Ukyo's alert brought Nabiki quickly to the door where she found Ranko taking Tatewaki's coat and gloves. Two of Maeda's men waited to take the scion of the Kuno Industries to their master, but she interceded moving up to wrap a friendly arm around his.
"Oh, Nabiki," said Tatewaki feigning surprise, "I did not see you come in"
She smiled up at him. "Oh I've been here for a while, Mister Kuno. Ah, you boys can go back to your duties. I'll take Mister Kuno to see the boss"
The two men bowed and left leaving them alone for the moment.
"Tatewaki," whispered Nabiki from the corner of her mouth as she slowly led him to the party. "You, mister, are late"
Tatewaki, giving a nod to those persons he recognized, chuckled lightly. "It's the 'in' thing to do, Nabiki. 'Fashionably Late', if I'm not mistaken"
"Well your 'fashionably late' almost cost me a trip to the ocean floor amongst other things"
"He's threatened you already? The cur"
Ahead they spotted Okura and Vicky with Sachi in step behind, making their way towards them. Maeda held a bright smile on his face as they closed and Nabiki forced back her urge to sneer.
"And thus approcheth the wolf ready to devour his prey," she said.
Tatewaki patted her hand lightly and she looked up at him. "Faith," he told her with a wink.
"That's all I have, and remember; stay away from that back room… Mister Maeda! I do believe introductions will not be needed for you"
Okura greeted Tatewaki with a bow. "Tatewaki Kuno. So, we meet again after such a long time"
"Yes. In Osaka if I recall. When the Kuno Industries out bided your shipping firm for the rights to transport all commodities coming into the southern ports. A very lucrative deal I must say"
A stutter, Okura catching himself lost for words. He cleared his throat before answering. "Uh, yes I recall too. This is my secretary; Victoria Saffron"
"Nice to meet you, Mister Kuno," she said.
Tatewaki's mouth dropped slightly open with awe. He bowed taking her hand in his. "It is my pleasure, I assure you, Miss Saffron"
"Oh please, call me Vicky"
What? thought Nabiki, giving Tatewaki the evil eye. A slight step brought the heel of her shoe down on the top of his foot and his brows rose up.
"Yes, yes. Vicky it is," he quickly said, letting her hand go. "Um, I hope I was not too late for your party, Okura"
"No not at all, Tatewaki. In fact I was just thinking how much I am looking forward to talking with you"
"I'm sure there are others around you could hold intelligent conversations with. Plenty of familiar faces I see"
Maeda laughed. "But none like you, Tatewaki. Why… let me suggest we find a more comfortable place to chat. I know… my sitting room next to the main lounge. It's quiet and away from intrusions"
He's not waiting around, thought Nabiki. Great, this is going to make things difficult. I am going to need some serious help here.
Just then, Kurenai appeared carrying a tray of assorted drinks. "Sir," he said offering them to Tatewaki.
"Ah, refreshments," said Tatewaki. He looked them over then selected one filled with a light amber colored liquid and ice. Taking a sip, he sighed. "Scotch on the rocks. Perfect, except I could use a cube of sugar"
Kurenai hesitated briefly before nodding and went to fill the request.
"Excellent service, Okura, and I must say elegantly dressed service as well"
"That's your girlfriend's idea," Sachi blurted out.
"Nabiki? So, Okura. Not only do you steal away my leading accountant, you also have her arranging you parties as well. Shrewd. You know that hurt hiring Nabiki from me"
Maeda arched a brow, casting an uncomfortable gaze upon her. "You don't say"
Don't be telling this man those things, raged Nabiki's mind! Her heel pressed down again forcing Tatewaki to stop while gritting his teeth behind closed lips.
"Tatewaki just says some of the funniest things!" exclaimed Nabiki, laughing.
"He certainly does," commented Vicky, arching a brow.
Okura started to usher Tatewaki towards the sitting room when Tsubasa appeared between them again. "Your 'cube', sir," he said dropping the lump into his drink.
"Ah yes, thank you. Now could you bring me a stir stick my fine minion"
The corner of Tsubasa's lip curled slightly up at the remark, but he nodded and went off again.
"You really have done a good job here, Nabiki," said Tatewaki watching him go.
Nabiki found it hard to control her growing annoyance with him. Another slight twitch of the heel brought his attention back to them. "Tatewaki, would you like to go and see the rest of my party?" she asked.
Maeda's eyes narrowed at Nabiki. Trying to thwart my efforts are you? Well, that will not work young lady.
"I think Tatewaki and I will go and chat first, 'Nabiki'," he said. A slight motion with his hand and Sachi casually made his way around to stand next to her, a glimmer of malice filling the air.
Nabiki tensed sensing her new shadow and carefully let her arm drop from around Tatewaki's. Maeda smiled reaching up to place a friendly arm around Tatewaki's shoulders when another maid appeared on Tatewaki's other side.
"Would you like something to nibble on sir?" said Konatsu. He held a tray full of finger sandwiches and sushi rolls up and Tatewaki calmly looked them over before selecting one.
"Oh yes, I would recognize this food anywhere," he said between bites. "Kasumi Tendo"
Maeda nodded with a slight smirk. Tatewaki finished the roll taking another. Konatsu curtsied and moved on.
"You really have gone out all the way here, Okura," said Tatewaki.
"Anything to please my guests, Tatewaki"
"Yes, but to take away Nabiki and my access to her exquisite sister's cooking. Painful indeed"
Nabiki could only roll her eyes.
"Well, if you are interested then maybe we could go and chat privately about future arrangements with her, hmm"
Oh no, he's going to get Tatewaki alone. I'm doomed!
A tap on the arm suddenly interrupted Tatewaki. "Your 'stir stick', sir," said Tsubasa.
Tatewaki held out his glass and Tsubasa tossed it in angrily, storming off. "Thank you," he said after him then paused as he caught sight of a familiar face across the room. "Why is that the venerable Mister Tadekei Kosaburo I see"
"Uh, Tatewaki—," said Okura.
"You will have to excuse me, Okura, but I must go and pay my respects. I learned most of my skills from him"
"But"
It was no good, Tatewaki heading across the room. Maeda watched him go and his expression dropped down into a mask of anger and frustration. He turned shooting Nabiki a quick glance and she cringed drawing back.
"What? I didn't do anything," she said.
He let out a low growl and stalked angrily away from them. Nabiki thanked the stars that had not ended in complete disaster. She noticed Sachi's dark stare and looked up at him with an innocent shrug.
"Playing with fire, Miss Tendo. Remember, it can burn you," he said and went off after his boss.
I got some burn for you, jerk, thought Nabiki. She looked to see Vicky staring at her with a suspicious gaze before letting out a light chuckle as she left. Now she might be trouble. I do hope the others are not having as much difficulties as I am…
Ignoring the myriad of bugs fluttering around his face, Doctor Tofu felt his way around the branches of the tall pine tree he was in, careful to find safe footing as he made his way back down. Bad enough he had to hump that damn satellite dish up to the top, but it was even worse when Hikaru told him he needed to put it up on its stand for extra height.
Of course the boy told him this after he got down the first time, which meant climbing back up enduring another of Mother Nature's natural sand-paperings of his face and arms with pine needles and bark. Not to mention that darkness had now set and the light from a flashlight might be seen, he had to do much of the tying and positioning by sense and feel.
Suddenly, one of the branches he stood on snapped and Ono frantically grabbed for the nearest ones barely catching himself before he fell. Tofu sighed looking down. Not much to see with all of the blocking limbs, he continued making his way down.
Well, I guess Hikaru is only Hikaru, he mused with a smile. Can't really find any fault in him or.
SWACK!
Ono barely held back his cries as a thick branch smacked the side of his left leg sending streams of pain coursing through him. He waited until the sting faded and them let out a grunt easing his weight over to his good leg and pressed up against the truck of the tree.
Oh, I am going to so kill that boy, he whispered. With this tree as my witness… I am going to kill him… bad.
Continuing down, Ono could begin to see the ground and the dim light coming from the van. Hikaru's shadow could be seen shifting around the inside and Ono felt some relief flow through him. "I can't climb, I can't climb, he says," grumbled Tofu as he reached the ground. Several cuts and scrapes decided to remind him of their presence and he drew in a few breaths to fight back their sting.
"Kasumi is going to be all over me with Lanocane and alcohol when she sees me. That is going to hurt even worse," Tofu said as he started limping over to the van. "Can't climb… I am so going to kill this boy. Hikaruuuuu"
"Doc!" came a low whisper in reply.
Tofu stopped. He smirked watching as the shadowy figure in the van moved towards the front. He could hear things being knocked around then a few small boxes tumbled out. What is that boy doing, Ono thought making his way towards the van again.
"Doc!" came the whisper again.
"Hikaru, will you stop whispering? No one is going to hear us this far out"
A low grunt came from the van then Doctor Tofu's name was called again.
"Hikaru, what are you doing in there? We need to be getting communications established with the others at the estate, so stop fooling around"
Tofu reached the side door and paused. "Doc!" he heard again, but this time it did not sound like it was coming from inside but from the brush across the clearing.
What the?
He looked around and even in the dim light from the van; Hikaru's eerie pale face rose up into view. They stared silently at each other for a moment then Ono said, "Hikaru"
"Doc!" whispered Hikaru.
"What"
"Bear"
"Bear"
"Bear"
"Where"
"There"
Slowly, Ono turned his head towards the front of the van and it was then that he made out the shaggy brown fur of a good sized brown bear draped over the front seats ripping and tearing the upholstery in search of an evening snack. His blood went cold, chest tight and Tofu looked back at Hikaru. He let out a squeak and then said, "Hikaru"
"Yeah Doc"
"Bear"
"Yeah, Bear"
"H-Here"
"Yeah, there"
"B-Bear"
"Ah-huh"
Ono chanced another look back over his shoulder again. The bear was still busy ripping the seats apart and he took careful steps away heading towards Hikaru and the relative safety distance would provide. Half-way, Tofu broke into a run and dove headlong into the brush.
"Hikaru, Hikaru!" Ono frantically whispered as he thrashed about trying to right himself up. Gosunkugi helped him and they sat quietly waiting for Doctor Tofu to regain his composure. The good doctor suddenly grabbed Hikaru by the shoulders.
"How long has that bear been in there?" he asked.
"Oh, I'd say since about the time you went back up to the top of the tree"
Tofu shook him around for a second. "What do you mean since I went back up"
"Th-that's about how long, Doc"
Another hard shake, Ono pulled Hikaru up close to his face. "You couldn't think to warn me or something, Gosunkugi"
"Well, you were up there kind'a high and I was too busy running to think about it"
Couldn't fault the man for thinking about self-preservation; Ono and Hikaru looked at each other for a moment. They turned and pushed their heads back up through the growth and stared at the van. There were more items flying out the side now. Tofu knew that if left to its own devices that bear will have the entire interior strewn about in no time.
"We've got to get it out of there fast," said Ono.
"Yeah, I'll bet Nabiki is having fits right now. Say, why don't you call her and tell her our situation? You've still got the ear piece right"
"Two problems with that idea, Hikaru. One, we're still out of range and two; I left it in the van"
"You took it off? Gee Doc that wasn't so bright"
"D'oh!" grunted Ono, placing a hand to his face. "Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, Tofu. He's still needed"
Ono looked down at Hikaru. "I took it off so I would not lose it while I was playing TARZAN"
"Ooo, better keep it down, Doc. Bear might hear you"
A tense moment followed and then Ono sighed. He shook his head and stared out at the van again. "This just can't get any worse," he said.
A few more seconds passed then Hikaru said, "Yes it can"
"What do you mean by that, Hikaru"
"Well, this stuff, these plants around us… uh, some of it is urushi"
Ono's jaw dropped and he cut his eyes over at Gosunkugi. He could only shrug and Tofu clenched his eyes tight. "D'oh!" he muttered again covering his face with his hands.
"I'm surprised I even remember that much from camping," continued Hikaru. "Oh well, looks like I won't get to finish my dinner now"
Ono's finger's parted. "What dinner"
"The one I was enjoying until I was so rudely interrupted. Kasumi fixed me up a Bento box before we left. You know I swear your wife could prepare a full course banquet in less than two seconds. You are a lucky man, Doctor Tofu"
A tight grip latched up around Hikaru's throat, Ono glaring at Gosunkugi with death in his eyes.
"Uh… should I have gotten you one too, Doc?" gasped Hikaru.
Doctor Tofu said nothing as he pulled Gosunkugi back down into the brush…
It took careful moving but Ryoga Hibiki managed at last to get him and Akane over to the north side of Maeda's home. The guards patrolling the grounds seemed to be more interested in the front than the sides and rear and except for the occasional passer, the two would-be burglars slipped quietly into the surrounding brush.
Well, almost quietly.
Ryoga could barely manage carrying both the equipment they needed and Akane; whose now thoroughly inebriated person could barely stand upright with out his support. How she still managed to navigate there way around the grounds was beyond him, but there came several times when he had to place a hand or arm across her mouth to keep her silent. Now they stood, or at least he stood staring up at the third story window trying to figure out how to get them up and inside without being discovered.
"Ranma… gonna need my Ranmaaa," sang Akane, slumped up against his back.
It's a wonder I'm not bleeding to death, thought Ryoga as he surveyed the scene. Suddenly, he felt Akane sliding down and turned just in time to catch her before she could drop.
"Akane, Akane, please don't pass out on me now!" he frantically said as he held her up.
Akane giggled, draping her arms around his neck. "I wasn't about to pass out, RRRanmaaaa," she slurred.
Ryoga stared at her smiling face and then gulped. "Oh, oh this is not good"
She giggled again and began to pull herself up closer, but Ryoga pushed her gently back. "Akane, it's me, Ryoga, your partner in crime here"
Akane frowned. "Ryoga?" He nodded. "Ryoga? Ryoga, where is my Ranma"
"Inside with the others"
"Inside?" She glanced past him at the building and Ryoga could see a small pout forming on her lips.
"Oh no, oh no, Akane please don't start crying. This is not the time too be crying"
"He doesn't love meeeee! BWAAAAA—murph"
Ryoga clasped a hand over her mouth and not a moment too soon as around the corner one of Maeda's men appeared. Quickly Ryoga pulled Akane down and he watched him hoping he did not hear her cry. The guard stood looking around then took a few steps in their direction. Ryoga tensed as he looked around again then reached into his jacket and pulled out a cigarette and lighter.
The guard stood smoking his cigarette for a few minutes, looking up at the stars and around the dimly light grounds before tossing the butt down, stamping it out. One last gaze in their direction, he turned and headed back out of sight.
"That was close," whispered Ryoga, standing up.
Akane leaned up against his back again with her chin pressing playfully against the crease of his spine. "RRRanmaaa, gonna need my RRRammaaa," she sang again.
"No, stop it, Akane!" She did but he could sense her pout returning. "Okay, I'm sorry. Uh stay there while I get this grappling hook out, okay"
"Sure, Ranma"
Saotome, you definitely need to address this problem, Ryoga thought, shaking his head. From the black bag he pulled out a coil of rope with a three pronged metal grappling hook secured to one end. Several woven loops were spliced into the rope at even intervals to allow a climber purchase as they climbed up the rope. It looked sturdy enough but would it support both of them at the same time?
No sense in waiting, Ryoga set Akane up against the building and took a few steps back. He twirled the hook around in the air allowing the momentum to build and then with a light toss let it fly. The hook sailed up and over the top of the roof. Ryoga heard a dim tap as it landed and he pulled taking up the slack until the points finally dug into something and stopped.
Ryoga made a few more strong pulls and it looked like the hook was firmly attached. He let out a sigh of relief and looked at Akane; who had slid down to the ground and sat smiling at him.
"YEA!" she suddenly exclaimed, clapping her hands. Ryoga dashed over pleading for her to stop as he grabbed her wrist.
"You don't want me to cheer for you, Ranma?" she said.
"No, Akane… darn it, I'm Ryoga! We don't want the guards to hear, okay"
Sadly, Akane nodded.
"Now, we have to climb up. Do this for me, please"
She nodded again and Ryoga helped her up.
"So, since you know how to open locks, you go first and… Akane? Akane"
Akane was not paying attention to Ryoga. In fact she was not paying much attention to anything as her legs buckled like a ragity-ann doll, slumping back down towards the ground. Ryoga stood her back up.
"Oh great, you can't even walk yet alone climb. Akane it was only one gulp"
"Mmmm, and it was warm too"
Ryoga felt like crying himself not believing this was happening. This is why Tom Cruise always worked alone! He drew in a breath and stopped to reexamine the situation. Okay, Hibiki, you're a police officer. That means you have to be resourceful and patient. Your partner is wounded and you can't leave'em behind, so what do you do? 'Speed'… no this is not the time to be thinking about trivia! Okay, think man, think!
He looked at Akane. Tiny woman, should be no extra weight, thought Ryoga. He eyed the rope then looked up at the window. Rope, Drunk Girl, bag, window, me. Climb! Got it!
Taking the end of the rope, Ryoga tied it around Akane's waist, made a secure loop then tied the rest around his linking them both together. He draped the bag over a shoulder and after a short prayer, leaped up, grabbed the rope, pulling them up.
"Wait a minute," he muttered between his grunts and strains. "This girl ain't light! No wonder you sink like a rock in water. Where is it all at"
Higher and higher they went, Akane giggling with each pull much to Ryoga's distress. Without warning, she suddenly let out a laugh and twisted her body sharply to one side causing them to spin.
"What! Akane, stop that!" said Ryoga.
"Oooh, look at me! I'm Jane"
"Akane, stop it"
She looked up. "And Ranma, Ranma, you're Tarzan taking me up to his loft in the trees! Climb, you big wild beast of a man! Take me, take me up. Ravage me with wild reckless abandon"
Ryoga managed to stop their twirling and braced his body up against the wall to keep Akane from repeating her action. He stared down at her noting the lewd leer she gave him and quickly turned away. "Akari. Akari is my wife, Akane is the wife of my best friend," he reminded himself. "My thoughts are pure, my thoughts are clean"
Akane's playful pawing at his back made Ryoga pause.
"And the Devil is working overtime tonight too." He continued to climb up ignoring Akane's advances. "I still wonder why I'm not bleeding to death. Good thing Akari has one advantage over Akane. She doesn't weigh eight billion tons"
Finally, they reached the bottom of the third story window. Ryoga grabbed on to the sill and pulled himself up to rest on his arms, the rope still tucked between them. He let out a sigh of relief pausing to regain his strength.
"A good fall if there is one," he thought gazing back down. Akane oddly enough hung with arms and legs spread out to either side, her head up eyes closed with a strange smile on her face. Ryoga smirked and then asked, "Akane, what are you doing"
"I'm Tinkerbelle"
…
…
…
"Okay. I got 'a get you inside and sobered up somehow"
Ryoga grabbed the rope and climbed until he stood precariously on the window ledge. Carefully, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pocketknife, selected the thinnest blade and opened it up. Okay, they taught us this stuff in training at the academy, he thought. Running the tip along the window's frame, he found the seam that separated the two sides, sliding the blade between them. All too easy, joked Ryoga, but then Akane wanted to prove him wrong.
"Fluuutter, flutter, flutter, flutter!" she said, flexing her shoulder back and forth.
Ryoga lost his grip falling away from the window leaving the knife wedged in place. His arms flailed, and a desperate last grab caught the rope before it too went out of reach. They fell back then stopped with Ryoga's heels on the ledge, hanging out at an odd angle.
"Akane, what are you doing"
"I'm flying"
"No, you're about too kill us"
"But I'm flying, see? Flutter, flutter, flutter, flutter, flutter"
"Ah! Akane, you're not flying, you're a lead balloon… literally… so, so, so stop it"
Akane did letting her arms and legs hang free. That wasn't good, the added weight bearing down on Ryoga. He let out a grunt and reached up pulling them back towards the ledge. Suddenly, there came a short sharp jerk as the hook briefly slid from position a short ways before digging in again. It stopped and Ryoga waited for a moment and then resumed his pull. The hook held and they were back upright once more.
"Don't-do-anything-Akane," Ryoga said. He found the knife again and carefully slid it down the seam until it stopped on the interior latch. Carefully, Ryoga slid the blade out probing until he found the bottom of the latch and then slid the blade back in.
"Okay, let's hope this window's not alarmed"
He slid the blade up and was rewarded by the sound of the latch scrapping up out of the holder and falling free. Ryoga pushed both windows open and stepped down into Maeda's office…