeling the warm, scaly skin and admiring the beautiful pattern. She had to admit that this new body was both powerful and aesthetic. As long as she was able to switch back to wearing slacks, when needed, she wouldn't mind having such an exotic alternative form. Of course there was the whole 'water magnet' thing to consider, but that was something for the technicians of Kitsune Beauty to solve. Possibly a derivative of the full Jusenkyou magic could be integrated with the chimera treatment. Who knew what may be possible? The future looked bright for Nabiki, where a hour ago she had faced the choice between having to stay at home and trying to handle all business over the phone, or ending up in a freak show.
(Posted Thu, 21 Nov 2002 11:21)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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