I do not own Ranma ½ or any characters part or parcel of that great work, nor lay claim to any of the incredible ideas expressed by Rumiko Takahashi, or Viz video. This is just a labor of love from one fan to the rest.

Chapter 19

A fateful encounter, Part 1

The day had arrived. All the training, all the waiting, it all came to this day. A score settled, one way or another. A reckoning, for one or both. It was the day that both had been waiting for, and dreading. A day of destiny.

The morning started early for Ranma, being woken up by his father in the usual method, a quick flight to the koi pond, the pounding of a panda, then breakfast. A disturbingly normal occurrence, at least in this household. The conversation around the table was tense, with a forced lightness from some of those present to try and ease the mood. Luckily for the more stressed members of the house, Kasumi continues to be the calming center of the house, a beacon of unwavering peace among the maelstrom of the rather rambunctious residents of her home.

The food battle seems a bit different today, with Genma on the defensive from the start, Ryouga, Akane, and even Xian Pu taking full advantage of any opening, and most of their pilfered loot seems to end up on the plate of one pigtailed martial artist. An act of kindness, or just a chance to twist the knife in the back of one sometimes panda for his part in the events of the day, who can say?

The group makes their way out the door, talking quietly among themselves as they go. They greet Sakura at the front gate of the Tendo residence with a round of bows, with Sakura falling in at the end of the pack, silently watching the interactions of the others, a thoughtful, sad look on her face. Nabiki looks back, a subtle frown crossing her features before she drops back, walking alongside the morose younger girl.

"It's never easy, feeling like you don't fit in." Nabiki says matter of factly. She nods towards the two oblivious sets walking in front of them, the couple and 'not couple' who are all rather wrapped up in their own little worlds, talking together, and between each other from time to time. "In the end, you have to find a place that you, yourself fit. One that is your own, and no one else's. I learned that myself, and carved out a place that is my own. Sometimes, it is a lonely existence, but in the end it is what I chose. I regret it at times, and I am trying to change myself and where, exactly, I fit into this world."

Sakura sighs softly, looking at the group walking ahead of them. "I can't help but feel like I still don't belong, like my presence is a burden on them. I know I don't have a chance with him, I mean, look at them? They really are an excellent pair, even if they don't want to admit it to themselves, much less each other. And they are both doing their best to accept me, and make me feel welcome. I don't really know what to do about them, to be honest. I….would like to be their friend, if I can. I already do, you know… Feel like I am their friend. And that makes all of this harder, in some ways. You said I need to find a place I fit, one that is my own. I keep feeling like I almost do, at least at times. I will keep trying, and see if I can't figure something out for myself. And, Doctor Tofu is a great teacher and a wonderful person to work under. At least, as long as your sister Kasumi doesn't come to visit." She holds her hands up, blushing "Not that she isn't a wonderful person, because she is. It's just….Doctor Tofu just isn't at his best when she is near." She takes a breath "I wasn't over this morning because I talked to Father. He gave me permission to teach you, but I think he hopes it will be leverage for me. He was….Displeased...that I hadn't resolved things already."

Nabiki nods, reaching out a hand to rest it on the younger girl's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I know this can't be easy, and I'm not as good at being comforting as Kasumi. Let's face it, no one is." She laughs softly, a snarky little smile on her face. "So, your dad is ok with you teaching me. Regardless of his ulterior motives, it benefits both of us. I get to learn from you, and you can work on finding that place you belong. I see it as a beneficial proposition for both of us. As I see it, your father's motivations don't really matter between us, or in regards to your situation at the moment. And the more time we have to find a solution that serves both of our purposes, the better off we all are." She smirks and grabs the shy girl's hand, dragging her along. "We had better hurry, we are falling behind."

Once they have caught up, Nabiki drops Sakura's hand, falling in behind the group to observe the going ons. Sakura gently rubs her hand, a distracted look in her eyes. "How…..Odd…" she quietly utters, before almost running into the broad back of Ryouga who had stopped suddenly before her. She peers around him, seeing the scattered remnants of the Hentai Horde laying in groaning heaps around the gates of the school.

A quick head count finds the usual suspects all present and accounted for. Sakura turns a worried look towards Nabiki, biting her bottom lip. "If none of you did this...Then..who did?"

Ranma tilts his head to the side, scanning the area with his other senses, then sighs. "I would bet Hiyami was probably the one who did this. My guess is, one of them must have gotten in his way, or it could be something as simple as he just didn't want to have anything detract from him getting his revenge." He sighs and slings his bag over his shoulder, stepping over the semi conscious remnants of the horde. "We had better hurry, or we would be late for class. Don't want anything to spoil HIS day, now do we?"

The teens split off to their respective classes, Ranma turning his head before he enters the school, his sightless gaze resting on a spot that just seems to be a bit too empty, if that makes any sense for just a moment, then he walks in. Hiyami smirks as he watches his rival enter the school. "Well, you are just full of surprises, now, aren't you Saotome. Maybe this will be interesting, after all. But, I will make you pay for all that I have lost, for all that I have endured. It's the only way I will ever know peace."

Classes proceed as calmly as they ever do, in Nerima at least. Older classmates barging in, being pummeled, and those responsible being sent to the hall are so commonplace anymore, that they are hardly worth mentioning. A bit more unusual, but still disturbingly familiar, is attacks by a shear wielding lunatic who wears a plastic coconut tree on his head, dressed like a tourist straight from Hawaii. Events like these just seem to trace the path towards lunch, and the first real bit of freedom the students have from the classes, and the insanity that is common here.

The lunch break finds a small group that has noticeably grown in the last couple of months, talking amongst themselves as they enjoy their bentos. Of note are the not so subtle observations of Ranma eating from the bento that Akane had prepared for him, under the ever watchful eye of Kasumi. "You know….It's...Just bad. I mean, you know, the rice is under-cooked, the chicken is overcooked, the sausages….I don't know what they are supposed to be, but….And the egg is a bit salty. But….It's edible."

Under most occasions, such dire and dreadful exclamations about the lunch that your not girlfriend who had spent some amount of time preparing would have resulted in violence, or at least a rather cold shoulder. But here, such things were, well, not bad.

"You...Really think so, Ranma? I mean...I cooked it myself...And Kasumi just watched today…." Akane squirms a little happily, fidgeting as the collected teens just watch in amusement as she totally doesn't preen at what is probably some of the best compliments her food has gotten, at least without the intervention of the Saint of the Kitchen herself.

Nabiki shakes her head as she continues eating her own bento, a meal that she actually prepared herself this time. 'I guess the lessons I am getting from Grandmother are helpful in and out of the kitchen. Not a bad thing, to know how to cook.' she ponders to herself as she watches the rest of them, finding no small amount of amusement in watching Xian Pu, who was currently sitting in Ryouga's lap, feeding the anxious and blushing Lost Boy. She glances at Sakura, who was quietly talking to Akane's usual gaggle of friends, seeming far more relaxed and at peace than usual for the shy and reserved young nurse. Her gaze lingers for some time on Akane and Ranma, who are quietly talking about her training, and about what she did right and wrong with her meal prep. Ranma is even sharing some of his bento with her, letting her taste for herself how it turned out. She snorts softly, knowing full well that Akane is the one person who has eaten her own cooking the least, at least until recently.

Then she looks up, one eyebrow raised as she locks gazes with their stalker, a quiet challenge of sorts in those piercing eyes of hers before their observer breaks the gaze and vanishes once more.

That taken care of, Nabiki watches the rest of the group once more, a pleased look crossing her face as she settles back to engage in some light banter with the rest of the teens, an approving look crossing her face as feels content, even with the heavy air that lies over the day.

Of course, this is Nerima. Peace can not last long, because a spilled drink leaves a flustered redhead and a blushing Akane dealing with the mess that had been created, the bountiful curves of Ranma-chan all too evident in a wet shirt.

"Oh, for cryin' out loud. One day, one day without ending up wet and womanly? Is that too much to ask for?" The redhead says, pulling at her wet shirt while Akane tries her best to keep her fiance and teacher from making any more of a spectacle of herself than she is currently managing on her own.

"Ranma! You need to be a bit more modest. Baka no hentai! Are you TRYING to give the guys a show?" She shakes her head, forcibly dragging Ranma towards the school and the women's restrooms.

"'Kane? Where are you taking me, if I may ask?" Ranma says with a sigh, giving up the struggle against the stronger woman.

"To the bathroom, obviously. We need to get you cleaned up without giving every pervert in Nerima a show." Akane states, suddenly dealing with a struggling Ranma-chan.

"Whoa whoa whoa! Akane, I'm a GUY. I can't go into the GIRLS bathroom!" Ranma struggles against the monstrous strength of his, currently her, student.

With a sigh, Akane stops, looking at Ranma. "You're currently a girl. You can't see. And I can't very well take you into the GUYS restroom to clean you up."

Ranma stops and pauses for a moment. "Yeah...But I can't change back in there either. An' it still ain't right for me to be in there, is it? I mean...It's the GIRLS bathroom."

They both pause for a moment, before a hand on the back of each of them pushes them into the girls bathroom, and an exasperated Nabiki sighs. "You two are hopeless. Go, get cleaned up, I will make sure that no one comes in."

Unable to argue with the Ice Queen, and showing a bit more common sense than normal, they give in. What comes next is awkward for them both in many ways, but before long a male and cleaned up Ranma emerges with a still blushing Akane in tow. Nabiki's smirk says volumes that are left unsaid, but there is no more teasing at the moment, at least.

The teens go their separate ways after collecting their lunch supplies, heading into the latter half of classes, and approaching the fated hour with various levels of trepidation and excitement.

At last, the score would be settled, one way or another.