A Divine Daughter Part V: House Calls Or, "When Yumi Makes a House Call" By: Targhan targhan_aga@yahoo.com www.geocities.com/targhan_aga ================================================================== www.beeftrapeze.com/challenge/ Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters used. "Ranma 1/2" is distributed in the U.S. by Viz, and "Oh My Goddess" manga is distributed by Dark Horse Comics. =============================== Several weeks after the funeral... =============================== "Well?" Asked Belldandy, staring through Skuld towards Noble Scarlet. With her arms folded and her face adorned with a scowl, Belldandy's displeasure was more than obvious. Since the amusement of watching Belldandy scold Noble Scarlet was quick to wear off; Urd quickly disappeared for a refreshingly cold malt-barly-pop. Skuld knew better than to interrupt Bell, even though her big sister was getting on to her angel. Skuld could literately feel the defiance that Noble Scarlet was exuding. This was definitely not what she wanted from her "school" day. Finally, Belldandy turned her attention away from Noble Scarlet, and back towards her little sister. "This isn't getting me anywhere," she began exasperated, "Skuld, could you tell me about the last few weeks," after her question, Belldandy let out an extended sigh, and she slumped down next to the knee-high table. Skuld was nervous and upset; but most of all, she was angry. Everything she had done seemed to backfire grandly. It wasn't always Noble Scarlet, it wasn't always a bug, but it was always something. Balling her fist up; she finally replied, "I don't know oneechan. I've been trying, but everything just blows up in my face. Ranma has a pure soul, but, at times, I could swear that there must be a demon after him." By the time she finished her statement, she was nearly crimson with anger. Belldandy put on a small smile, and began to reassure her little sister, "OK, slow down a little bit. The Ultimate Force is in action on our side, so everything will work out. Now why don't you start..." Urd floated into the room, and graciously interrupted the pep-talk, "I have a suspicion that might explain some of the craziness in your project, Skuld." "Urd" began Skuld in an elevated tone, "Bell was talking." Skuld idly wondered why Urd had to be so presumptuous. The eldest of the three Norns continued without paying any attention, "There is a possibility that Ranma's father could have inadvertently made a pact with a demon to make Ranma the most powerful martial artist ever." Urd mentally added that there could be more than one force at work in the kid's life. "Oh my!" Exclaimed Belldandy, as she moved her fingers to her lips. She immediately realized that it was more than just possible; it was probable. If that was the case, Skuld was going to need their help. Belldandy decided at this point to learn as much as possible, "Skuld, tell us about the last few weeks. Maybe, we can see a pattern that would indicate interference." "OK," came the reply, as Skuld began to retell the events of the last few weeks. "It all began a few weeks ago, when that kendoist, Kuno, had attacked Auntie-Nabiki," began Skuld. Silently wondering how her Daddy, Ranma, uncannily knew about various dangers, she continued, "Daddy ran out explosively to save her before any of us knew what was going on. Then, I guess she wasn't as physically fit as some of the other people there, and she threw up all over Daddy!" Clearing her throat, Skuld followed up, '"The *real* trouble began when Nodoka-san overheard Tendo-san say something about it being a martial artist's duty so protect his betrothed." "Grammy immediately gave Tendo-san an angry look, and Grampa-Baka, erm Grampa-Panda, started holding up his silly signs," continued Skuld after taking a breath. Those signs tickled Skuld to no end, but it was still a mystery to her how he pulled those signs from nowhere. Happy thoughts aside, she continued, "Mr. Tendo looked as white as a sheet; I mean he had no color--it all drained through his shoes into the ground, or something." She thought back to the action at the Tendo yard, when Soun was belch out some silly lie to Nodoka. Then, she tried to determine the best way to express how Auntie-Nabiki cut him off. Skuld stated, "Nabiki bellowed something about the curse being the reason she turns into Ranko, and that there never was a Ranko to Grammy, when Grampa Tendo was trying to mislead her about what he had just said." With annoyance written all across her face, Skuld continued to retell her story, "Needless to say, Grammy-Nodoka was a little shocked, and probably would have believed a fabrication more than the truth. Everyone seemed to start yelling at each other, but my attention was drawn away by Noble Scarlet." "What did she do," asked Urd curiously. Urd hadn't seen such a mess in ages, and she was tickled that Father had allowed her and Belldandy to help Skuld on this assignment. "Hmm," she thought, "we sort of have permission." Skuld continued, "I'm getting to it. Noble Scarlet was just acting weird..." Interjecting, Belldandy commented, "I see that there is a big mess, but why is it that Urd informed me to admonish Noble Scarlet? Urd said that she was interfering, but, exactly what, she refused to say." --- "Well, that's easy," echoed Urd, "precious little Nobel Scarlet wasn't by Skuld's side, but doing something with Nabiki. To top it off, she, somehow, found a way to do so without Skuld's knowledge." Skuld, for her part, rocked back and forth on her folded legs, as she tried to clarify. She spoke slowly, as her mind raced back to cover the events of the past few weeks. ## FlashBack ## I felt my eyes open up wide at the shock of what I saw; I mean I really couldn't believe it! I thought that according to my research, Nabiki and Ranma were acting a little nicer to each other than they should have, but I never, ever, expected to see Noble Scarlet egging them on! I think daddy needed his nerves calmed, because Grammy finally put all the pieces together, but Noble Scarlet went a little too far. There are some things that should happen on their own, right? So, I went over there to break up Nobel Scarlet's little nudging. That's when Nabiki-san jumped back staring at her hand like it had been bitten by a snake. Then, she ran off screaming about changing clothes. ## End Flashback ## After listening to Skuld's recounting of the events of the day, Bell was beginning to wonder if Skuld just needed some remedial training with her angel. "Well, I don't see anything that resembles any demonic influence in that," commented Belldandy. Urd looked over, and replied, "Well, I didn't mean every incident, but there are some things that just don't add up without some influence. Like, the Neko-ken training just doesn't make any sense." Skuld began to appear irritated at the interruption, but she waited for them to finish before going back to her story. Belldandy face turned to something a bit more somber, as she said, "Maybe it wasn't his father. What about their old Master?" "That man is definitely suspect," Urd added. Then, she motioned for Skuld to continue her story. Then, as Skuld began to speak, Urd made a mental note that this Happosai could be more than just suspect... "Where was I? Oh yeah, I sat with Ranma, while he watched his mother chase Genma around flailing with the sheathed katana. He was snickering about it, so I asked him to explain..." ### "Mom don't have no business swinging that thing, she could hurt herself," Ranma stated with an amused tone. Ranma had suspected for a while that his mother wasn't a great kendo master, but her actions in the back yard proved it. Nodoka was too upset to be concerned, but Ranma's worry about the seppuku contract waned with his mother's reactions. Ranma realized that she wouldn't make them go through something so hideous, when she was clearly upset because she simply missed them. She waited over ten years to see her husband and child, only to find out that she could have seen them much sooner if not for the fear over a seppuku contract. That fact just stuck in her craw. [a.n.: If asked, Nodoka would say, "I don't know what a "craw" is, but whatever it is--this situation sure sticks in it!"] With all of the excitement going on, Skuld excused herself to go check on Nabiki. Something just didn't sit right, as Noble Scarlet seemingly decided to exercise her own will into the current situation. Skuld traversed the stairs making her way to Nabiki's room to find that the middle Tendo sister stepping into her room. Before she could get to the room, a small thud echoed from her very destination. Catching her attention, she moved more quickly to investigate the noise from the end of the hall. Stepping into Nabiki's room, she noticed that Noble Scarlet was gliding away from the small desk and that Nabiki moved past her to pick up a few photographs. The question of what Noble Scarlet had or had not done slipped to the wayside, when Skuld noticed Nabiki's paperwork out in the open. There were bank books, ledgers, scratch paper, a calculator, and even an abacus muddled about the desk. In fact, the layout wasn't too different from that of an accountant. If anything, the whole array of objects screamed "tedious" and "boring." At this point, Nabiki noticed the curious look in Skuld's eyes, and told her a few of the intricacies of running the Tendo dojo and household. While Skuld's research revealed that Nabiki kept the household afloat financially, Skuld could read one emotion glaring from the girl. Tired. While Nabiki normally prided herself on the cool demeanor which was unreadable, she couldn't hide her emotions from a Norn, a goddess with empathy and that could read auras. It was obvious that the middle Tendo sister was tired of the betting pools, the fiascoes, the schemes, and all of the dirty pool that she had to play just to keep the bills met. While it was true that she enjoyed those things, there is a difference in doing something for fun on occasion and doing it to survive. As the girl responsible for the household's financial burden finished up, Skuld interjected, "Wouldn't it be easier just to have Tendo-san or Saotome-san take students? Isn't that what a dojo is for?" Skuld listened as she noticed Nabiki cock her head to one side, "Now, why didn't I think of that?" Pausing for effect, Nabiki put her index finger in the air, as if coming upon a grand solution. Then, she continued, "It's simple, those two are the laziest people I've ever seen. Kami knows that I've tried many times. I could sooner get cheese out of a moon crater than to get work out of my or Ranma's father." Before leaving the room, Skuld noticed that Noble Scarlet was a bit edgy. Somehow, Noble Scarlet felt the need to inform Nabiki that maybe Skuld's father could do the job. Although Skuld found it a bit odd, it did make sense. Thus, she decided to leave Nabiki with a few words of wisdom, "Why not hint that opening the dojo to students would be good training for Daddy? Besides, if you tell my dad about the situation and that you need help, I know he will do everything he can. My Daddy has the biggest heart in the whole world, and would do anything to help." ### Skuld finally appeared a bit more cheerful to her sisters, as she continued to describe the situation, "You should have seen her face. She looked at me as if I told her the world was flat. Then, her face twisted into a mask of confusion. I guess she didn't know how to deal with it, so she just clammed up. That's when I left the room," Skuld paused for a breath; then she sipped her tea. Belldandy looked at her sister with concern, as she began, "Well, there is nothing demonic about that. Unless, we count a goddess who can't keep tabs on her troublemaking angel as a demonic force." She giggled at her little joke, but soon realized that no one else thought it was funny. She then added, "You shouldn't just give up, if you like Nabiki and think she would be the right one--keep trying. She may just be confused about her own feelings." Raising an eyebrow, Skuld took a deep breath, and replied, "Hey! Daddy can make his on decisions about that! It wouldn't be fair to him for me to try to force his choice one way or the other." Then, Urd interjected as she stifled a giggle at her youngest sister's defensiveness, "What else happened during the last few weeks, that some well placed Goddess-Potions wouldn't cure?" Relieved with the reprieve, Skuld answered quickly, "Various rivals came by several times trying to take his head off, but that is normal..." "Wait! Stop! Right there!" Urd commanded, "Don't you see? It is *NOT* normal at all! I think something must have affected those people to make them want to come looking for blood." Rolling her eyes slightly, Skuld replied, "But, they all seem to have good reasons. They either want to be with a girl who is engaged to Ranma, or they have befallen some misfortune due to Daddy's training." Belldandy shook her head at this, and said, "No, that doesn't sound right. They may come looking for trouble once, but I really think that maybe there is some outside influence. What else has been happening?" "Hmm," Skuld began with her index finger planted squarely on her chin. She shifted around a little before continuing, "Nodoka-san was concerned about Nabiki, but Nabiki began to act nicer to him in front of her. I think Grammy-Nodoka is sated for a while, but sooner or later she'll find out. Akane has made several outbursts at Nabiki, but so far Daddy was able to intervene." Belldandy looked at her younger sister, and questioned, "I see. I wonder if Akane was somehow affected by whatever affected the others?" Skuld was about to respond, but Noble Scarlet began nodding furiously at the statement. Urd picked this time to interject, "OK, we get the picture. Now, what other events could have led up to today?" Looking nervously at her sisters, Skuld began to recount another event of the past few weeks. ========================== "Nabiki, you gotta' keep your arms straight," Ranma exclaimed in a tired voice. "If you don't, then this exercise is for nothing," he added to his previous statement. Ranma loved trying to teach his first love, the art, to anyone who would let him. Although, he would refuse to accept such an insinuation. Ranma felt a tiredness throughout his arms and legs that was like nothing before. The tiredness was unusual, because he didn't do very much physically. His mind also felt a bit foggy, as he realized that this was a bit of mental fatigue, the kind that he would get after an exam in school. His thoughts were interrupted by his student, as he was mulling the idea of some sort of mental training. "I'm. I'm sorry, Ranma. I don't think I can do this," stated Nabiki in a new different tone. The new, "can't you see that you're killing me" tone was not one of Nabiki's favorite tones, but it worked wonders in cutting some of her training short. The reason she hated to use the tone wasn't because of any pride issue. No, that tone brought out Ranma's protective instincts, and over the past few weeks she's been getting the feeling that he might have been acting on those instincts with her far more often than expected. Quickly moving behind her, Ranma placed his hands to support Nabiki's arms at the elbows. This had the effect of taking some of the pressure off Nabiki's tired muscles, and it also forced Nabiki to finish her kata quickly. As he helped her move her hands down to her sides in a straight and graceful manner, he smiled gently at his student. "Ya' know, you're progressing. I bet in another year or two you could be in the mix around here," stated Ranma in a light hearted manner. The reply was quick and cold, "As if. I am not going to deal with the jerks around here. They are *your* problem, I am only helping you because Skuld needs someone to keep her father from disappearing." That's when Nabiki turned on her heels, and headed into the house. Nabiki did so without looking back, because she didn't want to see the hurt look in Ranma's eyes. The guy had enough girls fawning over him, and she was not about to be added to the list. As she mentally berated the whole situation, she slunk into the bathroom with each step slower than the last. Her head was hung low, and her heart was heavy. She didn't question the feeling, because like all feelings questioning them was dangerous. She dealt with the anxiety and sinking heart the same way she always had; she became one with the emotion, but never thought about where or why the feeling was there. ========== After describing the saddened look that Ranma wore as Nabiki headed into the house, Skuld added, "I interrupted Daddy during his kata to see if he was OK." Then, she rested her arm on the table wearing a suddenly disheveled look upon her face. Speaking more softly, she said, "I think he figured out, somehow, that he isn't getting a chance. I also think that the situation with the fiancée's is what put him in this situation. He may be stuck with a social stigma from this..." "Tsk. Tsk. Haven't you learned yet that the Ultimate Force is in motion by now? I know that Ranma's love life will be in great hands, if I do say so myself," exclaimed Urd, who began chuckling at the thought! Shaking her head, Belldandy asked Skuld to finish up, as she had to return to her new home soon. In response, Skuld continued with a bit of nervousness, "Well, a couple of days later, the day before yesterday, was when big-sister showed up." ========== Laughing jovially, Ranma teased Skuld by telling her she was too slow. Bouncing from rooftop to rooftop, they made a game of playing catch-up. While the idea of it didn't set too well with the fiancée's, their suitors (rivals), or homeowners, the various roofing companies had a much needed influx of capitol. This was precisely the sort of thing that made Nabiki's wallet, and usually Nabiki, very happy. However, under the newly developed circumstances--Nabiki was far from pleased. --- "Damn it, Ranma," she bellowed from the streets below, as her effort to keep up was seemingly in vein. Huffing and puffing, she tried to get a reprieve again; this time, she asked Skuld to slow down, "Skuld! C'mon, let me catch up; Ranma will cut you some slack!" Her chest was burning, as Nabiki continued her pursuit of the martial arts wonder and his new daughter. --- Suddenly, Ranma stopped. Then, he did a quick backflip into the sitting position upon the red tiles of a small apartment building, as he waited for his daughter and supposed fiancée to catch up. Silently, he mused about how angry Nabiki would be when she discovered that he had them running in circles around Nerima. He knew that Nabiki was bright, but he also knew that once someone got going that they had a tendency to lose their head. "Oh yeah," he thought, "am I gonna' get it!" Ranma wasn't in the least bit worried about his daughter's reaction; Skuld enjoyed this game, assuming that ice-cream was at the end of the run. Ranma had started including Nabiki in this as part of her training, as he wanted her to at least have a chance of eluding the various rivals that were increasingly suspicious as to her role in his life. Within moments, Ranma had Skuld sitting beside him. "Want some ice-cream, little girl," he asked in a tone that sounded almost devious. He gave a light hearted chuckle, as he heard the reply that he was aiming for, "Of coarse, Mr. Stranger!" They continued their light banter for only another moment, before Ranma spotted Nabiki turning the corner on the street below. "Hey, if you start walking again--I'll start runnin' again," Ranma threatened. Ranma smiled, as he could have sworn he heard Nabiki say, "Damn you, Saotome!" Ranma made a note to remind Skuld that if she couldn't jump down from a building to ask for a carry. While no-one seemed to notice the fact that she sort of fluttered to the ground; he didn't need anyone asking about it. Then again, "This *was* Nerima, and *no-one* questioned *anything* in this district," he mentally added. Immediately upon her arrival on the scene, Nabiki began grating Ranma, "If this running every day is supposed to help me, why am I just as tired as the day I first started this crap, Ranma?" -- "Nope," Skuld thought, "she's not happy." "But, you've run an entire mile more than usual today," Ranma thoughtlessly supplied. "What did you just say?" Nabiki asked in a conspicuously dangerous tone. "Well, uh, erm, oh, eh, hmm, that is..." Ranma began muttering. "Out with it Saotome," demanded Nabiki. "Well, you see. I've had us run a little more each day to help your endurance," Ranma finally spat out. "I see," came the flat toned voice that Nabiki reserved for occasions such as these, where Ranma would do something unexpected. "Daddy, Nabiki-san, would you please not argue? I want to go home so we can get some ice-cream," Skuld interjected before the conversation became any more heated than it already was. -- As the trio entered the gates of the dojo, Akane was there to greet them with a verbal attack aimed at her sister. "Isn't it enough that you pretend to like Ranma around his mom?!!? Now, you've got to encourage him to act even more wild? I thought I knew you, but you aren't my sister. You're... You're... You are another whacko using your engagement to Ranma to get something!" Akane screamed in accusing of her sister. Nabiki's reply was short, simple, and to the point. "Moi?" She asked with big eyes, while she pointed at herself. "You just want the dojo to sell it," Akane accused. Then she reared back as if to attack her sister. In a blink of the eye, before any motion could be made, faster than Ranma could intercede the upcoming fight, a woman with a white bun appeared between the two Tendo girls. -- "Hiya," greeted the woman cheerfully. "I'm Yumi, Skuld's case worker from the Department of Children's Affairs. I'm sure you remember me from the funeral," Yumi (Urd in disguise, for those who don't remember) stated with a cheerfulness that seemed bubbly beyond comparison. Quickly glancing around to Ranma, she added, "Oh! You must be the infamous Saotome-san! My, aren't we a beefcake of a father," she further exclaimed while grabbing his arm in a very Shampoo-like fashion. In a classic anime style, little squiggly lines appeared above Skuld's head, as she buried her head into her hands in disbelief. After all of her explanations of what Ranma dealt with day in and day out, her sister still had the nerve to pull such an entrance. "Well, I'm sure that someone as cute as you can take good care of little Skuld. What's the matter? Why are you turning purple? Oh, goodness! Am I holding on too tightly?" Yumi asked, while releasing Ranma. However, before she had a chance to react there was a tug on the side of her dress. "Uhm, miss Yumi," asked Skuld, who was still wearing a scowl on her face. "Oh yes! I must talk with your daughter for a bit, Saotome-san. I hope you are taking care of your end of the paperwork..." Yumi trailed off with a not-so-innocent smile. Ranma indicated the dojo to Yumi as he was being drug off by Ranko. (No, not even the author knows where the water came from this time!) All of this left Akane to fume in the front yard. Akane could only stare at all of the retreating forms... --- In the dojo, Skuld got off to a start before Urd could even pretend to begin a questionnaire, "What is wrong with you 'nee-chan?" "Eh? What do you mean what's wrong with me?" "The way you just latched on to Daddy." "Oh, that..." "Sister!" "I couldn't help myself, for some reason..." "Urd! *YOU* are the goddess of love, how could you *NOT* have control?!!?" --- In Nabiki's room, Ranma stood sullen and silent. For one of the few times in his life, Ranma could show no emotion himself. Stunned. Shocked. Forced silence. He could only stand there, as Nabiki explained that Ranma had to actually *BE* married within another month. "So you see, Ranma, you cannot have adopted a daughter without this condition. I'll try everything I can to help you find the right match," Nabiki continued her explanation. Ranma could only respond with a series of "buts." Shaking her head, Nabiki added, "Ranma if you are willing, I have an idea. Skuld said that she could likely move this curse of yours to someone else, and possibly even back to you." "What good'll that do," Ranma questioned. Nabiki slapped her forehead with her hand, then continued, "Don't you see? You can marry your cursed form! Then, we can transfer the curse back to you or to whomever you choose later!" Following her statement, Nabiki placed her hands on her hips, grinned evilly, and added, "You don't have to thank me! We're almost the same person now, let alone almost family. Just recognize my genius, and grovel like a good boy!" Ranma was quickly shaken out of his stupor, "What?!!?" "Lighten up, Saotome," Nabiki stated, as she put her hand on his shoulder. --- In another part of town... A girl with long flowing black hair tucks her demonic wings into nothingness, and then walks from the dimly lit alley. Her eyes filled with both sadness and revenge; she slowly makes her way towards the Nerima district to find the one who ruined her happiness so long ago. She was finally at the age where she could do something about her shared essence, the curse of her enemy, the love lost, and that which prevents her from becoming a first class demon. The time was finally nigh, so she walked past the people on the streets in the twilight hours unnoticed by a single soul... www.geocities.com/targhan_aga ================================================================== www.beeftrapeze.com/challenge/ Notes: My apologies for taking so long in getting this chapter out, but again real-life has intervened. I didn't get the oppertunity to put in as much as I would have liked, so there will be a chapter Five-and-a-Half within a few weeks. Now for the good-news! I've had a burst of inspiration for this story that could very well prevent it from just being a simple relationship story! More action! New enemies! Old enemies powered up! War is afoot, and Ranma is stuck in the middle! Be here next time for... Chapter 5.5: Hell is Five-Foot Five! Still reading? Good! More news! I have recently recovered data from a hard drive in an old Amiga. "So," you ask? Well, I found several chapters of an unreleased and unedited N&R story from several years ago. I intend to edit and spell-check it to release to www.nabikiandranma.com! It has about five short chapters to it, and I will likely add a sixth, just to give it closure. Are you ready for, "A Plan Gone Askew!"? ================================================================== BONUS Ranma was finally gone, and Nabiki had a chance to review her devious idea. Pondering about the future, she suddenly asked herself if it was such a good idea. Staring at the ceiling from her bed, her mind wandered, "Will I be mauled by Ranma's fiance brigade? Will I not be the one to be married to him until he can straighten his life out? What if he continues to dilly dally?" Rolling over, she squinted her eyes. "What if I can't get rid of him? What if I fall for him, and then I can't keep him?" With her mind in a turbulence of a sea of unanswerable questions, one Nabiki Tendo fell into a troubled sleep... End of Chapter Five! www.geocities.com/targhan_aga ================================================================== www.beeftrapeze.com/challenge/