To my readers: Wow I can hardly believe that I'm on month eight of Year Of Evil. I kind of left month seven with more questions then answers. What did Shampoo write in that letter, what did Akuma do to Kuno and who is the mysterious Lae-In that has befriended Kasumi. Well some of those questions will be answered as well as the return of Ryoga and Ukyo. So sit back and enjoy the eighth month of the Year Of Evil.
Ranma 1/2
Houseguests
Whattitatti Kuno looked up from his hospital bed. It had been seven days since that cur Akira Saotome had used his dark skills to paralyze the Blue Thunder. He had to admit that this new Saotome was as formidable if not more so than his cousin. The memory of the battle was still fresh in his mind. He remembered how his swing was caught in the palms of his new rival. What happened next was almost impossible to believe, he had bent the blade. The noble blade of the Kuno family now looked like an upside down u on a hilt. Then to add to his humiliation the entire student body got to witness the vicious attack made on his person. He was fast, too fast to be human. He had noticed the letter that was stored in a pocket inside his sleeve.
"Alright Closet Case, I'll let you off easy this time, but I think it would be healthier for you to start finding a girlfriend of your own instead of chasing the taken ones." He watched as the cursed Saotome scooped up the shocked looking Nabiki Tendo and carried her away.But for some reason he returned a couple of days later demanding to know his relationship with Nabiki Tendo. At the time the young bushido master was meditating in his chamber (he had spent the better part of his day replacing pictures of Akane Tendo with her older sister The fair Nabiki Tendo) but who confronted him was not the same arrogant sarcastic young peasant that had challenged him before. Instead this young fool was angry to the point of murderous rage. His eyes seemed like black fire, his muscles seemed bigger and more intense looking. In short he was pissed off.
"How dare you interrupt my meditations?" Kuno bellowed as he reached for his sword.
"Meditations is that what they're calling it these days, in my day they referred to it as throttling poultry." The new wretched Saotome replied in the same sarcastic tone of voice. The reference was lost on Kuno as he drew his sword. "Don't even bother Twinkie." The insolent fool said walking towards Kuno. He raised his hand and showed Kuno the letter that he had taken from him earlier.
"Are you her to return the confession's of love from the fair Nabiki Tendo?"
"No you idiot I'm here to tell you that they're not from Nabiki. But from someone else."
"What are you talking about?" Kuno asked eyeing him warily. Akira Saotome handed him the note.
"Read it again, more carefully this time." The other wretched Saotome almost growled. Confused Kuno read the note again.
My dearest Kuno
My heart aches as I write this for in this letter I have to tell Kuno the truth. It would take too long to explain when it happened but Nabiki have fallen in love with you but you do need to know some things. The first my love is that Ryoga is innocent; we have both been part of a cruel hoax. But my heart wishes for me to enter into a vow of love and servitude to you. My heart still aches for you so I have convinced The Pig-Tailed Tree Kettle Girl to pose for some final pictures so that Nabiki Tendo can sell them to you at a reasonable price. I hope you will purchase these final photos as a token of my undying love.
With all my love
Your's Forever
Nabiki Tendo
Kuno smiled and hugged the letter. He looked at the wretched second Satome with a look of triumph on his face.
"She has chosen me over you and with all honesty who could blame her." He said with a smug sanctimonious tone of voice. Akira Saotome gritted his teeth and said something that Kuno couldn't understand.
"You really are an idiot aren't you?" he asked walking towards Kuno. He pointed to a part of the letter. "Have you even heard Nabiki refer to herself in the third person. She didn't write this." Then something strange happened a grin came over his face as he looked at the note. He turned to Kuno and looked at him with a mischievous smile. "But I think I know who did."
"Who?" Kuno demanded to know.
"I'll let you know in a minute but first we have some things we have to discuss." Everything seemed to be going well so Kuno couldn't figure what prompted that wretched Saotome to humiliate him like this.
Akuma headed home still scheming. He had a plan to get both Kuno and his mysterious admirer Shampoo. He stopped at his thinking tree and took his usual position. He remembered what happened after the fight with Kuno. Nabiki had refused to speak to him all through school.
"Has anyone seen Whattitatti Kuno?" the teacher asked.
"He said he was not feeling well and asked me to convey his regrets about missing your class." Akira Saotome informed her sounding as charming as ever. Nabiki just rolled her eyes and concentrated on her assignment. When the bell sounded Akira caught up with Nabiki at her locker.
"Are you out of your friggen mind?" she hissed at him from behind her locker door.
"What?" Akuma shrugged not quite sure why she was so upset.
"Acting like a jealous fool and cleaning Kuno's clock in front of the whole school."
"I don't know what's the big deal Ranma does it all the time." The demon replied leaning on his locker.
"Yeah well Ranma doesn't have a reputation to maintain." Nabiki said coldly as she closed her door angrily.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Akuma asked looking at her in shock.
"Nothing." She sighed as she headed to class.
"The hell it meant nothing, what do mean you have a reputation to maintain?" By this time a crowd had started gathering around the hallway.
"Will you keep it down, your drawing attention to yourself." Nabiki said in a low voice.
"Yeah so what? You never seemed to give a damn what people thought before." A thought had suddenly crossed the demon's mind. "What are you ashamed of me? Is that it?"
"No I'm not ashamed of you. But I'm not Akane alright I like to keep my private life private." Nabiki replied raising her voice just a little. "And fighting with Kuno baby, just because he suddenly developed a strange crush on me is just stupid."
"Well excuse I'm not Ranma I don't find it acceptable to have other people groping my girlfriend." A quiet hush filled the room as all the rumors regarding the both of them suddenly had been confirmed.
"Well now you've done it." Nabiki said disgusted and walked off.
"What are you all looking at?" Akuma growled at the crowd. He then stormed off in the opposite direction.
What an idiot! Nabiki thought to herself as the history professor lectured the class. Getting jealous of Kuno because he showed me a little affection. I mean god he slept with Shampoo and you don't see me trying to kick her ass. Not that I could, but still making a fool of himself like that. She sighed as she saw a couple of the girls staring at her and whispering to one another. Great just what I need gossip about me. This kind of thing is usually my bread and butter but not when it's about me. She looked around the class but could see no sign of him. Shit where is he? Oh well it's not like he's missing anything that he doesn't already know and then some. Still he still has an identity to maintain and skipping class isn't the best way to maintain it. Damn it Akuma where are you?
The demon in question however found himself sitting in his usual thinking spot on the branch of his thinking tree. He was angry but Ranma was in the middle of class and he doubted that Akane would allow him to be drawn out into a fight. But where else could he go?
"Mushu." The demon said with a smile on his face. Then the memory of the presence he sensed earlier reminded him that it might not be a good idea. "Ah fuck it." He muttered as he jumped out of the tree. "I always end up having to deal with her sooner or later." He said with a less then anxious tone.
Ten minutes later he was climbing into one of the windows of the Kuno Manor. He stopped and allowed the essence of Mushu to emanate towards him.
"Hello what's this?" a strangely sweet but evil voice asked.
"What is it?" The Dark Rose asked her mysterious benefactor.
"Nothing to be concerned about" the presence said with a tome of amusement. "I'll deal with it." The strange presence disappeared leaving The Dark Rose to her practice.
The room looked comfortable enough, it had a medium sized bed and a nice pine lacquered dresser. In fact if he hadn't found Mushu tied face down with his face in a bowl of dog food he would have thought his human friend would have been a little annoyed dropping in without calling first.
"I see you and Kodachi are getting along well." The demon said sarcastically as he untied his friend.
"This is more than her usual fun and games a lot more." Mousse replied with a grim look on his face.
"No shit. Can you walk?" the demon asked as he quickly checked the door.
"I'm not leaving." Mousse said. The demon looked at him with a strange look of shock on his face.
"Excuse me, do the words masochist mean anything to you?"
"Yes, but its more than that. Something is trying to take control of Kodachi, corrupt her and destroy her. I can't let that happen." Mousse replied passionately.
"Look Mushu I promise you we'll find another woman to kick your ass but right now we have to get out of here." Mousse looked at Akuma and felt really worried. The nearsighted ninja was one of the few people that new what Akira Saotome really was. So hearing the worry in his voice was definitely not a good sign.
"What are you so worried about? Kodachi's good but even I could beat her if I tried."
"Look I don't have time to explain now but trust me being here is not a good idea right now, so let's go. Before he could reach the door however a strong gust of wind sucked him out of the room while simultaneously slamming Mousse into a wall. The last thing Mousse saw before fading into unconsciousness was the closing of a blurry door.
"Crap." the demon muttered as the wind dropped him in another guest room
"Hello Akumae it's been a long time." A petite blonde girl who was dressed like a dominatrix greeted him. Her hair was done up in a very high beehive.
"Hello Libidious what brings you to Nerima?" the demon replied trying to remain as casual as possible.
"Oh you know same old, same old. So have you met anyone special lately?" she asked with a gleam in her eye.
"Not really, how about you?" Akuma replied putting his hands behind his back. The blond looked at him with a very skeptical look. She walked a little closer to him while slowly reaching for the whip at her side.
"Oh come on Akumae you never stay in one place to long unless there's a woman involved. Come on share with big sister." Her whip snaked out lashing towards him. But two strange looking dirks that had flown out of Akuma's sleeves suddenly intercepted it. Libidious looked at her brother with a hugely amused looked on her face. "Oh you've got it really bad this time. Oh if father could only see you right now he would be infuriated. Imagine the son of one of the most feared Generals in the demon underworld a cherubvite." Another strange gust of wind directed itself in his direction sweeping him off his feet and pinning him against a wall.
"I would tell you to go fuck yourself, but then you would probably force me to watch." Akuma said through gritted teeth as the winds refused to let him move. "But tell me Libidious why does a high and mighty pain demon such as you lower yourself to steal woman from a shameful demon such as myself?"
"Hobby," She replied in a nonchalant voice. "You should know that by now little brother."
"Figured as much but I needed to keep you talking for a couple of seconds so I could do this." He started chanting as quickly as he could and when he felt the winds start to lose strength he pushed off the wall with all his strength and went shooting down straight to the hall. He then quickly struck a wall and ricochet away from her.
"Oh come on, is this anyway to behave in front of your big sister?" she asked as she chased after the red and black blur that was bouncing off the walls away from her. The chase led her to the kitchen were the figure was still flying from wall to wall. "Wait a minute something's not right here." She lunged at the blurry figure finally grabbing it and slamming it into the floor.
"Chaos ball," She said in disgust.
Nabiki Tendo didn't want to admit it but she was worried. Akuma wasn't seen in school since they had that little spat in the hallway. And now the school bell was about to ring and there was still no sign of him. It wasn't that she was worried about his physical welfare; she knew he could win any fight that he was challenged to. And she really wasn't concerned that he was going to hurt Kuno. The idiot would recover, Akane had beaten Ranma worse than that before and Kuno was only a level or two below him. But she had never seen him so hurt before. The look in those pitch-black orbs he called eyes showed that she had really hurt his feelings. In all honesty she probably should have felt flattered about two guys fighting over her. After all how many times did she watch all the sports teams fight over Akane? But that was the problem; she had spent years profiting off her younger sister's love life that she never really considered having one of her own. On occasion she considered having a quick fling with Ranma every so often but despite all contrary evidence Ranma was devoted to Akane. This was a good thing since it kept her bankroll in a very comfortable position. Then along came this charming demon who liked her for who she was, not for what she was expected to be. Why is it so bad for people to see I have a boyfriend? Am I so concerned what my customers will say that I'm willing to deny us happiness to keep making a profit? An idea began to form in her mind as she walked home.
"So will these really work?" Soun Tendo asked the strange looking priest. The priest (who looked more like a robe wearing clown with a big hat) nodded solemnly while handing him the wooden box.
"These spirit wards have been used for centuries to keep evil spirits and demons from households. Legend tells that they were created by a monk (who was also a monkey,) and that no evil has been able to get passed them." Soun looked into the wooden box. And these will keep even a demon from The Demon Underworld away."
"This would be your best chance. Should I set them up for you?" Soun nodded his approval. He grinned as he watched the priest set up the wards.
"If that demon thinks he can corrupt my little girl he better think again." He said while striking an over exaggerated pose.
"It was very strange to see them argue like that." Akane commented to Ranma who was walking next to her.
"It's almost too familiar;" Ranma replied with a grin "and strangely satisfying in some ways." Akane couldn't help but smile at Ranma's comment.
"Still I'm worried."
"About Nabiki, or my cousin?"
"Ranma will you stop clowning around, Nabiki is falling in love with Akuma."
"Yeah' and vice versa," Ranma replied. "Akuma has it bad for your sister; I've never seen him lose his cool like that before." Then Ranma took Akane's hand in his and smiled. "It will be all right. We've faced tougher and stranger and have always won." Akane smiled at him.
"Maybe you're right." She said squeezing his hand gently.
At the Tendo house Nabiki was hard at work checking orders for their publications. More and more students seemed to get hooked on the story of two foreign lovers who coincidentally bore resemblance to Ranma and Akane. In fact lately the house had been bustling with activity. In the evening Ranma would be teaching self defense classes and Akane would tutor Shampoo. Then Ranma would spar with Shampoo under Akane's supervision. Meanwhile business was booming at Ukyo's so Akuma was working a lot of overtime while avoiding all the obstacles that Cologne put in his way. The bills were almost paid on time this month everything was finally working out for the family. So how come I'm afraid to let people know that I have a boyfriend. Nabiki sighed as she finished her paper work.
"Fuck!" she said out loud not knowing what else to do.
"Right here, Right now?" she heard a scratchy voice ask from the shadows. Nabiki turned to see her boyfriend standing a couple of feet away from her.
When Ranma and Akane arrived home they noticed pieces of paper that were strung all over the front entrance.
"What do you think this is all about?" Ranma asked Akane. Akane took a closer look at the paper.
"They look like spirit wards. Almost similar to the baka begones." They both shrugged and walked inside the house. They walked past Akane's father who was playing shogi with a clown in robes. The kids knew better then to interrupt Soun when he was playing shogi.
"Well Shampoo will be here soon." Akane said with a sigh.
"Yeah, and I have students to teach." Ranma replied with the same sigh. Neither one of them could believe the strange twist their lives had recently taken.
Ranma for his part enjoyed being a teacher, it felt good to be earning an income and helping support the family. He wondered if this is what being married felt like. He looked at Akane who was sitting on the couch and going over the lessons that she planned on teaching Shampoo. He marveled at her patience and understanding with Shampoo. Despite their past, Shampoo made no negative comments about Akane in fact she actually was starting to smile at Akane. She even brought her a bowl of ordinary (not poisoned, drugged or hiding a bomb) raman. He was worried at first when Shampoo became one of his students. Especially because she was already a skilled fighter, which meant that, she would need private classes. But under Akane supervision Shampoo was a good student. The only problem was that Ranma was afraid to lay a hand on her. He was concerned that if he defeated her in combat again they would be engaged again. So he started training her as a girl. Akane would still supervise and she would keep a bucket of hot water close by in case Shampoo turned it into more than a simple class. Everyday he would find himself drenched in hot water and everyday Akane would more than gladly help him out of his wet clothes. Then they would end up having their own type of sparring session and go to separate beds promising to see each other in the morning.
Akane also enjoyed being a teacher. She was considering asking Shampoo if she would like to go shopping with her. After all the two of them weren't really rivals anymore and she really hadn't seen Shampoo actually hang out with anyone, and she did in her own way respect Akane's wishes when it came to Ranma's girl body. Besides it was always fun to help him out his clothes later. She had to admit it she had a public place fetish. It was Ranma who had to get them to the bedroom, because she usually just tried to take him in the closest semi private area they could find. This probably wasn't the smartest thing since any moment Nabiki could catch them and make their love life a pay per view event. It was strange she couldn't figure out why the idea of doing it in places that they could get caught turned her on so much. It was ironic that for all the times she accused Ranma of being a pervert she was actually a bigger one than he was. The doorbell rang interrupting her thoughts. Sighing she went to the door to greet Shampoo.
"Hello Shamp" Standing in front of the door wasn't Shampoo but a tired looking Ukyo and a very nervous Ryoga.
"Hey Akane, look what I found." Ukyo said with a worn smile.
Five minutes later Ukyo and Ryoga were in the living room doing their best to drink down the tea Akane had made them.
"I'm sorry that Ranma couldn't be here but he's going to teaching for at least an hour. " Before anyone could say anything else the doorbell rang. "Oh that must be Shampoo. Excuse me I'll be right back." Ukyo stood up and quickly grabbed the teacups.
"What was that all about?" Ukyo asked as she poured the contents of the cups on the nearest plant.
"You got me," Ryoga replied with a shrug. "A lot seemed to have changed since we've been gone."
"Ukyo, Shampoo so glad to see you." Shampoo said as she gleefully hugged Ukyo from behind. A look of confusion came over Ukyo's face. The last thing she would have ever expected was a happy greeting from Shampoo.
"Oxygen, oxygen," Ukyo wheezed as Shampoo hugged her happily. Shampoo looked down at Ukyo and could see she was going blue in the face.
"Oh sorry Ukyo, Shampoo is just so happy to see you." Both Ryoga and Ukyo looked at Akane who looked just as confused as they were.
"You are, since when?" Ukyo asked still confused about Shampoo's change of attitude.
"If Ukyo is here that means great grandmother can go back to Cat Café, means Shampoo not have to work as hard, have more time to study." Ukyo looked at the Chinese Amazon who was almost glowing with happiness. She looked over at Akane who had a small smile on her face. She then looked at Ryoga who was still looking really confused.
"Ok let's sit down and start with the explanations. And this time let's take it from the top."
"You're definitely shaking it better then before." Lae-In told Kasumi as they approached the house.
"I guess." Kasumi sounding more then a little distracted.
"Something wrong Kas?" the big haired blonde asked the oldest Tendo daughter. She had only recently started calling Kasumi Kas. It didn't really bother her in fact she kind of liked it. Kasumi Tendo never went out all night to party. But Kas was slowly becoming the main attraction in the clubs. The boys would flock all around her and Lae-In when they went clubbing. She was never afraid that any of them would try anything out of line. Especially since the last one who tried to grope Kasumi had three of his fingers broken by Lae-In. But lately the nights seemed to be getting shorter. She rarely hung around the house anymore figuring that ever since Akuma had improved family business they could take care of themselves. Her father had started to express concerns about his oldest daughter. He never stopped asking questions about his daughter's new friend.
"I would just like to meet her. I don't want you to start associating with the wrong crowd." Her father would tell her a countless number of times. Every time he asked questions about Lae-In's social life she would get a little uncomfortable. Partly because she felt that the only reason why he was so concerned was because she wasn't cooking dinner much lately and he usually wound up cleaning the dojo himself with the reluctant help from the rest of the family. But the other part that bothered her was he had a point. Lae-In was a lot of fun; there was no doubt about that. But all she really knew about her best friend was that she practiced black magic and was clearly not interested in men. She made it perfectly clear that she didn't think about Lae-In that way, but she could still see the way that the sorceress eyed her body and it made her nervous.
"Would you like to come in? I'm sure my family would like to meet you." Kasumi asked. The question distracted Lae-In's mentally undressing of Kasumi.
"Are you sure that's a good idea, From what you've told me every time that house gets a visitor someone gets a new fiancé and massive property damage takes place."
"Oh my sure it will be ok."
"Really then why is your house warded against evil?" Lae-In asked pointing at the paper streamers that were hanging all over the house.
"Oh father, must be trying to keep out Akuma from Nabiki." Kasumi sighed.
"You don't say?" Lae-In said with a mischievous tone of voice. She went to get a closer look at the wards. An amused grin came across her face.
"What's so funny Lae-In?" Kasumi asked her friend.
"I think you should spend the night at my place tonight." The blonde replied with an amused tone of voice.
"Why, Lae-In what's so funny? Is my family in danger?" Kasumi asked sounding agitated.
"Come with me I'll explain everything on the way to my place." Before Kasumi could protest Lae-In was already about a block away. Kasumi looked at the wards places around her house. She knew that her father knew nothing about magic. But Lae-In and Akuma did. She didn't trust Akuma to behave himself. So the question was could she trust Lae-In? Her new friend really wasn't forthcoming with her past. But who else did she know who knew about magic?
"Of course Obasa Cologne," She said out loud. She began to run to Ukyo's as fast as her legs would take her.
"So let me get this straight, Ranma honey is no longer engaged to Shampoo, but you agreed to tutor her and Ranma honey agreed to train her as long as Shampoo doesn't try to kill either of you." Ukyo asked
"Uh huh," Shampoo replied happily.
"And Ranma is now teaching Anything Goes Martial Arts to guys who are desperate for girlfriends?" Ryoga interrupted.
"And Nabiki is dating the son of a bitch who set up Ryoga in the first place?" Ukyo finished.
"Yeah that's about it." Akane said also realizing the strange turn their lives had taken lately.
"So how about Ryoga and Ukyo you spend lot of time together?" Shampoo asked speculatively. Both of the traveling companions looked at each other uncomfortably. Both Akane and Shampoo couldn't help but notice their reaction. The two of them were so focused on the travelers that no one noticed Ranma enter the living room.
"Hey Akane, Shampoo are you" he stopped talking when he noticed the returned Ukyo and Ryoga.
"Hi Ranma." Ryoga said sounding uncomfortable.
"Hi Ryoga, um look about the whole reward thing, and the hunting you down, well I'm ah..." he quickly went to Akane and Shampoo. "I mean we're well we're, ah really sorry."
"Shampoo not sorry, Shampoo have no idea what went on with Ryoga and everybody." Everyone turned and looked at Akane's new student. "What?" Shampoo asked.
"Anyway Ryoga we're all very sorry for everything that you had to go through." Akane interjected.
"It's all right really; I mean he even convinced me for awhile." Ryoga said quietly. "I mean I would have probably thought the same thing if I saw Ranma doing it to you." Both Akane and Ranma started to blush at Ryoga's comment.
"Ah yeah, I mean it's not like it hasn't happened before." Ranma said hoping to change the conversation to something more comfortable.
"And of course there are all the times I thought Ranma was a pervert or a bully every time he tried to take P-Chan out of my room." Akane said looking at Ryoga.
"It looks like you're busted hon." Ukyo told her traveling partner. Ryoga looked at Ranma in complete shock.
"Hey don't look at me I didn't tell her." Ranma said defensively.
"Kasumi was the one who told me." Akane said quickly. "And you should consider yourself lucky that I don't pound you into the pavement or kill you right now. How could you keep such a secret from me?
"Well you not the brightest firecracker in warehouse." Shampoo said causing everyone to stare at her. "What? Everyone else figure out secret except Akane and greedy Tendo sister."
"Can you please call her Nabiki?" Akane asked Shampoo while massaging the bridge of her nose. They sat silently for a few moments around the coffee table. Ranma sat next to Akane on one side of the table with Ukyo and Ryoga on the other side, Shampoo sat in between the two couples. No one knew what to say so they sat silently.
"So how is Kasumi anyway?" Ukyo finally asked.
"Oh she's doing better; she's made a new friend who takes her out a lot." Akane answered.
"Really that's great!" Ryoga said with genuine enthusiasm. "I would still like to apologize to her."
"That's not really a good idea at the moment Ryoga." Ranma said. "She tends to accidentally hurt the men around her."
"Seriously, Shampoo see her pour hot tea in her father's lap two days ago. Kasumi have no trouble serving sisters or girl friends but Kasumi always hurts men." Once again an awkward silence filled the room.
The awkward silence seemed to spread to the bedroom of Nabiki Tendo as she stared at her demon boyfriend. Neither one said a word to the other. Finally Akuma broke the silence.
"I'm sorry." He said with a gentle tone sounding out from his scratchy voice.
"So am I." Nabiki replied sounding equally gentle. The two of them hugged both happy to be in each other's arms.
"I know that you don't really have any feelings for Kuno. It's just that I haven't felt this way about someone for a long time. I mean a really long time." The demon said with a smile. "And you and he have a history of sorts, not necessary a romantic history but still some history. And I guess I overreacted when I read the letter Shampoo sent him."
"What? Let me see that letter." She demanded knowing that Akuma wouldn't mention the letter unless he had it on his person. He handed it over and she started to read over it. Akuma noticed that Nabiki was gripping the letter just a little harder than she had to.
"Why, that sneaky, manipulative, Chinese slut, bitch!" Nabiki nearly screamed slamming the letter down on the floor. "Well there is no way she's getting away with this." This was the first time that Akuma saw Nabiki so furious. And before Nabiki could stop him he passionately kissed her. Nabiki was completely caught by surprise by the kiss. She had never seen Akuma so passionate before and saw no real point to pulling away from him. He drew her closer to him and started to pull on her shirt.
"Whoa boy!" she told him finally breaking off the kiss. "What's gotten into you?"
"Sorry it's just I've never seen you so furious before. It's a real turn on." The demon replied catching his breath.
"You're not serious." Nabiki said trying to see if he was kidding.
"I've always had a thing for woman with devious minds and dangerous tempers." He said with a grin.
"Oh really," Nabiki asked with a grin. "Well let me lock the door first and then I'll tell you what I plan on doing to Shampoo." Akuma sat on the bed with a huge grin on his face as Nabiki locked the door. She soon sat next to him and started to whisper in his ear.
Ukyo's had only a couple customers when Kasumi arrived. She saw Cologne serving orders while grumbling.
"Hello Cologne." Kaasumi said with a cheery disposition.
"Oh hello Kasumi, have you seen my granddaughter by any chance?" Cologne asked as she served her last customer.
"That's why I'm here I think Shampoo is in trouble with my family." She told Cologne sounding upset. She quickly told Cologne about the wards and her friend's strange behavior.
"I will be closing in an hour, it doesn't sound too serious but if my demon ex-son in law is involved its means some kind of trouble. Would you like something to eat while you wait?" Cologne asked the worried Kasumi showing her to a table.
Soun finally decided to give up after two hours of shogi. He walked into the living room to see Ranma, Akane, Shampoo, Ukyo and Ryoga.
"You!" he growled in Ryoga's direction. The Lost Boy barely had time to move as Soun lunged at him.
"Daddy no," Akane screamed as Ranma and Ukyo did their best to hold Soun back. Shampoo just sat on the couch showing indifference to the whole scenario playing out in front of her.
"What are you two doing protecting this pervert?" Soun yelled angrily as his future son in law and his best friend.
"It was Akuma's fault, Mr. Tendo Ryoga's innocent." Ranma grunted having a hard time holding back the enraged father. Soun stopped but continued giving Ryoga an icy cold stare.
"All right I'm listening." Soun said still not sitting down. Ryoga gulped as Soun refused to focus his attention at anything but The Eternal Lost Boy.
"Shampoo have to be going now, Great Grandmother be very upset if Shampoo come home late. She bowed politely and excused herself. As she left Akane started telling her father what really happened regarding Ryoga and Kasumi (leaving out the fact that Ryoga was P-Chan. That last thing daddy needed to know was that his little girl was going to bed with Ryoga almost every night.) Her story was cut short by a sudden screaming coming from the front yard.
"Shit what was that?" Nabiki blurted out looking for trousers.
"I don't know but it's bound to draw some unwanted attention. I'll see you tomorrow." Akuma said as he zipped up. "I have to get the restaurant ready for tomorrow anyway. He gave Nabiki a quick kiss then jumped from her window and headed to the back gate. "Arrrgh!" the demon screamed as a surge of energy struck him from out of nowhere.
Everyone found Shampoo looking like she had just been fire bombed. She was also speaking very quickly and angrily in Chinese.
"What did she say?" Akane asked Ranma.
"I have no idea." Ranma replied. "But it sounded very angry."
"I'll go get Nabiki she has a Chinese Japanese dictionary." Akane said. She quickly ran into the house and opened Nabiki's door.
"Geez Akane!" Nabiki yelled out sounding annoyed as she tucked her shirt into her trousers. "Don't you knock?" She said desperately looking around for her bra.
"I'm sorry Nabiki but I need to borrow your Chinese Japanese dictionary. Shampoo was just attacked."
"Attacked?" Nabiki asked as she pulled the dictionary from her bookshelf. "By what,"
"We don't know she won't stop speaking Chinese." Akane answered heading out her front door, curious Nabiki followed. When they reached the living room a scorched Shampoo still scowling and murmuring in Chinese. Around her were Ranma, Ukyo, Ryoga her father and a clown wearing priest's robes.
"It would seem the wards are working." The clown said looking over Shampoo.
"You mean those things really work?" Ranma asked amazed.
"Oh yes, the monk who also happened to be a monkey had them made for this purpose no demon will escape this household." Everyone looked at the clown with a shocked look on his or her face.
"You mean those wards keep demons in the house?" Ranma asked annoyed.
"Why in the world would you want to keep Akuma in your house?" Ukyo asked. Soun looked at the children that were staring at him in disbelief.
"I, I, I didn't want Akuma trapped her with us. I wanted him kept away from his house."
"You what," Nabiki asked in a choked voice. "You wanted to keep Akuma away from here?" Soun turned to see his daughter looking at him with hurt in her eyes.
"He's dangerous Nabiki, too dangerous for you to be getting involved with." Soun said in a somber expression.
"That's my decision to make." Nabiki angrily shot back.
"You're upset dear but someday you'll understand." Soun said in a comforting voice.
"Oh I understand, It's ok for Akane to be engaged to a boy that gives trans-sexual a whole new meaning, or for Kasumi to turn the local doctor into an idiot with the mental capacity of sushi, but because my boyfriend happens to be a demon (who's done more for this dojo than you ever did) I'm not allowed to see him." Nabiki said tears streaming from her eyes. Everyone else watched not quite sure what to do. Even Shampoo felt uncomfortable watching this family exchange.
"Nabiki Tendo while you live under this roof I am responsible for your safety and well being." Soun told her still sounding sympathetic.
"Then maybe I don't want to live under this roof anymore." She said and stormed out of the house. Everyone was shocked to watch the emotionally in control sister storm out of the house.
"She not go far, ward won't let her." Shampoo said trying to straighten out her burnt hair.
If Nabiki were thinking rationally she probably would have realized that she would be magically prevented from leaving. But at the moment she wasn't thinking clearly as she stormed towards the front gate.
"You don't want to do that, trust me." The familiar scratchy voice of her boyfriend spoke out from the shadows.
"Akuma?" she asked choking back her tears.
"What's left of me," He commented stepping out where she could see him. His clothes were singed and his hair looked like he stuck his tongue in an electrical socket
"What happened to you?" she asked while still keeping her voice in a whisper.
"Not quite sure, I took off before your father could find us and all of a sudden I'm struck by a warding spell. I think we're in trouble." Akuma told her sounding more concerned than Nabiki had ever heard him before.
"Yeah tell me about it, daddy put up these wards to keep you away from the house but they backfired and now nobody can get out of the house.
"Your father," Akuma asked sounding relieved. "What exactly did he say?" Nabiki noticed that he was no longer tense.
"He and this guy who looks like a clown set up these wards made by a monkey." Before she could continue Akuma groaned.
"Did he by any chance use the words a monk who just happened to be a monkey?" he said in a perfect imitation of Soun's voice.
"Yes why?" Nabiki asked. Akuma just groaned and shook his head. He then pulled a cap out of his jacket and put it on his head.
"The monk was a jusenkyo victim who fell into spring of drowned monkey."
"Just out of curiosity how many cursed springs are there?"
"Who knows? Anything that drowns in that area becomes a jusenkyo curse. Cindy Crawford could drown there and suddenly become a jusenkyo curse. Anyway the problem is that these wards have us trapped in here."
"Can't you remove them?" Nabiki asked.
"Not from here I can't, at this point only someone on the outside can remove the wards."
"Well we better get you out of here before someone sees you." Nabiki said grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the back. "I think we better keep you being here a secret." She said with a sly little smile.
"I could be here for a long time." Akuma told here with a grin of his own.
"Oh I'm sure we can think of some ways to pass the time."
"Well, I do have an idea on how to payback Shampoo for her little love letter." He said as they walked around the house.
"Ooh baby, tell me more." Nabiki replied with a seductive tone of voice.
Lae-In smiled as she looked at the wards. She whistled a little tune as she threw green dust over the wards and began chanting. When she was finished she closed her bag and disappeared into the night.
Ten minutes later Cologne arrived in front of the wards with Kasumi.
"Hmm interesting, according to this these wards are meant to keep people in not out." She told Kasumi who was standing by her.
"Can you do anything to take them down?" the eldest Tendo daughter asked.
"It shouldn't be too difficult." She said as she reached for one of the wards. Suddenly a surge of green energy struck the old lady. She jumped and rolled back putting out most of the fire surrounding her.
"Are you alright Obasa Cologne?" Kasumi asked approaching the old lady.
"Such power, only felt something like it once before. But it doesn't seem to be his." She muttered as she slowly got back up.
"What's going on?" Kasumi asked Cologne with a worried tone of voice.
"There is a spell on these wards, it's protecting them I won't be able to take them down easily." She wheezed.
"Can't you do anything?" Kasumi asked wishing that Lae-In was around.
"I will have to back home and get some supplies. Until then Kasumi I suggest you stay with me. If you go see your family you'll be trapped with the rest of them Cologne said as she started walking home. Seeing no choice Kasumi walked after her.
Ten minutes later Nabiki still hadn't returned despite the wards.
"Maybe we should check to see if she's alright." Ranma suggested. He was about to leave when Akane stopped him.
"Leave her alone for now; she's still a Tendo which means she has the Tendo family temper." She told him gently.
"It's just I've never seen her, this upset. In fact I rarely ever see any real kind of emotion from her what's so ever." The rest nodded agreeing with him.
"She's really got it bad for Akuma." Ukyo said.
"He's not good for her." Soun said quietly. "He's just going to hurt her."
"It's what Akuma good at." Shampoo said bitterly.
"You won't hear any argument from me." Ryoga said while clenching his fist.
"It's nice to be popular." Akuma commented while lying on Nabiki's bed. Nabiki rolled over next to him.
"What's that Akuma baby?" Nabiki asked sounding exhausted.
"They're all talking about me downstairs; they think that I'm bad for you." He said while staring at the ceiling.
"You're not; you're the best thing that's ever happened to me." She said quietly to her boyfriend. "So do you really think that Shampoo will fall for it?"
"A chance to take me down a peg she won't be able to resist." He said scratching an itch on his bare chest. He looked over at his new girlfriend who was wearing a nightshirt and pajama bottoms. "So it looks like you'll be having a couple of extra houseguests."
"Yeah, looks like they're going to be here for awhile. Keeping you a secret is going to be tough."
"Well considering the fact that everyone in this house wants to kill me, yeah it doesn't look good." He sighed staring at the ceiling "The funny thing is in The Demon Underworld this kind of thing can get you a promotion. The more enemies you make the higher up the chain you go."
"Wow, Ranma would be a vice president by now." Nabiki said.
"Hardly at best he would be regional manager."
"And me?" she asked batting her eyes at him.
I think someone like you would find a way to elevate herself straight to the top."
"So where is everybody sleeping tonight?"
"From the sounds of it Ranma and Ryoga are sharing his room, and Shampoo and Ukyo are playing poker to determine who is sharing a room with Akane. Neither of them wants to share a room with you at the moment."
"I'm already sharing my room with someone." She said with a grin.
"Do I have to pay rent?" he asked playfully.
"I'm sure we can think of some payment plan." She said lying on top of him.
The telephone rang interrupting the poker game.
"Ranma honey why don't you get it," Ukyo asked.
"Why do I have to get it?" Ranma asked.
"Because right now; you have a terrible hand." She told him with a smile. Ranma growled and through down his cards revealing a pair of nines but nothing else. "He always was a terrible card player." Ukyo giggled as Ranma went to answer the phone. The rest of the players smiled. Akane had to admit she was having fun. She had won only one hand but the company was surprisingly enjoyable.
"Shampoo take two." Shampoo said putting two cards on the table.
"I'll take one." Ryoga said putting down one card.
"Two over here," Ukyo called out looking over the rest of the players. She could tell the experts from the amateurs. Akane was obviously an amateur she just stared at her cards while twitching nervously which told Ukyo that she had nothing. Shampoo on the other hand had the perfect poker face, no sign of nervousness what so ever only a cold calculating smile, she then looked over Ryoga, he was concentrating on his cards an obvious sign of worry. Or was it, she had recently learned that there was more to the Eternal Lost Boy than people thought. In all the time they spent traveling together they never played cards together so she wasn't sure if he could play are not. "Last call," Ukyo said smiling with the full house in her hands.
"I'll take two." Akane said her voice betrayed a hint of annoyance.
"Shampoo take one." The Amazon said slyly.
"I think I'm all right." Ryoga said sounding really confused.
"I'm good." Ukyo said confidently. Everyone drew their cards and prepared to call their hands.
"I'm sorry is having a ten, jack, queen, king and ace of hearts a good thing?" Ryoga asked nervously. The ladies all moaned and threw down their cards. Ryoga just shrugged and pulled the wan towards him.
"Wait one minute, Ryoga not have royal flush." Shampoo said sounding annoyed as she looked at Ryoga's cards.
"I didn't say I did, I just asked is having one a good thing." He said with a little smile. "Anyway I'm cashing out."
"Just wait Ryoga." Ranma said returning to the people.
"Ranma give it up you are a lousy poker player." Ranma chose to ignore the comment. "Kasumi is spending the night at The Cat Café her and the Old Ghoul are going to try and get us out of her tomorrow."
"I guess that just leaves you girls to play for the spare bedroom." Ryoga said with a shrug.
"Yeah thanks." Akane mumbled as Ranma sat next to her. The ladies all sat around the table preparing to play for the right to have a room all to themselves.
"So how long do you think we're all going to be trapped in here?" Nabiki asked stretching her body.
"Not long Kasumi just told Ranma that The Stick Monkey is working on a way to get us out of this situation even as we speak." Akuma told her while looking at the ceiling.
"And do you think we can trust her?"
"Shampoo is no longer engaged to Ranma and she doesn't know I'm here. So I think she can be trusted." He said with a shrug. Nabiki rolled over next to him.
"You know I kind of like the fact that you're spending the night here." The demon looked at here and smiled at her. Even in the darkness Nabiki could see his teeth gleaming in the dark.
"I'm not quite complaining either."
"I just wish daddy could get over your unique background and see how happy you make me."
"Well, it's not like I've done anything to endear myself to him." He said with no sense of remorse.
"Well, even if those stupid wards would have worked I would have found a way to see you."
"Be careful Nabiki you're starting to get mushy. A guy like me could start taking advantage of you."
"Really how do you know I'm not taking advantage of you?" she asked him playfully.
"I guess I don't really, why do you want to take advantage of me?" he asked.
"Mmm maybe," She said as her fingers trailed his leg.
"Are you doing this because you want to, or because you know it will piss the rest of them off?" Nabiki stopped playing with his leg.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked sounding angry.
"Hey it doesn't matter to me either way. I just want you to enjoy it. I just want you to be sure about this that's all. So once again I have to ask..."
He was interrupted by the feel of Nabiki's lips against his own.
"Akuma shut up." she said as slid her hand into his pants. Akuma quietly decided to comply with his girlfriends order.
Meanwhile downstairs Ranma and Ryoga watched the girl's play for the free bedroom. Ranma was surprised that Nabiki wasn't playing with them considering how it was she that got them addicted to the game in the first place. Of course not surprisingly she always left the table with their yen. It was probably a good thing that Nabiki wasn't around. She would probably clean them all out and then charge them rent for the spare room. Ranma was conflicted on the whole Nabiki issue. On one hand he felt that he should check on his future sister in law. But then they would end up talking about Akuma. And Ranma wasn't sure how he could cheer her up because basically Nabiki was the only person in the house who liked Akuma. He decided Akane was right it was probably right to leave her alone for the time being. Besides he had his own problem to worry about. With the extra company, he and Akane were not going to be able to consummate. And looking over at Akane he could see she was having her own problems. It was the final hand and both Ranma and Ryoga watched, Ranma with great interest, Ryoga with mild amusement.
"Time to call ladies," Ukyo announced looking at her hand.
"Shampoo have four eights." Shampoo said putting her cards on the table. Akane looked at her cards and sighed.
"To rich for my blood." she said throwing down her cards revealing three fours. All the attention was suddenly focused on Ukyo. The restaurateur grinned.
"Read em and weep ladies flush." Ukyo said triumphantly.
"That's my girl!" Ryoga said rather excitedly. Everyone stopped and looked at him and Ukyo. Ukyo also stared at Ryoga well also blushing slightly.
"What?" Ryoga said looking around.
It was finally bedtime and Akane handed Shampoo a pair of pajama bottoms with the biggest t-shirt she could find.
"Here you go I think it will fit." Shampoo looked at the clothes.
"Thank you Akane." Shampoo murmured. She was feeling a little uncomfortable.
"Something wrong Shampoo?" Akane asked as she noticed how uncomfortable the Chinese Amazon seemed.
"Shampoo not used to this sleepovers, girl talk and playing cards just for fun." Akane looked at the nervous young woman in front of her. Now that she thought about it Shampoo's life was a lonely one. She never seemed to do the things that teenage girls do. She never went shopping, never seemed to just hang out with friends, in fact it was only a month ago that she actually started going to school.
"Ah Shampoo I was going to ask you if you wanted to go shopping with me, before all this ward craziness started. I was thinking we could get together with Ukyo and go shopping maybe get some ice cream afterwards." Shampoo looked at Akane and was surprised to see her number one obstacle from marrying Ranma slowly turn into her tutor and now possibly even her friend.
"Sounds like fun, count Shampoo in." she said while imagining her great grandma's reaction when she found out her that she went shopping with her two greatest obstacles. Of course technically speaking since she slept with Akuma then Mousse she had no claim on anyone, so no was really her rival anymore. She turned to Akane. "Akane I want to try to have girl talk with you. I know you and Ranma are getting closer." she looked at Akane with a speculative eye. Akane blushed, bright red. "Very close?" Shampoo asked with a strange mixture of curiosity and sadness in her voice. Akane didn't know what to say. She had just started her friendship with Shampoo and wasn't quite sure if she wanted to share secrets regarding her and Ranma yet.
"We're not fighting that much anymore. And we are dating openly."
"Have you kissed yet?" Shampoo asked still smiling.
"Shampoo! What kind of question is that?"
"Shampoo just want to know if Ranma good kisser." The Amazon replied with a little blush. "After all you were his first right?" Akane eyes opened wide like headlights.
"Um,um, I mean we were dating for three months and we already knew each other pretty well."
"You mean you no kiss Ranma?"
"Kiss? Oh yeah we kissed on New Years." Geez Akane get your mind out of the gutter. She mentally scolded herself.
"What it like?" Shampoo asked. The question threw Akane for a loop. She stared at Shampoo. "Amazon courting is brought on by combat not first dates." she said with a shrug.
"But you and Akuma, you and Mousse never kissed while you..."
"Fucked each other like wild animals in heat?"
"Well, I was going to say made love." Akane said with a blush.
"It not love, Akuma keep scraping Shampoo's lips with his fangs, and Shampoo just ordered Mousse to lay down and enjoy the ride. Neither one of them really kiss Shampoo."
"Shampoo, I don't know what to say." Akane replied in shock.
"No need to say anything, Shampoo made her bed and now lie in it." She then unrolled the spare tami and curled up in it not even waiting for Akane to answer her question.
"So what's the deal with you and Ukyo?" Ranma asked Ryoga.
"What do you mean what's the deal with us?" Ryoga asked lying down.
"You two spent a lot of time together." Ranma asked
"We traveled together." Ryoga replied being very cryptic.
"Oh come on Ryoga, you were constantly stealing glances at her and when she won you referred to her as your girl." Ranma continued his interrogation.
"Just a figure of speech," Ryoga said rolling to his side his face away from Ranma. "Be sides we all couldn't help notice how quiet and well, happy you and Akane seem to be lately." Ryoga said sounding really tired.
"We are happy together." Ranma replied not taking his eyes off his rival. If the news of him and Akane bothered The Eternal Lost Boy it didn't seem to show in fact Ryoga fell fast asleep. Ranma shrugged not sure what to make of Ryoga's new attitude.
The sound of Ranma snoring woke Ryoga from his blissful slumber, his throat felt kind of dry so he went to get a glass of water. But as usual, as soon as he stepped out of Ranma's room he got lost again. Somehow he found himself opening the door to Kasumi's room. There he saw Ukyo sleeping peacefully and for some reason he couldn't pull himself away from the door. She was indeed very attractive as well as an impressive cook and fighter. Also she was one of the kindest people he had ever met. Sure Akane had been kind to him in the past, but that was more like a big sister type kindness. She went looking for him to tell him the truth about Akuma and then she stayed with him and actually took the time to come up with solutions to his DD. Ryoga sighed and walked back to Ranma's room.
Ukyo woke upand decided to go to the kitchen since it was almost time for her to get up anyway. She made her way to the kitchen to find Ryoga sitting there with a cup of tea.
"Couldn't sleep?" Ryoga asked noticing her. He got up and poured another cup of tea.
"Yeah," Ukyo said accepting Ryoga's offer of tea. "I'm used to getting up this early to prepare the restaurant." Ryoga said nothing and looked at Ukyo who despite she had just woken up was still quite beautiful. "Listen, I just want to thank you for bringing me back here, its made things clear to me." Ryoga said looking somberly at Ukyo.
"You've decided that you do love Akane?" Ukyo asked. A strange lump formed in her throat as she thought of Ryoga hooking up with Akane.
"Well, I have decided that there is a girl I like that I would fight for." Ryoga said still looking at Ukyo. He put down his tea and stood up and before Ukyo could stop him he kissed her. The young lady was shocked, Ryoga was never this bold before, around Akane he was a stuttering mess but around Ukyo he was someone she didn't even recognize. But what confused her more was what was she going to do now? She knew several ways to cause the bold young man pain but at the moment they all escaped her memory. His lips were soft yet strong and very warm. But she loved Ranma, didn't she? She was so confused part of her wanted to pull away but the other part wanted to kiss her back. Someone cleared their throat snapping the two out of their lip lock trance.
"Shampoo sorry, not mean to interrupt." The Amazon said coyly as she walked over to the tea kettle. "Stupid Akane nearly wallop Shampoo in her sleep." Before she could continue a loud slap cut her off. She saw Ryoga massaging his face while Ukyo stared at him crying. She silently ran back up the stairs while Ryoga just stood there. Shampoo just sat there silently seeing no point in saying anything.
Back in her liar Lae-In started humming as she stirred a strange concoction. She put a strange green powder in her hand and started chanting a spell.
Sweet hearts sleep in restful bliss
Many feel true love's first kiss
While others have friendship gained
And others find love restrained
But with this spell I will cheer
As they remember not eight months from this past year
Meanwhile while everyone slept the wards that were placed around the house started to glow a bright red. And the not so familiar sound of a sweet little voice sang out from them.