Pride Comes Before the Fall

Chapter Three

Friday had arrived.

The Tendo residence had been bustling with activity in regards to the upcoming wedding of Ryoga Hibiki and Akane Tendo.

Nabiki had orchestrated the entire event. She even went as far as to hire several members from the University of Tokyo's Kendo and Karate teams to act as security for the event should Ranma decide to make an appearance at the Tendo Dojo.

Even Nodoka got in on the planning. Genma was pleased to see that Nodoka was starting to recover from the incident with her former parents, assisting with the cooking and tending to Akane's wedding dress.

The wedding plans continued on for most of the morning. By noon, Nabiki hoped that her younger sister would be married.

Nabiki looked at her watch. The time read 11:55 AM. Five minutes before the wedding will take place. She stepped outside of the residence. Three kendoists and three karatekas guarded the gate, while four more of the kendoists and karatekas guarded the challenge gate.

Nabiki smiled to herself. 'Let's see if Ranma can crash the wedding now,' she thought.

"Boss!!"

Nabiki turned to the source of the voice. It was one of her many henchwomen, a senior who ran operations down at Furinkan High School, running towards Nabiki. After ordering the guards to stand down, Nabiki confronted her subordinate. "What is it, Saya?" she asked after the young girl came to a stop.

Saya produced a manila envelope from her back pocket. "I found this taped to my door this morning," she explained. "It's for you."

Nabiki took the envelope and looked at it. The folder looked like something that the local government would use. On the front, the words "For Nabiki Tendo's eyes only" was printed, along with the word, "Urgent."

"Did you see who gave it to you?" Nabiki asked as she eyed the file.

Saya shook her head. "Whoever did left it at my doorstep. When I saw that it was addressed to you, I came here right away."

Nabiki nodded. "Good work, Saya. You may go."

Saya bowed before turning around and left the scene. Nabiki looked at the folder in her hands. She didn't suspect that it was from Ranma, seeing as how she would recognize his sloppy handwriting anywhere. No, this was professional.

Her curiosity getting the better of her, Nabiki opened the envelope and pulled out its contents. It was a folder - city government level.

The subject on which the file was based was of the Hibiki family.

Nabiki casually leafed through the pages, until she stopped, eyes wide. Whatever Nabiki was reading was indeed big. Even bigger than Ryoga's curse and lack of direction. The one sceret that can be fatal to Ryoga is in Nabiki's hands.

Either way, she had a wedding to stop. She turned and bolted back inside the residence.

Inside the dojo, the wedding of Akane Tendo and Ryoga Hibiki was underway. As with the failed wedding with Ranma, the wedding was a Western ceremony.

Akane looked radiant in her wedding dress and veil, while Ryoga looked draper in his tuxedo, with Soun leading him to the dojo in order to keep him from getting lost. A local pastor was conducting the ceremony, with Genma and Nodoka acting as witness, and Kasumi as the maid of honor.

The rings had been exchanged and the pastor was reaching the cilmax. "If there is anyone who has a reason why these two should not be wed, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

"WAIT!!"

The shout, surprisingly, had come from Nabiki.

The mercenary Tendo stalked towards the couple, with anger evident on her face, and the manila folder in her hands as she stormed across the dojo.