gziped /archive/anime-fan-works/Ranma/ranma.for-love-or-money.gz

"Donny Cheng" 

This story takes place after volume 38 of the manga.

Disclaimer:  All characters portrayed in this story are the property of
Rumiko Takahashi and co.

For Love or Money

by

Donny Cheng

        Nabiki stared aimlessly into the sky, "What was that you said
Meiko?"  Nabiki couldn't concentrate on anything these days.  The damage
that the wedding caused, had all but exhausted the Tendo family resources.
The money she had conned out of the guests had ended up being very
little.  She should have known that high school kids didn't have all that
much money to spend.

        Meiko was disturbed by Nabiki's lack of attention.  "I asked you
what was wrong with you today.  Boss, you're usually out there starting a
betting pool on anything that could be bet upon right about this time of
day."

        Nabiki sighed.  "That's just the problem.  There is nothing to
interesting to bet on these days.  After that disaster with the wedding,
every interesting person in Nerima has decided to tone things down a bit.
It's become too routine.  Ranma and Akane are getting along moderately
well.  All of Ranma's other suitors have apologized for their part in the
incident.  They're all getting along amazingly well now that they know
that Ranma is not in danger of being wed off any time soon.  After the big
fight in China, everyone has found out just how powerful Ranma is.  So
Ryoga and Mousse are not going to attack Ranma, until they either improve
or discover new secret techniques.  All in all, I don't think things will
get back to normal for at least another month."

        Nabiki's other henchwoman, Yukio, looked worried.  "Then are net
profit for this month is going to be practically non-existant."

        Meiko thought for a bit before she spoke up.  "But boss, why don't
we just do what we did before Ranma came to Nerima."

        "I had already thought about this.  But the way we made money
before was by selling pictures to love starved students and starting
betting pools with the fights Kuno or my sister gets in.  Right now the
most desireable person in school is not my sister.  Rather, it's Ranma in
either of his forms.  Every boy and girl in school has bought enough
pictures from us to get a good enough idea of how Ranma looks in the buff.
The only person Kuno fights these days is Ranma.  Nobody is stupid enough
to bet on Kuno anymore.  Nobody dares pick a fight with Akane with Ranma
in the way."  Nabiki looked depressed as she thought about a whole month's
profit down the drain.  The Tendo coffers were going to be mightily low
this month, especially with a whole other family to feed.

        Yukio was also depressed.  "I wish the month would end already.
Too bad things can't be like that week we had a few months ago.  You
remember boss.  That was when you had gotten yourself engaged to Ranma.
We rented him out the so many people those couple of days.  Even though
you never got any money when you finally got rid of him, that was our most
protitable week ever.  Boss?  Are you listening?"

        Nabiki suddenly sat straight up as a plan formed in her mind.
Already, ideas popped into her mind on how to make the most out of scheme.
"I know how to get things back to normal a little sooner.  Meiko, I want
you to start calling up all our usual clients that are interested in
Ranma.  Yukio, I want you to start spreading hints to Ranma's fiancees of
our new plan."

        Meiko was surprised at Nabiki's sudden outburst.  "What?  What is
our new plan."

        Nabiki's eyes glinted she explained to them her plan.  "Yukio was
the one who thought of it.  I will become Ranma's fiancee once again.
Then we will rent him out to any one interested at a high price.  I'm
pretty sure I can pull this stunt off for at least two weeks before Ranma
tries to get rid of me.  That should be more than enough time to for us to
exploit this to our full advantage."

        Meiko and Yukio rubbed there hands in glee as Nabiki outlined to
them the aspects of this new venture.

                                * * * * *

        Ranma could feel danger in the air as he walked into the dining
room.  He looked around quickly.  There were sounds of someone cooking in
the kitchen.  His mother was cleaning up the house.  Kasumi was pouring
tea for his father and Soun as they played go.  Nabiki was on the phone
ordering takeout.  Wait a minute here, his brain told him.  His brain did
a quick run through of all the facts:
        His mother is cleaning the house.
        Kasumi is serving tea.
        Kasumi and mother are not in the kitchen cooking dinner.
        Nabiki is ordering takeout.
        Akane is not here with us.
        Someone is in the kitchen cooking.
Result:
        One very sick Ranma.
        Ranma quickly turned tail and ran as fast as he could out the
Tendo dojo.  A hammer flew out the kitchen and imbedded itself on Ranma's
head as he reached the door.

        Akane came out the kitchen and dragged him back to where the
other's sat.  "Ranma don't you dare run away.  I tried very hard this
time.  I know all of you will just love what I cooked."

        Soun and Genma paled at Akane's comment.  Nabiki smirked as she
looked at Akane.  "Oh Akane, didn't daddy tell you.  We already ordered
takeout for dinner.  Oh, don't worry about your food going to waste.  We
all know what a big eater Ranma is.  I'm sure he will be able to eat all
of what you made for us.

        Akane was doubtful of that.  It seemed whenever she made dinner,
everyone else had already made plans for something else.  Oh well, at
least there was still Ranma and herself.  She went into the kitchen to
bring dinner out.

                                * * * * *

        Nabiki grinned as Ranma was flattened by Akane when he began to
make chocking noises.  Akane obviously thought that he was making fun of
her again.  Nabiki knew better and calmly whacked Ranma's back a few
times.  "Really Akane, is that any way to treat your fiancee?  I mean your
cooking does leave a lot to be desired."

        Ranma recovered from his coughing fit.  True to form, Ranma stuck
his foot in his mouth once again.  "Leave a lot to be desired?  That's
putting it mildly.  You'd have to be crazy to want to eat that toxic slop
Akane calls food."

        "Now, now.  Ranma be nice.  I wouldn't call Akane's food toxic."

        Akane was about to again beat some sense into Ranma when she heard
Nabiki's comment.  "Do you really think so, Nabiki?"  Her eyes shimered at
the thought of someone actually appreciating her effort.

        Nabiki smiled as she began the setup for part one of her plan.
"Yes, I mean it.  If it were toxic, we'd all be dead by the noxious fumes
already.  I mean, I'd rank your food a wee bit above toxic waste any day
of the week."

        "The emphasis here is 'a wee bit'."  Just as Nabiki had predicted
Ranma couldn't help but add his two cents in.  She laughed to herself at
how easy it was to manipulate Ranma.

        Akane looked between Nabiki and Ranma.  She couldn't believe it.
Her sister and Ranma were teaming up against her.  If she thought about
it, she would have noticed that this turn of events were awfully familiar
to an incident a few months ago.  However, anger clouded her judgement.
"Ranma, you jerk!"  Akane grabbed Ranma by the shirt and hurled him at the
koi pond.  "Our engagement is off.  I don't want anything more to do with
you."

        Nabiki could barely keep herself from laughing.  Her sister and
Ranma were just too predictable.  Somehow she managed to keep a straight
face as she helped Ranma out of the koi pond and spoke to Akane evenly.
"Well since you're not Ranma's fiancee anymore, I guess I will have to
take up that burden once more.  Honor does dictate that one of the Tendo
girls marry him."

        Akane could only stare at her sister in disbelief.  Nabiki had
manipulated her once again.  Akane's pride kept her from trying to take
Ranma back.  She eyed her sister angrily for a moment, before she finally
relented and sighed.  She knew that Nabiki only wanted money and would get
rid of Ranma when she made enough.  Akane would never stoop as low as
paying to get him back.  She only hoped that Nabiki would tire of him
soon.  "Fine!  You can have him."

        Nabiki grinned mischiefly at Ranma.  "Well, it looks like you will
have to say you're sorry to Akane."  Her mind could already guess Ranma's
next words.

        Ranma was pissed as he slapped some money on Nabiki's palm.
"What?  She should be the one saying sorry.  She's the one that made
dinner."

        Nabiki was shocked at the money Ranma put into her hand.  "What's
this money for?  The next payment on your debt isn't until next week."

        Ranma shrugged his shoulders.  "You don't remember?  You saved me
from Akane's cooking and you helped me out of the pond.  It's the usual
$1000 yen."

        Nabiki mentally slapped herself.  She had been so busy setting up
her scheme, she had forgotten about the help she gave Ranma.  This kind of
help happened nearly every other day.  But as she watched Ranma go into
the house, she couldn't help but feel something was wrong with this
picture.

                                * * * * *

        Nabiki smiled as she walked beside Ranma to school.  Everything
was going according to plan.  Akane had left early for school and told
everyone that it was now Nabiki's duty to take Ranma to school everyday.
Father had cried as he begged Akane to take Ranma back.  Soun knew that
Nabiki's goal later in life was to sell off the dojo and live a life of
luxary.  Akane was as stubborn as a mule and would not listen to her
father.  Akane would not try to take Ranma back from Nabiki no matter
what.  Ranma would not admit he was wrong.  If things kept up, it looked
two weeks could easily pass before Akane and Ranma would make up.  All
Nabiki now had to do was try and make the most out of this situation.
"Ranma, since I am now you're fiancee, it is my duty to look out for your
welfare.  To that purpose, I have signed you up for a few after school
activities."

        Ranma looked at Nabiki suspiciously.  "And if I don't go to these
activities?"

        Nabiki looked up at Ranma in horror as she wiped away the tears on
her face.  "What?  I try my best to be the best fiancee to you as possible
and this is how you repay me.  Why don't you just go and apologize to
Akane then, if you hate me so much?"  Maybe the crocodile tears were a bit
much, Nabiki thought to herself.  It didn't matter though.  Ranma acted
exactly as Nabiki thought he would.

        Ranma could never stand to see a girl hurt.  That combined with
the fact that Ranma was not ready to talk to Akane yet made up his mind
for him.  "I didn't mean it that way.  I'll go and do whatever you planned
for me."  His shoulders immediately sagged as Nabiki suddenly stopped
crying and smiled.  She had outmaneuvered him again.  Ranma silently
accepted his fate.

        "Eating healthy is another required element in a person's physical
well being.  I've reserved a seat for you to eat at the Neko-haten for
lunch.  Shampoo will know what to serve you.  I also forgot to mention
that we are going to go out on a date every other day.  I think we should
go to Ucchan's to eat tonight.  I have pressing matters to attend to
first, so I won't get there until much later.  You have fun with Ukyo
until I get there, okay?"

        Ranma did not say anything as he groaned.  Could this get any
worse?  The sky thundered in answer.

                                * * * * *

        Nodoka watched sadly as Ranma dragged himself back into the house.
He could barely keep himself upright.  She would have to have a talk with
Nabiki.  That girl was killing her son with all those demands.  She went
up the stairs to Nabiki's room and knocked on the door.

        "It's open, come in."  Nabiki called out within her room.

        Nodoka opened to door to see Nabiki sorting out the finances.  She
felt pity well up inside of her.  So young and burdoned with so much
responsibility.  "Nabiki-chan, I would have a word with you?"

        Nabiki closed up the books and looked at Nodoka with a raised
eyebrow.  "Sure, auntie Saotome.  What do you want to talk about?"

        "I think that you are treating Ranma too harshly.  Shouldn't you
take it easy with him?"

        "Well he is my fiancee now.  I should look after his well being
and it's not like I'm forcing Ranma to go to those after school events."

        Nodoka was not fooled for a moment.  She did not believe Nabiki
had any feelings at all for Ranma.  Though she had only known Ranma and
Nabiki for just over a few month's time, she felt that she knew the
workings of both their brains fairly well.  "You and I both know of
Ranma's extreme naivety.  He would never go against your wishes, if you
shed enough tears."

        Nabiki looked at Nodoka in shock.  Nodoka knew how she was
controlling Ranma.  "So what?  Ranma puts huge dent on our finances with
his eating habits and they fights he gets in.  He does nothing to repay us
back.  I'm just getting back what's due to us."  Nabiki knew that Nodoka,
being a traditionalist, would be shamed at the thought of her family being
beholden to another.  She hoped the Nodoka would give up after this.

        Nodoka sank her head.  It was true that her family was in the
Tendo family's debt.  With their house being destroyed, they had nowhere
to go.  They were not a rich family, so they could not afford to move out
just yet.  She had already gotten Genma to get his old job back from Dr.
Tofu and she was helping Kasumi around the house.  They were doing
everything in their power to lessen their impact on the Tendos.  However,
Nabiki's comment about Ranma angered her for some reason.  She knew her
son had his own way of helping out.  "Nabiki, I had thought that besides
myself, you were the only one who truly understood my son's thoughts and
actions.  Now, I know I am wrong.  You don't know Ranma very well at all."
Nodoka got up and left the room.

        Nabiki stared at Nodoka's retreating back.  What did she mean by
that?  She prided herself on her knowledge of the inner workings of
Ranma's mind.  How else did she make Ranma do everything she wanted?

                                * * * * *

        Ranma looked at Nabiki as they walked home from school.  Nabiki
had been in a foul mood all day long.  He decided that Nabiki needed some
cheering up.  "Hey, Nabiki!  Want to stop by the ice cream parlor before
we head home.  I'm hungry.  It'll be my treat."  He smiled as Nabiki
seemed to perk up little.  Nabiki was the only other person that had a
sweet tooth that rivaled his own.

        "Okay.  What ever you want, Ranma-kun." How nice it was of Ranma
to treat her.  Nabiki inwardly frowned.  Why was Ranma treating her so
nicely?  He must want something from me.  Probably wants another extension
on his debt.

                                * * * * *

        Nabiki looked in disgust at Ranma's act.  Ranma had turned himself
into a girl and flirted with the ice cream jockey.  She gave Nabiki a grin
as she brought them their ice cream cones.  There was an extra scoop of
ice cream for the both of them.  "Ranma, you give women every where a bad
name."

        Ranma looked at her in mock surprise.  "You should be the one to
talk.  You always try to gain the upper hand in every situation.  I'm
surprised that you don't do this.  I mean with your looks, you could
easily do the same."

        Nabiki was stunned.  Did Ranma just pay her a compliment?  She did
not kid herself when it came to her looks.  She knew that many boys found
her good looking and wanted to date her.  But this was Ranma.  The boy
that had every girl in Nerima interested in him.  He hardly even noticed
it when girls threw themselves at him.  He must really want that extension
badly.  Nabiki tried to do her best to look indignant.  "For your
information, I do not demean myself by using my body to get what I want.
I use something that you obviously don't have very much of.  Brains."

        Ranma could not for the life of him figure Nabiki out.  She still
seemed to look sad.  Ranma hated to see that.  His experience with his
fiancees has taught him that women felt better after a compliment.  Ukyo
and Akane practically beamed when he mentioned they were cute.  Shampoo
overflowed with happiness when she tricked him for dates.  Well there was
still some thing that he hadn't tried yet.  Money.  "Oh!  I almost forgot.
Here's my payment on part of the debt I owe you."  Ranma kept a straight
face as Nabiki's eyes lighted up.

        The sight of money lifted Nabiki's mood immediately.  She quickly
grabbed the money and started to count it.  "Let me just mark this down on
your permanent record."  Nabiki frowned as she looked at Ranma's tab.  The
amount of money he owed her was $500 yen.  The amount she had in her hand
was more than enough.  It seemed that she was so busy using Ranma she
hadn't had time to blackmail Ranma this little while.  "Ranma, you only
owe me $500 yen.  This is too much."

        Ranma saw Nabiki's mood drop fast.  He had to think fast.  He
really did want to bring her out of this funk and he did want to help out
with the finances whenever he could.  "Um..ah.  The rest is for you to
keep quiet about those dates you set me up on.  You know how jealous Akane
gets.  I don't think I gave you enough.  It's the usual $1000 yen, right?
So, I still owe you $500 yen, since you have $1000 there."

        Nabiki mentally slapped herself.  Of course!  She had been too
caught up in collecting the rental fee from each of Ranma's suitors that
she forgot to take money from Ranma as well.  "Actually, you went on dates
with three people.  So it's triple that amount.  You owe me $2500 yen."

        Ranma breathed a sigh of relief.  "Okay, just put it on my
account."

        Nabiki watched as Ranma dubviously as they left for home.  For the
second time, she felt that something was not right here.

                                * * * * *

        Nabiki threw her pencil down in frustration.  After that incident
at the store, she decided it was time to go over her books.  What she
found, shocked her.  Every monthly allowance Ranma had ever received had
gone to her minus a few hundred yen or so.  Other than junk food and gifts
for others, Ranma had not bought a single thing for himself since he
arrived a year ago.  In fact, the money Ranma made when he sometimes
worked at the Neko-haten and Uuchan's all went to her because of blackmail
or some other reason.  Why didn't she know this before?  All the clues
were there.  He almost never argued about the money he owed her.  His room
was practically bare.  The only clothes he wore were the ones he brought
from China and the girl clothes that we gave him for his cursed form.
Ranma did not own anything of value.  Could Nodoka have been right?  Did
she really did misjudge Ranma all this time?

                                * * * * *

        Ranma looked with concern at Nabiki, while they walked to school.
Recently, she seemed to get depressed everytime she was around him.  Did
she really hate this engagement this much?  He remembered the brief time
he had been engaged to Nabiki earlier this year.  He had been furious to
learn that she had been using him to earn money and did not care at all
for his feelings.  She had been planning to dump him the first moment she
got enough money or when he became too much of a hassle to handle.  His
anger quickly died out when he found out the most of the money she made
went back to the dojo.  Nabiki was very much like him in many ways when it
came to helping out with the finances.  In fact, Nabiki, like him, did not
have many worldly possessions.  Most of the clothes in her closet were
borrowed from Akane or Kasumi.  Her room was just as bare as his own.
When she did buy something, that was not junk food, it was surprising to
all who knew her.  She was that much of a spend thrift.  So he could never
really held a grudge against Nabiki, no matter what she did to him.  Ranma
was worried as he looked at Nabiki now.  Had she already had enough of
him?  Was he becoming a nuisance?  "Hey Nabiki!  What's wrong?  You look
down in the dumps?"

        Nabiki fought the waves of guilt that flooded her body.  Ranma was
again trying to be nice to her despite all that she had done to him this
past week.  "Nothing's wrong with me, I'm just thinking.  Thanks for your
concern though."

        "No need to say thanks.  That's what friends are for."

        Nabiki stopped in her tracks.  Ranma considered her a friend?
Outside of her sisters, she had very few friends.  They were either
partners in her business or just people she talked with at school.
"Friends?  Really Ranma, I would hardly use that term to describe our
relationship."

        Ranma could hear the bitterness in Nabiki's voice.  He couldn't
help but feel a need to comfort her.  "Yes, friends.  You are one of the
few people I can goto when I'm in trouble.  Even if you do charge a fee
for your help, I know I can count on you.  That's what friends are for.
They help one another in times of need.  I would do the same for you too,
if you ever needed my help."

        "Yeah, whatever."  Nabiki looked at Ranma with an emotionless
expression.  Inside, though, her emotions were wreaking havok on her
heart.  For one of the few times in her life, Nabiki actually felt
happiness.  There was a person outside of her family that had called her a
friend.  The school bell sounded in the distance.

        Their conversation had made Ranma lose all track of time.  "We're
going to be late.  I'm going to have to take us to school the fast way."
Usually, Ranma would just run with Akane at warp speed when they were
late.  But Nabiki was not all that fast, so Ranma scooped her up and
vaulted to school via the roof tops.  Some times Ranma couldn't understand
how a person, who's ability to avoid trouble is unrivaled in all of
Nerima, could be so slow.  Her body wasn't like it was out of shape or
anything.  Seeing her in a swimsuit and feeling her body against him now,
Ranma knew that she had a great body.  Ranma's mind suddenly seized up.
What was he doing thinking of Nabiki in that way all of a sudden?  Maybe
Akane was right about him being a pervert.

        Nabiki gasped as Ranma grabbed her and started to carry her to
school.  She felt a small shock shoot through her body as Ranma's strong
arms held her.  Did Ranma just squeeze her just now?  Her mind went
through the usual thought processes:
        Ranma had many girls chasing after him.
        These girls, even Akane, have great bodies.
        Ranma sometimes carried them for one reason or another.
        Ranma did not take advantage of them.
Result:
        Ranma did not squeeze her.
        Though she was for some reason slightly disappointed by her
conclusion, Nabiki decided to think nothing more of it.  She absently
snuggled closer to Ranma.

                                * * * * *

        Nabiki glanced across the table at Ranma.  They had again stopped
at the ice cream parlor of some ice cream.  They had been getting along
remarkably well after Nabiki had told Ranma what she knew about his
involvement in the finances.  Nabiki had finally admitted to herself that
she had been wrong about Ranma all along.  She still conned and charged
him for her sevices, but that was just to keep appearances up.  Nabiki did
have a reputation to keep up after all.  However, when no one was looking,
Nabiki and Ranma acted like friends.  They would tell each other of their
day and exchange stories of their relative pasts.  Her daily life and life
story was not very interesting, yet Ranma didn't seem to mind.  When it
was Ranma's turn to talk, Nabiki found herself captivated.  Nabiki
discovered that she could not stop herself from learning everything about
Ranma.  "So you've been alone your whole life?  I wouldn't call that an
ideal child hood."

        Ranma smiled as he talked to Nabiki.  "So you understand why I had
been so happy when I first met Akane and when Ukyo first came to Nerima.
Akane was the first person to want to be friends with me in a long time.
Ukyo was one of the few child hood friends that I had."  Ranma's mood
dropped as he remembered the past.  "Those relationships immediately
changed once I was engaged to them.  The fact that they're my fiancees
overshadows whatever friendship that we might have."

        Nabiki's heart went out to Ranma.  In truth, Nabiki was very
lonely.  She had never allowed anyone to get close to her after her mother
died.  She did not want to feel the pain of losing someone close to her
again.  Ranma was different.  She found that Ranma was just a lonely as
she was, if not lonelier.  He had grown up isolated and never really had a
friend for any long period of time.  Their mutual need for companionship
brought them closer together.

        Ranma's spirits lifted as he saw Nabiki smile reasuringly at him.
Nabiki was the only one who was not affected by the fact that she was now
his fiancee.  They both didn't take the engagement seriously, so Ranma did
not feel any pressure at all.  He was free to do as he liked around
Nabiki.  He hadn't had a person to hang out with in a long while.  It felt
nice and Ranma hoped that it would never end.

                                * * * * *

        Nabiki watched from the sidelines as Ranma and Ryoga fought.
Ryoga had returned from his training trip and promptly challenged Ranma to
a fight.  It seemed he had again improved.  He was still no match for
Ranma, but he was good enough to have a few people willing to bet on him.
Mousse was also scheduled to appear later this week and challenge Ranma.
Her informants told her that the Neko-haten had recently ordered a variety
of items from China.  They were probably magical in nature.  It looked
like things were getting back to normal.  The opportunities to make money
were back in full force.  Pretty soon Nabiki would be buzy with her day to
day operations.  This meant she would not have time to be a full time
fiancee.  Somehow this turn of events did not seem to make her as happy,
as she had first thought.  The thought of giving Ranma back to Akane made
her heart ache.  She tried to convince herself that it was the idea of
losing so much profit that made her feel this way.  A small part of her
told her otherwise.  It was because she was starting to develop feelings
for Ranma.  Nabiki cursed herself for feeling this.  She tried to think of
Akane.  She had seen how the last couple of weeks had affected her younger
sister.  Akane was listless most of the time and seemed to be in constant
depression when Ranma wasn't looking.  Contrary to popular belief, Nabiki
did care for her family.  She was very protective of Akane.  She did not
like to see Akane hurt in any way.  With a heavy heart, she decided to
start the end phase of her plan.

                                * * * * *

        Ranma looked disparingly at his opponent.  Never had he ever
feared someone so much.  The challenger stared at him with a determined
look, as if knowing who would win this contest.  The bystanders looked at
him in disgust.  They already knew that he would lose.  Ranma slumped to
the ground.  He had lost.  "I can't kiss you Nabiki.  I'm sorry."

        Nabiki cried as she looked at Ranma.  "So, you don't love me.  You
don't want me as your fiancee.  You've been using me this whole time to
get back at Akane.  Fine.  From this moment on, we are no longer engaged."
Nabiki turned and ran towards her room.  All was going according to plan.
She knew Ranma's extreme shyness would never allow him to declare his love
for another.  With Ranma's inability to kiss her, Nabiki had effectively
broken her the engagement.  So, why wasn't she happy that her plan had
worked?  Nabiki had felt a sharp pain stab her in the heart when she heard
Ranma apologize.  The tears on her face refused to stop as she went into
her room.  She didn't have to use crocodile tears on Ranma as she had
thought.

        Akane watched her sister run to her room.  Wow, her acting has
improved.  Akane actually thought that Nabiki really was sad for a moment
there.  Nabiki had finally made enough off of Ranma.  She turned and
looked at Ranma, who was staring at Nabiki's retreating back.  She smiled
inwardly to herself as she half-heartedly hit Ranma a few times.  "Ranma,
how could you do that to my sister?  You better apologize to her later."
Akane then went to her room happily.  She had gotten her fiancee back.

        Soun and Genma hugged each other and cried.  They were both
deliriously happy.  The future of the union between the two schools of
Anything Goes was once again intact.

        Nodoka watched sadly at the latest turn of events.  She had seen
the expressions on both the faces of Ranma and Nabiki.  The feelings they
had shown were genuine, whether they knew it or not.  She should have
known that something would come out of their constant closeness to each
other.  She looked towards Kasumi.  The eldest Tendo sister looked back at
her knowingly.  Kasumi also knew that what had passed between Nabiki and
Ranma was a little more than just acting on the part of Nabiki.

        Ranma was in shock as he lied slump on the ground.  He had barely
felt the punches Akane threw his way, yet he felt hurt all over.  Why was
he feeling this way?  He and Nabiki were just friends, nothing more.
Right?  He knew that what Nabiki had been trying to do when she asked him
to kiss her, so he played it out.  But when he had looked into her eyes,
he could see a glimpse of pain and longing.  He had been sorely tempted to
kiss her, as if that would ease the pain that she felt.  When she had ran
away from him with tears streaming down her face, Ranma's heart cried out
to her.  He kicked himself mentally.  Nabiki was just acting.  She didn't
really feel that way at all.  It wasn't the first time that she had done
this.  She did all this just to get rid of him, because she didn't need
him anymore to make money.  He should be angry.  So, why wasn't he?

                                * * * * *

        Kasumi was worried as she watched Nabiki.  The two sisters were to
only ones at home as everyone went to watch a fight between Ranma and
Mousse.  To anyone else, Nabiki's expressionless face was normal.  Kasumi
had cared for Nabiki since their mother died, so she knew better than
anyone at her sister's ability to mask her emotions.  She could see that
Nabiki was very depressed at the moment and knew what was the cause of
this.  It was Ranma.  The past few weeks had made Nabiki warm up to Ranma
and feelings were beginning to bud between them.  Kasumi sighed as she
thought about what Nabiki had sacrificed in order to make Akane happy.
Something had to be done to help her.  Kasumi hesitated to think what
would happen when Nabiki's pent up frustrations threatened to explode.
There was only one thing that could do to help her now.  Kasumi silently
hoped that Akane would forgive her for what she was about to do.

                                * * * * *

        Nabiki watched her older sister in shock.  Kasumi was crying.
"What's wrong Kasumi?  Why are you crying?"

        "It's nothing.  Oh, who am I kidding?  It's this man I like.  I've
had this crush on him for so long, only to find out that he's engaged to
someone else."

        "What?  How can this be possible?  Dr. Tofu loves you.  Why would
he be engaged to another?"

        Kasumi did a double take.  Dr. Tofu loves her?  Better go along
with this.  "It seems that his fiancee is a childhood sweetheart of his.
They used to date with each other.  Their relationship is pretty strong.
I think he cares for her, so he did not refuse when she proposed.
Afterall, Dr. Tofu and I hardly know each other.  What right do I have of
trying to break up their union?"

        "So what!  You care for him.  He cares for you.  Isn't that all
that matters?"

        "But what about the fiancee?  She's had a long history with him
and is a nice girl, from what I hear.  I don't want her to get hurt."

        "Whenever there is a love triangle, someone is bound to get hurt.
If he marries her, you get hurt.  If he marries you, she gets hurt.  Do
not deny yourself the chance at love just because you are afraid of
hurting another.  The past does not mean anything.  Having a history
together has no bearing whatsoever on what is happening now.  What matters
now, is the fact that you want to be with him."

        Kasumi smiled sunnily as she suddenly stopped crying.  "I'm glad
that you understand, Nabiki.  Now, if you would excuse me.  There is a
certain doctor I have to talk to.  Who would have guessed that Dr. Tofu
has a crush on me?"

        Nabiki did not reply as she stared dumbfoundedly at Kasumi.  Her
kind, sweet, and honest sister had manipulated her.  Her thoughts then
turned to Ranma.  Somehow her feelings had towards him had changed over
the last few weeks.  He had gone from being her patsy to her friend and
now to someone that she truly cared deeply for.  She knew that she could
no longer go back to being just a bystander in Ranma's life.  She wanted
to have part in Ranma's life.

                                * * * * *

        Ranma looked worriedly at Nabiki.  She had sent out invitations to
a select group of people to meet at the Tendo Dojo.  All of them were
either his rivals or love interests.  Ryoga, Mousse, Kuno, Kodachi, Ukyo,
Shampoo, Cologne, Happosai, the Tendos, his parents, and any other people
with an interest in his life were all invited.  What was she planning?
Was this another scheme of hers?

        Nabiki cleared her throat as she looked upon the gathered
audience.  "Well, I suppose you all want to know what I called you here
for today.  I have an announcement to make.  I am going to propose to the
man I love today and I wanted you all to be here to share in this joyous
occasion."  Nabiki then turned at looked at Ranma right in the eyes.
"Ranma, would you marry me?"

        Ranma stood there stunned.  When he had heard Nabiki declare that
she was going to propose to another, he had felt sick in the stomache.
Since he had split up with Nabiki, his life had felt empty once again.  He
had hoped that he could remain friends with Nabiki, but she had avoided
him.  It was then, that he first noticed his feelings for Nabiki had
changed.  He would feel guilty about Nabiki whenever one of his fiancees
glomped onto him.  He found himself drawn to her charming crooked smile
every time he looked at her.  Now, here was Nabiki asking for his hand in
marriage.  He didn't know what to say.  Fortunately, or unfortunately
(depending on who you were), he didn't have to say anything.  Nabiki spoke
for him.

        "Oh!  You're overcome with joy, Ranma.  You're so happy, you're
speechless.  I take it you accept."  Nabiki eyes shone as she glomped onto
Ranma.  "We're now engaged."  Needless to say, chaos exploded.

                                * * * * *

        Ranma glared at Nabiki as he carried her away from their persuers.
After Ranma's apparent 'acceptance' of the engagement, Kodachi, Ukyo, and
Shampoo all went for Nabiki's throat.  Since Nabiki didn't know martial
arts, Ranma was obliged to save her.  This caused all the males in the
vicinity to attack him.  All of them could not believe that Ranma had
gained yet another fiancee.  "What were you thinking?  Is this another
scam of yours?  I thought you were smart.  You had to know what would
happen after you little speech."  Ranma knew that the whole speech must
have been an act.  He guessed that Nabiki was having trouble with money
again, so she was going to use him again.  However, rather than being
angry with her, Ranma felt a sense of joy in knowing that Nabiki was once
again his fiancee.

        Nabiki smirked at Ranma.  "Really, Ranma.  Do you think that I'm
that stupid?  Of course I knew what would happen.  Now, you listen here.
I know you might no believe me, but this is the truth.  I think that I may
have fallen in love with you."

        "Uh..I..I."  Ranma stared at Nabiki in shock.  That one little
admission of hers was currently destroying what few brain cells that he
had.  Various thrown weapons grazed him as he nearly fainted.  Nabiki
slapped some sense into him.  Ranma knew that his own feeling for Nabiki
bordered on love, but his ego and shyness prevented him from telling her.
Instead, he decided to say something that was less dangerous.  "I care
about you , Nabiki.  I just don't know if it is the way that you want me
to feel."

        "Relax, Ranma.  I don't expect you to declare your undying love to
me.  Although that would be nice, I know better than that.  I just wanted
you to know what I felt.  The reason I did this was so that our families
would think that I was using you again.  This was the most effective way
for you to be engaged to me without leaving Akane out.  Also, this was one
way to get a lot of witnesses to vouch that I am now indeed your fiancee."
Nabiki then grinned wickedly as she gave him a sultry look that made
Ranma blush.  "The other reason was that I knew that you would save me.  I
love being in your arms."  Nabiki lifted face to meet his.  She kissed him
passionately and smiled inwardly as she felt Ranma responding.

        Ranma broke the kiss and again stared at Nabiki in shock.  He then
shook his head in wonder.  "I'll never understand woman.  I'll never
understand you."

        Nabiki smiled as she pulled Ranma's head towards her's for another
kiss.  She wispered, "I know Ranma.  I plan on keeping you guessing for
the rest of your life.

                                * * * * *

The End.

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