Hello!

Here is the latest segment of the Shoki Saga.  It is a revised version of
what I originally intended.  Things were going to easy for poor Shoki, so I
livend things up a bit with another new character...and Nabiki is not
happy!  Anyhoo, on with the fic!

The characters herein belong to R. Takahashi, Kitty, Viz and a lot of other
important people.  I'm using them without their knowledge or consent.
Please don't sue.

What has gone before:
	Shoki is a Scottish/Japanese American boy.  He has come to the
Tendo's to train.  He is currently living with Nodoka Saotome.  He is
already a good martial artist.  Defense is his specialty through a soft
form of Aikido.  He also has a talent for bladed weapons, both throwing
knives and swords.  He trained for a while in Kendo under the infamous
Kuno.  Now he is trying to round out his skills with Anything Goes Martial
Arts.  Though he knows the Tendos, Saotomes, Ryoga and Ukyou, he has not
met all of Ranma's friends and rivals.  Nabiki Tendo has some interest in
him as he does have a fair bit of money.

Shoki Saga Chapter 5 (Email me if you can come up with a chapter name!)

	The day was the bright and clear.  Only light, cottony clouds were
in the sky.  It was the perfect day for a fight.

**********

	"Die Shoki!"  yelled Ryoga as he threw his bandana at his
adversary.  Shoki easily jumped up on the wall to avoid it.  A month and a
half ago he wouldn't have believed that he was capable of such a thing.
After training with Ranma, it was child's play.

	"Hey Ryoga, it's only a practice match!  Shouting something like
that makes me wonder if you remember that!"

	"Oh, sorry.  You look a fair amount like Ranma, and I kinda lost my
head."  The young martial artist looked downcast for having forgot himself.
He was quite likeable really.  Shoki took amoment to reflect on their odd
friendship.

	Shoki had accidently found out about Ryoga's curse...well both of
his curses actually.  The bad sense of direction and the fact that he
turned into a little black piglet when doused with cold water.  The first
was obvious even to people meeting him for the first time.  The second he
had found out about when Ryoga had fought Ranma last.  Without being asked,
he promised to keep the info secret from Akane, to Ryoga's undying
gratitude and Ranma's disgust.  Though difficult at times to keep them
apart, Shoki valued both of their friendships.

	Deciding the time was right, Shoki launched  a flying sidekick at
Ryoga, using his higher altitude to his advantage.  Ryoga wasn't able to
dodge in time and took the foot in the chest.  He sailed backwards and
impacted the tree a little harder than intended.  This, however, didn't
faze him.  He came off the tree in a rush headlong at his sparring partner.
Not wanting to be on the recieving end of Ryoga's strength again (the first
time Ryoga hit him, he thought he'd been struck by a steel beam) Shoki
ducked under the punch and used Ryoga's momentum against him.  Suddenly,
Ryoga was a ballistic object....

  	"SPASH!!!"

	"BWEEE!!!"

	Unfortunately, his path culminated in the koi pond.

	'Gotta work on missing that when I throw somebody...'thought Shoki
to himself.  'Damn thing seems to be a magnet for anybody with a curse...'

	"Here, let me help you out and get you some hot water."  As he
reached down to pull the black piglet from the water, something very hard
impacted on his head, driving him to his knees.  Something felt vaguely
familar about the impact.  "Akane!  What did you do that for?!?"

	"Oh, it's you Shoki!"  Exclaimed Akane as  she put away her mallet.
"When I heard P-Chan squeal, I thought Ranma was picking on him again.
Say, why is he in the pond?"

	"Ry-, that is I mean P-Chan fell in and I was helping him out.
Say, where is Ranma?"  His head felt like  someone had used it as  a polo
ball.

	"Last time I saw him he was with Nabiki, why do you ask?"

	"He's supposed to start teaching me a new kata today, and I figured
that since you were home, he should be too."

	"Well, sorry about hitting you.  I'll see you later, I've gotta go
do my homework."  With that, Akane picked up a grinning P-Chan and headed
for the house.  As the two moved by, Shoki risked a wink at Ryoga, who
returned it and grinned wider.

	"Well, I guess I'll practice some kicks until Ranma shows up."

*********

	"Okay Ranma, I know where you and Shoki were last week when Akane
cooked dinner.  Now, I'll not let her know you ate at Ukyou's if you answer
a few questions."

	Ranma was far from a coward, but for some reason, Nabiki scared him
just a little.  Maybe it was how she could twist nearly anything to her
advantage.  Whatever it was, he knew he was beat.  "What do you want to
know Nabiki?"

	"Tsubasa tells me that you two were at Ukyou's for quite some time.
Would you care to tell me what you were doing there?"  Nabiki crossed her
arms and scowled at Ranma.

	Ranma was genuinely surprised, he had expected tougher questions
than this.  "Well, we had dinner, after Shoki volunteered us to help out
when Uchhan was swamped.  Then the three of us sat around and talked."

	"Is that all?"

	"Yeah, why?"

	"Tsubasa made it sound like Ukyou and Shoki hit it off rather well.
Seems she was calling him 'sugar' and such."

	Could it be?  Nabiki sounded almost jelous.  Ranma couldn't figure
how she planned on turning a profit with this information...Shoki wasn't
dating anyone, so she couldn't really blackmail him.  "Ah, come on Nabiki!
Ucchan calls everybody 'sugar'.  She was really grateful that we helped
out, but I don't think she has her eye on him or anything.  Why would that
matter to you?"

	"Hey!  I'm the one asking the questions!"  Nabiki was furious at
the implication.

	"Mind if I ask one?  What is Tsubasa doing keeping an eye on people
for you?"

	"Simple, he has excellent disguises.  In this case he was imitating
a potted plant.  He sees and hears things you wouldn't believe.  And on the
off chance he does get caught, he looks like a pretty girl and people tend
to let him go.  He is one of my best informants."

	"Well, he gave you some bum information this time.  Though Ukyou is
pretty cute...not that I'm interested, but...well, gotta go train, see ya
later!"

	Nabiki watched Ranma run off after that last remark.  "Pretty cute
huh?   Hmm, maybe I should go look in the closet."

********

	Ranma looked at Shoki crossly as he laughed.  "Okay, blade boy,
what is so funny?"

	"Tell me again the name of the new kata?"  Snickered the american.

	"The ninety seven steps?  What's so funny about that?"

	"Evidently you don't read much sci-fi do you?  The ninety seven
steps is a fighting system used by priests in a book I read once.  I just
had this hilarious visual image of you wearing a full body shroud and
calling yourself Pen!"  He began laughing again.

	Ranma watched the mirth for a while until Shoki calmed himself to
mere snickers.  "If you are quite through, here is how we begin...."

**********

	Around dinner later, Ranma tried to encourage his friend.  "Hey,
nobody learns the ninety seven steps in one day!  In two hours, you made it
to step nineteen.  That's excellent!"

	"Really Shoki?"  Asked Kasumi,  "you made it all the way to step
nineteen your first day?"

	"Yes, but Ranma makes the whole pattern look so easy!"

	"I've been doing that kata for the last five years.  And I still
fall occasionally."  While talking both Shoki and Ranma fended off attempts
by Genma to steal their dinner.  Since an incident at breakfast a couple
weeks before, Genma had begun to include Shoki in sparring over food.
Shoki also protected Nabiki's meal which sat next to him.  Nabiki herself
was no where to be seen.

	"Um, Kasumi, uh, do you know where Nabiki is?"  Shoki didn't know
why he was embarrased by asking that question.

	Just then, Nabiki came up next to him.  "I'm right here
Shoki-chan."  Her voice sounded different, almost husky.  Shoki looked up
and stared.

	Nabiki was stunningly beautiful.  Instead of her usual school
uniform, or her jeans and shirt, she had on a dress.  A very sexy dress.
Knee length, the dress was dark blue, sleeveless, backless, and with a
neckline that made it quite clear that Nabiki was a woman.  Unusually, she
had taken the time to put on make up.  The results were wreaking havoc on
Shoki's mental faculties.  He could only stare in fascination.  Genma took
advantage of a stunned Shoki to steal some of his dinner.  Then he looked
at Nabiki and assumed the same open mouth look everyone else had on.

	"Wow sis!  That is some outfit!  Going somewhere tonight?"  Asked
Akane.

	"Maybe," answered Nabiki as she sat down.  Without speaking
further, she smiled almost, but not quite, shyly at Shoki, then began to
eat.

	Finally regaining concious control of his body, Shoki also began to
eat.  However, his concentration on dinner was shot as he kept stealing
glances to his side.  'Boy, I always thought Nabiki was good looking, but
Holy Mackeral!  Maybe I should say something....I'll wait until after
dinner....'

************

	After helping Kasumi to clear the table, Shoki followed Nabiki out
onto the porch.  The sun had set a short time ago, but the stars were
already out in full force.  Walking up beside her, they stood together in
silence for a minute while looking at the stars.

	"Uh, you look very nice tonight Nabiki.  Uh, what's the special
occasion?" Stuttered Shoki.

	"Oh, nothing special, I just felt like dressing up a bit.  You like
it?"  Nabiki did her best to look demure.

	"Uh, definitely.  Um, er, that is....Say, how about you and I go
catch a movie and maybe a snack tonight?"

	Just as Nabiki was about to answer a voice spoke from the wall of
the Dojo.  "I don't think you will be taking her anywhere, Shoki!  At least
not as long as you are engaged to me!"  With that a shadowy figure jumped
from the wall and walked into the light.

	The figure resolved itself to be a girl about the same age as
Shoki.  Her blond hair was tied in a ponytail high on her head.  She wore
black pants, a see through, lacy black shirt and a black vest over that.  A
black leather pouch was on her waist, and she carried a staff longer than
she was tall.  Her eyes blazed a startling green as she glared at Shoki.
Though not a raving beauty, she was easy on the eyes.

	"Oh, for crying out loud!  Quit following me around Shayla!
(Authors Note:  No, this is not a crossover, I just like the name Shayla.)
I'm not going to marry you!"  Shoki's voice had begun to take on a
desperate tone.  "That whole thing was just a joke!  You should know better
than trying to find a husband on the internet!"

	"Pardon me Shoki,"  interrupted Nabiki.  "Would you mind
introducing us?"  Though normally unemotional, Nabiki's voice took on a
very icy quality.

	"Huh?  Oh, sure, Nabiki Tendo, this is Shayla Smith.  She and I met
over the net about six months ago."

	"Pleased to meet you Miss Tendo.  Sorry to barge in like this, but
Shoki has no right to take you out on a date.  You see, he asked me to
marry him!"

	"I see....Good night Shoki."  With that Nabiki turned and left.

	"Wait Nabiki! I can explain!"

********

	"You know, Nabiki is starting to remind me of you sometimes."
Observed Ranma from where he and Akane had been watching the encounter.

	"What's that supposed to mean!"  Akane growled at her fiancee.

	"Well, first, she slapped Shoki and I the other day for no reason.
Now she didn't give him a chance to explain, just like you don't give me
the time to-"  Ranma was cut off he was malleted yet again.

	"Jerk."  Sneered Akane as she left Ranma to follow her sister.

********

	After Ranma regained consiousness, he went looking for Shoki.  He
found the young American in the dojo thinking.  Evidently he had gotten rid
of the girl that had showed up.

	"Yo, Shoki,"  greeted Ranma as he sat down next to his friend.
"Mind tellin' me what's going on?"

	"Well, that was Shayla Smith.  I met her about six months ago.  I
was bored one day and was chatting on the internet.  This girl came on and
told me about herself.  I figured it was just B.S. as almost everybody
exaggerates on the 'net."  Shoki grimaced in memory.  "She said she was a
pretty girl with nice eyes and a talent for cooking.  She also mentioned
that she was a martial artist training in staff fighting.  Just before I
signed off, I jokingly asked her to marry me.  Just normal banter on the
'net I thought.

	"Two weeks later she tracked me down.  It turns out she had been
watching me for several days previous.  I'm not too bad at spotting people
watching me, but I never saw her.  Anyway, she caught me in a crowded
restaurant and proclaimed her undying love.  She made a big deal outof me
'proposing' to her.  The people in the restaurant clapped and urged her on.
Rather than making a scene, I played along, taking her to a movie later
that night.  Afterwards I tried to explain to her that I wasn't ready to
get married, especially to someone I didn't know."  Shoki grimaced again.
Ranma nodded in sympathy.

	"She started to cry and make a big fuss.  She stayed with me for
about two weeks before I was able to give her the slip.  She caught up with
me twice more after that.  The last time I saw her was three months ago.  I
thought she had given up, but I guess not.  Geez, Ranma, what am I going to
do?  How can I train with her hanging around?"

	"Wow, man.  I wish I could help you.  All I can say is 'Welcome to
the Club!'"  With that Ranma started laughing.  Shoki just rolled his eyes
and sulked.

*******

	Out in the darkness a pair of green eyes watched with interest.

Big Bore and the Nitro Express!


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