On Her Own Chapter 7

Episode 07: Three Dates

Nabiki stared at the computer screen. Things were REALLY shaping up for the new business they were starting. Just a few blocks from Ucchan's there was a much larger property that would be perfect for the restaurant, and maybe... something else.

Ranma was a REAL martial artist, Akane thought she was one, but really only played at it. Nabiki already felt she could catch up to Akane with dedication, and Ranma's help. Who knew about Kasumi, though she was picking up the Art quickly too. Of course it WAS a birthright they all shared. Maybe some of the space could be used to start a new dojo, after all... WHAT would Ranma do when she met the Master? Could their fathers' schools survive having only FEMALE heirs?

Nabiki felt another presence in the room. Turning quickly, she actually scared Shampoo. The surprised Amazon took a hop back, swallowed a yelp, and blinked once. Nabiki pulled a nice but predatory smile from her collection, and then put it on. "Well, well, Shampoo... Any news on our little... project?"

Shampoo found her composure again, then couldn't restrain herself. "Yes, yes. I found a very very old book in the library. It was written in old kanji, but I read it. It tells legend of Kaisuifuu, and hiding place." In her excitement, the young Amazon slipped back to ingrained speech-patterns. "Teapot hidden in mountain near here, but far away. Take train, go Treasure Mountain, find teapot. Bring back..." She looked down as she finished, growing excitement dashed for some unknown reason.

"That's great Shampoo!" She said with energy, which dropped sharply as she continued, and observed, "What's wrong?"

Shampoo looked up, here eyes shimmering. "But... Nabiki. Ranma real woman now. Ranma mother. Shampoo think Ranma no want. Gloss... Sakura no want. Shampoo no want, any more. Shampoo hope not kill sister." She finished in a whisper, and then looked down.

Nabiki didn't know what to do or say. Her smile was replaced with a flat line, as she couldn't seem to find an expression to show how she felt. She shook her head back and forth, trying to convince herself that Ranma WANTED this. That this would earn Ranma's gratitude... but would it? At last, she spoke. It was a tentative voice she used, one she had forgotten shortly after her mother's death. "Well Shampoo, maybe we should wait for a while. There's no rush to pick it up until Ranma NEEDS it. And... if it's not there anymore when we finally visit that place well, you and Ranma will be happy."

Nabiki felt a hand gently resting on each shoulder. She looked up, and saw plainly sadness and pain and happiness combined on Shampoo's face. "Nabiki, " A collected Shampoo began, "I'm glad you feel this way. I love Ranma, but not the way one of you might, some day. To me, I just want her to be happy because she's my only real sister. But, because she was a man, she can only love a woman. Maybe someday, she'll WANT to use the Kaisuifuu, but... SHE has to be the one to decide. And whoever loves her has to be prepared for her NOT to use it."

The middle Tendou daughter nodded her head in understanding, and then looked down, squeezing her eyes shut. Emotions hurt, that's why she had abandoned a lot of them twelve years before. She had been thinking only of herself, not the vibrant young woman who had crashed into their ordered lives, setting everything on edge. She opened her eyes, and studied Shampoo's concerned face. "Thanks Shampoo. You reminded me what love really is. I guess I was hoping for a woman who could become a man when I snapped my fingers. Take care of the house and kids AND who could carry on the family business so I would become the daughter to carry on our legacy, not Akane. Then I could do whatever the hell I wanted in business, and she... or he... would be there for me. I never really thought about Ranma, just the incredible opportunity to have it ALL."

Shampoo's gaze became stern for just a moment, then just concerned. "One of you might be able to earn Ranma's true love. The rest of you, or maybe all of us, will at least become her sisters. And becoming Ranma's sister changed my life, Nabiki. She made me think about the world outside our village when she left. And now, I LIVE in that world because of her and her mother."

Nabiki wondered if she would ever even have what Shampoo had, let alone Ranma's romantic love. "Thanks for the update, Shampoo... chan."

Shampoo smiled at the affectionate addendum Nabiki had added to her name. "Okay, Nabiki-chan! See you!" What a wave and a smile she was gone.

Nabiki returned to the documents she was working on. It looked like they would be able to scrape up enough funding to open in a month. But if Ranma was maybe lost to her was it worth it? Yes, it was. This was for all of them, no matter what decision Ranma might make at some point in the future.


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