A Divine Daughter Part III. A Spur in the Side: The Revenge of Nabiki. Revised: April 16, 2002 By: Targhan targhan_aga@yahoo.com ===================================================================== Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters used. Both series are distributed in the U. S. By Viz-Video. "Ah My Goddess" manga is available from Dark Horse Comics, and Ranma manga through Viz. If you really like this stuff, support the real thing! This fic, and all fanfictions written by Targhan are done on an Amiga computer Introductory Notes: 1. This fanfiction will have Skuld appearing to be at a younger age, to facilitate this story Why? Two reasons, the first is obvious from this, the first installment. Second, because she can. Oh yeah, Skuld is not dating Ranma in this little work, or anyone else for that matter. 2. The author has shamelessly shoved a spoon into the Ranma 1/2 timeline; then, he stirred it up! Other notes of issue: Ranma's mother does not know about the curse yet, and she only gets to meet Ranko and her panda when she visits. Clarification: Ranma thought a smart remark about a wish. Yggdrasil calculated the time required to fix all of Ranma's problems. Skuld is going to be around for a while to fix the problems. She's been designated as Ranma's adopted daughter to allow her the time necessary. (Remember, it took several episodes for the audience to learn that Belle messed with a few things to stay with Keichii) "I'll be your guide for your trip through.. Huh? What do you mean this isn't the Twi- light Zone? Nerima? Ah HELL NAW! I AIN'T HERE! Count me out. This place is to freaking weird, even for me." -- Dante (well, not really.) "See? I told you I would get into this story." -- Urd ===================================================================== Part One: The Dojo Nabiki just saw an increased size to her chest size. Either she had an instant growth spurt, or she had just been on the receiving end of Ranma's Curse. She really only had one choice of action, and she took it. She screamed. Thinking on her feet, she concluded that she needed time to determine how to handle this new state of af- fairs. She couldn't very well do it standing here either, so she enacted a very seldom used special maneuver that allows her to gain information without playing any cards. She fainted. Ranma was the first to react; he immediately jumped out of the contraption, and moved to Nabiki's side. Looking at her, he knew he was going to be in for it when she came around. Ranma's new daughter was right behind him, and she had already pro- duced a small electronic gadget. True to his training, he had quickly gathered her vi- tals, as one would do for a fallen comrade. Determining that she was in no danger, he began to question his daughter, "What happened? Uhm, can you fix this?" Skuld simply stated, "Apparently, she stepped on a wire that had been broken. Well, it looks like she gets to have the results of your curse. It was supposed to go to that blue transduction crystal, but with the broken wire she got it. If all of the parts are OK, I can fix the machine; then, maybe I can get rid of it." Noticing Ranma's look, she continued, "It's easier to build something than to fix it. Right now, when you get splashed with water Nabiki will suffer the effects of the curse. That means, to change her back, you have to be splashed with hot water. She should be OK; except, she changes forms. It's kinda neat how she kept her hairstyle!" Listening closely to the conversation, Nabiki had calculated that she was stuck like this for a while. "Well," she thought, "it's not like something like this wasn't bound to happen sooner or later. I should know better than to poke my nose into any- thing that Ranma is doing; well, sticking my nose directly in the line of fire." After a few moments of being carried, she noted the many cries of protest around her. "I must be in the house now," she thought solemnly, "now only if I can be left alone for a while." As if her simple request was rejected by the gods, she felt what was the couch beneath her. This wasn't good; she was stuck listening to all the verbal abuse, while trying to come up with a reasonable plot for revenge. Well, not really re- venge, just a way to make sure that this situation was cured ASAP. Her father was crying, and blubbering something to the effect of "My poor little girl." Nabiki wasn't too keen on that particular aspect of her father's personality, but it was rather upsetting. Ranma was trying to explain what happened; while, his father was berating him. Akane wasn't pleased; then again, she was starting to realize that Skuld wasn't another fiancée. Her little sister could be so slow sometimes; it was amazing. "Damn it," she thought, "I'm supposed to be coming up with a plan here. These arguments are the family fights that I get to have a little fun with, not the fights I'm supposed to be the subject of." "OK," she began analyzing, "one, I'm stuck with turning into Ranma's girl half. Two, I will not have the control of the curse's trigger very often. Three, I have to make the fact that I turn into Ranko as annoying to Ranma as possible. That's it! Ranko! I will play the part of Ranko to the hilt; with my own added curve-ball. When he gets doused with cold water, I will turn into the most annoying Ranko ever! To top it off, I'll act just like Ukyou and Shampoo--that should annoy Ranma to no end." Still analyzing the situation, Nabiki heard a reminder that Nodoka was sup- posed to be coming back soon from Genma. She had forgotten all about that, and the reminder wasn't too pleasant to Akane either. Nabiki didn't have to hear Akane's re- marks, but she did anyway, "Well Mr. I'm-engaged-to-myself, you can be engaged to Nabiki again for all I care. You need to be taught a lesson anyway!" "Great. Way to go, little sister," Nabiki thought. "At the first sign of trouble, you do the predictable thing," she continued to surmise. At this rate, those two will never get over their own egos. She was getting off track again, and she didn't have all night to think about it. Nabiki wondered momentarily about how Ranma would react to her little plan. She assumed that he would treat her like all the other fiancées. That wouldn't be good; she needed Ranma to cover her butt from the likes of his fiancées. That's when realization came home to roost, "Ranma doesn't want this body molested--it's his. All I have to do is remind him of what people want to do with his female half, and I bet he'll freak. Ooh Saotome, you are going to be working your ass off now! Oh yeah--if I have to be your fiancée in front of Mrs. Saotome, Ranma; you had better be prepared. I'm going to make Shampoo look like a novice in front of your mom!" Nabiki had to fight to keep an evil grin from adorning her face. Determining that there was still some shock value in the whole situation, she concluded that wait- ing on auntie would be the best action. This way, she could catch Ranma off guard and worry him for a while. With her plan finalized, she tuned back into the world around her. The screaming, arguing, and occasional crashing sounds were indicative of a regular family brawl. However, she noticed that something, or someone, was missing. Where was that kid of Ranma's? In the Dojo ========= Skuld had a headache. Scratch that; she had a migraine. Her first solo assign- ment, and she had gotten the grandaddy of all love triangles. Mixed in with all the love interest in the one guy who wasn't that interested in a love interest, she had curses, magic, and weirdos to deal with. Yes, Ranma deserved to have a wish; he de- served an army of wishes. Ranma was a good guy, yet he had more things going wrong than the Titanic ever did. Skuld was more than just angry; she was angry at herself. All that work she did to make sure the work-area was bug-free was up in a single puff of smoke. Looking up at her machine, Skuld felt disparity. Her very first attempt to fix something had gone all kinds of wrong. If there was anything that bothered her, it was messing something up. Looking back down, she remembered how the wish was really granted. She remembered how time had stopped on the mortal plane at the ex- act moment she began to glow. She recalled that Yggdrasil had advised that she speaks with the other Norns about exactly how to grant this wish. Even with all that, it was the big powwow with her sisters that stood out the most. FlashBack "Now Skuld, you'll do just fine," her sister, Belldandy, said with a voice that con- veyed a confidence. The look her sister wore was one of pride; her sister was proud of her. Skuld hadn't even done a thing to help the boy, and her sister was proud. "Oh," begun her eldest sister, Urd, "you have studied this case twice as hard as what is necessary, you should do just fine. Besides, I'll be here to help; this kind of thing is my cup of tea." Skuld was speechless; Urd even offered her own twisted help. Looking down, Skuld made a futile complaint, "According to Yggdrasil, I'll have to be a kid. I am not a kid! Further, I don't want to even pretend to be a kid." Belldandy knew that was coming; Skuld could tell--her sister wore a that face again. When her sister wore that face, Belldandy was going to explain something that she should see as obvious. Then, Belldandy started, "I suppose you could be his girl- friend, but that would add to the problems you are supposed to fix. His current set of fiancées would even suspect a cousin, and a sister would require even more messing around with the time-stream. Hmmm, you could just take breaks. Besides, you know you aren't a child, and a real adult knows when they have to do something they don't like for the greater good." Skuld was defeated, and she conceited, "I guess you're right. Besides, Ranma will know I'm not a kid." Urd decided to throw her own remarks in, "Yes, he will. You've watched him enough to know that he will treat you well too. It is going to be difficult, but you can do it. I don't think that I've seen a case as deserving as his for a very long time." Skuld looked back and forth between her sisters, and knew that she really could do it. Further, she wasn't being looked at as a kid from the people that counted. She was doing a very important service for someone who deserved it. She did briefly won- der how his life seemed to continue to slip under the radar. Putting that aside, she knew this job was going to be long and arduous. In a way, it could be like her sister's contract with Keichii. The notable difference was that she could "grow up," and spend only the amount of time necessary to help her new "father." Noting that Skuld's spirits were up, Belldandy decided to put the icing on the cake. She told her little sister that she would personally oversee the changes to time. Finally, Belldandy told her little sister that it would only be days before Ranma would care for her so much that he wouldn't risk his life, but give it, for Skuld's well being. Although, Belldandy was fairly confident that Skuld would know this already; a little confidence booster wouldn't hurt. Before long, Skuld was returned to the Earth to inform Ranma that his wish had been granted. END FLASHBACK Skuld brightened at the thought that Belldandy had promised to check on her at the funeral of her earthly mother. She may have let Ranma down with her machine, but she would fix it for him. Skuld determination finally began to seep through her depression; she had a reason to keep trying. Ranma depended on her, and she would not let him down in the end. Finally, Skuld was feeling a little better; although, she could do without those bugs. An Hour Later =========== Concern finally began to grow phenomenally in the living room, as Nabiki didn't seem to be waking. Soun began his enactment of a lawn care product (the sprinkler), and Kasumi wanted to call the kind doctor. Genma was berating Ranma, and Akane was agreeing with him. The lesser active of the group was Skuld and Ranma. Skuld was trying to apologize to Nabiki, while Ranma tried to convince Skuld that it wasn't really her fault. About the time that everyone agreed to call Doctor Tofu, there was a knock at the door. As if on cue, the occupants of the room stopped, and looked at the door. In that moment, Kasumi moved deftly moved to the door; then, opened it. Wearing an inviting smile, she asked, "Oh, Auntie Saotome! Won't you please come in?" The declaration of "Oh, Auntie Saotome," was another cue of particular impor- tance in the Tendo home. This was the indication that Ranma and Genma were to dis- appear, and Mr. Panda and Ranma were to return in their place. Not surprisingly, the fresh change in the situation would not dawn on either Ranma or his father. Thus, the splashing noise behind the house accompanying Nodoka's arrival played out once more. At the place of splashdown, Ranma hit his father over the head, "Stupid panda. Why'de ya' do that for?" The sign reading "Stupid boy, your mother is here" came up (amazingly, before the panda's head did), and connected with Ranma's head with a resounding whack. Rubbing his head, Ranma climbed out of the pond; then, realized that he was still a he. His eyes grew wide, and Ranma rushed into the house screaming, "Mom," repeatedly. As he left, Mr. Panda just waddled out of the pond, and groaned. Mr. Panda moved into the lotus position, and propped his little (ok, big) panda head on his fist. Then, he rolled his eyes, while making a grumbling noise. Nearby, Nabiki decided it was time for her revenge. It wouldn't last long, but the look on the martial artist's face would be priceless. "Now, how should Ranko make her appearance," she mentally questioned. Grinning evilly, she added, "it's a good thing that Saotome doesn't hold a grudge for very long." With that, she proceeded into the back yard. The panda's grumbling noise quickly turned into a surprised "Graawf," as he was nocked immediately back into the pond. Above the surface of the water, Genma spotted Ranma running from someone.Propping his weight onto his arms at the edge of the Koi Pond, Genma watched in horror as his son was running like a girl. He was running like a girl in front of his mother; worse, he was running from a girl in front of his mother. Unnoticed by Mr. Panda, the Koi had enough company for one night, so it bit the panda; the bite was noticed. Genma jumped out of the pond in one giant leap screaming something that while sounded completely panda, was most likely a string of colorful adjectives. The activity that Mr. Panda had been watching was Ranko chasing Ranma all about the Tendo Compound. Ranko was making various declarations of love, and Ranma was making various gagging noises. "Ranma, my sweetheart, we are to be wed! You and I, we will be together as one! Come back here Ranma! Your mom said that it would be manly for you to take me before our marriage," bellowed Ranko. Nabiki was having the time of her life; she had never seen anyone running that fast lose their cookies! While Ranma was freaked out like never before, Kasumi was politely serving tea. The majority of the household stared in awe, while taking the tea that was so kindly offered. Yet, Skuld was of a different mind-set entirely. Ranma's daughter had seen many things, but this took the cake. Skuld started with a chuckle, advanced to laughter; then, finally lost all composure laughing at the antics before her. "How in the hell did Nabiki get so fast," thought Ranma, as he dodged another leaping glomp. He ducked from another grab, and continued his flight. "Does Nabiki really think that she is Ranko? Did she get some of my toning of that body," he ques- tioned himself as he made a last ditch effort to get away. His final move was to jump onto the roof, hoping that Ranko wouldn't jump after him. The final move was in vain, as he met the flat side of a....Table?!!? Akane had enough watching this travesty in justice. She pulled the table out of the kitchen, and used it on that pervert. Satisfied with the loud thump, she said, "You look like you're trying to put on a show of innocence, you pervert." With her good deed done, Akane headed into the house to look for their industrial sized bottle of as- pirin. Outside, Ranko had captured Ranma, and was making purring sounds at him. In response, Ranma was flailing trying to get away. Ranma was in utter dismay; he did not want those body parts rubbing against him, and the purring sounds were grinding at his very sanity. "That's enough dear." Turning to see the source of the comment, Ranko saw Nodoka smiling. Then, she heard Nodoka say, "It's Mommy's turn!" "Gaaaah," was about the extend of Ranko's verbal capacity, as she was knocked aside. Falling flat on her back, Ranko stared at the bear hug that Nodoka had pulled her son into. "Mom," Ranma stuttered, "I. Can't. Breathe." The pressure to Ranma's midsec- tion relented by a bit, and Ranma suddenly became ecstatic. "Mom," he exclaimed with a fervent joy that he had not used in quite some time. "I, I just can't believe that you're finally here," he stated with only the slightest waver in his voice. "My son! My son has been returned to me after ten very long years," Nodoka stated in much the same voice (except female, naturally). In fact, Nodoka was speak- ing at the same time as Ranma. Her eyes began to water, and grew out of proportion to her face. She began babbling at Ranma in the same baby voice she had used with Skuld earlier in the day, "My widdle boy has come back to his momma, all gwone up! My widdle man is now da' man amongst men, yes he is!" Somewhere in the Tendo's backyard, a panda could be heard planting his face into the ground. If anyone could tear their eyes from the scene made by Ranma and his mother, they would have noticed the panda-sign reading, "Tendo, old friend, I told you she would coddle the boy." Luckily for him, no one saw the sign, as Mrs. Saotome might have asked questions. "I'm not a widdle-man, mom," Ranma began, he was in utter shock. Could this really be the same woman who carried around a death-sentence? Nodoka's eyes began to tear up, and her lips quivered (mind you, the eyes are still immensely oversized). "Nononono, I wait ten years to see my precious widdle man, and this is how you treat your MOMMY?!!?" The sweat-drops forming on the heads of the collective residents of the Tendo Dojo could be used to recover a third world country from a drought of Biblical pro- portions. This was Mrs. You-Will-Commit-Sepukku Saotome? "Uhm, Mom," Ranma began again, "please don't cry. I can be your little boy. That is, uhm, if you want me to." "Oh! You will? Really? Oh my widdle MAN," her voice was cracking from so many pent-up emotions. She almost glowed with happiness, and the majority of the folks in the yard were still struck speechless. Ranma, who was slightly unnerved, simply asked, "Mom, what exactly did you mean by manly?" Nodoka simply leaned over to Ranma's ear, and whispered something that only he could hear. He seemed to have asked another silent question, and gotten some sort of an answer to it. It was obvious to those around him that Ranma was utterly flabber- gasted. How? Ranma had jumped sky-high, and he was making warding gestures with his hands. When Ranma finally made his way back down to the ground, his mother looked normal without the ultra-kawaii facial expression. Looking at her son, she simply stated, "Son, as you should know by now, Ranko is your new fiancee. I expect you to treat her well." Ranma's face went blank. What could he do? What could he say? Ranma won- dered whether or not he should just mention the curse. After all, he technically wasn't cursed anymore. He continued his internal deliberations for a while; noting, his mother was speaking to Skuld about something. After a time, Nodoka informed everyone that she was leaving to allow Ranma and Ranko some time together. Ranma wasn't too pleased about this turn of events; he wanted to spend time with his mother. "Mom," he began, "You just got here, can't you stay?" As far as Ranma was concerned, his Pop could stay a panda for a while. Soun stepped in, "Now son, that is a lovely idea. Your mother though needs a few days to collect her things. Then, we could allow her to stay here with us! Yes, Genma would be most pleased to see his wife when he comes back from his train- ing-trip." The afore-mentioned panda stared on nervously. The boy had done this on pur- pose. What had he done to make Tendo so angry at him? His wife couldn't see him like this! Somehow, things just didn't go as Ranma had imagined. His mother's idea of manliness was perverse. Nabiki didn't just get the results of the curse, she turned into some sick form of his Ranko act. She even went to the point of going by and kicking his Pops. "Not that he didn't deserve it," he mentally added. Part Two: Aftermath "Aaaargh," she complained chucking her diary at the wall, "I'm so mad I can't even make tonight's diary entry." In one huff, Akane's anger seemed to dissipate into sadness. "Oh, Ranma," she said in a whisper, "why can't you just talk to me?" She pulled her pillow closer, and whispered again, "I can be a good mother." As she began thinking of trying to make up with Ranma, she heard something from downstairs. She heard Nodoka telling Ranma that she changed the engagement for him, and that he should be happy to have a fiancée like Ranko. Akane did not like where that was going; then, she heard Ranma agreeing with his mother. That per- verted baka could have Ranko for all she cared. Suddenly, she smiled. "Ranma, Nabiki is going to kill you when she can control her body again," she thought evilly before turning in. She was going to go to sleep; her diary could wait. If she had to listen to any more of that mess from downstairs, she would have to do something about it. Resigned to let Nabiki dish out Ranma's fate, she crawled into bed. Later that Evening =============== "Do not look at me in that manner," began an obviously tired Nabiki. Raising an eyebrow at the various states of disbelief from her audience, she continued, "Did you all believe that I became someone else?" Her audience simply nodded. "Honestly," she began again, "I'm stumped at how gullible you people can be." The two fathers, Kasumi, and Ranma (Skuld had already hit the hay) continued to just stare at Nabiki in shock. Rolling her eyes, Nabiki was a little tired of this completely one sided conversa- tion that began when Auntie Saotome left. Letting out a strained sigh, she finished up, "It was all an act. I acted like the Ranko that Auntie Saotome expected. Really, it isn't that hard to figure out, people. If you don't mind, I'm tired, sore, and would like to go to bed." Then, for good measure, she placed her hands on her hips, shook her head, and turned around. Moving towards the stairs, she grabbed Ranma's arm. Then, using almost a whisper, she asked, "Saotome, please help me up the stairs?" Hearing his slight groan, she tightened her grip, and added, "It's not like I want help, Saotome. I'm sore, be- cause I was covering your tail." As Ranma kept Nabiki moving up the stairs, Nabiki moved her legs as little as possible. Upon reaching the top of the stairs, Nabiki informed Ranma, "You can let go now; unless, you want to bathe me." Ranma let out an "eep," and let go. Before he could get too far away, Nabiki gave him one last bit of warning, "Fiancée or no fiancée, the next time you make me chase you like that, Saotome, you will either give me a massage, or hire a professional masseuse to do it for you. Oh! Before I forget, you are going to protect that female half of yours, aren't you?" Without giving Ranma a chance to answer, she disappeared into the baths. Ranma was disgusted. Not only had Nabiki made a fool of him, but he was go- ing to have to protect her until they got this thing straightened out. Ranma muttered to himself as he went back down, "What was she thinking? Let's chase Ranma around until I can't walk. Jeez, needing help to the bath." Ranma shook his head at that; he was just thankful that she really wasn't the Ranko she pretended to be. "Damn, she's even scarier than Kodachi," Ranma shivered as he considered it. --- It was three-thirty in the morning. "Who in their right mind bothers anyone at this god-forbidden time," Nabiki questioned to no one in particular. "I'm sorry," came Skuld's answer in a small voice. "I had a bad dream, and daddy won't wake up," she continued. Nabiki looked at the girl beside her bed, and remembered losing her own mother. She remembered that it was a very hard and scary time; also, she remembered how Kasumi helped her. "C'mon," she said softly, "You can sleep with me." "Hai," came Skuld's reply, "Arigato." Skuld was happy for the comfort, but was concerned about the way the memories of her "mother" were coming in. She also hoped that Ranma would be ok; since, he would be getting some new memories from Yggdrasil too. As Nabiki lay there, she mentally slapped herself, "The hell was I thinking? I should have brought her to Akane. Well, maybe that wouldn't have been a good idea with the way she's been acting." Resigned that she had not made a mistake, Nabiki closed her eyes to go back to sleep. --- Another Manic Monday =================== Sitting at the breakfast table, Ranma wondered where the sudden splash of cold water came from. While he knew that he was a water magnet, he was at the kitchen table for crying out loud. Then he heard his female-half's voice, "Ranma, you mother will be by soon to go to the funeral soon. She expects Ranko to accompany you, so you be prepared, darling." Ranma winced at the icy tone Nabiki used with the word Darling. Akane was just grinning throughout breakfast. Ranma couldn't stand it. He couldn't stand the silent treatment; he couldn't stand Akane enjoying the fact that Nabiki had turned him into some sort of personal joke. Having about all he could take of Akane's abstinence, he verbally lashed out. The statement was simple, "No matter how mean Nabiki is; she doesn't have a damned mallet." Kasumi witnessed the fight begin, and was ready to complain. Yet, Skuld had broken the whole incident up quickly, and Kasumi was relieved that she had. Skuld simply produced one of Genma-Panda's signs that read, "But I do!" In response to this, Kasumi watched as Ranma placed his hand over his heart, began convulsing, and whimpering, "Oh, the pain. The Pain! I was destroyed by my own daughter!" Kasumi was stifling a giggle, but couldn't hold it in when Ranma fell backwards out of his chair playing dead. The little play didn't faze Mr. Panda a bit; he used this opportunity to steal food from everyone's plate. That was until Soun noticed, "Saotome! You are stealing my food! Training Ranma, hey!" The panda grinned; then, the panda ran outside at the onset of the demon head attack, "Why do you take the food from your old friend's mouth?!!?" By the time Nodoka arrived, the morning's activities were finished. She found Skuld sitting in Ranma's lap, and Ranko snuggled up to him. She did not notice the occasional glance of disgust that Ranma would give Ranko, or the daggers that Akane was staring through him. Everything seemed normal to her, so she just said, "Are we ready?" Ranma was the first to respond, "Oh yeah, we are more ready than you can ever imagine!" He thought, "I'm more annoyed than you can believe right now." No mat- ter how much he knew that Nabiki was faking the Ranko thing, it still unnerved him. It was just wrong. It felt like a mirror was coming on to him; "Aaargh," he mentally added. On the way to the funeral, Ranma kept a close eye on Skuld. That girl has a great acting ability, but then he realized that in a way it wasn't acting. "Man, the last few days have been so messed up; I could cry with you, Skuld," Ranma thought sol- emnly. Then, he picked up Skuld to carry her the rest of the way to the funeral, and he did so almost reflexively. Nabiki was perceptive as ever, even if she was playing along as any number of Ranma's numerous fiancées. She, as Ranko, moved to the other side of Ranma to reas- sure the small girl, "It'll be ok, Skuld. I promise, we'll stick together." In a reply of sorts, Skuld nodded between whimpers. This all felt incredibly strange to the goddess. She knew that her mother didn't just die, but she did just die. She was a goddess, but she was also had an earthly mother. She felt the loss, but knows that this was all a reality adjustment by Yggdrasil. It felt confusing, while she knew all the particularities of the process. The funeral itself wasn't very eventful; though, it was a very sobering affair. Even at a stranger's funeral, one can't help but to realize the frailty of life. Individuals hardened to the lessons of life, those hardened by a life on the road, and even those hardened by years of being alone are all affected by such activities. At the end of the saddening affair, the small group was approached by a white-haired woman in her mid-twenties. Introducing herself as Yumi, a representa- tive of the state; then, she indicated that it was her responsibility to ensure that Mr. Saotome Ranma would provide a good home for Skuld. Pulling Ranma and Skuld to the side, Yumi told Ranma that Skuld should con- tinue to attend the same school that she had previously. Further, she offered to take Skuld to school for Ranma. Ranma was apprehensive at first, until Skuld reassured Ranma that Yumi was a friend. Then, Skuld added that she would explain more about Yumi later. At which, Ranma was satisfied to allow her to go with the apparent case worker. On the way home, Nabiki was lividly explaining to Ranma that good parents don't let their children go off with anyone that doesn't have proof of who they are. She couldn't believe that Ranma was so trusting over this. She just let Ranma have it, "My god, what were you thinking? What if that woman was some sort of murderer? Listen to me, Ranma." --- "Skuld says that she knows Yumi, and I'm satisfied with that." "Son, you could have just said that. There is no reason to get your iinzuke worked up, now is there?" "No use in crying over spilled milk, now is there Mr. Fiancée?" --- They parted company as they walked past the Tendo home. Ranma and Ranko continued to school, and Nodoka went to see if her husband had shown back up yet. Once out of earshot, Nabiki said, "Let's head to the Doc's place first. I don't think you want me going to school like this." Ranma muttered his agreement, and walked with her to get hot water. He ab- sently speculated about the length of time he could go without getting wet at school. Lunch, Windy Forest High School* ===================================================================== *Fuurinkan Koukou literately means, "Windy Forest Hall High," now how about that! ===================================================================== There were few things that Ranma was genuinely happy over at any given time. Today, sitting behind Akane was one of them. He really didn't feel like being glared at for having the luck to miss the first two hours of school. He was always amazed at how she could get angry over such little things. Lunch time found an adventuresome new way to be annoying, at least to Ranma. He was splashed again, this time due to a broken water faucet. Ranma cursed his luck. Within seconds of being splashed, he heard an amazingly familiar declaration of love. "Pig Tailed Goddess, Oh how I've waited for thee," Kuno's speech began in the courtyard of Furinkan. The ear-grating speech continued, as Kuno began to fondle Ranko's breasts. Kuno was in heaven, "To at last be free of that foul sorcerer's treach- ery! Our love might thusly be fulfilled!" For all of her effort, Nabiki could not break free of the mad kendoist's grasp. Her anger would have soon turned to despair, if not for Ranma finding hot water somewhere. The next thing Nabiki heard was, "My sweet Lord above! Why hast thou forsaken thee?!!? Mine hands hath touched that vile harlot Tendo Nabiki! Purification must be performed upon these hands that have been so violated as to have... Urk." Looking down, Nabiki noticed that there was a foot where Kuno had bent down to declare his disgust at touching her. The foot, she noted, was connected to Ranma's leg. She knew that she was visibly shaken, but thanked Ranma anyway. "You don't look so good, Nabiki," Ranma commented. The answer to his com- ment was, "Well, of course not. I've been honked, and then told it was disgusting. Why in the world, would I consider anything wrong?" Ranma was surprised; Nabiki usually only gets this abrasive when she's really ill. He decided to calm her down, "Kuno is a freak, and has no idea about what is qual- ity goods." Waving his hands in the air for drama's sake, Ranma walked back to enjoy his lunch. His retreat left Nabiki to conduct the rest of her lunch-time business. Akane overheard the conversation, and, frankly, she didn't know what upset her the most. Was it Kuno fondling her sister, or Kuno berating Nabiki afterwards? Could it have been the fact that Ranma complemented Nabiki. Akane decided that whichever one annoyed her the most, she was going back to the classroom. Somewhere Else ============= "Skuld! I'm so happy to see you! Keichii, Skuld is here for a little wile," Bell- dandy greeted her little sister. "Hiya, Bell," stated Skuld with a bit of enthusiasm. Then, "Wow, I'm glad you set it up for me to come here for school. Hehe, I'd be bored silly in a mortal school." After a quick poof-ing noise, Yumi transformed into Urd, and said, "I couldn't very well leave you out in the cold, now could I?" "Well, I suppose not. Hey, I need some advice..." After School ========== Ducking under a boken, Ranma tossed Nabiki to Akane. "Get her outta' here," Ranma demanded, while jumping over the kendoist swing. Nabiki was pissed that she got tossed around like a sack of potatoes. Further, she was not terribly pleased about the things that Kuno was screaming while he fought with her supposed fiancée. During a flip over Kuno's head, Ranma heard Kuno blurt out, "How dare you de- fend that sorceress harlot who's captured my fair Pigtailed Girl!" That was about the last thing Ranma heard from Kuno, as Ranma nailed him with a standing kick after he landed. By the time they reached the house, Ranma was wet, Akane was mad, and Nabiki was a redhead again. --- "P-chan! Thank god! I was so worried about you," Akane exclaimed excitedly, as she swept her pet pig up into her arms. Cuddling him close, she took him to the kitchen for an after-school snack. She began to rattle off her problems to the pet, "That Jerk ditched me again, P-chan." "Bwee," the pig stated with a serious look on its face. "I'm sorry P-chan, but That's not all..." --- "Saotome, I am not going to be able to conduct my business like this every day. You and I are going to have to come up with something to keep Kuno off my back. Unless, you want to play hero several times a day. I've tried different ways to get him to realize that it's a curse, but it keeps going right over his fool head. I've lost count of how many times you've tried to beat it into him, so what are we going to do," lectured Nabiki. Ranma looked at her dumbly, "Uhm. I don't think he can get it?" Before Ranma could add to the conversation more than that, they heard a knock at Nabiki's door. Opening the door, Nabiki found a very serious Skuld, "Nabiki, I think we need to talk. Oh, hey Daddy! Wait, you don't have to leave. I may need your help; it's about the Yumi, the caseworker." --- Looking about frantically, a little pig has found itself lost again. Ryoga screams, "Where am I, NOW!!????!!!!???!!??!??" Although, a passerby would see a little bandanna wearing pig striking a pose screaming, "Bweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" -- NOTES --- My apologies for the long delay. I decided to pop-out another episode of "Rearrange" before beginning on chapter 3 of "Divine." Lets just say it was harder to go back and forth between the two than I thought. With that said, I've gotten five more chapters planned for divine. It may vary, but I'll try to keep the notes up to date as I go along. After an extensive review by one of my pre-readers, I learned of some glaring mistakes from the first version of this chapter. I'm surprised that I haven't been vic- timized by the OOC hordes! Anyway, the OOC'ness has been reduced back within op- erational limits with this revision. Gomen. --- NEXT TIME --- P-chan has had enough! He finds his way back to the Tendo Dojo intent on having it out with Ranma, and finds a terrible mess. Kuno thinks that Ranma and Nabiki are magically competing to control his pig tailed girl? Shampoo is involved; Ukyou is back from business. Be here next time for, "Undercurrents."