"Nabiki's Heartache Part 2 A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction by Ryo Oki ryo_oki@pacbell.net Disclaimer: Beware anime and fanfic in-jokes inbound. Kasumi stood on the ladder outside her sister Nabiki's room in shock. She had just heard her sister declare her love for Ranma, her younger sister Akane's fiancee, and Ranma seemed to return this love. This was most improper. She would have to say something, but as she was about to speak she notices Nabiki and Ranma lean back on her bed and began to...umm... "make out" she believed it was called. Shocked, the only thing that came out of her mouth was a rather loud "OH MY!!" Both Nabiki and Ranma were shocked by the voice and in their haste to sit up rolled off the bed and ended up on the floor on top of each other. "Umm", Ranma replied coherently. "Really Ranma, I know you care for me, but you think we should be doing this in front of Kasumi?", Nabiki said in hopes of teasing both Kasumi and her new boyfriend. Kasumi managed to climb in through the window with some dignity as Ranma rolled off of Nabiki and both of them looked at Kasumi sheepishly. "Nabiki...Ranma... What are you doing??... No never mind, why are you doing that??? What about Akane??", Kasumi managed to stammer out trying to keep the frustration she was feeling inside from showing. "Sit down Kasumi, this may take a while.", said Nabiki as she pulled out her desk chair and motioned Kasumi over too it. "Now as for how long it took us to fall in love, or care for each other, as Ranma puts it, I really can not say, but we began to be friends and get closer about 10 months ago." "And we actually have you to thank for it.", Ranma concluded Nabiki's statement. "What did I do?", asked Kasumi. "Well it all started when...", Ranma's voice faded out Ranma sat at his desk in class frustrated. It had been a month since the failed wedding and Akane seemed to be getting madder and madder at him more often. He was trying to be polite. He hadn't even called her an uncute tomboy in a week, even when he sparred with her. The trouble was that both of them were really behind in their schoolwork because of Jusendo and the wedding. He really didn't care that much, but Akane seemed to, so he tried in the hopes that she would at least smile at him once. It beat being hit over the head with a mallet, or being called a pervert, or.... "Ranma... Are you listening to me?", a voice called out causing him to end his introspective thoughts... A rare occurrence some would say. He looked up and saw an empty classroom and Akane standing over him looking annoyed at him. "Well are you coming to Lunch or are you going to sit their all day?", she asked. "Food", his brain thought, and he was out the window with his "loving" fiancee in his arms. She was about to mallet him for grabbing her so close when they both noticed, along with several other students as well, Nabiki yelling at the tops of her lungs at Kuno and the cheerleader Mariko next to him. Nabiki never yelled, she never even seemed to get upset, but now she had two people almost cringing away from her in fear as she practically screamed at them. Nabiki seemed to have finished and the objects of her ire could only stare at each other in confusion, along with the rest of the students who happened to be watching. Both of them tried talking to Nabiki, but the glare she gave them told them that she wanted to be left alone and may the gods have pity on those who disturbed her. Later that evening Ranma was walking toward the kitchen to have a "small" snack when he heard what he thought were quiet sobs coming from behind Nabiki's door. It sounded like she was mumbling insults at someone, but he couldn't tell. He was tempted to knock but considering how angry she seemed to be earlier he instead settled for peering into the keyhole in her door to make sure she was physically alright. He could see her at her desk. She was holding what looked like a pair of tickets for something and was looking at them almost with a forlorn expression on her face. Ranma's mother Nodoka chose this moment to step out of one of the guest rooms and saw her son looking through the keyhole of what she knew was Nabiki's room. "He's so manly.", she thought. "I wonder if he peeps on his fiancee and Kasumi as well. Maybe he'll take them as mistresses when he marries Akane." She then quietly reentered the guest room with visions of many grandchildren dancing in her head. Ranma decided he did not know how to help her, but maybe Kasumi could do something. He found her in the living room downstairs relaxing after cooking dinner for everyone. "Kasumi, I think you should go check up on Nabiki. I think she is upset at something.", he said. "Oh my what's wrong?", she asked. "I'm not sure, but today she yelled at Kuno in front on the whole school and just now I was passing by her room and I thought I heard her crying.", he said. "She did seem awfully quiet earlier, but she said nothing was wrong when I asked her.", Kasumi said. "She is very good at hiding her feelings. Maybe she should try acting.", Ranma said trying to sound positive. Kasumi knocked on Nabiki's door "Go away!", an obviously upset voice from inside said. "Nabiki, its Kasumi, may I come in?", Kasumi asked. Kasumi heard the door being unlocked and Nabiki telling her it was okay to come in. When she entered she noticed the sad look on her Nabiki's face and the 2 tickets? she was holding in her hand. She closed the door, and pulled her sister into a hug. Nabiki offered none of her usual resistance to her sister's affection. "What is it Nabiki? Why are you so upset?", Kasumi asked. Kasumi noticed the tickets that Nabiki was holding as well as a rather fancy and expensive looking emerald green metallic dress on her bed. "Isn't that the dress Kuno-san had delivered for you for the junior prom ?", Kasumi asked. "It was....", Nabiki replied wistfully. "What happened. Does this have anything to do with the fight you had with Kuno-san at school today?", Kasumi asked. "How did you...., no never mind I know, Ranma....He never could keep his mouth shut.", Nabiki replied angrily. "Nabiki, that's not fair to Ranma-kun, he was worried about you, and he has done a lot of nice things for you in the past, including protecting you from that bully Jiro when he tried to hurt you for trying to collect the money you said he owed you.", Kasumi said. Nabiki still did not looked convinced. Kasumi sighed and decided to tell her sister a little secret. She turned toward Nabiki and said, "He even lets you take those pictures of him at night, without complaining of trying to stop you". Nabiki did seem shocked at this piece of information. "What..., I mean why would he. I haven't been the nicest person to him, I even sold him by the hour like a cheap prostitute to his financee's when I was his fiancee for a brief time. Remember that Kasumi.", Nabiki said sadly. "When he first found out, he was very angry, he thought you were doing it out of greed, he thought father still supported the family", Kasumi said sounding tense. "I told him you took pictures of Akane and later him, because without them we would be out on the street. I have to take care of the house. Akane has never developed any useful skills", she replied sounding embarrassed for her sister. "Without you we would be in serious trouble. I don't agree with what you have to do, and I wish father would stop feeling so sorry for himself, but that is not to be I guess.", Kasumi said. "After Ranma and I spoke we decided that so long as the pictures were no pornographic in nature he would allow them to be taken, although he never thought the pictures would lead to Kuno-san falling in love with his girl side.", Kasumi said. "Now what happened with Kuno-san today that has you so upset Nabiki?", Kasumi asked. "I think I should talk to Ranma first about that, especially in light of what you just told me about him. I'll tell you after I finish with Ranma, ok Kasumi.", Nabiki said. "Alright, little sister, but if you have a problem I want to help you deal with it.", Kasumi said. Outside Nabiki's window, on the roof, a certain pig-tailed martial artist tried to listen what was being said. He heard something about dress and Kuno, then pictures. Did Kuno want pictures of Nabiki now?? Was that why she was mad? The window began to open and he moved farther back onto the roof. He heard Nabiki's voice ask Kasumi to find him, she wanted to talk to him. He quickly made his way back to the guest room by way of the window just as Kasumi was opening the door. "Ranma, are you here?", Kasumi asked as she entered the room. "Ya, what is Kasumi", he said. "Nabiki wants to see you in her room. I think it is important, you should go see her.", Kasumi said. Ranma made his way to Nabiki's room and stopped outside her door. "I bet she found out I told Kasumi about her fight with Kuno, and now wants me to do something to make it up to her.", he thought. He knocked on the door and entered when she told him to come in. As he entered he noticed her looking at him strangely. She didn't really seem mad, but she definitely wasn't happy either. She almost looked confused about something. He also noticed the rather fancy dress on her bed, it reminded him of the ones some people wore at his wedding. Nabiki saw him looking at her nervously and gave him a Cheshire cat smile which only seemed to make him more nervous much to her delight. "Good, he deserves to be nervous for invading my privacy, even if he was worried about me.", she thought to herself. "You wanted to see me Nabiki?", he asked nervously. "Kasumi mentioned that it was you who informed her of the "discussion" I had with Kuno-chan at school earlier this afternoon. I also found out that you were aware of how you "helped" the family to pay the bills each month.", Nabiki said to him. "If you mean the pictures, yeah I knew about them. I suppose you want to know why I let you take them", he asked and she nodded as a reply. "Nabiki, I know me and pop have not done a lot to earn our keep around here. We both eat a lot and the damage from the fights between Akane and I costs a lot. I guess I felt guilty about that, and I didn't think it was right for you to have to always have to find new ways to support the family. According to Kasumi you have been doing that since you still in elementary school. I was impressed by that. I don't think I could have done such a thing.", Ranma said to her. Nabiki was somewhat shocked by this. Ranma was actually admitting he could not do something, and he was impressed by her. He seemed to have grown up a bit since he returned from whatever happened in China when Akane was kidnapped. "You surprise me Ranma-kun I didn't think you even admit not knowing how to do something, never mind the compliment you just gave me", she said. "I suppose I have changed a little. Its amazing what almost being killed can do for you", he said sadly. "You are talking about China aren't you? What happened to you and Akane there? No seems to be talking about it.", she asked. "What happened was something I wish never to experience again. All of there came very close to dieing Nabiki. Akane was dead for a while.", he said causing Nabiki to suddenly turn pale. "What do you mean?", Nabiki asked with some fear in her voice. "Saffron had so much power, more so that anyone, even a god, should have. I was lucky. During our fight we managed to destroy an entire mountain and if Saffron had won he would have killed us all, destroyed the entire Amazon nation and probably the Musk as well. Even after I "killed" him he still was reborn.", Ranma said while starting to shake. Nabiki found herself unconsciously reaching out to hold Ranma's hand as he continued to speak. "After Saffron was defeated and Akane lay in my arms still not moving, I thought my life was over. I fought as hard as I could and she still died.", he said as a tear made its way down his face, causing Nabiki to tighten her grip on his hand causing him to smile sadly at her. "When I called out her name and she awoke I couldn't have been happier, nothing else mattered now that she was alive and we could finally admit that we loved each other. We might be together now if it weren't for that damn wedding fiasco. Even with Shampoo trying to help us keep everyone in line including that @#$*&^@#@ pervert and Ukyo and her exploding food trying to kill Akane. I am not sure I can ever forgive her.", Ranma said while wiping away one last tear. "Why did Shampoo help you. Doesn't she love you anymore?", Nabiki asked. "That's a long story Nabiki. I'll tell you about it later. For now lets just say that the amazons and I came to an agreement on our way back from China. But enough about me for now. Lets talk about you and why you were so upset this afternoon.", he said. He spotted the tickets that Nabiki had set down by her dress and reached over to grab them before Nabiki noticed what he was doing. "Hmmm, tickets for the junior ball and a very fancy dress. Perhaps this might have something to do with your fight with kuno-baka this afternoon?", he asked. Ranma noticed Nabiki becoming sad and decided to try and cheer her up. He went over to the dress and picked it up and held it in front on him and posed with one arm behind his neck in a fauz model pose. "What do you think Nabiki. Would this match my girl form. I here green and red go together nicely.", he said while smiling. Nabiki smiled a little and said, "You would quite cute Ranma-chan." "You would also look quite cute in it. More so than I Nabiki-chan.", he said still trying to cheer her up. He noticed that she blushed a little at the compliment, but the blush and her smile soon faded. "I don't have to worry about anymore. I no longer have anyone to go to the dance with. He chose another.", she said with a mixture of sadness and anger her voice. "So kuno-baka is taking that airhead cheerleader Mariko instead of you isn't he?", Ranma asked Nabiki. She nodded and sighed. "Why were you going with him. I noticed you spend more time with him than anyone else does at school. Do you like him Nabiki?", Ranma asked. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came forth. She tried to speak again but failed. Finally she sighed and said, "I've known Kuno since we were small children. Back then his sister did not live with him and he was lonely as a child. Mother had just died and I was lonely too. Even back then he thought he was a "noble warrior". People thought he was strange, but I didn't care. We both needed someone to talk to and to spend time with. Kasumi spent most of her time dealing with the house and with Akane's tantrums. Daddy was.....unavailable. He the closest thing I ever had to a best friend. We spent more time together as we grew older and we even started to date a little when we were in junior high", she said with a small smile. "You dated Kuno?!?", Ranma asked quite shocked to hear this revelation from Nabiki. "Don't seem so surprised Ranma-Kun, Kuno-chan was almost normal before "she" came home.", Nabiki said through gritted teeth. "Who came home?", Ranma asked without thinking. "Kodachi, his psycho-bitch sister.", Nabiki said with as much venom in her voice as she could manage. "When she came back she began to tell her brother that I wasn't good enough for him. That I was but a peasant beneath his notice. He seemed to ignore her at first. But over time he seemed to grow colder and colder toward me. We barely saw each other by the time we started high school, and when Akane joined me there a year later he developed his obsession with her and ignored me all together.", she said while her voice began to break. It was Ranma's turn to reach out and hold her hand to ensure her that everything was alright now. Smiled a little at him and thanked him. "I first tried to ignore him, and when he first asked me for pictures of Akane I thought very seriously about killing him.", she said with a dark look in her eyes. "But then I thought about why he changed so much. What happened? Then I heard one day from Sasuke about how his sister now made all of her brothers meals, where Kuno-chan did it himself before. I knew I could trust the little ninja, for it was he who introduced us to each other years before.", she said. Nabiki stood up and moved away from Ranma and stared out the window. After a while she turned to face him and said, "I tried to never hate anyone before, it was bad for business. But she took away the only friend I really ever had and I'll hate her for as long as I live.", she said menacingly. "Why did you continue to give him pictures of Akane then, and me later on as well?", Ranma asked. "At first I hoped that by being around him maybe he would 'snap out of it' as they say, but later I was around him because even though I now meant nothing to him it still was better than spending all my time alone.", she said tears now falling from her eyes again. Ranma reached out to hold her and she cried on his shoulder. Nabiki moved off his should and looked at him questions dancing in her eyes. "Why are you doing this. What do you get out of this Ranma?", she asked "A wet shirt.", he replied with a gentle smile on his face. She half laughed, half cried at that remark. "Seriously though", he started to say. "When I first came here a remember seeing a young girl in a kimono who looked like she needed a friend. I was surprised when she reached over and began to squeeze my breasts.", he continued while Nabiki looked embarrassed. "But even though she seemed to lose interest after she found out about my curse, I never could really feel angry towards her. I guess that is why I have forgiven Akane, Shampoo, and you for all the situations you cause me to get into.", he said. "What are you trying to say Ranma.", Nabiki asked. "What I mean to say is that I want to make you an offer Akane made to me when we first met. But unlike her I don't intend to break the offer. He offered his hand to Nabiki and said, "Hi, I'm Ranma would you like to be friends." She smiled at him and offered her hand saying, "I'm Nabiki and I would like to be your friend as well. "Have you told Kasumi yet about why you were upset?", Ranma asked. Nabiki sighed and said, "No." "Then you should tell her right away, possibly mom as well, since they are the ones who are going to help you get ready", he said "Get ready for what?", Nabiki asked. "For the dance of course. It would be a shame to not go after going to the trouble of getting the tickets and that dress. You would probably look even better in it that my girl form.", he teased her again. "I'm surprised you can joke about things like that. When you first came here if anyone even suggested something like that you would have had an Akane like tantrum. Well maybe not that bad, but close.", she teased him back. "Well as I said, after almost dieing at Jusendo I learned what is important in life and what isn't, and getting upset over a little teasing definitely isn't important.", he said in all seriousness. "Ok, but.....I don't want you to come just because you feel guilty or pity for me.", she said quietly. "I mean Kuno-chan and I just went to past dances for something to do, neither of us even knew how do dance that well.", she said quietly to Ranma. "I asked you, because I would like to go with you, and I would never do something out of pity for you. You deserve better than that and as for dancing, well you are in luck.", he smiled at her and handed her a small business card. "Ranma Saotome, Master Martial Arts School of Ballroom Dancing.", she read aloud. "Are you serious?", she asked. "I know its sounds ridiculous, but when pops and I were on the road we came across all sorts of weird martial arts, and this one is no less strange than say martial arts eating or the martial arts tea ceremony that I had to compete it last year.", he said. Nabiki had visions of being thrown through the air and used to pummel people while dancing. It was not exactly a comforting vision. "We wouldn't be fighting anybody, would we?", she asked. "No, I'll just show you the basic dance moves that the style is based on. You should do quite well, all it takes it grace, and you have more than that clumsy tomboy of a fiancee of mine.", he grinned at her. "Don't worry we have about 3 months to practice, nothing can go wrong in such a short amount of time.", Ranma said. "Now I'll go get Kasumi and mother and you can talk to them.", he said while exiting her room. As he was leaving Nabiki's room his "loving" fiancee noticed whose room he was leaving and using her brilliant powers of deduction offered forth this wise statement, "What were you doing in there baka? You had better not have been doing anything perverted in there." Having just spent a rather long time consoling a distraught Nabiki Ranma was really not in the mood to put up with this. He thought of several things he could say to her ranging from rude to downright lude. "What is this girl's obsession with being perverted anyway. She is the one who obsesses all the time about sex. If anything she is the pervert not me.", he thought to himself. "Well, I'm waiting.", she said seeming to grow angrier at him. "Talking.", was the one word answer that he gave her. "About what?", she demanded. "That is private. If Nabiki wants to tell you later she can, but for now the only people she wishes to speak to are Kasumi and my mother.", he said while walking away from her. "Come back here, I'm not done with you yet!!", she yelled while chasing after him. Ranma made his way downstairs and found Kasumi and his mother talking in the living room. "Kasumi, mother, Nabiki wants to talk with you in her room.", he said to them. "I wonder if this concerns Nabiki's argument with Kuno-san this afternoon?", she wondered out loud as she and Nodoka made their way upstairs. Back in Nabiki's room, she was explaining to Kasumi and Nodoka what had happened this afternoon and a little of her past relationship with Kuno. She went on to tell them how she felt when she found out that her "friend" was taking someone else to the prom and how Ranma had comforted her and offered to go with her, not out of pity or duty, but because he now considered her a friend. "Besides, he is rather cute.", Nabiki thought to herself. Nodoka noticed a certain little smile on Nabiki's face and began to wonder if her manly son was attracting yet another girl into his "harem". "I wonder if I should make hotel reservations for the two of them for the night of the prom. After all even if he does marry Akane, there is nothing wrong with taking Nabiki as a mistress, especially if it means more grandchildren for me to help raise.", she thought to herself with a small smile of her own forming. Kasumi picked up the dress and seemed startled for some reason. "Nabiki, should you be wearing this, its seems awful risque", Kasumi said as Nabiki rolled her eyes at her sisters proclamation. Nodoka looked at how conservative the dress looked, to her, sighed out loud and said, "Kasumi dear we really have to have a talk one day about how you came to have such strange ideas about what is and what is not appropriate." Kasumi looked startled by this statement. Nabiki twitched a little, and someone far away whatever gods that are responsible for irony just face-faulted at Nodoka's statement. "There is one more thing I should tell you.", Nabiki said rather reluctantly, unsure of how Nodoka would react to what she was going to say. "What is it?", Kasumi and Nodoka managed to say at the same time. "I originally turned down Ranma's offer to be my date for the evening because I didn't know how to dance", she said softly. "But he offered to teach me.", she said a little louder. Both ladies seemed confused by Nabiki's statement until Nabiki handed them the card the Ranma gave to her. Nodoka smiled at what was on the card especially what was written on the other side that Nabiki apparently not noticed. A list of dance styles that he was skilled in was written there. Nodoka seemed to be focusing on one particular style there, the Tango. She got shivers through her spine imagining her manly son and Nabiki dancing close together. "Nabiki dear, make sure Ranma pays particular attention when showing you this dance.", Nodoka said to Nabiki showing her the dance in question written on back of the card. Nabiki looked at what Nodoka was showing her and blushed. She had seen that particular dance demonstrated at her cousin's wedding. You had to be really close to your partner to perform that dance properly. "This could be fun.", she thought as she unconsciously smiled, which was picked up by Nodoka. As they made their way downstairs to inform the others Ranma and Nabiki's upcoming date, which Nabiki vehemently denied. It was not a date, they were just going as two friends. Nabiki started to wonder how her friend would look in a tuxedo as she entered the dance in her evening gown. She was awakened from her revelry by the sounds of violence downstairs. As they entered the living room, they noticed that there were now two new guests here for the evening. Nabiki noticed Ranma cringing on the ground holding his, head, or rather a large lump on his head, courtesy of her little sister. Akane was holding a hammer over him and was about to twack him again when her "righteous blow" was stopped by a certain purple-haired Amazon wielding her new titanium and ceramic composite bonborries, bought at a very good price courtesy of Nabiki. The wooden mallet shattered and sprayed splinters all over the second house guest, a certain little black pig, who bweeed loudly and took off out the door for parts unknown. "That's one pest gotten rid of.", Ranma mumbled. Shampoo knelt down beside Ranma and looked over the lump on his head to see if it was serious. Given Ranma's rather hard head, the damage was minor. "Is Ranma ok?", Shampoo asked. Ranma nodded. "Good, Shampoo be very sad if Ranma hurt. Ranma is Shampoo's only friend here, be very sad if something happen to Ranma.", Shampoo said in her faux bimbo voice as she went to hug her friend, who subconsciously returned the hug. It was easy to see how much Shampoo cared for Ranma, and how innocent the hug really was. She was concerned for a close friend. Anyone even remotely normal would have realized this..... "Ranma you pervert!!! Stop groping her!!!", then again who said Akane was normal. Akane reached back and pulled out another hammer to administer "justice" to her perverted fiancee. As she was about to strike the hammer was pulled out of her grasp from someone behind her. Akane noticed the person in question was a rather tall red-haired women who looked quite annoyed at her for some reason. "Akane dear, what are you trying to do?", Nodoka asked. "Ah, auntie, I didn't see you there.", Akane said. "I know dear, now answer the question.", Nodoka said. "Look at them auntie those two perverts are groping and glomping each other.", said Ranma's reality challenged fiancee. Nodoka sighed, "Akane dear all I see are two friends, who care for each other, showing a little affection. I see nothing perverted or even slightly sexual about it." "Not that you would know anything about being sexual.", Nodoka thought to herself. "She was showing concern for her injured friend, who injuries I might add were caused by a young lady who is supposed to be in love with him.", Nodoka said angrily at Akane. "Ranma's mother is too too right." said Shampoo while still laying on the "bimbo airhead" act. "Ranma is shampoo's friend. Shampoo like and respect Ranma. He strong warrior and kind friend. Why he no want to be with Shampoo, Shampoo not know. Besides Shampoo only hug friend, not glomp.", Shampoo said while still hugging Ranma, Shampoo looked at Ranma, smiled seductively, and said, "This on other hand is trademarked Amazon Glomp. Ranma suddenly stiffened up and his pig tail was sticking straight up in the air. The glomp had now awoken him from his Akane induced stupor. He still wasn't quite sure yet what was going on but whatever was happening felt really good. "See, difference. Now violent pervert girl no mistake hug from glomp.", Shampoo said while smiling evilly at Akane. Nabiki found herself feeling somewhat irritated at what Shampoo was doing but she wasn't sure why, and Akane was presently burning a hole in the carpet with her battle aura. "Oh my, Shampoo you shouldn't be doing that to Ranma, he's your not fiancee's any more.", Kasumi said. "Even if it does look like fun.", she silently added. Kasumi noticed several people now face down on the carpet, even Ranma, who was now in an even more embarrassing position with Shampoo. "I said that last part out loud didn't I?", Kasumi said in an embarrassed tone. Everyone just nodded dumbly, except for Ranma who was trying to get Shampoo to de-glomp him. An especially difficult task since they were now laying horizontal on the floor with Shampoo underneath him. Shampoo eventually and reluctantly let go of Ranma. "Shampoo is sorry. Sometimes Shampoo have trouble controlling herself when former husband around.", she said almost shyly. Nodoka was thrilled about what was going on. It seems all the girls present had feelings for Ranma. Her son was so manly, she almost giggled. She noticed that she still had Akane's toy in her hand, and seeing no reason to keep it, tossed it out through the back door. A faint "thwack....bweeeee....thud", was heard from outside. Ranma, Shampoo, and Nabiki smiled. "That sounds like poor p-chan was hurt!", Akane exclaimed and started to get up to find her pet, and her precious mallet. Yes must find my precioussssssssss. (Authors note: Sorry couldn't resist :>). "Akane, stay here, I am not done speaking to everyone yet.", Nodoka said. "But p-chan might be hurt and you through mallet....", her voice trailed off. "Akane dear, sometimes it seems you care more for that little animal and that ridiculous mallet than you do my son.", Nodoka said. "Shampoo think violent pervert girl spend way to much time with mallet and pig if you know what Shampoo mean.", shampoo said quite innocently with an evil grin in her face. "That's disgusting, how could you.. I ought too....", Akane continued to sputter out half sentences. "If Akane no longer want, Shampoo know of many amazons who do. They were very impressed when Ranma come back to village after he kill Saffron. Now that Shampoo no chase Ranma, others want him.", Shampoo said while looking at Ranma who now seemed rather nervous. "Last thing Shampoo here is that Elders had to prevent many warriors from coming here to challenge Ranma, but if Akane no want Ranma no more, Elders may let warriors come here." Looking very nervous Ranma turned toward Shampoo and asked her who was interested and might be coming. "Hmmmm, last thing Shampoo hear is that Azure, Sugar, her sister spice, Vanilla, Rin Rin and Ran Ran, many others too. Shampoo no can remember all.", Shampoo said looking at a now glassy eyed Ranma. "Sugar especially interested in Ranma. She 25, still no mate, starting to get twitchy. If Ranma end up with Sugar he not come out of bedroom for two months." Ranma could only twitch himself at this statement. "Pervert would probably enjoy it.", Akane said. "Shampoo know Ranma would enjoy it, might not survive it, but he enjoy it, especially since Sugar does everything with her twin sister spice.", she said Ranma fainted. A bucket of water was soon dumped on the unconscious martial artist and a very wet and confused red head found herself sitting in a puddle. "Damn it tomboy stop doing that!", the annoyed red head yelled. "Fine then don't except my help!", Akane said as she hit him or rather her over the head with the bucket. "Akane dear that was very rude, you do not dump water on people and expect them to appreciate it. Now apologize to my son.", Nodoka said looking at Akane in amazement of this girls strange behavior. Akane half mumbled an apology and sat down to sulk. Kasumi returned with a towel to help dry off Ranma, as she had to do in the morning when Akane chose to wake up her fiancee this way. She was surprised though when Nabiki took the towel and sat down next to Ranma and began to dry her hair. Ranma was surprised at first but her decided to let his new friend help him out especially since it seemed to annoy Akane. Kasumi and Nodoka noticed how well Nabiki seemed to be treating Ranma, which wasn't surprising considering how he treated her earlier. Shampoo was thinking that Akane may soon have competition with one of both her sisters for Ranma's affection. Not she minded anymore. It was actually rather fun watching this game from the outside. Maybe that's why her great grandmother spent so much time around Ranma she wondered. Nodoka asked Kasumi to call the fathers away from their ever present game and to come in while she explained why Nabiki seemed upset today and why she and Ranma would soon be spending more time together while he taught her to dance. The fathers came in saw Ranma in girl form leaning against Nabiki with his eyes closed, annoyed looking Akane sulking in the corner and Nodoka and Shampoo looking at Ranma and Nabiki with amused expressions on their faces. "Boy what are you doing? Why are you a girl now?", the sometimes panda demanded of his son. "I'm resting and trying to get rid of a headache which your yelling is not helping any", he said while trying to lean back more and snuggle into Nabiki, who didn't to mind in the slightest. "As for why I'm all wet, a certain tomboy just tried to drown me and beat me unconscious with a bucket", he said. Akane and Genma both were about to say something when Nodoka cut them off. "I asked you to come in here to tell you that Ranma has graciously offered to take Nabiki to her junior prom when her previous date chose to take someone else instead. He has even offered to teach her to dance. I am quite impressed with our son's manly behavior.", Nodoka said to everyone. "That's very nice son, I am glad you are becoming friends with your financee's sister. After all when you take over the dojo you will be seeing a lot of each other.", Soun said to Ranma. Ranma was tempted to that he wasn't going to marry Akane and take over the dojo but he was to busy relaxing at the moment to really care. Everyone started to get up to return to what they were doing before Nodoka called them into living room. Before Ranma and Nabiki could get up Shampoo sat in front of them and started to speak. "Ranma, Shampoo have favor to ask. Great grandmother say Shampoo need to go to school to learn how to speak better and learn about outside world. Can Shampoo walk with you to school in morning. Mercenary can come too.", Shampoo winked at Nabiki who seemed to understand what she was implying regarding Ranma. "Friends should walk together.", Shampoo said Akane looked upset, she didn't want Shampoo around Ranma, but they had started to become close friends after Shampoo said she no longer wanted to be his fiancee, but Akane suspected that it was a lie. Shampoo was always trying to steal away her fiancee. Not that she wanted him of course, but it was a matter of family honor and she wasn't about to let some little bimbo damage that honor. Walking to school the next day Ranma and Shampoo noticed how melancholy Nabiki seemed to be. She seemed to be worried about something. "What's wrong Nabiki? You seem sad about something.", Ranma said. "I've decided that since we are becoming closer...as friends... I am not going to be taking any more pictures of your girl form anymore.", Nabiki said hoping nobody noticed the hesitation in her voice earlier on. "Don't those pictures pay for a lot of the bills you take care of?", Ranma said. "Yes they do but..... You have been so nice to me lately and offering to take me to the prom.... I don't feel comfortable taking them any more.", she said. "Nabiki's father still no work? Still just sit around with panda man and feel sorry for self?", Shampoo asked. Nabiki nodded. "Shampoo may be able to help then. Great grandmother buy computer to keep track of expenses, but not know how to use computer well. Spend most time yelling at it, calling it names even Shampoo never hear before. If could help, Shampoo think great grandmother would pay you to keep track of expenses. "Mousse of no help, all he do is play silly games on computer and look at naughty pictures on internet.", Shampoo said. Shampoo then looked over at Ranma and said while smiling evilly, "Restaurant could also use another waitress. Girl type Ranma look very good in uniform great grandmother design. Show of girl Ranma's nice legs yes." Nabiki and Ranma agreed to see Cologne after school, and Ranma warned Nabiki that the old ghoul could quite a slave driver and that Nabiki could find herself as a waitress sometimes. Akane had gone ahead to school earlier, saying she had some work to catch up on, Nabiki thought it had more to do to the fact that Akane did not want to be around Shampoo. As they neared the school Nabiki groaned at the sight before them. In the yard before them were 30 to 40 boys wearing various forms of sports gear. "Not this again", Ranma sighed. "Why all boys dress in silly outfits?", Shampoo asked. "Shampoo we challenge you. We were told about Amazon law that in order to date you we must defeat you in battle.", one of the little hentai said. "How did they find out about that. I wonder.... Akane did say she had some work to take care of this morning", Nabiki mused. Shampoo snorted. "Shampoo think violent girl jealous of time Ranma spend with Shampoo. Want Shampoo out of the way. No worry though great grandmother been teaching Shampoo Amazon magic after Ranma kill Saffron. She no want Shampoo to be defenseless in battle against similar enemy again. Shampoo have spell take care of all the little perverts at once.", she said with a grin on her face. You may not want to hurt them too much Shampoo, they aren't really enemies of yours, they are just stupid, and they better not try this little stunt with me.", Nabiki yelled out to the hentai brigade. "Why would we want to?", they yelled back. Ranma noticed Nabiki's mouth begin to twitch. She turned toward Shampoo and said, "On second thought Shampoo, fry their hentai butts.", Nabiki said. Shampoo walked out in front of the assembled horde. A staff appeared in her hands from out of no where. She twirled it once and a glowing yellow circle now surrounded the boys. "Last chance. Silly boys still want to challenge Shampoo for marriage?", Shampoo said. The horde who previously thought this was to date Shampoo began to drool and mumble something about honeymoon night. Shampoo looked at them, disgusted by their actions, lowered her staff to the ground then quickly raised it yelling out, "Explosion array". All of the horde soon found themselves blown 30 feet in the air by the force of blast then they landed in one large blackened heap. Everyone was staring wide-eyed at what just happened, including Akane who just happened to be looking out her classroom window at the time. Shampoo walked over to one of blackened perverts and lifted him off the ground and said, "Next you insult Amazon woman's honor with your sick games, Shampoo may have to get mean and hurt little perverts." Shampoo put the staff away and walked back to Ranma and Nabiki smiling. She noticed they seemed to be a little shocked by what she just did. "Is Ranma impressed with Shampoo?", she purred. He nodded. "Would Ranma like Shampoo to teach him spell?", she asked. He nodded again. "Too, too bad, Shampoo can no teach because Ranma not Amazon.", she giggled, stuck her tongue out him and began to run off toward the school. "Wait, come back here!", Ranma yelled out as he took off after her. "Children.", Nabiki mumbled as she made her way to class taking care to step on as many of the hoard as the could. "That will teach them to insult me. They just don't appreciate quality when they see it.", she thought to herself. When she got to class she noticed Kuno-chan was not there yet and no have seen him since yesterday in the company of a certain blond, (dyed no doubt), cheerleader. In Ranma and Akane's class Shampoo introduced herself much to the delight of the male students and horror of the female ones. Not only did she have a better body than them, but she had to show it off in those short dresses of hers. Just what they needed, another anatomically impossible martial artist in the school. As if Ranma's female form wasn't bad enough. "So tell us about yourself", the teacher said. "Shampoo is member of Chinese Amazons. Shampoo originally come to Japan to kill girl-type Ranma.", Shampoo said. The Class gasp at this information. "But Shampoo find out girl Ranma is really boy, so Shampoo get to marry Ranma instead.", Shampoo smiled. "I don't understand, why would you have to kill, Ranma if he was female, but marry him if he was male?", asked the teacher. "Is Amazon law. If outsider female defeat Amazon, then she get kiss of death. Is male outsider defeat Amazon then he get kiss of marriage.", Shampoo said. "So you are one of Ranma's fiancee's?", the teacher asked. "Not anymore, great grandmother remove kiss of death and marriage when Ranma save village by killing evil phoenix god Saffron.", she said sadly. "Everyone in village was very impressed. Ranma kill god to bring violent pervert girl Akane back to life after Saffron kill her.", she said. The class erupted in questions at this information. Yuka and Sayuri were staring at their friend. "You were dead Akane-chan and Ranma brought you back to life. How romantic!", they exclaimed with hearts in their eyes. "Sounds like a plot from a shoujo-manga.", one girl said. "He can save me anytime.", one girl sighed and looked at Ranma with an expression that made him quite nervous. Ranma tried to tell everyone it was no big deal. No one bought it though. "Ranma should not be so modest. Even village Elders as group could have defeated Saffron. Ranma should be proud of skills.", Shampoo said. She then turned toward Akane and said, "Akane should be nicer to Ranma. If she no want him Shampoo know many Amazon who do. School here soon find itself with many new Amazon girls if that true." The boys of class upon hearing this tried to convince Akane to leave, Ranma. Not that any of them could even dream of defeating even Sash or Azure, but no one said their dreams were realistic. The girls on the other hand were practically begging Akane to stay with Ranma. If a bunch of Amazon girls came here, their chances of dating any guy here would drop to practically zero they thought. At lunch Shampoo was sitting with Ranma and Akane under their usual tree. Both girls were holding extra bentos for a certain martial artist. "Ranma, Shampoo bring you lunch, just made. You like sweet and sour pork?", Shampoo asked. Ranma quickly grabbed the lunch from Shampoo who seemed pleased. "I also made you lunch, Ranma.", Akane said. "Urk...", Ranma replied. "Go ahead, take it.", she said sounding angry at his obvious reluctance to accept her food. "That's very nice of you Akane, but with the food Kasumi made and Shampoo's food, I really couldn't eat any more.", he lied. "You jerk!, you never turn down their food.", Akane yelled. "That because Shampoo and Nice girl Kasumi's food never put Ranma in hospital for week, like violent girls food has.", Shampoo said. Shampoo opened the lunch Akane gave Ranma and practically choked on the smell that came form it after it was opened. "You call this food, look and smell more like week old garbage to Shampoo. You no try to poison fiancee on purpose to get out of marriage maybe.", Shampoo said while she tossed the food away. The food landed in a nearby weed patch which quickly turned brown and died. "Hmmm, Akane bad cook, but maybe sell food as weed killer. Could make money that way, yes?", Shampoo asked while grinning widely. "My cooking is not bad.", Akane half mumbled to herself, but not sounding quite so sure anymore, as more weeds nearby continued to blacken and die. At the end of lunch Nabiki appeared looking quite smug over something. "You look rather happy.", Ranma said. "I received a page from Cologne. She needed help with her computer again. It only took and hour to fix and she paid me 5000 yen for my help.", Nabiki said. "Great grandmother pay you that much??? Shampoo never get that much and Shampoo is only living relative. Shampoo think she getting ripped off.", she said. "By the way Ranma, Cologne wants to see you after school. She wants to fit you for a new waitress uniform.", Nabiki smirked. "Shampoo saw those, poor Ranma. Outfit very drafty.", she said while shaking her head. Ranma for his part only twitched at this revelation. After school, Ranma went to the Cat Cafe to see his new, (shudder), uniform and was not to impressed when he saw it. As he entered the cafe Cologne called him into the back where she and Mousse were working on the uniforms. To his horror they looked like modified sailor scout uniforms from that silly Sailor Moon cartoon Akane liked to watch. "You..you....you want me to wear that?!?!?", Ranma pointed to the uniform Cologne was holding up in horror. "Yes, quite nice aren't they. One of the few good ideas Mousse has ever had.", Cologne said. "It was his idea? Figures from the way he always tries to capture people by wrapping them up in chains and ropes, and now this, only proves that he is as big a pervert as I thought he was. Probably learned it from Lilac.", Ranma said glaring at Mousse. "He probably just wants to see Shampoo wear one of these things.", Ranma said while Mousse now had a glassy eyed look to him. "Well I have yours and Nabiki's finished Ranma, you make take them with you when you leave.", Cologne said. "I can only imagine what Nabiki will say when she sees this uniform.", Ranma said. "You will also have to start teaching her some basic Wu Shu. I expect my waitresses to be skilled as well as look good for the customers.", Cologne said. Ranma made his way back to the dojo with both his and Nabiki's uniforms covered by garment bags, much to his relief. He didn't want to think what people would say if he had to carry the uniforms out in the open. When he arrived back at the dojo he was met at the door by a smirking Nabiki. "Did you get your new uniform Ranma-kun?", Nabiki asked. "Yes, I did, and I have yours as well.", Ranma said while smiling back at Nabiki. "She wants me to wear one of those things?", Nabiki asked shocked. "Well your other duties only take up a small amount of time. I guess you are just too good at them. So Cologne decided to have you help out in the cafe as a waitress as well. She also asked me to start to train you in some basic Wu Shu techniques so that you will be able to catch the ramen bowls she flings at us to give to the customers.", Ranma said while Nabiki continued to looked shocked. As Ranma and Nabiki entered the house, each carrying their uniform, Ranma saw that his mother was visiting them. "I hope she doesn't ask what I'm carrying is.", Ranma mumbled. "Ranma dear, what is that you and Nabiki-chan are carrying.", Nodoka asked. "They're new uniforms for our new job mom.", Ranma said "What job is that Ranma?", Nodoka asked. "Uh..um...well were going to be working for Cologne as Waitresses.", Ranma says with some embarrassment. "You mean as waiter, don't you son?", Nodoka asks. "No, as a waitress. The cafe draws in far more customers when I am serving food in my girl form." "The tips are much better too.", Ranma thinks the last part to himself. "So why are you and Nabiki doing this?", Nodoka asks. "Someone has to do something to earn money around here. Nobody else ever does anything, except for Kasumi, but she is far too busy taking care of the house to work, and it wouldn't be fair to ask her to do anything more anyway.", Ranma said as Kasumi smiles at Ranma for the compliment. "So are you going to show us what these uniforms look like son.", Nodoka asks. Ranma only sighs in response. "You might as well show them, they will find out soon enough anyway.", Nabiki says feeling somewhat embarrassed by the whole situation. Ranma and Nabiki removed their uniforms from the bags and showed them to everyone. "Oh my, they are rather short aren't they.", remarked Kasumi. Genma panda took one look at them and fell over laughing. Nodoka wasn't sure what to think. The outfit did not look manly, but her son was helping to support his fiancee's family, while her husband did nothing. "They are quite unique dear.", Nodoka managed to finally say. Soun Tendo just stared blankly unsure of how to respond. "Figures, the pervert would enjoy dressing up like a Sailor Scout.", Akane said earning her a dark look from Ranma and to her surprise Nabiki as well. Two days later Nabiki and Ranma came down the stairs at home, wearing their uniforms for the first time. Both did not look thrilled to wear them. As they entered the living room, everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at the two self conscious teens. Ranma, with his red and white uniform looked like a red haired, larger busted version of Sailor Mars. Nabiki, with her green and white uniform looked like a more petite version of Sailor Jupiter. A certain panda began laughing so hard he started to gasp for breath. Kasumi commented on how cute Ranma-chan and Nabiki looked, which did not seem to please either of them too much. Nabiki went to the hall closet and pulled out two detective style long overcoats and handed one to Ranma. "I picked these up yesterday, so we would not have to walk through Nerima only wearing these uniforms.", Nabiki said. "Thanks Nabiki, it was nice of you to get this for me.", Ranma said and smiled at Nabiki, who smiled back. "By the way how much do I owe you?", Ranma asked. Nabiki looked a little nervous and said, "Don't worry about it Ranma, its on me this time." Ranma noticed that Akane seemed to be scowling at him when Nabiki to him the coat was a gift. He thought about saying something to his obviously jealous fiancee, but he couldn't afford to make him and Nabiki late. Cologne wasn't very tolerant on that issue. The first thing Nabiki and Ranma saw as they entered the restaurant was a very flustered Shampoo waiting tables in a purple and white uniform very similar to their own. "Shampoo very upset today, already have to throw out 4 perverts for grabbing Shampoo in not nice manner. Shampoo also have to put up with drooling idiot Mousse who been throwing ramen bowls to high, so Shampoo have to jump to catch bowls. Shampoo no like flashing customers.", Shampoo said as she approached her fellow waitresses. Ranma and Nabiki fare about as well as Shampoo had. Ranma had to show 3 customers what she thought of their overtures toward her, and Nabiki had threatened to sue 3 business executives for sexual harassment, as well as publish their actions and names on the internet if they ever treated her like that again. Three weeks pass by as we Ranma start to train Nabiki in basic Wu Shu techniques as well as working on her endurance and agility. Ranma makes a comment about how flexible Nabiki is causing her to blush and Shampoo to laugh, while he looks on in confusion, wondering what he did wrong. We also see Nabiki keeping track of the cafe's records on the computer while trying to explain to Ranma-chan what she is doing. Ranma's eyes glaze over most of the time and Nabiki often finds herself with an asleep Ranma-chan resting her head on Nabiki's shoulder. Nabiki only smiles when this happens and tries to continue working without halving Ranma fall off the chair she is on. About two weeks into this Ranma begins to pay attention and Nabiki is impressed about how fast he can learn something if he puts his mind to it. By the end of the three weeks he is almost doing as good a job on the computer as Nabiki does. He tells Nabiki its only because she is helping him and how much he appreciates her for doing so. During this time though, they have had time to do very little else, such as practice for the upcoming dance, and Ranma seems to have little free time to spend with Akane. A fact she makes known to him quite often. Overall things are pretty calm. Ryoga hasn't been seen in a while. Nobody seems to know where Ukyo disappeared to after the wedding, and even the Kuno's have been keeping a low profile, although there are rumors of hysterical female laughing coming from the estate. Things were quiet until one day Kuno called Nabiki and said that he wished to meet with her after school to discuss a private matter between the two of them. He wouldn't say what is was over the phone, much to the frustration of the others listening on the other line. After school, Ranma, Shampoo, Akane, and Nabiki were walking home together when Nabiki noticed Kuno getting out of new white sports car being driven by a certain blond cheerleader. Nabiki excused herself from the group and went over to the car with an unsettling look on her face. "Why mercenary girl mad at stick boy?", Shampoo asked. "That's kind of a long story, but I promised her I wouldn't tell anyone. Sorry Shampoo.", Ranma said. Mariko was starting to drive off just as Nabiki came up to Kuno. "Ah Tendo-san. I wish to discuss with you our previous conversation we had some days before.", Kuno said. As Nabiki was about to reply a very familiar but unwelcome voice spoke out, "Well it seems that not only does my dear brother continue to see that half-gaijin slut of a cheerleader, but the low born mercenary Nabiki Tendo as well.", Kodachi said as she began to twirl her ribbon in her brother's and Nabiki's direction. "Damn it, things couldn't just stay peaceful.", Ranma said as he saw what was about to happen. Shampoo also charged off toward Kuno and Nabiki leaving Akane following behind them. "So Nabiki Tendo, it appears you did not learn your lesson years ago, you shall have to be taught again.", Kodachi said while flinging her ribbon toward Nabiki. The ribbon was intercepted part way by a wooden bokken wielded by a rather annoyed looking Kuno. "Sister, you will stop your interference in my life. Who I choose to be with is my decision. You will not ruin my chance with Mariko, like you did with Nabiki-san those years ago.", Kuno stated more eloquently than many thought him capable of. "Kuno is actually making sense", Ranma said in a rather surprised tone as he came running up to Nabiki. "You should stay away from your sister more often it appears to agree with you.", he said with no small amount of sarcasm. "Ah my darling Ranma, I shall be with as soon as I dispose of this vile mercenary and my deluded brother.", Kodachi said as she let go of her ribbon causing Kuno to fall backwards and unfortunately into Ranma. This distraction gave Kodachi the opportunity to fling several clubs at Nabiki. Her new training with Ranma allowed her to dodge 4 clubs without being, harmed. The fifth though struck her right knee hard as she lay on the ground. She let out a loud scream, that did not last long when the sixth club thrown by Kodachi struck Nabiki a glancing blow across the forehead knocking her unconscious. Ranma got off the still dazed Kuno and saw Nabiki unconscious on the ground with a very bloody wound on her head and one now swollen and purple knee. He saw another club flying towards her head, aimed to kill. He stopped the club in mid flight inches from Nabiki and crushed it into sawdust. The air around him was growing cold and he stared at Kodachi with a flat intense stare that promised lots of pain to the one who hurt his friend. Moisture seemed to condense around his hands as they began to glue bright blue. "How could you have hurt her so. She is not a fighter. What you did was cowardly and you WILL pay for what you have done. She is one of the few friends that I have and I will not let further harm come to her.", Ranma said in a such a chill voice that death itself would think twice before crossing him. Kodachi found herself unable to move. Why was her beloved talking to her in such a fashion? Doesn't he see how much she cares for him? Why was he now scaring her so? Shampoo came up behind Ranma and spoke quietly using her real voice, not the sing song voice she usually used around others. "Ranma, I will take care of psychotic little bitch. Take Nabiki to see Doctor Tofu. Don't worry I'll see to it that she never bothers you or anyone else again." Ranma gently pickup Nabiki off the ground and cradled her in his arms. She was so light. She lacked muscle weight Shampoo and Akane had he thought. He did not have time for further thoughts. She was still bleeding and her knee was looking worse. He held her close and headed towards Dr. Tofu's at top speed by way of the rooftops. Shampoo glared at Kodachi and said, "Crazy girl hurt good friend of Shampoo's, also make Ranma very sad, Shampoo will punish you for that. You be very sorry when Shampoo done with you.", Shampoo said while speaking in her sing-song voice. Kodachi, seeming to regain her voice, replied, "I am not scared of you peasant, I will dispose of you and go see my dear confused Ranma.", she said while whipping out another ribbon seemingly from nowhere. Shampoo caught the ribbon but was surprised when the ribbon had metal barbs in it that stuck under her skin causing her to flinch as Kodachi yanks back on the ribbon. "So Crazy girl likes to fight dirty, Shampoo can do so too", Shampoo said she lightly touched the metal part of the ribbon with her other hand and whispered, "Digger Volt". Kodachi saw Shampoo reaching for the ribbon with her other hand smiled at the futility of that action. Removing that ribbon would require far more attention than that. Then she noticed that small sparks began to dance around the hand in question. She heard Shampoo mumble something softly. Then her eyes opened wide as she saw yellow arcs of electricity fly from that hand and travel down the ribbon towards her. She did not have time to think or say anything further. The charge caused her to let go of the ribbon and be flung over 30 feet back, impacting a large tree with a sickening thud, where she slid to the ground smoking and quite unconscious. Akane was staring at what Shampoo just did. It was so unfair, how come everyone could do such things except her. She used to be the best martial artist, now she was near the bottom. Shampoo saw the jealous look Akane was giving her and just looked disgusted and sighed at the girl. "Shouldn't violent girl go to if sister ok? You can stare at Shampoo later.", Shampoo said. Akane "eeped" and ran off toward Doctor Tofu's clinic. Shampoo noticed Kuno had regained his senses and was now looking around obviously wondering where everybody went. She helped him off of the ground and told him what took place while he was sleeping. "I see, I shall make haste toward the young doctor's clinic. I should have not let Nabiki be injured so.", he said sadly. "Stick boy care deeply for Nabiki? You were close once Shampoo think", she said while walking over toward the still smoking form of Kodachi. "That was in the past. I can not....make up for what happened then. Besides there is another with whom I am pledge to.", Kuno said. "You give up chasing Akane and "red-haired girl?", Shampoo asked. "Mariko has caused me to see that Akane is indeed in love with Saotome for some reason, and I yet to learn even the name of the "pig-tailed" girl.", Kuno said. "What of her?", Shampoo said while pointing at Kodachi. "She will be taking care of. Sasuke show your self.", Kuno called out. "Yes master.", the short mousy ninja stated as he suddenly appeared next to Kuno. "Call my twisted sister's physician, and inform him that you will be bringing her to his office at once. I must go and check up on the health of a friend....that I had wronged.", Kuno said starting to sound sad. Shampoo did not wait for the others to finish speaking, she was already bounding off to see how Nabiki was doing. She was followed shortly there after by Kuno. Ranma ran into the clinic so fast he almost slammed himself and Nabiki into the far wall. Doctor Tofu hearing the noise came out of his office and into the waiting room where he saw Ranma holding an unconscious and quite obviously injured Nabiki. "Ranma what happened?", asked the shocked doctor. "She was attacked by Kodachi outside of school. I tried to save her, but I wasn't fast enough.", Ranma said guiltily. Ranma carried Nabiki into the examination room and laid her out on one of the exam tables so the doctor could look at her. "Ranma, you can wait outside while I examine her.", the doctor said. When Ranma appeared reluctant to move the doctor added, "Someone needs to call her family and tell them what happened. Would you do that for me?" Ranma left the exam room and headed back toward the waiting room, dreading having to call Nabiki's family and telling them what happened. Kasumi answered the phone when he called. Ranma explained what happened the best he could, but from the yelling he heard in the background it appears at least one member of the household blamed him for Nabiki's injury. Not that he was surprised, after all when anything bad happens it "always Ranma's fault". Kasumi agreed to stay home with Nodoka though. The doctor always seemed to act so strange when she was around. After he set the phone down, the doors of the clinic burst open and in ran Shampoo, Kuno, and Akane, the later two being quite out of breath. "How is she?", Akane managed to wheeze out. "I don't know. They haven't come out of the examination room yet, but her knee looked like it was broken, maybe shattered. She might have trouble walking from now on.", Ranma said while starting to shake. Ranma felt someone put a hand on his shoulder. To his surprise it was Akane. She actually seemed to understand how he was feeling. She was joined by Shampoo who squeezed his hand in reassurance. "Shampoo know what Ranma is thinking, but you wrong. You could not stop crazy girl from hurting friend Nabiki. Stick boy right next to her and he couldn't save either.", Shampoo said as Kuno seemed shrink into himself at Shampoo's last statement. A loud shriek was hurt from the exam room causing several people to rush toward the door to the room. Before they got there though, the door opened and out stepped a very frazzled looking Doctor Tofu. "How is she?", everyone seemed to ask at once. "Nabiki had a small cut on her forehead and a mild concussion. These are minor injuries. She should recover from them in a couple of days, but her other injury I am afraid is quite severe", Doctor Tofu said to the group. "All my fault, I should have done something.", Ranma thought to himself. "Her right kneecap has been shattered in five places. I don't think the bones will be able to heal themselves. She will at least need surgery, possibly the knee will need to be replaced. Even with that her walking will still be slightly impaired.", the doctor intoned solemnly. He led them into the exam room. Nabiki was sitting on one of the, tables, with knee wrapped in ice to keep the swelling down till it could operated on. No one spoke for seemed to be several minutes. Finally one person did speak, and his words and actions surprised everyone. Kuno was on the ground kneeling before Nabiki with tears in his eyes. "Please forgive my family for what they have done. If I had stood up to my sisters raving years ago this would not have happened. I lost you as a companion fours years ago, I almost lost you entirely today. Allow me to pay for whatever it takes to make you well again.", Kuno said. Everyone was staring at him wide-eyed. He was apologizing? He felt sorry for hurting her indirectly. Ranma moved towards Nabiki. "Nabiki before you decide to go to the hospital their is a healing technique I would like to use to see if it would heal you. I learned it in Shampoo's village after the fight with Saffron.", Ranma said. "I will also need you help Shampoo if you don't mind. "You learn technique from crazy healer Lilac didn't you Ranma?", Shampoo asked. He nodded. "Who's this Lilac Ranma, she better not be another Fiancee if you know what's good for you.", Akane threatened. "She is far too old for me, but she did seem to be quite fond of your father when he joined us in the village. She is far too much of a pervert for my liking.", Ranma said. Akane seemed stunned by this information, but her father wasn't interested in some old Chinese healer. As for perverts, only boys were perverts everyone knew that. Shampoo looked panic. She turned to Ranma and said, "You no think she follow us to Japan do you?' "No, we would have the panic screams of her "beloveds" if she was here.", Ranma said not sounding that sure of himself. He turned back towards Nabiki and asked her if she was ready for him to start applying Lilac's healing technique to her. "Will this hurt?", Nabiki asked. "Probably.", replied Ranma. Akane and Kuno went back to the waiting room. They had heard enough screaming for one day. The fathers arrived at the clinic shortly there after. Another scream was heard from the back and Soun Tendo started to wail about his little girl dieing. Several minutes later Ranma walked out carrying Nabiki in his arms with Shampoo and Doctor Tofu walking beside him. Ranma set Nabiki gently down on one of the couches in the waiting room. He started to speak but was soon cut off by the fathers. "Ranma you worthless child how dare you this happen!! Can't you even fight one weak little woman?!?", his fat, furry, fool of a father said. Ranma snorted at his father. "I seem to recall the last time you fought 'that weak woman', she left you tied up in a ribbon and hung you from the rafters.", Ranma said to his father before he kicked him out the door and into a light post leaving a now unconscious panda laying in a large puddle of water. "Perhaps Ranma, if you and your friends displayed any of the skills you constantly brag about my little girl wouldn't have been hurt.", Soun, the walking water fountain, said to Ranma. "Crying man better watch how he speak about Amazon skills or he get demonstration first hand.", Shampoo said while casually hefting her bonborries. "It saddens one such as I to see that another family is cursed with a weak simpering fool of a father. You have my deepest condolences Nabiki-san.", Kuno said while shaking his head disapprovingly at Soun. "Perhaps if you actually took the time to train your daughters properly instead of sitting on your butt for the past ten years feeling sorry for yourself, this would not have happened either.", Ranma yelled at the now shocked Soun Tendo. "How dare you children speak to your elders in such a fashion. You should respect our decisions and wisdom.", fountain-sama said. Ranma began to cough at that statement and Shampoo began to giggle. "I wonder if that is what Nabiki calls an ironic statement?", Ranma mused aloud earning him smiles from Nabiki and Shampoo. Soun began to speak again, but he found himself cut off by another voice, who was growing quite annoyed at her father. "What did you say Nabiki dear?", Soun said. "I said you will not insult them anymore.", Nabiki said while pointing at each of her rescuers. "If it weren't for them I would now either be dead or possibly permanently crippled, but do you care no. You and that fat, furry, fool of a friend of yours are only interested in blaming someone for what happened because you could not do anything to prevent it. Now I am very tired and I am going home. We still have to explain what happened to Kasumi and auntie Nodoka what happened.", Nabiki said while trying to get up and walk out on her own. "Nabiki, don't!, Your knee is still too sore. It will need a few days to heal properly.", Ranma said leaning against her. "You shall not need to walk. I have already phoned ahead for transportation back to your home.", said Kuno as he put away his cell phone. "That's very sweet of you Kuno-chan. Thank You.", Nabiki said causing him to blush a little. Ranma saw Kuno blush and for some reason almost felt jealous. Must be too stressed out from today, he thought. Akane watched as all the arguing was going on. She was confused and upset by what was being said. Ranma had no right to insult her father, but her father though shouldn't have blamed Ranma for Nabiki's injuries. Although if she wasn't there she might have blamed Ranma like her father did. Kasumi had told her that she had done such things in the past. She thought she had always treated Ranma fairly hadn't she. She only yelled at him or hit him when he deserved it. It wasn't her fault he made her so mad all the time was it. Akane started to follow Ranma and the others out the door when her father put his hand on her shoulder and said to her, "I need your help to take Saotome back with us.", he said pointing at the unconscious panda across the street. She sighed. Everyone else got to ride home in a limo, she had to drag a worthless panda halfway across town. At least Ranma still cared for her, he even said that she helped in the fight. Maybe she would thank him by making dinner for him, that would make him happy she thought. When he returned to the dojo, Ranma and Nabiki explained what had happened during and after the fight including Ranma healing Nabiki and how the two fathers treated everyone else at the clinic. "I see I shall have to have a talk with them when they get back.", Nodoka said. Kasumi helped Nabiki up to her room so that she could rest and Kuno excused himself saying that he had some urgent personal business to attend to back at his manor. Shampoo and Ranma watched Akane enter the kitchen where upon sounds of battle began to be heard and what sounded like a Cthuluian chant was being spoken. Nodoka glanced toward the kitchen. "Perhaps I should help Akane-chan out.", she said out loud to no one in particular. "Shampoo have to go now, just remember have to help great grandmother with restaurant, so no can stay for dinner.", Shampoo said as she leaped over the wall and into the distance. "Wait if Akane is back where are those two worthless..." Ranma's thought was cut off as he noticed 2 figures skulking out the door, away from the "unique" odors emanating from the kitchen. "Oh hi pop when did you get back? Mom says she want to "discuss" something with you.", he yelled out loud in the direction of the kitchen. "Genma are you here, we have much to discuss husband.", she said as she began to drag a large panda off by its ear. The second of the two skulkers unfortunately escaped. "Oh well, at least dinner will be quieter without him around.", Ranma thought to himself. ***************** The hunter watched her prey as he moved along the darkened streets. He seemed nervous and on edge from something. It sounded like he was mumbling something about a daughter's bad cooking and disrespectful teenagers. Well if he wants to cook she could think of more than a few ways to get the fires burning. He turned down an alley in which the opposite end had just become a large vehicle being parked there. "Puuuurrrrfect.", she thought. "Now darling will have no where to run. "But first I'll have a little fun, after all I must be defeated by darling to make this official. Of course, how hard I choose to fight is my own decision.", she thought. She noticed her reflection in a puddle on the roof. It showed an attractive woman in her early 30's. "Hmmm, no bad for being a little over a hundred.", she said quietly to herself. Just as her prey was turning around to exit the now blocked alley, she pulled her cloak tightly around her and leaped down in from of him, pulling out 2 small silver swords, crossing them in front of her. Soun Tendo walked through the streets of his neighborhood without a destination in mind, something he had not done in years. Every time he left his home lately it seemed, both he and Genma ended up at one of the local bars. He looked around and realized that the neighborhood had changed greatly over the past 10 years. Even at night there were quite a number of of people about including a large number of young couples. None of them appeared to be chaperoned. Perhaps that was part of the problem. They were left to their own devices these days. No one seemed to believe in the traditional values that he was raised by. Even his own daughters were not perfect, well except for Kasumi. She was so much like her mother. If only Nabiki and Akane could be more like her Nabiki wanted to be a business woman. She would never let herself be subservient to anyone. She might even make her future husband, whoever that turned out to be, stay at home and take care of the kids while she worked. He read about couples like that and it just seemed so unnatural to him. Poor Akane, filled with so much anger and such a lack of feminine grace and charm. He realized that it wasn't entirely her fault, Kasumi couldn't teach Akane everything, especially since she seemed to be focused on the ART, instead of cooking for example. He shuddered. He tried to be positive about his daughters, but Akane's cooking made this impossible. His own cooking was quite bad, as Genma could attest too, but it never looked like something out of an old Godzilla movie, and it definitely never moved on its own. He continued to walk along, thinking quietly to himself, till he found himself in a blocked off alley. "Now how did I get here?", he thought to himself. As he was turning around to leave a cloaked and hooded figure jumped down before him. He sprang back as the figure pulled what looked like two small silver swords from somewhere. It had been many years since his last street fight, but he wasn't about to roll over and play dead for some little punk. He got into a fighting stance and yelled out, "I will give you chance to surrender before I am forced to injure you.", he said. The figure said nothing and continued to advance. Soun could swear it was smiling beneath its hood. It was also quite apparent that the attacker was female. Another blow to his sense of tradition. The figure gave a quick jab with one of the swords to Soun's right arm. He quickly deflected it. The blow had very little power. His foe was testing him. Another jab, much faster than the last, slice off part of his right sleeve, but didn't hit his arm underneath. He countered with jab to his opponent's head snapping it back and causing her to leap back. Her hood exposed her head a more and in its shadows he could see a definitely smile and two shining silvery colored eyes. "Why did that remind him of someone?", he thought. The figure sprang forward sweeping the sword, in its left arm in a wide arc towards his head. He avoided the blow easily and managed to grip her wrist and twisted it, causing her to let go of one of the swords. Soun decided he was on the defensive far to much. He was tiring and his back and shoulders, unused to such exercise in a long while were becoming stiff. Before she could recover he leaped toward her and caught in the right should with a roundhouse kick. She was spun around by the force of the blow and bounced off the wall of the alley with a strange snapping sound. He waited for her to get up. After all he knew the kick was ill-timed and it should not have done that much damage. The figure got up slowly, dropping the other sword and using the hand to hold on to her should, which Soun noticed was now bleeding quite profusely. As she pulled the cloak away from her shoulder, he noticed a piece of metal lodged in it. It must of been laying against the wall when she slammed into it. Soun debated taking advantage of her injury and knocking her unconscious. That was what the Master would have recommended. But she did not seem to be a threat anymore, and he did not like injuring others. Harassing and threatening Ranma for his behavior was another thing entirely he thought. "If you give me your word of honor that you will stop your attacks, I will help you to a nearby clinic.", Soun said warily. The figure nodded and stumbled toward him, blood falling freely toward the ground. Soun retrieved the 2 swords, put them in the belt of his gi and held onto to her as they limped toward the clinic. Just as they entered the clinic, a gust of wind blew the woman's hood away causing him to see who his attacker was, and his eyes to go wide in shock if not fright. "You seemed surprised, darling, surely you did not expect me to give up on you easily?", the young woman asked, with seductive smile on her face. "Li....Li...Lilac...Why did you attack me?", Soun asked. "You know Amazon law Airen. You have to defeat me in order to marry me, but I did not expect you to be so formidable.". Lilac purred. "Which reminds me. There is one more thing that must be done to make it official.", Lilac says as she reach her arm behind Soun's head and draws his lips to hers before he ever realizes what is happening. "I love you, my beloved husband.", she says in Mandarin. He stiffens in shock and responds to the kiss in a fashion befitting his age and maturity.....He faints. (THUD) "Oh dear we will have to work on that before the honeymoon. But first I must get this thing out of my shoulder.", she says as she enters the exam room looking for the doctor. (10 Minutes Earlier at the Cat Cafe) Shampoo and Cologne are cleaning up after the dinner rush when Cologne suddenly stiffens and a worried look crosses her face. "Is something wrong great-grandmother?", Shampoo asks. " I have felt a presence I haven't felt since....." Shampoo signed, it was a mistake to show her great grandmother those silly American science fiction films. Now she thinks she is a Jedi. Although she does admittedly look like that little green muppet that was in one of those movies. Meanwhile, at the Kuno institute for the delusional and deeply disturbed: "Let me out of here damn you!!", a very angry Kodachi Kuno yelled. "How dare you treat me this way!!", she screeched as she noticed the new iron bars over her windows. "I am very sorry about this Mistress, but your doctor ordered it so, and your bother gave his permission for this.", a voice from behind her locked and bolted bedroom door said. "So Sasuke, even you now seek to embarrass and abandon me as everyone else has done?", Kodachi said sounding hurt. "Do you even realize what you have done mistress. Your brother informed me that had not Ranma and that Chinese girl stopped you, you would have killed Nabiki-san then their would have been no way for anyone to help you. You would have found yourself in prison or an asylum for the rest of your life.", Sasuke said. "Why should you care about the peasant, Nabiki Tendo?", Kodachi asked which as much scorn in her voice as she could muster. "It was I who introduced her to the young master, when they were but small children, many years ago. It was just after you and your mother left here to live elsewhere. He was quite lonely after you left. He missed you greatly, and even cried for several days after you were gone.", Sasuke said. "He missed me and cried for me?", Kodachi repeated sounding both shocked and even strangely a little happy at the same time. "Yes he did. He was quite sad until one day, when I brought him to the park, he saw a little girl with short brown hair and green eyes just sitting in the middle of the grass looking sad and staring out into nothing. Even back then he thought of himself as a Samurai. I remember him walking up to the girl and saying something like, "What ails you young maiden, may this humble warrior help you with your troubles?", Sasuke said trying to imitate a young Tatewaki Kuno. "The girl looked at him as if were demented and told him as, much, but she was smiling when said it. I let them speak for a little while until an older girl, I believe it was her sister Kasumi, came and escorted her sister back home. They saw a lot of themselves when they were children. I believe they were best friends and the young master did much to try and bring young Nabiki out of her shell. They even started to date when they started junior high together, but then you came home alone and things started to change.", Sasuke ended his last statement with some tension in his voice. "I do not know exactly what you have done, but since your arrival here mistress your brother and Nabiki-san have both been affected quite negatively by it. I know he still loves you mistress. You are his only sister after all, but you must stop treating him as if he was one of your possessions. If you are lonely, he will comfort you. You do not have to use poisons and to chase all others away from him in order for him to pay attention to you. Just ask.", Sasuke said. "Now if you excuse me I have other duties to attend to. I have left the medicine the doctor prescribed for you on your dresser. Please take it, you will not get better without it.", he said as he walked away from her door and seemed to disappear into the woodwork. Back at Doctor Tofu's office, Soun was still unconscious outside in the waiting room and Lilac was now on an exam table being looked over by the Doctor. "You should be at a hospital, you have lost a lot of blood.", the doctor told her. "Nonsense doctor, all I need for you is too pull out the metal fragment then I will be able to heal myself. Just hold me steady after you do or I may fall over from the shock.", Lilac informed him. Doctor Tofu managed to remove the piece without too much trouble and was now holding Lilac steady as she held a glowing yellow hand over the would which seemed to be in the process of closing by itself. When she was done she collapsed in his arms. "Thank you doctor, with a little rest and some food I shall recover quite nicely.", Lilac said as she began to lay back down on the exam table. "I can prepare you something, it wont be fancy but it should help you feel better. I should also drag Mr. Tendo out of the front room, I believe he is scaring away all my other patients.", the doctor joked. "You can put airen next to me if you like.", she said while licking her suddenly dry lips. "Airen???, never mind I'll ask about that later.", the doctor said as he went to retrieve Soun Tendo from where he had fallen. When he returned he put Soun down on a separate exam table, much to Lilac's disappointment and sat down next to her. "There is one question I would like to ask you if I may.", the doctor said to Lilac. Lilac smiled and said, "I am sorry doctor but I am already spoken for.", she teased while pointing to Soun. "Its not about that. I was wondering how you healed yourself. It looked very similar to how a patient of mine, Ranma, healed another patient whom he brought in here. It looked the same but his technique seemed to cause Nabiki some pain, while your technique seemed to be painless.", Doctor Tofu said. "Oooohhh, Ranma is here as well!! Perfect now I can complete his training. He had to leave the village so suddenly. I was quite disappointed, especially when my beloved left with him.", she sighed. "This could be a problem.", the doctor thought to himself. As Doctor questioned Lilac about her healing abilities as she ate, one very panicked Soun Tendo had awakened to the voice the feared almost as much as the dreaded "masters". He tried to sneak out, but just as he was sliding off the exam table, it gave a loud creaking noise, which caused Lilac to look back and noticing that her darling was awake, she decided to "greet" him. "Darling!!! Your awake now", the perky Amazon healer explained. "Ack oop eep ah ah", Soun wisely intoned. He struggled with all his might and still could not dislodge the amorous Amazon, then he can upon a simple way to dislodge her. It seemed quite obvious. He wondered why Ranma never tried it on Shampoo. Shoving down on Lilacs "assets" caused her to easily slide down and off him. He expected her to looked angry at his actions, but instead he saw a lustful grin that would even scare the "master". "I was right you do want me. Now darling you are going to help me recharge my ki aren't you.", Lilac said as she let her dress fall to the floor revealing a light purple and almost transparent "teddy". "I'll leave you to, to get reacquainted", Dr. Tofu said as he backed slowly out the door. "You're leaving me alone.", Soun said in a state of panic. "I never interfere in my patients personal lives, besides you're old enough to handle such problems on your own.", the doctor said as he raced out of the room and into his office, locking and barricading the door just in case. "I have enough trouble with ka..ka..Kasumi, I don't need anymore women troubles.", the doctor thought to himself as he hid behind his desk. He then heard a loud crash then the sound a male voice screaming as it faded into the distance. Moving the furniture aside, he quietly leaned out the door and looked around to see if anyone was still there. He went back to the exam room and found that the far wall had two new large holes in it. Both human shaped, He also noticed a short Chinese style dress on the ground, which means that somewhere in Nerima there is a half-naked Amazon chasing a very panicked middle-aged martial arts instructor. (Back to the Cat Cafe) Cologne and Shampoo had just finished cleaning up when a loud scream pierced the air and seemed to be drawing closer. Both ran out side and were surprised by what they saw. Soun Tendo ran by in a very tattered ki, screaming, with a terrified expression on his face.. "Wait for me darling.", a voice called out behind him. Shampoo stiffened "Please don't let it be her", she thought, then her eyes widened as she saw who had just called out. Shampoo looked scared, Cologne looked annoyed as a half-naked Amazon women, who looked to be in her early 30's, skidded to a stop in front of them. "Cologne-Chan, Shampoo-Chan you're here as well.", the perky Amazon exclaimed. "Once again you manage to embarrass amazons everywhere with your antics.", Cologne sighed. "Oh pooh, you have just forgotten to have fun at your age.", Lilac teased, then looked over at Shampoo. "Shampoo dear, look at you. You have grown up to be a very sexy young woman.", Lilac purred as Shampoo turned green. Shampoo opened her mouth to say something, put was stopped short when Lilac laid a finger across and lips and whispered, "There is no need to thank me I know how you feel.", Lilac teased as Shampoo went from green to yellow. "Now I would love to stay and chat, but I have to catch up with my dearest airen. Bie Bie!!", she exclaimed. "You know what we must do now, don't you Shampoo?", Cologne asked. "We close up restaurant, and go on nice long vacation, yes?", Shampoo said sounding hopeful. "Tempting, but we must keep an eye on Ranma, you know how "creative" Lilac's idea of training is.", Cologne said sounding frustrated. "Old pervert healer, better not try anything with air...I mean Ranma. Just because Shampoo no can have, doesn't mean Shampoo let any old woman near him. He Shampoo's friend and Shampoo protect, like nice mercenary girl has.", Shampoo said. "Mercenary girl?? Do you mean Nabiki Tendo?", Cologne asked. "Yes, that her. She been defending Ranma, even yell at violent sister when Akane hit Ranma or throw him in pond. HE even take to school dance in couple months. Something called a prom, Shampoo think.", said Shampoo. "Very interesting, maybe the young girl is starting to break out her shell after all.", Cologne said. Another loud screamed pierced the air and both amazons took off towards it. Later that night, Nabiki came down the stairs complaining that her knee was still bothering her. Ranma offered to take a look at it, but Nabiki seemed apprehensive. "This won't hurt again will it?", she asked. "No, your knee is already healed, it is just stiff. Lilac taught me a massage technique that should get rid of the stiffness.", Ranma said. Nabiki laid back on the couch, and to Ranma's shock and discomfort, first began to purr loudly , then gave a slight moan as he massaged her knee first, the rest of her leg. "That feels so good.", Nabiki purred, causing Ranma to feel even more uncomfortable, especially with the death glares Akane was giving him. Nodoka had a Cheshire cat grin on her face and even Kasumi looked a little wistful. "Um....Ranma.....when you are finished with Nabiki could help me as well.", she said while trying to rub out the kinks in her own shoulders, she often got from having to do all the housework herself. Ranma, noticing that Nabiki was rapidly falling asleep from the massage he was giving, her decided to stop and moved over to help out Kasumi, much to Nabiki's disappointment. As he started to massage Kasumi's shoulders and neck her eyes began to glaze over and real contented smile formed on her face. This smile being much different from her usual plastered on smile. Nodoka noticed Kasumi's smile and her grin seemed to grow. Akane noticed and seemed to grow even more angry. Nodoka saw the expression on Akane's face and said to her, "Don't worry Akane, Ranma will massage you just as soon as he is done with Kasumi.", Nodoka said with grin on her face. "Ah....no thanks...", said Ranma. "Why not?", demanded Akane. "Because last time I even tried to sit close to you, you called me pervert, hit me with your damn mallet, and threw me into the pond.", he said sounding rather annoyed at how dense his fiancee could be. "Oh...", she said quietly. "Yes, oh.. Why couldn't be more like Kasumi.. Even Nabiki treats me nicer than you now, and neither of them are engaged to me. "You jerk!!", she exclaimed as she reached back to slap her disobedient fiancee for daring to tell her something that was her fault. "Akane dear...", a voice said freezing her in her tracks. "Didn't we just have a conversation about you hitting my son so often.", Nodoka said. "But..but..", Akane said. "No buts dear. Ranma has been very patient and kind to you since the wedding disaster. He has even been training you without insulting you. Don't you appreciate what he's done for you?", Nodoka asked. "But auntie, last time he tried to be close to me, he was in his girl form. I can't be close when he's like that.", Akane said. Kasumi and Nabiki were listening in to the conversation after "recovering" from Ranma's massage. Both did not seem very pleased by their sister's last statement. "Why cant you dear. I realize that you might feel a little uncomfortable showing affection to another "girl", but it is still my son you were with.", Nodoka said. "But...Ayumi....", Akane whispered. Kasumi sighed out loud when she heard that name mentioned. "Do you know something about this?", both Nabiki and Nodoka seemed to ask at the same time. Kasumi looked at Akane, who looked down sadly and said, "Its ok Kasumi you can tell them. I don't think I can talk about it anyway. "When Akane was 13, her best friend was a girl named Ayumi. Akane first met her when some other kids were taunting her. Ayumi was half Korean, and was the target of many insults because of this. She also was rumored to like to be with other girls instead of boys.", Kasumi said. Nodoka's eyes widened a little. "Akane saved Ayumi from the bullies and offered to show her around the school. Akane, at that time also did not have very many friends. She was a bit of a tomboy back then and was also made fun of", Kasumi said rather sadly as she noticed Akane flinch when she mentioned the word tomboy. "The insult hurt her a lot, especially when the students started to accuse her of being like Ayumi.", Kasumi said "I see....", Nodoka said. Ranma was listening to this and was now finding out why a simple insult like "tomboy" seemed to make Akane so mad. Life for a 13 year old boy wasn't much different from that. Being called gay, or any other euphemisms like that was considered the worst insult you could call someone. He remembered many fights between people at his junior high starting from similar name calling. "Akane.", Ranma-chan spoke out. "Yes, Ranma", Akane said quietly. "If it bothers you that much, I won't ever call you tomboy again, OK.", Ranma-chan said as she held out her arms as to offer a hug to apologize. Akane saw Ranma's outstretched arms and could only shiver in response. Ranma looked hurt by this action, which did not go unnoticed by the others in the room. "Its ok..... I understand if you don't want to be near me when I'm like this.", Ranma said sounding very hurt. "Akane dear, I am very disappointed in you. Just because a couple of girls insulted you years ago, you now act in such a disgraceful manner.", Nodoka said starting to get angry. "It wasn't just that. It was.....daddy.", Akane said just above a whisper. Kasumi looked down sadly, shaking her head. She remembered this incident vividly, and it wasn't very pretty. She was quite ashamed of her father that day. She started to say something, but was cut off by Akane. "I'll tell what happened from here. I never did tell you all what happened Kasumi.", Akane said. "Ayumi was a very quiet and timid girl most of the time. Her height had something to with it. She was only about 4 1/2 feet tall back then. She also didn't like to be noticed, for fear of people making fun of her. The only time she seemed to come alive was around her girlfriend, and me for some reason. At the end I found out, it was because she had started to develop a crush on me after I saved her, but in the beginning I didn't know. We started to hang out more and more together, and the rumors continued to grow. I really didn't care at first, because she was one of the few friends I had at school, but later some of the parents found out about her and told their children to stay away from her and me as well, because we were too different from what they considered normal.", Akane said pausing to catch her breath "Ayumi knew that I wasn't like her but we still were close friends. What really ended our friendship though happened after our 8th grade graduation. Ayumi and I went to a movie to celebrate finally being done with junior high school, and she going to spend the night. After we got back home we were in my room. Ayumi was telling me about how her new girlfriend had kissed her for the time. She noticed I looked shocked and began to tease me about it. I said it sounded gross that two girls liked kissing each other. She smirked and asked if I had ever thought about it. I took too long in answering and she began to laugh saying that I was probably just too afraid to try it. I told her I wasn't and would even try it with her.", Akane said seeming quite embarrassed. "Akane if that is so, why the fuss with Ranma.", Nodoka asked. "I'm getting to that auntie.", Akane said. "I couldn't turn down her challenge so I leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.", Akane said. Everyone eyes raised at this statement. "Ayumi said that, that wasn't a kiss and leaned into me and gave me a much more passionate kiss. I was shocked at first but then I started to return it.", Akane said. Ranma's pig tail "toinged" out, and even Nabiki seemed surprised at this turn of events. "It felt good...really good, and when we started to "French kiss" daddy came into the room and he didn't look happy. I don't think I had ever seen him so mad. He pushed us apart and began to yell at me. He said I was dirty and unclean, a slut and a whore. He said that if I ever disgraced him and our family like that again he would throw me out of the house.", Akane said while tears began to form in her eyes. "He then turned on Ayumi. He looked like he was going to hit her, but instead he picked her up and physically threw her out the door. She hit the ground hard. She wasn't a martial artist and was scraped up, but daddy didn't care. He called her all sorts of horrible names. So many, it hurts to think of what happened.", she said as the tears flowed freely. To say that Ranma and Nodoka were angry now would be a gross understatement. To think that any man, especially one who so often questioned Ranma's honor, would stoop so low as to injure an innocent and helpless young girl, and not even care if she was injured, was disgraceful. Ranma had known that Mr. Tendo was nothing more than a bully for a long time. The whole demon head attack was a tactic that a bully would use. Nodoka was equally shocked. Abusing a small girl was definitely not manly and she would have to have a "small discussion" with the man when he came back. She hoped that her husband would not agree with what his friend did or she would have to "talk" to him again as well. "He would have continued, but Kasumi actually stopped him", Akane said as all eyes turned to Kasumi. "I had never seen her mad before but she really yelled at him. Telling him that his actions were dishonorable and that he should be ashamed of himself. He was so shocked he couldn't respond, he only wandered back into the house and never said another word about it. But whenever Ayumi's name would come up he give me a look that dared me to ever bring her back here again.", Akane said. "So you see if I let Ranma near me when he is a girl, then I am just like daddy said I was. I don't want to be unclean or a slut.", she said starting to shake. She noticed Ranma trying to move closer, but she moved away and went over to Kasumi for comfort. Ranma decided to get up and go sit out by the pond before he became even more depressed. Nabiki went out to join him. She sat on a rock across from him. Nabiki could read the emotions that Ranma was feeling by watching them play across his, or rather her face. His girl form always seemed to be able express herself more freely, and now was no exception. "I know what you are thinking Ranma-chan, and it is not your fault.", Nabiki said. "Isn't it Nabiki? Even since I became cursed, my life has been nothing but one problem after another. I've had guys lusting after my female form. Women have been jealous of "these".", he said while holding up his breasts, causing Nabiki to snicker. "A few women have even said that they were fake. How they could think that I don't understand.", Ranma said with complete sincerity, causing Nabiki to smile further. "I'll explain that to you later Ranma, but its not important now.", Nabiki said. "It still doesn't change the fact that Akane hates me, and wont even get near me now when I'm a girl.", Ranma said. "You can "thank" daddy for that. If he wasn't so stuck in this delusional samurai fantasy world of his, he might realize had badly his words hurt Akane. But because he is the "lord and master" of his domain we must all bow down to his "wisdom".", Nabiki said sarcastically. "Over time, I have also noticed you becoming more and more comfortable with your girl form, Ranma. Dr. Tofu and Cologne have both told you on many occasions that you are lucky to be in the situation that you are in. You are one of the few people to see life through both a man's and a woman's eyes.", Nabiki said. "I don't want to be a girl. Girls are....", Ranma started to say before Nabiki interrupted him. "Don't you dare say girls are stupid and weak, Ranma. I have heard say that garbage too many times before, and even you must now know how untrue that is." Nabiki said starting to sound a little angry. "But pop always said....", he start to say before he was cut off again. "Ranma, to put it bluntly, I seen forms of plant life that are more intelligent than your father.", Nabiki said. Ranma giggled, then looked embarrassed at what he just did. "The way our fathers have been acting lately, I am frankly not sure which one of them is the bigger idiot. I know you love your father and I love mine as well, but that does not mean we always have to do and think what they tell us to. We are not their slaves, no matter much they seem to think the contrary. Besides, I happen to know there are times when you like girl form, such as last week in the furo.", Nabiki said while grinning evilly. "I don't know what you are talking about Nabiki.", Ranma said while twisting his pigtail. "Its nothing to be ashamed of, you weren't that loud.", Nabiki said as Ranma turned the same shade as her hair. "After all Akane was even louder, the night after she first you exit the furo in your male body.", Nabiki said noticing the now goggle-eyed expression Ranma was now wearing. "Besides both of you are too excitable as it is. I would hate to see how both of you would behave if you didn't relieve some stress now and again.", Nabiki said. Ranma opened his mouth, but he couldn't think of anything to say. He did notice the catty grin on Nabiki's face though. "Now if you two spent more time together, you wouldn't have to spend so much time in furo thinking of each other.", Nabiki said. "I don't think she even wants me to be near her now, Nabiki, never mind us doing anything like that.", Ranma said. "Besides......it wasn't Akane I was thinking about in the furo.", Ranma thought to himself. Nabiki noticed the growing grin in Ranma's face and said, "Are thinking naughty thought about my sister again Ranma?" "Actually I was thinking about something else. You said Akane and I like to use the furo to be "naughty", but what about you Nabiki, do you use it as well, and if you do, who are you think about? Kuno perhaps?", Ranma said obviously shocking Nabiki since she fell off her rock and into the pond. "Ooooh, you'll pay for that remark Ranma-chan.", Nabiki said as she climbed out of the pond with a disturbing gleam in her eyes. Ranma saw the look in Nabiki's eyes and began to back away. "Yes, I definitely need to punish you for getting me all wet.", Nabiki said as she suddenly leapt at the redhead and began to tickle her furiously. "Wait...no fair...giggle...laugh...help...giggle", Ranma managed to say while under the dreaded "Tendo Tickle Attack". As they continued to roll around on the grass, a certain purple-haired perky Amazon made her appearance. She noticed what her two friends were doing and said, "Friend Ranma and friend Nabiki being naughty? Looks like fun. Maybe Shampoo join in. Ranma and Nabiki stopped what they were doing looked at each other, nodded and said, "I have anyways wondered something, Ranma." "What is it Nabiki?" "Are amazons ticklish?" "I have no idea Nabiki. Lets find out.", they said as they both leapt toward the Amazon. "Oh.. maybe next time Shampoo keep mouth shut.", Shampoo said as she saw he two friends glomp onto her. "Aiyah...snicker...snort....giggle....gasp.", said the purple-haired, Amazon princess. (10 Minutes earlier in house, just after Ranma went outside.) Nodoka and Kasumi watch Ranma go out to the pond ,followed shortly thereafter by Nabiki. Nabiki seemed to follow Ranma around a lot lately, both women thought. "Akane, you have to stop behaving like this. You hurt Ranma's feelings greatly by shying away from him so.", Kasumi said as she pulled Akane away from her. "I know I have told you to respect your elders, but you must realize that what your father said was very wrong. Even Genma would not judge a person so, and Kami-sama knows that man has his faults.", Nodoka said. "You know that Ranma has always been insecure about his girl form. He doesn't like it when you tease him by calling him a pervert. He is probably the least perverted person around. Shampoo used to throw herself at Ranma daily. How many men could have resisted that for any length of time. Not to mention all the other girls who kept showing up to claim him as their own. He was never tempted by any of them, because he only like one girl. Do you know who that girl was?", Nodoka asked. Akane shook her head no. "It was you dear. He loved you. He even killed a god for you, but for some reason you still think of him as being unfaithful. From what Kasumi has told me you offered to be his friend when he first came here, but you changed your mind when you found out he was man instead of a woman. Why did you do that?", Nodoka asked. "When he came here, he looked so scared and helpless, he reminded me of someone else who needed a friend.", Akane said. "He reminded you of your past girlfriend Ayumi didn't he?", Nodoka said looking at Akane with a pitying gaze. "Yes he did. When I first saw him, I only saw a cute shy little redhead, who looked at me like "she" wanted a friend more than anything. I thought that maybe I could now have a friend like Ayumi, but without any romantic problems. When I found out that "she" was actually a "he" I panicked. If Ranma was to be girl half the time and I was to marry him, then we might... you know... be together sometimes as women and that if I did so than I was a disgrace and a slut as daddy said I was.", Akane said sadly. "Akane, you are going to have to try and overcome your fears about Ranma. We can only help you so much. If you don't, you might lose him. I believe Shampoo when she said earlier that their were many Amazons who still want Ranma even though he can never go back to the village again. If these girls are willing to give up their homes and friends for him, and are willing to be with him despite his curse, why should he stay with you?", Nodoka said sadly. "He would stay with me because of the honor agreement between out two families.", Akane said. "Yes, he probably would, but if the only reason you are together is for honor, your marriage will not be a long or a happy one. The agreement was that you get married. There was no provision mentioned for long you stay married. You could end up a divorced women before you are 25, if that. Is that how you want to start your adult life?", Nodoka asked. Akane was about to answer when a loud "Aiyah" was heard outside. All three of the women look over at the site of both Nabiki and Ranma leaping at Shampoo then all three of them landing in a heap on the grass and trying to tickle each other. Kasumi and Nodoka looked amused, and Akane, of course, looked angry. "It looks like a tickle fight. You remember Akane, you and Nabiki use to have them all the time when you were kids.", Kasumi said. "They are not kids Kasumi, and Ranma's a boy. Don't they care what other people think? The perverts.", Akane said in her "righteous" anger. Nodoka smiled and said, "Shampoo doesn't seem the type to care about what other think. My son would knock your father through a wall if he called him a pervert, and I seriously doubts that Nabiki cares about what people think about her." "Except for maybe Ranma.", she silently added. Back outside, by the pond, the three friends were now laying back in the grass still breathing heavily, when Shampoo noticed Ranma looking back inside the house and watching Akane rant and rave about something. "What violent pervert girl do to Ranma this time.", Shampoo asked. Ranma and Nabiki explained what happened in the house and why they were out by the pond now. "Bleah... Shampoo have to deal with too many sad stories today. Way to much angst for Shampoo's liking. Shampoo starting to feel like she in a bad Sailor Moon fanfic.", Shampoo said. "You read Sailor Moon fanfics?", Ranma asked having a difficult time visualizing this revelation. "No... of course not... Shampoo only here about such things from Mousse. He enjoy reading them and telling Shampoo about silly girls in short skirts chasing silly villains. Shampoo not read though.", she said trying to sound convincing. "Riiiggghhhttt.", Nabiki and Ranma seemed to say at the same time. Shampoo was trying to think of a way to respond to that, when she remembered why she came to the dojo to begin with. "Ranma, Shampoo have something to tell you.", Shampoo said with a nervous tone in her voice. "What is it?", Ranma said. "When Shampoo was cleaning up restaurant Shampoo saw Nabiki's crying father run by in very torn up gi. Look like he in fight, but turn out to be much worse.", Shampoo said. "What do you mean?", Nabiki said. "Well, you see......." "Aaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiighhhhhhhhhhh", Shampoo was cut off by the sound of loud scream coming from a very familiar middle aged martial artist in a torn brown gi. Said martial artist then ran by the stunned trio and into the house. "That was......" "Darling where are you?", Nabiki was cut off by the sound of a mature yet sultry feminine voice that was now approaching the dojo. "Oh Kami-sama, not her, anything but her.", Ranma whimpered.. The trio of friends soon saw what appeared to be a half-naked, voluptuous women with light purple hair and silver eyes, land in front of them. Ranma also noticed how this woman's purple "teddy" was adhering quite nicely to her sweaty form. Shampoo and Nabiki noticed Ranma's noticing and both looked quite annoyed for some reason. Lilac noticed a cute little redhead staring at her and realized who it was. "Ranma ,dear." "Is that you? You've grown as much as Shampoo-chan has.", Lilac says as rubbed herself on the panicked martial artist. "Yes definitely feels like you.", she purred. "Can't breathe", Ranma said. "Get away from friend Ranma, you desperate old woman.", Shampoo said while continually bashing the horney healer over her head with her bonborries. Said healer didn't seem to feel the blows for some reason. Nabiki was considering finding a large blunt object to hurt the healer with. How dare she do that to her friend. That was her job after all. She banished that thought from her mind. Where had that come from? "Pervert woman go chase crying man, not molest Ranma. He go through there.", Shampoo pointed to the house. "Ah airen is in there?", Lilac said. "AIREN!?!?!", the trio exclaimed. "Yes, today I was defeated in combat by that noble man.", Lilac said. "Oh no...no..no...no"," Nabiki moaned. "What's wrong?", Ranma said. "If she marries daddy. She'll be living here as my new mother.", Nabiki shuttered. "Daughter!!!", Lilac exclaimed as she hugged Nabiki, who handled it very well by fainting. "That was unexpected.", Lilac said while looking at Nabiki with a confused expression on her face. Ranma took Nabiki away from Lilac and laid her down gently on the grass brushing some hair out of her eyes. "Ahhhhhhh, How sweet!! She's your fiancee isn't she?", Lilac squealed. Ranma realized he was holding Nabiki in a similar fashion to how she was holding him earlier when he was unconscious. He also noticed two large flaming?? eyes staring into him from a certain tomboy who was barely being held back by his mother. "No, she's a friend, like Shampoo.", Ranma said not liking the look in the "old" healer's eyes. "Ranma is right. Shampoo and Nabiki Ranma's friends not fiancees.", Shampoo said. "That is Ranma's fiancee", she said pointed toward the open back doors. Lilac looked through the door, turned back to Shampoo and Asked, "Which one is it? The angry looking tomboy or the housewife??" Shampoo began to laugh. "Is tomboy.", Shampoo managed to snicker out. "How disappointing. He could do better than that. Pity you can no longer marry him Shampoo, you would make a much better wife.", Lilac said noticing a very depressed look on Shampoo's face. "Lilac shouldn't you be looking for your airen, instead of bothering Nabiki and Shampoo.", Ranma said sounding quite protective of the two girls. Lilac looked back toward the house and saw her quarry, or part of him at least, sticking out from under the couch. Then took off toward the house followed, at a slower pace by Shampoo, and Ranma, who was carrying Nabiki. Inside the house, the women there were shocked. They had just seen Soun Tendo, the master of the house, run through the fence in the yard, in a tattered gi, and run into the house and hide under the couch, where he was presently shaking. Kasumi was going to ask what was wrong, and why her father had not even bothered to remove his shoes before entering the house. There was no excuse for that after all. Her thinking was interrupted when what appeared to be a 30 year old Amazon in a tight purple "teddy" came crashing through the fence yelling for her "Darling". Kasumi stared at the Amazon as she skidded to a halt in front of Ranma-chan and glomped on to her. "That is not appropriate behavior, especially given what she is wearing.", said Kasumi. "She looks somewhat familiar.", thought Nodoka. "That pervert!! Now he is seeing an old woman!!", exclaimed Akane. "Old!?!", thought Nodoka, as her eye began to twitch. "He doesn't seem to be enjoying it dear.", Nodoka said to Akane, as she saw her son turning blue from the force of Lilac's glomp. The three women then watched as Shampoo literally tried to beat the affectionate Amazon off of Ranma. "Its so nice of Shampoo to help her friend isn't it?", Kasumi said. Nodoka could only stare at Kasumi and wondered if the girl was really good at sarcasm or if Kasumi just wasn't in touch with reality. The three women then heard Lilac yell out "Daughter" and glomp onto Nabiki, who now appeared frozen. "What does she mean?", Akane asked somewhat panicked. Kasumi looked over at the couch, where her father was hiding and remembered how torn his gi was when he came racing in. She then looked over at what Lilac was wearing and came to a "reasonable" conclusion. "I wonder if father married that Amazon?", Kasumi wondered out loud. "Oh dear, that would make her our new mother." "No..no...no..no..", Akane yelled while stamping her feet and working herself into a world-class tantrum. The focus of her anger soon changed as she saw Ranma remove the now unconscious Nabiki from Lilac's grasp and lay her gently down on the ground. Nodoka had hearts in her eyes as she saw the gentle smile he gave Nabiki as he moved the hair out of her eyes. "They say they are just friends but I wonder if they are just fooling each other.", Nodoka thought. "I wish someone would hold me like that.", Kasumi thought to herself. The three women then noticed that Lilac had entered the house and was in the process of yanking Soun out from under the couch, who was presently whining like a little baby. Ranma then came in carrying Nabiki, and was followed close behind by Shampoo. Lilac was having trouble with her airen. Soun seemed quite content under the couch, but Lilac would have none of this insolent behavior. "Husband come out from under there or I'll just have to join you.", Lilac said. She noticed him trying to sneak out the other side, grabbed one of his arms and yanked hard. Soun popped out like cork, the couch flipped over and Lilac found herself on the floor with Soun on top of her. She quickly took advantage of the situation. Wrapping herself around him she purred, "Now husband this is more like it. You should not have run away from your wife. I guess you'll just need to undergo "training.", Lilac said with an evil grin on her face. Nodoka realized from where she had seen Lilac before and was stunned that the woman hadn't aged in over 20 years. "Li-chan is that you?", Nodoka asked. Lilac looked at the redhead who was staring at her and her eyes opened wide. "Little No-chan.", she squealed. "Kami-sama they know each other.", Ranma accidentally said out loud. Nodoka smiled at her son and said, "Lilac was my teacher and governess when I was younger. She taught me all about relationships and how to please a man.", Nodoka grinned. "So that's why mom is so weird.", thought Ranma. "Which reminds me, Ranma, you left before you could complete your training. Since I will now be here for quite some time, we will have plenty of time to practice together again.", Lilac said. "Li-chan would you, the boy is so shy, I don't think he will get together with Akane. Perhaps if you taught her like you taught me", Nodoka said. "I am not marrying that pervert.", Akane said reverting to her old habits. Nodoka glared at Akane and sighed. Lilac on the other hand took one look at Ranma, and burst out laughing, an act which was not exactly encouraging to Ranma's self confidence. "Oh please, Ranma a pervert? That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. The only person I have even seen with a more pure aura than his, is her.", Lilac said while pointing at Kasumi, causing the poor girl to blush. "He turns into a girl!!", Akane yelled. Ranma looked depressed, a fact that was obvious to everyone except the little princess Akane. "Yes he does. Just think of the fun you two can have on your wedding night because of that.", Lilac said. "Besides you should feel lucky. You have the opportunity to have a husband who can truly understand a woman's needs. Well.. he will when I finish his training.", Lilac said with a smirk. Ranma remembered some of that training and could only blush in response, which was immediately noticed by Akane. "See the pervert is blushing, he probably even enjoys being a girl.", Akane said. "I don't enjoy it, but I do except it and I am not bothered by it anymore.", Ranma said. Everyone, except for Shampoo seemed stunned by this announcement. "About time you admit that.", said Shampoo. "What are talking about!!", yelled Akane. "While violent girl was recovering at village, Ranma was helping many Amazons overcome problems that they had.", Shampoo said. "He helped Azure to be more graceful. She was very strong warrior, but very clumsy. Ranma teach her to be more agile." "Ranma also help Sash to be confident, not allow herself to be picked on so much. Sash is very strange, prefer to read manga, watch anime, instead of fight. She very much picked on because of that. Ranma saved Sash from bully Perfume. He help teach Sash to fight better. Sash very grateful and she develop big crush on Ranma.", Shampoo said. "Ranma help Sugar and Spice as well. They considered old maids in village now, even though outside world still think they young at 25. Ranma talk to them, help them to understand that they not old. No need to feel ashamed at being single at their age. He say that many men in Japan and in other countries would be proud to have them as wives. They also falling in love with Ranma, because he treat them well.", Shampoo said. "Because I treated them well, they began to help me.", Ranma Said. "They, along with other amazons including Lilac helped me to accept my curse. There is no cure for Jusenkyo any more. The spring of drowned man is gone. It was gone when I saved you Akane", Ranma said looking at Akane sadly. "I gave up on cure to save your life." "So since I will now be a woman for half of my life I have to learn to accept who I am. The amazons helped me with that. My curse could have been worse. I could be an animal half the time." "Like pig-boy.", Ranma thought to himself. "So since I am a girl frequently I have to learn how to take care of this body in all ways.", Ranma said. "Do you consider yourself a man or a woman?", Nodoka asked. "I was born a man and raised a man. That is mainly what I consider myself to be. But in this body.", Ranma points to his chest, "I am a girl mostly.", Ranma said. "What do you mean?", Nodoka asked. "Well even in my girl form, I still like girls, not guys. I guess that makes me a lesbian.", Ranma said as the group, except for Shampoo face-faulted. "Ranma first male lesbian in history.", Shampoo started to snicker then fell over and began to laugh. "All the time I was at the village not one person called me a pervert or made rude comments just because of my curse. One person especially knew what I was feeling.", Ranma said. "Ranma talk about Chocolate yes?", Shampoo said. Ranma nodded. "Who is Chocolate?", Nodoka asked. "She is my granddaughter No-chan.", Lilac said. "She is about your age now with 2 daughters and a son of her own, something she thought she would never have thanks to her curse.", Lilac said. "How is she cursed?", Nabiki asked. "When she was very young, she fell in spring of drowned boy. This was very traumatizing for her. To suddenly find herself a boy, which were considered to be weak and stupid, something that Amazon women are supposed to protect, was almost too much for her to handle. It took almost 2 weeks for her to come out of her house, and even then she wouldn't talk to anyone, except for her family.", Lilac said. "Chocolate became a little more accepting of her curse as time went on, until she started to become a woman that is. Going through puberty as one sex is hard enough. Have to go through it effectively twice is horrible. She started to be teased again. You know how cruel teenagers can be when they are around someone whom they think is different than they are.", Lilac said. "She started to spend most of her time at home again. She even refused to participate in her first tournament. We were all very worried for her until one day she came home with a smile on her face, something we had not seen in months. She told us that a boy had asked her out, and he did not care about her curse. His name was Pine, and he was the son of one of the village merchants. He had gone to school with Chocolate for many years, but he had never really spoken to her until recently, because he was not a warrior and he did not think that Chocolate would want to speak to him. It turns out he had a crush on her, and had only recently gotten the nerve to speak to her.", Lilac said. "As they started to go out, some of the others teens made fun of them, usually in the form of insults to Chocolates and Pines sexual preferences. They did not care though, in fact 6 months after they met, they got married. As you may have guessed, Chocolate did not put up much of fight when Pine challenged her. Sigh.... Just like my Douglas and I....", Lilac sighed. "Oh no, Shampoo definitely not want to hear more Douglas stories. Whole village sick of stories.", Shampoo thought. "Do you see what I am trying to say daughter?", Lilac said to Akane. "I am not your daughter!!", Akane yelled. "You didn't answer my question.", Lilac said as she put her face right in front of Akane's. Akane looked nervous and shaked her head to the side. "What I am trying to saw daughter is that you should not judge a person by something as minor as a curse. You judge them for who they are. Does Ranma's curse make him any less of a person? I don't think so. If you want to be with him you will have to accept him girl form and all. That includes showing him some affection in both forms.", Lilac said. "I can't be close to him when he is like that. Its improper and unclean.", Akane said. "Where did you get such a ridiculous idea daughter?", Lilac asked. "From daddy.", Akane said. Lilac turned to stare at her husband. "Would you care to explain this darling.", Lilac said in tense tone, making her sound almost like a certain green haired oni girl. When Soun refused to elaborate Kasumi gave Lilac a brief description on his past actions involving Akane and Ayumi. "Husband, that is disgraceful behavior. If you did such a thing back at the village you would be punished severely.", Lilac scolded Soun. "I do not have to explain myself to you and I am not your husband.", Soun said showing a rare display of courage. "You defeated me in combat so your my husband.", Lilac said. "I am afraid for once the crying fool is right.", a new voice spoke out. Everyone turned toward where the voice came from and they saw Cologne pogoing into the room. "What are you talking about Cologne-chan?", Lilac asked. "If you married this man, his daughters would become amazons as well would they not?", Cologne asked "Yes they would, but what does that have to do with it?", Lilac asked. "Ranma is suppose to marry one of those daughters, and he would become an Amazon through marriage, but he has been forbidden from marrying any Jusenkyo Amazon or even entering the village.", Cologne said. "Ranma would have to give up his engagement to Akane before you would be allowed to marry,(cringe), Soun Tendo.", Cologne said. "There is another way.", Lilac said. "True, you could leave the tribe, but that would be mistake. You would be abandoning your friends and family forever.", Cologne said. "There is one more choice. I could form a new tribe. After all I already have several prospective members in mind.", Lilac said. "In order to that you need permission from the council or you must defeat the junior elder of the tribe. The council would not give that permission to you and quite frankly Lilac you are no match for an Elder.", Cologne said. "I am allowed to pick a champion in my place am I not?", Lilac said while grinning. Cologne sighed, she knew where this was going. "I select Ranma to be my champion.", Lilac said. "You want me to fight for you?", Ranma ask in a nervous tone. "Won't you do this one small favor for your teacher, Ranma dear?", Lilac said while giving her most kawaii look and holding her arms close to her chest. A very affective gesture considering what she wasn't wearing. Cologne saw Ranma's eyes glaze over as Lilac just about shoved her cleavage in his face. Ranma appeared to be blushing as red as his hair was presently. "Lilac, put on some clothes, you are distracting the boy.", Cologne chided the healer. Shampoo was muttering something about desperate pervert healers, and Akane looked like she wanted to hit Ranma for him "flirting" with Lilac. Lilac looked down and noticed something was missing. She reached out behind her pulled a knee length Chinese dress from out of nowhere. "How silly of me.", she grinned. "I didn't even realize I had left my dress at that nice doctor's office. Such a friendly man.", Lilac teased. Turning towards the sound, everyone noticed that Kasumi had somehow managed to crush the teapot that she was carrying. "Oh my how did that happen?", she asked as everyone was staring at her. "How indeed.", Lilac said thoughtfully. "Ranma I wish to speak to you alone, outside.", Cologne said as she pogoed out the back door on her staff. Once they were outside, Cologne turned to Ranma and said, "Ranma how do you feel about Lilac marrying that man?" She pointed to Soun and had a distasteful look on her face. "If you married one of his daughters, Lilac would be your mother-in-law, as well as your teacher. You would be around her quite a bit I would Imagine." "It is her business who she marries, but I don't know how she would get along with Nabiki and Akane. Nabiki seems a little cold toward her and Akane almost hates Lilac. I guess its because Lilac doesn't let get her away with misbehaving like her father does. She is a little strange at times, but who am I judge.", Ranma said. "When I was in the village I noticed her taking care of the few patients she had at the time. She was always kind to them. She spent hours talking to them, when she didn't need to be by their sides. When she is around Chocolate and her children Lilac almost seems like another person. I guess she flirts so much, because she is lonely. She told me more "Douglas" stories than I care to remember, but since he died 50 years ago, the stories about him that she keeps in her heart are no longer enough. She needs to be with someone.", Ranma said. "That's surprisingly insightful for you.", Cologne teased Ranma. "I have Chocolate and even Sash to thank for that.", Ranma said. "Chocolate I can see, but Sash?? What could you learn from that girl?", Cologne said. "Sash is a very sweet girl, and has a rather naive and romantic outlook on life. I guess that is what happens when you spend most of your time reading all those romance mangas. She is quite good at figuring out who would make the best partner for whom.", Ranma said. "How do you feel about Shampoo? I want complete honesty with this question. No more waffling on this.", Cologne said. "I like being around Shampoo more now that we are friends. When we were fiancee's all we ever did was fight and chase one another. We never had time to be friends or anything else. She was so obsessed with me being her "airen" that we never got the chance to know one another. We are much closer as friends and I care a great deal about her, but we can never be married. I have to uphold an honor pledge between our Akane's and my family.", Ranma said, sounding a little wistful. "Poor boy sounds like he is not as happy with Akane as he used to be. But I can not interfere anymore. It is no longer tribal business. Shampoo still loves home and he might even growing more fond of her, and from what Shampoo said earlier, he might even be falling for Nabiki as well.", thought Cologne. "From what you have just said, you have made my next decision much easier to make.", Cologne said. "What??", said Ranma. "In order for Lilac to form a new tribe, she must defeat the old tribes junior elder. Now since Bea De is injured the honor would go to me to fight for my tribe, unless I deem Lilac and her champion worthy of forming a new tribe. From what you have just told me, I feel you are more than worthy. As for Lilac, she is a little too....flighty... to a leader by herself, so I have decided that Shampoo and I will be part of the new tribe as well.", Cologne said with a grin. "You w