Authors Notes: Well you made it to part 4 of this series so that obviously means that you like it…either that or you hate it but you really want to know who Listener is ^_^ Either way I hope you've read the parts that come before this for both series. If you haven't you will be very, very confufled. Oh yeah, while I remember it there is some slight ABBA bashing going on in this fic, so if you're a little wimpy about things like that you have been warned…but trust me people that is not how I fell. I actually like ABBA, they are one rocking group!! Oh yeah one more thing, I hope by now everybody does realize that the e-mail addresses are not real…if not I'll say it again THE E-MAIL ADDRESSES IN THE FIC ARE NOT REAL!!!!! ^_^ Disclaimer: Ranma ½ is property of Rumiko Takahashi. In other words Ranma doesn't belong to me, and I'm using the characters without permission. But I should warn you it's useless to sue me because I have no money what so ever…Oh and this story belongs to me.


Letters from Nabiki part 4.
A Ranma ½ Fanfic by Crikit

From: n_tendo@new_world.com
Date: February 20, 1999
To: listener@new_world.com
Subject: You listen to ABBA?

Okay, I'm scared of you now for one simple reason. You listen to ABBA and freely admit it! What's wrong with you? ABBA is a thing of the past, a tacky thing of the past at that…and yet you listen to them, you have them playing on your computer. Don't get me wrong Listener, you're a great guy, and a great friend…but you listen to ABBA. In case you can't tell I'm in shock here. Of all the people in the world I thought you would be the last one to listen to ABBA, of course that's just coming from my mind's image of you. In your e-mails you seem like a caring and emotional person, so when I try to picture you in my mind I see a fairly clear picture or you…or what I think you look like, and I can honestly say that ABBA is not in that picture! Sorry, I just had to tell you that.

So, you love me, either as a friend or as something else…that's interesting to here. I guess I feel the same way about you, but I'm not sure. I've actually never sat down and thought about it. Sure you have become a big part of my life to. I've told you things about my family, and myself that I would never tell another living soul, but I don't know, part of me still wonders. How can I love someone who hasn't told me a single thing about himself?

Your ideas about what to do with my father were interesting to read. This might surprise you but I wasn't upset when you suggested finding dad a new love, a little shocked but not upset. I wasn't upset for one reason, your right, he does need to find someone else to love. I saw a picture of him with my mother when they were younger, the other day. He looked so happy, so young, so alive…maybe just maybe if he found someone else, he would be like he was in that picture. As for talking to him, well I talked to my sisters last night after reading your e-mail and we came to the decision that you are correct. We do need to talk to him. The only problem is, none of us have the courage to do it. That is why we have decided to ask either Dr. Tofu or Auntie Saotome to talk to him, we haven't decided yet. Akane is leaning towards Auntie while Kasumi is leaning towards Dr. Tofu and until we all agree on who to ask it's in limbo.

The way you talked about Kuno and his family…it's well, it's as if you know them or have been through what they have been through. Of course I have no way of knowing because you won't tell me about yourself, not even you're real name or initials. However, you might say that there is no help for them that they have passed the point of return, but I don't. I know... I just know that deep down within him, there is the Kuno that I once knew. I know what you're thinking. You're more then likely thinking, forget it, he will never go back to the way he was, to the way that you want him to be…but you're wrong, I just know you are. Sometimes he does, he does go back to the way he was. He probably thinks that people don't notice, but I do. I notice the times when he doesn't quote Shakespeare, I notice the times when he doesn't feel like he has to choose either Akane or his pig-tailed goddess, when he doesn't feel that he needs either of them. I notice those things.

I'm sorry Listener but I can't tell you what happened to our mother's. It's just to hard for me to talk about. Besides I don't think Kuno would want someone who doesn't know him, to know how his mother died. You understand don't you?

How did you know about Ryoga, and the others? Did I tell you about them and not remember? Anyway it doesn't matter. I think that they know how Ranma and Akane feel about each other. At least Ryoga and Ukyo do, at times they seem almost happy for them, while at other times they seem lost and confused. It's almost as if they don't know what to do, part of them wants to leave Ranma and Akane alone, and wish them all the best for the future. While the other part is stopping them, telling them that they have to try to pull them apart as if their lives depend on it. I think that eventually the first part will win out, it looks as if it already has started too. Shampoo on the other hand is blind. She can't seem to understand that Ranma doesn't love her. Part of me thinks that Shampoo isn't in love with Ranma himself but with his skills and his power, and if he were ever to lose those things that she covets she would dump like he was yesterdays news.

Tell my feelings to Kuno? I've tried Listener, honest I've tried, but it doesn't work. Every time I get close to him I lose my nerve and insult him or sell him pictures of my sister or Ranma in girl form. What's wrong with me, why can't I tell him? I want to, I really do. Sometimes I have this urge to just walk up to him and tell him that I love him, but I don't follow through. I think I'm afraid, not of telling him how I fell, but of his reaction. Will he laugh at me, hate me, tell me that he feels the same? If only I wasn't such a wimp.

I talked to Akane and Ranma this morning on the way to school. I actually walked with them for once. Anyway Akane thinks she has an idea about Kasumi but she didn't have time to tell me what it was before we got to school. We said that we would meet later tonight and talk about it. I'm hoping that she has some information that will be helpful.

I better go, Akane and Ranma just got here and want to talk…besides Ranma is attempting to read the e-mail.

Ciao…
Nabiki


Letters to Nabiki part 4
A Ranma ½ Fanfic by AKA Crikit

From: listener@new_world.com
Date: February 21, 1999
To: n_tendo@new_world.com
Subject: Re: You listen to ABBA?

Yes Nabiki I listen to ABBA. Is that something that I should be truly ashamed of? I guess in your eyes it is. I could take the time to explain to you the reasons, but I won't. I do not know any reason why I should have to justify my musical tastes to you or anyone else. Just in case you are wondering though I do not only listen to ABBA. At present moment I am listening to an assortment of 80's songs…I think the current song is Listen to Love, or something like that. Hmmm, just how do you picture me Nabiki? If you tell me what you think I look like, I will do the same for you.

I know that I haven't said much about myself, I haven't said anything at all actually. I am sorry about that, I'm also sorry that for now my real name and all that other information about myself will have to remain secret. I have my reasons Nabiki and, one day you will know those reasons, but till then just know that I do care for you.

So you and your sisters are stuck in limbo over who to speak to your father. I have a suggestion to add to the mix, I do not know if this will complicate things further for you or make them easier but please do consider this suggestion. Why not ask Mr. Saotome to talk to your father for you? Isn't he your father's best friend after all? To you he may seem like a person who only thinks for himself-at least judging from what you have told me- but I'm sure that deep down beats the heart of someone who cares for his friends and family. Ask your sisters about that see what they say.

I do not know Kuno or his family. I do however know a family that is very much like them. The hell that they had to go through was enough to drive all of the members of the family insane, putting them beyond reach of reason or reality. They live each day in a dream world, where they are the rulers of a distant land and are trying to rid themselves of all their foes. It is not a pretty thing to see, and I'm almost sure that it is an even worse thing to live. The glimpses of the old Kuno that you might see, are glimpses in the past, to a time when he was sane, when the world around him did not appear that it was falling in around him, when he was safe. You miss that Kuno, I can tell from you e-mails. I wish I knew some way that you could reach him, remove him from that dream world, but I don't. Like I said, I do not know the Kuno family so all I know about them is from what you have told me. It is up to you to find a way to help him that is…if he still wants the help.

I understand that you do not want to talk about what happened to Kuno's mother and your own. It was just curiosity on my part, and you need not pay attention to it.

You did tell me about Ryoga and the others. It was when we first started e-mailing each other, so of course I do not expect you to remember such things. Have you ever considered fixing Ukyo and Ryoga up on a date? They sound like they might have a few things in common, the main thing of course being Ranma and Akane. I know it's an odd thing to base a relationship on but it might just turn out to be a good one. As for Shampoo, you must find a way to get rid of her. Send her back to China, or anything that will get her away from Ranma. It may sound like an evil thing to do, but I feel that only when she is apart from him will she realize what she feels for him. If it really is love well then, it is something that Ranma will have to handle. If it is just an infatuation with his strength and ability like you say, well then she will realize that and perhaps move on.

Just because you can not tell how you feel to Kuno does not make you a wimp. It makes you human. All people go through what you currently are Nabiki, yes even I go through it. But, you will never Kuno's reaction until you try. So go for it, the worse thing he can do is say that he does not return your feelings, and the best thing he can do is say he shares those feelings for you. Once you find out you can work from there.

So what did Akane and Ranma have to say to you about Kasumi?

I best be going, my cursed sister is pestering me. She wants to use the computer to look up some new recipes.

Yours faithfully…
Listener