Chapter 4 : Interviews, changes and chaos.

Nabiki looked around the hotel room irritably. Her interview was on Monday, Today was Thursday and every morning a new letter arrived apologizing for the delay but that Miyabi-san would be unable to make that appointment that day. This morning a knock on her door, confirmed that she had yet another letter at the desk. She was sure that this one too, would say the same thing. The hotel itself was not that expensive. She was glad for that, because she could only wait here so long. She had been tempted to look Nodoka up and ask to stay with her a few day, but decided that would be awkward for the interview process, and presumptive. She walked down to the front desk and picked her letter up, not even bothering to look at it. “ohh miss you have another one as well” said the clerk She looked surprised. And picked the second one up.

The first letter was from Sakuraba industry’s. Just like all of the others had been. She would open that in a moment, not wanting to deal with the disappointment this morning. The other one was from her sister, Kasumi. She tore that one open, and read it.

“Dear sister,

I hope this finds you well, you have not called to tell me how things are going. Father has noticed you are gone now, and is wailing about it non-stop. I am somewhat cross with father on another matte, and must inform you, that Akane-chan has been reinstated into the clan. I disapprove of this, but he is father and is the one who makes these decisions.

I miss you Bi-chan. Be safe and tell me how you are doing.

Your Sister, Kasumi.”

Nabiki’s hands shook with rage. She loved Kasumi dearly, but as for the rest of the family, She was done. She would find the paperwork this morning, and remove herself from the registry. She would not be in the same family as that Bitch. Growling she went to open the second letter.

“Ms Tendo,

I am please to say that we will be able to meet with you this afternoon. The Situations that have caused the conflicts have resolved and Kagurazaki-san will be able to meet with you at 3pm promptly. She will also be joined by Sakuraba-san, who is wishing to meet with you as well. Enclosed is your visitors pass, and a car will be by your hotel at 2pm sharp to take you to this meeting.

Tokoda Yuriko

HR Manager”

“2 o’clock!” she exclaimed “ Crap, I got a lot to get done before then.” She look at the clock on the wall, and saw 9:15. She hurriedly got ready to depart, and headed to the front desk to have them call her a cab. First on her agenda, the office of Registry’s. There was no way she was going to start a new life, as a Tendo.

Far off in Neirma, Soun started sneezing, loudly. Oddly though Kasumi, had no such problems.

Nabiki spend the morning filling out forms, swearing affirming and paying fee’s. Now, not only was she a Ronin, but she was a broke ronin. For the time being she is taking the name Satou, as that is at least the most common name around, and its unlikely that anyone would complain, though officially she is without a surname. Its amazing just how much all that work did for her mood however. She was free, from having to subconsciously cringe whenever she introduced herself. She had officially disavowed her father, and his actions. She was very soon to be able to start a job, perhaps, and build her own honor, rather than give hers up just to help her family survive. She hummed happily, as she glanced down at her watch noticed the time and panicked again. “Crap, I got to get BACK to make the car.” She ran to find a cab back.

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Ukyo after a record 3 days had set her sign out, “Ucchan’s Okonomiyaki” and set herself open for business. This place was smaller than in nerima, but, if it was successful, she could easily expand into an empty stall next to her. For the last three days, she had not even had a chance to think about Ranchan, but as she dropped the batter for the first time on her grill, she could not help shed a small tear for him. She went over to her menu, and erased the Deluxe Okonomiyaki from the list, and wrote in “Ranchan’s Favorite” in its place. At least she could keep him in her memory, and maybe share her experiences with him, with the interested customers of this district. She went back to cooking up a few to get herself back into practice. Somewhat later in the afternoon, The door chime twinkled and her first customer walked in, well, her first Three customers, all girls, babbling away.

“Look Odango head, I don’t care, this is a new place, and we can try it out once. Besides, its close to the school, and if we like it, we can hit it in between classes.” Said the dark haired one

“But Rei,” whined the blond with a Very unusual hairstyle. “I wanted Ice cream”

The last girl was silent, and reminded Ukyo of a thinner, smaller Akane. She was looking over the menu. “this all seems very reasonably priced” she commented.

“How can I help you all today, As you are all my first customers here, First one is on the house.” Smiles Ukyo at the three girls. They were obviously in some school together but looked old enough to be in Meiritsu. Juuban high school is not near as close as the university. She mentally shrugs, either way, She IS Ucchan, she does make the best okonomiyaki in the world, they will be back. The girl named Rei orders a plain, the girl she later finds our is named Usagi orders a pork. The dark haired girl, who has not yet been introduced, asks “What is a Ranchan?” She meant of course what is “Ranchan’s Favorite” but Ukyo’s eyes got misty a moment, “he was my fian…. He was my best friend. He died a few months ago, and he loved the deluxe, so I renamed it after him.”

The three girls got weepy at the story, and spent the rest of the afternoon, sitting, becoming friends with Ukyo, and hearing all of the stories about the weirdness that was Ranma Saotome. By the end of the day, Ukyo was feeling a lot better. Talking to Usagi and her friends really seemed to make her feel better about things. That night in her dreams she dreamed of Ranchan, of him walking into her store one day, with Usagi, and co there, and walking up to her saying “hey Ucchan, mind if I get a deluxe?” When she woke the next morning, the dream was so real, that she even wrote it down. Later she talked to Rei, when rei came in for a spot to eat, and Rei said “sometimes, dreams are just that. Dreams of what we want to see. But others, well, Sometimes they are more than that. Maybe there is a way to tell if this is a dream or a vision, and maybe there is not.”

Ukyo smiled, even at the faint hope that maybe, just maybe there was a chance her Ranchan was out there.

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With a start, Ranma woke up. This struck him as odd, because he had fallen asleep. With that strange girl in his room. The weird one who did not hit him, glomp him, try and poison him or try to marry him. The girls here didn’t count, Aoi-chan kept them in line, he was family of the owner after all. But she well, had appeared in his bathroom, literally. He thought about that for a second, without realizing that this was the most coherent thoughts he had been having in a few weeks. IT would not last of course, but it was amazing the difference to the mind a really deep healing sleep can do. Especially augmented by what minor healing abilities Skuld possessed. This line of thought continued as he stood up, not realizing he was nude. Skuld who had been watching him Certainly realized it, and turning bright and crimson red, she quickly turned around facing the wall. This made Ranma notice her as a person perhaps really for the first time.

“Excuse me, But can I help you? You seem to be in my room.” He stated to her.

“Uhmm. Yes, I am Skuld, with the Goddess helpline, and you have been selected to be granted a wish, by the Kami-Sama.” She said, talking to the wall.

“A what? And why are you not looking at me.”

“Well, you are not wearing anything, and…. Uhmm… I should not be looking at you like this”.

“ohh” he quickly dressed, “I am decent now” Normally he would have cared a lot more about this, being nude in front of a female after all it would generally lead to either malletting, glomping or both. But he just could not summon enough of himself to fully care. Even though he knew she carried a mallet, and would prob knock him into the air, just for fun, he just could not care.

Skuld turned around. He looked at her, she was very cute, her markings on her face made her look more attractive not less so. But, thinking of that, got him thinking about Akane, and his mind closed off again, to where he was the day before. Blank.

Skuld had Felt him thinking. She blush a bit when she felt him think she was cute, then the image of another girl came into his mind, and it shut down again. She had very carefully red his file the night before.

“Ranma, I am here to grant you a wish. Anything you want, the universe will get for you.”

“a wish?”

“yes a wish, One wish and the Kami’s will make it happen”

“a wish?”

“yes” she smiled. She still could not feel anything but pain from him. When she pushed she could still feel the rage. Nothing really had changed, other than that brief moment when she could feel the little boy inside of all of that darkness.

“No”

“what?”

“no wishes. No more magic, nothing good Ever comes from magic, or wishing, or wanting things.” He walked out, past a very confused Taeko-chan, who grew even more confused that thee was a girl in his room, and he was wearing nothing but a robe, and went out to start his kata’s. This was his escape, his rote activity he did when the pain grew too much. It meant he did it all of the time now, like performing his art was a drug, and he was an addict.

Skuld sighed deeply. So much pain, and she had No idea what to do if he was unwilling to accept the wish. There was not even a chance at argument with him like this. She walked into the hallway, smiled at Taeko-chan, who looked at Skuld blankly, and walked into the main hall. Taeko-chan was REALLY wishing that Miyabi-san, or Aoi-san were here, but they were at some meeting at the city offices. She didn’t know what to do about the stranger who was in Ranma’s room. She blushed as she thought about what they could have been doing in there. What they apparently were doing in there, since Ranma did not look like he was wearing anything under his robe, when he walked by.

Skuld picked the phone up and called in

“Peorth, this is a dud. He will not take a wish….. No I mean no way, I cant ever read one from his mind, too much pain…. No its awful, its like nothing I have ever seen before… Its like having to drink 3 or 4 of Urd-baka’s love potions…..ok, I will wait” She hummed to herself, thinking about he much she wanted to start looking for panda shaped bugs “yeah, I am here….. What?... Father is not kidding me is he?... ok, ok, I get it… I have to stay, until he is able to make a wish… got it….. Can I at least turn the link off?... WHAT? No please… ask him not to…” she dropped the phone suddenly, as her link intensified, and she was suddenly REALLY able to share his thoughts, and to some extent he could share hers.

High above Kami-sama felt sorry for Skuld, but as far as he could tell, increasing the link, making her be able to work on his problems with him, in his mind where he could not run, may be the only way to save him. Ranma needed to be saved. He deserved that.

Out in the yard, Ranma mid-jump Twitched, as the link formalized in his head and he could feel the mind of his watcher entwine with his own. The despair he felt did not lessen, but the distraction was enough to cause him to fall, and Tina-san found herself with an excellent view of Ranma-san assets.

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Ok Reviews time…. First review, outside of here

Nixxfey – thanks for the feedback, your correct, unless you have seen all three shows (well 4 starting wit this chapter) you don’t know much of what is going on. And yes, I am basing most of the characterizations on folks I am familiar with to give them character. You get One guess as to who Akane is…

Grubby troll thanks for reviewing it buddy….

borg rabbit He could make that kind of wish, but I think that getting him ready to Make that wish is going to be harder.

John Tannius And I wasn’t meaning I was down now, its when I was trying of thinking of how to describe when I was like that, would bring me there ;) But I think it gave for better imagery, for describing his depression.

dennisud Again thanks for the feedback, the Sakuraba girls are not going to quite be an issue, as much, other than I think Tina who may make a bid for him. I have figured out another way to “save Kasumi, rather than kidnapping, because I am trying to avoid everything everyone else does.

glazedlookineyes101 you don’t know many lawyers do you. I think the lin of events would be Akane gets pissed enough to go talk to a lawyer, he sees “easily manipulated hurt female with a husband who leaves a lot easy sex” and things progress from there. She will enter back into this later (the bitch must die) because like everything else in her life it will fail.

James Axelrad Well that will be explained prob next chapter. But in a way Nabiki will be subservient to Ranma, karmic ally for using him like that for the two years she did.

Light02 from some similar experience not as much as you would think. Once the depressive stimulous returns, its easy to fall back into it. He needs someone to force him to face his pain rather than bury it.