Funny how these things work.
   I originally wrote this in script format, as part of the second episode
of the Nameless Sequel. About 5 seconds after I was done, I realized that it
wouldn't work; the tone was _not_ suitable for a piece that's a slapstick
comedy.
   So I changed it to story format, and made it a short. Read, enjoy, C&C.
                 - Mike Loader. 
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Silent Partner
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Characters and Backstory by Rumiko Takahashi. Ranma = Hers, hokay?
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   Nabiki walked out of the cafe, a contented smirk on 
her face and a wad of yen in her pocket. She had just 
made a great deal of money, and was basking in it. And 
so she didn't notice a grim-looking Ranma Saotome walk 
out of the cafe behind her. 

   She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned. Ranma 
expected her to panic, to draw back, at the very least 
look guilty or nervous. But the smile - the smirk, rather 
- never wavered.

   "Wha? Oh, hi Ranma. What's up?"

   He didn't smile back. "I saw everything, Nabiki. 
Everything. This is a new low, even for you."

   The grin stayed in place. "I've sold pictures before...", 
she said, shrugging.

    Rage began to well up. "I'm not thrilled with you 
selling pictures of me. But your own sister, and in 
nothing but...what's next, nude poses?"

   Her smile slipped, but the eyes stayed cool. "Yes. By 
next month, I calculate. Kuno won't be satisfied with 
the tame stuff forever..."

   He stared at her in disbelief. "You heartless bitch..."

   Her eyes lost their cool, but only for a second. "Oh, 
calm down," she said, sounding almost tired. "They 
won't be of either you or my sister.

   Ranma looked confused, and Nabiki sighed. "Look," she 
said, as if explaining something to a small child. "Kuno 
has all the intelligence of the average tree stump. I'll 
buy a cheap girlie magazine, cut out the pictures, paste 
them inside polaroid frames, and sell 'em. As long as 
the head happens to be convieniently outside of the 
picture, he'll never know the difference."

   He wasn't mollified. "And those ones you just sold?"

   She grinned. "Oh, those were of you and sis. I think I 
did a pretty good job of it, considering the cooperation I 
didn't get from you two."

   A sick expression passed over his face. "Do you love 
money that much?"

   "I love my family that much," she answered.

   Something snapped. "Oh, right!" he spat, his voice 
rising. "So you sell obscene photos of your little sister 
to show it..."

    She meet his gaze, eyes still cool. "I care about 
Akane very much," she said, her voice quiet. "But the 
family has to eat, and pay the bills, and buy clothes. 
Where the hell do you think the money comes from? 
>From father? He can barely take care of himself 
anymore, let alone the rest of us. Kasumi has her hands 
full looking after him and the house. And Akane is 
worse than useless. With the damage she causes, it's a 
miracle we haven't gone under."

   "So you sell those _things_ of her? Is that it? 
Because you think.."

  She leaned forward, and the look in her eyes was 
no longer calm. "I am a seventeen year old high school 
student, Ranma. I don't have a lot of legal options 
available to me. If selling photos of my sister will keep 
her off the street, I'll do it." Her voice bacame distant. 
"I was approached a few months back, you know. They 
offered me a job, peddling heroin in the school. I came 
very close to accepting, Ranma. It still scares me how 
damn close I came. It would have ended the money 
problems, and I wouldn't have to give Kuno pictures of 
my sister to drool over."

   He was startled, but drove on. "It's still not right, 
what you're doing. And I think you enjoy doing it."

  The cool came back, and her smirk with it. "Oh you do, 
do you? Well, I suppose you have a point. I do enjoy it. 
It's like marital arts for you - the thrill of planning, 
executing, leaving your opponent defeated, knowing that 
you're the best...it is fun. But there's a price. I'm an 
outcast, Ranma. No one trusts or likes me, and if I so 
much as wave people assume it's part of a plot. It 
wasn't so bad, until you came." She gazed at him, and he 
stepped  back, shocked at the sudden hate he saw there. 
"The things you've made me do...."

   His puzzlement seemed to only make her more upset. 
"Me? I've never made you do anything..."

   Her face contorted, and he stepped back again. "Oh," 
she spat, her voice almost a scream, "haven't you? Who 
causes Akane to knock holes in the walls? Who eats 
enough to feed three normal people? Who's brought 
threat after threat until my father breaks down at the 
slightest little thing? And who is too lazy to even get a 
job, to help pay for everything? You, Ranma. If it 
weren't for you, I wouldn't have to sell my little sister 
to that pervert. Or blackmail friends, or any of the other 
things that I have to live with." Her voice trailed off, 
dropping to a hiss. "And you know what? It isn't enough. 
We're still losing money. And so one day I'm going to go 
back to the men, and tell them that I've changed my 
mind, and I'll peddle their poison. And I'll be a damn 
good pusher, and hook the little kids, because I need to 
feed and clothe my family. Don't talk to me about wrong, 
Ranma. I may be the one doing the selling, but you're as 
much a part of it as I am. You should thank me for taking 
the dirty end of it."

   The words hit him like blows. He opened his mouth to 
say something, to tell her she was wrong, it wasn't like 
that. But nothing came. 

   Nabiki watched him stammer, and suddenly the cool 
was back. "I've got to go. See you at dinner, Ranma."

   She turned on her heel and walked away, off towards 
the next deal...

   "Nabiki."

   She stopped. "What is it now, Ranma? I haven't got 
time for this...."

   "Maybe...maybe I could find a job, y'know, part-time or 
something..."

   She turned to stare at him. "'Maybe' doesn't count for 
anything, Ranma." He shrank a bit, and her voice 
softened. "But if you did, it would help. A lot."

   He looked up, and met her gaze. "I still think it's 
wrong. But...I understand. I'm sorry."

   She shrugged. "For calling me a 'Heartless Bitch'? 
Don't be. It's the truth." She smiled, and for once it 
wasn't a smirk. "Sometimes I wish I was something 
else."

   And with that, she walked off.