Fruits Basket Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Neko's Healing ❯ Honeymoon! ( Chapter 16 )

Disclaimer: Nope. Don't own any of `em. Sure do like borrowing `em, though!

 

Someone asked if I'd get the story back to matching the title. Well, there's a few subtleties involved in the title--it doesn't simply refer to the neko's formerly unknown healing ability. It also refers to the healing of his relationship with Yuki; and the healing of Kyo, himself--of his own heart, as he finds acceptance after a lifetime spent as the family's outcast monster. He's got lots of invisible scars that need to heal.

 

Enjoy!

16- Honeymoon!

 

Kyo blinked back at the immensely pleased Matriarch, his mind still somewhat caught in what had been the most enjoyable fight he'd ever had. Ranma jumped up and let out an exuberant, “Yatta!!” Akane glared with good humor at her fiancé as she hauled him back down to Earth to stand by her, a radiant smile quickly taking over her face to match his exuberant grin. Kyo's gathered kin were looking like they thought they were supposed to be pleased, but weren't altogether certain about it... Honda Tohru had her hands clasped below her chin, a smile lighting up her face as she watched Kyo's expression change.

 

Nabiki made certain she got a good, long view of Kyo's face as it went from stunned, to surprised, to shyly pleased...then oddly, tenderly content, as he gazed down on his official new wife. His blood-red eyes were somewhat shiny, as if tears were about to fall...tears of happiness, it looked like.

 

The middle Tendo decided she would blow up and frame a single eight-by-ten of that peculiar, amazing look, as a personal wedding gift from her to Shampoo. A faint, vaguely envious feeling flickered in her heart for a brief moment; she squelched it almost before noticing it was there. Nabiki wasn't ready for a serious relationship yet--she still had too much to do, between keeping her family afloat and getting ready for her chosen career path!

 

The Sohma Neko looked down at the girl he'd just defeated, and was now--by her people's laws, anyway--married to. He'd never expected to actually get married--never dared to really, consciously hope a girl would ever exist who could possibly care enough to even consider marrying him. And now, in just--what had it been, less than three hours?! Kami-sama! He'd courted and married, in such a short time!

 

Moderately stunned red eyes sought his family, almost purely on instinct. He was too full of unfamiliar emotions to take his usual offense at the obvious humor on Shigure's and his Shisho's faces; it wasn't malicious, after all. Pride shown from their eyes as well. Tohru, unsurprisingly, looked so happy for him that she might burst. His eyes found and held Yuki's, the obviously pleased violet-gray gaze helping Kyo to steady the chaos in his thoughts, that was only partly from the jubilant spirits celebrating there. His mind was reverberating with something he'd had all to little experience with--real, solid hope for his future.

 

Yuki slowly smiled, his rare, true smile that reached and lit his eyes, and gave Kyo a single nod that easily conveyed his congratulations. The neko sucked in a deep breath and held it, forcing calm throughout his body by pure, cussed willpower before letting the air back out. Then he nodded back, and turned his eyes back to his new bride.

 

He knelt by Xian Pu with that unconscious feline grace of his, slipping his arms under her shoulders and knees to gently pick her up; being very careful to keep her body far enough away from him that his curse wouldn't trigger. Standing once more, he looked to the Matriarch and cocked his head, question in his eyes. He didn't try to speak; it would take too long to find his voice, which would probably only break and embarrass him, anyway.

 

The neko was still breathing a bit heavily, though he didn't appear to be sweating that much. Nabiki figured the excitement of the fight, and winning it, had more to do with his continued shortness of breath than any physical overexertion, even though Shampoo had looked more than half exhausted by the time he knocked her out. The Neko-ken had its advantages...

 

Nabiki smirked with great amusement as she wondered if there was another reason for his shortness of breath. The next step after a wedding, after all--was the wedding night. The middle Tendo's smirk wend downright feral with wicked amusement, for a moment.

 

Cologne nodded sharply to Kyo and turned to lead the way back to the Nekohanten, the rest of the spectators following after; Nabiki included. The mercenary girl was no longer worried about Amazon techniques being used to take away her memories. Sohma Shigure and Yuki gave her puzzled looks as she finished stowing her camcorder while walking near them, but kept silent when Ranma and Akane came up to walk next to her, smiling in greeting. Akane politely introduced her to the Sohmas and Honda Tohru.

 

Nabiki decided she'd not mention her earlier eavesdropping if no one else brought it up, though likely at least Cologne knew. Realizing the seriousness of meddling in Sohma affairs, the mercenary girl soberly resolved herself to pretending she didn't know anything about the Neko's curse, or the Jyuunishi curse in general. She didn't want their insane-seeming Clan Head to focus unfavorably on her family, just because of her actions! A shiver traced down her spine at the thought. One had to be incredibly careful when trying to blackmail or otherwise control crazy people; they just didn't react the way sane folk did.

 

Nabiki turned her thoughts to wondering if, now that the Amazon formalities were finished, anyone else had realized what that meant for the night. The leering looks Sohma Shigure kept casting Kyo's way whenever the neko wasn't looking told her he certainly knew; by the amusement on Sohma Kazuma's face, he also realized what was next. Nabiki's lips quirked in that devilish smile again, dark brown eyes glinting with amusement, as she looked ahead at the orange-haired young man carrying his unconscious new bride.

 

There was no way he was thinking beyond getting Shampoo back to the Nekohanten. His walk was way too steady!

 

-.-.-.-

 

Back inside the Nekohanten, a red-faced Kyo stared at Kho Lon in consternation as she cackled insanely, rolling on the floor in helpless mirth. He didn't bother sending a glance at Shigure--he knew very well that the inu was in the same state, loudly laughing his tail off at a highly flustered neko. A rather betrayed-looking glare at Shisho got the neko a rarely-seen look of desperately suppressed mirth--that wasn't going to be suppressed for very much longer, by the redness of the karate master's face...

 

Yuki looked nearly as flustered as Kyo, though a smirk was flickering more and more about the edges of his expression. The k'so nezumi would probably be joining Shigure and Kho Lon on the floor before long!

 

Sweet, innocent Tohru--looked confused...though even her eyes were sparkling a bit more than usual. Kyo stared flat-eyed into her chocolate-brown gaze for a good minute, before deciding that he really didn't want to know if she truly understood the humor everybody else was seeing in his situation. After all, it might well be that the only thing keeping her from joining in the laugh-fest was the worry that his feelings would be hurt by it.

 

Just then, he was too damned embarrassed to even bother to be angry that she might think he was that wimpy! He decided he'd better just be grateful she wasn't laughing her head off at him along with everybody else.

 

He couldn't find the will to dredge up a good mad just then, anyway...he was feeling too--happy. It wasn't a feeling he was all that familiar with, and he wanted to enjoy it.

 

A glance at Ranma showed the pig-tailed martial artist was completely red-faced and snickering; his fiancée was red-faced and embarrassed, but also definitely fighting a smirk. Next to them, Tendo Nabiki was grinning broadly--he'd find absolutely no sympathy there! The way she was fingering the bag holding her camcorder, there seemed to be a distinct danger that she'd want to come along and film--

 

Him--and Shampoo--doing...

 

...doing--

 

That.

 

Kyo choked, briefly, feeling his face impossibly redden even more, while his eyes riveted themselves onto that bag. He suddenly felt like every hair on his body was trying to stand straight up, that thought freaked him so badly!

 

Then he let his head drop. He gave a deep sigh while shaking his head, trying to master the nuclear blush lighting up his face; even as his new w--w--

 

--w-w-w-wife--!

 

He again hauled his brain back just shy of short-circuiting, taking deep, even breaths to calm his highly frazzled nerves. Gritting his teeth as he tried almost desperately to keep his cool, he looked down at the purple head of hair once more nuzzled so tightly to his shoulder. The urge to shake his arm free of the near-death-grip Xian Pu had on it was very, very strong; she was so close to triggering his curse, he could nearly feel the <poof!> just waiting happen!

 

Besides...he was starting to lose the feeling in those fingers. A smirk fought for dominance of his expression.

 

Xian Pu had awakened as he stepped through the door into the Nekohanten. Luckily for both of them, she'd not only remembered the fight, but his curse as well--if she'd glomped him just then, she'd have landed hard on her butt on the floor, with an aggravated orange feline in her arms instead of her new Airen. She'd waited as he carefully set her feet on the floor before glomping practically her whole body onto just his arm, ecstatically rubbing her cheek along his shoulder and gazing adoringly into his increasingly embarrassed face.

 

Not that she stopped the rubbing with just her cheek. She seemed to have a creative streak, did Xian Pu; and she was obviously raring to go upstairs and--practice.

 

Kyo swallowed, hard, wondering what in hell he was going to do about the amorous Amazon if she kept this up all the time?! She was one hell of a fighter, so he knew she had to have self-control; but how could he encourage her to use a bit of it--at least in public?! He'd likely die of embarrassment!

 

In private was a whole other matter. He found he was kind of looking forward to exploring the new and powerful feelings she raised in him...

 

...just not in public!! Kami-sama! He felt the heat in his face increase by yet another degree.

 

Nabiki's bursting out in laughter finally snapped a couple others out of their helpless mirth. She, Ranma and Akane left a couple minutes later, Nabiki stating she had a tape to cut for the newlyweds, even as the three of them wished Kyo and Xian Pu well. Kyo was a bit worried; Ranma had told him stories of the mercenary Tendo daughter, and he didn't fancy having everybody in Nerima district having copies of his Amazon marriage! The openly happy smile Nabiki exchanged with Kho Lon kept him from saying anything, though. If the Matriarch couldn't keep Nabiki under control, there was nothing Kyo could do.

 

Tohru helped Yuki haul Shigure off the floor, tears of laughter still pouring from the inu's eyes as he kept both hands clamped to his laugh-strained gut. The sound had only died down because the inu was out of breath and cramping up; Kyo sourly thought the k'so hentai might have actually sprained his gut, laughing so hard. Shigure was muttering between laugh-strained breaths, “...ah...ahaha...please, no more...ha hahhahe...! Oh, no more...!”

 

Kazuma finally got enough control over himself to congratulate the new couple, his charcoal eyes suspiciously bright as he hauled Kyo into a hug--Amazon arm attachment and all. Kyo, getting teary-eyed himself with an overload of emotions he'd never dreamed he'd get to feel, hugged back tightly with his free arm. Kazuma held Kyo away by the shoulders for a moment, just looking into his eyes, letting all his pride in his now-blushing adopted son show. Then the karate master turned and hauled the still helplessly laughing inu's arm over his shoulders, all but dragging Shigure from the restaurant.

 

-.-.-.-

 

Tohru ran up to give Xian Pu a heart-felt hug, babbling well-wishes the whole time. The Amazon smiled back at her, not letting go of her new Airen's arm, and tried not to feel jealous when Tohru shared a happy-teary look with Kyo. The Amazon watched silently when he gave the girl a deliberately brotherly peck-of-a-kiss to the forehead, and told her to scram back home.

 

Xian Pu's smile faded a tad as her new Airen stared sadly after that girl and his family, as they walked out. She studied his face closely, glad when she felt no extra tension in his arm, as if he wished to go with them.

 

Then he turned back to her, and her slight, niggling doubt vanished in the light of his expression. She'd never seen anyone look so satisfied, so anticipatory--and--

 

She giggled; she couldn't help herself. He was so nervous! One glance towards her still-smirking Hiiba-chan, who nodded suggestively towards the stairs, and Xian Pu was dragging her shivery new Airen up to her--now their--room. He didn't resist too much--just enough that she decided it was probably a matter of his not knowing exactly what to expect, and being worried about not...er, doing a good job. Especially with the inconvenience of his curse.

 

She suddenly realized, with a shock like a lightning-strike, that her neko was also likely still worried--at least in the back of his mind--that she might change her mind about accepting him for himself, curses and all. He'd only met her, what--three hours ago? He had no way to really know her, definitely not enough to completely trust her. The Amazon remembered what she'd been told of how people had treated him, for his whole life...especially those who were supposed to be the closest to him; his own kin.

 

His mother...what she had done...!

 

Xian Pu's laughter died under her sobering thoughts. Kyo was very different from Ranma in some ways, while being remarkably similar in others. She'd had time, over the years spent chasing futilely after Ranma, to figure out just where she'd gone wrong with the pig-tailed martial artist. She absolutely did not want to repeat any of those mistakes with her new Airen.

 

She didn't just want children off him. She wanted a true mate; someone who'd be with her, forever after.

 

The number one, most important thing she would have to remember over anything else, she decided, was to treat Kyo like a person--not a possession. Xian Pu resolved to herself that she would treat her Airen like a fellow Amazon warrior, giving him the same respect she'd give to any of her sisters--no, make that the same respect she'd give to her mother's generation. She was the best of her age-group; she'd been brought up to look at least a little bit down on those that were less skilled than her. Her neko had just proved that he was a better fighter than she was, so it would be an insult of the highest order to look down on him.

 

She would not let herself fall into the habit of doing that to Kyo.

 

Giving him a serious look, she led her neko into their room and sat him down on the small, neatly made bed. She closed and locked the door, keeping her movements efficient and assured, instead of seductive. She sat next to him as nervous red eyes watched her.

 

Xian Pu was somewhat worried that, because of his peculiar curse, Kyo might be as naïve as Ranma about--certain things. It was doubtful he'd had any reasonable chance to experiment, after all; which made it fairly obvious she'd be leading in the activities to come. The spark of desire was still obviously in his eyes, though, so the Amazon wasn't too worried. She'd just have to be careful to take things slowly.

 

She stared into those beautiful red eyes as she reached one hand to cup his cheek, pulling his face into a kiss that did a pretty darn good job of explaining to him that there were no doubts or second thoughts in her mind or heart. The eagerness she felt in his response was all the reassurance she needed, that they would make things work out.

 

-.-.-.-

 

Nabiki laughed silently to herself most of the way back to the Tendo-ke. The evil grin on her face had Akane, and especially Ranma, keeping their distance from her and giving her worried looks. She didn't care; she was pretty sure she'd gotten a picture of that absolutely priceless look on Sohma Kyo's face, back in the Nekohanten--

 

An evil giggle escaped her. She didn't think Kyo had noticed the opening in the camcorder's bag--and she'd become adept, especially since Ranma came to live with her family, at the art of subtle picture-taking. She was so hoping that shot took--! Shampoo and Cologne would pay an absolute fortune to have that expression immortalized on film! Hell, if she got to see his face when Kyo finally saw it, she might not even charge them a single yen for the photo, negatives and all!

 

The only thing she loved more than making money, was practical jokes!

 

Nabiki's anticipatory pleasure was interrupted then by an all-too-familiar battle-cry from off to the side.

 

“Ranma! For hurting Akane-san--prepare to die!!”

 

The middle Tendo daughter rolled her eyes in amused exasperation as she calmly stepped out of the danger-zone of the fight-to-be, clutching the camcorder bag protectively to her side, even as Ranma sighed and smacked a hand over his eyes in exasperation. The pig-tailed martial artist was quick to move to meet the Eternally Lost Boy before Ryoga's attack could endanger the girls, his good mood buoyed up by relief that Ryoga hadn't shown up in the middle of the all-important Challenge fight. He would have had to take the baka out hard and fast, then Ryoga would know how much Ranma had been holding back in their fights. That wouldn't do at all!

 

Shaking her head and clucking mock-sadly, Nabiki stood calmly next to Akane, who for some reason wasn't watching the boys “at play” with her usual worried frustration. Little sister's brow was still furrowed a bit in concern, but that could just as well be for the landscape that was about to be trashed, as for the two overly-juvenile martial artists who would be destroying it.

 

Nabiki was mildly startled when Akane actually turned her back on the fight. Rolling her eyes theatrically, the youngest Tendo let out an exasperated sigh and said, in quite the carrying voice and with a great deal of sarcasm, “Come on, Onee-san; let's go home, while these big babies wear themselves out with their playing.”

 

Both girls had to stifle grins at the stereo “HUNH??” from the boys, who promptly froze in place to stare comically at Akane's back. Ranma had been in the process of jumping over one of Ryoga's powerful swings, and had actually stopped in mid-air for a second, before dropping a foot to balance on Ryoga's suddenly still arm. Neither boy seemed to notice their awkward pose as they stared at the girl they were basically fighting over. Their eyes were the size of dinner plates, their jaws practically hitting the ground.

 

Normally, Akane would stand and watch anxiously, working herself into a fury when the boys wouldn't stop fighting when she told them to; forever yelling at Ranma to “stop picking on Ryoga!” She'd usually end up malleting Ranma, sometimes before the fight was even finished.

 

Neither boy could understand why she was suddenly acting like--like--gasp! Like Nabiki!!

 

Before either could corral their one, single wit and find a reason to continue their fight, Nabiki stepped in with a drawled, “Oh, I don't know; I think we should just let them destroy the block. Again. After all, I can collect a fee from the neighborhood, for presenting the bill for damages to them afterwards.” Icy brown eyes drilled into two extremely sheepish martial artists, who were suddenly standing a good ten feet apart as they started fidgeting nervously.

 

“Aw, Nabiki, we wouldn't'a got that far outta hand...!” Ranma spoke with a nervous little laugh, one hand behind his head and playing with the base of his pigtail, the other hidden behind his back. Ryoga was jamming the tips of his forefingers together just below his chin, nodding forcefully in agreement while avoiding looking up. Both were sweat-dropping...trying not to remember some of their more memorable fights of the past.

 

If Nabiki started making them pay for damages, they'd be practically enslaved to her--for life!!

 

Nabiki and Akane exchanged amused glances as the boys walked ever so docilely behind them the rest of the way to the Tendo-ke, Akane stifling a giggle. She was starting to understand her sister better; that had been much more fun than just losing her temper and malleting Ranma!

 

Plus, it had actually stopped the fight! Not that she really wanted to interrupt their fun, now that she'd finally realized it was fun for them...but there was a time and a place for sparring, and the middle of a public street with the possibility of innocent bystanders walking straight into the middle of things wasn't on the list.

 

Once they got home, Nabiki turned a speculative look on Ryoga. Ranma and Akane saw it, and promptly abandoned the hapless Lost Boy to his fate--though Ranma did pause long enough to say a quick, but heart-felt, “Sorry, man! Good luck!” before disappearing. He even looked back once with worry clear on his expressive face, just before he lit through the door.

 

Ryoga stared after them, sweat-dropping, before slowly turning to face Nabiki's now almost predatory gaze. His reasons for being in Nerima this time flew straight out of his head, his newest sense of depression replaced by a very healthy feeling of fear. The two stared at each other for a few minutes, as Nabiki enjoyed the discomfort he was so obviously feeling. Finally, she smiled a disturbing, grimly pleased smile.

 

Ryoga decided it was the scariest thing he'd ever seen in his life. One hand reached to rub the back of his neck as he chuckled nervously, trying to quickly sidle away from her without seeming to run. “Heh--I-I guess I'd b-better be leaving, then, n-nice seeing you again, Nabiki-san--a-heh!--I'll j-just--“

 

His words were cut off when the mercenary Tendo grabbed his hand. “Ryoga-kun...we need to talk.” She proceeded to all but drag him into the Dojo, ignoring his squawks of protest. Ryoga suffered from Ranma's overabundance of chivalry--he couldn't hit a girl to save his life. That was why he couldn't get his hand free from Nabiki's grip; it would mean hurting her. The mercenary girl took full advantage of this “fault.”

 

Ranma and Akane, peeking out through a window, winced in sympathy at Ryoga's fate. Not that they had a clue what it was actually going to be; they just knew that when Nabiki got that Look on her face, it didn't bode well for her target!

 

Nabiki didn't waste any time once she got Ryoga out of range of eavesdroppers. She dropped his hand and faced him squarely, her normally icy brown eyes serious. Ryoga swallowed, anticipating doom.

 

“I've got a proposition for you, Ryoga-kun.”

 

Nabiki sighed and rolled her eyes in exasperation as Ryoga face-faulted. “Not that kind; baka!!” Her foot started tapping as she set her hands on her hips, glaring until Ryoga had recovered himself. Her eyes went hard as she crossed her arms over her chest, her face not giving away any emotion. “You owe me, pork-breath--though not nearly as much as you owe my little sister.”

 

Ryoga couldn't look away from the fire that sprang up in Nabiki's brown eyes, even as the glacial fury that was deepening her voice froze his soul. He began to sweat in earnest, suspecting the middle Tendo had discovered his secret. The world went slightly brassy around him as fear that his entire world was about to come crashing down about him paralyzed the Lost Boy.

 

“I haven't told Akane about P-chan...” Ryoga's breath stopped up in his throat, the fear become a certainty--surely his life was now over! “I haven't told anyone, though I think Akane's about the only person in Nerima who hasn't figured it out for herself.” Nabiki took a step closer to him, getting right in his face. Her eyes blazed even brighter, though her face stayed otherwise emotionless. “I don't know what hold you've got on Ranma's tongue, and frankly, I don't really care--but you are going to stop taking advantage of my little sister; or Kasumi is going to be fixing Sweet and Sour Pork for dinner some night. Do we understand one another?”

 

A weak nod of his head was all the Lost Boy could do in answer. Ryoga didn't want to think about the things Nabiki could do, if he disobeyed her!

 

She wasn't done yet, though. Ryoga felt himself shrinking as Nabiki seemed to grow, putting out a battle aura that would frighten Soun and Genma more than their Master's presence. Hell, even Happosai would've respected it! Her head grew before his eyes, her teeth appearing to sharpen into bloodthirsty fangs, horns sprouting from her head; her eyes went a bright, glowing, angry red. Ryoga would have sworn he felt a breeze whipping up about the two of them, just from the force of her icy rage. There was no heat; Nabiki was generating enough biting cold to rival Ranma's Hiryu Shoten Ha.

 

“Furthermore. I am now going to have my very own personal bodyguard for the next three years. One Hibiki Ryoga is going to take up residence in our Dojo; and he is going to go with me, whenever I ask him; he is going to do whatever I ask him--until those three years are done, or I specifically release him. Are we clear on that?”

 

Eyes big as dinner-plates, a now-cowering Ryoga looked up at Nabiki's improved version of her father's Demon-Head technique, nodding furiously. For good measure, he stuttered out a half-strangled, “y-y-yes, Nabiki-sama!! O-of course! A-a-anything you say! F-f-for th-th-three years!”

 

The Demon-Head subsided, leaving Nabiki with a moderately satisfied expression, though her eyes were still icy with anger. She continued to half-glare at him as he cowered on the floor for another couple minutes with his hands protectively over his head, before she finally sighed with resignation.

 

“I'll get you a futon and a small dresser, you can set up in the storage room over there,” a languid wave of her arm to one corner of the dojo, “and I'll make sure someone escorts you in for meals. We'll see about getting you set up at Furinkan tomorrow. Until then, you stay put, Hibiki! You won't like it if I have to track you down...and I will find you.”

 

With a final, soul-shriveling glare, Nabiki left the dojo, heading in to arrange things with Kasumi. Ryoga didn't even consider arguing about school; his main problem had always been finding it, not any aversion to learning.

 

He didn't move a muscle after she left. The Lost Boy had no intentions of moving until Nabiki came back, even if it took several days. He didn't care if he starved to death; and to hell with his pride--there was no way he was going to make Tendo Nabiki mad at him, like that; never, ever again! The only thing that could possibly be scarier, was--his mind almost didn't dare to even think it, in more than a whisper...

 

The only thing scarier than a furious Nabiki--was the thought of Kasumi finally getting angry. Cold chills chased themselves about under his skin for an hour, after that frightening thought.

 

-.-.-.-

 

I don't do lemons, sorry (not!! =P'''). Your imaginations should be more than up to that task! ::ducking thrown bonbori, then yelling at a certain purple-haired Amazon that this author is not comfortable doing lemons! author then takes off running, with a purple-haired cruise missile in hot pursuit::

 

See ya next cha-a-apte-errrr...! ::voice fading into the far distance very, very quickly::