Chapter 2

The four of them still conscious were sitting around the Tendo dining table, Akane still muttering curses at the kitchen equipment, it was obviously out to get her, no doubt all part of some perverted plot. Soun was reading the paper occasionally glancing over at his beaten-pandafied-pretzellated friend, who remained in the garden soaking up still more rain. Ranma was seated next to her, with his eyes closed and his hands lightly resting on his knees. Nabiki was passing out food from the delivery-box, keeping watch on Ranma out of the corner of her eye. She had the strange impression of something akin to a bomb, an explosion waiting only for a fuse. The level of violence the young man had perpetrated on his father was just way out beyind her experience. Sure Nerima was nuts and crazy martial artists were constantly trying to kill one another but rarely so casually, or with such clinical force.

"Chow-mein Ranma-san?" she asked

"Thanks Nabiki-san. Smells great" he replied, coming out of his reverie.

"So you gonna tell us what your problem with your father is? Or would you rather play twenty questions?" the other two perked up, curiosity overtaking their other concerns.

"Nah its okay. It all goes back a few years, the fat man dumped me in a really bad situation, ran for his life, instead of helping me to save some folks who needed it."

"China?"

"yeah. We were on our way back from Jusenko and the mess he created at the Joketsu Amazon village. We found ourselves in the middle of a firefight, a very one-sided one. Some 'insurgents' were attacking a mountain village, a few of the villagers had guns but nothing like the skill they needed to put them to good use. I spent my time trying to get innocents to safety, and stooped a shot in the process. Oaji had legged it. Last I saw of him was a dustcloud heading for the horizon. In contrast the girl who had been chasing us since the Amazon village was desperately trying to herd villagers into the tree line. I would like to say that running was a rare lapse in character for the old man but I don't see any reason to lie for him." The last was said with venom and a glance over at the still twitching mound in the garden.

"So what happened afterwards?" Nabiki asked.

"A response team was soon on the scene soon after. Later they told me I knocked two of them out before they got into the cellar I was guarding. I have to take their word for it cuz by that point I was delirious from delayed shock and blood loss. They took me and the girl, Xian Pu, with them when they bugged out, got us to the docs in time to stave off any permanent damage."

"Wait, Shampoo, what sort of dumb-ass name is that?" sneered Akane.

" The sort of name that belonged to the first woman I loved and probably the bravest person I will ever know." Ranma replied coldly

"Gomen, I didn't mean… I mean I –

"Its okay, I used to laugh too. Just don't expect me to respect you for it."

"WHAT do you mean by that?" Akane demanded. Ranma just ignored her again.

"What happened to her? If you don't mind telling us" Nabiki asked.

"She decided that a live prisoner was worth more than a live Amazon. She saved its life at the cost of her own, and quite possibly saved a great many others in the process." Ranma's voice had grown quiet, wistful. "Still sucks though," He finished.

"You loved her." Nabiki stated, it was not a question.

"Very much."

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After dinner the group split up, Akane to catch her cooking program on the TV, (Iron Chef's indeed, she never saw one of the idiots use any, amateurs), Soun to the shogi board, to meet the recovering Genma, and Nabiki following Ranma to the Dojo.

Ranma was pleasantly surprised, the dojo was well kept and still projected a sense of history. His eyes were quickly drawn to the small shrine at one end. A picture of an attractive young woman was the centrepiece. She bore a slight resemblance to the girls from inside.

"My mother, she died when we were little. Dad has never really been the same since. Believe it or not he used to be a happy, stable man, dedicated to his twin loves of the art and his wife, although not in that order." Nabiki said, barely above a whisper, a wry smile across her face. "You like the dojo?" she asked, ever so subtly changing the subject.

Ranma didn't miss the hint, "Yeah, you can feel the past in here. Almost as if the walls soaked up the …." Ranma trailed off.

"Just a shame it is all in the past." Nabiki added, slowly moving around the room and leaning against the far wall. "I remember coming in as a kid and watching my parents practice, two parts flirt to one part art. I think that they said everything they ever needed to say to each other right here. And now nothing, just one silly little girl who should be past this."

"Leave her what dreams she has, too many people out there have to grow up before they are ready as is." Ranma said, leaning against the opposite wall. "Someday soon she will have to start taking responsibility for herself, supporting herself. Daddy can't bail her out forever."

"Hah, daddy nothing, it's been Kasumi and I since mum went away," interjected Nabiki, with no small amount of bitterness.

"You serious, how do you manage, last I heard Japan wasn't exactly easy for women to make their break in?" Ranma, to her surprise, looked genuinely concerned. "Fatso's visit can't of helped."

"No he hasn't, not one bit, not in all the years he has been here."

"Years, just how long has that leech been attached?" Ranma said, his ire growing visibly.

"Got here straight from China, said you would be right behind him. Does nothing but eat, drink and play shogi. We're on the edge of losing the place and all he cares about is whether there is enough saki in the cupboard and when Kasumi is coming round to cook for the lazy, FAT …" she visibly pulled herself back, biting down her anger and resentment, tucking her chin in. Ranma was suddenly in front of her lifting her chin back up.

"Don't stop on my account" he said, with a catch in his voice. She looked straight into his eyes. Blue and grey clouds swirled alternating between humour and something…else. The silence stretched. Each could feel the others breath on their face, he seemed just as lost as her. Suddenly he seemed to realise where he was, what he was doing. He drew his hand back with a snap and, stepping back a pace bowed his head. "Sorry Nabiki I –

"Its okay, I'll charge you for it later." She said with a teasing smile on her face. She looked again, and verified that yes indeed the big hard soldier man was blushing. "Something wrong Saotome? Too warm in here?" he mumbled something and moved away back to his wall. "You say something Saotome?"

"Hey leave it out" he replied, not at all like a schoolboy.

"What if I don't, what you gonna do, spank me?" she was looking at him through hr bangs now, her body slightly turned. Pose number thirty-five 'kinky and mysterious.' The body language she was getting in return was worth every moment. He couldn't even meet her eyes. She started stalking across the room towards him. "have I been a bad girrl? " she purred. Even though he was trying not to look his eyes were repeatedly drawn back to the girl coming towards him. Then she arrived, one hand pushing lightly on his chest, she turned her head up looking him in the eyes, her lips slowly parted and she…. Stepped back laughing. "gotcha Saotome." Then she was gone, before he could see the effect he had had on her.

Ranma leaned his head back against the dojo wall "bitch. Sexy as hell. But definitely a bitch."

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As Ranma was getting ready for bed there was a knock at the door. "Come," he said, turning towards the entrance.

"just came to check that you have got everything you need Saotome" Nabiki said as she walked in. Then she stopped, leaning on the half-open door, "Looking good. You do know that in Japan me don't normally ask women into their rooms wearing only their boxers? It is considered 'impolite'"

"Doesn't seem to be stopping you looking. You sure you wouldn't like to turn the main light on, get a better look?" he retorted, and then reached to stop her. Once again he found himself a lot closer than he had planned, bare millimetres separating the two of them.

"What's this, you getting fresh Saotome?" she teased, one eyebrow slowly rising. She slowly extended a hand and ran her nails down his chest. "mmmm" she purred, "shall I shut the door?"

"Gurr-ack umm er" he replied intelligently.

"Too late" she whispered, then turned and left. Leaving Ranma to shut the door and finally breathe out.

"Teasing Bitch."

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Nabiki woke early the next morning, too early. "Goddamn martial artist bastard." She pulled the pillow over her head to muffle the noise coming from the yard. This just was not fair.

Out in the yard Ranma went through another kata, sweat running down his brow as he pushed himself still harder. Every move tightly controlled, power combining with speed and accuracy to create a deadly dance. Akane, watching from the veranda, was enough of a martial artist to fill in the locations of the imaginary opponents, and was frowning.

Genma, having spent an uncomfortable night 'asleep' in the dojo after his son had 'discussed' the idea of him contributing to the household, walked over to where she stood. He was rubbing his back. He looked up at his son and shook his head. As he turned to walk away Akane stopped him.

"That doesn't look like kenpo" she said.

"Its not pure kenpo, its not pure at all." He sighed

"What do you mean?" she demanded, is this more of Happosai's perverted hentai.-" her eyes were lighting up, the red haze slowly covering her eyes.

"No!" Genma exclaimed quickly, yellow streak showing bold. "that's not it at all. It's something else."

"WHAT!" demanded volcano Akane

"Well, uh Asktheboy, byenow, gotta run, gotta get a job or something." Genma ran. Akane's head whipped around towards the pigtailed hero. She stomped towards him hand twitching for the mallet that fit it.

She moved in, now just a few feet away, and gathered her breath to shout. Only to find his hand, held knife edged, stopped bare millimetres from her windpipe. She looked at it and then along his arm, into his eyes. Death, she saw her death reflected there, it had taken an effort of will NOT to kill her. She fell on her ass, suddenly sweating. He looked at her for a second, smiled and then returned to his kata. Akane slowly stood up and then bolted for the house. She shut herself in her room and sat on her bed. As she looked at her hands they were still shaking.

Next door Nabiki swore again. "Bitch, bloody inconsiderate. Oh well I am awake, lets go explore. She quickly headed into the bathroom and washed up. As she left she stopped, a sly smile adorning her face.

Ranma was into his second hour of full force training, his tired muscles burned, demanding rest. Sweat ran freely down his back, fore head and chest. He was halfway through another set when he heard a wolf whistle, shortly accompanied with clapping. He finished the set and turned, internally debating whether to be angry or take a bow. As he finished turning however he just stood there mouth open. Nabiki stood at the shoji sliding door one arm held up running along its edge, the other supporting the top of her almost-too-short (or not quite short enough) towel. She was wearing only that and her trademark, teasing smile. Her eyes shone with mischief, she turned to go, looked over her shoulder once, hair whipping around her face, and then left.

Ranma didn't know whether it was his workout or his host that made his heart thunder so. And didn't care. "Bitch"

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Nabiki waited until she heard the bathroom door close then slipped out of her room and into Ranma's. "let's see what he's hiding" she whispered before replacing her lollipop. She quickly and efficiently went through his belongings. Shirts. Jeans. Grey jumpsuit, with nametag, odd patches and …captain's pips! She had guessed he was military but, not an officer, let alone this high rank, what sort of army let its soldiers make captain in three years? She heard him moving into the changing room and hurriedly started to put things back and then she saw it. A syringe, gas powered, hypodermic and loaded. As she pulled back the shirt that covered it she found two bottles of pills and a rubber strap. She was stunned, Ranma a junkie?

"Happy?" he asked from his door "Or perhaps you would like to go through my phone book too?" his tone was not friendly.

"Ranma, You want to explain before I have daddy throw you out?" she said every inch the Ice-queen she used to be.

"No, as it happens, I don't and he's welcome to try."Ranma replied, less heatedly. "This is not something I can explain. You either have to trust that me that I mean your family no harm or not. If not just say the word and I am gone."

"You can't or you won't?" she replied now more curious than angry

"Can't, orders." He replied as if that explained it all, which to some extent it did.

"This is some heavy duty stuff Ranma, how long have you been on it?"

"Long enough, and where do you know it from."

"I cooked the books at a factory that makes some of this. When you say 'long enough' is that as in 'some time' or as in 'too long'" now she was worried, very worried.

"I am about three months past the point of safe return." He admitted, as he started to pack it away. She stopped him and held the hypo to his arm.

"Then, that's it, four more months and… bam" She said and fired it into his arm with a hiss, her voice hard.

"Not quite Koda-sama is working on a regenerative. We have every right to hope." But it sounded more like a script than a belief.

"this is something to do with X-Com isn't it?" Nabiki said pointing at a patch on his suit and then stopped him with a finger to his lips. "I know, you can't tell me. Fair enough." She stood to leave "Breakfast will be ready," and then she was gone.