Two hours passed before she woke with a start. She
frantically, looked about, confused and frightened.
"How are you feeling?" Jeff asked quietly from the refuge of
his chair. In the darkness, she could just make out where he was
sitting.
"My head hurts." she answered, pressing what was left of
the ice closer to her throbbing head. "How long have I been
here?"
"The party or the couch?"
"In this room."
"Well, the party just ended. It's a little after 10 now."
Jeff began, looking at his watch. "I'd say...two hours."
"I've got to get home. Father will be worried." She
crawled out from under the comforter and started gathering up her
shoes, dropping the ice bag on the floor.
Without a word, Jeff helped her up off the couch and to the
door. Before he could open it, Nabiki stopped him.
"Ommm. Did anything happen in here?" she asked softly.
"Other than you were drunk, you cried about the prime
minister, you tried to drink your shoe, and you passed out on the
couch?" Jeff listed her evening. "...no.."
"You didn't..."
"Didn't what?"
"You know..." she sounded embarrassed.
"No, Nabiki. Your virtue is intact. I'm sure your future
husband will appreciate the fact that I didn't take advantage of
Nabiki Tendo under the influence." Jeff dead panned. "By the
way, pink panties suit you."
She stared at him in horror, her eyes wide and her mouth
hanging open.
Jeff used his finger tips on her chin to gently shut her
mouth. "Can we go now?"
Nabiki's look was that of a person frantically trying to
sort out the events of this evening. On one hand she remembered
clearly the party, the prime minister, and a glass of champagne.
After that...well, it was still a bit fuzzy.
<What, the hell, did I say?!?> she thought.
"You need to freshen up before I take you home." Jeff said
as he opened the door. His voice was, somehow, less friendly
than she remembered earlier in the evening. "I'll show you to the
little girls room. While you're in there, I'll get you some
aspirin" With that, he guided her, a bit wobbly, up the back way
to the ladies powder room.
She took only a few minutes to fix her makeup and straighten
her clothes and emerged looking almost presentable, after three
tries opening the door.
"Jeff-chan, I think I should go home now." Nabiki stated
timidly. Getting the aspirin down her was a trick best described
another time.
On the trip home, Jeff asked the driver to stop the car
about six blocks from Nabiki's home. Nabiki looked confused when
he directed the driver to return to the embassy and that he would
walk home.
"The fresh air will sober you up enough to get in the house"
Jeff said calmly as he helped her out of the car. <And I'm gonna
need the walk to calm down after I do this.> he thought to
himself.
Moments later, the couple were alone on the street. A light
rain earlier in the evening had left the sidewalks and street
glistening. The sky had cleared enough to see the stars above
and, on any other night, might have lent a romantic air to the
evening. Shyly, Nabiki took Jeff's hand and the couple walked
silently hand-in-hand through the darkened neighborhood. Nabiki
giggled, still affected by the alcohol, as she slipped off her
high heeled shoes.
"I haven't walked barefoot in years," she giggled.
"I can't have Nabiki-chan hurting her tender feet." Jeff
said as he scooped her into his arms. "It might damage her
marriageability." Nabiki squealed lightly and wrapped her arms
around Jeff's neck, resting her head on his shoulder. She failed
to catch the meaning of his words or the detect the trouble
ahead. Somewhere a dog barked and the bullet train could be
heard passing the city.
Outside the Tendo residence, Jeff gently set Nabiki down and
embraced her tenderly. Through the mist of all the champagne she
had consumed, Nabiki's hormones began to stir. The same feelings
she had for him on the first date crawled out of their locked
closet and took control. She wanted to hold him, to feel his
body against hers. She wanted to kiss him over and over, perhaps
even ...
"Nabiki-chan," Jeff said quietly.
"Hai, Jeff-chan?" she answered, her arms around his neck,
holding him tight against her.
Jeff swallowed hard. "What you said earlier. About
marrying a rich man."
Nabiki froze for a moment before, slowly sliding out to arms
length and staring at Jeff, a look of apprehension on her face.
His words sobered her like a cold shower. Her mouth opened but
nothing came out. Once again, she fought to remember just what
she had said to him.
Jeff willingly filled in the gaps. "Nabiki, You said you
intend to marry someone rich enough to help your family. This I
understand. However, you also said that I could never be that
person and that hurt."
They were staring intently into each other's eyes now. It
was all about to come to a head. Jeff had carefully hidden his
future wealth from prying eyes to avoid having to make this
speech. Nabiki had sought wealth in a husband, not love, but
continued to see Jeff; for what reason she didn't know. He
failed, she failed, and everyone was about to get hurt in the
fallout.
Nabiki had made no secret that she would only settle for a
rich man when marrying. True, her motives sounded pure; helping
her father when he got older. But the fact that Jeff wasn't
going to be able, in her eyes, to fill the requirements of
marriage had meant that the last eight months had been a waste of
time for both of them. Jeff knew the relationship was doomed but
chose to make sure she clearly understood his position, even
though she might not remember much of it in the morning.
"Nabiki, I love you. I will always love you. When I walk
away from here tonight, and I will,... a piece of my heart will
remain behind. Wherever you go. Whomever you marry. I hope you
find who you are looking for and have a happy life."
Nabiki's mouth dropped open. He was dumping her! No one
had ever dumped her. What was worse, it was not for some silly
reason or even another girl; he was dumping her for the most
noble reason of all: because he loved her and wanted her to be
happy. He was terminating the relationship so she could get on
with the search for a suitably wealthy mate.
<Pity,> he thought. <I really do love her so. But she would
rather have wealth than love, and that's just the thing I was
hoping to avoid.>
Throughout this entire affair, she had drawn the lines and
made the rules. Jeff had played within those boundaries, trying
to make her love him. But it was a game he now knew he could
never win. Therefore, he was prepared to make the sacrifice for
her happiness. He would sacrifice his love for her. Simple,
clean, and ... painful.
Nabiki was instantly flooded with emotions. Rage, because
he had expressed his love for her repeatedly over the last eight
months and was now dumping her. Fear, because she was about to
lose the one person who had ever loved her completely. Anger at
herself, for being so selfish. And finally, Self pity, because
she couldn't see around her desire to marry wealth to recognize
her own love for Jeff.
"Konban wa," came Kasumi's voice from the house. "You two
wish to come inside for some tea?"
Jeff stared at a broken Nabiki before suggesting: "It would
be impolite not to accept."
"Hai," was her whispered reply.
Together, they went inside. Kasumi showed them to the
dining table and saw that they were comfortably seated next to
each other. Mr. Tendo came in as well and sat across from the
couple smiling like a new father-in-law. Nabiki couldn't bring
herself to look at either her father or sister. She just stared
at her hands in her lap. Everyone just assumed it was
bride-to-be shyness.
Akane brought in the cups of tea on a tray and placed them
on the table. Kasumi set a kettle of steaming water on the table
and sat between Jeff and her father on one end of the table while
Akane seated herself at the other. It was uncomfortably quiet.
Clearly, the assembled expected something memorable to occur this
evening. They were not going to be disappointed.
"So, how was the embassy ball?" Kasumi asked cheerfully as
she poured the hot water into the cups and mixed the tea.
"It was a most interesting evening," Jeff responded looking
at the table in front of him.
"Hai, most... ." Nabiki started softly but failed to finish.
Kasumi and Akane exchanged worried glances. Something was
terribly amiss.
"Tendo-san...Sensi," Jeff began, uncharacteristically
stumbling for his words. "I understand from your daughter,
Nabiki, that I am not an appropriate suitor for her."
The other two sisters gasped.
"Furthermore, I feel it would be inappropriate for me to
continue seeing your daughter as it would jeopardize her chances
at finding a suitable husband." Jeff paused glancing briefly at
Nabiki. "I want you to know that it is because I love Nabiki with
all my heart that I do this. I cannot bring myself to deprive
her of the true love of her life, money."
Mr Tendo's eyes moved slowly from Jeff to his middle
daughter. He was the only one who saw the single tear roll down
her cheek.
"I only ask your forgiveness for being unworthy." Jeff
ended with a bow towards Mr. Tendo.
You could have heard a pin wrapped in cotton drop as Mr.
Tendo stiffly returned the formality. Kasumi, eyes wide, was
holding her hands in front of her mouth, looking at Nabiki.
Akane, jaw set, was gripping the table causing the wood to warp,
her mind a whirl of violent things she was going to do to Jeff.
Mr. Tendo was the first to break the silence.
"Is this true, daughter?"
"Father..." she whispered but couldn't finish.
He began to say something else but stopped short, closing
his eyes and setting his jaw against the shame.
Kasumi, accidentally, set off the fireworks: "But
Nabiki-chan, I thought you loved Jeff."
It could have been the alcohol. It could have been the
eight months of living a lie. In any case, Nabiki could stand it
no more. Jumping to her feet she screamed at Kasumi. "Love?!?
Love?!? Is that all you can think about?!? What about money?
What about security? Do you know what it takes to get along in
this world? You know nothing!" She then turned her wrath on her
father. "Ever since mother died, I have worked, schemed, begged,
borrowed and did whatever was necessary to keep this family
afloat! Kasumi could cook and keep the house. Akane will
provide you with an heir to carry on the dojo. What can I give
you?!? NOTHING! That's exactly what you'll get, if I marry this
yen-less gaijin!"
Akane reached up to quiet her sister but Nabiki slapped her
hand away.
"Nabiki behave yourself!" growled the Mr. Tendo. "Jeff is
our guest. Do not dishonor this family further with your display
of immaturity."
"HONOR!?! Will our honor pay the gas bill? Will our honor
feed you? Will our honor pay for the two free-loaders we have
living under our roof using all our hot water? Don't speak to me
about honor. You can't spend it." Nabiki was clearly on a roll.
Years of pent up feelings about her mother, her position, and
even her very existence were being vented. If it were dragon
breath, half of Nerima would have burned to the ground by now.
"Nabiki, let it go. It has to be this way." Jeff said
quietly when she paused for a breath.
"YOU!" her eyes red with emotion. "The trouble is you!" she
paused gasping for breath and fighting her emotions. "The
trouble is... me! The trouble is..." she ran out of suspects
and did the only thing left to do, run out of the room crying.
Kasumi immediately apologized and excused herself to see to
her sister. Akane followed giving Jeff a look that would have
killed a lesser man. Mr. Tendo simply stared at his cup of tea
and cried.
Nabiki beat her sisters to her room and threw herself on the
bed, crying. Kasumi entered and sat on the end of the bed,
waiting for Nabiki to cry herself out. Akane, confused as to
what she should do, stood over by Nabiki's open closet and
fidgeted. Her solution would be to clobber Jeff. It always
worked with Ranma.
Neither girl had ever seen Nabiki cry. She never cried; not
when she got hurt, not when she was frustrated, not even at their
mother's funeral. Nabiki Tendo had always been the one whose
shoulder *they* could cry on. The sight of a totally destroyed
Nabiki, her body spasming with every sob, was, to say the least,
unnerving.
After a few minutes, Nabiki's sobs became less regular and
she seemed to be taking great gasps of air.
"Nab-chan," Kasumi said softly. "I know I'm no substitute
for mother, but if she were here, I think I know what she would
say."
Nabiki slowly rolled over clutching her pillow to look at
her older sister, her eyes red and puffy. While she rarely acted
like it, she always valued what Kasumi had to say. Tonight, she
needed some of her older sister's wisdom and patience.
"Marriage is forever." Kasumi started. "It isn't easy under
the best conditions. But when two people join together as one,
each must sacrifice something on the alter of that union. For
the man, it's easy. He has to sacrifice his freedom. He assumes
responsibilities to provide for the family; shelter, food,
clothing. He can no longer stay out as late as he likes, go
wherever he wants, spend whatever he feels like, be with whomever
he wishes. He has sacrificed all that to the marriage. Do you
understand, Nabiki?"
Nabiki weakly nodded, still clutching her tear stained
pillow. Even Akane was taking an interest in her older sister's
counsel.
"The woman must bring something of equal value to the alter
for sacrifice. It's different for each woman, but just as hard
to give up. It might be her friends, her comfortable existence,
or familiar surroundings. Very often it's her dreams. She must
sacrifice them for her husband and the family. Whatever it is,
it is given out of love for the man; the most important thing in
her life."
Kasumi had the complete attention of both girls.
"Out of the ashes of that sacrifice comes a new life for
both. It's that new life that makes a marriage, not the bits and
pieces of their past. The goals and dreams are no longer his or
hers, but theirs, something they build together."
Kasumi took Nabiki's hand. "Mother and father made the
sacrifices for their marriage; you said so yourself. And for
that sacrifice, they got the three of us. And we, in turn, gave
back to them the happiness that only a family can give. Remember
how happy we were. Remember all the good times, the love. We
only had that because our parents were willing to sacrifice
themselves for us."
Kasumi paused to let the last sink in. "You have a chance
to sacrifice something for Jeff; just as Jeff is ready to
sacrifice everything for you. Your dreams of wealth and
happiness can work for two as well as one. You said he had a
nose for making money. Use that. Build your dreams together."
Kasumi paused a few moments before continuing. "Besides, in
time, you may discover that there are more important things than
wealth." she placed her hand on her sister's stomach.
"Especially when you feel it move for the first time."
Nabiki smiled painfully, fighting back more tears, covered
her sister's hand with her own. <More important...love...Jeff>
Suddenly, she wanted to cry again. She had been selfishly
chasing shadows; things that would mock her vain attempts at
capture. Wealth is not a stable foundation upon which to build a
relationship. Only the mutual love of two people can support the
building of a successful marriage. Anything else is too weak to
survive the trials of life. Jeff's love, something she could
hold on to for the rest of her life, had been there for the
taking and she had just rejected it. She could still become
rich, only *with* Jeff instead of in place of him.
Nabiki crawled up and hugged Kasumi. "Mother would have
been proud," she whispered.
"I know," Kasumi whispered back. "Mother gave me the same
speech when I was young and foolish."
Nabiki now knew why she loved her sister so much and why
Kasumi always seemed at peace with the world. She knew the
answers AND the questions.
Akane, feeling awkward, fought back her own tears. She
understood better what was expected of her relationship with
Ranma. She understood what was expected of a wife-to-be. She
understood...(looking in the closet)...that Nabiki had been
stealing her clothes for months! Half the damn stuff in there
was her's. <We'll deal with this later.> she thought.
"There's still time." Kasumi whispered. "Go to him."
Nabiki kissed her sister's cheek, sprung from the bed and
scampered down stairs.
The room was dark, all the lights having been turned off. A
lone candle in the middle of the table struggled to burn. Only
one figure was still seated at the table, her father.
"He's gone." Was all he said.
"How...how long?" Nabiki begged, looking vainly out past
the garden to the street.
"Too long. He left with his honor; for that is all you
allowed him to keep. I would have been proud to call him
'son-in-law'."
There was a long pause as Nabiki dropped to her knees next
to her father. Tears started flowing again. Slowly, she placed
her head in his lap. Too late. She had screwed up business
deals in the past and felt really rotten afterwards. This was a
hundred times worse. This was the worst failure of her life.
Instead of providing for her father, like she wanted, she failed
him, she failed the family, and, worst of all, she failed
herself.
"I'm sorry, daddy."
Mr. Tendo just stroked his daughter's hair as she quietly
cried.
Jeff wasn't at school Monday. In fact, no one could recall
seeing him anywhere. Ranma confirmed that Jeff no longer went to
the dojo and phone calls to the embassy went unanswered. There
were even rumors that he had left the country.
All this had a profound affect on Nabiki. She stopped her
usual wheeling and dealing, even to the point of no longer
offering odds on various sporting and social events. Her
investments went untended and her loans went uncollected. Yuka
and Sayuri tried to keep the schemes going but were clearly not
up to the task. Nabiki seemed to just drift from class to class.
Oh, she responded to everyone okay. It was just that you got the
feeling she wasn't all there. Those who knew her best, could
confirm that she wasn't.
The last day of class came around and yearbooks were happily
passed out. Yuka and Sayuri tried to get Nabiki involved in the
usual signings and pictures but she wouldn't be moved from her
desk. She stiffly leafed through her yearbook until she came to
the pages of senior pictures. Nabiki's picture was on the upper
right corner of the page. It was taken during happier times and
reflected a young woman confident in the world. She was alright
until she noticed who's picture was on the opposite page, in
exactly the right place so that their pictures would be together
when the book was closed. It was Jeff Lawrence. Nabiki just
stared at the photograph. Her friends soon noticed that she was
in a trance-like state; her eyes looking a thousand miles away.
Nothing they could do would snap her out of it.
Jeff packed purposefully a few things in his suitcase. He
was leaving, going home to a country he had never really known.
He had turned 18 and was no longer a dependant of a member of the
embassy staff. His diplomatic immunity had run out and he had 90
days to leave. That was the bad news.
The good news had come that morning. His parents had
gathered him in a small office with the same lawyer who had
brought him the news of the inheritance several months before.
Jeff barely remembered the words the lawyer spoke, his mind was
across town at Furinkan High School. All he could think about
was Nabiki. Her smile haunted him when he closed his eyes. The
smell of her perfume, the warmth of her body, the softness of her
kiss. He could hear her voice over and over again, saying how it
was a pity he was too poor to marry.
<Finished.> Jeff thought as he thrust the last of his
clothes in the bag. Dressed in khaki slacks, a knit sport shirt
topped by a light blazer, Jeff looked like the millionaire he now
was. He thought of how ironic it was that the only girl he ever
loved wouldn't marry him because she thought him too poor.
"Well, well, well." came a voice at the door. "Is our
little brother about leave town.
"Looks to me like little brother's forgettin somethin."
Jeff knew those voices. They belonged to two members of the
Marine Guard Detachment. Probably, two of the closest friends he
had in Japan. Perhaps, the closest friends he ever had.
Ever since he moved to Japan, he got up every morning and
ran with the Marines. At first, he kept his distance; respectful
of the fact they were Marines and he wasn't. But as soon as they
noticed he could keep up with them, he was invited to officially
join them. That led to other activities with them. He had
become kind of a mascot to some; a little brother to the rest.
In any case, he was treated like one of the Marine family'.
And, no one, dissed a member of the family.
"Guys," Jeff said quietly. "It's over, she threw me out,
remember?"
"Bull! She loves you, man."
"I wasn't..." Jeff started. Feeling his own tears well up
again, he took a deep breath before continuing. He wasn't going
to start crying again, especially in front of the Marines. "I
wasn't the person she wanted to marry."
"That was the po' you, boy. Wait till she gets a look of
the rich you." The two Marines laughed.
"But that's just the point," Jeff sighed as he turned to sit
on his bed. "If she wouldn't marry me when I was poor, how could
I be sure she wouldn't be marrying me only for my money now that
I'm rich?"
The two Marines looked at each other. "Look, kid. When you
dumped her, did she make a scene?"
"Yeah, she cried and yelled, and caused a big scene in front
of her family. So what's your point." Jeff was curious where
this was all going.
"Because Japanese chicks don't do that. They would rather
die than embarrass themselves that way in public. Look, I'm no
expert on marriage. At least my ex-wife would agree on that.
But I *know* when a woman is really in love with a guy. Jeffrey,
my boy, THAT lady is in love with you."
"Then why the rejection?" Jeff was beginning to see their
point but was having trouble putting it all in perspective.
"Family. Family is very strong in these people. You have
*got* to respect that when dealing with them. She's just pulling
the old I'm going to sacrifice myself for my family' routine by
insisting on marrying only a rich man. She loves you, boy"
Somehow all the parts had eluded him until today. What she
said; Kasumi could cook and clean, Akane could provide an heir,
Nabiki could only...provide for the family. It finally all fit.
Her father. The dojo. The fact that she felt alone in providing
for the family; doing the job of a man. She *was* doing the old
self sacrifice bit for her family. That's why she made such a
scene. That's why she couldn't face him that night. That's
why... "Oh, God." he groaned as he leaned forward and held his
head with his hands.
"If it were me, boy. I'd give the girl one last chance to
come to her senses. Poor or rich, she's gotta break if you force
her."
"What day is it?" Jeff asked.
"Friday. Why?"
"Last day of school. I know right where to find her." Jeff
jumped to his feet and headed for the door.
One of the Marines stopped him with a hand to his shoulder.
"You might need some backup, kid. We all heard of how the guys
at that school hassled you. It was a disgrace. Why don't a
couple of us go with you to, say, even the odds."
Jeff gave the Marine a friendly backhand into his rock-hard
stomach. "Sorry guys. This is one thing I gotta do myself. If I
can't walk alone into a Japanese high school and leave with the
girl I love, well, having an entire Marine division there
wouldn't change a thing."
Both men slapped Jeff on the back and pushed him on his way.
"Go getem, boy." "Hooo Rahh!"
Soon Jeff was around the corner and gone. One Marine turned
to the other as they started to follow.
"Think he'll be alright?"
"He'll do fine."
"Maybe we ought to trail him. Just in case."
"OK. Besides, I always wanted to see a ninja in action."
"You really believe all that stuff?"
"Hey. You ever play darts with him?"
Jeff had the driver stop and let him out two blocks from the
school. "Give me 30 minutes and meet me at the front gate.
There might be another passenger."
Walking the remaining way, Jeff set his jaw and resolved
nothing would keep him from Nabiki today. He would get an
answer, yes or no, before he got on that plane. <Lets see, how
would John Wayne handle this?>
Jeff paused at the gate, taking in all the sights and sounds
of the old school. <I guess things weren't all that bad here.>
he thought as he removed his sunglasses. <At least, I never had
to fight anyone.>
Jeff slowly walked the sidewalk leading to the main doors,
listening to the happy voices coming from the classrooms. <The
last day of school is the same everywhere.>
Just inside the front doors, things turned sour.
Three familiar Kendo Club teammates blocked the main stairs
just inside the building. These were the same boys who had
blocked his entry to the library every day, refused him a place
at their table, denied him a chance to participate in school
activities of any kind. Now, they were trying to keep him from
the most important rendezvous of his life.
"So, you decided to come back." one observed drawing his
bokkan.
"No filthy gaijin will ever cross the threshold of this
school again." another added holding his wooden blade at the
ready. "Leave now, of face the wrath of the samurai of Blue
Thunder."
Jeff's eyes narrowed into tiny slits. Every fibre of his
body prepared. One of the swordsmen made the mistake of his life
by quickly changing positions.
Accounts of what happened next differ. Not even the three
swordsmen can recall, for sure, what happened. One moment they
were blocking the way to the school and the next found two of
them, upside down, heading for the glass windows flanking the
front doors. The third staggered backwards, collapsing on the
floor, his bokkan held in front of him with two throwing stars
sticking out it. Had that wooden sword not been there, those
stars would have imbedded themselves in the student's chest.
Only Jeff knew that the stars struck exactly where he
intended. They were a warning to the remaining would-be samurai
and anyone else that might think of getting in his way. He was
going to Nabiki's third floor classroom and woe-be-to-he who got
in his way.
Those students and faculty who witnessed the incident
immediately scurried to make themselves scarce. Word spread
throughout the school: Jeff is back and he's pissed.'
Jeff ascended the stairs past the second floor where he
stepped over a stair-lounging Ranma. Akane caught sight of Jeff
in mid-signing as he turned to climb the stairs to the next
floor. Her jaw dropped open and her books clattered to the
floor. Suddenly, she felt the cold chill of fear. Fear for her
sister Nabiki. Fear of what he was here to do. Fear that she
was inadequate to do anything about it. Her father had warned
her to never cross Jeff. His ninjutsu skills strengthened by all
his kempo training made him a truly lethal adversary. She
quickly grabbed Ranma and drug him up the stairs after Jeff.
This was family business and, like it or not, Ranma was
family...practically.
As Jeff walked down the hallway, students quickly moved to
make themselves part of the walls. No one wanted to tangle with
this crazy gaijin as he inexorably made his way to Nabiki's
classroom. It didn't take him long.
"NABIKI TENDO!!!" Jeff yelled from the back of the room.
Nabiki snapped back to reality and immediately froze in place.
Suddenly, she was terrified of what Jeff would do in this
state. She had rejected him, spurned him, embarrassed him. She
knew of his shinobi background and how the clans were very much
into honor feuds. He had every reason to seek revenge for such
indignities. Nabiki had hoped because Jeff was not Japanese, he
would not seek shinobi retribution. She swallowed hard and
waited.
Jeff started up an isle towards the front of the room where
Nabiki sat, ripping off his blazer in the process and throwing it
over Kuno's head as he sat at his desk. Wisely, Kuno didn't move
a muscle.
Two desks blocked Jeff's path. Slowly, he reached down,
placed his hands under their shells, the muscles of his forearms
flexed. With a grunt, flipped each desk against an opposite
wall. Students further scattered as parts of desks rained down
upon them.
That's how it went, Jeff slowly working his way to the front
of the room, flipping desks against the wall as he walked. Each
desk impact caused Nabiki to flinch slightly. It was like
waiting on a track for a slow train to run over you. Jeff
finished in front of her desk. She still held the book in front
of her, frozen in place. Nothing in the entire school moved.
Gently, Jeff slid the desk from in front of Nabiki, held it
for a second before heaving it with a loud grunt against the far
wall. The impact caused Nabiki to flinch noticeably.
Again, Jeff turned to Nabiki. Her hands were beginning to
tremble. With no expression whatsoever, Jeff gently grasped the
book, slid it out of her hands, looked at it, looked at her and
tossed it over his shoulder. It sounded like a shot when it hit
the floor. Immediately, Nabiki folded her hands in her lap and
stared at them. A single tear crawled down her left cheek and
took the plunge to her school uniform skirt.
<Please let him be as good as father says his is.> Nabiki
prayed. <Let him do it quickly.> For the first time in her life,
she truly feared for her safety.
Slowly, Jeff placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned in
close, perhaps closer than they were the first time they met, so
many months ago. She trembled noticeably, a tiny whimper escaped
her lips.
"Nabiki Tendo!" he said forcefully. "I will ask you only
one time: WILL... YOU... MARRY... ME?" This caused a slight
tremor of voices to run through the assembled student body.
Trembling, a confused look came over her face. Her mouth
opened slightly and she was on the verge of hyperventilating.
For the second time in her life with Jeff, she was fighting that
internal struggle all women go through when faced with the
prospects of marriage; fear, joy, apprehension, confusion. She
wanted to run, she wanted to cry, but most of all, she wanted to
answer.
"WELL?!" Nabiki flinched again. Jeff was being loud,
forceful but totally in control. He wasn't leaving until he got
an answer. Several students shushed the others and the room grew
quiet John Wayne would have been proud.
Everything was happening in ultra slow motion. Nabiki's
mouth opened slowly. Words formed and were lost several times.
Kasumi's voice echoed through her mind debating that of her own:
<...there are more important things than wealth...I WILL NOT
MARRY A POOR MAN!...Love is the key, not wealth...I will *not* be
poor like mother!...sacrifice something for the marriage...but
what about her dreams...are you so sure we were not part of her
dreams?> Somewhere, far off, she heard a voice that sounded like
her's say: "Hai", so softly she immediately questioned if it ever
happened at all.
Jeff heard, but he wasn't through with her yet. "What!?!"
Nabiki's head flew up, their eyes locked. She saw his face,
his eyes, a little smile. She then realized he would have never
hurt her; he still loved her too much for that. Instantly, she
felt the strength she had lacked over the last few weeks return.
The confidence was, once more, present. She was Nabiki Tendo
once again with one last chance to correct a mistake that could
have cost her a lifetime of happiness.
"HAI! Jeff-chan! Hai! Hai! Hai!" she yelled, leaping into
his arms. They folded into a passionate embrace, rocking
together in joy. All the time she was repeating over and over:
"Hai. I love you!"
The stunned reaction of the students remaining on the third
floor quickly gave way to loud applause and shouts of
congratulations. Nabiki's two cohorts hugged each other, smiling
and crying. Their best friend was back and taking the step they
had hoped for themselves; marriage to the man of their dreams.
Nabiki just clung to Jeff, tears flowing freely and vowing
to herself to never let him go again. She didn't care who heard.
She didn't care who saw. As long as she had Jeff, she was
content with the world.
Jeff, always looking for a dramatic exit, swept Nabiki off
her feet and carried her towards the hall. She wrapped her arms
around his neck and rested her chin on his shoulder.
"I know we can make it together," she said over the chaos
surrounding them. "Together, we will make our fortune. We can
live with my family. Go to school. I can make you happy...I
know I can...I love you."
Jeff just smiled. Was she in for a surprise. How much?
Let's just say, not even Nabiki would be able to spend the
fortune awaiting the two of them now. A fortune he carefully hid
from everyone outside his family. A fortune that had to remain
secret because Jeff wanted, most of all, to marry for love. Only
true love would marry a poor man. Jeff Lawrence had to look the
part, act the part, be the part. The girl had to make the choice
based on his apparent financial status. Nabiki Tendo just made
that choice, and she made it for all the right reasons.
But there would be plenty of time to discuss that. For now
Jeff carried his bride-to-be through the halls of Furinkan High
School to their waiting limousine. Never, in her wildest dreams
could she imagine leaving her high school this way; being carried
from the building by her fianc‚ while all her friends and
classmates cheered and applauded, wishing it were them.
"Don't forget us, Nabiki." Yuka called. "We'll be
bridesmaids."
Nabiki winked at them and smiled.
"How romantic," Akane sighed as the couple passed. "I wish
someone would sweep me off my feet and carry me off to live
happily ever after."
"He'd pretty strong," Ranma chided.
"I am *not* fat!" Akane yelled back.
"Tomboyishly chunky, I'd say," Ranma said stretching.
"Stupid boy!"
"Stubborn girl!"
"Pervert!"
"Uncute tomboy!"
Further conversation' was interrupted by both being struck
on the head simultaneously with thrown year books. Jeff had
tossed one; Nabiki the other.
"Hey!" they both yelled.
"GROW UP THE BOTH OF YOU!" everyone in the hall including
Jeff and Nabiki yelled.
Stunned, neither Akane nor Ranma could think of a thing to
say.
***************************************************************
That's all for Part 1, kids. Stay tuned for Part 2 -
Wedding Bell Blues as Jeff, Nabiki and the whole gang take off
for a Hawaiian wedding. Sound simple? Not on your life. Kuno
and his crazy sister, Kodachi, think the wedding is for Ranma and
Akane and vow it will never take place. The only problem is,
they have no idea where in Hawaii the wedding is going to occur.
Add in a Chinese Panda bear kidnaping, mistaken identities and
repeated attempts on Jeff's life by a jealous cousin who would be
next in line for the inheritance and you have a wedding romp with
a surprise ending.
Part 3 - Honeymoon Hell is just around the corner. Back in
Japan, Jeff and Nabiki try everything to have a night alone.
Will they get one? Not with the help of their friends. What's
worse, Jeff's own shinobi clan is out for his head. Why? Stay
tuned to see. One thing's for sure; they don't make ninja like
they used to.
I hope you enjoyed this. It took the better part of 2
months to put together. [Hey! I work for a living.] The biggest
delays came because I let my 16 year old daughter and 17 year old
son do the proof-reading. (He likes Ranma « and she couldn't care
less.) My Oglala Sioux wife keeps asking why there are no
buffalo in the story. I tried to explain there are no buffalo in
Japan but she insists you can't have a good courtship without a
buffalo. (Must be an ethnic thing. Then again, perhaps that's
why her father thinks I'm such a cheepskate.)
C&C welcome at: sandborn@microlink.net
(Just remember: I'm old and bruise easily.)