Ok, I had a header to stick on all of these that was spell checked and
looked nice. Had is the important word. Apparently I didn't ftp it up
and now its history. Oh well, now you get to enjoy my lovely spelling...
Most of the characters in this fic belong to Rumico Tahakashi,
everything else is mine, especaly the bad grammer and Mrs. Spellings.
Bla bla bla.
Please C&C, especaly grammer and spelling. Bla bla bla. This fic is
in parts to avoid that choppy feel you get if I try to claim it was all
written in one sitting and not over a period of...uh...a long damn time.
Anyway here it is in nice bite sized chunks for your reading pleasure...
Matthew Trotter, 166 fanfics in my mailer, 166 fanfics
if I read one of those fanfics tonight
178 fanfics in the morning...
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Escape From Nerimia
--------------------------
Part four: The Promised Land
--------------------------
I got no, I got no room for emotion
It's like a cloud dripping radiation right on my head
I got no, I got no room for emotion
-Faster Pussycat
--------------------------
Akane was the first person to respond to the screaming. Akane looked
scared as she rushed into the bath room. She stared at Ranma like a bug.
"Ranma what's wrong with you? I thought you were dying."
"LOOK AT ME!!"
"WHAT ABOUT YOU? W....wha...is, Ranma? Is that water hot?"
"YES!"
"But your still a girl!"
Kasumi walked in behind Akane, "Oh dear, Ranma, this complicates your
engagement a bit."
Ranma and Akane fell over synchronously. From downstairs there was a
knock, a call, and the sound of someone jumping into a pond. It sounded
like Mrs. Saotome had arrived.
"Nabiki, could you answer the door please?"
------------
If anyone besides Kasumi had asked she would have charged[1] them, but
Kasumi was special. She wasn't just Nabiki's favorite family member.
She was the one person who knew Nabiki's secrets. She was safe. She was
the one person Nabiki could cry with. The one person she felt safe
with. She would do anything for Kasumi for free.
It was Mrs. Saotome at the door. She was smiling. It was kind of
infectious.
"Hello, Mrs. Saotome. Did you have to carry all these bags down
here? We could have sent Daddy and Mr. Panda down to help."
"Oh no. Actually that nice Mr. Morphine showed up at my door this
morning and helped me carry all my bags down here."
Nabiki frowned, nice Mr. Morphine huh, "He didn't ask you to do
anything in return?"
"No. Well, he did ask me to give Ranko a letter. He said it was
about her leg. Did Ranko hurt herself again?"
"Not that I know of. Its probably a blackmail letter."
"Nabiki, you shouldn't be so judgmental. What did Mr. Morphine ever
do to you?"
What could she tell Mrs. Saotome? Could she tell her how he had given
her some really good advice and then asked her to do something almost
inconsequential? It just sounded stupid to be mad about that. It sounded
worse to say that he had beaten her at her own game.
"He thinks he knows everything. It makes me mad."
"Oh some people are just like that. Its nothing to get upset over.
He's still a nice person. Surely he hasn't done anything wrong to you."
"It's hard to explain. Anyway, I don't think it matters. Ranko and
Akane are still bathing. I think Kasumi will be late with breakfast
because she'll have to help them finish packing."
"If you don't think Kasumi will mind I could make breakfast for you."
"Let me go ask her. Oh, and I'll give Ranko that letter while I'm up
there."
--------
[1] Well, at least ask for a favor. Something small like breakfastlunchand
dinneramovieandabackrub...
------------
He was stuck as a girl. Again. This time there wasn't anyone to
blame. This time it might be for good. What if there was no changing
back? What if he was Ranko forever? What if. ... what would Akane do?
She was really his(her?) fiancée...what would they do?! It wasn't fair!
Someone, probably pop, poured boiling water over her(HIS!!) head. It was
hot. Real hot. How the hell did pop get up here so quick?
"Change back now, boy! Stop playing around!"
"I," <PUNCH>, "ain't," <POW>, "playing!!!"<WHAM>
Nabiki walked in, "Ran..ko, your auntie is here."
"But I'm stuck as a..."
"That's convenient."
"WHAT?!"
"Hey, sis, Mrs. Saotome is offering to cook breakfast for us."
Kasumi smiled, "She is such a sweet person. I'll go tell her its all
right. If you could stay here with Ranko and Akane. There seems to be a
little problem."
"LITTLE!!!!"
Nabiki was grinning. It was that evil, your going to be broke in a
minute grin. Oh boy. She probably knew something about this. It was
going to be expensive.
"Nabiki, do you know something about this?"
Akane looked curious and some what annoyed. Was she really worried
about her(HIM!)? Maybe she'd stand up to Nabiki for her(HIM!HIM!HIM!).
That would be ... what is she was stuck this way forever... HE! What if
HE was stuck...
"Yes."
"And what do you know about it?"
"I know that it was Morphine who did it."
"And why did he do it?"
"He probably thought you two would look better as a lesbian couple."
WARNING: General H fault encountered. Please exit all thought
processes and then shutdown Brain 95[1]. Your brain has shutdown, it
is now safe to fall over.
--------
[1] It explains a lot doesn't it.
------------
Dear Ranko,
I know your going away on a trip, so I took the precaution of stealing
a piece of your soul. I'll give it back when you return. I know the
problems it causes so I'll hold on to it for you.
Yours evilly,
Morphine
------------
Nabiki looked at the skirt critically, it wasn't bad. It would look OK
on Ranma. Ranma wouldn't be too happy but her mother was bound to take
her shopping if she didn't wear something a bit feminine. She probably
wouldn't need more than one or two skirts. They would be out on the
slopes most of the time...but just in case.
"I ain't wearing a skirt."
"Look, Ranko, You can take a skirt of mine or you can let your mom
take you shopping."
"Nabiki."
"What?"
"How did you know that it was Morphine?"
"He turned you into a guy before. I figure he could turn you into a
girl."
"I am a guy. I ain't a girl."
"What ever Ranko."
"I'm Ranma!"
"Keep your voice down, Ranko, your mom's still in the house."
Now for some slacks. That would about do it for the packing. Ranma
would probably want to fend for herself on the underwear. Nabiki pulled
out a couple of pair of older slacks. They would do.
"Why can't I wear my pants?"
"Ranko, do you want to look like a tomboy?"
"I'm a..."
"Why don't you try explaining that to your mom."
"uh..."
"Pack some underwear and come down to breakfast."
"Uh...thanks for helping me pack, Nabiki."
"Don't mention it, now you owe me."
"Wh...bu..<sigh>...how much?"
"Nothing, just remember this next time I tell you to do something."
------------
Tetewaki frowned, he had not expected father to come on the vacation
with them. It had been so long since he'd wanted anything to do with his
father, it was hard to imagine him on their vacation. Perhaps this was
a good sign. Maybe father was ready to stop being the irritating
relative from Hawaii. The heavens knew it was time for some kind of
family reconciliation. Tetewaki picked up his bags and set them by the
door.
"SASUKE!"
"Here, Young Master Kuno."
"You may take these bags to the car at your leisure."
"Yes, Young Master Kuno?"
"Sasuke, what do you think of my father deciding to take this trip
with us?"
"If I may speak candidly, I think he's packing too much."
"That is not what I was referring to."
"Well you don't have to carry all the bags."
"Sasuke."
"Yes, Young Master Kuno?"
"I am considering packing the rest of my wardrobe."
"I see. Well, I believe your father is interested in becoming an
active member of this family again. I am also under the impression that
his extensive absences can be attributed to his desire to make life as
comfortable as possible for his children."
Sasuke. His brilliant flashes of insight were something Tetewaki would
never have believed in a few weeks ago. Times changed. So did people.
In his wildest dreams he had never imagined dating Nabiki Tendo, but now
she was everything. He had never imagined leaving the pigtailed girl and
Akane behind. He had never imagined Sasuki as anything more than a
bumbling henchman. Times changed. He wished his sister would. He
missed the sweet young girl who made tea for her dolls in the backyard.
"Ohhohohohohoho!"
Someone rushed by in a leotard.
"That will be my sister."
"I hope so."
"I would hate to think she got that mannerism from my father."
"I don't think your father owns a leotard."
"That would appear to settle things then. I imagine it would behoove
her to dress in clothing more appropriate to the climate. I will have
to have a word with her."
"You know your father is packing his summer wardrobe."
"I suppose I shall have to discus his choices with him too. You know,
Sasuki, everyday I feel more and more like a parent. I long to be
married, so that I might have children of my own."
"You like children?"
"They are the only people with the legitimate right to act like this."
------------
He wished Sasuke was coming on the trip with them. It would be nice
to have someone he could rely on to keep father out of trouble. As it
was, father stopped at every other shop in the airport to look at some
trinket or another. Kodachi was practically bouncing off the walls. It
made him happy to see her so excited about being with the family. It was,
quite probably, a good sign. Father came rushing back from a shop with
what appeared to be another useless trinket.
"Tetewaki, look at this!"
"What is it father?"
"A set of shark jaws."
Kodachi looked at the jaws, "I thought sharks were bigger."
"Well, Kodachi, the people who typically sell shark jaws as souvenirs
try to catch the baby sharks before they get big. They also typically
capture one of the less dangerous species. Now these were billed as jaws
of the great white, they are actually jaws from a hammerhead. It was
probably a few months short of being a year old. You can tell they are
from the hammerhead by...."
Tetewaki stared, how did father know so much about sharks, "Father."
"Yes, Tetewaki?"
"How do you know so much about sharks?"
"Oh I read some books on them, and one of my business partners in
Hawaii was a marine biologist."
Tetewaki listened to his father explain the differences between the
jaw line of a great white and a hammerhead, and began to understand why
his father was such a successful business man. Tetewaki was willing to
bet that his father could listen to a ten minute list of the current
stock market and know exactly what was going on and what to buy. He found
himself respecting that. It showed a great skill. But even more than
the skill involved was that he had completely captured Kodachi's
attention. Tetewaki had never seen his sister so completely enthralled
with anything. Even the Biochemists Fun Kit he had gotten her for
Christmas had not held her like this.
"Well, I think I'll go see what shops they have on the other side of
the airport."
"Father, the flight begins boarding in fifteen minutes. Please
endeavor to return in time."
"Don't be so worried Tetewaki. We are on vacation. Relax."
Kodachi turned to look at him after father was out of ear shot, "He
seems so different. Do...do you think he is going to stay with us?"
"I do not know. I wish I did."
"The Veryfast Plane Company is now boarding flight three at gate
seven."
"Brother dear, where is father?"
She had been so excited, he hated to tell her that he suspected father
was on a plane to Hawaii. Father might just be busy, but it just fit his
pattern of behavior to well.
"Mr. Tetewaki Kuno please come to the white courtesy phone. Mr.
Tetewaki Kuno please come to the white courtesy phone."
"Hello?"
"Aloha!"
Oh goody, "Father?"
"Tetewaki! I found a great deal on tickets to Hawaii! I booked us on
a flight in ten minutes!"
"Father, our flight is boarding now. Kodachi and I will be on THAT
plane. Should you wish to join us, I will leave your ticket at the desk."
Tetewaki put down the phone. This would not be good for Kodachi.
Every time something like this happened her grip on reality became a
little less firm. It was enough for father to be a disappointment, but
now he was coming home and raising Kodachi's hope only to dash it.
"Come, Kodachi, our flight is boarding."
"But, Tetewaki, what about father?"
She had not called him Tetewaki in years, after this it might be years
more, "Father will not be joining us on our vacation. It seems he has
found a ticket to Hawaii."
"oh. I wonder if my darling Ranma misses me yet."
The look on her face told him his little sister was gone again. The
lunatic that had returned from boarding school was back, "I find it hard
to believe that it would be so. Let us make our departure my sister. The
tranquillity of the mountains calls my soul."
"Maybe Ranma darling will be there!"
"Logic and probability are both against such an occurrence, though
there is a tendency for logic and probability to loose when confronted
with Saotome's presence. Interesting as that may be, it would be a better
topic of discourse during our flight. Let us be off."
------------
She had fallen asleep right away. In her sleep she looked less
crazed. Though her sleep was fitful. She kept begging someone not to
leave her. She also cried a bit. It was painful to watch. For all the
things she had done wrong, she had done nothing to deserve this kind of
unhappiness. Tetewaki hoped that this vacation would help her get a grip
on herself. Tetewaki pulled the blanket up to Kodachi's chin again. She
would probably kick it back down in a little bit, but it kept her from
exposing herself as she slept. He wished he could hold her and comfort
her and tell her things would get better. She was too old to hold, and he
was not very sure that things would get better...
------------
"But we can fix it!"
"There is nothing to fix."
"Yes there is! We can make Mr. Kuno stay and go with them."
"You could do that."
"Tha..."
"But that would change the outcome."
"That's what I want."
"Is it?"
"What?"
"It changes everything."
"But they'll be happy."
"Could be."
"What does that mean?"
"Did it ever occur to you that things might get better on their own?"
"But YOU always say nothing ever gets better."
"Fellowship, everything ALWAYS gets better, then it ALWAYS gets worse."
"It doesn't have to. I can fix it!"
"If nothing bad ever happened how would you know what was good? Why
would you enjoy it?"
Fellowship opened her mouth to reply. She closed her mouth again.
"Its Yin and Yang, good and evil, with out one there is no other.
They are opposites, and their only justification is in each other."
"Why are you being so philosophical?"
"Maybe I thought that it was time someone clued you in. Maybe I want
you to grow up to be a useful person. Then again this could just be the
authors way of padding out the story."
"I don't know. Its already got four parts..."
"Maybe all this is just to throw off the readers so that they don't
figure out the super secret ending."
"What's that?"
"It wouldn't be a secret if I told you, would it?"