Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Don't you know it's love ❯ Chapter 9

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

"We're going on the ninth and it'll be for a week, is that all right?"
"We have to go after the eleventh."
"Why so?"
"Why do you want to know!" she yelled, her sharp eyes puncturing into me.
"Because, well, there has to be a reason for not going until the eleventh, otherwise…" I faltered.
"You wouldn't understand anyway!"
"How do you know I wouldn't understand?"
"Because you're a man and a stupid one at that!"
For a moment, I couldn't move. For a moment, Shampoo looked like she would clobber me, then she chuckled softly and turned to go.
I found my voice. "Does this mean you're not going after all?"
She turned again. Her eyes were somehow less sharp now. "No, you fahn-tong. Not at all."

"Welcome back, Herb."
"Hello, ancestor," he replied, looking over the menu, literally. Nabiki's eyes smiled at him over her own. Herb flushed and flicked his eyes back down to the words on crisp white paper printed three times over, in Japanese, Chinese, and English.
"I'll give you a while to decide." Cologne departed.
Herb dared to look back up. Nabiki was busy perusing the menu. Her roan hair, the only thing visible besides her fingers, winked at him like a bare fishhook to a fish.
He did not like the comparison.
"You've been here before?" her voice emanated from behind the menu.
"Once or twice," Herb replied, staring at his own. "Didn't have much, though."
"What, forgot your wallet?"
He ignored the comment, trying to pick out an inexpensive, familiar dish. Plain rice sounded good. But then again, Mint made it all the time, he was getting sick of it. Prawns and honey walnuts maybe?
Yes, that would be good, he decided, looking furtively at Nabiki's winking hair. Why are you doing this? he berated himself. You are not going to marry her!
Though if he had to, he thought, he wouldn't particularly mind.
"Have you decided?"
"Shark fin soup," Nabiki announced, looking up. "And orange shrimp."
"Honey walnut prawns."
When Cologne departed, Nabiki turned back to him. "So. Is it true your friend's engaged to Shampoo?"
"Yeah…"
"I thought so, after she showed up at the party. That might not have been the best thing. Good thing I found that house-repair firm that does quantity discounts."
"It wasn't Mint's fault," Herb stated almost defensively.
"I'm not saying it was, Ranma and Akane wreck the house on a daily basis anyway."
"Yeah, I know. I know."

"Is this okay for the wedding?"
"I can't see any difference from what you wear every single day."
"Does that mean it's okay?"
"Yeah, it's okay."
Shampoo was not superstitious, but she couldn't help noting that the jacket Mint held up was predominantly blue. Bad luck. Then again, it wouldn't last long enough to have much.
She felt a little bit sorry for Mint. He was a nice kid. He wasn't as bad as Mousse and she had taken him to be. But she couldn't admit that. Not with Saotome Ranma to marry and all.

"Hello, Tendo Dojo."
"Hey, Akane."
"Nabiki?"
"You want to go skiing in Tohoku?"
"What the- you'll probably leave me with the bill, won't you?"
"No, my boyfriend asked me. His friend's going to have his engagement party up there or something. He said I could invite some people."
"…"
"Akane? Akane, are you still there?"
"RANMA! SKIING!"
"SKIING? WE'RE GOING SKIING? AND WHO'S GOING TO PAY?"
"NABIKI, BELIEVE IT OR NOT!"
"I DON'T!"
"WELL THAT'S YOUR PROB-" the phone filled with static. Nabiki hung up and grinned. What a lovely life she had.
She hadn't lied- Herb-kun was cute, cute, cute. Of course his piles of money helped, but they didn't dilute his being-cute. And how pleasant and considerate, paying for both their meals at the Nekohanten…
Nabiki smiled to herself and began the walk home.