When the club finally started turning lights on and chucking people out the posse gathered again. As normal some of the drunker ones wanted to go on to another joint but most were just tired and wanting to call it a night. It was Abi who came up with the compromise, everyone could go back to hers again, have some food and maybe a few more drinks. Nabiki looked at Ranma and then back at Abi.
"Sorry babe," I'm taking your chef home. Abi feigned annoyance and the others begged for while but Nabiki was adamant.
So the two groups parted at the door. Nabiki and Ranma joining the queue to catch a taxi. Ranma took one look at Nabiki, one look at the line and said "No way we're waiting, you'll freeze." He took his jacket off and wrapped it around her.
"I got my own hunky warmer-upper" she said, snuggling in close. He looked around again and then said, "Grab my neck and hold tight." She obeyed but was doing the eyebrow thing. He Put his good arm under her and lifted. She smiled,
"Sweeping me off my feet?" she asked playfully.
"More like sweeping you up in my arm," he joked back. Then he took a running jump and started bounding up higher and higher.
"MMM" Nabiki purred "you are warrrm." Soon they were at roof height and Ranma started heading homewards.
"Wait," she said. So he did, perched on a security fence on top of a skyscraper. "Wow!" she said looking out over the lights. "That is beautiful."
"Scenery's not bad either." He joked kissing her again. She just giggled. "you wanna go higher?" he asked.
"Where you thinking of stud?" she asked. Then she followed his eyes to the tower. "Oh no, another time, tonight we need a bed."
"Home Jeeves and don't spare the horses." She ordered. So he leapt from building to building carrying Nabiki over the streets of Tokyo, back home.
When the two got home they were both tired and chilled. Nevertheless they were in for still more surprises. Both Fathers were still up and sober. More to the point so was Akane, although she looked more than half asleep.
"Danm" swore Nabiki.
"You can say that again," Ranma agreed.
"Ah son," Soun said, "why don't you come and have a drink with your father and I."
"I am gonna have a bath," Nabiki said with her back to everybody else. "You come up in a few minutes, you can wash my back" she added with a suggestive overtone. Then she was gone. He looked at the father's inviting faces, desperately trying to look innocent. He shook his head and followed her upstairs.
"Thought you were gonna give me a moment?" Nabiki said when he knocked on the bathroom door.
"Pops and your dad were trying to look innocent," he said as if that was reason enough.
"Fair enough," she replied, "You can come in now."
"Wait I just had an idea" Ranma said going into her room, and coming back a few moments later with a handful of candles and a matchbox.
She was standing waiting for him inside. She raised an eyebrow as she saw what he was carrying, "People in paper houses should not light fires," she said.
"Sheesh it was only an idea," Ranma grumbled. She cupped his cheek and kissed him.
"It was a very good one," she whispered, "but one for another night. Tonight we'll make do with the moon and the stars." She kissed him again, and reached behind him to turn the light off.
She undid his shirt and trousers and then stepped away. Then slowly she undid the belt and necklace, her dress fell and the two embraced again.
They spent the next hour cuddling and caressing, with a little one-armed massage thrown in. With only the night sky for company. The only discordant moment was when Akane tried to come in. She was quietly but insistently told to leave by Nabiki.
Afterwards Nabiki led Ranma into hr room and fulfilled what her eyes had been promising all night.
The next morning things were far from peachy. Both Father's had stayed up attempting to formulate a new plan, and got royally drunk. Akane had rushed around, panicking about being late for work. She burnt her toast, put her coat on backwards and then tripped and fell as she went down the front steps. All the noise was sufficient to wake the two lovers. Nabiki was really feeling he effects of last night's drinking and Ranma was stiff from all the running he had done.
All in all it was not a recipe for friendly faces. Nabiki managed to put on a robe and make it to the furoba and Ranma joined her a while later, via the kitchen.
Nabiki lay in the furo with her head back, trying to ignore the throbbing in her head. All of a sudden she sat up, Ranma had just come in, but more importantly, he came bearing coffee. She reached her hands out and he put a steaming mug into them and leapt back. She gave him a ironic smile and greedily inhaled.
"Kitchen's trashed," he said cleaning up on the stool.
"Akane" Nabiki said.
"We could go over to Ucchan's" he said, "ya know see what they got up to without us."
"Uh" Nabiki replied, still in pre coffee mode.
When they got to Ukyo's restaurant they could see the chef and her friend moving about inside but the doors were still closed. Ranma knocked and got no answer so he tried again, and again. Then the doors were yanked open fast.
"Can't You Read?" Shouted Ukyo. "OH its you," she said finally recognising the two sunglass wearing visitors. "Guess you can come in." So they did, they took a seat near the counter and Nabiki immediately slumped down, resting her head on the table top.
"I am really glad to see that I am not the only one," said Ukyo, taking a seat opposite. Konatsu arrived soon afterwards with a pot of coffee and some mugs.
They sat drinking for a few moments in silence then Ukyo got up to make some breakfast.
"So spill it," Nabiki started, "what happened back at Jess'"
"How did you know about that?" demanded Konatsu.
"I meant Abi's" said Nabiki slowly. "But this sounds interesting too.
"Yeah," said Ukyo, "I thought you said you got lost walking home?"
"Like you can criticise" snapped Konatsu. Ukyo shut her mouth fast and blushed a lot.
"Now this seems like quite a story," said Nabiki, "Now are you gonna spill, or do I have to start phoning the others."
"Whoa," Ukyo said, "Its really not that intresting, we had some drinks and played a few cards-"
"Strip Poker" coughed an unsubtle Konatsu
"A few cards," Ukyo continued with a glare, " and then I came home." In the background Nabiki's eyes were twinkling, Ranma noticed and just knew it meant trouble.
The foursome chatted for a while longer then Nabiki announced that she was going to see her sister, kissed Ranma and left.
"That was a little abrupt," said Ukyo. Konatsu nodded, Ranma tried his innocent face, it was no more convincing than his father's.
"What's going on Saotome?" demanded the chef.
"Don't know" said Ranma without meeting her gaze.
"SAOTOME!" Ukyo shouted.
"Okay, Okay," Ranma said, making warding gestures. "I sorta-thnk-that-she's-gonna maybe-go-over-to-Abi's-and-check-out-yer-story" he blurted out in a rush. Ukyo hung her head.
"Shit." She swore, Konatsu just turned away trying not to laugh. "Yeah like she won't ask Jess as well." Ukyo added without looking. Konatsu stopped cold.
"Uh, guys" Ranma started, glad that he was forgotten for the moment. "I am gonna go for a quick run, you know limber up a bit. I'll see ya soon okay?" And then he left, fast.
Ranma was happily wandering around Nerima, not wanting to return to the Tendo-ke and knowing that Nabiki could reach him on his phone if necessary. So instead he was people watching, happy to be in a city that wasn't being attacked, to see people moving around at their own pace rather than fleeing for their lives.
"Hold Varlet!" came a voice from behind him. He slowly turned, looking for the voice's origin. Standing in front of him was a young man, dressed in full samurai clothing and carrying his own daisho. A quick check confirmed that the handles of the paired blades were both very real looking and well worn. The man's hair was done up in a samurai que and he looked angry.
"Art thee not the vile creature that besets the beauteous tiger that is Tendo Akane," the samurai-wannabe declared. "Name thee-self villain!" commanded the boy taking hold of his katana. As an amused Ranma went to comply he was interrupted. "No, you are right it behoves me to give my own virtuous name first. I am Kuno Tatewaki, heir to the clan and swordsman unrivalled, and I have come to thwart thy vile depredations." And with that the odd man drew his blade and leapt at Ranma. The pigtailed soldier made a quick assessment and didn't move. Indeed the blade stopped inches from his neck.
"Happy?" Ranma said ironically. "Or would you like to posture some more? Its Okay I've got the time if you have," Ranma finished smiling
"Defend thy puny self peasant, lest I strike thee down!" Tatewaki ordered, not moving his blade. Ranma slowly reached up and used one finger to push the back of the blade away.
"Look friend," Ranma started, still amiably, "I really have no idea what you are talking about, do you think you could spout some more, and maybe give me some hint?"
"So thee professes ignorance dost thee, well it shall avail thee naught. The fair Akane has given me an adequate descriptor of both thy vile form and thy heinous crimes." Ranma pulled out a seat from a nearby café table.
"Don't mind me," he said smiling.
"Villain, do you dare not treat my quest with adequate seriousness? Be warned my intent is lethal and my course set. As the heavens above are my witness I shall not rest until I have driven thy vile soul back to the abyss whence it came!"
"Do you want me to put down a hat or something?" asked Ranma, waving a waiter over. "I am sure you might manage to gain a few tokens."
"You dare to suggest that a scion of the house Kuno would accept the charity of peons?" Tatewaki raved, "Very well thee hast taken thine own life in thy hands and it behoves one such as I to end your misbegotten farce of existence. Have at thee varlet!" and with that he lunged at Ranma. Ranma in turn pretended to drop a menu, and reached down and got it, incidentally dodging the strike.
"Oh I'm sorry," Ranma said "would you like some tea too?"
"Tea varlet? How dare you dodge my righteous blade." Tatewaki demanded "Be warned the wrath of heaven is sure and swift!" Then he swung again. This time Ranma had to dodge more obviously.
"Whoa," Ranma said, dodging another strike, "be careful, you could hurt someone with that."
"You dare to mock me?" Tatekwaki spluttered, "Very well then I SHALL SLAY THEE!" An with that tatewaki readied himself and came forwards once more, swinging. "STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE!" he shouted. Ranma dodged, having to move a lot faster than he expected. Behind him he could hear the café being torn up.
"STOP!" he shouted, with his best instructor's voice. Kuno did as he was told. "Damn you," Ranma swore, "Watch out for civvies prick!"
"These peons would be honoured to lose their lives in my holy-" Ranma interrupted him with a quick kick to the nut-job's face. He grabbed the other man's wrist very precisely and twisted while pressing his thumb into a certain nerve bundle. Kuno's sword dropped to the ground and he dropped to his knees. "Pissing around ain't a problem but I ain't gonna let you hurt anybody else."
"Release my righteous hand warlock or I shall smite thee with great vengeance!" shouted Kuno from the floor. Ranma shook his head.
"You just ain't getting this are you?" Ranma sighed. "You don't want to attack me" Ranma said very slowly with an odd echo to his voice. Then he let Kuno go and handed the kendoist his blade. Kuno just looked lost. The waiter chose this moment to reappear with Ranma's tea. Ranma bowed politely took the cup, drank a little and paid the man. Then he left
Kuno was still kneeling, looking much like a shipwrecked sailor adrift alone on a wide sea.