Guest Ki: Chapter 30
The Vote
Everyone returned to their original seats, or a reasonable facsimile thereof, and the officers returned to the stage. It was left to Barry to get the girls. The three returned silently, Akane and Shampoo flanking Barry as he took the microphone once more.
"Akane. Shampoo. As usual, nothing is simple." They turned their eyes from the audience to Barry. "Everybody voted and it came back a straight, dead even tie, both of ya gettin' 446 votes. I'm told it's now up to me."
Akane blanched and Shampoo looked troubled, glancing at Akane, then back at Barry. The auditorium was silent. "For Amazon Month, to hold the office of Student Council President, I choose... Shampoo."
There was a loud sigh in the audience. Whispers began. "He chose... He chose Shampoo over Akane!"
Barry gritted his teeth and plunged onward. "Because she's an Amazon warrior and has been trained in the ways we hope to emulate, Shampoo's the best choice. I hope ya all can support her during that time, as Akane and I will." He turned to look at Shampoo directly. "Is there anything more you'd like to say, Shampoo?" The Amazon nodded. She took the microphone, then reached over and dragged Akane with her to stand in front of the podium.
"This is first lesson Joketsuzoku learn. There are winners and losers," she began. Akane stiffened but did not pull away. "But far more important is family. Akane is my sister in Furinkan Joketsuzoku. She is family. I owe her respect, honor and support. In family are no winners or losers, only students and teachers." She smiled. "Who really teacher here? I not know. Maybe in time, I learn." She stepped back, relinquishing the podium again.
'I think I may have won one, for a change,' thought Barry, trying to look relaxed. He sure hoped Akane understood his reasoning, or he'd be in a lot of pain at lunchtime.
"Point of order called!"
'What now?" Barry snapped.
"We've never had a chance to question or speak with the current Student Council President," someone called out.
"That's fine," retorted Barry. "I don't recall agreeing to run."
"Come on, Saotome," shouted someone else. "You owe us!"
"Since when?" Barry replied. "I owe certain people various bits and pieces of my honor, but I don't recall the entire Furinkan student body bein' in that group." Various students took up the call threatening to overwhelm him by volume.
Barry was a little irate at their brass and upset at some of his mistakes, earlier. He should have realized how differently these people reacted to challenges. How else could everyone conform to a standard, yet show appreciation for the rebels among them? Ranma was a leader whether he liked it or not. Fortunately, unlike Tatewaki Kuno, he didn't abuse the privilege.
"Come on, Ranma," shouted another. "You've been here two years and all we know about you is rumor. You're high profile now. Tell us!"
An echoing wave of agreement swept the room. "Yeah," someone else yelled. "We have to duck and cover every time some idiot comes after you and Nabiki was too expensive! You owe us!"
Barry paused. That had some validity. None of these people asked to have their lives turned upside down by the martial artists who followed Ranma here. "So you really think you've earned answers from me?" he asked seriously. He jerked as he felt hands touch his arms. Akane and Shampoo came up beside him again.
"They need understand, Ranma," Shampoo said. "You ask them to understand Shampoo, but they not know Ranma."
"Keep it simple, though," Akane warned with a growl.
Barry nodded and frowned. What would Ranma tell them - aside from go ta hell! The conversation had been picked up by the mike and whispered out to the students. They waited for his response.
"All right," Barry assented reluctantly. He grinned, not a pleasant expression, but one designed to intimidate an opponent. "Heh, heh, heh!" His chuckle carried across the auditorium. It presaged a cold wind that brought immediate silence. "I think everyone realizes by now that I'm Ranma Saotome of the Saotome School of the Mutsabetsu Kakuto Ryu, and before anyone makes any crude jokes, ask yerself if ya really wanna grapple with me — in either form." He waited while they quieted down. "That's not a threat by the way, just a statement of fact. I and a few others in this audience are trained to do a terrific amount of damage in a short time with our hands and some select weapons. We do this, not because we want to hurt anyone, but because we need to control our own lives. We believe in freedom and responsibility. Which means, you're free to do what you like, provided you're willing to take the rap for what ya do." The silence in the auditorium was profound. "Freedom and responsibility. Ranma Saotome ain't gonna force ya to jump through hoops or demand ya kowtow to me. I know what I am. I hope ya look inside yerselves and figure out who ya are and who ya can be." He laughed again and leaned on the podium. It had not been the speech he had been planning, but circumstances change quickly on the battlefield. "So... Ya say wanna getta know me?" There was a swell of agreement.
"Here are the ground rules: No hentai stuff. Don't bother to ask about the fiancées; that's between them and me. I'm tellin ya this so ya don't waste yer time." He grinned. "If I don't like a question, I won't answer it. First question?"
"You have some nerve brushing off hentai questions, Ranma," Yuka shouted from the audience. "When you consider all the times you've run scams on people using your girl side!" Yuka always had been a little hostile to Ranma.
"I deserve that," he replied. "But then, I never ran a scam unless I stood to gain either a cure for my curse or protection for someone else..." He frowned and muttered to himself, "... except maybe for ice cream."
"Did you ever do it as a girl?" Surprisingly, a girl asked this.
"Do what?" Barry decided to play dumb. It was just possible...
"Have sex. With a guy or a girl, I mean."
"Nope. Oh, we… Hell! What did I say about hentai questions? None of yer business. No matter what I answer to that, yer gonna believe what ya wanna believe. Next question?"
"How many times have you rescued your fiancées?" Another girl asked this. "How many each?"
Barry scrunched up his face in amusement. "That's sorta borderline... Do ya mind if I take off my shoes so I have some extra help countin'?" A nervous laugh rippled through the audience. "Seriously, though... I don't know. I don't keep track. If I did, I'm sure they'd tell me how often I got them into the mess in the first place."
Laughter again sounded, louder. Barry cringed a little. Ranma was rarely this outspoken except to very close friends, Ukyo and Akane mostly, and Kasumi, and more recently Hiroshi and Daisuke when they weren't slobbering over some pillow book or worse. He hoped to be honest, yet keep enough of Ranma private to maintain his integrity.
"Why do you change into a girl?" A guy this time. Barry gave a brief summary of the Jusenkyo incident, leaving out particulars as to why Ranma had been there, or whether he should have known better. He considered mentioning some of the others who had similar curses, but decided against it. Shampoo had already admitted her curse, but he wasn't prepared yet for the flurry of speculation that would happen once Ryoga's curse was common knowledge.
"Why did you become a martial artist?" It sounded like Hiroshi asked that one. Maybe Ranma's friends were trying to help him out.
"I wasn't exactly asked. I've been training since I could walk and for the last ten years did almost nothing but train under my father, Genma Saotome."
"So... If you had to do it again, would you?"
"Yes!" Barry surprised himself at the vehemence of his response. He flushed then continued. "There are a lot of things that I'd rather not have experienced at the time, but without them, I wouldn't be standing here today. I'd be dead and so would several other people." The crowd grew silent again. "That's not to say I have no regrets."
"Do you really turn into a girl? Or do you just look like one?"
"No, Daisuke, I will not date you." Barry said. Laughter followed. 'Jeez, don't do me any favors, Daisuke!' he thought and continued, "Does it really matter? If I got hit by a car and ended up crippled for life, I'd still be me."
"But it does matter!" exclaimed one girl. "I mean you came into the locker rooms those times..." She flushed in embarrassment.
"Oh, I get it." He pondered. "Look, there's this tribe over in China, not far from Jusenkyo; the Musk Dynasty. They believed they could inherit the strength and abilities of animals by droppin' critters into Nyanniichuan and marryin' the result. The two I met claimed to have a wolf and a tiger respectively as their mothers." There was an awkward embarrassed murmur about that concept. "So, what do you think?" He asked pointedly, staring at the girl.
"You mean you have… the monthly thing and…" she squeaked.
Barry banged his head on the podium in frustration. When he looked up, he noticed Akane had gone as pale as a ghost, but Shampoo simply nodded. What a stupid question!
"Next question! Make this the last, please."
"You said that, during Amazon month, you'll be treated as a guy," someone asked speculatively. "If the girls initiate the dating, does that mean any girl could ask you for a date?"
Barry blinked. It was something he hadn't considered. Not that he'd accept any. He glanced at Shampoo, their in-house authority. She smiled amused and reached for the microphone to answer for him.
"If Ranma attached to one woman, other womans... women must respect. Law say one man, one woman is quieter way? So if Ranma not choose, then must consider all." She smiled. It was obvious whom she thought he should choose. Yet there was a certain amount of satisfaction to be gained from his utterly appalled look.
Barry banged his head on the podium again. "Why do these things happen to me?"
Akane walked quietly home between Barry and Ryoga. Ukyo had found the lost-boy, 'pigged', in one of the girl's bathrooms, hiding behind a commode. As near as he could tell, no one had noticed him, but he was suffering from considerable blood loss, simply from what he had heard and his own overactive imagination. They found his clothes in the puddle of one of the infamous water buckets, but whether he had tripped over the thing or had it flung on him by someone, he didn't know.
They stopped by the Nekohanten to give Shampoo an escort and support for when she told Cologne the news about Amazon Month and her appointment as Temporary Council President. The Amazon was not certain how her grandmother would react to the situation. After all, she was supposed to be in training to help govern her own people, not a bunch of foreigners. Cologne met them at the door.
"I'm sorry, Ranma," she said, "We won't be able to work on ki matters today. We have a client we're catering for, as well as normal restaurant operations. Is something wrong, Shampoo?" she asked, interrupting herself.
"Shampoo has something to tell ya, Granny." Barry leaned against the doorframe looking smug.
"It better not have anything to do with… (WHAP!) Ow!" barked Mousse as Cologne silenced him with a strike of her staff.
"Back to work, Mr. Part-time," she growled, waving him away.
"School honor Shampoo and Joketsuzoku by having Amazon Month, to begin first school day of October," Shampoo said in a small voice. "Want copy of village laws to... use as source for rules about how students should behave."
Cologne blinked. "That's... interesting... An honor indeed! It probably won't work though. You need to have a Council of Elders with authority to stabilize the younger…"
Barry broke in. "That's what Shampoo said. So we talked ta Miss Hinako, Mrs. Morisato and old Mrs. Satamiya, and they requested that we ask ya if ya would consent ta guide them in setting up some sort of Elder's Council."
Cologne froze with her mouth open, and then snapped it shut. "You had more than a little to do with this, didn't you, Ranma?"
"While we look for Spatula-girl, they make him Council President," Shampoo explained. "He only find out today at Council..."
"Assembly, Shampoo. It's called Assembly," injected Ryoga.
"Yes, Assembly. Ranma is Student Council President. He go... went up in front and tell all student how angry he is when boys attack Shampoo and Akane for date. Say maybe they need know how it feel on other side of fence. Call for vote. Furinkan students say, yes, want Amazon Day!"
Cologne made a face. "I see... Hmmm… Council President under these circumstances would probably be equivalent to Mayor... You realize, Ranma, that technically your office should be held by a woman?"
Barry nodded.
"So... you're going to be going to school in girl-type during the month of October?"
"Hell, no!" he grinned smuggly. "We elected an interim, or temporary, President for the Amazon Month. A girl in fact." He grinned and glanced toward Shampoo and Akane.
"I see..." She considered her granddaughter with hooded eyes. "You understand, Shampoo, that the Japanese are a very insular people. We are gaijin after all. You've said yourself that Akane..."
"Oh, I'm not Council President, Cologne," Akane said. She grinned and pointed at Shampoo, who cringed.
"Shampoo is Student Council President?" Cologne was shocked.
"Akane nominate Shampoo, Ukyo nominate Akane," Shampoo exclaimed. "Class vote. Is tie, Ranma must choose! He choose... me," she finished in a small voice.
"He what?" They looked up at the voice. Mousse was standing there pale as a ghost. Barry realized he must have heard only part of the discussion and set himself for an all-out attack.
Shampoo leapt between them and slung a glass of water across Mousse's snarling face. Acting quickly, she bundled up the duck in his robes and headed for the kitchen. "Ranma. You and Akane go now. I explain to Mousse. I call if problem." She was more relaxed now; her familiarity with Cologne told her that her success was an accolade, not a misdeed.
"Later, Amazon."
"I'll tape our show, Shampoo!" Akane called as she headed out the door.
Cologne watched Shampoo smile in real pleasure. That damn animé again! Teenagers! Go figure. "When you're finished with duck-boy, get back here, Shampoo. You're going to be handling the Nekohanten alone while Mousse is with me, catering."
Ryoga waved absently and walked out as well. Shampoo chased him back out of the kitchen where he rejoined Ranma and Akane outside.
Cologne heard the muffled assent, and then a splash of water followed by a yell. Then Shampoo's voice rang out loud and strident as she berated Mousse and explained the realities of the situation.
The old woman grinned. Poor Mousse! She moved about the kitchen setting up the dishes for the catering. Talk about food for thought! Something had changed in the equation. She wasn't certain just what it was, yet, but she was patient.
Barry sighed slightly as he ate. Kasumi's cooking was good! He caught a dirty look from Akane, and grinned apologetically. "Gimme a break, Akane! Kasumi's been cookin' longer." He challenged her suddenly with a mischievous grin. "Or are you claiming you don't like her cookin' anymore?"
"Oooh! You know that's not what I meant!"
"Yeah?" He went back to eating as she sat there stiffly, affronted by his words. "It really is good, Kasumi," he added.
"Thank you, Ranma." Kasumi smiled and breathed in deeply. "I really should get out more. The challenge of cooking on the road was stimulating."
Soun nodded. "It's too bad your mother wouldn't come on the road with us..." His mouth went dry, as both girls looked at him... hard.
"I always thought you snuck out, like Uncle Saotome does still," Akane said frostily.
"I didn't think mother liked Happosai very much. Wouldn't it have caused problems?" Kasumi said more gently.
"I seem to remember something about sake, ten-meter chains and express trains," Akane added.
Soun big-sweated. So did Barry. That sounded so... kinky! He knew it just had to be something far more innocent. Akane noticed his look.
"That was not what it sounded like," Akane said defensively. Kasumi covered her mouth with one hand. "Mom used to get Happosai drunk and tie him up... I mean tie him to trains with a ten-meter chain."
Barry thought about that, his brow wrinkling, his mouth twitching. He started to speak several times, but thought better of it, while Akane began to reach a boiling point. He knew he had better offer some kind of comment soon, but... the possibilities!
"Yoo-hoo! Anybody home?" They all turned and looked. Nabiki stood at the entrance to the main room. "Hi! You miss me?" Soun's paper dropped to the tabletop as he leaped to his feet to engulf his middle daughter in a hug.
She looked good; almost too good. Her elegant woman's business suit and artful makeup made her look much older than her eighteen years. In one hand, a valise replaced the book bag she had carried to Furinkan for so long.
"I thought we wouldn't be seeing you till the semester break," Soun said tearfully, now holding her at arm's length. "My little girl's all grown up!"
"Oh, Daddy!"
Somehow, Barry was not surprised that Kasumi had more food in the kitchen for the unexpected arrival. Nabiki sat down and chatted with her sisters over dinner. The conversation was very predictable. Kasumi asked if there was anyone special in Nabiki's life, and Akane asked for advice in handling the family accounts. Barry kept out of it, but noticed Nabiki glancing his way frequently.
Ranma didn't trust Nabiki, but had a grudging respect for her. Barry didn't trust her either, but sort of liked her. Nabiki had been too vocal about leaving home to just drop back in without a reason. He dropped himself into a lull in the conversation.
"Why are ya back, Nabs?" he asked. "If it's yer bettin' operation, I'll warn ya things have been slow." He watched her carefully, but she gave nothing away.
"Oh, I was just getting a little homesick. Besides, it's boring without someone like Ranma around to spice things up."
"Yeah... Right," Barry retorted sarcastically. "Well, it's been pretty boring around here, so I can't see..."
"That depends. Did you have Assembly yet?"
"Just today. Why?"
"When did you find out about your new responsibilities?"
"Oh, hell!" Both Barry and Akane glared at the middle Tendo. "You knew?"
"Of course!" came the answer. "It's my business to know." She shifted a little under the combined regard.
"What is Nabiki talking about," asked Soun. Then his face paled. "Not another fiancée!"
"No!" Barry jerked up alarmed at his words before relaxing. "It seems that while we were off lookin' for Ukyo, I was elected Council President." His face twisted, as Soun's eyes grew large. It was obvious what he thought.
"That's wonderful! Why didn't you tell me! Don't tell me you haven't told your mother yet! This is a great honor...!"
"Can it, Tendo," Barry snapped. "Honor or not, I'm a martial artist, not some damn bureaucrat!"
"So, you managed to slough the job off on somebody else," suggested Nabiki, sipping her tea. She smiled confidently.
Barry spoke quietly, "I hope you didn't bet on that." She froze, looking distraught.
"Well you did, in a way," Akane remarked. "Shampoo will be acting-President during Amazon Month..."
"What!" The exclamation came from all three of the other participants at dinner. Explanations followed.
"Why did you choose that bimbo over my baby?" sobbed Soun.
"Jeez! That 'bimbo' IS an Amazon! Akane ain't. Shampoo is better qualified." Barry shook his head in disgust. "And she ain't no bimbo!" He nodded toward Nabiki. "Thanks for the tip on that, by the way."
"Do you have any indication just how smart she is?" Nabiki asked quietly, remembering the computer incident.
"Let's put it this way… She pushes Akane in Calculus. She pushes Kodachi in Chemistry. She'd push me in History, if it weren't for the completely ridiculous misinformation the PRC throws into their education system. English, there is no comparison; she's the best in the class, maybe even better'n Hinako. She's even solid enough to be able to do regional accents pretty well." His lips twitched.
Akane snickered. "You ought to hear her do Australian! The blank stare, the cute little 'I-am-brainless' voice and, 'Ello, Mate! T'row some mo' shrimp on de barbi, eh? Barry and Akane chuckled. "She's better than Ryoga, though he knows more languages," Akane added.
"You almost sound like friends, Akane," Nabiki frowned. She was trying to see how these developments could be used.
"Well I think it's sweet," injected Kasumi smiling. "I always thought she was a nice girl behind all that Amazon duty."
"But that duty still drives her," Akane added sadly.
Soun wept. ""My daughter is friends with her worst enemy!"
"She's my rival, not my enemy," snapped Akane.
While Soun threatened to drown dinner in tears, Barry turned back to Nabiki and studied her in greater detail. Nabiki was acting out of character. Something was wrong here. It struck him then that Nabiki hadn't been a big fan of makeup before. Of course, it could be that she was making some sort of transition between high school girl and university woman; but frankly, it looked odd. Ki-vision had many uses, but you still had to focus the right way to comprehend what you were seeing. Why was she using base?
Nabiki had good clear skin. Frankly, she was as lovely as her sisters. She didn't need base like that. It was more appropriate to a matron or an actress... Hmm… Acting. Why would she need to act around family? Or perhaps hide something that would otherwise be visible? Ki-vision dropped from assessing her well controlled emotional lines to study her physical health. Though he didn't 'look' at her, he gave Nabiki a thorough examination. He grumbled to himself as he did so.
Emotionally she was sneaky. She had no regrets but wanted something. He knew that. He tuned in to the hormonal/chemical portion of her ki worried she might be sick like her mother had been. He wasn't sure what Mrs. Tendo had died from but Nabiki wouldn't want the fuss or pity.
She was healthy enough that way though there was something about her blood. Maybe he was being too specific. Ranma would've assessed her like a warrior in a battle, checking bones, ki strength, intent, injuries-
His discovery shook him. His face went red and his aura flickered visibly across his head and shoulders. The other people at the table went silent, staring at him.
"Um... What's wrong, Ranma?" Akane asked, edging away nervously.
Barry fought for self control. Slowly, the aura died and he refocused. "Akane!" She jerked as if he had shot her. "Special training after dinner." He glanced at Nabiki. "Feel free to stop in, Nabs. Akane's improved a lot and you might want to re-evaluate yer sheets on her against the other fiancées, if it comes to a fight."
"Okay." Nabiki studied him cautiously. Ranma had been acting weird ever since the wedding. Maybe she should check with her contacts at Furinkan before pushing her latest ploy. It was very important to her. Yes, Saturday was soon enough. "I'll be there."
Barry stood up. If it had been his sister... The aura flickered again. He controlled it with difficulty. "I'll meet ya in the dojo, Akane."
"What? What about homework?" Akane knew she had missed something. Barry normally took care of business in an orderly fashion. She suspected she'd never get Ranma to do the same.
"Later. We've got the weekend." He stomped out.
"Lover-boy seems mighty uptight these days," suggested Nabiki. "Is he still mad at me?"
"I don't know, Nabiki," Kasumi said, as Akane continued to stare after the departed pigtailed form. "He has been very intense about this ki training he and Akane have been doing, but he's been far more polite since they came back."
"Ranma? Polite?" Nabiki was obviously an unbeliever. "What ki training?" she asked her younger sister suddenly.
"Nabiki, back off," Akane suggested on the heels of her query. "Whatever you want, now's… just not a good time." Ranma might have still been angry with Nabiki, but only she knew they weren't dealing with Ranma. What was Barry's problem? "We can show you the ki techniques in the morning..."
"Come on, sis! Ranma wouldn't hurt a fly if it didn't bite him first." Nabiki smiled. "I'll take my chances." She smiled lazily. "As to what I want… You know I'm going to ask anyway."
Akane looked doubtful, but nodded and rose to her feet. Nabiki took her time finishing her cup of tea before following Akane out to the dojo. She saw Ranma working one of the practice dummies. It didn't last long. After several strikes, Ranma gave one of those odd flares of energy and the post was suddenly shredded. Her throat went dry. Akane she could understand obliterating things, but Ranma... He gave them a brief nod before gliding into the dojo. Hesitantly wondering if maybe she should have taken Akane's advice, she followed her sister in.
Ranma was sitting in a lotus position in the dojo's center. Only a few of the lights were on, leaving him mostly in shadow. Though his eyes were closed, he gave Nabiki the odd feeling that he was watching her. Akane crossed her path, throwing Nabiki out of step. When her sister reached to turn on the lights, Ranma stopped her with a word.
"Ranma, what's wrong?" Akane asked, looking nervous rather than enraged. Nabiki's short hairs quivered with warning.
"Time to practice yer ki-vision again, tomboy. I want ya ta focus on my arms. Close yer eyes, just use the ki-vision but don't focus only on intent or fighting spirit."
Nabiki glanced aside at her sister and watched her close her eyes and take a few deep, cleansing breaths. She seemed to go very still and then slowly her brows came down in a frown.
"Your arms look different tonight. What have you done?"
"Now look with yer eyes." Ranma held up his arms where they could see them. The girls gasped in unison. His lower arms were covered with fine cuts and reddish marks that would normally become whopper bruises. Nabiki wondered with a sickish feeling just what the point of this exercise was. Ranma had apparently destroyed the practice dummy outside to cause himself deliberate injury.
"I heal fast, so don't worry. Take a close look." Ranma spoke softly now, almost hypnotically. "Use yer ki-vision to follow the lines of injury and see the lines that encourage healin'. Remember what ya learned at the lake about healin' yerself."
"I just want you to know I'm really angry with you!" growled Akane. "There was no need..."
"Now look at Nabiki." Nabiki stiffened, suddenly comprehending where this had been leading. She started to lift her hands to hide her face then shrugged and smiled a bitter smile. At Akane's shocked look, she pirouetted like a runway model.
Nabiki was covered with bruises under the makeup. The bruising extended down her arms and over her torso. If Akane understood what she was seeing, her sister had three cracked ribs as well. Her legs were also bruised but not as badly. Her face went hard. Now she understood why Barry had almost lost control. She was producing a sizable aura herself.
"How. did. this. happen?" Akane heard her voice asking. "Did someone... rape you?"
"Almost," Nabiki admitted coolly. "I was going to talk to you about... well, not directly about this, but about how I wanted to pay Nikki back for his 'ungentlemanly behavior'.
"Nikki..." Ranma almost purred. "I think yer gonna have to modify yer revenge a bit, Nabs." The popping of tendons shifting across bone sounded in the quiet room as his hands curled from fists into claws.
"I agree," Akane said quietly.
"Stop that!" snapped Nabiki. "You're both glowing, dammit! This concerns my honor! I demand to handle it my way!"
Barry felt Akane's aura dissipate. His focus turned to Ranma's fiancée. She gazed narrowly at her sister. Nabiki focused her entire attention on him.
"He could still try this again, dammit!" Barry growled, discomfitted by the sudden loss of support. "It's yer ball game, but I think he needs a little reminder that getting physical will be a lethal mistake."
"Lethal?" Nabiki looked startled. "That's not like you, Ranma. I don't normally butt into other people's business..." Barry snorted. "Really!" she continued, "I just profit from what others would do anyway... but you've been acting so strange, lately. Are you all right?" For once her look was open.
"No, I'm not," he answered her honestly. "But that can't be helped right now. Akane knows the problem and we're working together to correct it."
"Can you be a little more specific?" Nabiki asked quietly.
"No."
"Nabiki, why don't we pay a visit to this Nikki guy?" Akane suggested. "I'm sure that between us, Ranma and I can convince him you have family that's capable of harming him if he harms you."
Nabiki shook her head. "That would mess up the revenge I have planned." She knelt down on the floor, not bothering to hide her stiffness. "Here's the deal. Next month, the university is having a martial arts competition. It's open to all high school seniors in Japan, and the winner of each form gets a physical education scholarship to the university."
"You want us in that competition," Barry declared, flatly.
"You got it. Neither of you competes in interscholastic martial arts, so, except in certain circles, you're unknown. Nikki is my... competitor in the enabling field."
"Is that what you call organized crime?"
"Be nice, Ranma," snapped Akane. "Go on, Nabiki."
"Anyway, Nikki discovered that I'm better than he is — no surprise there — and tried to discourage me personally. I have to admit he tried to hire me first, but the offer wasn't acceptable." Nabiki buffed her nails against the lapel of her suit. "I have my sights set much higher than mistress to a yen-chasing yakuza, thank you. It was only after I turned him down that he decided to show me how much stronger a man is than a woman. I eventually taught him how painful it can be to be a man. I left before he could reply to my argument." Barry flinched and Akane looked savagely happy.
"To get to the point, Nikki has backed what he believes to be the best martial artists among the high school seniors. He also has his finances distributed fairly well in case of accidents, but he's depending on at least three of his team winning the finals. I thought I could get you two to enter one or two events and beat some of his people. If it plays right, I will ruin him financially." Her eyes narrowed in anticipation. "His customers will not be pleased when he can't meet his responsibilities, and the reputation he'll gain will destroy him in financial circles."
"Jeez, Nabiki," Barry said shocked. "I was just gonna put him in the hospital. You're gonna ruin his life!" He was honestly shaken. "Wouldn't it be more merciful just to kill him?"
"I'm not feeling merciful."
"You are one hell of a scary lady." Barry observed.
Nabiki blushed. "Why thank you, Ranma. Remember that if you ever make my sister miserable."
"Nabiki!" Akane snapped.
"Sorry..."
"No, yer not. Point taken, though." Barry thought about the plan. "Nabiki, we're gonna hafta talk about this. You have no idea how complicated things are right now..."
"My ears are open," Nabiki observed.
"Our lips are sealed," Barry retorted. "We may have only a limited period of time to resolve the problem I mentioned earlier. Every day, with the craziness that happens around here, we get interrupted, distracted and led away from our solution. We just can't spare the time."
"This problem you're being so cagey about. What is the worst-case scenario?" Nabiki asked.
Barry glared. Hadn't he just said he wouldn't talk about it?
Akane sobbed. It came deep and unexpected, and she quickly controlled it, but it was unmistakable. Nabiki looked at her in horror and gave Barry a long measuring look. "I hope you're thinking about what I said before," came her hard voice.
"There is nothing you can do to me, Nabiki Tendo, that could be worse than the worst-case scenario you asked about," Barry grated. His expression chilled Nabiki to the bone. He turned to the still form kneeling beside him. "Akane, let's spar."
Nabiki, deeply troubled, got out of the way and watched. She understood that Ranma was actually doing something other than dodging these days, but the reality shook her. As the martial artists engaged, the impacts rattled like machine gun fire and pounded like a huge drum. Periodically, both participants' auras flared as they performed almost incomprehensible maneuvers and techniques. The vibration shook the floor. It was terrifying to Nabiki. Yet she stood her ground. She knew these two would not hurt her; they had just revealed how much they cared that she was hurt. But the controlled violence went far beyond what she had ever experienced, except for those brief intense conflicts Ranma had been careful to exclude Akane from.
At one point, Akane headed for the floor in a bone-crushing throw, but her aura flared out like a rocket's exhaust and she skidded across the polished wood instead of striking it dead on. Then Ranma headed for the ceiling, propelled by a thrusting leg as he tried to take advantage of the moment. Curling into a ball, he ricocheted about the rafters and returned to the attack, forcing Akane back. As they met toe to toe, the auras flared up again, visible at their interface, sparking blue and red, seeming to be a physical barrier between them. Suddenly, Ranma thrust his arm straight through Akane's glittering wall to reach for her throat. She squawked, apparently surprised, but took his extended arm in a hold Nabiki thought might break it. Then, they froze.
"How the hell did you do that?" Akane demanded gasping. She released the young man and slumped down, winded.
"I... forced my ki to mimic your ki. Yer shields don't hinder you so they let me through." Nabiki had no idea what he was talking about but Akane seemed to.
"That's dirty! Never mind. If it can be done... I got you though, that hold would have broken your arm."
"Point taken. There was a way I could have used that as a feint, though, and done ya some real damage."
"Oh, really? Prove it!"
"Excuse me." Nabiki found her voice. They broke off their discussion and looked at her. "I... I'll get back to you in the morning." She rose unsteadily to her feet. She looked like she wanted to speak several times, but finally gave up and wove on trembling legs toward the house. Things had changed.
"I wonder if the use of ki in battle can affect spectators?" suggested Barry, watching her go. "I hope she's all right."
"I think she is," Akane answered. "Sorry about losing it like that."
"You only beat me to it by a couple of blinks," he admitted. "I don't know what Nabiki would have done if Ranma had started blubbering all over her shoes. God! How I hate this! If we're stuck like this...!"
Akane dropped her eyes. "I'm not ready to talk about that."
"Same here." He shuddered and backed away. "Do you want to spar some more, or study?"
"Spar," the answer came. "We'll study later when the gang is here."
Study meant more than just schoolwork, though it included that. Study had become a catch phrase for the ki-research. The sleep-overs had somehow led to Mousse's interpreting at the dojo instead of the Nekohanten and Ryoga consulting with the Amazons on his finds. They had also discovered, that 'studying' when you were in turmoil, often obscured insights into the words of the scrolls and what they meant, in terms of practical application. Sparring exhausted the body and helped defuse the turmoil. The scrolls often seemed to talk about one thing logically, but actually meant something entirely different if considered from a ki-perspective. A sort of Rorschach blot record that stimulated ki-vision only if read aloud and with results that were substantial yet outside the bounds of the five normal senses.
Analogies abounded in the notes. A long dead monk described the beginning of a ki reserve-building trance as 'butterflies dancing merrily across the soles of my feet and ants marching in ordered rows to my center'; and that was one of the more understandable ones. Sometimes the only way to discover what was meant was to experiment, seeking to duplicate the sensations through stimulation of their own ki, a sometimes hazardous proposition. These experiments were a sideline of the sparring sessions that Ryoga, Shampoo, Ukyo, Mousse and, sometimes, Kodachi were beginning to participate in.
Kodachi probably got the least out of the sessions. Not only was she the least trusted of the crew, but also her ki signature was so unlike anyone else's that it was difficult to instruct her. Barry mostly used the periods she was there to try to encourage her ki into something approaching normal. In a sense, Kodachi was getting exactly what she wanted, attention from Ranma. The others were clued in on what was being attempted and put up with the Black Rose's obvious glee at getting that attention, if sometimes with very strained tempers.
Shampoo, of course, was not getting anything out of this yet. She took a strange satisfaction in Mousse's progress, however. Akane had taken up training the near blind Amazon and felt they were near a breakthrough in achieving ki-vision. He already could duplicate the ki-ribbons and even without utilizing that technique, could contact items that belonged to him from a distance of several meters and encourage their ki to return themselves to him. The latter was something no one else could do, and it wasn't from lack of trying.
That evening, everyone showed up, even Konatsu, puzzled about what was keeping Ukyo out so late. With the end of the business day, everyone came over to train, 'study' and kibitz. Nabiki took one look at the gathering and ran to hook up to one of the hidden cameras she installed, only to learn that it wasn't functioning. Frustrated, she resorted to hiding in the bushes, certain that nearly everyone in the room knew she was there anyway.
Barry found that sparring with Shampoo was about what he imagined from Ranma's memories. She was every bit as fast or faster than Akane was now, and sneakier, her attacks and feints being much more subtle. Provided they kept ki techniques out of it, Barry had the slight edge Nekoken gave him in reaction time and the experience of Ranma's bouts with Akane. So far, Barry had avoided losing to the Amazon, but wondered if Shampoo realized how narrow the advantage he held was.
Akane huffed the first couple of times she was beaten, and started getting sneakier herself. The two girls drew one another out, ambushed one another and fought with unrestricted and enthusiastic glee. The present scorecard had Shampoo ahead on total victories, but Akane wasn't losing ground anymore.
Ukyo was very put out to learn how far Akane had surpassed her in her absence. She tended to pair up with Ryoga, however, perhaps more comfortable with Ryoga's combined weapon and unarmed styles. Ryoga finally, somehow, achieved ki-vision and was trying to instruct Ukyo. Barry wondered how this would sit with Akari when she returned. While the lost-boy never openly signaled an attraction, occasionally something would show through; and Ukyo didn't look like she was running away very hard. Barry felt that a long-growing attachment was starting to surface, and soon Ryoga would truly understand Ranma's dilemma, caught between honor and emotion. He felt sorry for the young man. It really did seem that fate was out to do him as much dirt as possible.
Kodachi was beginning to explore the possibilities of unarmed combat. She did not like to be hit with bare hands, which was interesting, as she was perfectly willing to endure damage from weapon attacks without flinching. It was just another facet of the endlessly weird pattern of her personality. When she was not working with martial arts rhythmic gymnastics, it was not unusual to find her stopping in to practice tai chi with Kasumi.
Friendship among the principal six was difficult to define. While such relationships obviously existed, the conflicts of duty and honor were apparent, too. They all tried to focus on the common ground, the ki techniques. Provided they dealt with one another on an intellectual basis, they usually managed to ignore the rest.
"Mousse, what do you think you're doing?" Barry stared hard at the robed Chinese. Mousse turned in his general direction, a double-headed pole arm in his hand.
"What?" The Master of Hidden Weapons had just begun a spirited argument with Ryoga. That is, he made a disparaging remark, which Ryoga interpreted as being directed at Akane, which resulted in the lost-boy taking said matter up with Mousse.
Akane, who knew exactly what Mousse was talking about, stopped Ryoga in his tracks by punting him harmlessly through the north wall, but not before Mousse reached into some sort of pocket in space to draw out the weapon.
"Put the weapon away, Mousse," Barry suggested. "Besides, aren't ya tryin' to learn the unarmed style?"
"All right," Mousse grumbled. "But I didn't start it." He tucked the pole arm away into that pocket again and stood watching the hole Ryoga disappeared through.
"Never said ya did!" Barry, too, watched the hole and watched beyond as well, in case Ryoga became disoriented. Mousse used so little ki in accessing these pockets that opened and closed at his will, it was hard for Barry to claim it was a ki technique. It seemed to be yet another incomprehensible aspect of the world he now resided in.
"Akane!" snarled Ukyo. "What did you do that for?"
Akane stared at her and raised an eyebrow. Barry felt the tension crackle. "Akane! Stop that!" he snapped. She turned and frowned. "Ukyo! Behave yerself! Akane didn't hurt the big lug, she just kept him from attacking Mousse needlessly."
"She put him through the wall!"
"I'm fine, Ukyo!" Ryoga interrupted her by sticking his head through the wall. He glanced at Barry. "I broke it, I fix it?"
"Yup!"
"Damn!"
Barry turned away and watched as Mousse settled down again, shifting his robes into a more comfortable position, much as his duck-form settled its ruffled feathers. Akane was working with Mousse using sensory specification. It wasn't going as well as they had hoped. Mousse was excellent at meditation, maybe too good. He could put himself in seconds into a state where he would be totally unaware if you broke his arm. Mousse was not food-oriented. They would have to find some other stimulation to spark his ability.
Shampoo watched, curious at their efforts. Being presently a non-operator at ki herself, she didn't try to contribute normally, but this night, Akane's growing frustration prompted her to insert herself into the situation.
"Why does Akane want Mousse to taste ice cream?" she asked Barry.
"Well," he answered carefully, "it has a very definite taste and the cold is another sharp change his system can track. The lips and tongue are very sensitive to things like that."
"Must it be cold?" Shampoo was doing much better in grammar these days, Barry noted. She watched Mousse carefully as he tried to balance between awareness and centeredness.
Barry considered. "No… I suppose not. But cold is such a drastic change and you can go pretty cold without doing physical damage." Barry winced and thought back along his own words. He had to be careful. His own grammar was getting too good again. Fortunately, the Amazon didn't seem to be paying attention. He looked over to where Nabiki was hidden. He had to be extra careful.
"So, it is the surprise of stimulus which is best?"
"Sorta. For Akane and Ryoga, it wasn't so much the surprise as the change, the... I don't know... distraction. The trouble is, Mousse is pretty near un-distractible when he's like this."
Shampoo considered a while longer. "Is it very important that Mousse have this ki-vision?"
"Shampoo," Barry replied carefully. "When we work on ya, it's gonna be like we're in an operatin' room. A buncha doctors all around the patient, each one ready to back up the other if somethin' goes wrong." He chewed his lip. "I want at least one person you can absolutely depend on if somethin' goes wrong, and that's Mousse all over." He laughed nervously. "A course, we don't even know if the work needed is complicated or difficult, but..." He sighed exasperated. "Besides it's a damn shame he can't see well, and I betcha ki-vision would make up fer that, too!"
Shampoo nodded absently. "I see...
"Airen..." She used the term for husband again, drawing a flinch from Ranma's 'guest'. "...please forgive if what I do seem wrong. But I can do what you want."
"Nothin' ta forgive, Shampoo," he answered, with a shrug. "If you think you can do it, do what you have to."
He wondered what he had gotten Mousse into as she waved Akane aside. Scowling, Akane stepped back and traded glances with Barry who shrugged. Shampoo seemed very formal as she strode forward to where Mousse sat in a modified lotus position, apparently unconcerned by his surroundings. Shampoo knelt down in front of the bespectacled man and composed herself, taking a few moments to limber herself up.
Barry started to get nervous. She wasn't going to hit him, was she? Or use some tsubo technique to bypass his barriers? She placed both of her hands lightly on his shoulders as those that could watched with both ki and normal sight. There was no reaction. Had he been aware, Mousse probably would have reacted with a typical, always unsuccessful, attempt to kiss or embrace her.
Then Shampoo swayed forward and planted a firm, full kiss on the man's lips. The kiss lingered; it caressed; it said hello and goodbye without words. It promised and denied. Mousse's whole awareness went off like a bomb, as he knew instantly those particular lips he had sought so long. Yet, he was so far within his meditation that he had no immediate muscular control to respond. His ki flashed so intensely that, had it been a visual effect rather than what it was, the watchers would have been blinded.
As soon as Shampoo felt his lips begin to move in concert with her own, she darted away like a startled deer. Barry thought he saw a similar spark within her that flared and was suppressed, no doubt by those intrusive ki-blocks.
Mousse gasped and convulsively grasped for her, far too late. In wonder he sat there and touched his lips as if remembering some dream, then looked at her blushing face and knew it was not. Trembling, he removed his glasses as if they were now an impediment to his sight rather than an aid. For long moments, the two Amazons gazed at each other, even as the four around them tried to find words to express what they sensed and saw.
"I so sorry, Mousse," Shampoo said in a quiet, broken, little voice. Then she was gone, out the doors of the dojo and into the night.
Mousse sat where he was, tears streaming down his face. Shampoo's stimulus had indeed awakened his ki-vision. He had seen her soul in all its multicolored splendor, shining as nothing else had ever shone for him. He felt arms cross his shoulders as Ranma and Akane came to his support.
"Mousse... Mousse! Damn! Are you all right?" The Master of Hidden Weapons heard the concern in Ranma's voice and knew it to be genuine.
He answered as truthfully as he could under the circumstances, as truth deserved truth. "Ranma," he sobbed softly, "I wish I were dead."
Outside, Nabiki was stunned. None of them were acting normally. Not one! She wondered if she had stumbled into some alternate universe. She'd been gone, what? Three weeks? And the world had changed in her absence. More than anything, she needed to reach her contacts to find out what had happened.
Cautiously, she retreated from her hiding place. She heard them giving what comfort they could to Mousse, and overheard Akane say that she would look for Shampoo and make sure she was all right. Akane? Concerned for Shampoo? Suddenly, she had sympathy for Ryoga. 'This must be similar,' she thought, 'To what he must feel, turning up in odd places.'
Ranma Saotome looked at the shirt and slacks combination that Gwen had demanded he wear and frowned. He didn't understand why he had to dress this way. The hard-soled shoes still sat beside the bed. He looked at them with distaste. Sure it was Brendan's birthday today, but the seven-year-old sure didn't care!
He sighed. He wasn't getting much sleep. When he did fall asleep, he often woke to find himself wrapped around Gwen. So far, he had avoided doing it. Gwen was easily as affectionate as Shampoo and actually more difficult to avoid or ignore. His excuse of pain from the injury from the fall was going to get very thin before long.
"How do I look?" Ranma turned at the words.
Gwen smiled and turned, showing off her dress. Ranma grumbled inwardly. She was fine for Barry. He could feel the body's reactions. But, kami! How he wished it were Akane waiting for compliments. The vision of her, just days ago... He tried to smile winningly.
"You look fine, dear," he said. "Really nice." 'For a thirty-something-year-old woman who had never done martial arts,' he added internally.
Gwen smiled and danced over to him, planting a quick kiss on his lips. She was obviously disappointed at the lack of response but Ranma just couldn't bring himself to play the role that far. "Let's go to your mom's. Brendan is beside himself."
Ranma shuddered. English was rich with words that could mean several different things. Two Brendans? Ouch!
The drive was short. Barry's mom lived four houses away, in a country setting. It was still close enough to walk; but for some reason, Americans seemed to feel they needed to take their cars everywhere. He shrugged and winced. If it weren't for the seatbelt, the boy would be bouncing off the windshield. He thought about his own childhood. He couldn't even remember celebrating a birthday before coming to the Tendo's. His people culturally didn't make that much of birthdays, but it had been Akane who had made sure the event was noted and some special consideration had been offered. That thought made him wince again. As he recalled, he hadn't been very gracious about it. They walked along the sidewalk to the front of the house where Ranma got a nasty shock.
"Hi, Barry!" Ranma almost jumped out of his skin. Was that his cursed form...?
Memories sparked and he managed a stiff, but fairly natural hug for Shannon, one of Barry's older sisters. Though blond instead of red-haired, the resemblance was astonishing. Twins, moreover, the other named Shelly. Both married, one to a doctor and the other just out of a divorce and dating another doctor. Barry's older brother and another sister lived out of state. Ranma sighed. If only he had been part of a big family like this... He was knocked out of his thoughts by Shannon's next comment.
"Going swimming?"
"Um..." He didn't want to go... Oh, yeah... He didn't go 'girl' here!
"I brought our suits," inserted Gwen, waving the articles in the air. "He's going swimming. Maybe it'll help your back," she added sulkily. Ranma winced, and wondered for the millionth time if he should tell Gwen what had happened. This situation couldn't go on forever. Eventually, he would have to tell her, and it would either lead to divorce on one hand or betrayal on the other.
He hesitated because he had no way to evaluate Gwen, except the off-hand remarks Barry had made from time to time. They were not exactly promising in outlook, but Barry often used sarcasm. What was the truth? Was Gwen strong enough to take the truth and flexible enough to believe it? Once more he decided to put off the moment and live in the present. It had worked okay for the last two years... 'HA!'
He sat beside the pool watching Barry's son play in the water. Despite the knowledge that he wouldn't go 'girl', he was very nervous while going topless. Akane had finally beaten into him the necessity of feminine modesty and the idea of flashing boobs to Barry's family didn't appeal. The shock of meeting Barry's sisters had been nothing compared to meeting Barry's mother.
If Nodoka lived another twenty years, she might look like Barry's mother. Though not Asian, she was elegant, pleasant and still beautiful, with a love of Japanese art and furnishings. An offhand comment betrayed the fact that she was also familiar with the Tale of Genji, a bit of information that Barry would be shocked to learn. A picture revealed that Barry's father, long deceased, closely resembled Genma in appearance. The big difference in that regard, had been his standing in the community, and the almost-universal respect he had earned.
He sipped a long, cool drink of cola from his glass. The stuff was disgustingly cheap in America, and was probably the main reason Barry was a little overweight despite his intense work schedule. A two-liter bottle cost about twenty percent of what it would back home.
"Hey! Aren't you coming in?" Gwen waved from the pool. Dressed in a relatively modest bikini, she was very feminine and, of course, very stimulating to Barry. Ranma was half-afraid to get in the water. He sighed and walked over to the edge.
"Why should I," he demanded, smiling. "I don't feel like the effort of swimming."
"So you're saying you're lazy?" she said pouting. "Floating doesn't take any effort," she suggested.
"Come on, Dad!" Brendan yelled. He raced by on his way to the diving board, giving Ranma a solid shove. "Get in!"
"Brendan! No!" Gwen yelled. Ranma swung his arms, tried to twist and gritted his teeth as the remains of the injury protested. A foot slipped on the side of the pool. Fatalistically, he folded his arms and gave up the struggle. Water fountained.
He surged to the surface and patted himself automatically. No breasts. Barry was not hirsute, but the feel of the wet hair under his fingers reassured him as well. He looked around for Brendan who was being scolded by his mother. "It's all right, Gwen," he protested at Brendan's long face. "You wanted me in. Well, I'm in! Are you happy now?"
Gwen frowned at Brendan who muttered 'I'm sorry!' She turned to the wet, male figure and drifted close. She wrapped her arms around his chest and snuggled.
"Now I am," she murmured.
"Eeep!" He didn't dare protest. She was being very careful.
"After you're feeling better, maybe we can talk your mom into letting us use the pool after dark. No kids, no noise... No lights." Gwen snuggled closer, if possible. "No suits..." she breathed in his ear.
He sank, semiconscious at the idea. Reluctantly, Gwen released him and he gained a more comfortable, two or three yards of space.
"Don't you love me anymore?" she quavered when he resurfaced.
"We're in public, dammit!"
"No, we're in family. My husband doesn't love me anymore!" she restated, covering her face with her hands, shoulders shaking.
Ranma was appalled. What set this off? Worse, what could he do to correct it, short of things he really didn't want to deal with? Ranma racked Barry's memories for some solution. He almost missed the hint of a smile behind the hands. "Why you..." He dove forward, tickling exposed ribs and getting a shriek from his victim. Now, he understood; it was a game and she was inviting him to play. Barry always said he married his best friend. This was one of the perks that came with it. She tickled back and he let himself sink into the role of friend. They laughed like children and were quickly joined by Brendan in the wet fun.
Still laughing, they exited the pool and changed, a process that sobered Ranma immediately, as they shared a changing room. He kept his eyes front and managed the act in record time despite the pain, leaving before he got any ideas, or she did.
Dinner was plentiful and good. Shannon cooked lasagna, Barry's favorite, and a cheesecake that was rich and heavy enough to sink the Yamato. Brendan got his gifts and they sang Happy Birthday. Brendan got a Nintendo game station and some games, as well as clothes and a big water pistol that looked capable of throwing a quart of water in seconds. Ranma looked at it and grinned. He had seen a few of those, back in Japan, and thought they would be a boon in battling someone who was cursed. Only Taro was more effective as a fighter when cursed among the regular visitors, and only Mousse, among the visiting regulars. Maybe hot water?
Ranma helped Brendan set up the Nintendo when they got home. It was hard not to show familiarity with the device. Soon, the two were deep in the land of video gaming, watching the fat, little Italian plumber battle unlikely monsters.
"Don't you have anything better to do?" Gwen said in disgust. The game didn't interest her at all and she wanted attention from her husband.
Ranma froze. Akane! Gwen was right, though unintentionally. He should be concentrating on getting back, not playing with some child's toy. He flushed in shame and longing. The feeling, the caring, they had here was so seductive. Shannon had mentioned that her divorced husband admitted marrying into the family for just that reason. His own early life had been less than pleasant and he had been drawn to them. Nor had they been less than enthusiastic in welcoming him; but, despite that, it had not worked and he had been the one to initiate the split. If Ranma wanted this for himself, he had better get back home and work to build it. This wasn't his, but something like it could be. He had to hope so.
Ranma shuddered as he stood, his face drawn and pale. His life had been filled with demands and approval based on performance. Barry's life had been filled with demands, but performance was a side effect of the caring between individuals. You did well because you cared, not because you were required to.
It was a taste of heaven. How did it feel to experience this and then lose it? He shuddered again and flinched as Gwen placed a gentle hand on his arm. He smiled weakly. She thought he was in pain again, which would help him later that evening. Duty had played such a significant role in his life. Once he returned, perhaps it was time to see how love did. He had to try. Somehow, he would succeed. He was Ranma Saotome and he would do it, or die trying.