On the train back to Nerima Nabiki reflected on the last thirty hours or so. It had been worrying, fun, terrifying, hilarious, frustrating, inspiring, vomit-inducing, and overall something she was extremely glad she'd experienced. Everything had started with a suspicion derived from police reports and media coverage. What she'd found was so far beyond what she'd expected or even hoped for she was still trying to come to terms with it. The most important thing by far was that she'd found her sister, after all this time. And her sister's husband. It was just a pity she couldn't tell anybody.
'My brother in law,' she thought with a private smile. 'I kind of expected that one day, but not from that direction. Good for you, Kasumi.' Staring out the window as the familiar sights of south Nerima slipped by, she pondered what it all meant. Ranma had indeed given her a cheque for the amount she'd mentioned he still owed her, which made her smile. During their long talk, Kasumi had passed on the access details and card for an account with a considerable sum in it. It turned out that they had several such accounts with fairly anonymous names attached for emergencies. Looking at the debit card with interest she ran her thumb over the embossed numbers then put it back in her wallet.
As she'd told Kasumi, she was very hesitant about bringing a sudden windfall into the Tendo household at the moment for several reasons, the most important of which was upsetting the status quo. Leaving aside Akane's growing mental problems, to which she still hoped to find a solution, things were slowly improving. A sudden influx of liquidity could well undo all the good that time had rather unexpectedly produced. At least, in the case of a genuine emergency, the resources were there. 'Therapy. That's certainly an idea. I wonder if I could persuade Akane to talk to a therapist of some sort? That would be a good use of the money. If Ranma of all people can benefit from it, perhaps my nutty sister could.' With a slight shrug she got up as the train slowed. It was something to consider.
Walking back to the Dojo, still thinking about the whole affair, she unexpectedly found herself entering total chaos. The cause of it was quickly identified when she heard the grating laughter. "Oh, damn it, why now, Kodachi," she groaned, watching as the crazed gymnast bounced around the yard chased by the equally crazed figure of her younger sister, who was practically frothing at the mouth from fury.
"Get back here you stupid cow!" Akane screamed, swinging a huge mallet wildly at the other woman, who skipped out of the way with little effort.
"You're still a graceless peasant, Tendo," the black-haired woman taunted, emitting yet another nerve-jangling laugh. Nabiki winced at the sound. With a sigh, she turned to enter the house, cringing at the noise of a missed mallet strike punching a large hole in the garden wall. Inside, She found Nodoka in the kitchen cleaning the sink, every now and then sighing to herself. The auburn-haired older woman looked up as she came in.
"Hello, Nabiki. Did you have a nice time with your friend?"
"Yes, Auntie, it was wonderful to see her again. And her partner." Nodoka looked at her suspiciously.
"Partner? Business, or..." Nabiki laughed. The older woman's expression was amusing.
"Not business. More like life, I guess."
"I see." Nodoka's expression was somewhat disapproving. She turned back to her task. "I can't say I think such things are very appropriate."
"Oh, Auntie, 'such things' are fine. They're a lovely couple and love each other more than almost anyone I have ever met." Nodoka's expression softened slightly.
"What do they do?" she asked.
"They're both studying different fields of medicine. Eventually they'll be doctors." The older woman looked approving.
"That's a very good career choice." She sighed a little. "It probably makes their mothers very proud. Everyone wants their children to do well." She seemed wistful, Nabiki having a fairly good idea who she was thinking about. Putting her hand on the other woman's shoulder for a moment, she smiled reassuringly, then changed the subject.
"What's all the excitement outside about?" Nodoka's expression changed to one of irritation.
"Oh, that annoying Kodachi Kuno dropped in on us about half an hour ago, ranting about the usual things. Where had we hidden her darling Ranma, shouting about the red-haired harridan, you know the routine. She must be bored, she hasn't done anything like this for a long time. Akane immediately lost her temper and attacked her, which only made the whole situation worse. My blasted husband and your father didn't help, they had their students watching and taking notes, and bets. That really made Akane angry, I'm afraid, as Soun was betting against her. She knocked him unconscious, then did the same to Genma when he laughed. Their students tried to defend them but simply aren't good enough yet, so they all ended up in the pond as well." She paused, looking reflectively out the window. "It's very odd how all the fights around this place seem to end up there. I wonder why?" After a moment, she gave up trying to work it out.
"That was about ten minutes before you arrived. Akane and Kodachi have been chasing each other around the grounds ever since. With a little luck they'll wear themselves out and stop soon." Both women winced as a loud crash shook the room. "Hopefully before the house collapses." Another crash came making the cups in the cupboards tinkle against each other.
"For fuck's sake, this is ridiculous," Nabiki snarled in anger, ignoring Nodoka's expression at her swearing. Stomping outside she shouted at the top of her voice, "KNOCK IT OFF YOU MORONS!" Kodachi and Akane both stopped dead, staring at her. Ruthlessly suppressing the sudden urge to giggle as the memory of 'Yori' yelling at a similarly shocked group of magical girls came to her, she glared at them both. Trying for the same note of command in her voice, she continued, "Kodachi, go home before I charge you for the damage. No, on second thought, I am going to charge you. I'll send an invoice. Now push off and find something else to amuse yourself with." Dismissing the woman with a glance, she was grinning on the inside at the expression of haughty irritation combined with uncertainty that crossed her face.
"Akane, please stop letting her tease you. Look at this place!" She waved her hand at the damage. A tile slid off the roof and shattered on the flagstones, making both of the fighters twitch. Nabiki successfully managed to ignore it. "Your job doesn't pay enough to allow you to indulge in this sort of thing, and I'm certainly not going to fund your little rants. Not any more. You've already knocked out father, Genma, and all their students. What happens if the students decide to give up because of that? Did you think about that?" Shame passing over her face, Akane shook her head, staring at the ground. She jumped as another tile shattered.
"Try to be more sensible. We can't afford to have you wreck the damn place every time you get pissed off. Grow up! You're nearly twenty two years old, you're not a child any more." Shaking her head in disgust, she added, "You can clear this up. When you're done I'll work out how much your share of the damage comes to." Akane looked at her in shock, starting to speak. "No. I'm serious. Now start cleaning," Nabiki snapped, causing her to close her mouth and slump. Turning her head to stare at the Kuno woman, Nabiki asked sarcastically, "Are you still here? In that case, you can help her clean up." She reached inside the door and grabbed the broom, tossing it to Kodachi, who caught it in a sort of dazed reflex. The two fighters looked at her, then at each other, before mechanically beginning to clean up the mess, without saying anything. She watched with her hands on her hips for a minute or two before nodding, satisfied. 'Thank you, Yori. I learned a lot.' She smiled coldly at them then went back into the house.
Nodoka stared at her with mixed surprise and approval. "That was... impressive. How did you learn to do that?"
With a satisfied grin Nabiki responded, "My friend's partner is, well, very forceful when she wants to be, especially with troublemakers. People listen to her whether they want to or not. I saw her dealing with some overenthusiastic people last night and thought her method might work here. I'm glad to say it did."
"Well done." The older woman smiled at the younger one, clearly pleased.
"Thanks. I suppose I'd better go and check on father and the other idiots." Nodoka tutted at her comment but looked amused. Going out into the Dojo, the middle sister looked around with irritation. There were several new holes in the walls and a couple in the floor, evidence that Akane had been making free use of her mallet. She made some notes on the extent of the damage, then went to look for the human casualties. Soun was lying on the grass next to the pond, mumbling to himself, while Genma, currently a panda, was floating on his back in it, blinking at the sky and looking as puzzled as a panda can. The five students were arrayed around the water, groaning and soaked. Nabiki stood and studied them with a disgusted expression.
"You lot are useless. Seven of you, two very experienced martial artists and five pretty decent students, and you couldn't handle one irritated Akane?"
Genma held up a sign that read, #She's insanely strong, you know#.
"That's no excuse. Next time, try harder. Or I'll start billing you lot for the damage as well." Snorting with derision, she turned and left, inwardly very relieved that there didn't appear to be any serious injuries. 'This time. What happens next time?' Despite what she'd said she knew full well that it was next to impossible to stop Akane when she was enraged. They'd done well to even slow her down. Returning to the yard she watched Kodachi and Akane still clearing up their mess, slightly surprised they both hadn't run for it the moment she turned her back. 'Wow. Yori's technique of yell a lot and not take no for an answer really works.' She resolved to try to keep on top of her sister from now on, if one good talking to worked so well. The fact that Kodachi of all people had also been intimidated enough to do manual labour was astounding. 'I'll have to let Ranma and Kasumi know about this. It'll amuse them if nothing else.'
The brunette went into the house and up to her room, where she turned on the computer and waited for it to boot, idly spinning her chair around and looking out the window. When the familiar desktop came up she typed in her password, then spent the next hour carefully deleting every report, email, and media file she had gathered during her search for the two missing people. Going over the computer one last time very deliberately, in case she'd missed anything, she then pulled out her backup disks and reformatted them all twice, just to be sure. Starting a new backup going to save the current state of the rest of her data, she rummaged around in her desk and closet to find any printouts that might have potentially incriminating evidence on them, then shredded them. She'd burn the remains later.
It went against her normal practice, but she felt it was best to make sure that there was no chance that anyone else could use her research to find the pair. Not only was she worried about them should that happen, she'd been quite serious about her comments on the possible repercussions to Akane and the rest. Finally satisfied that every scrap of data that had led her to her quarry was permanently gone, she then spent some time researching therapists who had experience dealing with anger management issues. This took another couple of hours, but she ended up with a short-list of five names she resolved to call the next day.
Turning off the computer she rose and looked out the window. Akane and Kodachi were still working, although it looked like they were nearly done. Smiling with considerable amusement she went downstairs and watched from the porch as they finished up. "Well done. Right, I'll get estimates for the damage and get you both bills for your share. Akane, you have two months to pay. Kodachi, I expect payment by the end of the week or you will have a major problem. Do you both understand me?" The two young women glanced at each other, then nodded, uncharacteristically quiet. "Good. In future, if you want to play, go and do it in one of the vacant lots where no one will mind. There's a lot of them around here. If you start anything in the grounds of the Dojo, there is going to be serious trouble. AM I CLEAR?" She snapped the last three words with the volume and command of a good sergeant-major, making them jump. Again, they nodded.
"Good. Kodachi, go home. Akane, go inside. Dinner is nearly ready." Turning on her heel she walked back into the house, grinning at Nodoka who had come out of the kitchen to listen with a peculiar smile on her face. The older woman nodded respectfully to her.
"If you wish, you can borrow my katana if you have to do this again. I always found it made people... more respectful." The older woman grinned quickly, then went back to an almost Kasumi-like smile.
Surprised, Nabiki considered the offer for a moment. "Thank you. Hopefully it won't be necessary but it's nice to know the option is there." Nodoka gave her another surprisingly respectful and slightly curious look before going back to the kitchen. She got the distinct impression that she'd scored some serious points with Ranma's mother. Behind her she heard the sound of Akane entering the house. Turning she looked at the younger woman, who glanced at her then away, still looking ashamed.
"I'm sorry Nabiki. She makes me so angry, though. Why did she have to come here?" The young woman sounded simultaneously plaintive and petulant. Nabiki sighed. While she had some sympathy for her sister the fact remained that Akane over-reacted enormously to even the slightest insult.
"I know how irritating Kodachi is. But that doesn't excuse you knocking huge great holes in the house and the Dojo. It's going to cost a lot of money to get them repaired. Father and Genma can't use the Dojo for teaching until the floor is fixed, so that's less money coming in right when we need it. Never mind any potential loss of students." She studied her sister, who was fidgeting like a ten year old called in front of her mother. Suddenly getting an inkling of how Kasumi must have felt all those years she felt ashamed. "You must control yourself better. You've been doing quite well the last few months, don't let Kodachi ruin it, OK?" Akane nodded slowly, still not meeting her sister's eyes. "And if you really have to fight her, please do it somewhere else? Somewhere you won't damage anything important?" Once more the blue-haired girl nodded.
"I'm sorry, 'Biki." The diminutive form of her name made Nabiki smile, Akane hadn't used it in years. Stepping forward she closed the gap between them and hugged her embarrassed sister. "I forgive you. But you're still paying for your share of the damage." With a final nod, Akane hugged her back, before going off to the bathroom to clean up.
At the dinner table, Nabiki ate slowly, looking around at the various people in the room. Nodoka was in an oddly pleasant mood, occasionally giving her interested looks. Genma was currently human and still looked slightly stunned, while her father was concentrating on eating and seemed to be using what attention he had left to think about something. Akane was quite withdrawn, eating her food quietly and saying nothing. As the meal drew to a close, the brunette sister cleared her throat. Everyone looked at her.
"I've been giving this a lot of thought, but today's little amusement has pushed up the timetable." Looking at her father, then her sister, she went on, firmly although with sympathy, "Akane, you have a serious problem, one that seems to steadily be getting worse. This latest episode could have been very bad, and I'm terrified that the next one will be worse. You get too angry, too easily." Pausing she tried to gauge her sister's mood, which seemed to be more apathetic than angry. Delicately, she added, "I think we need to serious consider getting you some professional help for your anger control problem, before something permanent happens." Her sister sat still for a moment as her words registered, then looked at her with a mix of anger and sorrow.
"I'm not crazy." Nabiki shook her head.
"I'm not suggesting you are," she replied, while thinking, 'Not out loud, anyway. But you're heading that way.' "But even you must admit that you get angry extremely easily, and express that anger in a very destructive manner." The blue haired girl opened her mouth with a nasty retort ready, then to Nabiki's considerable surprise, stopped and thought. 'That's a first,' she thought in wonder. After several seconds, Akane tried again.
"Some people really get on my nerves," she said quietly. "They make me furious, I just boil over." Her sister nodded.
"And then you try to hit them. Luckily, so far most of the people you have managed to hit are the rare ones that can take it. But what happens when you go after an ordinary, non martial artist person. Someone just walking down the street, for instance? Or one of your friends, like Sayuri? Or me? You do realise, I hope, that the sort of damage you just caused to either of them," she waved a hand at the two fathers, who were listening intently, "would kill almost anyone else with a single hit? What you did to Ryoga would have pulped any normal person. What you used to do to Ranma would have killed any lesser mortal dozens of times over." She stopped again as Akane's eyes flashed at the mention of the martial artist, wondering if she'd made a mistake. Hoping not, she went on, pressing her advantage while Akane was in this unusually receptive mood.
"There have been so many times you could have, with one thoughtless action, become a murderer. Do you want that? I certainly don't. Your honour, the family honour, would never recover. But more importantly, I don't want my little sister to have that on her conscience." Her sudden rage subsiding, the younger woman sat back, mollified by her sibling's obvious and genuine concern.
"It's all Ranma's fault," Akane muttered half-heartedly, resorting to the tired old formula. Nabiki stared at her incredulously.
"How? How could it possibly be Ranma's fault? He's been gone for over three years, Akane. Face it, you will most likely never see him again, and if you're honest with yourself you know why. You weren't the only reason he left, we all share that shame, but you were one of the biggest reasons and the trigger. You nearly killed Kasumi! If it hadn't been for Ranma you would have succeeded. That's what I'm afraid of. If you could try to hit Kasumi of all people with your full strength, without even thinking about the results, it's only a matter of time before you do it again to someone else, and this time there won't be a miracle. There will be no Ranma to save you from the rest of your life either in jail or on the run. That sort of luck only happens once in someone's life, and you used yours up that night."
Akane's face unexpectedly crumpled and she began crying, leaning forward and resting her head on the table narrowly missing her plate. With a sigh Nabiki moved to sit beside her, putting her arm over her back and comforting her. "Oh, 'Biki, I'm sorry. I can't help it. I try to stop myself but I just can't. If Ranma was here he could stop me. Why did he leave? Why did he take Kasumi with him? I miss her so much." Helplessly, the older Tendo woman stroked her sibling's back and looked at the three adults, who peered back with various expressions. Nodoka was both sympathetic and slightly irritated, Soun looked ready to cry himself, while Genma was watching Akane with an oddly speculative look on his face, like he'd never really seen her before. Meeting her eyes he said nothing but simply watched. Trying to silently pass on the message that if he tried anything that hurt her sister she'd gut him like a fish, she smiled slightly in satisfaction when he paled a little.
The youngest Tendo sister cried for a long time, deep heaving sobs that spoke of despair. Nodoka and Soun cleared the table, sparing the two young women concerned glances, as Genma stepped out of the way and continued to watch quietly. After twenty minutes or so he nodded to himself and left the room. Watching him go, Nabiki wondered to herself what he was up to. Still holding her sister she waited for her anguish to subside. When she eventually stopped crying and lifted her head her eyes were red and bloodshot. The older sister hander her a cloth to wipe her eyes with. "Are you all right?" she asked with sympathy.
"No. Not really." Her sister looked at her with raw honesty in her eyes, for perhaps the first time in years. "I'm sorry. It was just too much. Kodachi, then Father and Genma, then you."
"I didn't mean to upset you, sis. But it needed to be said." Akane nodded slowly, still looking upset.
"OK. What do you want me to do," she asked quietly and unusually passively. Her sister looked at her with an evaluating stare.
"I think, as I said, that we need to get you to see someone who can help you, before this goes too far. If you carry on like this, someone is going to get badly hurt, and it could just as easily be you in the long run. If I find a suitable therapist, will you go? Please?" The blue-haired woman watched her face for long seconds, then stared at the table, wiping one eye with the back of her hand.
"Yes." The response was so quiet Nabiki could barely hear it.
"Thank you." Akane looked briefly at her, a hint of a smile crossing her face for a moment, before it reverted to unhappiness again.
"Do you think I'm crazy, Nabiki?" The older woman shook her head.
"No, I don't, not really. But I think you're heading into a very dark place, unless we do something before it's too late. I should have insisted on this a long time ago, and I'm sorry that I've let it get to this point." Her sister nodded absently.
"I miss her."
"So do I," the middle sister said, feeling very guilty. The urge to blurt out their eldest sister's whereabouts was almost overwhelming, but she ruthlessly shoved it down in the certain knowledge that it would not only betray a promise but without doubt make a bad situation far worse. Akane nodded again.
"Every day, I get up, expecting her to call me for breakfast. Every day, I go to bed wanting to say goodnight to her. It's horrible. I feel so guilty. I nearly killed her, Nabiki!" Her voice suddenly rose, animation coming back into her features for the first time since she'd started crying. "I didn't even think, I just pulled out a mallet and swung at her. It wasn't until after I'd started the swing that I even saw who I was trying to hit, and by then it was too late." She was trembling, whether in fear, anguish, guilt, or a combination of all three Nabiki couldn't determine. "I nearly killed my sister," she said quietly. Putting her head back on the table she sighed. "I'm a terrible martial artist, a terrible person. Everyone is better than me. All I can do is smash things. Even Kodachi is better than me."
Her elder sibling watched her sadly. "It's not a contest, Akane. You have the makings of a good martial artist, by most standards a very good one, but you have to face up the fact that there will be people who are better. Don't try to judge yourself by the standards of Ranma, for example. He's in a class of his own, so far beyond anyone else it's almost silly. But he paid a very heavy price to become that good, one he never even knew he was paying until it was too late." The younger woman looked at her for a moment, then nodded.
"I know. When I think about it like that, I know. But it was so difficult seeing him do things without even trying that most people never be capable of. And all the others. They're all incredibly good as well compared to me. It makes me feel... small and worthless." Her brutally honest self-criticism made her sister both sad, and feel that it was about time she faced some of her inner issues. Perhaps there was hope for her yet. If only she would stick to her promise of therapy when she cheered up. Feeling a little guilty for pushing when she was obviously on the verge of a breakdown but knowing it might be the only chance they'd get, Nabiki spoke again.
"You have to talk to someone about all this, as honestly as you're talking to me now. About everything. What you did to Ranma, why he left, what you nearly did to Kasumi and why she chose to go with him as a result. Why you're so angry all the time, lashing out at people for the smallest things. It's not healthy for you, and it sure as hell isn't healthy for anyone else." Akane smiled briefly.
"It wasn't for Ryoga." With a chuckle, Nabiki grinned at her.
"Well, to be honest that one was almost justified. I'm glad you didn't succeed in killing him, for your sake rather than his, but I'm not sorry you beat the crap out of him. He'd done some very underhanded things to you and to Ranma for years. You know poor old Ranma tried very hard to let you know about Ryoga's curse, but couldn't tell you straight because he'd promised the pig he wouldn't reveal a weakness?" She could see from the shocked expression that her sister had never considered this. "Every time you hit him for 'teasing' or 'bullying' P-Chan, he was trying to protect your honour, but couldn't because his own got in the way." She shook her head. "Poor bastard."
Fresh tears welled up in her sister's eyes and for a moment she wondered if she'd gone too far. "Don't cry, Akane. It's in the past and we can't change it. What's done is done. We just have to get you fixed up somehow so nothing like this ever happens again. OK?" The younger woman looked at her with teary eyes and nodded, unable to say anything. Debating with herself for several seconds, Nabiki finally decided that she had to say the last thing that needed saying.
"I've also decided that I'm not going to look for Ranma and Kasumi any more." Shock once more filled her sister's eyes, but she carried on, not letting her speak, "It's not doing us any favours. We've been treading water, trying to turn back the clock, for more than three years now. If I haven't found them by now I never will unless they want to be found, which they obviously don't." 'All too true, but I can't tell you that. I'm sorry, Akane.' "Aside from the cost, it's causing you a lot of harm, I think. You have to face the fact that they're gone, quite possibly permanently. You have to move on with you life, as do the rest of us." 'And I feel like a total bastard saying that, knowing what I do. But at the moment it's for the best.' Gently, she put her hand on Akane's. "With luck, one day they might come back to us. But it will be on their terms. Do you understand?"
The young woman searched her face with her eyes, seeking the truth of what she'd said. Hoping desperately that her inner thoughts weren't visible from the outside Nabiki schooled her expression into a cool but sympathetic one. After several long seconds Akane dropped her eyes. "Yes. I understand." Eventually, she stood and walked to the doorway, stopping and speaking without turning, "I'm sorry I disappointed you, 'Biki." Leaving the room she went up the stairs and a moment later her sister heard the door to her bedroom close softly.
"Oh, Akane," Nabiki sighed, shaking her head sadly. Hearing a noise at the door to the kitchen she looked up to meet Nodoka's eyes.
"You did well, my dear. That can't have been easy." The middle sister looked at her for a moment before slumping back into her seat.
"Not easy at all. Very hard indeed, would be a better way of putting it." The elder woman walked over and sat down facing her.
"I think it was something that was long overdue. That poor girl is a tortured soul in some ways, she needs help. I don't think any of us here are able to give her what she needs. Perhaps an outsider can." Looking curiously at the other woman, she asked, "Are you really giving up on your search for Kasumi and... my son?" She stumbled a little on the last few words. Nabiki nodded.
"Yes. As I told my sister, it's not doing anything useful and in fact causing quite a lot of harm. Not to mention costing a fortune, even with hijacking the Kuno idiots' investigators." Nodoka smiled slightly at this, then looked serious again, as well as a little depressed.
"That's a pity, but I can see your point." She sighed a little. "I would like to see him again one day. I know Genma would as well, he misses the boy even if he doesn't show it." Nabiki looked at her with mildly annoyed interest.
"Your husband is a very large part of why he left." To her surprise the other woman didn't take offence, merely nodding with another small sigh.
"Oh, I know. It may have been your poor sister who triggered the whole thing that terrible night, but we all bear various proportions of the blame. It's a stain on my honour I will take to the grave." They sat in silence for a while, Nabiki reflecting on the older woman's words. There was a surprising amount of self-realisation in them considering the source. She had always considered Ranma's mother to be too full of her own rigid ideas about 'manly' behaviour to ever think that she played some part in what happened, but apparently over the last few years she had come to understand the consequences of her actions to some degree at least.
Whether that would stick if Ranma ever did come back was unknowable until and unless it happened, of course. She didn't think it likely that it would, at least in the short term. Her conversation at their apartment had made it clear that the martial artists still harboured strong feelings over the matter, which she couldn't blame him for. She felt considerable shame for her own part in the entire affair. It had surprised her quite a lot that not once had either he or Kasumi mentioned that in anything other than passing, with no malice. In her own opinion she didn't deserve such fair treatment.
Eventually Nodoka broke the silence. "Isn't therapy expensive?"
Looking up from her thoughts Nabiki replied, "It should be covered by our health insurance, as it's clearly an urgent problem. We'll have to pay a certain amount, but I have some emergency money that should cover it. The biggest problem is going to be finding a therapist who can understand the nature of the problem, and the potential danger. I've looked up some names, I'll make some phone calls tomorrow. Hopefully someone can see her fairly soon."
Nodoka stood, then smiled. "You seem to have taken on the role that Kasumi filled very well, Nabiki. I hope that Akane can be helped." A few seconds later the middle sister was alone with her thoughts.