DISCLAIMER: Many of the characters and situations described in the following fic are owned entirely by Takahashi Rumiko, a woman I have the greatest respect and admiration for. (In fact if she were willing, I would have her love child. A neat trick since I am a male kinda guy and not built to bear children.) Her creativity has even inspired the creation of a whole new branch of the Trek Universe. Therefore, any mentions of historical moment from Trek, Trek-Tech and characters and ships, which I shall endeavor to keep at a minimum, is entirely intentional. Within this story are characters who are from the Trek Universe, but not of Trek. These are my creations. All other characters that are integral to this story are her property, apart from the characters from AMG. This is a work intended to share a concept, and perhaps my story telling abilities. There is no money to be earned by me or by anyone else from this work. I might also add, Paladin, Team Paladin, the Starship Percheron and her crew, and Miss Kitty as she is here, ARE my property, and not to be used with out express consent from myself. I have worked hard to develop these characters and hope to use them in published works eventually. I choose to share them and their attitudes with you here. The character from OH! My Goddess belong to who ever owns them… sorry but my copies of this series (as well as Ranma ½) mysteriously disappeared during a move

I would also like to add the following. NO the character of Jerrod Randolph Macon, A.K.A. Paladin is in no way related to T.N.G.'s Silver Paladin. That character was little more than a pirate, my character is intended to embody the true spirit of the word paladin.

Also, for the Trek nitpickers out there. I'm sorry to rain on your parade, but. There is no such thing as a society that doesn't use some form of currency. Roddenberry's vision of the future is a wonderful vision, but impractical as far as money is concerned. It is a socialist utopia, and it cannot work. Any historian or economist can tell you that. Even the most primitive cultures on the planet barter with each other for goods and services, and that is the earliest form of currency. Let's face it, even the People's Republics around the world, (Read as oppressive communist governments, where if you speak out against anything, you wind up run over by a tank.) Even they have currencies that the civilian public uses for internal trade. It has been postulated that the Federation has solved the issues of limited resources thereby removing the need for any form of currency. I disagree with this. Not that the resource problem has been addressed, but that currency will be done away with.

In the Federation future, most of the actual trade where currency is used to make a purchase will be of the 'intellectual properties exchange' forum. The reason why currency will always exist is because of the inherent need of humans for an incentive to improve. It wouldn't be worth your time to be a clothing designer or civilian engineer if you weren't given concrete evidence of your value. Payment of some form of currency will be much easier to keep track of fifteen hundred credits than twenty goats and fifteen sheep and three chickens from the buyer in China who really loved the new spaghetti strap, plunging to the ankles neckline evening gown.

Capitalism may not be perfect, but it's better than anything else around is right now.

Most likely the currency used in the world of Trek is closely related to various forms used in much of Sci-Fi, a credit system, there may be no hard currency, but there is a form of monetary exchange.

Internally to this story, there are some glaring examples, (to some) of extreme OOC, as well as outright character revision. As this is intended to be an original telling with some new characters with a minor twist here and there to aid in making the whole thing insensible… inchoate? …to the world of Rumiko's vision. There has been some comment that her characters aren't the way I have them here. And why would Ranma have a crush on Nabiki?

Okay, think about this. You live in a house with three very pretty girls. One of them you can't bring yourself to look at in any way other than as a big sister/mother figure. Then there are the other two, the youngest that you happen to be engaged to is violent, quick tempered, never lets you answer any question be fore she belts you and you are forcing yourself to love her.

And there is the third one, she isn't very nice to you, but you think you know why. She was also the only one that seemed excited when you arrived, and she doesn't hit you, ever.

I'd have a minor crush on her myself if I were Ranma.

Let's face it, Nabs, if she were a real person, would be a major babe.

The timeline for this story is just about there. Meaning there aren't going to be any of the big events that occurred in the manga and anime. The story makes an assumption that events alter somewhat with each restart by the Norn. So Herb and Saffron may exist but won't be part of the story.

And finally, for convenience sake. ( ) author's commentary.

Sound effect

Chinese

Japanese usually spoken planetside

English generally spoken aboard ship

And now for sumpin' gnu.

On with the tale

PALADIN ½ - SHE'S THE ONE

Chapter 10- OH MY! (revisited)

Across town from where Kitty and Kasumi were.

eh-ooon…..AAChoooooooooooththth

Then Paladin thought, 'What in the hell brought that on?' as he tried to catch his breath after the tremendous sneeze. 'Someone must be thinking about me.'

Jerrod was formulating new plans for the family and Ranma when he had sneezed, and his attention had been drawn to a shop window when he tried to turn where he wouldn't blast anyone with the prodigious exhalation. (Exercising in excess of 2.0 gravities will increase your lung capacity after all.) This shop window displayed several very nice looking and pricey knife sets. Remembering the cutlery that Kasumi had been using since his arrival he decided to be a very nice boarder and get her a new set of blades.

Along with the appropriate sharpening equipment.

And a couple of new cutting boards.

And a butchers block.

And a new and larger, fully stocked spice rack.

Five just released European Quisine recipe books, and a new apron.

And ten pounds of imported beef, with some French noodles. He felt like having Beef Stroganoff later that week.

They were just friendship gifts and he didn't want to go overboard. He had the entire purchase scheduled for delivery to be signed for by Kasumi that afternoon. (Sometime later he wondered why he bought all of it, but then shrugged his shoulders.)

The reason he was going to have it delivered was that he expected to be out until almost dinnertime. He had a few stops to make elsewhere, such as an electronics store to get an updated computer system for his unsuspecting and soon to be Executive Assistant. But before that he needed to go to the bank and obtain the necessary paperwork to have his new assistant approved to have signature authority on his secondary private business account. As well as get a few cards for her, of the plastic variety, authorized expenditures wouldn't always take a check. He also had in mind a stop at the back of an office supply to obtain a few custom documents, such as a Non-disclosure agreement with a non-compete clause, an employment contract and a box of business cards embossed with the Macon AeroSpace logo and imprinted with Nabiki's name.

He had an idea that when he spoke with her about it; she wouldn't just jump at the opportunity. (Nope, she wouldn't. Not in a million years… in a pigs eye.)

He decided to have the electronics store deliver the computer later that week, to coincide with the arrival of the new cards from the bank, and the new book of company checks. 'It should be nice to surprise her with her new job and title. The perks really ought to twist her toes!' Paladin thought to himself as he contemplated how he could explain the computer fairy delivering a new computer to Nabiki.

Nabiki had just sat down in the lunchroom with her former associates, when she sneezed again. 'Dammit! Whoever is thinking about me had better stop it if they know what's good for them!' She thought as she glanced at her secret hope as he sat across the room, and sighed quietly as he inhaled his bento in the same amount of time it would take a normal person to get the lid off the top. 'I wish Ranma would learn some manners when he eats. I can't really blame him though. Genma raising him on the road with the manners of the average wild dog doesn't help any.'

She continued her glance around the room so that her looking at Ranma would be taken as part of a new scheme on her part. She really wanted to stand up some days and just yell it at the top of her voice that she, 'Really, really liked RANMA!' But she knew that it might get her committed into some kind of institution.

What girl in her right mind would want to be engaged to him at the moment anyway? With the three official fiancées and the rival brigade after him all the time, a girl would be taking her life in her hands just being seen with him in public without some really good excuse for the fiancées. And even if one of them, like say, Akane, were to drop out of contention, the other two would still be pretty dangerous. Nabiki didn't think Ukyo would be too bad though.

Ukyo runs around calling herself the 'cute fiancée', and never really gets violent unless Kodachi or Shampoo are there, and even then mostly only with Kodachi. An unarmed, unpracticed in the Art girl wouldn't stand a chance.

Nabiki sighed again softly, 'Well, I do have the time to get back into practice. But, Kami, I hate working out that hard!'

'Wonder how Mr. Macon manages to keep the physique he has? Kasumi told me what she saw that morning. Ranma would be straining with that kind of exercise. Mr. Macon just does it as naturally as Ranma walks on the fence top.' She was still thinking things of this nature and wondering if she should quietly find a way of letting Ranma know how she had begun feeling about him when she was interrupted.

"How much?" came the voice of a girl from behind her.

Turning, Nabiki saw that there were close to a dozen girls standing behind her, all with the same questioning look in their eyes. "How much?" she asked back, "For what?"

The spokes-girl was her own 'associate' Rei. "Well, for starters, everything you know about him and if there are any pictures yet!" the girl exclaimed.

Nabiki, still not quite following her asked. "Of who?"

"C'mon Nabikiiiiiii, that guy that walked to school with you and your sister today. We're not the only girls in school that think he's soooo dreamy, either! We want info; we need photos! Pleeeeeeeaasse?" Rei pleaded. Nabiki could see the same desperate desire in all the girls' eyes that flanked her. And she thought they looked a little hungry too.

'Kami! I can't just do this anymore, especially if it's Mr. Macon!' she thought. 'Kasumi might get a touch upset about it.'

She said, "Girls, I'll tell you what. I'm practicing a new business model on this kind of venture now. I'm going to have to ask the subject in question for permission. If he says no, I'm sorry, but I won't be able to do anything. But I will give it my best shot and let you know tomorrow what he says."

Nabiki didn't know what kind of response she'd get from her asking Paladin if she could tell all she knew of him to the girls and sell photo's of him. But, she did know that she wouldn't if he even hinted at 'No'. It was already a question of whether or not he and Kitty-chan would still be at the Dojo when she got home from school after Akane's hitting Ranma that morning in front of him. Paladin might not like the idea of a bunch of teenaged girls drooling and swooning over photo's of him either.

If these same girls knew that Nabiki had been holding back some of the best pictures of Ranma there might have been a riot. And the way they were looking at the moment, if she flat out said no to their request, she'd have a worse riot on her hands. So she chose the politically expedient thing and made no promise other than she'd try. After Nabiki made this promise the girls left her alone; some looking dejected that she didn't have a stack of photo's to sell already. They'd live without the information if there were pictures, but since neither was forthcoming as yet, they'd wait.

Nabiki found herself wondering if any of these girls would drop it if they knew Mr. Macon had a daughter already. Then she thought that knowing the student body as she did, it wouldn't make a difference at all. You'd think they'd not be interested in Ranma after they found out about his curse. And the boy's athletic coach gets no end of 'secret admirer notes' too. Shaking her head she tried to get back to what she'd been thinking when she'd been interrupted.

'Where was I anyway?' she thought. 'Oh yeah, Ranma and me. Should I or shouldn't I tell him? I know he'd keep it secret if I asked him to. Akane would be sure to blow a gasket and several seals (I know! I know we really need to keep our thoughts to ourselves on that particular phrasing. But, have any of you wondered why Akane has fish breath?)

For the rest of the lunch period Nabiki thought about some of the changes at the Dojo since the Macon's had arrived. On their first day, when Ranma and Genma had the afternoon spar with the customary dunking of both worthies in the koi pond. Nabiki had finished catching her breath again after nearly hyperventilating into another over oxygenated faint and stepped out of her room to go to the kitchen and find a snack before dinner. And ask Mr. Macon if he'd like to discuss the agreement of such a favorable amount in private, when she saw an uncharacteristically jaunty Ranma-chan. Confused as to why she would be so chipper after being soaked in an icy koi pond, Ranma-chan explained what Paladin had said.

Nabiki was impressed that Mr. Macon having no preparation for the curse still managed to accept it and make Ranma feel better in a conversation of less than five minutes length. And he didn't even demand to know what the story was! He had said he'd wait until Ranma was ready to tell him. Which was shocking to Nabiki, she couldn't imagine not wanting to know the whole story immediately when she'd been exposed to the curse. She fully expected Mr. Macon to ask her about it when she made it downstairs. And she was surprised then as well.

He didn't even bring it up! Paladin did ask if Genma would be all right in panda form and soaked in ice water, and seemed unbothered by the answer of 'No, he'll be fine.' But Nabiki was still impressed with his nonchalance over the whole episode, as if people changing into other forms were a perfectly natural and acceptable occurrence. She couldn't see how he could take it with such aplomb. And when she'd asked about that he'd smiled and said something about some people that had been around a long time and it was nothing to worry about.

Shrugging her shoulders again at the memory, Nabiki went on to other topics. Most of which still concerned changes that were slowly taking hold around the Dojo. One of them being that Ranma seemed more at ease with himself than Nabiki could remember, of course this did bring on another change in Akane. Her little sister didn't like things to change too much, and Ranma being more comfortable was too much! Genma wasn't very happy about it either, he'd increased Ranma's sparring matches to three or four surprise attacks a day since the arrival of the Macon's.

Nabiki was considering what to do about his punishment for not adhering to the agreement NOT to spar in the mornings anymore. The idiot panda had broken it the very next morning after the Macon's had arrived. That it didn't seem to bother either of them, she could tell that Ranma was pretty bent about it though. Nabiki really wanted to do something to help Ranma out with his father, and allow him to get more rest than he does.

But Genma wasn't likely to be very cooperative about it.

Nabiki paused in her reflecting when Ranma got up to look out one of the cafeteria windows. 'Kami, he has such a cute butt!' she thought, as she stared out of the corner of her eye.

Across the room from Nabiki, Ranma was staring out the window trying not to think about a girl. 'It don't help none that she's one of the prettiest girls too!' He thought. 'It REALLY don't help that I live with her!'

When Ranma had first arrived at Nerima, this girl had seemed to be the only one that had been excited to meet him. Running to the door and barely beating her father there, only to find a fat panda carrying a red headed girl. He'd always kind of liked her, especially when after Akane had flattened him with the dinner table. 'Yeah, so I opened my mouth with one insult too many! But Akane had no reason to call me a pervert like that!' He continued his thinking about his girl troubles when the bell rang. 'Mebbe I can sort it all out, now I got a guy that'll listen ta me about stuff. Kinda cool that Paladin guy ain't bein' nosy like everybody else always is. An' he's patient too, let's me talk until I get what I'm tryin' ta say out, unlike the tomboy. Really cool that he don't hit on me when I'm a girl either, an' keeps callin' me a guy. Kinda nice to have somebody aroun ' that tries ta unnerstan'.'

Our favorite pig-tailed martial artist continued thinking along these lines as he left for his next class to sleep through.

Nabiki had gotten up at the first tone of the bell ringing and headed to her class, one other thing that troubled her about events lately. She'd noticed this morning that the neighbor buildings to her house all had sold signs up, with another sign from some group called 'Groont Development Corporation'. She decided to look into it later on the next weekend. Nabiki didn't want to let it out that she was worried about this sudden change in the neighborhood.

Later that afternoon, when Nabiki had made it home after school, she found several things that were becoming more of a regular happening. Her family was acting more odd than usual; the fathers were at the shogi board, not unusual. They had confused looks on their faces; this wasn't too unusual either. What was unusual about the behavior was the reason for the confusion of the fathers, and the dazed look that Kasumi had. Kitty-chan had a happier than normal look too, at least more than Nabiki had been exposed to so far.

In fact, Kitty-chan was the only one that could tell her what had happened to bring about the oddly normal actions of her family. It seemed that her sister, Kasumi, had decided to make Mr. Macon feel more at home. And action to do this had resulted in the same sort of purchase that had made Ranma feel more welcome, a sign for his door. Only this sign was different than the animals that had been on the doors of the three girls. This sign wasn't a plain board sign either, this one was of an English knight on horseback, rearing brandishing a sword overhead. Kitty-chan proudly showed the sign to Nabiki and told the rest of the story about the buying of the sign. Kitty-chan then told about the grocery shops that they had stopped at on the way home and a cutlery booth in the market where Kasumi had pointed out a nice set of kitchen cutlery she'd like to have someday.

Nabiki knew exactly what set Kitty-chan was talking about, it wasn't a very expensive set, but it was good quality, and very pretty handles. "…and then when we got home and had putted everything away, a man rang the doorbell!" Kitty-chan burbled excitedly about her shopping trip with Kasumi and what had happened when they had gotten home. "Auntie answered the door, cuz Mr. Tendo and Mr. Teddy were busy playin' their game. An' the man had a paper for Auntie to sign!"

Kasumi hadn't known anything about a delivery that was for that afternoon it turned out. The man at the door had more than just a paper for her to sign, he had several large packages that Kasumi had to sign for! After about five minutes of delighted and giggling story being told by Kitty-chan finally had Nabiki deciding to calm her down and let her read a new manga she'd picked up just for the little one. Just to get a break from the chatter of a six-year-old that seemed more excited about what she thought her daddy had done than anything. She left Kitty-chan happily flipping the pages of the new manga on the lives of magical hamsters and went to find Kasumi.

Kasumi was in her environment, her kingdom. The one place she held complete control over all. Kasumi was in her kitchen; that's where Nabiki found her. Only she didn't find the composed figure of her motherly big sister, she found the confused and dazed Kasumi looking at the articles she had signed for. Nabiki took in the expression of dazed/confused/daydreaming/happiness and asked, "Ssoooo, what happened Kasumi?"

Kasumi visibly shook herself out of the world she'd conjured in her mind of a very happy married life with someone who could cook as well as she, probably fight as well as Ranma and was a wonderful father for their children. When Kasumi came out of the imagined world, she took on the look of a sad acceptance of things that will never be and said. "It was so strange Nabiki, Kitty-chan and I went to the market today, earlier than usual so I could get a new sign made for Mr. Macon's door. After that we did the grocery shopping and came home. Just after we put everything away, Kitty-chan is a very helpful little girl by the way, this delivery came. The man said that a very strong looking gaijin had made all the purchases and that I should sign for the delivery. I didn't know what to think Nabiki! He even had some meat delivered!

When I started to open the packages, I was so happy to find one of the finest knife sets I could ever hope to find, with cutting boards, a new cleaver and a butcher block. And look at this!" Kasumi then showed Nabiki something that Nabiki could only gasp at. Nabiki wasn't much of a cook herself, but did know enough about it to recognize some very expensive spices in the new rack. Some were of the variety that was thousands of yen an ounce. Along with recipe books with which to use the herbs and spices that were so rare. Nabiki didn't know the exact prices of all that her sister showed her, but doing a rapid calculation in her head with some very good rough estimates.

The figure she arrived at was somewhere close to the amount Mr. Macon had sent for his earnest deposit.

"What I don't understand most about it Nabiki. How did Mr. Macon know today was my birthday?" Kasumi asked in a manner that she thought it strange that anyone would even think of her birthday. Nabiki was ashamed to admit to not remembering that it was Kasumi's birthday, the topic never came up, ever.

Most of the time, before the Saotome's had come, Nabiki had been more interested in keeping food on the table and a roof over their heads. Most of the extra cash that was left over went into college funds she'd set up for herself and Akane. What little was left after that went to the 'allowances' that were a small luxury that Akane had grown to expect. Kasumi got one too and usually used hers to add to the groceries, never spending it on herself. Nabiki usually wound up putting her 'allowance' into the general fund for the household too.

So the two of them never thought about their own birthdays very much. They did keep up with their respective birthdays, but neither made much out of them. A birthday was just another day, after all, there is nothing special about them.

Unless it's Akane's birthday.

Daddy never would let Akane's birthday slip by without reminding everyone about it coming for at least a week before it arrived. And then if there were no gifts and a cake for Akane. Well, tearful bullying and whines about how they 'don't love their sister' would drone for hours. They even celebrated Soun's birthday. But never their own. It was enough to make Nabiki cry over it. Not for herself, but for Kasumi. Her sister had given up so much for the family, even more than Nabiki had. She deserved better than no cake or celebration of her day.

'Well,' Nabiki thought, 'tonight, Kasumi gets a birthday dinner and time away from home and the family. We can afford it now. We can afford it pretty damned well in fact!'

She was about to make the announcement to Kasumi when the front door opened and a newly familiar voice sounded out. "I'm back! Earlier than I expected be too." The owner of that voice was just the person Nabiki wanted to see too. She left the kitchen and made it far enough to see the man in question as he let out a startled and muffled 'oomph!' as he was tackled and glomped by Kitty-chan. "Daddy!" the little one exclaimed.

Just like any young child, especially little girls, Kitty-chan was happy to see her daddy when he came home. Lifting the girl to his shoulder he kicked off his streets and put on his 'moose-boots' as he liked to call the silly looking Bullwinkle slippers he wore. Stepping into the house, Jerrod noticed the apprehensive look on his prospective new employee's face. "Something wrong Miss Nabiki?" He asked, not sure of what the look was about.

Nabiki asked him to follow her to his room, so she could talk to him about the day. Kitty wanted down so she could go see Kasumi in the kitchen, so Jerrod let her down and followed Nabiki up the stairs. Once they were there, Nabiki turned to him and asked, "Mr. Macon, did you know today was Kasumi's birthday?"

There was one all encompassing thought that had entered Jerrods mind at that question. That thought was 'Uh-oh. All that kitchen stuff I had sent today. CRAP! I don't know why I did it; it just seemed to be a nice thing to do! I didn't know today was her birthday!' These thoughts he kept from his face and voice when he returned with a question of his own. "Her birthday? No, I didn't know that. Is there a problem Miss Nabiki?"

"Mr. Macon, I really don't know how to ask you to do this, other than to ask. Could you please take Kasumi out tonight for her birthday? I know it's kind of sudden to throw this at you, but we…" she then explained how things had been for the past ten years in a quiet but sincere voice that didn't carry any farther than his ears. Nabiki had expected him to laugh, or to show pity at the plight of the Tendou family. Not the reaction he did give.

Nabiki felt that if the situation had been a person, that person would have been in very deep trouble. She'd seen Ranma get mad like this in the past, and it never boded well for the individual that had caused that anger to rise, this was a cold anger, but as quickly as it darkened Jerrods face, it was gone. He couldn't maintain that kind of anger at a situation that no one had foreseen. Nabiki knew though, that if that look of anger were ever directed at her, she'd want to die. Dying would have to be better than what would happen to her otherwise. It wasn't a fear of death that the look promised it was a fear of severe punishment that might last a very long time.

And it came from a man that seemed to be happy and carefree most of the time. To know he cared about others enough to punish any that might cause pain, even if it's by an act of omission, was something of a comfort to Nabiki. "Please Mr. Macon? Ranma and I will look after Kitty-chan tonight while you and Kasumi go out so she can have some fun for her day. I know it's a lot to ask…." She trailed off.

Inwardly sighing to himself Jerrod couldn't gainsay the request. From what Nabiki had told him, his earlier suspicions of the cost to the two of them had been high, too high to overlook it. 'I am in so much trouble! I'm not here to make sure Kasumi has a birthday dinner, I'm here to be Ranma's friend. And I do like the kid, odd life he's led though. And now this! Dammit, there's no way I can possibly talk my way out of it either. And Kasumi is sweet and kind, gorgeous too. Prettiest eye's I've ever seen.' Nodding his head Jerrod let Nabiki know her sister would be going out tonight.

"Just let me go ask Miss Kasumi first. It might be too much of a shock to be told she's going out and not know about it!" He told Nabiki, who smiled happily that the man who had come into their lives and managed to calm even Ranma down in so short a time would agree to do it.

"Great! I'll get some reservations set up for you Mr. Macon. Kasumi will be so happy, it'll be the first birthday she's had in a long time!" Nabiki excitedly rushed to a phone to make the reservations for her sister's birthday dinner and dance.

Ten minutes later Nabiki thought to herself, 'ooops, I didn't ask if Mr. Macon could dance! He probably does though, the way he moves.'

While Nabiki was making the reservations, Jerrod went back down to the living room. Kitty was busy telling the fathers all about her day in her most excited little voice. It was so contagious that even dour Genma was smiling at her tale of getting the door sign for her daddy, when Kasumi stepped out of the Kitchen with a tea tray. "Mr. Macon, would you like some tea? I didn't hear when you came home, I'm terribly sorry!"

"I must not have been very loud when I announced Miss Kasumi." He said to her, taking the minor fault as his own. "Some tea would be very nice. But since you are already here, why don't you sit down and have some of your wonderful tea while I go and get a cup?" He said this as he put his hands on her shoulders and gently eased her to sit at the table and took the tray from her hands and put it down. Kitty, never one to pass up an opportunity to be close to the mommy person, crawled in her lap and held her down. Kasumi could only blush at the embarrassment of being restrained by a six-year old.

Jerrod returned moments later with an extra cup and sat down across from the older men, that were each having expressions dance across their faces of ignorant confusion. He looked to the two and said, "It has come to my attention that a certain lady of this household hasn't had a birthday celebration in several years. That being the case, it behooves me to invite this lady to a dinner for this evening." Making his intentions clear to the two men he then looked to Kasumi, who was blushing even deeper than before and asked, "Miss Kasumi, would you do me the honor of accompanying me to dinner this evening?"

"…" Kasumi had opened her mouth to answer, and nothing came out. 'Dammit Kasumi! One of the greatest looking guys you've ever met just asked you out, and you can't speak?' she thought to herself over her mute response to Jerrod's question. Her own dismay at her actions prompted another thought 'If you don't say anything, he's liable to just drop it and never ask you out again! He's showing some interest in you. Go for it!'

She tried to speak again, "…"

After a few more false starts at an answer she finally managed to get out a stuttered and mumbled, "Yes I would love to go with you to dinner." As calmly as she could, Kasumi then got up from the table and went to her room to find something to wear. She was so embarrassed by her own reaction to this, her knees were barely keeping her upright, and her breath was rapid in the excitement of Mr. Macon asking her out. She'd almost made it to her room when she heard him from downstairs say to her, "Miss Kasumi? I do ballroom dancing, if that's okay. I was never very good at the contemporary steps."

Nabiki heard Jerrod tell Kasumi that and breathed a sigh of relief, 'Kami! It would not have been good for my reservations to blow up in their faces because he can't dance… OH CRAP! Kasumi doesn't know ballroom!'

Rushing to Kasumi's room, Nabiki arrived to help her pick out something suitable for ballroom dancing. Luckily they had some of their mother's gowns still, and though they might be a little dated, basic black for an evening gown was always acceptable, with the right accessories, and the style could even come back. There was still some time before the 'date' and Nabiki talked Kasumi into taking a nice long time in the bath. While her sister was doing this Nabiki went down to the living room and caught up with Mr. Macon. "The reservations are at 'Renauldo's', a pretty nice place I hear. I can't say anything about the food or service, but I hear from some of the patrons that it's very good. About the dancing, Kasumi can't ballroom dance, but as dazed as she is right now I doubt if she'll notice much more than being away from the house and not having to cook." She reported to her unknown to her future employer.

'Succinct, prompt and professional report. Just the kind of thing Star Fleet is always looking for in young officers.' Jerrod thought to himself. 'Good thing I look for the same things in employees. It's so fun getting them to lighten up! And you Miss Nabiki, are going to pay for what you did today, mark my words.' Plans for tormenting Nabiki came to his mind. He didn't think of anything cruel or nasty to do, just little irritating torments. His obtuse conversation with her the other day had proven to be too much fun, and now he had a decent reason to keep doing it! "Thank you Miss Nabiki. I would like to have known the quality of the restraunt before, but that's okay, you're learning a new gig so it might take some time I suppose. But you'll get the hang of it in no time, I'm sure!" As he headed for the door to do some impromptu clothes shopping.

Nabiki was at a minor loss for that last statement from Jerrod, that it seemed cryptic in a way and promising in another. She was sure of one thing though, whatever it was, should prove to be entertaining at the very least, profitable at best.

As Jerrod was leaving the house he was nearly run down by Ranma, who appeared to be in a rush to get home. "Something the matter Ranma?" Jerrod asked.

Ranma looked at him and said, "Nah, Paladin, I just wanted to get home early so's I could give Kasumi her Birthday present." This came as a surprise to Jerrod. He'd thought that no one at the home thought of Kasumi or Nabiki enough to get them presents for their birthdays. "It ain't much, cuz I ain't got a lot of money to spend. I know the old farts ain't gonna do nothin' for her today. So I thought I'd get her sumpin' myself."

Looking to his hands, Jerrod saw that his young friend had a nice little name plaque made of brass with Kasumi's name on it. It was bordered with baked enamel flowers and vines painted in such a way as to partially obscure the last letter. "Ranma, has anyone ever told you how thoughtful you are?" Jerrod asked.

"It ain't nothin' special Paladin. Kasumi works so hard and never seems to get thanked by nobody! I think she oughtta go out tonight and let the rest of us take care of ourselves!" Ranma proclaimed. Jerrod never bothered to ask how Ranma had known today was Kasumi's birthday. 'The kid is a martial artist and is very observant. He probably picked up the information just by associating with the girls at home.' Jerrod thought to himself.'

"Ranma, that is a great idea. I'm going out right now to get some new clothes to take Kasumi out tonight! Would you like to come along?" He asked his young friend.

Ranma looked at him again and thought, 'He's gotta be pullin' another of them little 'already ahead of you' jokes. It's for Kasumi, so I won't get mad this time.' Then he said lightly, "Paladin, I know you were headed ta do that anyway, ya don't gotta make it out like it was my idea."

Jerrod smiled at the very observant nature of his friend and said, "Ranma, I'm proud of you picking up what I was up to. I didn't even know it was her birthday and got roped into taking her out by Nabiki. If I didn't need someone here that was responsible and adult, I'd ask if you and Nabiki would like to come along as well. But I need someone to watch Kitty for me."

That caught Ranma by surprise. He'd never been called responsible and adult before by anyone! He knew Nabiki was, after her fashion, but to be given such a compliment by someone he respected was awesome. He could tell Jerrod meant it too, his eyes never wavered or his tone of voice change. The smile of warm friendship made Ranma feel like he was indeed the 'man' he was supposed to be. He couldn't for the life of him figure out why Paladin respected him though.

"I would like to come along an' see what yer gonna wear for this dinner with Kasumi though." Ranma admitted. He only asked to have a few minutes to make sure Kasumi got her present from him. He'd be happy to find on his return from the little trip with Paladin that two new signs had been added to the bedroom doors while he and his friend were out. One was the one that he had brought for Kasumi, and the other for the door of his friend Paladin. It was a guy in armor on a horse with a sword raised and ready to strike, the horse rearing.

Kasumi spent all the time she could on trying to get ready for her date. Her first date in a long time, it had been so long since the last time she couldn't even remember if there had been one. Nabiki fussed over her too, helping her apply just the right amount of rouge and eyeshadow. Her sister helped her pick out a lipstick that was subdued but noticeable. The dress was out of date by at least ten years, but that wouldn't matter. Nabiki assured her that the style was never really out, and with the right jewelry it should have a very nice look. Her hair was a problem though, the two of them argued the way sisters do over such things, until Kitty-chan said that her daddy would like her hair down.

And that was the way it was when Nabiki preceded her down the stairs that evening at six thirty. The reservations were for seven thirty and they would have plenty of time for the taxi ride. She nearly ran into Nabiki as she came down the stairs. There were several things Kasumi noticed about the living room as she made it to the bottom floor. First that Akane had the look on her face of being dejected that someone was going out other than her. And she wouldn't be allowed to cook for the family since Kasumi was the one going out added insult to injury as far as she was concerned.

Second, Ranma had a goofy grin on his face that said he had been saved from the experience of having to try to digest whatever Akane might try to burn eeerrrrr, cook .

And third he was dressed in a new suit that looked as if it had been tailored to fit him, it also looked to be meant to be worn when dancing. The suit was a very nice charcoal gray with narrow lapels and tapered jacket that accented his shoulders and swept down to show off the narrowness of his hips. The shoes he held in his hands, were a complimentary shade of gray with little tassels To Kasumi's eyes he looked as if he had just stepped out of a fashion magazine with those beautiful eyes and handsome face. She couldn't believe that this man was going to take her to dinner and dancing!

Jerrod was not in the habit of finding himself speechless, it does nothing for the reputation of Star Ship captains. But here he was, absolutely stupefied at the vision he saw come down the steps, any words he might have said were not enough to describe what he saw. Ranma helped though with a disbelieving 'WOW! Kasumi, you look great!" To which the girl just blushed a deep and bright crimson, her face warm in an unaccustomed way. She knew that Ranma never said anything before thinking, so this was a true reaction on his part. She only hoped that Mr. Macon would say something half as kind.

Kasumi was wearing the black evening gown that she had kept of her mothers things, it had been a little big, but with a fast trip to the sewing box and a little tuck here and suggestions from Nabiki there, the dress had been altered in very little time. She was wearing silver hoop earrings with a matching chain for a necklace. Her handbag had been an afterthought from her sister, with a matching belt that went with her shoes. The neckline of the dress had been risqué to begin with, but with Nabiki's suggestions she'd dipped the neckline a bit more to expose a touch more of her cleavage. The makeup had been more of a chore than she'd have thought it could be. She did wear some, but never much. Nabiki had helped her loosen up some more on that score as well, instead of the lip-gloss she normally wore; she now wore light pink lipstick. A very light brushing of a light blue-gray eyeshadow that seemed to set off her eyes in ways she'd never thought possible and an even lighter brushing of soft pink rouge to her cheeks. When Kasumi looked at herself in the mirror she had been amazed at the transformation.

She still had the mental picture of herself as a frump.

Stepping forward, Jerrod held out a small corsage with a bright blue orchid and a spray of small white flowers. He carefully pinned this to her dress, just at the sweep of the swell of her bosom. All in all, the two of them made quite a handsome couple and should turn heads this evening. "Miss Kasumi, Ranma is right, you do look beautiful." Jerrod said softly as he pinned the corsage.

Paladin was still thinking to himself. 'Yep, I am definitely in trouble!'

He didn't mind it though. It was nice to be going out with someone that was a sweet as Kasumi, besides she deserved it he'd been told. The fact that her little sister seemed to be jealous didn't even intrude on Jerrod's mind as he took her arm and lead her to the door for her evening out. 'Ranma is sure to get some grief over this.' Nabiki thought to herself as she eyed her baby sister. 'Of course Akane doesn't make it easy for him either. Then the lunatic fiancées don't help matters any. Neither do the rivals!'

With Nabiki and Ranma wishing them a good time the pair left for the evening. Soun was in a proper TWP fit about his 'baby girls growing up' and soon he'd managed to set a new record for midwinter flooding in the Nerima Ward. Of course, he also held the previous record.

Nabiki had decided that Akane wouldn't be allowed near the kitchen, even though she still felt the need to punish the old men. That would wait for a later time, maybe she could talk Happosai into taking them on a training trip. That decided Nabiki went to the phone to order food to be delivered. She knew that sushi would be liked by all, even if she didn't know if Kitty-chan would like it very much. As she waited with the rest for the food to be delivered she sat on the couch with Kitty-chan in between her and Ranma.

If she'd thought about it, she might have been surprised at how domestic and right the three looked. Paladin probably would have noted it if he'd been there. She just knew it felt kind of good to have a little one with her and Ranma watching some television of some silly comedy show about people making fools of themselves for money and prizes.

Then she remembered the problem she had with the girls at school, and the question she still had to ask of Mr. Macon. 'OH CRAP!'