Hello, exams are over and I'm free!  Wow, the story has really changed from what it started out being.  I'd meant for it to be more of an N&K romantic get-together fic, but somewhere along the line it's turned into a dramatic-explaining-the-past fic.  I guess I feel like they need a better explanation for their uncertain relationship than just "Nabiki loves Kuno and His Money".  Hum.  Y'all don't mind, I hope.  I'll try and get back on track sooner or later. 

As a side note: has anyone felt that the three sisters really change from the beginning of the Ranma series to the middle/end?  Like Kasumi's first line (in the manga) is "How old is he?  Younger men bore me."  Not the typical Kasumi line.  And Nabs first appears boy crazy, though I haven't seen much of that lately.  And Akane, who declares she hates men, is actually really nice to almost every guy in the series asides from Ranma and Kuno and the horde who chase over her at the beginning.  Maybe the horde every morning is what ticked her off.  But yeah, just was thinking about that last night. 

Ok, so on with the show…

Chapter 5

"Hi, can I come in?"  Kasumi's face appeared around the edge of the door. 

"Mmhmm." 

"I brought you some hot tea."  She placed the tray on the desk.

"Thanks."

Kasumi adjusted her skirt and settled on the chair.  "Did you and Akane have a fight?" 

Nabiki sat up slowly.  "Were we that loud?" 

"Well…"

"Seriously, Kasumi.  How many people heard that?"  She stared at her older sister. 

Kasumi gazed at the door.  "Daddy and Uncle Saotome are too full of sake to hear anything at the moment.  I just happened to hear the… conversation… because I was hanging laundry on the balcony."  She glanced at the open window. 

"What about Ranma?"

"…"

"Kasumi, Ranma heard, didn't he?"

Kasumi nodded, then shook her head.  "He heard you arguing, but I don't think he could tell what it was about.  He's pestering Akane about it right now." 

"Why that little…"  Nabiki started to climb off the bed.  "If he's bothering—"

Kasumi laid a hand on Nabiki's shoulder.  "Not bothering, don't worry.  You know how he gets if Akane's truly upset.  I think he's doing his best to try and comfort her right now, though I doubt she'll tell him much."  She paused for a moment, and then continued.  "Nabiki, do you want to talk about anything?" 

"Three guesses as to what about," Nabiki muttered.  "I think I've exhausted my emotional supply for the week.  I'm really tired—I have a math test tomorrow, so can you leave?  But thanks for offering anyway," she added guiltily. 

But Kasumi wasn't going to let her off that easily, she discovered, with a sinking heart.  There would be more Mother-Kuno reminiscing for at least an hour.  Just what she needed.  More tugging on the heartstrings. 

"Sister, you can't blame Kuno for Mother's death." 

Oh, couldn't she.  "I'm not.  I was just telling Akane that little detail, in case you missed that part of the conversation."  So there. 

Kasumi looked sadly at her.  "Just acknowledging the truth isn't going to help.  You have to forgive him." 

"What?"

"Biki, dear, you and Akane are very different.  Akane is more… emotional.  She naturally figures things out with her heart." 

"Big whoop."

"You, on the other hand, you're a logical type of person, right?  You do things with your mind.  Now, I'm pretty sure that, deep down, Akane's forgiven Kuno a long time ago.  She's a loving person, and she can't keep grudges for long.  With her, everything is quick and powerful explosions and then instant calm.  She releases her energy quickly; nothing ever bottles up for long." 

"Except with Ranma."

"Except with Ranma.  So I don't think she could have actually hated Kuno for so long.  A few years maybe—it was a terrible shock—but not for ten." 

"So then why…"

"She explained it herself.  Kuno's mother ran over ours.  For her, the association between the killer and the killer's son is strong.  So even though, unconsciously, she has forgiven Kuno, her mind won't let her forget.  But you, Nabiki, though you know, though you are absolutely convinced that the evidence doesn't add up any which way, though you can see that Kuno is as much a victim in this as any of us, you cannot forgive." 

Nabiki's lips were dry.  "I can't… what…"

"You have complete control over your logical abilities.  Consciously, you know for certain that Kuno is not responsible for the fact that we have to attend a graveyard in a few days.  But in your heart, a place you haven't accessed for ten years, the name Kuno brings pain." 

She couldn't believe her ears—Kasumi telling her that she had no emotions, telling her that she didn't know what was in her heart?  "Of… of course… I can control my emotions!"  But hiding isn't the same as controlling.

"Just now, you've freed Akane, allowed her to see with her reason, rather than her heart, that Kuno isn't to blame.  Sure, Kuno'll still annoy her by sending her unwelcome love, but it won't be because she sees mother's blood on his hands."  Kasumi sighed, and a great sadness came over her being.  "But Biki, I don't know how you will find a way to forgive him in your heart.  I can't help you there, and neither can Akane.  You'll just have to trust yourself to find the key to it all." 

Nabiki stared down at the steaming cup of tea in her hands.  "What about you, onee-chan?" 

Kasumi smiled.  "I never blamed him for a second.  Tate was more than family to us."  She stood up, and said softly,  "I wonder if Kuno ever will be." 

She took the tray and left the room.

*

The blue file marked "Canadian Finances— '84" was still pressed between "Canadian Economy—'84" and "Canadian Housing—'84".  Nabiki flipped it open, removing the envelope inside.  She opened the flap and slipped out a sheaf of photographs. 

Nabiki with her arms flung around her mother's neck.

Nabiki sleeping in her mother's arms at the beach. 

Nabiki helping her mother clean fish in the kitchen. 

Nabiki with an ice-cream cone in one hand and reaching for Tate's with the other. 

Nabiki on the monkey bars with Tate, her favorite tree in the background. 

Nabiki, age two, pretending to read to Tate, even though she wouldn't know how to read until a month later. 

Nabiki at the zoo with her mother, Kasumi, Akane, and Tate. 

Nabiki, asleep on her bed, clutching a stack of photos, papers scattered on the floor, and a file cabinet drawer open in the foreground. 

*

Breakfast the next morning was a quiet affair.  Ranma was watching Akane, Kasumi kept glancing at Nabiki, and Nabiki glared at Ranma.  The fathers, afflicted by hangovers, peacefully ate their rice to avoid sudden headaches. 

Nabiki, climbing the stairs to get her books, noticed through the window a large Hello Kitty in the trash can in the back yard.  So, Akane didn't want it, Nabiki thought.  Ranma usually gave the cutesy Kuno gifts to Akane, as he had no use for them (especially gifts that looked like cats).  But even Akane, diehard fan of cute little animals, was repulsed by the winged, Hello Kitty monster and had abandoned it in the backyard.  Nabiki, instead of leaving it there, decided to take it to school. 

She flew down the stairs, out the back door, and snatched up the stuffed toy.  Now, how to get it to school without the unnecessary embarrassment?  It certainly would not fit in her book bag.  She looked around sneakily.  Certain persons were conveniently late leaving the house. 

"Oh Ranmaaaa!!" 

*

"This is an embarrassment, truly."  Kuno stared in disbelief at the object on the table in front of him. 

"Touché, Kuno-baby."  Nabiki smirked at him from across the table.  "It's actually sorta surprising that she hasn't returned anything before this, considering her feelings for you."  She rested her chin on her fists, elbows on the table.  "Of course, I'll require extra compensation for the unexpected difficulties I encountered while attempting to deliver the package."  Her predatory grin grew even wider.  "A couple thousand yen should cover it." 

Kuno continued to stare at the Hello Kitty, mumbling indistinguishable commentary to himself. 

Nabiki hummed cheerfully as she started to unpack her lunch bag.  Now what did Kasumi pack today? 

"Are you joining me for lunch?"

"What?"  Nabiki looked up, surprised. 

"Are you joining me for lunch?" 

Nabiki looked around, tapping her chopsticks on her chin.  "I don't see anyone else around, do you?"  She eyed him surreptitiously.  "You don't have a problem with that, do you?" 

He considered that.  No, he didn't, really.

Sensing an opportune time to play once again with Kuno's mind, she curved her lips upward ever so slightly, and said in a silky voice, "Is it too… intimate… for you?" 

Gulp. 

She leaned forward, and rested her chin on her fists again, pushing her shoulders slightly back.  "Isn't this fun?" 

Isn't this fun???  The childish phrase helped to send Kuno back into reality.  But not much.  Why why why was she doing this?  Now, of all times? 

"Since you obviously don't feel like entertaining a lady now, Kuno-baby, I'll see you tonight… in my room."

Kuno knew they would be in her room—doing a science project, but still the innuendo in her voice caused all the blood to rush to his head. 

She stood up, and walked casually toward him.  "You still haven't paid me for working overtime, you know." 

He pulled out his wallet mechanically, and began to pull out a stack of bills.  Nabiki watched him with glee.  Getting him into a stupor like this was easier than getting him drunk, and made it so much easier to weasel extra cash out of him.  Part of her concentrated on the enormously large pile of yen that was accumulating on the table, but out of the corner of her eye, she watched the whispering gaggle of girls hidden in the shadows and around corners.  They were her new trainees, learning how to extort money from hormone-charged members of the opposite sex by watching the queen of manipulation play with the king of macho-induced stupidity.  She had to make this good.  Something like a wisp of remorse sighed into her happiness caused by the sight of so much yen.  Did Kuno know that he was being used?  And not just for his money, but to create a new horde of mercenaries to follow Nabiki's orders.  She sighed inwardly.  Talking to Kasumi and Akane had resurfaced memories and conflicting feelings that were interfering with her business.  Feelings… she didn't even know WHAT she was feeling anymore.  And so she decided to go about her usual routine. 

"Thanks, Kuno-baby. I'll see you later." 

To be continued…

Waahhh!!!!  Ok, so I didn't get back on track as much as I would have liked, but ok.  There were still some things that needed tying up.  Thanks for putting up with this!  I know it's confusing.  Sorry!  C&C!