Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Chained World: The Fall of the House of Kuno ❯ Victory at last! ( Chapter 5 )

This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling, punctuation and the occasional word choice. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!

I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi.

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“ ... so you'd get your `pigtailed goddess', the Tendos are free of all debt, and I disappear,” the bane of Kuno's existence said from where he stood beside his partner in evil, and Kuno slowly rose to his feet, fighting to restrain his need to throw himself over the desk and smash that self-confident smirk from the sorcerer's face.

“You dare to toy with those girls' lives, to force me to choose one over the other?” Lord Kuno whispered, and Ranma shrugged.

“Those are the terms, take `em or leave `em,” Ranma said, and Kuno looked over at the brown-haired girl standing by his side.

“And you!” he growled. “I know greed rules your life, but does family mean nothing to you, that you would keep your own sister from her life's purpose, her greatest desire!?”

Nabiki paled and her fists clenched, and for a moment Kuno thought he'd gotten through, but she simply forced herself to relax, crossed her arms and returned his glare.

“When I need advice on caring for my family, you'll be the last person I ask,” she replied through gritted teeth. “Now, do you take the deal and get one of the two girls you lust after, and have Ranma disappear from your life, or do you lose them both?”

“Lust? Lust!?” Kuno shouted, pounding on his desk. “Nay, but they are the treasures of my life, the light of my world! How can you say that I am ruled by nothing but base desire!? How can you force me to choose one over the other!?”

“Again, those are the terms — take one, or get nothing,” Nabiki said coldly, and Kuno stared at her for a long moment then slowly sank back into his seat.

“No,” he said after time, looking over at Ranma. “No, you cannot to be trusted. There must be some trick.”

“If there's a trick, then you'll find it eventually and be free of yer vow, able ta pursue Akane again,” Ranma pointed out.

He is right there, Kuno thought, looking at the offer from every angle, trying to find the catch and unable to come up with one — except possibly ... how would this look to his enemies? “No,” Kuno said, straightening up. “You seek to besmirch my reputation, to cause others to doubt my honor, to hinder me in bringing justice again to Nerima by offering what would seem to the ignorant to be a blatant pay-off. Instead — is the pigtailed girl a member of the Tendo clan?”

The two plotters before him exchanged glances, then Ranma cautiously said, “Yesss ... she's on the Tendo family register as a cousin.”

Kuno nodded firmly. “Very well, I will be willing to accept her as the sole member of the Tendo clan responsible for the debt, to be put up for auction as is typical in such cases — as a full use debt slave. The rest of the Tendos will be free of all legal obligations.”

Ranma and Nabiki stared, then Ranma looked over at Nabiki. “Well? Yer the brains when it comes ta financial matters, do we take it?”

Nabiki winced, a flash of ... no, that couldn't have been guilt, it was well known that the Ice Queen cared for nothing but lucre. But whatever that expression had been, she slowly nodded. “I'll want to look over the final paperwork before we sign anything, but it's actually an improvement. If all else fails, you — my cousin would be free in as little as fifteen years, depending on how the auction goes.”

“All right,” Ranma said, looking back at Kuno, “we'll take it. Have the papers drawn up and we'll sign `em.”

“Actually, Ranma,” Nabiki said, “Ranko will have to sign them, since she's the one that'll be going up on the block as a full use slave.” Good thing we left “Ranko's” name on the family register after Nodoka found out about the deception, Nabiki thought with bitter irony.

“Ranko?” Kuno asked, bewildered.

“All this time, and you never bothered to learn the name of the girl you've been chasing?” Nabiki sneered, but Kuno waved it off.

“What need is there to name the center of your universe?” he asked, and Nabiki rolled her eyes.

Ranma looked around, then nodded to a door off to the side. “Washroom?” he asked.

“Yes,” Kuno said coldly, “why?”

“If ya don't know by now, there's no point in tellin' you — again,” Ranma said with a shrug and to Kuno's outrage walked into the washroom without asking leave. The sound of water running in the sink could be heard briefly, then the door opened again and Kuno felt his world brighten as the fiery girl of the blazing mane walked out into the room.

“My love!” Kuno shouted, rising to his feet and advancing toward her, only to freeze at a stare as coldly emotionless as arctic ice.

“Let's get this over with and get out a' here,” the redheaded girl said to Nabiki, and Kuno turned.

“So you are still under the power of that foul sorcerer,” he said as a few tears rolled down his cheeks. “But soon, that enemy of all things virtuous will be banished and then you will be free to seek your own path at my side — victory is mine!”

Ranko choked but said nothing, and a cold-faced Nabiki said, “Get your lawyer in here, and let's get it done — I need some fresh air.”

 

Ranma signed the last of the papers and shoved them away and tossed the pen across the table into Kuno's lap. “There ya go,” she said, her voice tightly controlled. “Send yer goons around ta the dojo in three days to collect yer hostage fer Adjusting.” Standing without waiting for a response, she stalked out of the meeting room with Nabiki hastily following on her heels.

Soon, they were out of the Nerima lording government offices and striding down the street, Ranma only slowing her walk to something Nabiki was comfortable with when she heard her panting. Finally, Ranma broke the silence with a bitter laugh. “Incredible — I swear, it's like that man lives in a completely different universe than the rest of us.”

“He does,” Nabiki said softly as her breathing slowed, “one where he's one of the noble samurai of old, or lords now, I suppose, since he's replaced his father. The scary thing is that it'll probably make him a fine lord for as long as he lasts, his need to meet his own self image will see to that.”

“Far as long as he lasts,” Ranma repeated coldly. “And now for the hard part,” she said with a touch of trepidation.

“What we just went through was easy?” Nabiki asked in astonishment, and Ranma shook her head with a forced chuckle.

“Oh, that was hard enough, but now we gotta tell the families what we've done.”

Freezing, Nabiki swayed in place as her the blood drained from her face. “Oh, kami, I'd forgotten about that,” she moaned. After a moment she realized Ranma was waiting for her a few steps down the sidewalk and rejoined the petite redhead. “At least you got some practice from telling Ukyo what you're doing.” Glancing at her companion walking at her side, Nabiki asked, “Why did you tell her first, anyway?”

“ `Cause it was easier — practice fer the main event,” Ranma said with a shrug. Then, her impatience finally getting the better of her, she said, “It's almost dinnertime, let's get there in time ta actually enjoy Kasumi's cooking before we ruin everyone's day.” And sweeping Nabiki off her feet, she leaped to the roof of the nearest house and set off across the rooftops toward the dojo with the middle Tendo in her arms.