Chapter 5 - It's a matter of pride.

Usotsuki

By NatsuNoAme

Hey guys! Curious to read more? Yeah, that's what I wanted... hehehe! I feel evil, very evil! [We're also feeling very very inspired to write something some, hum... dark, aren't we? ^_^] well, yeah, but that has nothing to do with this fanfic, so I guess it wasn't necessary to mention... [Really? So I REALLY shouldn't say about us feeling OLDER, right?] Wha... oh well, yes, I'm feeling older, but that's for a good reason: last week I had just turned 19... happy birthday to me! ^_^

Alright, now getting back for what matters, here's the next chap! I hope that in here I can start to answer some of your questions. Ah! And thanks for the help of one of my reviewers [even if she has no idea of doing that], I found a way to let people know when it's the female Ranma and when it's the male one without confusing anyone: whenever he's turned into his female form I'll just call him 'Ranko' [like he did in the manga]. Other than that, he's jus good ol' Ranma! Easy isn't it? ^_~ [Btw: thanks for the idea Ranko and Mr. Panda! ^_^]

Sumimasen - an informal apology, although it's much more formal than 'gomen nasai'. Something like "I'm sorry", or "excuse me"

Hentai - pervert

Iinazuke - promised fiancé[e]

Ok, on with the story!

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Nabiki was grinning the whole time. She was already enjoying this, and the real conversation hasn't even begun! She could only imagine the fun she would have by the end of it... On the other hand, Ranma wasn't liking this situation at all.

- Alright, what do you want? - Ranma was feeling rather impatient, with arms crossed in front of her chest.

- I wanna help you. - Nabiki answered, for Ranma's surprise.

- What??

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Ranko was in a complete loss. First Akane started to act kinda funny, then there was that really odd talk with Ukyo, and now Nabiki's wanting to HELP her? "So, what next: Ryouga's gonna give Akane up and be nice to me?". She looked back at Nabiki, who seemed to be expecting some kind of apology for her behavior. Only that Ranko just couldn't believe in her own ears... Instead of an explanation, all Nabiki got from her was:

- Come again?

- I said, I want to help you. - Nabiki repeated more slowly, making Ranko look like a 4 year-old kid.

- But, why would ya do that? - she asked incredulously to Nabiki, who was starting to lose her patience.

- Look, I could understand why you were mad at me for barge into your bath, and I can even understand why you're kinda surprised with me wanting to help you, but now this is getting ridiculous!

- Su-sumimasen...

She could barely understand what she was apologizing for. But whatever it was, Ranko knew that it would be better for her to say that. After all, it wasn't a secret to anyone in the house how intimidating Nabiki could be when she wanted to. After a while, though, she got back to her usual self. Nabiki could be intimidating, but it also wasn't a secret how big Ranko's pride was.

- Hey, wait a sec! Why would I need help anyway?

- Aw, c'mon Ranma! Like it's not obvious what's going on with you and my sister! - Ranko froze. Nabiki was way too close of her 'secret'. "This can't be good..." - You have a thing for her.

- Nani? H-How did you... who... Wha-What you're talking about? Ha, haha... - she tried to look calm and pretend it was all a lie, but her first reaction had already give her in.

Nabiki grinned widely with victory while the young fighter scratched her head laughing nervously in front of her. Ranko was on her hands. She had enough experience on that field to know that Ranko was a step away from giving her anything to keep her mouth shut. But this time, she wasn't doing this for money, and the old 'penny ante scheming' girl had to use almost all her strength of will to not give in to that habit.

- Don't try to hide it, Ranma. It's no use. I know it, I even have tapes to prove... or are you gonna doubt of that too?

- I, I don't... I mean.... - That was it. Seeing Nabiki's look, almost as it dearing him o doubt her again, Ranko gave up. She knew that her sister-in-law-to-be wouldn't say that unless she knew it for sure. Besides, Ranko was already feeling how stressful hiding her feelings from anyone else could be. Hiding it from them when she didn't know she even HAD those feelings was one thing, but now... - It doesn't mean that I need help or anything...

- Look, we don't have much time. Soon Kasumi's gonna serve dinner and we'd better all be there, if you don't wanna them to get suspicious. Now, you do like Akane, right? - the time the young fighter took hesitating and mumbling things Nabiki couldn't quite understand was long. Ranko could feel her face burning with embarrassment.

- Maybe...yeah, kinda.... - her tone of voice was so low that Nabiki had to get closer to listen. Ranko, standing in front of her, was staring down at her white bathrobe, watching her fingers play nervously with her sash. She knew that if she looked up, Nabiki would see her face almost matching the red flames of her hair.

- That's better! Now, why haven't you said anything to her yet?

- It's not like I didn't try! - she shouted, feeling very frustrated. Instead of understanding, Ranko saw Nabiki giving her an accusing look. - I did!

- And when exactly did you do that?

- Lots of times! Like that time, when we went... no, but that other time when she was... wait, lemme see.

After a few second of Ranko starting to mention a moment, just to stop herself right after, she went through her memories trying to find something. While that her friend stood in front of her with crossed arms, doubting she could find anything in there, until Ranko's eyes enlightened with an idea.

- When we tried to find a cure for my curse, and I thought she was dead! That time I not only tried, but I also DID told her! Ha, gottcha! - She looked up triumphantly. But her victory smile didn't last long: Nabiki quickly remembered the ending of that episode in a tedious, yet sarcastic tone of voice.

- Yep, you did told her, but if I'm not mistaken, you denied every single word to her right after that... good move, Romeo. - she changed to a more friendly tone before going on - See? That's why I'm here. We're all tired of seeing this situation dragging along, and you OBVIOUSLY can't do it by yourself... - Ranko frowned - ... so I decided to give this relationship of yours a little 'push'.

- Alright. But even IF I wanted your help, you haven't told me yet: exactly WHY are you doing this?

- No special reason. I just wanted to see my little sister happy. How I have the time and tools for it I just thought: "why not?"

- Yeah, riiiight. And I still stay up all night just to see Santa Claus... - she said mockingly, even though Nabiki's eyes would throw daggers at her if they could. - C'mon, how much you want for it?

Ranko was already trying to have an idea of how much she'd have to pay this time. But instead of talking numbers happily, like she'd usually do, Nabiki just stared at the bathroom wall beside her, looking kinda hurt.

- I'm not doing this for money.

- Ok, WHAT do you want, then?

- Nothing. Consider this a favor if you want. I just thought I could do something good for the family for a change. - Ranko could almost feel some compassion for her, if she weren't already used to that kind of trick.

- And...

Nabiki inhaled loudly. Being known as the Ice Queen could be really tiring sometimes.

- And I was already getting bored since all those iinazukes and crazy people stop making this house the official center of chaos, so I decided to have some fun on my own. Why? Is that some kind of crime or something?

- No. I was just curious... - she wouldn't dear to say otherwise.

- Good. Now let's talk about business.

Ranko waved 'yes' with her head shyly. But just when she thought she couldn't feel any more ashamed or embarrassed than this, Destiny decided to surprise her one more time.

- WAIT! I wanna help too!!

Both girls looked surprised at the bathroom door, which has just being pushed wide open as the owner of the voice entered the room.

- U-Ucchan? How did you... Nabiki, you told me that door was locked!!!

- Ops... - she answered, smiling at Ranko's furious reaction.

- I can't believe it! What does a guy have to do to get some privacy around here???

Ukyo kept marching in their direction firmly, completely ignoring Ranko's explosive reaction. It seemed that, the closer she got, the more shocked Ranko looked. Nabiki, on the other hand, wasn't smiling anymore. All those interruptions and obstacles for a simple talk were getting on her nerves.

- Ukyo-san, what the HELL are you doing here?

- Er, it's nothing like what you're thinking... I was just passing through when I saw the bathroom door a little opened. I was going to close it, but then I heard your voices and, well I got a little curious...

- So you were listening behind the door. - Ukyo nodded - But, that's EXACTLY what I was thinking! - Nabiki finished, still angry. Ranko just seemed to have paralyzed again.

- You heard it? You heard EVERYTHING??? - Ukyo nodded again - Aw, man!

- Don't be mad, Ran-chan, I didn't mean to. Actually, I kinda suspected that for a long time, but now that I know for sure I wanna help you too!

Nabiki looked at Ranko, who was at once confused, frustrated and VERY ashamed. Even she had to stop and think of what to do now that Ukyo heard it all.

- Please? Since I left Nerima I've been feeling like I just made things worse for Ran-chan. If I help you this time I'll be proving that I can be a good friend, ne? - she added, sounding kinda guilty.

Now it was Nabikis time to feel a little lost. She didn't know [yet] all that happened on the night Ukyo left Ranma free of his compromise with her, and was still absorbing all those informations on her head when she heard Ranko.

- Alright. Do what you want. But only under one condition: that you're gonna stop with those things of you being guilty and stuff. Got it?

- Hai.

Ukyo opened a large smile while she finished.

- Ah! And no magic powders and stuff.

- You got it. - Nabiki agreed, grinning once more. Seeing that everything was settled, Ranko could now relax a little. And talking about relax...

- Good. Now that we've got to a conclusion, can you two get the hell out of my bath?

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Inside Akane's room, P-chan listened to everything Akane said, specially her worries and doubts about what has been happening to her on the past week. The mere thought of Ranma living under the same roof than his beloved Akane already made Ryouga [even when he's P-chan] wanna kill him. But seeing her feel so angry at something she shouldn't, specially Ranma being the reason for so much jealously, made him wanna make Ranma suffer. Slowly. Akane, of course, never knew what was going through her angry little pet, so she just kept talking to him until she felt better.

- I just can't get him, P-chan. In one minute he's all kind and mature, but on the next he's the same heartless baka I met three years ago... - the piglet stared blankly at her - I mean, what does he expect me to do? To not be mad at him? After what he did to me I'm more than right to be mad! - P-chan now looked happily at his owner, supporting her.- In fact, he's lucky if I even talk to him!!!

Akane tried to calm herself down again, while her black 'diary' felt satisfied with how things were going. She went back to her thoughts, only to get herself cogitating again an old idea. Akane had shut aside that plan long ago, when she still had a really bad time trying to forget Ranma. She had managed to do so without it, but now things were different. Maybe she should...

- Maybe... maybe I should do that... - the small piglet's eyes grew wide with curiosity. "Could she be thinking what I'm thinking?". But, to his frustration, she didn't complete the sentence. Instead, Akane found a better way to solve her problems.

- What am I saying? This is ridiculous! My father will never accept this! I must be spending too much time alone to think like that, ne P-chan? - she quickly added, laughing at herself. As fast as her anger explosions came, they went away. Soon P-chan was watching Akane smiling and calmly thinking of getting back to the living room, with the rest of her family.

- I should probably go talk to Ukyo-san. It would be very rude of me if I didn't, ne? Besides, it's not her fault if that hentai kissed her the other day, so I have no reason to be mad at her too... - she said getting up, although her pet knew well enough that she had already forgiven Ukyo...

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After Akane left her bedroom, P-chan was alone again to think of what he heard. He listened very carefully her version of that night at the Okonomiyaki house, and promised himself once more to beat up Ranma until he realized the harm he really was to those girls. His anger only grew more when he remembered comforting Ukyo on that same night, after Ranma left. After practically living with Ukyo for so long, Ryouga knew his friend very well. He was convinced that Ukyo was doing the right thing in talking to Ranma, but he never wanted her to cry like that.

More than that, Ryouga was very aware of Ukyo's pride. He knew that, no matter how hurt she was feeling she would still do her best to leave Ranma with a smile. And that's what she did... until she went back to her kitchen. Ryouga was there the hole time. He saw when she kissed Ranma, and then leave the place as fast as she could, so he wouldn't see her eyes filled with tears. In fact, Ranma never saw those, but Ryouga did. He was the one who comforted his friend until she felt better. For countless times he listened Ukyo telling him that it wasn't Ranma's fault, so he didn't have to feel worried and guilty [as she knew he would] on seeing her cry, or having to face Ryouga's anger. Ukyo had made him promise that Ramna would never know anything about it.

The small, almost harmless piglet looked at the sunset from Akane's window with great anger. He had promised for Ukyo-san. But nothing she'd said would make him hate Ranma any less. And sooner or later, he WOULD have his revenge.

"Saotome, you will die for what you have done. This is a promise."

End of chapter 5

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Argh. Tough chapter this one. Actually, I have this bathroom scene on my head for months, but now that it's time to be written came, I just couldn't do it! I guess I spent so much time with that on my head that I can't look at it anymore... no wonder it took me almost two weeks to write it! And yes, I know that this chapter is a little more short than the last ones... gomen! ^_^;; I really tried to make it longer, but it was taking me so long that I decided to publish just that for now... well, it's better than nothing, ne? ^_^ [¬.¬ yeah, right. Just keep that thought. Maybe it comes true...] oh, well... ~_~ let's just thanks our reviewers, ok?

Kage_kitsune - yay! New reviewer! Thanks a lot! ^_^

Animecartoons - hum... I hope you like this chapter too... and sorry, but this time sessha's work is not that good... really! ~_~;

Ranko and Mr. Panda - thanks for your nice reviews! I read the beginning of your fanfic... good work! I'll post a review as soon as I finish reading it, ok? ^_^

Kura-kun - er... thanks for your review! ^_^;;

Fangorn - é muito bom saber que tem mais brasileiros lendo meu fanfic! muito obrigada!

Ka_chan - ei, ei! Mais brasileiras lendo! Que bom! ^_^ brigadim!

For everyone who read, but didn't review, thanks for reading! Until next chapter minna-san! [hope we'll do better next time...] ^_^;;;

Ja ne!