Nabiki 1/2

Vol. 1: A Visitor From China

Chapter 3

“School?” Ranma rubbed his eyes again, cursing in his mind that Monday could return so soon.

“Well we are going to be staying for a while.”

“It’s the same school that Akane and I go to. Come on or we are going to be late.” Nabiki tossed a small package to him before she headed out of the room to check on Akane.

“She does seem to like the engagement boy.” Genma turned his attention to the space, which Nabiki had just occupied.

“With this curse I have all you can think about is getting me married or sending me to some school. I really think your priorities are warped. I’m only 16 I still have plenty of time, in case you haven’t noticed.”

“Listen here boy…”

Genma never had a chance to finish his sentence as, Ranma, grabbed his wrist and pulled backward. As Genma fell forward Ranma quickly planted his foot on the older Saotome’s stomach sending him into the air and out of the room headed towards the pond in the backyard of the estate.

“You were saying something?” Ranma quickly changed into his new uniform grabbing his bag on the way out to join Nabiki at the front of the house.

The two walked in silence for the longest time before Nabiki finally spoke up. “Akane does hate guys but she won’t be upset with you for long.”

“I was wondering about.”

“Kuno, pervert at the school we go to challenged most of the guys at the school. He claimed that in order to date Akane, they would have to defeat her in combat.”

“What kind of sicko makes up a rule like that?”

“I…”

SPLASH

Both Nabiki and Ranma-chan looked to the left at a little old lady with a bucket of water. Who, being oblivious to dousing the two girls in water, turns and walked back into her home.

“Times like this really make this curse suck.” Ranma-chan sighed looking down at the street.

“Why don’t you stop off at Dr. Tofu’s you can get some warm water there.” Akane snuggled up to the two girls looking back and forth between them.

“Sure why not.” Ranma-Chan said in a sigh as she followed the Tendo sisters. I’ve really got to find a cure for this curse, and soon.

******

“Hot water? Just a moment, Akane dear.”

Ranma-chan and Nabiki stood around the corner listening in as Dr. Tofu’s assistant let the youngest Tendo daughter in.

“Hoooo boy… What a way to start the day.”

“It could be worse, Ranma, it could...”

Before Nabiki could even finish her sentence the two felt a bony hand on each of their shoulders. Both girls lost their balance, stumbling backwards as they immediately saw the skeleton, before they looked up to see the young man holding it.

“Dr. Tofu, you didn’t have to scare us like that,” Nabiki quickly said as she regained her footing.

So that’s the famous Dr. Tofu, he’s really good to sneak up on us like that. I never felt his presence.

“Oh Doctor.”

Both Ranma-chan and Nabiki turned to see Akane, a kettle of hot water in her hands. Glancing at Akane, Ranma could see the faint hints of a blush appearing on her. She must like him. With the kettle in hand Ranma-chan slipped around the corner out of the sight of the others quickly pouring the hot water over his head to change back into his original form. Within moments, Akane and Nabiki had rejoined him.

“Dr. Tofu is a Martial Arts Master isn’t he?” Ranma Asked as the three rushed along the road towards the school lot.

“Huh? How can you tell?”

“He… snuck up… on us how… else” I’m not in shape for this; Nabiki could feel her strength slipping away as they neared the gates to the school.

“It’s true, he’s very good. But he doesn’t look like he’d be does he? Ever since I was little he’s taken care of my injuries.”

As the three reached the gates to the school Nabiki reached out grabbing onto Ranma’s shirt holding him back while Akane charged on, into a crowd of boys.

Ranma’s attention was completely on Nabiki for several moments as he checked to see if she was okay. “This the crowd you were telling me about?” Ranma asked pointing over his shoulder at Akane fighting off the boys, sending each in every direction unconscious

“Akane Don’t come any closer.” One shouted.

“They all want to beat you.”

“No Akane.”

“I won’t let another guy beat you! I’ll do it myself.”

Ranma and Nabiki both watched from the gateway as Akane waded through the crowd. Ranma could sense that none of them would be a threat to her, but he could sense another challenger nearby, who just might be able to beat her. Where is the source of that aura?

“This unfortunately is what I was telling you about earlier.”

“Doesn’t look like any of them have a chance against her.”

“Kuno is another matter” Nabiki blinked as a boy flew right at her only to be knocked out of the air by Ranma.

“He must be that Aura I felt.” Ranma watched as the last boy from the crowd fell unconscious at Akane’s feet.

“For pete’s sake every morning. What a drag.” Akane reached up to push her hair from over her shoulder.

“A truly boorish lot.”

That Aura, Ranma looked over towards the doors of the school to see him; an older boy, holding a wooden sword in one hand, and a red rose in the other.

“Evidently each of them intends to ask you out, Akane, one the dawn that he finally defeats you.” With the flip of his wrist Kuno sent the rose in his hand towards Akane.

“Oh Upperclassman… Good morning.” Not again I don’t have the energy today, Akane sighed and began to build up energy to knock him out yet another time.

None of them however noticed the rain clouds hanging in the air above them.

I’d better help out. “You sure are popular.” Ranma stepped forward, Nabiki following close behind as they closed the distance between themselves and Kuno stopping right next to Akane.

“You there!” Kuno lifted his sword pointing it at Ranma. “You are being quite familiar with Akane.”

“Well...” Nabiki quickly spoke up only to be interrupted by Kuno.

“Who are you?” Kuno completely ignored Nabiki as he pulled his sword back giving a hateful glare at him. “Ah! But it is custom to give one’s own name first! Fine then! Mine I shall give!”

“If you want...”

“My name is Upperclassman Kuno. Junior Group E. Captain of the Kendo Club, Undefeated new star of the High School Fencing World. But my peers call me Blue thunder.”

“Blue thunder? Have you heard that?” Akane whispered to her sister.

“News to me.” Nabiki quickly whispered back.

“Okay I’m uh… I’m staying at Tendo Practice Hall…”

In the blink of an eye Kuno launched himself at Ranma swinging his sword only to meet air. “Under the same roof as Akane?”

“I’m Heir to the Saotome School of Indiscriminate Grappling” Ranma continued as if nothing had happened while he flipped backward removing his backpack in the same motion. While still in the air he quickly tossed it to the ground near Nabiki.

KRAK RRrrmmmm.

Far above the four several windows of the school building open the students gathering to watch.

“Hey, someone’s taking on Kuno.”

“Talk about dangerous.”

“So, you scoundrel. Hounding Akane! I, Upperclassman Kuno, shall bring you to justice!”

“I’m not hounding anyone.”

“He’s only staying with us Kuno.”

Kuno has lost it; Nabiki glanced up at the rain clouds hanging in the air watching as lightning strikes in the distance. Ranma had best hurry up. “This really isn’t the time for this you know.”

None of which, however fazed, Kuno. “Silence fool!!” In the blink of an eye Kuno charged at Ranma, swinging his sword. Ranma, however, had already moved. Kuno to his surprise saw his sword meet with the wall behind where Ranma had been standing. What? Wait by the tree. A quick glance to his left, and he could see his foe. Swinging his sword once more at Ranma, however once more missed again. Moments later the tree severed in two crashed against the wall.

“Now listen here.” Ranma moved before Kuno could even blink dodging several more attacks made by the upperclassman. “There is nothing between Akane and myself.”

He’s good; Kuno ignored the protest of his opponent as he put all of his energy into a swing missing as Ranma leapt straight up into the air. Neither could feel the raindrops that began to fall around them as they both prepared for one final attack. Kuno barely had time to bring his sword up to attack, once more missing.

“Mr. Saotome?” Both Nabiki and Akane looked in surprise as the panda came out of nowhere knocking Kuno to the side and grabbing Ranma-chan out of the air as it made it’s way to the maintenance shed.

******

SLAM

The panda slammed to door tossing Ranma-chan into the room.

“Damn it. If it didn’t rain I’d have nailed that Buffoon with one…”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Akane interrupted as she entered the room from a window.

“What do you mean?”

“Your throat”

“Huh?” Ranma-chan reached up for the first time feeling the small bruise across her neck. “Wow, and he didn’t even touch me… that last attack was the closest he got.”

“If he had you’d be breathing through a hole in your neck.” Akane watched as the panda began pouring hot water on Ranma-chan.

“Looks like a pretty even match wouldn’t you say?”

“Oh, I don’t know… where’s Nabiki?”

“She had to go drag Kuno to class… Besides I’m the one who has to show you to our class.”

******

“Hmmm” Kuno lifted his mirror looking at the marks on his forehead, the word ‘Pervert’ stood out in a bruise.

“Amazing… and you don’t remember being touched?” Nabiki grinned looking on; I honestly hope that tattoo doesn’t wear off anytime soon.

“Well Kuno nice tattoo… says everything anybody would want to know about you.” Another girl in the room quickly added.

“This is nothing to joke about.” Kuno growled as he sat in his seat, I will make Ranma pay for this.

Everyone in the room quickly rushed to their seats as the instructor made his way into the room and to the front of the room, quickly moving into his lecture.

“Nabiki, what is going on with that… Ranma. who is he?” Kuno whispered to Nabiki who sat in the desk to his right.

“Well he’s been on a trip to china with is father… on a training voyage. He just returned the other day. Our fathers had an arrangement…”

Arrangement? No Dear Akane and that… that Fend? Kuno’s mind was turned out completely to the rest of Nabiki’s explanation as he leapt to his feet forgetting where he was. “I cannot allow this!”

“Kuno… stand out in the hall.” The instructor glanced up from his reading long enough to see Kuno make his way out the door. Kids these days.

******

“Sorry again about this” Ranma looked to the side where Akane was standing holding two pails of water. “If it wasn’t for my curse we both wouldn’t have been late.” At least Nabiki probably wasn’t late, but then again Akane did say Kuno never gave her any trouble.

“Don’t worry about it… That mark you gave him makes this all worthwhile.”

“Has he always been like this?”

“Well he used to bother Nabiki all the time, until I finally challenged him in order for him to leave her alone… He did… but that’s when he started chasing after me. I never minded it so much, I always was happy that my sister was safe; after all she hasn’t trained in martial arts for quite sometime. Ever since our mom died in fact.”

Before Ranma could even say anything else he jumped to the side barely avoiding the slash of water.

“Never Ranma Saotome… I shall never stand aside and allow this Engagement to Akane Tendo!”

Both Akane and Ranma looked in puzzlement at each other before both dodged the second bucket of water. Before either of them could contest what was said the door to their classroom opened students pouring out.

“What engagement?”

“But Akane… How could you?”

“You said you hated men.”

“It’s not true…” Akane quickly spoke only to have her voice drowned out by Ranma.

“Kuno you idiot I’m not engaged to her…” Before Ranma could even finish his sentence Kuno was already on the attack slicing the bucket Ranma held.

“Stand your ground.”

We can’t find here someone’ll get hurt, “This is no place to fight, follow me.” Ranma took off running down the hall before he even had a place in mind to fight the upperclassman.

“That I shall.”

Before any of the others could blink the two were down the hall at full speed.

“This is great!”

“Oh… and the winner gets to date… Akane!”

“Listen he’s engaged to Nabiki… NOT ME!” Akane sighed thinking about how idiotic Kuno was, after all why would she even want to be engaged? It wasn’t as if she were running out of time, or that she was in threat of dying an old maid.

“Let’s get outside… this way.” With that Ranma planted his hand on the window seal launching himself out without bothering to look down.

Without thinking Kuno quickly followed Ranma leaping through the window rather than using the same technique as his opponent, but in doing so realized just how high they were when they jumped out the window.

“Hey this is the third floor”

No problem, Ranma thought to himself as his eyes finally moved to what was below him to see a swimming pool getting closer and closer. Oh shit!

SPLASH!!!!