Cut Wood, Carry Water 

A Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction by Bob Barnes 

Last Modified 3/01/99 

               PART 2: 

What IS The Sound Of One Hand Slapping, Err -- Clapping? 

- = O = - - = O = - 

Ranma 1/2 characters and situations are the property of
Rumiko Takahashi and licensees. They are used in this story
without permission.

Acknowledgements:

I'd like to thank Susan Doenime, Dave Eddy, Chris Jones, and
Bill Seney for extensive help in pre-reading this and for
giving so many suggestions that invariably helped to make it
better. If this story is better than simply ok, a lot of the
credit goes to them. Thanks folks. 

As is usual for me, much that is correct and accurate in
this story came from helpful suggestions from others.
Mistakes and inaccuracies are all mine.

Any and all responses, comments, suggestions and/or
observations (including flames) are very much appreciated.
I'll try to respond to them all and will at least consider
incorporating any suggestions for changes I receive. Despite
all the effort, I know there are still errors in
spelling/syntax/usage lurking in here as well as possible
continuity conflicts. I've tried, hard, not to violate
canon, but you should know that I have my own ideas as to
what canon actually is....

About usages: 

I write in English and have only a passing knowledge of
Japanese. I will occationally insert a Japanese honorific or
term in order to give a cue that these are Japanese people
and this story could be thought of as a translation, but
it's mostly going to be in English. Since the medium is
ascii text, I've had to cheat a little on typography.
Underlines denote both _bold_ and _italic_ text. An
exception is that single quotes denote interior thoughts
when these are verbal... (should actually be italics).
Asterisks denote sound effects like *bang* and also
languages one or more of the characters in the scene don't
understand such as when Shampoo uses Chinese in front of
Akane. 

     *You really are a stupid and ugly girl, you know,* said
Shampoo. 

     "What did you say?" asked Akane. 

     "Shampoo say she really admire Akane," said Shampoo
with a smile.

     Looking up from her careful study of a Japanese/Chinese
dictionary, Nabiki also smiled and thought to herself, 'I
can see we'll have to keep an eye on Shampoo.'

- = O = -  - = O = - 

Flexibility And Imitation

Imitation is basic to Strategy.
Move to follow the advantages.
Divide or unite to follow the Variations in action.

Hence, during swiftness, be like the wind.
During stillness, be like the forest.
During aggression, be like fire.
During immobility, be like a mountain.
Be as unknowable as the dark.
Move like a thunderbolt.

Take the region by distributing the numerous;
Open the territory by distributing the advantages,
Move with suspended flexibility.

Those who triumph
Know beforehand how to calculate the Direct and Indirect.
Such is Engaging the Force.

-- Sun Tzu: The Art of Strategy
   Translation by R. L. Wing


- = O = - - = O = - 

     The room was dimly lit by the early morning light
seeping around the closed curtains. Akane Tendo was curled
into a tight ball on her bed. Despite her position her face
was smooth and relaxed in sleep and her breathing was deep
and even. Her alarm clock made a tiny, soft click in
preparation for ringing the alarm. At the sound of the
click, her eyes snapped open and her hand flashed out to
slap the button on the top of the clock. 

     'Yes!' she thought to herself. 'And that's how you know
you've gotten a good night's sleep.' She brought the alarm
clock to her face and squinted at the numbers. "Time to get
up, Akane," she muttered to herself. She returned the clock
to the night stand and rolled onto her back, straightening
into a big stretch with her clenched fists thrust up to the
head of the bed. It felt good. It felt so good she groaned
and tightened the stretch even more arching herself up until
only her heels and fists were touching the bed. She held the
position for a few moments and then relaxed with a sigh,
dropping back to the mattress. 

     'Why do I feel so full of energy?' she asked herself.
'Ranma's gone and this is sure to be a hard day. Maybe it's
because we're finally moving on our plan. Things haven't
changed, yet, but they will. Oh yes... things are going to
start being a little different today.' She smiled in
anticipation. She had things to do, and some of them were
things she'd wanted to do for a long time. At least some of
this could be fun. 

     She jumped out of bed and grabbed up her robe and bath
things. As she started for the door the paper on her desk
caught her eye. Picking it up, she reread Ranma's note. It
was sloppy; the characters were badly drawn and many were
sctratched out. In her admittedly biased opinion, it was a
masterpiece: 

Akane, 

I know you are probably mad at me for leaving like this.
Please try to understand. I don't like things the way they
are, and I don't know what to do to change them. I want to
try to think of something that will make a difference. I
don't think you like things this way neither. When I get
back, maybe things can be better. I will be back. I promise.
Please believe me. Also, I haven't been able to say this to
you, but I don't really think you are kawaikunee or much of
a tomboy neither. You can yell at me and hit me all you want
when I get back. I'll understand. Please try to be happier. 

Ranma 

P.S. I ain't running away or nothing. 

     A broad grin lit up her face as her thoughts turned to
their recent training trip and the joint composition of this
note. It had been so much _fun_ being able to just be
themselves, together. "Hurry back, Ranma-kun. I'll be ready
for you," she whispered to herself. She kissed the paper and
carefully folded the note and put it with her books. She
would need it later. She then walked to the door of her room
and paused with her hand on the door handle. Her shoulders
slumped and the corners of her lips turned down. Opening the
door and shuffling her feet poor, depressed Akane Tendo left
her bedroom and trudged listlessly to the bathroom to begin
her morning routine. 

* * * 

     Breakfast was a nightmare. Soun was kneeling at the
table in his usual place, and he wasn't crying. His cheeks
were wet, though. His fists were tightly clenched on his
knees, and his whole body shook slightly. His face seemed to
be carved from stone. His eyes were like burning coals. 

     Genma-panda was sprawled on his back in the living
room, snoring loudly. Even Kasumi's announcement of
breakfast didn't wake him. 

     Akane trudged down the stairs and stopped in the
doorway to get a look at what was waiting for her. She was
very clean and neat in her school uniform. Every hair was in
place as if she had prepared herself meticulously for the
day ahead. Hearing footsteps behind her she turned to see
Nabiki coming down the stairs. She was still in her pyjamas
and looked half asleep. Nabiki was not a morning person at
all. 

     Akane grabbed Nabiki and swept her into a tight hug.
She kissed Nabiki's cheek and buried her face in Nabiki's
shoulder. "Thank you, Big Sister. Thank you for telling me
the truth, last night. I'm so lucky to have you for my
sister." 

     Startled by this display of affection, Nabiki tried to
push Akane away. She'd have had better luck trying to push a
building. Akane tightened her hug and Nabiki began to gasp
for breath. "Akane-chan! Loosen up. I can't breathe." 

     Akane released her hug and jumped back in
embarrassment. "I'm so sorry, Nabiki-chan. I didn't mean to
hurt you. I was only..." Her chin began to tremble and her
eyes squeezed shut. 

     Seeing this, Nabiki stepped forward and hugged Akane.
Her sister needed her, and she acted without thinking. "It's
alright, Akane-chan. It didn't hurt. Don't cry little
sister. I understand." Akane's arms came back up into a hug.
Much more gently this time. 'Why is she hugging _me_?'
Nabiki thought to herself. 'Kasumi is the Queen of Hugs in
this house. I'm the cold, calculating business woman. Is
Akane... grateful for what I did? Well, I guess I don't
mind, as long as this doesn't become a habit.' 

     "Come on little sister. Let's get some breakfast,
together." She gently pulled away from Akane and led her to
the table. They both sat down. 

     Nabiki turned toward Soun and said, "Good morning,
Father. It doesn't look like you had a good night." 

     "We didn't find him. We finally caught that Kuno boy
and managed to beat part of the story out of him. It seems
Ranma left on the afternoon train for Osaka, yesterday. We
found out just an hour ago. We wasted the whole night
running around like idiots." He shook even more as he
thought about this. "That little shit... Ranma... tricked
us. We wasted the whole night because of him." 

     Nabiki felt... relieved to hear this. She had never
seen her father this angry, and had been worried that he
might blame her for his bad night. 'Jeez, it's really true.
They blame Ranma for _everything_! Ranma's right. This _is_
unfair, but at least it lets me off the hook.' 

     Kasumi gasped in shock. "Father! Such language... you
shouldn't talk like that in front of us." 

     Soun turned his head, slowly, to look at Kasumi. His
face softened, just a bit, and he said, "You are correct,
Daughter. I'm just so... angry at that little... at Ranma.
You should blame him." 

     Kasumi looked confused. "But Father, he's not even
here, and he didn't say anything at all, just now. I don't
understand." 

     Soun started to open his mouth to explain when Akane
interrupted. "He's going to come back, Daddy. He promised." 

     Soun's head swiveled toward her like a gun turret.
"What! When did he say that? Did he talk to you before he
left? 

     "No Daddy, he left me a note." Akane pulled the note
out and hugged it to her chest. 

     "Let me see that, Akane-chan." 

     Akane reluctantly extented the note to her father. 

     He snatched it away and hurriedly unfolded it and began
to read. He began to shake again. "Not running away? Not
RUNNING AWAY? That little... liar! What the hell does he
mean, 'not running away?'" He crumpled the note in both
hands as if to tear it to shreds... 

     Akane's voice cracked out like a gun shot. "Daddy,
DON'T!" Startled, Soun looked up at Akane. "Daddy, Ranma
wrote that note to me. It's mine! Give it back to me, now!" 

     Shocked that his daughter would speak to him that way,
Soun held out the note to Akane who took it and carefully
began to smooth it out on the table. 

     "He wrote it to me to tell me important things, Daddy.
He says he wants to make things better and I'm not
kawaikunee and he's going to come back." While she spoke her
face was turned down and her hair was over her eyes, hiding
them. She carefully... almost lovingly refolded the note. 

     "He promised me, Daddy. He's coming back." She looked
up at him as she slid the note into her blouse, next to her
heart. Her eyes were glittering and her chin trembled as she
said, "He's not a liar, Daddy. He promised and I... I...
believe him." She clenched her eyes shut and whispered, "He
always keeps his promises and I believe him. I have to. He's
going to come back." 

     Soun grunted and brutally exclaimed, "Keeps his
promises? What about his promise to marry you, huh? What
about that promise?" 

     Nabiki had just about had enough of this. "Father!
Technically, that is a promise that Ranma's _father_ made."
She looked significantly at the sleeping panda. "Even so,
Ranma _tried_ to keep it... more than once. In case you've
forgotten Father, Ranma was ready to marry a _Duck_, for
heaven's sake, when he thought Akane was permanently
cursed." 

     "This last time, it wasn't _his_ fault the wedding got
blown up." She drew a deep breath. This was hard, but this
idiot father of their's couldn't or wouldn't see how fragile
Akane was just now. "I suppose that was my fault. I'm the
one who sent out all those invitations, after all." She
waited for his response, running a quick, mental betting
line on what it would be. 

     Before he could respond, Akane reached to gently grip
Nabiki's upper arm, pull her closer, and wrap her arm around
Nabiki's shoulders. "No, sister dearest. No. _All_ the blame
for that rests with the ones who decided, all on their own,
to wreck my wedding." Nabiki jumped when Akane kissed her on
the cheek, again. "I don't think anyone else at all deserves
any blame for that. Especially not you." 

     Nabiki was confused, and not liking it at all. She
blushed. 'Why is Akane being so _nice_ to me? Nobody is ever
this nice to me. This can't be happening.' 

     Soun was watching his two youngest daughters as if they
had just stepped off the flying saucer from Mars. Life was
getting just a little too weird to bear. His face and body
finally relaxed and he looked as if he had aged several
years in one night. 

     Nabiki caught Kasumi's eyes with her's and glanced
significantly toward their father and then upward toward the
bedrooms. Kasumi just sat and stared, glassy eyed. The
conflict and weirdness were getting to her, too. Nabiki
shook her head and repeated the looks at her father and
upward. 

     Kasumi jumped as if she had been stung, blinked and
said, "Oh my! Yes... err, Father you seem to be very tired.
Why don't you go up to bed, and I'll bring you up a tray in
a few hours. You need to go to sleep, now, Father." 

     He looked at her silently, nodded and rose to shamble
slowly out of the room and up the stairs. 

     Kasumi, cheerful again as usual, said, "Oh, with Father
and Mister Saotome asleep and Ranma... err... away
temporarily, I've made far too much food. I hope you two are
hungry." 

     Nabiki laughed out loud. Trust Kasumi to be forcefully
normal, even at a time like this. She reached for the food
and began to eat. They'd all missed dinner the night before
and she _was_ pretty hungry. Even Akane seemed to have a
good appetite. Maybe they were past the worst of it for
today. 

* * * 

     'And then again, maybe not,' Nabiki thought to herself.
She and Akane had been walking briskly toward Furinkan High
when the local Chinese Amazon rode up on her bicycle.
Shampoo didn't look happy at all, and Akane hadn't helped
things a bit. 

     "Well, well. If it isn't the Mad Bimbo Bomber from
China," snarled Akane in a voice dripping with sarcasm and
disdain. 

     "What Violent Pervert Girl say to Shampoo? Grr... No
have time for this. Shampoo hear Husband run away. Is true?"

     Akane barked out a humorless laugh. "And which husband
would that be?" 

     "Why you ask silly question? Ranma Shampoo's husband.
You know this." 

     "Would this be the same Ranma whose mother was nearly
murdered by a crazed, bomb throwing Chinese waitress a few
short weeks ago?" asked Akane, brightly. 

     Nabiki jumped at this. "Jeez, Akane," she whispered.
"Isn't that just a little harsh?" 

     Akane didn't answer. She was watching Shampoo very
closely and standing very still. 

     Nabiki was worried for Akane. This could easily get out
of hand. She was feeling a bit light headed as she
helplessly watched the unfolding confrontation. Akane
looked... relaxed. Not a defensive posture. More like the
way... Ranma... always stood during a confrontation. 'That's
ridiculous!' Nabiki thought to herself. 'Still, she's
relaxed. Why isn't she all stiff and angry? Why _does_ she
remind me of Ranma, right now? She isn't even clenching her
hands into fists. I don't get it.' 

     "What you mean? Ranma's mother fine. No hurt by little
bombs at stupid wedding." 

     "You don't get it, do you, Shampoo? That wasn't a
wedding just for Ranma and me. That was a ceremony to join
the Saotome and Tendo _families_. You didn't just attack me
or Ranma. You attacked the families. Listen up, Shampoo, you
need to know this. Ranma is a very nice man, so he hasn't
made a big deal out of this. He takes the business of family
honor very, very seriously and you attacked both the Saotome
and Tendo families. You should study a little Japanese
history. That was an act of war against the most important
thing in the world to Ranma. He's not your husband, at all.
You have made him your enemy!" 

     "Shampoo no believe you, Violent Pervert Girl. Ranma no
hate Shampoo. That not possible!" 

     "You need to listen more carefully. I didn't say he
hated you. I said he is a nice man, and he is. He probably
won't ever take any action at all against you, unless he has
to." 

     Akane paused to give Shampoo a little time to think it
over, but not a lot of time. "I think you mean it when you
say you don't believe me. Look it up for yourself. It's in
all the history books. You Amazons aren't the only ones with
ancient laws and customs. There is one thing you need to
know, right now, though. By the customs of feudal vendetta,
such as they are, it's up to Ranma as the Saotome heir or
his father as the leader of the Saotome family or my father
as the leader of the Tendo family or me as the designated
heir of the Tendo martial arts school to take the next
action. None of us want a blood feud with you or your people
so we probably won't do anything." 

     Akane was very intense and forceful, yet still she
hadn't moved. Now, she took a small step toward Shampoo and
spoke in a louder voice... spoke very slowly and clearly.
"Know this: if you or any other Amazon takes any further
action against any member of the Saotome or Tendo families,
any harmful action at all, the response will be automatic.
It will become a matter of honor for all of us to retaliate.
We won't have a choice. I advise you to think about it." 

     Shampoo was sitting on her bicycle in shock. "Why Ranma
no tell me this before now?" she asked quietly. 

     "Has he talked to you at all since the wedding?" 

     "Well, no, he not talk to Shampoo. Ranma avoid me all
the time since the wedding. Even when Shampoo hug him he not
talk. Just try to get away. Shampoo still not want to
believe. This all old thing from history book. Japanese
people not do this today." 

     Akane sighed. "You forget. We are very traditional
families. We revere the old values and ways. It's not all
tea ceremony and silk kimonos, Shampoo. Don't take my word
for it. Find out for yourself. Please. Think it over,
Shampoo. Please." 

     "Can Shampoo do anything to fix? Shampoo not want this
to be. What can Shampoo do? 

     "I'm not going to tell you." 

     "WHAT? Why you no tell me?" 

     "Look it up, Shampoo. Go find out what the truth is for
yourself. Then you can trust the information, and you can
decide what you want to do." Akane took two slow steps back
away from Shampoo, never breaking eye contact as she moved. 

     "Shampoo, we Saotomes and Tendos have fought common
enemies side by side with you and other Amazons. We have
been allies and close to friends. We saved you from the cat
ghost and that wasn't easy to do. Ask yourself why we did
that. Ask yourself what you want to be to us... stranger,
ally, friend, enemy. It's all up to you. Make a wise choice,
Shampoo... please." 

     Without looking, Akane reached out and snagged Nabiki
by the arm and began to slowly back away. She didn't break
eye contact with Shampoo until they were about ten feet
away, then she turned and briskly walked away almost
dragging a completely stunned and baffled Nabiki by the arm.

     They left Shampoo sitting on her bicycle in the middle
of the sidewalk. She looked... different... smaller
somehow... alone. All alone. 

* * * 

     A block from Furinkan High, Nabiki suddenly woke up and
planted her feet, slamming the two of them to a stop.
"Akane! What the hell was that? Did I wake up living in a
Kurosawa movie today? That was... was... unbelievable! Where
did all that feudal, family honor stuff come from? Talk to
me, little sister. Is something wrong with you?" 

     Akane turned to Nabiki and leaned her head against her
sister's shoulder. "That wasn't easy, Big Sister. *whew*
That sort of thing really takes it out of you... hmmm? You
were saying?" 

     Nabiki pushed Akane back and looked at her closely. She
seemed a bit... well... wobbly. "Akane, are you alright?" 

     "I'll be fine. Just let me catch my breath. I'm sorry.
I was so happy to have that over with that I wasn't
listening. What did you say?" 

     "I'd like to know what you thought you were doing back
there. Shampoo is dangerous, you know. Have you gone crazy?
You've been acting weird since... well since yesterday, I
guess." 

     "I guess it might seem that way, but I think I have to
act differently, Big Sister. Ranma has always protected me
from Shampoo and he's not here right now, you know? Remember
almost the first thing she did when she met me was give me
that Kiss Of Death thing the Amazons have. What I was doing
back there was delivering a message to Cologne. She has to
realize that I'm not alone with Ranma gone like this. I'm
scared, Nabiki. What if they go crazy and decide to kill
me?" 

     Nabiki felt a surge of dread. She hadn't thought of
that. Shampoo was so cute and well... fluffy, most of the
time it was hard to think of her as a potential killer.
Still, she had implacably pursued Ranma and his father all
the way here from China for the sole purpose of killing
him... well her. Anyway, more than a year later she was
still here, and she obviously hadn't given up on Ranma, and
Akane _was_ the main obstacle. Nabiki felt a headache coming
on. 

     Akane's voice overrode Nabiki's thoughts as she
continued, "By the time first period is over, there should
be an Amazon council of war going on at the Nekohanten.
Don't worry, everything should be alright. If they believe
attacking me could start a full blown blood feud with both
families, they may at least hesitate. Ranma is still part of
his family, even if he's not here right now. I think we need
them to worry about what might happen when he comes back." 

     "What do you mean? It sounded to me like you were
declaring war on the Amazons back there." 

     "No. I was letting her know the potential for war
exists and she could start it. Do you think I was making
that up, Big Sister? Every word I said to Shampoo was the
literal truth. I want them to call off the war, actually.
We'll know in a little while if it worked. I need you to
tell Daddy what I said back there. Will you do that for me,
please? He's not going to take this very well." 

     "Well sure, but I want you to tell me what the hell is
going on here. This is starting to scare me." 

     "Only starting? Big Sister, I've been scared ever since
you told me about Ranma leaving. Shampoo isn't all we have
to worry about." 

     "What do you mean, Akane?" 

     "We need to get to school, Nabiki. There's not enough
time to tell it all. I had a dream last night about our
situation. It's like a big jumbled pile of sticks and logs
and stuff that is always rocking back and forth and
threatening to fall over or collapse and hurt people, but in
the middle of the pile like a strong pole or log or
something was Ranma propping it all up and keeping it from
tumbling down. Suddenly he's not there, anymore, but the
pile still is. Things are going to change, Nabiki. I don't
want anyone to get hurt when it happens." 

     Nabiki gulped and stared at Akane with wide eyes. These
were things she had never considered before. Her headache
felt like it was going to get worse. 

     "There's something else: for over a year Ranma's
parents and our father have been using all that family honor
stuff to push everybody around and make us do what they
want. Well, if we are going to do the traditional family
honor thing, then we need to do it all the way. We are going
to have to stand together while Ranma is gone, or something
bad will happen. I just know it will. We wouldn't even be in
this fix if Daddy and Mister Saotome weren't so set on
forcing us to do things while they just sat back and let
things get worse and worse this last year." 

     Nabiki just stared and shook her head in bafflement. 

     "Don't you see what I mean? All that stuff is what got
us where we are today. Daddy and Mister Saotome have got to
get busy and help or we will be in really big trouble. I
think we'll have to force them to do it. People wrecked my
wedding, Nabiki, and made me look like a fool and our
fathers still didn't do anything." 

     "But Akane, this just isn't like you. I've got to know
what's going on." 

     "I thought about a lot of things, last night... all
night long. Wait, Nabiki. Wait until tonight when we'll have
time to talk. Please don't worry too much, either. I have
more to do, and some of it is going to seem pretty odd to
you. Trust me. I'm not crazy." 

     "Please tell me something, Akane-chan. You're really
scaring me." 

     "Hmmm... ok, here's something to think about. Do you
know what Sun Tzu says is the very best way to utterly
destroy an enemy?" 

     "How would I know that? What does Sun Tzu have to do
with this?" 

     "Listen to me and think about what I say, my dear big
Sister. The very best way to totally eliminate an enemy is
to convert them into a friend and ally." 

     "Huh?" 

     "Think about it, dear Sister. Think about it. We'll
talk more, later. We've got to get to school, now." 

- = O = - - = O = - 

     Ranma sat next to a window and munched thoughtfully on
some rice crackers as the train rolled northward through
Chiba Prefecture. Things seemed to be going well, but he
knew from experience how suddenly something could happen to
mess things up. He had wondered if perhaps one way to
possibly avoid coincidental disasters might be to do things
differently. 

     The night before he had done something he had never
tried before, and nothing bad had happened. Normally, he
would have tried to find an out of the way place to pitch
camp and stayed away from people. Walking through a small
market town near dusk he had seen a sign for a youth hostel.
On impulse he had decided to try it. It had been much better
than camping out, and it was fun, too. He had been taken as
just another hiker and had been welcomed by the other young
people. No one had known him and no one seemed to care. 

     After dinner people had gathered around the fireplace
in the common room of the hostel and sung folk songs and
told stories. He didn't know the words to any of the folk
songs and had been embarrassed by his ignorance. No one
laughed at him. Instead, one of the girls had suggested she
teach them all a song that would be new to everyone. It was
an American song she had translated to Japanese in Junior
High. Her boy friend accompanied her on a violin as she sang
her song through the first time. 

     It had been the most beautiful and moving experience
Ranma could remember, and he wasn't sure why. The girl was a
good, but not great singer. Her boy friend played the violin
well, but didn't seem to be a master of it. The song itself
was weirdly happy and sad at the same time. Perhaps it was
the way she looked at her boy friend as she sang. They were
obviously in love and it was obvious the song meant a lot to
them both. The words were simple and they all learned them
quickly. Soon, they all sang the song together... and no one
minded that Ranma didn't sing very well. 

     After, he found himself watching the young couple
carefully, if discretely. 'Is this how people who are in
love, act?" he asked himself. They didn't do much, really.
Just sat and held hands and looked at each other a lot. They
were just... together... and enjoying it very much, indeed. 

     Ranma felt he _had_ to talk to them and finally worked
up the courage to approach them. It had been a fascinating
conversation to say the least. The boy was living in another
country and was home in Japan for a month to visit. The girl
was attending high school in Japan. Ranma asked the obvious
question and both of them told him they believed the long
separations only made their feelings for each other
stronger. The girl added that it made the time they _could_
spend together very nice, too. The boy had just blushed
silently when she said that. 

     The bump and clatter as the car rolled over a switch
jolted Ranma back to the present. 'Those two, Shizuku
Tsukishima and Seiji Amasawa, sure gave me a lot to think
about. Imagine: spending ten years just learning how to make
violins.' Ranma chuckled derisively to himself. 'Yeah, and
how about spending _more_ than ten years learning nothing
but martial arts? Imagine that!' His thoughts ran on,
aimlessly. _Was_ West Virginia almost like heaven? And what
the heck is a "Mountain Mama?" Something very American, he
supposed. 

     As the train carried Ranma further and further away
from Nerima and all his troubles, his thoughts strayed far
from their usual, well worn paths. If his father could have
read Ranma's mind he would have been frozen in shock.
'Maybe, just maybe, there's more to life than martial arts.'

- = O = - - = O = - 

     Nabiki was ambushed and dragged away at the gate of the
school by several of her classmates and business partners.
Akane left her and continued toward the doors of the
building by herself. 

     'From what they were saying to Nabiki, the rumors are
flying already, as expected,' she thought to herself. There
were several clumps of boys who were watching her, closely.
Were they thinking about attacking her since Ranma was gone?
'I've always wanted to try this to see if it would work.
Let's see now, focus on the anger I should be feeling
and...' Akane's posture shifted subtly. Her body stiffened.
Her eyes narrowed and her shoulders hunched while she
clenched her fists at the end of her rigid arms. Her gait
changed to a slow stalking strut with each foot planted flat
and firmly as she stepped off the distance to the doors. She
had read the phrase 'radiated menace' in many stories, and
had always wondered how it was done. 

     Was it working? She took quick glances out of the
corners of her eyes at the groups of boys in the schoolyard.
Was she radiating menace? 

     Several of the boys blanched and turned their backs on
her. 'That's right, boys,' she thought to herself. 'Messing
with Akane Tendo this morning would be a very bad idea. I
think it's working. Maybe I can get to class without any
trouble.' 

     It was not going to happen. 

     "It is the beautious Akane Tendo! Hail, my love, and
know that the Blue Thunder himself stands ready to comfort
you in your hour of need!" 

     'Damn, the one person guaranteed to ignore anything the
least bit subtle. Oh well, it had to happen sooner or later.
It's showtime!' she thought to herself. 

     She stopped and turned toward Kuno. His appearance
surprised her, a bit. Normally one of the best groomed boys
in the school, today Kuno looked a bit... frayed.
Remembering her father had mentioned 'beating the story out
of him' the night before, she looked for signs of injury.
Kuno's face and arms had several scratches and bruises. His
knuckles had recent scabs on them. His clothes were dirty,
rumpled and had a few rips and tears. His eyes glittered and
his lips were split in a broad, manic grin. He didn't seem
to be tracking reality very well, but then he rarely did.
"What do you want, Kuno... sempai?" 

     "Why, dearest Akane Tendo, since the cowardly Saotome
has fled my rightous wrath like the low-born dog he is, I
must, for the sake of honor, gather you up into my loving
arms and comfort thee. Rejoice, my love! You are freed from
the poisonous touch of that honorless sorcerer!" 

     Akane allowed a small v-shaped smile to show on her
face. "Kuno-sempai, I fear I cannot allow this." She stepped
up to Kuno and stood squarely with her feet firmly planted
directly in front of him. The other students murmured among
themselves and began to shuffle away to give them room. A
lot of room. 

     "What do you mean, Akane Tendo?" 

     "I would, for honor's sake, welcome the touch of Ranma
Saotome, Kuno-sempai. As an honorable wife must do. If it
were not for certain... unexpected events... Ranma Saotome
and I would be man and wife, today, Kuno... sempai. You are
insulting the man who will be my husband, and I cannot allow
it." 

     The watching students gasped in shock. "EH? You cannot
mean this, Akane Tendo!" shrieked Kuno. "That farcical
wedding ceremony was stopped! The marriage was prevented!" 

     "Yes! It was, and I know who to blame for that. Come,
let us reason together, Kuno... sempai!" With that Akane's
right hand shot up and she clenched the fabric over Kuno's
chest in her fist. She took a step back and effortlessly
yanked him down to his knees in front of her. She seemed to
tower over him as she glared down into his shocked eyes. She
was strong! Very strong! Her left hand drew up to her
shoulder with her fingers curled up and the heel of her hand
aimed directly at his nose. She paused, shook her head
slightly and slowly clenched her hand into a fist. The sharp
cracking of her knuckles could clearly be heard in the
absolutely silent schoolyard. 

     "Listen carefully. I am only going to say this once.
The Tendo and Saotome families are to be joined through the
offices of a marriage between Ranma Saotome and myself.
Honorable vows and promises have been exchanged by our
parents. The families are united by intent and the wedding
is only a formality. An insult to Ranma Saotome is an insult
to the Saotome family." 

     As she said the word 'insult' she gave Kuno a shake.
Each time she said the word she shook him harder. "An insult
to the Saotome family is an insult to the Tendo family. An
insult to the Tendo family is an insult to _ME_, and I will
not allow it!" At this she drew him up until his face was
only inches from hers. In a quiet, deadly voice she said,
"Do you understand me Tatewaki Kuno?" She let him drop back
but maintained her grip on his clothes. She also let the
fist drop to her side. 

     Kuno shook his head and muttered to himself, "I cannot
believe... It mustn't be allowed... I will not permit..." He
stopped talking and simply stared blankly up at her. 

     As he spoke, Akane transformed her aspect in a
frightening way. She smiled cutely when he fell quiet again,
and in a sickenly sweet little girl voice said, "I
understand your problem, Kuno-sempai, and I want to help
you. First I need to ask a favor of you. Will you help me,
please?" 

     "Of course, Akane Tendo. I would be honored." His voice
was distant as if he were having trouble paying attention to
her. 

     "I think the problem is this: I need to convince you of
my sincerity. I know what to do in principle, but I need you
to advise me on the details. Will you please do that for
me?" 

     Kuno's eyes swam back into focus and he looked into her
smiling face. Something... he began to feel the faintest
tickle of something. In a lesser man (or a more intelligent
one) it might have been called fear. "I will do what I can,
Akane Tendo." There was a faint lift in his voice at the end
of the sentence as if he were asking a question. 

     "Oh, goody! You see, I know that causing you enough
pain will certainly convince you, but I don't know how far
to go. I'd really hate it if I went too far, you see. That
would be wrong... to go too far, I mean." As she spoke her
smile broadened. She seemed to be getting... excited. 

     "Will a few bruises be enough? Do I need to break a
bone or two?" Her voice was getting hoarse as she spoke. She
was flushed and breathing harder. "Or do I need to shatter
every bone in your body and hospitalize you for several
months?" She stopped with her chest heaving as she gasped
for breath. 

     She struggled visibly to keep herself under control.
"I'd like to get started right away, and I want to do a
really good job. Will you tell me? Pretty please?" She let
out a shrill giggle. Somehow without anyone noticing the
movement her fist had risen back to her shoulder. 

     Yes, it was definately fear he was feeling. No doubt
about it. Possibly for the first time in his life the
several warring parts of his mind united in a single
thought: 'BELIEVE HER!' In a voice like the creaking of a
rusty hinge Kuno said, "I... I don't believe that will be
necessary, Akane Tendo. I feel I am completely convinced of
your sincerity..." His voice trailed off. 

     "And?" she asked archly. 

     "I will endevour not to offer you further insult, in
any way, Akane Tendo." 

     "Oh. Well. Fine, then." With a shocking surge of
strength she effortlessly lifted him up to his feet and
released him. He staggered and nearly dropped back to his
knees before he could catch himself. 

     She stepped back and quickly picked up her book bag
from where she had dropped it. She held it in front of her
hanging from both hands and stood looking at him as she
rocked back and forth slightly. He would probably have
something more to say. 

     "Akane Tendo, I must ask you. That... person, Ranma
Saotome. Where has he gone and what is he doing?" 

     "He is away temporarily on a matter of private family
business that need not concern you, Kuno-sempai," she said,
primly. 

     "I ahhh... see. Yes. Well... thank you, Akane Tendo..."
Kuno's voice died away and he stood there, lost in thought. 

     "You're welcome, Kuno-sempai," said Akane with a small
bow. She walked away a few steps, stretched out her arms to
either side and whirled in place a few times looking up into
the blue sky. She had wanted to do this for such a long
time! She felt as if she could float up to the clouds. "What
a beautiful day it is!" she exclaimed and laughed like a
happy little girl. She stopped and looked around at her
frozen classmates. "Good Morning, everyone!" she called out
cheerfully. She skipped across the schoolyard, up the steps
and into the school. 

     It was nearly a minute before anyone else moved. The
entire student body of Furinkan High stood, motionless and
silent, staring in shock at Kuno, then one by one they
silently walked into the school leaving him standing, alone,
in the schoolyard. 

     Nabiki was shocked into rigidity. She stared and stared
at Kuno as her bruised mind tried to make some kind of sense
of the brief exchange she had just witnessed. Akane was
behaving very oddly, today. As she thought about Akane with
her father then with Shampoo and just now with Kuno what
really bothered Nabiki was the breath taking _difference_ in
Akane each time. It was too much to grasp. There was only
one thing about it that Nabiki was certain of: it was very
frightening. She was one of the last to leave. 

* * * 

     It was the middle of the second period when Kuno moved
again. He had been playing the impossible scene over and
over in his mind. Finally, an original thought percolated
through the confused morass of his thoughts. 'Love,' he
thought. 'She didn't use the word even once. She didn't say
she loved Saotome or that she even cared for him. She spoke
of honor and duty. Only that. She doesn't love Saotome! She
must not even care for him! The beautiful and strong(!)
Akane Tendo is trapped by honor and duty in a cold, loveless
union that she cannot escape! She no longer protests that
she does not want this engagement. That slime Saotome...' He
looked around guiltily. Good. He had not spoken aloud. It
would be unseemly to break his promise to Akane Tendo, not
to mention possibly suicidal. 

     "Saotome," he growled to himself. "You've trapped her
somehow. What have you done to her? To her family? Somehow
you have forced her to deny her love for me. This cannot be
borne! Steps must be taken. I must find out... make plans...
take action. Yes! Be brave my love, I shall rescue you! The
vengance of heaven is slow, but it is most certainly sure!
No matter the cost, I shall prevail!" He set out for the
locker room in the gym. He had to wash and dress more
presentably. He was a man with a mission. 

* * * 

     Nabiki was still confused, and she liked it even less
than she had that morning. Because she and Akane were in
different classes she couldn't keep an eye on her little
sister herself. By all reports, Akane seemed alright.
Perfectly normal, in fact. She even handled questions about
Ranma rather well. She just laughed at the more outrageous
rumors. Like the one that had Ranma eloping with the pig-
tailed girl. Akane would not budge an inch from what she had
said that morning. Ranma was away temporarily on family
business. The specifics were no one's concern. He would be
back. Isn't it a nice day. And so on. 

     This would be a lot more reassuring to Nabiki if she
hadn't seen Akane's frightening behavior earlier that
morning. Nabiki waited with dread for a confrontation with
Ukyou, but she wasn't at school. The rumors said she was
visiting relatives at home. 

     There had been three confrontations so far today, and
each had been more violent than the last. If Akane
confronted Ukyou today... well, Nabiki was prepared to
accept a bet that there would be nothing left of the school
but a pile of smoking rubble. It wasn't a certainty, but
Nabiki was prepared to give odds. 

     Akane was surrounded by a dense crowd of girls during
lunch period. She was bombarded with questions which she
handled rather well, all things considered. Those who knew
her well were a bit surprised she held onto her temper when
a few of the more persistant and personal questions were
posed several times. They were so relieved that Akane simply
smiled and repeated, "That's none of your business," that
they didn't dwell too much on her unusual behavior. At least
not then. 

     One topic which naturally came up was how Akane felt
about the marriage with Ranma and about Ranma himself. She
simply wouldn't answer these questions directly, but seemed
instead to be willing to talk until the end of time about
honor and the duties of an honorable wife and the necessity
of maintaining family honor and so on. Finally the people
who persisted in asking these particular questions were
silenced by others as Akane's non answers to these questions
became longer and more detailed each time they were
repeated. Akane handled the inevitable interruptions by
turning to the new questioner, smiling, and continuing with
what she had been saying as if the new question had not even
been asked. 

     In this way, Akane spent nearly the entire lunch period
talking without saying very much. She didn't get a chance to
eat, and neither did her persistant questioners. That
afternoon at Furinkan High most of the girls in the school
were hungry and irritated. Luckily, Akane had eaten a large
breakfast... almost as if she had expected this to happen. 

     Nabiki had been unable to get to Akane to talk to her,
and was also quite irritated, though she had been able to
eat her lunch. She had questions, too, and didn't plan on
being put off as easily as her classmates. She was Akane's
sister, after all. A few of the most persistant questioners
of all had come to her, but were _very_ put off by her high
rates and, after collecting from a few of them, the
information that they would have to ask Akane about that.
Almost against her will Nabiki found herself supporting
Akane's version of events: Ranma is away temporarily on
private family business the details of which were of no
concern to anyone outside the families. At least it was easy
to remember and say. Nabiki was far too distracted to evolve
any elaborate stories just then. 

     Nabiki was in a bad mood already when things took a
distinct turn for the worse at the end of the fifth period.
Kuno suddenly appeared, took her by the arm and led her into
an empty classroom. "Nabiki Tendo, I have need of your
services," he said as he closed and locked the door. 

     "Kuno, don't you know it's rude to yank a girl around
like that?" 

     "I have no time for this nonsense, Nabiki Tendo. This
is a crisis and I needs must enlist your assistance in
rescuing your sister from the ugly fate being forcibly
imposed upon her by that... that... Saotome person." 

     "What are you talking about, Kuno?" 

     "Has your mind also been twisted by his powers, Nabiki
Tendo? Did you not witness the fair Akane Tendo's piteous
cry for help this morning? That... person Saotome must be
located and stopped, immediately if possible. He has
obviously done something... perhaps cast a sorcerous spell
of some sort." 

     "Ahhh... Kuno. You better slow down a bit. I'm not
following you very well." 

     "Yes, well, as you say Nabiki Tendo, perhaps it is not
as obvious to one of lesser mental capacity than the great
Blue Thunder. Or to one who is not the recipient of Akane
Tendo's passionate regard, as I obviously am. Hmmm... in
brief, somehow Akane Tendo has been trapped into agreeing to
this cold and loveless union with Ranma Saotome. The shame
of it must be near to killing her, yet she stands tall with
pride! She will do her duty as the honorable woman she is!
Ah, but even her great strength of will must have a limit.
She says she will do what she must, but I fear too much will
be required of her. I fear for her, Nabiki Tendo. What will
she do to herself, if this is not stopped in time? More
importantly, what will be done to her?" Kuno's eyes were
blank as if his mind was turning inward. 

     "Kuno. Did you just say you are smarter than I am, or
did I just imagine that?" asked Nabiki, coldly. She was
standing with her arms crossed and was tapping her foot on
the floor. For some reason she didn't seem pleased. 

     Oblivious, Kuno continued. "And what of that exemplar
of feminine beauty, the pig-tailed one? If, as you said, she
is even now traveling with that... that... Saotome person,
what unspeakable acts is he performing upon her trembling
body even as we speak?" Kuno shivered a little. A thin line
of drool began to drip from the corner of his mouth. "I tell
you, it fair boggles my mind, Nabiki Tendo." 

     "'Boggling' may be what you would call what your mind
is doing right now, Kuno, but I imagine others would use a
slightly different word." Nabiki regarded the trembling,
drooling Kuno for a moment. 'Well that's it,' she thought to
herself. 'Kuno-baby's gone bye bye for now. I wonder what he
really wants? From me, I mean. It's obvious what else he
wants. Yuck!' 

     Nabiki snapped her fingers in front of Kuno's face.
"Kuno-baby! Come on back here! We were having a discussion.
Remember?" 

     "You may not address me that way, Nabiki Tendo!" 

     "Would you prefer I call you 'Tate-chan?'" 

     "You know I don't like you very much, don't you?" 

     "You are not capable of comprehending just how happy
that makes me, Kuno," drawled Nabiki, insolently. 

     "Grrr! This is pointless. We must to business. Nabiki
Tendo, I wish to purchase your... unique services. You must
find out Saotome's location that I may go to him and stop
this nefarious scheme of his." 

     "Kuno, I don't know exactly where Ranma is, right now,
and that's the truth." 

     "I suspected as much. You do have resources and
abilities for finding out, though. You must use them to
their fullest and learn his whereabouts." He began to fumble
in his bookbag with both hands. "The extremity of the crisis
is such that I am prepared to devote every resourse to this
cause." He withdrew his hands from the bookbag. In them was
a fanned out bouquet of yen notes. It was a lot of money. A
lot! 

     Seeing the money, Nabiki felt an electric tingle run
down her spine that could only be described as sexual. (That
is, it could be if this were a story only for adult reading.
Oh to hell with it. Any kids out there skip this part. You
probably wouldn't understand it, anyway.) The tingle spread
throughout her body as if her blood had suddenly become
carbonated water. Her vision tunneled down until the whole
world seemed to be filled only with the bills in Kuno's
hands. Nabiki moaned, quietly. There were ten-thousand yen
notes visible in that fan of beautiful, lovely money!
Several of them! She could't seem to catch her breath. Her
hands involutarily came up to reach out. She _wanted_ it! 

     "No, this is not for you, Nabiki Tendo. Not yet." Kuno
pulled his hands back to his chest and stepped back. "This
is to be your bonus. When I find and confront Saotome with
your help, Sasuke will place this money into your hands.
Only then. not before." 

     "Hmmm...? Find out where Ranma is? That's not..."
Nabiki stopped talking abruptly as some instinct for
survival or discretion slammed her lips shut. A good
businesswoman does _not_ babble during a negotiation! 

     She stood, trembling slightly and gasping for breath,
as she tried to shake off the lust she felt for all that
lovely, beautiful, yummy... 'Stop that, right now, you
idiot!' she thought to herself. 'You are _this_ far from
being sucessfully manipulated by a stupid, chauvinistic lump
of ego who shouldn't be able to get the better of you on the
best day he ever had!' "...going to be easy, Kuno," she
finally said out loud with a gasp. She was trying to get
herself time to think. She needed to think! 

     "I suspected as much myself, Nabiki Tendo. If a task is
extremely difficult, then one is well advised to seek out
the aid of only the very best to perform it. That would be
you, in this case, Nabiki Tendo" It was a transparently
obvious attempt to flatter her. It was also a mistake. 

     Nabiki's eyes narrowed and her jaws clenched. 'This...
this... turd that walks like a man is standing there waving
money in my face with that smug, superior grin trying to
push my _buttons_! Will he be telling me how pretty I am,
next?' 

     Nabiki just stood there looking at him silently. 'It's
working!' he exulted to himself. 'Beseems the mercenary
bitch shall do my will.' Kuno decided to go on. "It's true,
Nabiki Tendo. All know that your fair face and figure
conceal a truly devious and cunning mind. Just such a mind
as is needed for this mission, I vow." 

     'Kuno, you bastard, you do deserve the very best. The
very best ass kicking available. Ranma could give you that.
Maybe I _should_ find him for you. You'd get creamed!'
Nabiki's mind started to run over possibilities and options.
'Ranma is on his way to Hokkaido and there were only a few
ways he could go... and Kuno deserves to have all that money
taken away from him... and...' Nabiki was falling prey to
the worst weakness of extremely intelligent people. She was
smart enough that she was very difficult to fool... but she
could certainly use rationalization to fool herself, and she
was well on her way when a voice spoke up in her mind. 

     '_I'm so lucky to have you for my sister._' It was a
memory of Akane talking. Nabiki wondered why that particular
memory popped up like that. When had Akane said that? Oh...
this morning at breakfast. There was something else, too.
What was it? 

     '_..._All_ the blame for that rests with the ones who
decided, all on their own, to wreck my wedding..._' Nabiki
tried to mentally shy away from what was coming next, but
she couldn't, of course. Try not to think about a pink
unicorn. More or less against her will, the memory surfaced
in her consciousness: '_I don't think anyone else at all
deserves any blame for that. Especially not you._' Nabiki's
lips soundlessly shaped the words, "Especially not me." 

     "What was that? Nabiki Tendo, I can't hear you." 

     "Just a minute, Kuno. I'm... er... thinking about
approaches to the problem... Yes. That's it. Be quiet and
let me think." 

     "Eh? Nabiki Tendo, you should not address me with such
disrespect!" 

     Nabiki only waved her hand at him dismissively and
began to pace and mutter to herself. She was obviously deep
in thought. 'A mercenary bitch with no manners,' thought
Kuno to himself. 'I should set her straight about that, but
she is hard at work doing my will. I shall let it go, for
now,' he decided magnanamously. 'Truly, Tatewaki Kuno is the
exemplar of nobility.' 

     'What was that thing Ranma said about being at the head
of a crazy parade? I can't believe I almost decided to find
him and send Kuno to him. People would certainly follow
Kuno, and the parade would start, because of me. Because I
almost decided, all on my own, to wreck things for Ranma.
Akane, too, I guess.' Thinking about how easily she had
nearly decided to do this and how she nearly rationalized it
just so she could have the money, Nabiki felt something new;
an emotion she had never before experienced. Because it was
new she wasn't sure what to call it. She guessed this was
what -- shame -- felt like. It didn't feel very good at all.

     Another memory surfaced. It was Ranma speaking this
time, '_Look, Nabiki, you're probably the smartest one of
us, so I know you can probably do this, even though I can't
figure out how._' Almost the same thing Kuno had said. Why
didn't it bother her when Ranma said nearly the same thing?
A good question, but this wasn't the time. Nabiki reached a
decision. One she hoped wouldn't cost too much. First, deal
with Kuno. 

     "Kuno, my father said he talked to you and that you
said Ranma took the train somewhere. What was that?" 

     "Saotome purchased a one-way ticket from Nerima to
Nagasaki via Osaka. Why do you ask, is this significant?" 

     "Of course it is, Kuno. That isn't the most direct
route to Nagasaki, is it? Why did Ranma go to Osaka? What or
who is in Osaka?" 

     "I didn't think of that! It has to be important! I
shall leave at once for Osaka to trace Saotome's movements."
Kuno started for the door of the empty classroom. 

     'Of course you didn't think of that, idiot! I did,'
thought Nabiki to herself. "Kuno, stop!" 

     "Eh? What are you saying, Nabiki Tendo?" 

     "Leave this to me. I have ways to find out what we need
to know. This is what you wanted from me, right?" 

     "Of a certainty. I meant only to speed things up." 

     "It's better that you hold yourself ready, Kuno. When I
find out where Ranma is, the information may only be good
for a short time. You should prepare to move immediately.
You should wait here for word from me." 

     "What an excellent idea. Yes! I shall make ready. When
the time comes, the Blue Thunder shall move like lightning
and strike Saotome as he so richly deserves. Your bonus will
be secure until that glorious day. I go to prepare, Nabiki
Tendo!" Striking what he thought of as a noble pose, Kuno
opened the door and charged out of the room.... 

     ...Leaving Nabiki standing there about to say
something. She closed her mouth and sighed. "And about those
expenses, Kuno," she murmured to herself. "Jeez, I guess I
should be glad it worked out this well." Nabiki sighed again
and whispered, "Are you lucky to have me, little Sister? I
hope so. I sure hope so." She left the room. She had a lot
to think about. 

* * * 

     Nabiki was still deep in thought as she walked home
from school that day. She had waited for Akane, but learned
she had already left. She wanted to talk to Akane, right
now, damn it! Her mind was filled with questions. Very many
questions and frustratingly few answers. She was also
feeling angry with herself. Above all else, Nabiki was
always confident she was in control of any situation, and
today's events had shaken that confidence, badly. Her anger
was partially due to Kuno's near success at manipulating
her, but was also caused by the guilty feeling that she
might not be adequate to handle what was going on. 

     The destruction of Akane and Ranma's wedding had shaken
her. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought the rivals
would attack like that. Oh, she knew they'd do something to
mess things up, but she thought at worst there would be a
bit of fighting, Ranma would win as always and the wedding
would go on as planned. It was the first time her confidence
had taken a blow in a very long time. It was not a pleasant
thing to think about. 

     She had a vivid memory of Ranma in his tuxedo leaping
out to intercept the bombs that Ukyou and Shampoo threw at
Akane. There was no hesitation, no stopping to think it over
or make a plan. He just jumped and nearly got his clothes
blown off by the multiple detonations. To protect her
sister. For all he knew he could have been leaping to his
death, and he didn't hesitate for even a second. Others
might doubt his love for Akane, but not Nabiki. Not after
what she'd seen. She felt a tiny tickle of guilt as she
wondered if anyone would ever love her that much. Guilt
because she was a little jealous of Akane. 

     So. When Ranma asked her to help him, she _knew_ his
motives were good. She had agreed and done her best and it
looked like it worked. Now, though, Ranma was out of the
picture and things weren't at all like she thought they'd
be. Could it be that Ranma's absence put Akane in danger?
She thought about that a bit. If Ranma had thought his
leaving would put Akane in real danger, then he would never
have gone. Take that as a given. Could Ranma have evaluated
the possible dangers and been wrong? Anyone could make a
mistake, but how deeply would Ranma have thought about that?
Deeply enough to want some insurance? How would he go about
that? 

     Nabiki felt an uncomfortable tingle run up her spine.
Of course there was some way for Ranma to insure Akane's
safety! He would never have taken one step out of Nerima if
there wasn't. What was it? Did he assume that _she_ would
take care of Akane? It's not enough. 'He probably did assume
I'd do what I could to help, but he never said anything at
all about that,' thought Nabiki to herself. 'There has to be
something else! Something I don't know about, yet. What
could it be?' 

     Her thoughts drifted over the events of the day as she
walked down the market street that was just a few blocks
from the Tendo dojo. Suddenly she slammed to a stop. That
tingle was much worse. The hair on the back of her neck was
nearly standing up! Akane! She supposedly didn't know
anything about Ranma's plan to leave. She acted like she
didn't know anything last night after he left, but today
she's been so weird! Did she know he was planning to leave?
If she did know, why would she act like she didn't? Could
Akane herself somehow be the insurance? How? 

     She was standing there like a statue with her thoughts
racing at a thousand miles an hour when she was bumped and
nearly knocked down by a man carrying a large box. "Hey!
Watch where you're standing, lady," he said. "This isn't the
park, you know. People gotta walk here!" 

     She glared at him, sniffed and started off, again,
toward home. "Rude people! Really!" she muttered to herself.
As she walked a mental picture formed. It was a composite of
Akane standing a step away from Shampoo and Akane standing
over Kuno with her fist poised to hit him. Nabiki realized
that in both instances the one word that would best describe
Akane was: "Confident." She had been ready for anything at
all to happen, and she had been confident she could handle
it... whatever "it" might have been. As confident as...
Ranma? Damn! There was that resemblance, again. 

     There was something that didn't ring true about the
picture with Kuno. Akane had been grinning and giggling and
scary as hell, but there was something else... Something...
'I'll be damned!' thought Nabiki. 'In both cases, if you
went just by posture and body language, Akane had been calm
and relaxed. Sure she was giggling and posing over Kuno, but
her muscles were soft, not tense. She was standing straight,
not bent over like you'd expect. When she got her face close
to Kuno's she bent her knees, not at the waist. That little
minx was putting on an act!' thought Nabiki in shock. 

     Nabiki realized she was standing in front of the Tendo
gate, and had been standing there for a while with her hand
on the latch. "Akane and I have _got_ to have a little
talk!" she muttered to herself. "She better tell me what the
hell is going on, here." Filled with resolution to get to
the bottom of things, she yanked opened the gate and charged
right into the middle of chaos. 

* * * 

     "But Husband! Where did our son go? Why did he leave?"
Nodoka was standing in the middle of the living room. She
was trying to talk to Genma, human for a change, who was
busily stuffing things into a backpack and ignoring her.
There were clothes and miscellaneous camping equipment
scattered all over the living room. 

     Suddenly he stopped, and turned to look at Nodoka. "I
keep telling you, Wife, I don't know the answer to any of
those questions! All I know is he left yesterday for
Nagasaki on the train. Akane-chan has a note from him that
she can show you when she gets home. Tendo and I are going
to go get him and bring him back. When we do you can ask
Ranma!" He turned toward the kitchen and barked, "Kasumi!
Have you found those matches, yet? 

     Kasumi's voice came from the kitchen, "Hai! I have
them." She trotted out of the kitchen and over to Genma. She
thrust a box of wooden matches at Genma and said, "Here they
are, Saotome-san." She was out of breath and looked rather
frazzled. Shockingly so for the normally serene Kasumi. 

     Genma grabbed the box of matches from Kasumi and
stuffed them into the backpack without saying anything. 

     'How dare that fat oaf shout orders at my big sister
like she was some sort of servant!' thought Nabiki. "What's
going on here?" she said in a commanding voice. 

     "Oh, Sister! Father and Saotome-san are going to go
after Ranma and catch him. Isn't it exciting?" 

     Nabiki was about to ask where Soun was when he strode
into the living room with a backpack of his own in his arms.
"Well, Saotome, are you ready, yet? Let's get going. I'm all
packed." 

     "Uh, Father, there's something you need to know about
before you leave," said Nabiki. 

     "And what would that be, Daughter dear?" Soun was
crackling with energy... almost jumping up and down. He was
obviously glad to be doing something constructive. 

     "Well, uh... this morning on the way to school, Akane
and I ran into Shampoo... sort of." 

     "Yes! Yes! And what happened?" 

     "Um. Well, Akane kind of accused Shampoo of trying to
murder Mrs. Saotome at the wedding and kind of... well sort
of maybe might have started a blood feud between us and the
Amazons... sort of..." Nabiki's voice trailed off, weakly. 

     "W*H*A*T!" shrieked the three adults in unison,
followed a half second later by Kasumi's contribution, "Oh
my!" 

     Nabiki had managed to get the absolute, unwavering,
even riveted attention of everyone in the room. Even Nabiki
felt a little uncomfortable under all that attention. "Um.
It was kind of technical, I think. Akane said something
about the wedding being about both of our families rather
than just her and Ranma. She said that by attacking her and
Ranma, Shampoo was actually attacking the entire Tendo and
Saotome families and then she said something about how that
might be sort of a kind of act of war? I didn't understand
that part very well..." 

     "What was that girl thinking?" asked Nodoka. "This is
terrible!" 

     At that moment, as fate would have it, the front door
opened. "I'm home!" rang out Akane's cheerful greeting. She
was feeling pretty good, actually. All in all, she felt
things had gone reasonably well at school, and she was glad
to be home. Until she stepped into the living room and into
the glaring spotlight of the combined Tendo/Saotome regard.
If you've ever wondered what a deer in the headlights really
looks like, well, this was it. "Um. Hi, everyone. What's
up?" 

     Nabiki put her hand to the back of her neck and stepped
back from the center of the room. She was obviously glad to
be out of the spotlight. Grinning weakly she said, "Hi,
Akane. I've got them all revved up for you. I'll let you
take over, now." 

     "Huh?" 

     "That little thing with Shampoo this morning?
Remember?" 

     "Oh. That." 

     "My dear, dear daughter, tell me it isn't so. You
didn't really start a feud with the Amazons today, did you?"

     "Oh, don't be silly, Daddy! Of course I didn't start
anything with Shampoo, today. Did Nabiki say that?" 

     "What a relief! Maybe Nabiki misunderstood you, Akane,
dear. She did say that..." 

     "What I told Shampoo was that _she_ started the feud
when she attacked the wedding, and it was up to us to decide
whether to continue it or not." 

     "W*H*A*T?" Three-part harmony, again. 

     "Yes, I did! And I also told her that if she or any
other Amazon did anything to hurt any of us, then we'd have
to retaliate whether we wanted to or not. It's a matter of
family honor, after all." 

     "Oh, no no no no no no no... you didn't really say that
to Shampoo, did you?" Nodoka this time. 

     "Oh yes, I did! You could have been hurt or even
killed, Mrs. Saotome... Mother-in-law... any of us could. It
was a terrible thing for her to do, attacking my wedding
with bombs like that." 

     "Well, yes, Akane dear, but that's not the sort of
thing that would start a blood feud. They were very little
bombs, after all. I don't think they meant to hurt anyone,"
Nodoka said plaicatingly, as if convincing Akane could
change things. 

     "But Mother-in-law, how can you say that? Big things
are always started by little things. Ranma defeated Shampoo
in a match. So what? It's a little thing. Then he accidently
knocked her out while trying to protect me. That's an even
smaller thing! What happened? It's over a year later and
those Amazons are still bothering us and trying to hurt us
and they even thought that was cause enough to blow up my
wedding! And so what if they didn't mean to hurt anyone?
Ranma sure got hurt. They nearly blew all his clothes off!
It doesn't matter what they meant to do. They hurt both of
our families when they attacked the wedding. Am I wrong in
any of this? Is there anything I've said that's not true?" 

     "Well, no, daughter," said Soun. "It's all true if you
look at it a certain way, but it's pretty old fashioned,
don't you think?" 

     "We _are_ 'old-fashioned,' Daddy! We do things the
traditional way in our families, right? Things like arranged
marriages? Is tradition important to us, or not?" 

     "Well, errr, ummm... Help me out here, Saotome. You
can't compare the two things, right?" 

     "Absolutely, Tendo! There's no comparison at all. Why
the one is a fine old Japanese tradition that strengthens us
as a people. The other is just an outdated, useless..." 

     "Stop that, you old fool!" shouted Nodoka, insultingly.
She had been pacing and fingering her katana as Akane and
her father talked. She drew the blade an inch out of the
scabbard. "You need to think about what you are saying.
Akane is absolutely right! We _are_ both traditional
families and fiercely proud of it! We hold to the old ways,
even when it isn't comfortable. You may need a little
reminder of what bushido really means husband, hmmm?" 

     "Now now, Wife. Calm down. This is just a little
argument between teenage girls! Children, really. I'm sure
it's nothing to worry about. They'll forget all about it by
tomorrow. There's nothing to worry about. Right, Tendo?" 

     "I'm sure you're right, Saotome! Nothing at all to
worry about!" He looked around as he spoke. Where had Kasumi
gone? "Besides, we have far more important things to do. We
must get going after Ranma and bring him back. We better
hurry! Right?" 

     "Without a doubt, Tendo! I'm right with you. Let's get
going after that idiot son of mine and..." 

     "I can't believe this! One of those so-called
'teen-aged girls' chased _you_ out of China! Tracked you all
the way here and attacked Ranma! Why? To murder him!" Nodoka
was repeatedly jerking her sword a foot or so out of its
scabbard and slamming it back in as she talked. 

     Genma blanched and tried to talk calmly to Nodoka.
"But, Wife... Dear... she didn't kill him! She left
peacefully when she finally learned of his curse!" 

     "HA! So she did, but only after attacking Akane and
doing a few million yen worth of damage to this house!" She
drew the sword and used it to point to a spot on the wall
with slightly discolored plaster. "Didn't that barbarian
smash a hole through the wall right there? Kasumi-chan told
me all about it!" 

     "But... but... Nodoka-san, that was a long time ago!"
said Soun desparately. Things were definately getting out of
hand. The woman was getting hysterical! 

     "Ha! A long time he says. We've all seen her smash into
the house and dojo to get to Ranma! Even since she and that
crazy Okonomiyaki cook wrecked poor Akane's wedding." She
stopped pacing suddenly and turned to Akane. In a voice that
shook a little with sorrow she said, "I'm so sorry about
that, Akane-chan. No girl should have a horror like that
happen to her!" 

     Thinking of what had happened to Akane seemed to
agitate Nodoka even more, if that was possible. She started
pacing and ranting again. "We might be about to be attacked
by a horde of Amazon warriors thirsting for our blood and
you two want to leave town?" 

     Nodoka stopped and looked through the windows at the
outer wall as if she expected the horde to arrive any
minute. "You are going to leave four helpless women to fend
for themselves under a possible onslaught of Chinese
killers?" 

     She strode over to the window. "Hello?" she shouted out
into the yard. "Are there any _men_ out there who would be
willing to help four defenseless women in danger? All we
seem to have here are a couple of spineless cowards." Soun
and Gemna each stood stock still with one hand on the back
of his head cringing and sucking air in through clenched
teeth with a hissing sound. 

     Nodoka ignored them and whirled to face the girls, her
sword blade making a humming sound as it cut through the
air. "Akane, Nabiki do you have any fire extinguishers in
the house? They might try to burn us out, you know." Not
waiting for an answer, Nodoka began pacing around the living
room as if checking for intruders, or something. "Maybe we
should move the furniture in front of the doors and windows.
Are there any more swords in the house? Maybe bows and
arrows? Knives?" 

     The others just stood and stared at her in shock.
Nodoka was waving her sword around as she paced and babbled
about defense and useless men and crazed killers. Soun and
Genma started following her around making patting gestures
with their hands in an attempt to calm her. They were both
obviously afraid to actually touch her in this state. Akane
and Nabiki moved back to the bottom of the stairs and
silently watched the show. Kasumi was still missing. 

     Nodoka stopped, looked at the two men trying to calm
her and snorted derisively. "Useless, I say! We are probably
in danger and what good are you two? Useless! This is a
crisis! We're going to need help. I wonder if I need to call
my brother, Hideyoshi, and... eep!" 

     Genma's face suddenly turned grey and pasty like bread
dough gone bad. "Nodoka, what are you saying?" he gasped. He
dropped back onto the couch as if his legs had suddenly
gotten too weak to hold him. 

     At the mention of that name, Soun's face drained of all
color, his eyes rolled up and he dropped to the floor like a
poleaxed steer. 

     Nodoka lowered her sword and covered her mouth with one
hand. She backed up until she was leaning against the wall
and stood staring at Akane and Nabiki. 

     Akane and Nabiki looked at each other for a long, long
moment and blinked then turned to Nodoka and blinked at her
as well then for good measure turned back and blinked at
each other, yet again. There was a shocked, frozen silence
in the Tendo living room.... 

     ...A silence that was broken by Kasumi entering from
the kitchen where she had been working. "Would anyone like
some nice, hot tea? I've just made some fresh... Oh, my!" 

     "Akane, I think we need to talk. Right now." 

     "I think you are absolutely right, Nabiki. I'm going to
change clothes. I'll meet you in the back yard." 

* * * 

     After stopping in the bathroom to freshen up a bit,
Nabiki looked in on the living room to see Nodoka shaking
with tension as she sharpened her sword. From the ridges in
her cheeks, her teeth were punching holes in the folded rice
paper she was holding in her mouth. At each repetitive
*wheet* *wheet* of the sharpening stone Soun and Genma
twitched slightly as if hit by mild electric shocks where
they were kneeling at the shogi board. Neither seemed to
notice there were no playing pieces on the board. There
seemed to be a complete absence of any talk of leaving to go
after Ranma. 

     Nabiki chuckled softly to herself and left to join
Akane in the back yard. Akane was already hard at work on
what Nabiki had jokingly been calling her secret project.
Nabiki had decided to make a joke out of it because she
still didn't know what Akane was building. 

     It had started a few weeks before the crisis with
Saffron in China as a large pit Ranma dug in the back yard
for Akane to put her broken bricks and roofing tiles in.
Once the pit was filled, Ranma had covered it over with
packed dirt. On top of the dirt the two of them had built a
wooden form and poured concrete to make what looked rather
like a hexagonal wading pool about three meters across with
a bottom that sloped into the center where there was a hole
that would drain into the rock filled pit, if it was a
wading pool, anyway. They had installed a heavy cast iron
grating over the hole. The thing probably wasn't a wading
pool because there were also two meter tall angled steel
stanchions set into the concrete at each of the six corners
of the hexagon. 

     Today Akane was bolting wooden planks to the stanchions
to make what looked like the walls of a small hut, or
something. As usual, Nabiki asked what she was building.
Akane just smiled and said, "It's a surprise." Also as
usual. When Akane finished tightening the last bolt of the
plank she was working on, she used a ballpeen hammer to
round the ends of the bolts and flatten the threads. "There,
that'll do it," she said when she was done. "The only way
that's ever coming off is if someone uses a hacksaw or a
heavy duty bolt cutter on it." 

     Nabiki noticed that there was now a narrow door or gate
on one face of the hexagonal structure. It was made of the
same planks as the sides and hung with heavy duty iron strap
hinges. There was also a heavy locking hasp on the gate
nearly as thick as her thumb. Nabiki noted that the planks
looked like they were about five centimeters thick,
something she hadn't noticed before. "Well, Akane, whatever
this is, it's sure a sturdy one. Come on, tell me what it
is. Please?" 

     "I already told you, Sister. It's going to be a
surprise." Akane grinned a tight little "v" shaped grin that
showed some teeth. "A great, big, fat surprise for someone,
I hope. You'll see what it's for, soon enough, I think." She
lost the grin and dropped her eyes to her hands. Her hair
hung over her eyes as she said, "Ah... you said you wanted
to talk, Nabiki. What did you want to talk about?" 

     Nabiki sat cross legged on the ground and motioned for
Akane to do the same. She leaned toward the what-ever-it-was
and picked up one of the bolts and played with it as she
thought for a few moments. "Akane, I'm really not sure where
to start. I think we have a lot to talk about... don't we?"
She looked up and tried to catch Akane's eye at this point. 

     Akane was twiddling her fingers and staring at them.
This was the moment Akane had been looking forward to with
dread and hope for weeks. She said in a very quiet voice, "I
think that depends on some things, Nabiki. We may have a lot
to talk about, that's true, but I must know something,
first." She looked up and stared directly into Nabiki's
eyes. Akane's eyes narrowed and tightened a bit. "Please
tell me what went on between you and Kuno when you talked
this afternoon, big Sister." 

     Nabiki sat back a little at the intensity of Akane's
gaze and flinched at her words. "Um... so you know about
that, do you?" 

     "Not until just now, I didn't, but the odds were very
good that he'd approach you after this morning." Akane
sighed and shook her head with a wry smile. "So what did you
two talk about?" 

     Nabiki gasped in angry shock. Tricked! Tricked by the
family jock into admitting something she didn't have to
admit. How dare she? How dare she act... so... out... of
character? "Huh? You mean you didn't know for sure that I
even talked to Kuno this afternoon?" It never hurt to nail
things down. 

     "Please don't try to change the subject, Nabiki," said
Akane earnestly. "I need to know what went on. Really." 

     Something inside Nabiki snapped under the strain of the
day's events. Almost against her will she found herself
talking and telling the truth, the whole truth... even the
private, embarrassing parts. The words escaped like water
under pressure and the longer she talked the more relief she
felt. It was the single weirdest experience she had ever
had. "Kuno cornered me, Akane, and told me some crazy thing
about how Ranma had put a spell on you and he had to find
him and stop him. He offered me money, Akane, a lot of
money... cash, maybe more than I've ever seen in one place
before. I... I wanted it, Akane... I mean the money. I
wanted it and I almost... Well I started thinking about how
tracking Ranma wouldn't be all that hard and I nearly... but
then I started to get mad and... and ashamed. But mostly mad
at first and I nearly made a mistake and told Kuno about...
well, I nearly tricked myself into helping Kuno even after I
decided I didn't want to." 

     Akane just listened silently. 

     Nabiki was starting to run down. She had dropped her
eyes and was talking in a hoarse whisper at this point.
"Damn it, Akane! I felt so bad, and I didn't know why. I
feel bad right now... like I want to appologize to you and
cry and I never, never cry... ever." She looked up at Akane.
Her eyes were glistening but there were no tears, yet. 

     "I think it'll be ok, Nabiki. Everybody's been under a
lot of strain, you know." Akane leaned forward and took
Nabiki's hands in her's. "So tell me: do you have anything
to apologize to me for? Or do you just almost have
something?" 

     "Oh... It's just almost. I convinced Kuno to wait and
do nothing until he hears from me and I got him thinking
about why Ranma supposedly went to Nagasaki via Osaka." 

     Akane squeezed Nabiki's hands, gently, and released
them. She sat back with a deep sigh. "That's a relief to
hear, big Sister. So you don't have to apologize to me. As
for crying, well... could it be that you love me and thought
you almost did something to hurt me? Is that why you feel
like crying?" 

     Nabiki grinned one of her trademark wry, sarcastic
grins. "Well, yeah, Akane. I mean you're the only little
sister I've got. You are important to me. I know we don't
talk about this sort of thing much, but I do love you, and
while I'm not sure of the details, I'm just about certain
about one thing: Anything that would hurt Ranma at this
point would also hurt you. I'm right about that, yes?" 

     "Yes you are, big Sister. At this point, Ranma's safety
is really the only thing that matters to me..." Akane looked
deep into Nabiki's eyes and drew a long breath. It was time.
"Ranma is the most important thing in the world to me
because he is busy working to make a secure future for both
of us, right now." 

     "So you _did_ know about Ranma's plan to leave before I
told you about it, didn't you." 

     "Yes I did. There's more, of course, but we don't have
a lot of time. I figure it's only going to be a little while
before father or Mister Saotome notices us talking and they
try to sneak up on us to listen in. You know how it is
around here, don't you, Sister?" 

     Nabiki had the grace to blush at that. 

     "You passed a big and hard test today, big Sister,"
continued Akane. "I think I can trust you and... I need to
be able to trust you. It's a relief, I'll tell you. Keeping
secrets around this house is awfully hard to do, you know. I
can't tell you all of it, now, because we don't have a lot
of time. I'll tell you this... I want you to be our ally and
friend. You do know that it's possible to love someone but
not trust them, don't you?" 

     "Oh... Akane, I thought you were talking about Shampoo
this morning. _I'm_ the enemy you were talking about, yes?
The enemy you were going to... destroy...?" As she stared at
Akane, Nabiki began to realize the size of this thing. She
felt buffeted by her conflicting emotions as she considered
how thoroughly she must have been tricked and... manipulated
by her little sister and Ranma. She felt some anger and a
lot of confusion but her primary feeling was amazement. It
was as if Akane had, finally, removed a mask and revealed a
completely different person underneath. 

     Akane smiled gently as she watched the changes flicker
across Nabiki's face. "Let's say I didn't want to have to
treat you like a potential enemy any more, Nabiki-chan. My
excuse is that we didn't have any choice... there are
secrets involved. Big secrets that we had to keep at all
costs. I've had to do some very... very... difficult things
in the past year. Almost impossible things. One of the
hardest was keeping this all from you. I hated doing it, but
we just... didn't have any choice... at all. If you can come
up with a secure way for us to have a long talk, I'll tell
you everything. Answer any question you have. Share it all
with you. One thing, though: the secrets still have to be
kept. There might be some danger for you if you know it
all." 

     "Would you trust me that much, Akane? I mean, trust me
not to use any of this information?" 

     "Well I really want to. When you say 'use', I guess you
mean blackmail, Nabiki. That's not necessary." Akane sat
very still and talked in slow, even cadences trying as hard
as she could to convey the utter certainty she felt. "There
is almost nothing I wouldn't do for you, if you asked me as
my sister and friend and ally, Nabiki. No, if it didn't
involve hurting Ranma, there is _nothing_ I wouldn't do for
you if you asked me out of love. Nothing at all. You only
have to ask. That's all." 

     Nabiki considered Akane's words. At first she felt
warmed by the utter sincerity and love in Akane's voice, but
then a part of her she sometimes called her 'inner
businesswoman' piped up. 'So what if you showed Akane that
she couldn't trust you? What if you acted as an enemy would?
What would she do to protect Ranma and her? Would she do
_anything_?' A sensation like a slow trickle of ice water
ran down Nabiki's spine. It was obvious there were things
about her sister she didn't know at all. Akane had only
spoken of the sisterly love she felt, and so on. Was she
carefully avoiding mention of a possible alternative? 

     Nabiki shivered a bit as the realization grew into
utter certainty. Akane was a lot of things, but one thing
Nabiki had never, ever thought or suspected about her sister
was suddenly as clear as a light shining out in the night.
Akane was, under the right or wrong (depending on your point
of view) circumstances... _dangerous!_ It was a breathtaking
realization, and one that she'd have to think long and hard
about. 

     Akane saw the change in Nabiki's eyes and decided to
say something to try to reassure her. "You know, big Sister,
it's amazing to me that you, of all people, are only now
realizing what a martial artist is really like. Please don't
be afraid of me. You are one of the people in the world I
love. It makes a big difference, you know." 

     "But, but all those times I... well, made deals with
you and Ranma. Why did you let me do that? Why did he let me
do that? I think either of you could have stopped me, any
time you wanted to, right?" Nabiki was starting to shiver a
little. 

     Akane scooted forward and wrapped her arms loosly
around Nabiki. She leaned forward to whisper into her ear,
"You are absolutely right, my very dear big Sister. And now
you know part of the secret. We didn't _want_ to stop you.
And another part: Ranma loves you, too. Actually, he thinks
of you as his slightly weird big sister. The sister he never
had. The sister he _loves_ having. Along with Kasumi, that
is. He loves both of you. If you just asked him, he'd gladly
empty his pockets and give you every yen he has, especially
if he thought it would make you happy. He doesn't really
understand money very well, and does pretty well without it,
when he has to." 

     Suddenly a small pebble dropped to the ground with a
plop, next to them. Akane looked up and noticed the window
above them had mysteriously opened a few centimeters.
Briefly she wondered what had taken them so long to spring
her carefully laid trap. She put a finger to Nabiki's lips,
sat up and winked comically at her. "But Nabiki, do you
really think we should tell Mrs. Saotome _every_ thing
Mister Saotome has done? In her mood, now, there's no
telling what she might do to him." 

     Nabiki was startled at the sudden change in the
conversation for a moment, but then a wicked grin lit up her
face. "Sure, Akane. We need Mister Saotome and Father to
stay here and protect us. If we tell Mrs. Saotome _every_
thing, I'm sure she'll help us. Do you think she'll hurt
Father very much when we tell her what they let Happousai
try to do to Ranma?" 

     It was all she could to to stop bursting out with
laughter. "Oh no, Nabiki. I don't think she'd even put Daddy
in the hospital for that. Well, not for very long, anyway.
Well, _maybe_ not for very long. What do you think?" 

     "Oh I agree with you, Father should be safe when we
tell it all to her. I'm sure he could explain it to her,
don't you think?" 

     "Oh yes. I'm sure she'll be reasonable about it. Let's
go tell her right now." 

     There was the sudden sound of running feet from inside
the house. Akane popped up to look through the window. Nope,
no one there. She dropped down and quietly told Nabiki, "I
think our time's up. Set something up and let's talk again.
I mean it. We really could talk for several hours, but not
here. It has to be in a safe place. My time is your time so
any time is good for me. We better go in, now. I think
dinner will be ready soon." 

     "You go ahead, Akane. I want to think about this a
little. You are just full of surprises, little Sister. You
do know that, don't you?" 

     "I know I am, Nabiki. I really haven't had any choice.
If all of this works out, I will, though... have choices, I
mean. Ranma and I will be free to choose. For the first
time, ever." Akane then did something she had never done
before. In full view of Nabiki she stood up, pasted an
innocent, girlish smile on her face, giggled quietly to
herself and skipped off toward the living room... 

     ...leaving Nabiki sitting on the ground with a shocked
expression on her face in the gathering gloom as dusk stole
over Nerima. This long day was finally coming to an end.
Nabiki closed her mouth with a snap as she thought to
herself, 'what the hell was that?' She ran over all the
confusing things she had seen and heard in the last few
days. With a sudden shiver of shocking clarity something
that had been bothering her fell into place. 

     It was that memory of Ranma speaking, '_Look, Nabiki,
you're probably the smartest one of us, so I know you can
probably do this, even though I can't figure out how._' Why
didn't that bother her, even though almost the same words
from Kuno had infuriated her? Suddenly she knew consciously
something she had known for a long time under the surface of
her mind. Ranma really _did_ care for her, and the reason
those words, from him, didn't bother her was that they were
the simple truth, as Ranma saw it. 

     On reflection, she wasn't completely sure who was the
_smartest_ one in the family and wryly acknowledged that she
was including Ranma in that exclusive list. She felt warm as
she realized she didn't need to feel jealous of Akane at
all. That remarkable man who had leaped without hesitation
toward possible death in order to protect the woman he
loved... loved her, too. Not in the same way, to be sure,
but love nevertheless. She felt curiously warm and happy at
this thought. She didn't feel any doubt or uncertainty about
this conclusion. The analytical part of her that never
rested remarked, 'So this is how it feels to discover love.'
It felt pretty good. 

     'So, Mrs. Saotome has a brother named Hideyoshi that we
aren't supposed to know about. Damn! I wanted to ask Akane
what she thought about that. It's really a pain not being
able to talk freely in our own house!' 

     On a day of sudden realizations, yet another insight
slammed into Nabiki. She pulled her knees up to her chest,
wrapped her arms around her legs and curled herself into a
tight ball. Ranma and Akane. For a long time they had had to
watch every word they'd said and everything they did in
order to keep this big secret of theirs. The secret that was
becoming clearer to Nabiki. All the time. Day and night. For
months. And she, Nabiki Tendo, loving sister of Akane and
potential sister-in-law of Ranma Saotome had made her own
big contribution to that... well... pain they must have felt
for all that time. "Oh, Akane. I am so sorry for that. I'll
make it up to you somehow. I promise," Nabiki whispered to
herself. Again that analytical part chimed in, 'Is this how
it feels to grow up?' The sensation was indescribable. 

End Part Two 

To Be Continued............ 

- = O = - - = O = - 

     If any kindly readers would like to read any of my
other stories, other parts of this story, or occationally
rough draft versions of my works in progress, they can be
found at David Eddy's web site (Thanks Dave!) at: 

http://nabiki.newberry.edu/DEddy/fanfic/bob_barnes/index.html 

Or you can request directly from me at rbarnes@moscow.com 

Thank you for letting me share this with you.