Rejected

Part 6 - Friday - Love of Power.

By Lord Archive

This is a dark and sad series. 

Characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video, etc..., and are 
used without permission. I'm only borrowing them. I'll return them. I 
can't afford the overdue charge Nabiki insists on.

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It's been a bad week. Really bad. Today is going to be the worst, for 
me, since Sunday. Since the day my little sister got married and then 
lost her in-laws, because her oh-so-brief mother-in-law refused to 
acquire all the facts on Ranma and committed seppuku. Someone making a 
decision of that magnitude without knowing all that facts is sheer 
stupidity. No wonder Ranma can be so stupid. Here I thought he 
inherited it all from his father.

I think what surprised me most out of this whole mess was that I 
thought Akane was going to marry Ranma as a sham marriage, to keep him 
safe. That isn't what happened. She really married him. The closeness 
between them now goes beyond anything I've seen before in anyone. 
Kasumi said that she's seen it before... that she's seen Mom and Dad 
that way... towards the end.

How'd that tear get on my face? I wipe it off. It does me no good to 
cry.

I wasn't really surprised when she didn't say anything about having 
her stuff moved into Ranma's room. He was really hurting and someone 
had to watch him. I was surprised to hear the sounds of Akane and 
Ranma making love. I didn't expect they'd do that. Maybe I bought too 
much into their act that they didn't like each other to notice they 
were in love.

I'm kind of curious if they've been having sex while I'm at school. So 
far, I've only heard them at night. I wish they'd be quieter. Then 
again, those noises are preferable to the sounds of them fighting.

If only I could sell photos of them or something. I can't do that 
right now, considering Ranma's state of mind and all. I've had to 
forget about making any profit this week because I had to make sure 
Ranma wouldn't get himself killed, and control the arrival of suitors 
and enemies so Ranma could deal with them. 

I have to keep Ranma alive, because if I don't, Akane will die too.

Lucky for me, Ukyou did what I wanted her to do without my help.

Shampoo knows, but is staying away. Just a message to Kasumi. Better 
than her trying to kill Akane.

Mousse almost blew it, but he and Cologne are gone now.

Ryoga saved the day when Ranma decided to spill the beans on P-Chan. 
I'm not sure we can repay him for his help. No, I'd call it debt 
settled for him playing P-Chan in the first place. Well, maybe he 
still owes us for that.

Today is Kuno's turn. I've been working on him since Monday. Little by 
little, chipping away at his delusions. Hope I broke them down enough 
that he won't go ballistic when I tell him.

While I'm not entirely sure I even like the additional plan to help 
soften the blow, I'm going to have to do it. Anything that helps keep 
Ranma alive has to be done. Even that.

Walking into the dining room, I see Ranma and Akane are there. Kasumi 
already brought out breakfast so I sit down and start eating.

I don't like the look on Ranma's face. He's looking over at the koi 
pond, like he's watching himself and his father fighting over it. I 
wish he'd just snap out of it and be the jerk I'm familiar with, the 
one I can deal with and make money off of. This Ranma is an enigma to 
everyone but Akane. 

When the reality hits him that he beheaded his own mother because of 
honor, it may be enough to shock him into dropping any pretense of 
honor on his part. And that makes it VERY dangerous to do anything to 
him, as his chauvinistic tendency of not hitting girls was brought 
about solely by his sense of honor, and doing something to anger him 
could actually endanger my own life. That, or it could make my schemes 
painful enough to make him forget his promise to Akane and put the 
knife in his gut.

"So, are you two going to try and go back to school Monday?" I ask 
them.

Akane doesn't answer, she's looking at Ranma. It's for him to decide.

"Yeah. Can't stay cooped up in here too long." Ranma's answer 
surprises me a little. He didn't really like school much before, but 
I can understand why he would want to get out of here.

"Guess I should let the school know you're married then, so they have 
time to get used to the idea before you return."

They both look at me in wide eyed shock. 

"You haven't sold that to the school already?" Akane asks. I feel like 
I've been slapped.

"What do you take me for? I couldn't let this information out, 
considering what happened after the wedding."

Ranma stares at the floor. Remember, don't say anything more that 
might cause him to think about his parents.

"I had to release the information carefully, to control when the 
others came here. I couldn't just let them come in one big swarm this 
time, could I? I've also been working on Kuno. We really don't need 
him going ballistic."

"You've been doing that?" Akane asks, her disbelief now makes me feels 
like I've been punched in the gut.

"Yes. You should expect Kuno to show up today. Hopefully, he'll be 
somewhat reasonable and respectable."

"So, how've you been handling everything?" Ranma asks.

"Well, I told Cologne Tuesday and she in turned told Shampoo. Cologne 
was able to control Shampoo long enough to tell her everything. I was 
going to tell Ukyou Monday, but she beat me to the punch. For Kuno, 
I've been drilling things into his head like how you're engaged and 
that he has no say in the matter. Other than that, I've had my friends 
keep an eye on everyone to give advance warning if they show up."

"Where's the profit in it for you?" Ranma asks. Just great, that tone 
again. He wants to get Akane to fight him, and he's using me this time 
to attempt to trigger it.

"There is none. It's a wedding present if you will."

"Oh, really?"

"Can't I do something nice for my sister and her husband?"

Ranma looks at me warily. He's trying to come up with something to 
retort against my question.

Fortunately Akane is the one to reply first. "Thanks Nabiki. We really 
appreciate it."

"You're welcome. I'm off to school now. See you later." 

I got up and left. I hadn't exactly finished breakfast, but I couldn't 
stay much longer. I don't want to tempt Ranma. I'm a pretty tempting 
target to start a fight, considering what I've done to him in the past.

I don't like that they thought so little of me that'd I sell them out 
after what happened. Did they really think I'd stoop so low? That I'd 
be really that reckless and let everyone know before implementing 
damage control? Ranma is already suicidal, if I had done that, Ranma 
would be dead. As much as he infuriates me, he's my brother now and 
I'm not going to let him curl up and die. Particularly since he'd take 
Akane with him if he did.

Money may be important to me, but life is more important. Money will 
always be there, but people won't. It's best to make sure they're 
around as long as possible, even if you don't really care to see them.

Kuno still hasn't gotten a clue and given up yet. He's doing his 
morning stretches in the hope that today he'll defeat Ranma. Chances 
of him winning are currently set at 100 to 1, and there are no takers 
because it's a waste of money.

Only five other students, good. I won't look too much like a fool for 
implementing my additional plan.

"Hello there, Kuno-chan. You look very dashing today." I'm right, I 
don't like this plan already.

"Glorious morning to you, Tendo Nabiki. Does thou have news of my 
loves or the accursed Saotome?"

"Why do you insist on chasing after things that you have no hope of 
getting?"

"Ah, but there is hope, for I am truly the better man. Saotome will 
be crushed, and I shall have my loves!"

I sigh. "Now, Kuno-chan, really. Even if you defeat Ranma it changes 
nothing. Akane is not free to marry you. The pig-tailed girl can't 
love you because she prefers girls to guys. But I'm free."

"There is nothing about you that is free." Why do I feel like he just 
stabbed me with his bokken? 

"Forget about those two. They'll never be yours. You should realize 
that. I could be yours, though."

"You just want to get your hands on the vast wealth that is the Kuno 
estate." He just twisted the bokken.

"Really, would I do that? I love making money. Getting money that way 
isn't my style, you know that. Come on Kuno-chan, let go of your 
loves, and take me out on a date. I'll even pay." I'm saying this so 
seductively, I want to vomit. I hate showing any kind of emotion in 
public. Fake or not.

"Ha! I shall never date you, for I see through your tricks. Saotome 
has paid you off in an attempt to keep me from my loves." 

I slap him.

I feel like he's killed me. Rejected by Kuno of all people. This 
arrogant bastard thinks he'll get away with that?! That perverted 
jerk lives so far into his own dream word that he refuses to see the 
real world. Can't that baka see I'm attracted to him where his 'two 
loves' would sooner have sex with Gosunkugi than him? 

I shake my head. Since when am I attracted to Kuno? It'd be a cold 
day in hell before he could turn me on.

I walk off, furious. I have to fight back from crying. I must stay in 
control. Why am I acting this way? Why should I care if Kuno rejects 
me? I can get any guy I want to date me. Make them date me, make them 
notice me. To see me and not my sister or her husband. Why should I 
give a damn if one egotistical pervert refuses to see me?

Walking into the bathroom, I look into a bathroom mirror. I see that I 
look like a mess, that I'm on the verge of tears. Damn you, Kuno. You 
will not get away with this.

I straighten up, take a breath, and regain my composure. Make it look 
like Kuno had no effect on me. I am Tendo Nabiki, and I am always in 
control. People bow before me for I am true power. If they do not bow, 
I shall break them. Kuno has refused to bow, so now I must break him. 
No one has rejected me before, and he will pay for it dearly.

I walk out of the bathroom, and head to the school's office. Once 
there, I pick up a phone and call home without asking. The secretary 
doesn't say anything. She knows better.

"Hello?" Kasumi answers from the other end.

"Hi Kasumi. Tell Akane that I've failed to properly handle Kuno. 
Expect him to be arrive in about half-an-hour. He will be very angry."

"I'll tell her."

"Thanks. See you later, Sis." I hang up the phone, and turn to the 
secretary. "I'll need to make an announcement on the PA about Ranma 
and Akane after school starts."

The secretary nods. She knows better than to question me.

I sit in the office and wait for the bell. I want to spread this 
around in a way that'd make money, but I can't. They need to be all 
told at once to prevent the rumor horde from mangling the facts. They 
need to know that when Ranma returns that they can't bug him about 
anything.

It also adds the nice touch of giving the information impartially to 
Kuno. That no one treated him above another in informing him. Besides, 
I don't want to be anywhere near him when he finds out.

Finally, the bell rings. Time to get this over with. Flicking the 
PA system on, I begin, "Good morning. I think you all know who I am. 
As you may have noticed Ranma and Akane have not been to school this 
week. There are two reasons for this. One of them is that Ranma's 
parents died last Sunday. He has taken it rather badly. The other 
reason is that shortly before his parents died, Ranma married Akane."

The school erupts in noise. The sound of a wall breaking tells me 
Kuno is off to face Ranma. I pray that neither of those two idiots die 
from this.

I wait for the school to calm down so I can continue. "The death of 
Ranma's parents has made Ranma's and Akane's honeymoon rather 
bittersweet. Ranma and Akane will return to school Monday. I will not 
tolerate anyone asking Ranma or Akane about the wedding, Ranma's 
parents' death, or the honeymoon. Anyone who so much as asks one 
question will make me very angry at them."

I switch off the PA system. That won't stop all of them, but it should 
reduce it to a level Ranma can stand.

I could now make a mint off information on the 'honeymoon.' That they 
stayed home, that Akane is a screamer, and several other tidbits of 
information would make me money easily. I can't, because I don't know 
how Ranma would react.

I walk to my classroom. I'm at the door Kuno made. I hope Akane makes 
him hurt, makes him suffer. The ball is in her court now. She has to 
make Kuno realize that she loves Ranma. To crush his spirit and his 
love. I really want to see that. There is no way I would make it there 
before it ends. All I can do is find out what happened after the fact.

My class starts mobbing me with questions. Several of them are waving 
money in my face. It'd be so easy to accept it. To take the money and 
tell them. I could make money for just saying a little bit of 
information. I could take all there money and give comfirmation that 
Ranma and Akane are not virgins.

Would Ranma get upset if I did that? I mean this isn't exactly Earth 
shattering information. It's no big deal that a married couple had sex.

They continue to pester me, throwing even more money toward me. 

All this money, and all I have to do is say a couple words. To tell 
them things that would be true. Things they might find out later.

Yet more money is flung into my face. They're trying to buy the 
information from me. Trying to buy me. Like I could be bought. Like I 
care more for money than myself and my family. 

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" I scream. Where the hell did that come from? This 
mess is affecting me worse than I thought.

I quickly regain my composure and say calmly, "I will not answer any 
questions concerning Ranma or Akane." I will not be bought. I will not 
betray Akane or even Ranma.

I sit down at my desk, and ignore everybody.

The teacher is having a hard time controling the students. There isn't 
going to be much schooling done today. I could get the class under 
control. Let the teacher teach. I won't unless he pays me. I can make 
money on this. I can control this, because I am Tendo Nabiki. 

I am power. 

I am alone. 

It's lonely at the top. I have power. I can have anyone do as I want. 
Not because they want to, but because I made them. But what does power 
give me? The ability to control. If I were to go through the level of 
emotional trauma Ranma has, would someone come and give me the 
strength to live as Akane has for Ranma? No, there is no one. 

I face the world alone. I used to be content with this, preferred 
this. Now... now I'm not sure facing the world without love is a good 
idea. Love can give strength where money does not. Sure love can hurt. 
The death of a loved one REALLY hurts. I know this better than most. 
What I can lose to love must be compared to the gains. Love can bring 
life. Ranma is alive and getting better because of love, where 
otherwise he'd be rotting away in the ground now. Money could not save 
him, only love.

There is no one to save me, for I stand alone. Alone without love.

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My mind troubles me so. Why did Tendo Nabiki act in such a peculiar 
fashion? Did she act that way for I saw through her ruse? Or did she 
really mean it? That she truly wanted to date with me?

Ha! She is in love with money and nothing more. She knows not of true 
love. The love I have for Tendo Akane and the pig-tailed girl.

Hark, the bell rings. Yet, Tendo Nabiki is still absent. This is most 
unlike her. Why is it that she is not here? Tis her loss.

I hear Tendo Nabiki on the public address system, "Good morning. I 
think you all know who I am. As you may have noticed Ranma and Akane 
have not been to school this week." Yes, and it pains my heart to not 
see my goddess of the hunt. "There are two reasons for this. One of 
them is that Ranma's parents died last Sunday. He has taken it rather 
badly." Feh!  Regrettable, perhaps, that such an event take place, but 
that cursed Saotome should feel pain. I hold no pity for him. "The 
other reason is that shortly before his parents died, Ranma married 
Akane."

"WHAT?!? This is an outrage! Saotome dares to take fair Akane's hand 
in marriage! I SHALL NOT STAND FOR THIS!!!!" My rage is pure. My 
vengeance is just. I shall make Ranma pay for his impertinence. He 
will not get away with this.

No obstacles shall impede my wrath. No wall, no weapon, nothing shall 
stop me from saving Akane. I run for the home of my love, where 
Saotome, no doubt, is taking unjust liberties with her. Forcing her 
to... I can't think of such evils. I shall make him pay. I shall kill 
him.

Ah! My love awaits me to free her. She is by the gate awaiting for 
me, her champion, to free her from the vile sorcerer's grasp! I run 
to her. "Tendo Akane! I shall save you from your loveless marriage!"

My love carries me aloft by her own hands. "Oof!" I forgive my love 
for overestimating her strength and for not being able to prevent me 
from falling heavily upon the ground.

Her hand is lovingly at my neck. I shall endure her ignorance that the 
placement is causing my shirt to restrict my breath.

"Kuno-sempai," she says with her loving fierceness. "Let me make this 
absolutely clear to you. It was my decision that I married Ranma. I 
proposed to him. I love him. He is my husband and he shares my bed, 
because it is my choice to. I will not tolerate you interfering in my 
life, and I most definitely won't stand for you interfering with my 
husband's. End your delusional and dishonorable pursuit of me and the 
pig-tailed girl. If you don't, I'll have to hurt you severely."

"It pains me to see how Saotome's spell makes you lie so." The rush 
of air whips past my ears and I find myself at the wall of my love's 
home.

"I am not lying. And his name is Tendo Ranma now. It is dishonorable 
to pursue a married woman. If you give a damn about honor, you will 
stop chasing me!" Her fiery eyes speak of love for me.

"I cannot! Honor demands that I protect you!"

"The only person I need protection from is you. I swear on the graves 
of my ancestors that if you do not stop interfering with Ranma's, the 
pig-tailed girl's, or my life, I will send you to the hospital."

Such a strong and noble oath. But how can I let her, my love, remain 
under the vile sorcerer's spell? I must keep her safe until such time 
as I can free her. 

"My love, I shall free you..."

My words can say no more for the furious actions of my love carry out 
the oath Saotome's spell has forced her to say. I forgive her for 
this, for it is not of her own will.

--------------------------

I awake, as promised, in the hospital. Such fierceness my love has. I 
respect her and her power. 

Oh, someone stands by the window. Perhaps one of my loves wish to 
comfort me.

"Hello, Kuno-chan." Sigh. It's only Nabiki. "Do you understand yet?"

"Yes, the vile Saotome has enspelled Akane and bought you off."

She-she slapped me! Again! Yet her face shows of pain. What thoughts 
lurk in her mind?

"Listen here, Kuno Tatewaki. There is no more Saotome. Ranma is now 
a Tendo. He has married my sister out of the love they share. And do 
you know how much money I've made from the marriage? None. I haven't 
made a single yen. I've even lost money."

"Your lies are ill becoming you."

"Have you ever known me to lie? Have I ever said anything that was not 
true? Sure I've withheld information, but I've never lied. If I say 
Akane loves Ranma, Akane loves Ranma. And you damn well know I'd never 
say I lost money if it wasn't true."

She has never lied before today but... "I cannot, shall not believe 
what you say! My loves love me! How can they not?"

"Because you are an arrogant, egotistical, self-centered, pompous, 
foolish, stupid, idiotic, blind, perverted, jerk that can't deal with 
reality. You have to understand that Akane doesn't love you, she loves 
Ranma. And the pig-tailed girl doesn't love you either. If you ever 
stopped living in your own little dream world, you would see that you 
have no hope of marrying either of your 'loves.'"

Her words sting like another slap. How is it she can't see Ranma's 
sorcery? Perhaps she has fallen victim to it as well. Now I must free 
her as well. But if she is under Ranma's spell, why is it she wanted 
to date me and not him? Is it part of Ranma's evil plan?

"Tendo Nabiki, was it truly your intent to date with me?"

She scowls at me. "Until you take off your rose color glasses and see 
the world as it is, you will never know." Once said, she leaves me to 
ponder her words.

Is it as she says? That I am deceiving myself? That my loves don't 
love me? This cannot be true. My love is true and just! How can they 
not love me? How?

A fair nurse enters and gives me pills to handle the pain my love's 
fist has caused me. The pills let me sleep though my thoughts trouble 
me so.

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Author's Note:

In case you didn't noticed Akane seems to speak in more Kuno-esque 
style than normal when the story is from his perspective, since this 
is Kuno's interpretation of things. 

Thanks to my numerous pre-readers for checking this chapter.
And thanks to all of you who sent me C&C on this series.

You can send C&C to archive@mich.com

You can find previous chapters my other stories at
http://www.mich.com/~archive/anime