Chapter 7: Nabiki Tendo Unforseen Consequences In the Tendou house, the relationship between Ranma and Akane was being taken to new heights. Or perhaps, new depths. Akane had cooked Ranma dinner, and made him eat it. "I'd be glad to, Akane", said Ranma. Akane looked at Ranma a little suspiciously. "You're not going to say anything bad?" "Now, _why_ would I do that?" asked Ranma, as he took a forkful of Akane's soup. Akane suddenly screamed as Ranma turned the mindlink on, showing her exactly how her food tasted. "Baka! You planned this!" shouted Akane. She hammered Ranma into the floor, yelling "And don't you dare show me how _this_ feels!" as her blow struck home. * * * * * Nabiki ignored the arguing downstairs and went into her room to make her wish. There were all sorts of ways wishes could be corrupted, she thought. Best to make it immediately, and be specific, and not be too greedy. She slightly grimaced at that. But she wasn't stupid enough to ruin the wish by asking for too much; greed is no good if you can't get away with it. Strange, thought Nabiki. The biggest unselfish wish I'd want to make, Akane already made. So what do I want? I can get money _without_ wishing, and I'm not going to need a wish to get in a good university; I just have to study hard. Besides, those may be too selfish for the wish-granter. Nabiki got an idea, though. It would not be dramatic, it would not earn her ten million yen, it would really not get her much at all. But it would be safe, and it would be fun. Well, fun for Nabiki, anyway. She wrote down her wish, looked it over, and then spoke it. "I wish, without any change in myself that's drastic by my standards, to be the granter and final interpreter of all future wishes made with this wishing stone except when I desire not to do so." The stone grew red hot, and she dropped it into the bowl of ice cubes she had prepared for that purpose, then picked it up and put it back on. Desaix appeared before Nabiki. "I'm impressed. If you hadn't said not to have any drastic changes, you would have been turned into a being like me. So who's going to get the stone next?" "Ukyou", replied Nabiki. "I wouldn't advise it." "True enough", replied Nabiki. "You wouldn't." She walked out of the room, leaving Desaix behind. * * * * * Nabiki explained the whole thing to Ukyou as accurately as she could. "All right, any questions?" "So according to this Desaix person, Ranma's going to lose me as a friend?" "Yup", replied Nabiki. "As long as Desaix is telling the truth, anyway." "And there's nothing I can do about it? Don't I get any free will in this matter?" "What do you mean?" "I mean... I don't want to hate Ranma. I don't like that he's with Akane now, but I still want to be his friend. But you're telling me I _can't_. My feelings are going to go towards hatred, and I have absolutely no choice in the matter, because it's _destiny_ that I'm going to hate Ranma." "I think indifference will work." "Hate, indifference, whatever!" exclaimed Ukyou. A little moisture developed on her eyes, but she quickly wiped it away. "I don't want this. It's not fair! Losing Ranma would be bad enough as it is, but losing him because the cosmic deck is stacked... I can't even wish my way out of this! You just told me that 'destiny' has a special exception which says that if I use my wish on Ranma it's going to be a disaster. A special exception just to keep Ranma and me apart." "I'm sorry, Ukyou. Ranma does care about you. It was a very hard decision for Ranma to decide to be with Akane." Ranma entered, glancing hungrily at the hot okonomiyaki on the grill. "Hi guys. Uh, Ucchan, I have something to tell... I mean it's important that..." His words trailed off into silence. "Ucchan, I have to..." "I told her, Ranma", interjected Nabiki. "I'm sorry, Ucchan!" exclaimed Ranma. "I'm really sorry. But me and Akane are going to be together, no matter who else gets hurt. Nabiki, give me that locket." Nabiki barely got it off her neck when Ranma grabbed it and tossed it to Ukyou. "Ucchan, take this. I hope you can figure a way to use it to make yourself happy...." Ukyou handed the locket back to Nabiki. "I don't want this! I'd just hurt everyone! Keep it, Nabiki. If I... if I ever change my mind, I'll ask for it back...." * * * * * After that incident, Ranma had not visited the Ucchan for weeks. But the idea kept nagging at him, that he should try to talk to her, make her feel better... make himself feel better, even. Martial arts gave him the courage to strike mighty blows with his hands, but nothing to deal with people-to- people situations. Finally psyching himself up to go talk to Ukyou, Ranma headed for the door. "Where are you going?" asked Akane. "I'm going to talk to Ucchan. She's still my friend." "Ranma! You already talked to her." "But I didn't really get a chance to say anything, Akane. I hope you understand." "Okay, then show me why." Ranma opened the mindlink. Akane understood that Ranma did have feelings from long ago towards Ukyou, and that they weren't like his feelings towards her. It really was completely innocent. She felt faintly disappointed at that, since she had no reason to get jealous. But no matter what it is now, thought Akane, it could always become something else in the future. "Go ahead, Ranma. Just one thing." "Hai?" "Keep the mindlink open. I want to know everything that happens." There would be no chance for anything to even start between Ranma and Ukyou this way. * * * * * "Hi, Ucchan", said Ranma as he entered. "Long time no see", replied Ukyou. "I'm here, to, uh..." "Say goodbye?" "Well, not really... just to say that I'm sorry... and to explain everything myself, not through Nabiki." << Why don't you say goodbye? >> asked Akane. << Akane... I'm trying to be nice to her. >> "Ran-chan..." said Ukyou, and hugged him, crying. "Ah, er, you don't have to..." << Get her off of you. >> commanded Akane. << It's not what it looks like! You _know_ that, you're in my mind! >> << She's trying to separate us. It's better if you don't let it go any farther. You said you're sorry. You can come back now. >> Ranma rapidly disentangled himself from Ukyou. "Ucchan, I have to go. Akane wants me at home, now." "What? Oh, would you like some okonomiyaki? To go." "Yes, I'll..." Akane's voice shouted into his mind. << No, you don't. >> "No, forget that. I'm not hungry. Got to go, see you." * * * * * "And *that's* for wanting to eat her food." said Akane as she hit Ranma again. "No, I didn't!" "I could tell! I was in your mind. I _know_ you think Ukyou's food is the best you've ever tasted. You can't lie any more, Ranma...." * * * * * "Hello, Nabiki." said Ukyou as Nabiki walked into the restaurant. "Hi, Ukyou. Akane's cooking today, so I decided I'd go pick up a bite here." "Akane's... Nabiki, you're the first person I've seen from the Tendo Dojo for months. Could you tell me what's going on there? Ran-chan never comes here any more. "Well, they're, uh, doing their best to try to get along. They're going to have the wedding after they graduate high school. Dad and Mom and Mr. Saotome were really insistent about that." "What do you mean their best?" "How much do you want to pay me for that information?" "Nothing, I'm going to go visit." "Wait, Ukyou. Don't. You may end up making it worse." "_What_ are you talking about? Is something wrong?" Ukyou ran out. Great, thought Nabiki. The argument should be about over now, but if Ukyou appeared, it could all start up again. She paid Konatsu for the food and decided to eat; there was no way she could get home faster than someone with the speed of a martial artist. * * * * * Ukyou rang the bell, to be greeted by Kasumi. "Kasumi? Is Ranma here?" "No, I'm afraid he's temporarily busy. Would you like some tea?" "No, Kasumi, I want to see Ran-chan." Kasumi smiled emptily and pointed Ukyou to the dojo. "They're really very energetic." Ukyou slid the doors of the dojo open. Ranma was sitting in the corner on a mat, with several bruises on him. Akane was holding a table above her head, and as Ukyou watched she swung it at Ranma, so hard that pieces broke off each time she hit him. By now the table was barely a tabletop with one leg and three corners. "I worked hard to knit those gloves! Even if they do have twelve fingers, that's no reason to throw them out!" cried Akane as she walloped Ranma on the head with the table, adding a lump. Ranma didn't even try to defend himself. "Akane, I wasn't going to throw them out!" "Yes, you were! I saw it in your mind! You thought they were ugly and a monstrosity and that you were going to put them in the trash and pretend to lose them. If I hadn't asked you to show me what you were thinking, you would have done it and I would have never known!" "Ran-chan!" yelled Ukyou. "What... what's going on?" Ranma looked at Ukyou. "Ucchan, please... *ow* Leave us alone." Another lump grew on his head as Akane hit him again with the table. "No! Come on with me, Ranma. You don't have to let her push you around like that." Akane finally noticed Ukyou. "I can't believe you're still trying to get close to Ranma. Don't you understand? It's destiny. You can't stop it. That's why I didn't want Ranma visiting you any more. He has to sacrifice you to make our relationship work. Now leave us alone." Ukyou walked closer, and tugged at Ranma's sleeve. But Ranma stayed in place. "No, Ucchan, I can't come. I love Akane and I can't disappoint her by coming with *ow* you." "I... see." said Ukyou, and slowly walked out. * * * * * Nabiki greeted Ukyou as she entered. "Hello, Ukyou, I warned you." "Oh, god, I didn't understand. It's not _me_ that would keep me from being Ranma's friend, it's Akane. _That's_ what Desaix meant. But I don't understand. Desaix said they'd be in love. I hoped that Ranma could at least be happy even if I couldn't be there for him." "They are in love. Haven't you ever heard of a dysfunctional relationship? And Desaix never said 'happy'. I messed up, Ukyou. I gave Ranma the wording for that wish." "You didn't do... _that_. Don't blame yourself, Nabiki. But if you want to make up for this, there's one thing... please...?" "You want your wish now, right?" "I want my wish. And I want you to tell me how to avoid the special exception which says that I can't use the wish on Ranma." "That's all? It'll cost you for the advice." Ukyou sputtered. Nabiki continued. "This soda is free." She didn't feel like charging for _this_ advice, but didn't feel right asking for nothing at all. "Oh.", said Ukyou. "Well, it's really simple", explained Nabiki. That clause only works if you make the wish. So you have to find someone else who has a wish, and trade wishes with them. You make the wish that they want, and they make the wish that you want." Ukyou looked around for Konatsu, but he was in the back washing dishes. "Not Konatsu. Ryouga." "Ryouga? But he got his wish." "No, he didn't. Tsubasa got a wish. Ryouga just threw the stone away without trying for a wish of his own. And I just happen to have heard some news. A strong boy wearing a bandanna just saved a village three kilometers north of here from a dangerous bull. He took off for the south, claiming he was trying to find the ocean so he could swim back to Japan. I'd expect him to turn up in another day or so." * * * * * The next day, Ryouga arrived in Nerima after being lost, as usual, for several months. Nabiki dragged him to Ucchan's, and explained everything to him, with Ukyou listening. "Akane is so sweet! How dare Ranma treat her like that?" said Ryouga. "Never mind that", said Ukyou. "Will you do it?" Ryouga nodded. He'd never quite admit it to himself, but he did realize deep down that Akane did occasionally have bouts of temper and that everything wasn't always Ranma's fault. And he was very trusting of almost everyone except Ranma, so he was quite willing to go along. "What's _your_ wish, Ryouga?" asked Nabiki. "I..." Got to think of something, thought Ryouga. "My sense of direction, and my family's." Nabiki prompted Ukyou, and she repeated the words. "I wish that Ryouga's family gain a normal sense of direction", she said, while holding the locket. The locket suddenly glowed, and got hot. And stayed that way. Ukyou dropped it, and then quickly picked it up and put it in her pocket, where it was no longer in direct contact with her flesh. "Something's wrong!" said Ukyou. Ryouga looked at Nabiki with a little suspicion. Nabiki remained calm. "Of course... I see now. I understand what happened. We have to go to the woods and dig. I'll show you where. And everything should still work out...." * * * * * The trip to the forest was uneventful. Nabiki chose a mound of dirt that looked like almost any other part of the forest. Ryouga, on her orders, used the breaking point technique on the ground, causing it to explode, a brass lamp flying out. Ryouga and Ukyou stood in suspense as Nabiki rubbed the lamp. Out came a puff of smoke, and from it appeared two ethereal figures. And both figures seemed very familiar.... Mousse and Shampoo. No, not Shampoo, just a woman who looked similar. Mousse was not wearing his glasses, and seemed to know exactly where he stood and who he was looking at. "Thank you, Nabiki", said Mousse. "I never died when I made my wish. I met my guardian angel, and became one myself. Right, Angel?" The woman bowed to Nabiki, and Mousse continued. "I'll explain it for the others, Nabiki. Of course you know the whole explanation, already. I was going to help Ranma. But Desaix imprisoned me. It was _your_ wish, Nabiki, that saved me. You realized there are limits to greed, and so you wished for something you thought was trivial and quirky instead. You wanted to grant wishes. Well, for you to grant wishes, Angel and I have to give you the ability, which meant you had to find us, which meant you had to free us. "Desaix has been around a long time. Ever since Ranma arrived in Japan. He had tried to put Ranma and Akane together lots of times in the past. That's why, for instance, you, Ukyou, never got a chance to tell Ranma's mother that you're his fiancee. And it's why, when the principal came from Hawaii and started cutting people's hair off, he never noticed your hair--Desaix made sure he didn't, so that the situation would have Ranma rescuing Akane and working with her, not with you." Mousse and the woman each took one of Nabiki's hands, and their hands glowed, the glow spreading to her. The woman looked at her and said "you can now grant future wishes from the stone, Nabiki, and you will always know enough to grant them knowledgeably. And there will be no other changes in you that you don't want. Go ahead." It's so simple, thought Nabiki. Well, simple once she was given the power. First, Ukyou's wish. She concentrated, and Ryouga and his family now all had a normal sense of direction. And without any twisting like Desaix would do (not that Desaix had to twist Ranma's wish anyway); a wish like that could have turned them into frogs, which after all do have a normal sense of direction. The locket cooled down and stopped glowing. Nabiki took the locket from its position halfway in Ukyou's pocket and handed it and a piece of paper to Ryouga. Ryouga, true to his word, read off the wish: "I wish that Ukyou's wish would come true, while otherwise being considered to be mine." The locket glowed again, and magic flowed through Nabiki's head. She commanded the wish to work straightforwardly, but made sure to specify that she also got to interpret Ukyou's sub-wish. Just in case she badly misjudged Ukyou and Ukyou wished for something like mind control or killing Akane. "Okay, Ukyou, what is it?", asked Nabiki. "You wanted to do something about this situation. What Desaix said, that your wishes about Ranma must go bad, doesn't count, since this is technically Ryouga's wish, not yours. But it can still go bad normally if you mess up. Think wisely; you can change destiny, and you may have to. If you want some advice on what to wish for, you can ask me or Mousse or Angel." "No, Nabiki, that's all right. I wish...."