A little before dawn, Akane wakes up and gently rubs her eyes. She watches the sleeping Ranma for a while, thinking about this new turn in their relationship and what's the next step...
"Hey, I want to talk to you" Akane says in a whisper while gently nudging her sleeping fiancee.
"Huh, what?" Ranma rouses from his sleep. "Mornin' Akane"
"Mornin', Ranma"
Turning his head to the side, Ranma notices the time and wonders why she's up so early.
"Did yah want to do some morning sparring or somethin', it's really early..." Ranma says with a yawn.
"Not exactly- I want to talk to you about what happened yesterday" is Akane's immediate response.
Remembering yesterday's "incident", Ranma immediately tries to avoid any arguements and tries to reassure his fiancee. "Don't worry, I didn't forget about replacing your shirt, we'll get yah a new one after school today"
"I'm glad you remembered- but it's more then the shirt I want to talk about. Some basic stuff if you and I are going to do this more often" Akane says with a smile, reveling in the moment and enjoying this latest expression of her love and sexuality.
Ranma grins as well. "So, you want me to keep taking that shirt off, huh"
"Taking off, not shredding to pieces baka! You know I like it when you're..." Akane's voice drops to a whisper. "Gentle with me"
Working on his ability to compliment his fiancee, Ranma has a fitting response to that. "Yeah, it seems to bring out a side of you that I happen to like..."
"Me too. I need your help, though, if we're going to keep with this arrangement"
Ranma is eager to help out. "Okay, what do yah need?"
"Normally I don't wear a bra when I'm sleeping... so if I fall asleep like I did last night, I want you to unhook it"
Ranma's eyes get larger. "Oh, I see..."
"You seem to know how to do that quite well, my perverted baka"
Gently, the pig-tailed martial artist begins carressing Akane's hair. "You're getting to be a tease, yah know..."
Akane blushes. "Only for you, Ranma. Doing this kind of thing with you is, well... kinda exciting"
"Definitely... being with you definitely shows me there's more to life then just martial arts... and it's something we share"
Akane nods her head and relaxes as Ranma continues his gentle massage of her hair. After a little while he lets one hand move onto her back and stealthily unhooks Akane's bra, causing her to sigh aloud.
"Ranma..."
"Just checking to make sure I remembered how to do it"
Akane rolls her eyes. "Whatever, Ranma. Since you did that, though, why don't you rub my back?"
Happy that he's avoided Akane's wrath, Ranma happily complies with her request. "Sure thing, I'll let you know when it's time to get up for our morning excercises"
"Thanks Ranma... I owe you one" Akane yawns and then falls back asleep, comfortable with her position on top of her love, Ranma. True to his word, Ranma massages her back and thinks about the woman on top of him...
'She's getting kinda serious and ain't even minding it when I'm being perverted- I like this trend... who knows what'll happen next?'
Later that morning Ranma and Akane join the rest of the family downstairs for breakfast where the main topic is this new Amazon threat.
"Nabiki has been generous enough to buy new cell phones for everyone... that'll help out a bit" Soun mentions after passing out the new equipment.
"No strings attached?" Akane asks, knowing that the word "generous" isn't really in Nabiki's vocabulary.
"Oh come on Akane, we're talking something very serious here- everyone's at risk... being nice one in a while won't break my bank... and besides, I got the money from Kuno-baby"
"Ah..." Ranma says, not surprised to hear that the money didn't come from her own pocket.
Nodoka changes the conversation to another aspect of the preperation topic. "Kasumi, how is your training coming along with the good Doctor?"
A slight blush forms on Kasumi's face. "Just fine... I'm going over later this morning- I'm sure he'll be ready soon to instruct me in some martial arts..."
"Isn't this a throwback to the past, Tendo? All three of your daughters practicing the Art once again" Genma says, making an observation of the current situation.
"I don't like the circumstances behind it but it makes me very proud to see it" Soun says with a smile.
The three Tendo sister look at each other and can't help but feel good about renewing this common bond between them once again. Nodoka gets up and sits behind Ranma and Akane who wonder what's going on...
"There's more... I've been talking with Elder Cologne and I have a special mission for you two..." Ranma's mother then places one hand on each of the two teens' heads. "I hope you're ready to come up with a new move"
Akane is confused. "New move?"
"As part of your Amazon sisterhood, it's required. It'll help with battling any invading Amazons as well..."
Ranma nods his head. "Well, that kinda makes sense..."
After hearing that, Soun speaks up and reveals that's just the start of the mission. "We've got something else to add to that mission"
"Oh? What's that?" Akane asks, curious and nervous about what else there could be.
"Shampoo will be by after you get home from class to demonstrate something for you two. Nodoka and I have our own addition to this new training, though..."
Ranma is getting tired of the run around and wants to know what's going on. "Okay, enough wit' the mystery... what do yah want us to do?"
"Oh, I know you'll just LOVE this, Ranma dear" Nodoka says sweetly while looking at her son and his fiancee.
"Uh huh..." is Ranma's reply, not liking the sound of that.
"Starting tomorrow, you two will go training together for a week, alone up in the nearby woods..." Soun says in a very serious tone.
Akane has a quick reply for that. "What about school? And what if we get attacked?"
"I don't endorse missing school but this is a very serious matter in more then one way... and the cell phones will help cover that angle"
Ranma puts two and two together and wants to make sure he's got the right idea here. "Okay, I got yah Mister Tendo... so I take it you mean camping then..."
"Yes"
"And then we work out this new move"
"Yes"
Ranma turns and looks at his fiancee. "That don't sound too bad, right Akane?"
"Not too bad..."
"Oh, I almost forgot- Akane will be making breakfast each day as part of the training"
All eyes turn and look at Nodoka... several of those present wonder if she's truly gone mad.
"What? Are you trying to..." Ranma suddenly realizes what he's saying and quickly puts his hands over his mouth.
Nabiki sees a chance to tease both Ranma and Akane and takes it. "What was that, Ranma?"
There is a slight reaction from Akane but she quickly lets it pass since Ranma at least tried to stop himself from running his big mouth. "Ahem. More couple's training?"
"Yes, dear... Ranma seems to be a capable cook..." Nodoka says in an encouraging tone.
"Ranma's not going to have to worry about the Amazons killing him..."
"I think that's enough, Nabiki" is the stern reply to that last comment by the Tendo patriarch. Akane shoots her sister a look but says nothing. Ranma wisely keeps his mouth shut, well aware that cooking is a very sore point with Akane.
"We didn't leave you out Nabiki, so don't worry... we've got special training lined up just for you"
Nodoka's comment brings a wide smile to Ranma and Akane's face. "Heh... that'll be somethin' to see..."
"Oh be quiet Ranma... it's not like I'm totally out of shape..."
"Your new boyfriend will be by after school to begin the instruction so be sure to come home right away- there's not a moment to lose"
Nabiki is a little surprised. "You've got Kuno-baby roped into this already?"
"In a way, you've got the harder task since you're not as proficient as Akane..." Nodoka points out without trying to sound negative about it. Akane cannot help but like that comment, especially since her own faults are pointed out and harped on regularly by Nabiki.
Nabiki's eyes narrow. "I see... well, I'll have to conduct today's business at lunch then and later tonight on the phone but I think I'll manage"
"I'm glad to hear it, this is very serious business and I don't want anyone to be unprepared" Soun says with a firm nod. "Akane and Ranma will have to pack tonight, too... I've already taken care of your absences so the Principal and your teachers know what's going on"
A thought pops into Nabiki's head a moment later, a very devious one. 'The fun's not over little sis, I've got something in mind for you and Ranma, just you wait and see...'
"I'm going to head out for class now... maybe I can take care of some business before class. I'll see everyone later..."
With that, Nabiki leaves the room and makes her way upstairs, not liking this rushing start to her day but realizing that she really doesn't have a choice in the matter, 'It's not business I'm stopping off to take care of... but pleasure... heh. Good thing I have keys...'
After Nabiki's departure, Akane cannot help but shake the feeling that something's not quite right... but she dismisses the thought and finishes her breakfast. It isn't long before everyone heads their seperate ways... Happosai begins doing some training with Genma and Soun- Nodoka's practicing of her swordmanship nearby is a deterent enough for any complaints that either were going to field...
Around noon, Kasumi finishes making lunch and lets Nodoka know that she's leaving for her own training trip, leaving the remaining chores for the Saotome matriarch to finish. Nodoka is glad to help and secret wonders how long it'll take before that training changes from an excercise in "desensitizing" to one of love and passion...
The school day goes by rather quickly- Ranma and Akane update Ukyo on what's going on, allowing the chef to be aware of the situation. Ukyo shows off her new phone during the lunch hour, demonstrating the true need for everyone to be connected in this time of crisis...
After school, Nabiki gets Kuno and heads back to the Tendo dojo to practice, letting Akane and Ranma head inside the house undisturbed to talk with Shampoo and Mousse, who meets the pair upstairs in the new shared bedroom.
"Watch Shampoo and learn Amazon techniques..."
Ranma and Akane sit on the bed and watch Shampoo demonstrate a tickling moving first- that seems easy enough to imitate by the observers. Move two is a variation of the Amazon glomp that the purple haired teen had used many times on Ranma.
"I seen that before..."
"Ranma no see real way out of move, though" is her reply while rubbing her chest against the blushing Mousse.
"There's a proper way out of this... and it's just for married couples..." Mousse adds, wanting the two observers to know the purpose of this demonstration.
Akane doesn't want to wait. "Okay, show us then"
Both Ranma and Akane's eyebrows go up as they watch the way Mousse escapes the hold... she seems to enjoy the method a lot...
"I see..." is Ranma's only comment on the way out of the move.
"Shampoo show move, now Akane glomp Ranma!"
Akane looks at Ranma and grins. "Wo Ai Ni!"
Before Ranma can say a word he finds himself in a very familiar position... but this time it's his fiancee glomping him...
"Feels like the real thing..." the blushing martial artist admits as Akane truly plays the part.
"Ranma... you know how to get out of this hold... don't you?" Akane winked at him and watched as his face went very red.
Ranma softly says one word. "Yes..."
"Okay... then show me. And no, you can't change into your girl form, either..." Akane giggled. 'This is fun... now we just have to worry about his new move...'
Ranma gets even redder at Akane's very forward advances on him and hesitates. She decides to tease him further...
Akane looks down at herself. "I know I don't fill this outfit out as much as Shampoo does..." Akane paused to look at Ranma... and was surprised that he was boldly staring at her chest. "You know I'm not wearing a bra, either..."
"Wh... what?" Was about all Ranma could manage to say. 'What has Shampoo done to my Akane?'
Akane notices his reaction and his deep thinking and decides to stop with the charade. "Sorry, Ranma...
"Ranma needs to make move, Akane working too too hard here!" Shampoo says, interrupting the conversation.
"Figures... you had her dress up like this just for this excercise..." Ranma mutters. "Don't mind it that much, though"
Akane likes the sound of that. "Good- this Amazon is waiting..."
"You were scaring me for a second there... I think you're getting way too into this role, tomboy"
"I'm just playing the part... but I do fill this out pretty well, right?" Akane suddenly feels very self-conscious... ever since her and Ranma had gotten closer, she had looked at herself more critically. Ranma also was increasingly nervous as things moved along... despite the help he was getting from his mother and others.
"Oh, yeah... you do..." Ranma said while gently pushing Akane off of him. Part of her was on his left leg, causing it to go numb. Akane's voice is heard a moment later... along with a slight gasp.
"Well, I can see that you do know how to get out this hold... but can you get your hands off of my breasts, please?" Akane said as her face turned a blazing red from a combination of embarassment, excitement, and anger.
Ranma looks at his hands and realizes that when he pushed her away, he didn't push her shoulders, but something lower...
"Oops..." Ranma said as he removed his hands from her body. 'I hope she doesn't kill me...'
"You can say that again. Now, I only have one thing to say to you, Ranma Saotome..." Akane said as she moved her face to within inches of his.
Ranma gulped and prepared for the worst.
"Ranma... I do hope that you're ready..." Akane stared at Ranma menacingly. He cringes and closes his eyes.
Akane then continues. "Ready... to marry me..."
Ranma's eyes shoot open and bug out. "M... m... marry?"
Akane responed matter of factly. "Of course, you did touch my breasts just now, didn't you? You're now my husband..." Ranma faints and hits the floor hard. Akane cannot contain her laughter anymore and starts laughing aloud with Shampoo and Mousse.
"I guess he couldn't handle it, that's too bad" Mousse quips.
"He'll be fine- it's just the past haunting us again. Anytime he's touched those it the past I've beat him..." Akane says with a hint of sadness.
"Shampoo and airen will head downstairs, let Shampoo know when you are ready for more training"
"Sure"
Akane watches the Amazon couple leave and then turns her attention back to the unconscious Ranma.
'Poor Ranma... I guess he still can't take a joke... but still... that did feel kinda nice...' Akane stopped laughing and looked down at her fiancee. She took him into her arms and placed a small kiss on his cheek.
"Ranma... Ranma... wake up..."
Ranma opens his eyes and stares at Akane, not sure of what to do next. Akane speaks softly to him. "I know... that you want to be closer to me... you've told me several times that you like certain bras that I have..."
Ranma goes red in the face after hearing that, prompting Akane to continue expressing herself. "Ranma, I was just kidding about the marriage thing... we're still getting to know each other..."
Ranma nervously looks at Akane and then smiles. "Yeah... I don't wanna rush things... but I umm... do want to do umm... things with you..."
Akane put a finger on his lips and he stops speaking. "I do, too... I have feelings about you, too..." Akane's voice drops down to a whisper. "And desires..."
All Ranma can say is "Oh..." in response to what Akane just said. 'I want to tell her something... but I have to feel comfortable...' Ranma decides to lie down on his futon. Akane, curious about what Ranma is doing, stares at his face. With a nervous smile, he gently pulls Akane down onto his chest.
"Akane, I have..."
Akane snuggles her head against Ranma's chest and relaxes in an attempt to calm down Ranma. She feels his arms move onto her back and then they gently caress the middle of her back.
In a near whisper, Akane hears Ranma admit something a moment later. "I... I... have d-desires about you, too..."
Akane responds softly. "I know... the way you're talking... and touching me... shows me that..."
Ranma is about to say something when Akane yawns and then falls asleep snuggled on his chest. He sighs and then pulls the blanket on top of them both. Ranma continues to think about Akane and the new assignment that he just got from his mother. Her words still echo through his mind... 'A brand new technique for each of you... you must prove that you are ready to inherit the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts. I know you two are not ready to marry, but you must still show your desire to inherit the school to Soun and I...'
Ranma softly talks to himself. "I think Akane has a good grasp of what she's gonna use... but I need something new. Something different that combines what we just saw and our new idea..."
Ranma stares up at the ceiling for a moment before something comes to mind. 'Oh yeah! Mousse used that tickling technique to get Shampoo to surrender to him... maybe I could use something similar to stop a fight or something- Akane still gets angry with me sometimes...'
The thought train in Ranma's head is derailed a moment later by the sound of a door opening. A figure steps inside the room and then gasps aloud. Ranma blinks and finds a wooden bokken in his face a moment later.
"How could you, Ranma? My sister bust her butt for you and this is how you repay her?" Nabiki said as she pointed her bokken at the sleeping figure on top of Ranma. 'Damn, Shampoo did a great job with Akane's hair... it fooled her sister...' Ranma though before looking back at Nabiki.
"Look, Nabiki... this isn't Shampoo... it's Akane..."
Nabiki takes a closer look at the hairstyle and confirms her earlier idea about the hairstyle. The low lighting conceals the fact that the hair color is not the same and Ranma just rolls his eyes.
"Are you blind?"
"No, and that doesn't look like Akane to me. Why would my sister be wearing an Amazon hair style?" Nabiki moved the bokken a little closer to Ranma's face and looked at him menacingly.
All of the talking and movement by Ranma stirs the sleeping Akane... who sleepy says something out loud.
"Mmm... Wo Ai Ni..."
Nabiki is about ready to kill Ranma at this point. "I knew it was Shampoo!"
"Damn it, this isn't Shampoo!" Ranma said loudly. "Akane, wake up!"
Akane rubs her eyes and looks at her sister with a blank expression, wondering what's going on. It's not everyday that she looks ready to kill Ranma and has a bokken in his face.
"Nabiki, what are you doing?"
Nabiki turns red with embarrassment. "Oh, Akane... it's you. I thought... well, that you were Shampoo for a second..."
Akane looks at Ranma for a moment and then back at her sister. "Looks like you got Ranma going here... can't you recognize your own sister?" Akane gets out of the futon and walks over to her sister.
"Look, I'm not the one who came up with this whole plan for you to learn Amazon techniques... but it looks like your joke worked pretty good..." Nabiki said with a smile.
"Huh?" Was about all Ranma could manage to say. 'What are they talking about?'
Akane is the next one to speak. "Sorry, Ranma... Nabiki knew about this all along. We were just playing a joke on you..."
"Akane, I umm..." Ranma is surprised about what Akane said. He's not angry per se, just a little miffed about being the victim of two jokes within the last half hour. "Well, umm... Nabiki's performance was good... I think that 'Wo Ai Ni' was the thing that sent her over the edge..."
Nabiki nods her head. "Yep, it was. You thought I couldn't recognize my own sister... shame on you, Ranma. I know you wouldn't play around with other girls... everyone knows how much you two are in love..."
Ranma and Akane both go red in the face. As usual, Nabiki had the perfect words for causing the two of them to go totally silent and red in the face. Akane decides to speak but changes the subject.
"Umm... sis, do you think the outfit looks good on me?"
Nabiki nods her head. "Yep. Looks like the same one Shampoo favors... deep burgundy color... gold trim and all the little embroidery. I'm surprised she gave you one of her favorite outfits, especially after what happened between you two with that fight..."
Ranma nods his head and realizes that what Nabiki is saying is totally right. He really hadn't seen Shampoo since the five girls teamed up to get revenge on Happosai. Based on how she acted before, Ranma was surprised at the apparent change in the young woman. 'Maybe that fight with Mousse changed something...' Ranma's thoughts would be confirmed a moment later as Akane speaks.
"Well, Cologne asked her something after Mousse won that fight. She asked her to try and be friends with me, you, and the other former fiancees... since Shampoo did want to stay here in Japan and not return back to China. I was kinda hesitant to go over there... but after Ranma and I talked about that glomp of hers... I had to find out what it was really for. I think we should invite all of them over for dinner... then you can see how much she's changed. She probably realized that Ranma helped Mousse get that idea for his tickle technique... which showed that Ranma still cared about her... as a friend."
Nabiki watches Ranma stands up and then nudges him in the ribs. "Awww... that's so nice of you, Ranma..."
Turning towards Akane, Nabiki decides to tease Akane as well. Flipping what little there was of Akane's skirt, Nabiki couldn't help but comment... "Looks like you got the whole outfit down... panties and all..."
"Nabiki!" Akane said as she quickly pushed her skirt down again. A trickle of blood hangs from Ranma's nose- Akane wasn't quick enough to prevent Ranma's trained eyes from seeing the white lace panties that Akane happened to be wearing.
Nabiki notices Ranma's reaction and continues her "fun"...
"What's the problem, sis? Ranma here seems to like your choice in..."
Nabiki's words are cut off by a divinely timed hold from Kuno. His arms wrap around Nabiki's stomach, causing her to blush and stop speaking.
"Our training is not finished, Nabiki Tendo..."
Ranma decides to speak up after wiping the blood off his nose. "So, Kuno... how's Nabiki's kendo practice coming along?"
Kuno moves his head and then sees Ranma standing next to Akane. He is taken aback for a moment by Akane's appearance.
"Oh, it is Akane and Ranma. I did not know that you were here... but to answer your question, she is learning very quickly. The only problem I can see is the fact that she takes long breaks..." Kuno emphasized the last word and found Nabiki staring at him a moment later.
"It wasn't my fault, Akane asked me to do this..." Nabiki said as she tried to save face. She breathes a sigh of relief a moment later when Kuno asks Akane a question.
"Is this true, Akane?"
Akane nods her head. "Yeah... I'm sorry I interrupted your training... but I needed her help to play a little joke on Ranma..."
"Well, if that is the case, then it was truly a worthwhile endeavor..." Kuno said with a laugh. Ranma just rolled his eyes...
"What is this, everybody pick on Ranma day?" Ranma said, exasperated with the situation. Akane looked at her fianc e/husband and smiled at him.
"Oh, come on Ranma... it was all in good fun..." Akane said as she gently squeezed Ranma's right hand. Ranma returned the gesture and gently motioned Akane towards the door. As the pair walk past Nabiki and Kuno, Nabiki tries to prevent them from getting away...
"Leaving so soon? But we were having so much fun!"
"Sorry, but Akane and I gotta talk to my mom... and don't you have some more training to finish?" Ranma said that last part with a grin as he escapes with Akane. Nabiki wanted to get Ranma for that... but is prevented from doing so by Kuno.
"Let them go... you asked me to teach you this art, did you not?"
Nabiki twists herself around and is now face to face with Kuno. He cannot help but take a glance down at the magnificent gi that he had purchased for Nabiki... he even had in embroidered with her name. Nabiki notices what Kuno is doing and sighs. 'He went through all of this trouble for me... this is a nice workout outfit... I guess I'd better tell him...'
Nabiki clears her throat and Kuno returns his gaze back to her face. "Look, Kuno... I'm not trying to get out of training... it's just..."
"Go on" Kuno said, wanting to hear more.
"You're treating me like a martial artist. I'm not like Akane... I haven't done any formal training like this for a long time and I'm not used to it..." Nabiki switched over to a more "persuasive" tone of voice to get her next point across. "Could we cut down the training time a little... at least until I'm used to it..."
Nabiki pulls Kuno into an intimate hug and gently rubs her chest against his. "Please, Kuno-baby? I'd be so grateful..."
Since his mind is on overload from what his girlfriend is doing, all Kuno can manage to mumble is a "Sure"...
"Mmm... good..." Nabiki said as she put her head against his chest. After about two minutes of silence, Kuno speaks...
"You and I still have to finish today's lesson, fair Nabiki..."
Nabiki snaps her fingers. "Damn!"
"I know you too well..." Kuno chuckled and then lead Nabiki out to the dojo. On their way out, they pass by the room where Akane and Ranma are talking to Soun, Genma, and Nodoka. All five stop talking and glance at the couple as they walk by...
"Well, it looks like you may need to buy two wedding rings soon, Tendo..." Genma said with a laugh.
"You may be right..." Soun said as he glanced over at the other couple in the room, Akane and Ranma.
"Father, stop giving us the 'look', okay?" Akane knew that look and knew it meant that her father was up to no good. Nodoka speaks and tries to divert attention back to what just happened.
"It looks like your middle daughter is taking a genuine interest in martial arts... and also in that young man..."
Ranma looks at Akane and she nods. Both silently acknowledge to the other that they had a big hand in setting those two up... things have been a lot different since that happened.
"That's true... I know my wife would have been proud of how all of her daughters turned out... especially Akane..."
Akane blushes as a result of her fathers heart-felt comment about her and her sisters. She hugs her father and he whispers something in her ear. Tears run down Akane's face as she continues to embrace her dad...
"Thank you... I love you too..." Akane gently pulls away and sits back down next to Ranma... who gently pulls her next to him. Nodoka smiles as she watches Akane snuggle up to her son. 'He's really becoming a man here... the way he's been treating her since that fight has been exemplary... he's learning how to show Akane that he does love her...'
Genma is also proud of his son... he's been working with his wife ever since she returned... and no longer fears getting disemboweled. 'I still can't get her angry, though... she still has that sword...'
Genma turns and looks at his wife and then at Soun. "I think it's time to send those two out on a little training journey..."
Akane and Ranma both look at Genma with a confused expression. Soun and Nodoka, however, nod their heads in agreement.
"After hearing Shampoo's report on that demonstration by Akane and Ranma, I can see that they've already got the Amazon techniques in their memories and it shouldn't be too hard to make an original addition for the School of Anything Goes Martial Arts... and Ranma here has proposed a good idea as well. The two go well together..." Soun looked at the now blushing couple and could see that despite the nervousness, they were willing to do this and confirm that they would be the heirs to the School of Anything Goes Martial Arts.
"I agree... we may need to make a special class just for these moves... a 'Marital Arts' course, perhaps?"
Nodoka chuckled at the thought. She had just mentally pictured the two using the moves on each other in the future, trying to get the other to calm down...
Ranma decides to get his mom off of the "marriage" thought train by asking a very good question.
"What do you mean by journey? Do you want Akane and me to go on some training trip or something?"
"Yes. You two will have one week to perfect your moves and then show us the final product..." Soun said as he grabbed a nearby notepad and started jotting down a list of things that they would need.
Ranma turns and looks at Akane. "Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"
"Look, Ranma... I don't think it'll be that bad." Akane narrowed her eyes. "I thought you'd want to spend more time with me..."
"Hey, I didn't mean it like that!" Ranma waved his hands in the air in attempt to prevent a fight with Akane.
"Umm... it could be fun..."
Genma gets up and playfully slaps Ranma in the back. "That's my boy..." Ranma rolls his eyes and then points at Genma.
"Mom, this is the reason why I'm so messed up..."
"I understand..." Nodoka said as she looked at her husband. Genma immediately goes on the defensive and says the only thing he can in this situation.
"Hey!"
As Ranma begins to argue with Genma, Akane steps away and sits down next to Soun. She looks over at the notepad and scans the list of items...
"Father, what time tomorrow are we supposed to leave?"
"Hmm... let's see... it'd be best to leave at sunrise"
"That early? We have to pack and gather all of this equipment..." Akane sighs aloud, knowing that it'll take over ninety minutes to pack, at the minimum.
Nodoka stands up and excuses herself and heads down to the kitchen to help Kasumi make dinner. Over in the Tendo dojo, Kuno and Nabiki are on the final exercise of the day.
"Show me your best attack..." Kuno said as he draws his bokken to a defensive position.
"Fine..." Nabiki said as she prepared to attack. 'Here goes nothing... I hope that this new trick of mine works...'
"You asked for it... here's my new attack, I call it 'Raining Money'..." Nabiki prepared to demonstrate her move. One reason that she had been tired lately is that she had been secretly practicing in her room, trying to come up with something new and different to use against Kuno. After throwing a bunch of bills up in the air in frustration, figurative lightning struck Nabiki's head... and the "Raining Money" attack was born...
"I knew that any move you had would have a tie in to money..." Kuno said with a smile. "Now show me this move..."
Kuno is caught off guard a moment later by the suddenness of Nabiki's attack. He is forced to move backwards as Nabiki attacks with rapid movements of her bokken- it is like his main attack but yet very different. The sound of wood on wood is heard as what appears to be rapid, random stabs with Nabiki's bokken are being deflected by Kuno.
"Impressive..." The sound of ripping is heard a moment later. Kuno looks down and notices several holes in his shirt. "Very impressive... you must have been practicing on your own..."
"Yep. I've been working on my speed... I may not be as fast as you are but it looks like I scored a few hits..." Nabiki says proudly. Kuno is about to initiate a return attack when Nabiki yells out something...
"Raining Coins!"
Kuno's shirt is ripped even more by the sudden extended strikes of Nabiki's bokken. He had been distracted momentarily by Nabiki's last comment and does not get his bokken up in time. He silently curses at himself for being inattentive and then begins to dodge her attack. After about thirty seconds of dodging, Nabiki begins to feel her arms giving out... 'Damn it! I was doing so good, too...' Kuno decides to take the initiative and calls for a short break.
"I will let you catch your breath..." Kuno said as he sits down on the floor of the dojo. Nabiki sits down and tries to catch her breath while Kuno uses this break time to think about what just happened and how to counter it. 'Her moves must be based on striking falling bills and coins in the air... that would account for her rapid, yet random stabs at me...' Kuno looks down at his shirt and realizes that it is now no good. Numerous tears testify to the blows that Nabiki managed to score against him. Without a second thought, Kuno takes off his shirt and throws it off to the side.
Nabiki stands up and looks at her boyfriend. "Kuno, what are you doing?"
"That shirt is no longer viable. I would like to try and copy those new moves of yours... if you are up to the task of being on the defense..." Kuno stands up and looks confidently at Nabiki, who responds as Kuno knew she would- her pride wouldn't allow her to do otherwise.
"Sure... but I wouldn't expect to get it right on the first try. Only Ranma can learn something that quickly..." Nabiki decided to try and get Kuno going as well.
"We shall see in a moment..." With that, Kuno charged forward and did his best to imitate what he had just faced. Although he didn't get the two moves right, his attacks still forced Nabiki to the wall as she continued her defensive strikes.
"This is what a true fight may be like, Nabiki Tendo..."
"Yeah..." Nabiki tried to push Kuno away so she could maneuver around but is unable to do so. Kuno switches over to his normal rapid strike maneuver and attacks again. Bits of cloth fill the air before a startled Nabiki's eyes... she looks down and sighs. Kuno has cut her name into the fabric of the gi...
"You know this gi is no good now..." Nabiki said as she tugged on the now hole-filled gi.
"I will bring over a spare tomorrow... I had two made in case something happened to one of them..."
"Well, that's good..." Nabiki pauses to think. 'I think he just wanted to get me back for ruining his shirt. Hmm... maybe I should do the same thing he did after his shirt got ruined.'
"Oh Kuno-baby..."
"Yes?"
Nabiki pulls on the cords and takes off the top part of the gi and sends it flying into Kuno's face...
"I'm just giving you your gi back..."
Kuno pushes the garment off of his face and then his jaw nearly drops to the ground. His girlfriend, his goddess, is standing right in front of him... with no top on. Nabiki happens to be wearing one of the bras that she had bought on a shopping trip with Akane a while back. 'Now I get to see if he really likes what I'm wearing and if he'll compliment me... just like in my dreams...'
"What do you think?" Nabiki said as she bent over slightly and winked, giving the stunned kendoist a better view of her abundant cleavage. "I think white lace looks nice on me..."
"It does... you are truly beautiful..." Kuno said dreamily.
"Thank you, Kuno..." Nabiki moved forward and hugged Kuno, who tilts his head down and looks at Nabiki. "Am I dreaming?" is about all he can say.
"No... that's really me... you can be so silly sometimes, Kuno-baby..." Nabiki wraps her arms around Kuno again and holds onto him tightly. He slowly does the same thing as he finally returns to reality...
"I believe that is enough training for today..."
Nabiki replied softly. "I think you're right..."
The two silently hold one another for a few minutes, enjoying this new found intimacy. It seemed it Kuno's eyes that Nabiki was getting more attractive everyday that they spent together. Starting with the simple things, their relationship began and soon bloomed into something more then friendship. 'There's a certain charm with this woman... I think I'm finally begin to see it. I like this side of her personality...'
Nabiki begins to blush as she thinks to herself. 'This feels nice... I'm glad I explored this part of my personality. For the first time in my life... I have something that's important besides money. He's a nice guy... I'm glad Ukyo knocked some sense into him...'
About a minute later, Kuno realizes that they could be in danger with their current state of (un)dress and brings this fact to his girlfriend's attention.
"I believe that we are in a dangerous situation here..."
"Why do you say that, Kuno?" Nabiki said as tried to figure what Kuno meant. A gentle knocking on the door brought the correct idea to her head with lightning fast speed. 'The door could open any second... who knows what'll happen if they catch us like this...'
Faced with a possibility of great embarrassment and endless lectures, Nabiki decides to take quick action.
'Sorry, Kuno-baby... but this is for both of us...'
Kuno notices a worried look on Nabiki's face but before he can ask her anything, she reaches for the nearest bokken and hits Kuno with the flat of the blade, knocking him out. A moment later, the door opens and Nodoka and Soun step into the dojo. What they see takes them by surprise...
"What's going on here?" Soun said as he looked at the two shredded tops on the ground. Nodoka notices the unconscious Kuno and asks another question.
"What happened to your boyfriend..." Nodoka looked up and notices Nabiki's state of (un)dress. "What were you two doing in here?"
"I would like to know that as well..." Soun said as he catches a glimpse of his daughters lack of clothing. He immediately starts to make certain assumptions and prepares to tag-team lecture his daughter with Nodoka when she starts to speak...
"Well, Kuno and I were practicing our kendo in here when the training got a little intense and we shredded each others tops... that was right before you came in. I decided to hit him for exposing my body like that... I didn't mean to knock him out..." Nabiki added a little pout at the end to show her sincerity and waited the long seconds that would decide her fate...
"I think you did the right thing, it's not proper to tear up a lady's clothes..." Nodoka spoke first and Nabiki nods her head after the comment.
"I agree, thank you Auntie Nodoka..." Nabiki now looked at her father and prepared herself for his answer.
"Well, since it was an accident during training, I guess I can't say anything... but please, cover up..." Soun turned his now red face away from his daughter.
Nabiki reaches down and grabs her shredded top and throws it back on. 'I guess this will have to do until I get back to my room. One question still bothers her, though. "By the way, what brings you two over here?"
"Oh umm... we were just curious about your training... and wanted to let you know that dinner is ready..."
Nodoka quickly nods her head in response... too quickly for Nabiki's tastes. 'I wonder... if they were gonna spy on us? Oh well, I guess it doesn't matter now... they bought my story. Now all I gotta do is drag Kuno back to my room...'
"Sounds good... but could I get a hand carrying Kuno back into the house?"
Soun immediately offers to help his daughter and both carry Kuno inside. Nabiki quickly offers the excuse of wanting to "talk" to Kuno some more as a reason for dropping him off in her room. After her father leaves, Nabiki quickly sheds the torn gi and throws on a regular T-shirt and pants and heads down to dinner. Nabiki is quickly brought up to pace with Ranma and Akane's new journey details by Genma, who cannot help but talk about it at the dinner table, much to Ranma and Akane's chagrin...
End Part B