---
10.53pm
As they queued outside the nightclub, Ryoga looked askance at his companion. Below a loose jacket, Ukyo had chosen to wear a pair of old jeans that had been faded through wear rather than design. They still looked quite nice on her, he judged, hugging her legs flatteringly. And above those, beneath the jacket she wore a dark blouse, open at the throat, contrasting alluringly with the skin of her neck and chest. In fact, thought Ryoga, glancing down curiously, it was almost open enough to get a hint of… How a simple bandage had sufficed to hide those, Ryoga didn't deign to imagine. Quickly, he tore his gaze away before his enchantment could be discovered.
Ukyo didn't know how to react to the stares she'd been getting since they entered the bar district, save to thank chance that she had found a pair of pants that fitted. Ukyo had been to many clubs, but always as a 'guy'. Thus, she knew exactly what the thoughts behind those appreciative looks were. But still, it was nice to have men watching her for a change. After all, Ukyo made a most convincing and very handsome boy. Being hit on by girls was simultaneously flattering and perturbing. They could be very aggressive.
Which is why she chose to cut Ryoga some slack when she caught him staring at her cleavage again. She needn't have held his hand to guide him here. He'd have followed regardless.
"Ryoga?"
"Huh?" he mumbled, looking at her.
"Up here," she suggested dryly.
"Sorry," he apologized abashedly. "I uh…"
"You must really have it bad for that Akari girl," she commented. He frowned, asking what she meant. She grinned. "Well, you haven't had a single nosebleed since we've been out, and I can see (now at least) how the way I'm dressed does to normal guys. Hell, remember how we met?" she smiled toothily. Ryoga groaned,
"Don't remind me. Stupid Ranma," he grumbled.
"Hmm," she mused. "That didn't have as nearly as much bluster as you used to give it. You're not going to tell me that Ranma isn't the source of all the woe and misery in your life now, after all, are you?" she asked, her tone indicating her teasing was not to be taken seriously.
"Yeah, well…" he fumbled. "I guess I have other things to think about now."
"Like what?" she asked genuinely curious (plus, the line was long).
"Well," he thought, "school for one thing."
"Ah, Sugar," she said gently, "you don't go to school."
"That doesn't stop me from attending." She blinked. Then she blinked again.
"Care running that one by me again, Hon?"
"What I mean is, I carry a compliment of textbooks in my pack. The education board's aware of my family's… condition, so they provide me with a learning plan and curriculum. I follow these and every month I mail a completed exam so they can continuously assess my development," he explained concisely. Amazed by this revelation, she asked
"How do they find you? You know, to let you know how you're doing?" He shrugged.
"Whenever I find myself in a government building, like a post office or something, I just tell them my story and they find out for me." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Has to be a Japanese government building though. This one time in Korea,"
"But how do they know…" she cut in.
"That I'm not cheating?" he provided. She nodded.
"I do have to find them at least once a year," he admitted, "for an annual assessment exam. But, as long as I give myself two months head start, I usually get there on time."
"And if you don't?"
"I don't," he said simply.
Boggling at this new information, Ukyo asked,
"So what level are you at now? Academic wise, I mean?" He cocked an eyebrow in thought and answered,
"I'm currently at a senior high school level," he informed her, missing her gasp. "But as soon I next find the exam hall, I'll graduate if I…what?"
"You," she pointed, "are better educated," she pointed again, "than me?"
"I guess. But you run your business. I'd suppose that that counts for more in real life…what now?" he asked as she stared at him not unlike one does an exhibit at an 'alternative' art show.
"You're just full of surprises tonight, aren't you?" she said smiling.
"Wait until you see me dance," he suggested.
"You can dance?"
"No," he admitted, with a very uncharacteristic grin, "But it seemed like the thing to say."
"You're damn lucky that I don't have my spatula," she growled in mock anger.
---
"My, my. She certainly did a number on you, didn't she?" commented Cologne as she expertly bandaged Kasumi's abused hand.
"She kicked my ass, is what she did," grimaced the dark eyed girl acerbically. The old woman frowned pointedly at her language. "Sorry, Ba-chan," she added contritely. "And here I was, thinking I was ready. Ow!" she complained, as she was lightly 'bopped' on the crown.
"I've no tolerance for self-pity, Granddaughter," the old woman informed her charge in a no-nonsense manner. Kasumi nodded. "Although you will need some work, next time you shall be prepared for Kodachi."
"Next time?" boggled Kasumi. "Ah, hell. You're right," she groaned. "She'll be back, won't she?" Nodding, Cologne answered,
"Indeed. Here, raise your arm." Kasumi obeyed as the Elder used her tiny hands to delicately rub in a musky smelling balm into her black and blue arms. "Do you know why?"
"Huh?" replied Kasumi distractedly. Sighing and unable to administer another 'bop' with her hands busy, Cologne rasped,
"Do you understand why Kodachi will, or rather has turned her attentions toward you?"
"Yes. She's jealous." The old woman concealed a smile, and tonelessly prompted,
"Jealous?"
"Yes. Of me." With a shake of her head Kasumi continued. "She thinks that I'm going to go mad someday. She hates that I'll experience the hell that she longs for. Not what I'd have imagined as grounds for my attempted murder."
So Kasumi hadn't known that it wasn't a deathblow? Cologne smirked horribly,
"I've known stranger motives."
"One can only imagine," snickered Kasumi. The Matriarch assisted in pulling a spare sweater over her tender torso. "But that's all bull."
"Go on," prompted Cologne, ignoring Kasumi's swearing.
"That's what she wanted me to believe. Because maybe then, she'd believe it." She gently patted her left arm as she continued. "I think she felt connected o me, and couldn't accept it. When she said she could trust me, there was so much…" Kasumi searched for an apt term. "So much… joy, in her in that brief moment. Not sadistic joy, but something… good."
"Yes, in that instant, she did not appear irredeemable, did she?"
"She's frightened of it," uttered the young woman in wonder. "How, in the face of everything else, could she…" She blinked. "Wait a minute," she said accusingly, "Just how long were you there?"
"Long enough," she winked in a cascade of wrinkles.
"Anyway, I'm think I'm re-"
"You're not going out tonight," interrupted Cologne.
"But I -"
"End of discussion, young lady." Kasumi nodded reluctantly, but obediently. Her tone became questioning. "You called out while I carried you here."
"She came again."
"The internuncio?" asked Cologne rhetorically. "And did you once more believe…"
"That it was the first time she had come? Yep. I reacted like a teenybopper again."
"Shame." Changing the subject, the old woman questioned, "How's your eye, dear?" Kasumi rubbed her cheek, blinking experimentally.
"Its fine," she answered appreciatively. "From the way it stung earlier I was surprised to wake up in three dimensions."
"Don't worry," the tiny Elder reassured her, "It was just an irritant, nothing more." Her tone took on an edge. "But when next you encounter Kodachi, it may be." The Tendo daughter nodded. "You're a very clever girl, Kasumi. But Kodachi may be equally as devious."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ba-chan," responded the girl sardonically. Cologne sniggered.
"And with the ominous warning of impending doom out of the way, how about something to drink, dear?"
"Actually, I wouldn't mind…" she trailed off as her eyes widened. "Oh God! Ranma!"
---
11.20pm
Ukyo swore silently to herself as she entered the club. If that bouncer had spent any longer with his eyes glued to her chest, she'd have been more than inclined to glue her foot to his muscle-bound ass.
"Ryoga," she called over the blaring music, "you getting anything to drink?"
"Sure," he answered. "What are you having?"
"Ryoga, you don't have to – I mean I can pay my-,"
"Aw, come on," he insisted, heading to the bar, before she tugged him backwards.
"Let me lead the way," she said pointedly.
"Heh," he managed. "That would probably be best."
---
"You see them?"
"Gods, yes! How could I miss them? They're," the girl struggled for fitting words. "They're,"
"Beautiful," he answered. "Yes," he intoned reverently. "She is truly astounding." He didn't notice the dark-haired girl frown at his gender-specific description.
"C-can," she began, "can we…?"
"Of course," he answered emphatically, but added when she nearly ran off. "Take your time. After all, don't you have an engagement tomorrow night?" She smiled at his interest in her affairs, and again turned her gaze to the two resplendent individuals who had just walked in together.
"The boy is gorgeous… so intense," she commented dreamily.
"He's yours." She did a double-take.
"But I thought you preferred m-"
"No. You have him, love. I'm… in a peculiar mood tonight."
---
"There it is!" squealed the girl happily. At last, he thought in relief. Mousse could only stand so much bubbliness.
"Where?"
"Right there. Just ahead of you, silly!" He took the necessary steps forward and stopped just short of a large brown blob. "That's the front door," she supplied.
"Are you okay to walk?" he asked.
"Sure, I think so."
"Well then," he said, settling her down on her feet, "here you go. Have a good evening. I was glad I could help," he intoned in way of farewell. Before he could get far, he was asked in a high pitched voice,
"Aw! Aren't you going to carry me in?"
"Er," he sweated. "You can walk, right?"
"Sure!" she chirped back.
"Then I really must be going. Goodnight, miss."
"Oh, okay." Mousse's eyed opened wide a saucers, as she placed a quick peck on his cheek. "Thanks for the lift! Night, night," she chimed, entering the house and closing the door behind her. The Master of Hidden Weapons stood stock still for twenty seconds, face flushed.
"Guess… guess I ought to go home," he mumbled aloud as he walked away in a random direction.
---
Akane yawned noisily. Not very ladylike, she conceded, but she was alone. Some generic game show droned away on the TV while she sat in the main room, the rest of the house long since gone to bed. She was sipping tiredly on a glass of water when a shuffling sound alerted her to the front door being opened.
"Ranma?" she whispered. She quickly rose and moved to the hallway to find that whoever had come in had already entered the kitchen.
Smiling at her fiancé's predictable behaviour, Akane called, "Ranma?" as she followed into the still unlit kitchen.
"Who's dere?" demanded her fiancé's female voice through the darkness. The youngest Tendo answered with her name. "Oh, hi Akane," replied the oddly slurred voice. She heard some fumbling noises, and frowned concernedly. What was wrong? Could he be hurt? She thought, distressed.
"Ranma? Are you okay?" she probed, unable to keep the worry from her tone. "What's wrong?" she asked when she heard some uneven steps.
"Can't find the light switch," mumbled the girl in lieu of answer.
"The light switch?" repeated a confused Akane. "Wait a second. I'll get it for you." As she flicked it on, the phone began to ring. "I'll get it Ranma," she said, quickly exiting the room and picking up the receiver. "Moshi moshi. Cologne-obaasan? Ranma? Yes, he's here. Would you like to…? Oh, okay… I will. Goodnight."
Returning to the kitchen, Akane began, "Ranma that was Cologne. She said to tell you…" she trailed off as she saw a wobbly-legged Ranma attempting to use the counter to remain upright. Turning dilated eyes to her fiancée, the obviously out-of-sorts redhead slurred,
"Tell me wha?"
"Ranma," hissed Akane, a horrible thought forming. "Are you drunk?"
"No, no," insisted Ranma, giggling. "I'm not dr…drunk," she stuttered. "Ask the guy."
"What guy?" questioned Akane, anger brewing.
"The guy who carried me home, you dope," the redhead answered, blinking her eyes slowly.
"A guy carried you home?" asked the now seething Tendo, gnashing each word.
"Yep," she chortled. "Cos I couldn't make it on my own, y'see... What's wrong?" She asked when she focused on the short-haired girl.
"I…" Akane tightened her eyes shut. "I can't believe you, Ranma! Here I was thinking that you had stayed out for my sake and… instead," she spat, "You were out drinking of all things!"
"Hey, I wasn't drinkin'," argued the redhead.
"Don't lie, Ranma!" Akane shrieked, blinking back tears.
"I'm not lyin'," groggily insisted Ranma. "I wasn't drinking anything."
"And to think I… Damn you Ranma!" sobbed Akane, as she turned and hurried up the stairs, leaving her fiancé alone.
"But I…"
---
11.55pm
She had been blind before, never to see it in him, she understood, now that she recognized Ryoga. She could taste him in the air. His strength. She would have to keep her cool – but he was so close.
Calm down, she berated herself. This was perfect, and she would not ruin this chance.
---
Ryoga stared at the whiskey-flavoured slush in the bottom of his glass. He had a remarkably high level of alcohol tolerance for his age, making drinking most 'lightweight' beverages, such as beer or sake, pointless in any genuine effort to get inebriated. Still, he didn't want to get drunk and lose track of Ukyo… Er, his pack was back at her place after all.
Downing the remainder of his tumbler, Ryoga turned to notice a rather pretty girl was within breathing distance of him. Deciding to fall back on an old classic, he blurted,
"Eh, hello?"
"Hi there!" she smiled enticingly. "You're Akane's friend, Ryoga, right?" He nodded, wondering what was taking Ukyo so long in the bathroom. "I'm in Akane's class, you see. We watch all your fights with Ranma in the schoolyard," she said sweetly.
"That's nice," he answered in non-committal tone. Where was she? The girl seemed to take his indifferent response as a compliment.
"Are you here with Akane, now?" she asked suggestively. He shook his head and her smile widened.
"I'm here with Ukyo. Kuonji," he added her family name. "You might know her. I think she's in Akane's class, too," he finished.
"Yeah," she replied, less enthusiastically. "But isn't she that girl who dresses up as a boy?" Ryoga frowned.
"So?" he questioned succinctly. The girl flustered.
"It's just, I mean. Really! Don't you think that kind of, kind of weird?" she ventured.
"Considering that in that same class there is a girl who actually turns into a boy, and vice-versa, I don't think that should bother you much," said Ryoga defensively, and quite fed up of being kept waiting. How long can a girl spend in the bathroom, anyway?
"Well, I mean," she began as Ryoga glanced at his watch. That was it. He'd find her himself. And he was quite tired of this annoying girl, too.
"Excuse me," he said, cutting her off mid-sentence. She blinked as he abruptly left his seat, and walked away. He didn't notice the look of baffled ire on the girl's face.
"Wait a minute, damn you!"
---
Nabiki frowned as she lay in bed. Akane was fighting with Ranma again. She wondered how Saotome had out his foot in his mouth this time. And he'd been doing so well lately, too. If either of the pair was going to show the backbone to finally overcome their stubbornness, Nabiki had her money on the pig-tailed aquatransexual.
Recalling the scene she had witnessed earlier that evening as she absently blew at her chin length hair, Nabiki questioned just what was keeping the two from admitting their feelings for one another. Akane's temper and Ranma's… ineloquence aside, it had been two years. Hell, less than a year before, they had been almost married… twice!
Despite neither wedding reaching its traditional conclusion (for which Nabiki was relieved – High School was too early to marry), that didn't detract from the truth that they were both willing to go through with it.
The middle Tendo loved her younger sister very much, and being honest with herself, she had to admit that she indeed loved Ranma, as an (insanely powerful, but often easily manipulated) little brother. But sometimes they made her feel like grabbing Kasumi's bo staff and bludgeoning the two until they came clean to each other. She never thought it could happen, but Nabiki sympathized with her father and Mr. Saotome. Getting Akane and Ranma to confess their mutual feelings was like trying to birth a particularly stubborn baby. It was tiring, it was messy, and you'd have to drag them through it kicking and screaming.
Nabiki wondered at her analogy for a moment. Deciding she'd have to stop eating snacks before bed, she turned over with an unfeminine grunt and tried to get to sleep.
She shot from her bed moments later, when she heard somebody tampering with one of the windows. With Ranma in the house and Kasumi occupied, unless Happosai had decided to end his welcome absence, someone was trying to break in.
Grabbing a bat (she didn't want to kill the intruder after all – okay, maybe if it was Happosai), Nabiki padded silently to her window, and unlatched it. Peering out, she saw through wind ruffled hair that the interloper had already entered the house, and that Kasumi's was the only open window.
Moving swiftly, the slid open her door a crack, and lithely stepped into the dark corridor. She crept through the darkness, noting that the intruder had turned on the light in Kasumi's room. Approaching slowly, she discerned hushed voices. More than one? The bat had been a good idea. She pressed her ear to the door… and sighed in relief. She slid open the door and entered the room.
"Hello, Granddaughter," greeted Cologne without looking up. Nabiki raised an eyebrow. Kasumi sighed, while the old woman answered her unasked question. "You forgot to mask your ki presence dear, nor did you search for ours," she added disapprovingly.
"Damn," grumbled Nabiki. "Should have been the first…" She looked to her sister, sitting listlessly on her mattress. "What's going – hell, your hand!" she hissed. "What happened, Kaz?"
"Your sister had a less than fortuitous run-in with one of daughter-in-law's more insistent suitors." Cologne allowed herself a chuckle as the sister's traded confused expressions at Ranma's new nickname. "I'm sure she'll tell you all about it," she forestalled further questioning. "Of greater immediate relevance is that Kasumi is currently unfit to perform tonight's sweep. I trust Nabiki, that you'll cover her responsibilities?"
"Hey," interjected the older sister from her seated position. "Not to revert back to 'Kasumi-oneechan', but it is a school night. Besides, I feel-"
"Christ, I'll live Kaz," cut in Nabiki. Kasumi's eyes narrowed.
"Don't take the Lord's name in vain, Biki." Rolling her eyes, the younger girl replied,
"You're the Christian here, not me."
"Which is why I'd appreciate it if you didn't blaspheme in front of me."
Cologne snickered to herself. These two were a treasure!
"Alright!" submitted Nabiki throwing her arms in the air. "Jesus," she mumbled quietly. Not quietly enough.
"I'll smack you," promised the long haired girl flatly. Nabiki staggered.
"No way could you have heard that! Christ, all I said was - hey, ow!" squealed the younger sister as Kasumi cuffed her dead weight in the shoulder with her staff. "You bitch!"
"That's better," she smirked.
"As much as I'd love to stay and listen to you girls argue what is and what is not acceptable vulgarity," mused the Elder from beside her cane, "I'm not as young as I used to be,"
"And dogs say 'woof-woof'. What are you getting at?" -Bonk- Nabiki groaned.
"Enough of your lip, girl," the Elder admonished. "As I was saying," she threw the younger sister a warning look, "I can't stay here all night, and you have work to do. You, on the other hand," she turned to Kasumi, "are to get at least two days rest. Doctor's orders."
"Screw doctor's orders," breathed Kasumi quietly. Also not quietly enough. -Bonk-
"And to think I thought that Ranma was bad… Alright," she said dangerously. "Ba-chan's orders. You understand that?"
"Okay, okay," agreed Kasumi hastily.
"If I hear you even touched a weapon during that time…" she rasped ominously. Her tone lost its threat as she added, "Don't forget to employ the Amazon Wu-Shu healing techniques."
"Give me some credit," Kasumi snorted. Nodding, Cologne perched on her staff, and used it to hop to the window.
"Be sure that she follows my instructions," she ordered Nabiki in lieu of goodbye, disappearing into the night.
"Well, aren't you going to tell me what happened?" asked Nabiki after a few moments of silence. Sighing resignedly, Kasumi nodded with her eyes.
"Alright. It began when,"
"Hold that thought," requested Nabiki. "I'll get my gear, and you can explain while I change."
---
What was that noise? thought a sleepless Akane. It seemed to have come from the hallway. She dismissed it. Probably nothing. Still…
With a moan, the raven-haired girl slipped out from her overly warm covers, and tip-toed to her bedroom door. It opened to reveal an empty corridor. Mentally berating herself her silliness, Akane turned to resume her insomnia. She paused, when she picked up on the faintest trace of a sound from downstairs.
Curious, she light-footedly threaded the stairway, the sound growing in volume. Akane was unprepared for the sight that befell her in the kitchen. On the cold, tiled floor, exactly where she had left her, was the curled up form of a still female and weeping Ranma. The girl was softly crying to herself,
"I'm sorry 'Kane. Swear I didn't lie. Please, I didn't. I'm so sorry…" With a gasp, Akane flew to her side, and knelt down next to the shivering redhead.
"Ranma, what are you doing, you dummy?" she whispered. Turning wet and bleary blue eyes to tired brown ones, Ranma bawled,
"Akane? I'm so sorry. I swear I didn't lie. I've never drank nothing' before in my like. 'Cept for that time with the play and Kuno…" Kuno?
Then it hit. The Tendo girl heaved a dry sob a she recalled her earlier phone conversation with the Amazon Matriarch.
---
"Moshi moshi."
Akane, is that you?
"Cologne-obaasan?"
Yes. Is your fiancé there?
"Ranma? Yes, he's here. Would you like to…?"
No that's fine. There's no need. Just warn him to be wary. Kodachi Kuno has been active tonight. Tell him to be on his guard.
"Oh, okay. I will."
Goodnight, dear.
"Goodnight."
---
It was damn obvious what had happened now that she actually thought about it. But of course, Akane ruminated, self-recriminating, that had never been her strong point. She gathered her still sobbing fiancé into a hug.
"Ranma. Oh god, I'm so sorry!"
"What? Akane, you didn't do nothing," mumbled the still drugged girl. "It's me who-"
"No, Ranma!" Akane stopped her. "You didn't do anything wrong!" she insisted through a wail. "I'm such a slime."
"Don't cry, 'Kane," pleaded Ranma. "You ain't,"
"Yes, I am! I didn't even give you a chance. I'm a horrible person!" she insisted, hugging the smaller girl to her fiercely.
She held the hug for several more minutes, sniffing quietly, when a light snoring informed Akane that the redhead had fallen asleep in her embrace. Still, she noticed a distinct shivering in the girl's body. Being careful not to jostle her bundle, Akane cradled Ranma in her arms and headed upstairs, racked all the way by truly horrible guilt. As she opened her door, she absently noted light coming from Kasumi's room.
Pulling back the covers, Akane gently deposited her slumbering package into her bed. After firmly securing the quilt, she left her room again to check on Kasumi. She was startled when she heard voices from within the room. Unable to resist the temptation, Akane placed her ear to the door.
---
"Hell, I don't know what I'd have done in your shoes," admitted Nabiki. "What was going through your mind?"
"Let's just say that how I felt rhymes with 'cared witless' and is not acceptable language in civilized social circles," answered the older of the two in an anfractuous fashion.
"Damn," muttered the shorter girl, turning her back to her companion. "Zip me up?" Kasumi nodded and sat up. "I always knew she was crazy, but crazy crazy?" Nabiki turned back and briefly inspected the contents of her purse. Satisfied everything was as it should be, she raised her arms and turned expectant eyes toward her sister. "How do I look?" she asked, modelling her outfit appropriately.
"Not exactly modest attire to be seen roof hopping in," remarked Kasumi. "Besides, I had planned on an external sweep tonight."
"I don't intend to be seen roof hopping. And internal sweeps are always much more interesting." Smirking, she added, "And I may as well be wearing a nun's habit compared to what you wore last week."
"What?" complained Kasumi. "I've got nice legs. What's wrong with showing them off?"
"Not that outfit," replied Nabiki while pulling on a waist length leather jacket.
"Then wh-…oh," she blushed. "That was a bit daring, wasn't it?"
"If you happen to be Courtney Love."
"That's not very fair, Biki," she groused.
"Neither was nearly giving that new bouncer a heart attack, but that didn't stop you," countered Nabiki. "Imagine if Doc Tofu had been here to see you? The poor guy would have had an aneurysm." Kasumi giggled, but there was a trace of wistfulness to her mirth. Silently, she appraised her younger sister.
"You good?"
"Yep. See you later," she said opening the window.
"Be safe, Biki."
"Safe, Kaz," she replied slipping out.
Kasumi's eyes shot to the door when she heard a light rapping. There was a muffled anonymous request from the other side. It escaped her how they could be so careless, especially after Cologne's earlier admonishment of Nabiki. No helping it now, she thought as she relaxed the ki 'gauze' in which she'd wrapped the room. She heard the words without difficulty.
"Can I come in, Kasumi-oneechan?" repeated by Akane from the other side. Kasumi looked between the door and her feet, and back again.
"Come in Akane-chan."
---
