Chapter Fifteen
No More Ryoga and Nabiki?
The following day Akane was the first to come down for breakfast, Kasumi was cooking and she smiled pleasantly at her younger sister, "Good morning Akane, did you have a good rest?"
"Well . . . yes." Akane nodded. "How do you feel?" She asked cautiously.
"Oh, well enough." Kasumi smiled, "Would you like one egg or two?"
Fifteen? Akane was hungry. "Two." She decided.
Kasumi nodded and kept working, Akane waited patiently, wondering if now would be a good time to talk to Kasumi. "So why didn't you bring doctor Tofu to the amusement park with us?"
"Oh . . . he seemed busy." Kasumi said bitterly.
"He did? How do you mean?"
Kasumi looked down and said, "Well . . . I suppose . . ." Kasumi trailed off . . .
FLASHBACK TIME!
Kasumi approached the clinic in a rather good mood; she knocked on the door once, wanting to invite Doctor Tofu to go with her to the amusement park with her family. He'd worked hard to help Kuno and then those who'd been injured during the battle and Kasumi felt he deserved a break.
But it wasn't Tofu who opened the door. It wasn't even Betty, the skeleton.
It was a beautiful young woman with medium length brown hair and a rather impressive chest. She smiled pleasantly and said, "Good morning! Come right in, how may we help you today?"
Kasumi frowned, "Have we met?" The girl was very familiar.
"Uh . . . I just have one of those faces, y'know? The kind that looks like every other . . ." The girl looked quite unhappy all of a sudden. "Never mind that, how can I help you?"
Kasumi knew she'd seen this young woman before, but couldn't really tell where. "Well I'm here to see Doctor Tofu."
"Oh, Tofu! Righto!" The blonde woman turned to a new receptionist desk that Kasumi hadn't seen before and frowned, "Where did she . . ." she tapped the little bell for service, there was no response. "Mika? Hey Mika? Mika! Hey Mika!" The woman shouted, she pounded on the bell, "You'd better not be doing what I think you're doing! Mika! Mika!" The brunette turned to Kasumi, bowed slightly and said, "Pardon me ma'am." Then she sighed, and shouted, "Hey dumb blonde!"
All of a sudden another woman appeared, she was familiar too, and blond. "Why do you call me that? You know I'm not dumb, Minako!" Mika said as she buttoned up her white shirt.
"S'only way I can get you to answer me."
"Well maybe I couldn't hear you." The blond, Mika said.
"Heard "dumb blonde" didn't you?" The brunette Minako scoffed. "And why are you . . . you were doing . . . that thing again!"
"I can't help it, I have needs!" Mika whined.
Kasumi blinked, "Oh I recognize you two now!"
"N-no you don't!" Minako said.
"You've never seen us before!" Mika said, waving her arms around franticly.
Kasumi took a step beck, "Y-you're those two nurses from the hospital. What are you doing here?"
Minako shuddered, "Hospital? Don't know what you're talking about. We do work for a doctor, he's named Tofu. You're looking for him right? G-go get the doctor Mika!"
"R-right! And by the way, we never worked at the hospital!" Mika rushed off.
Kasumi shifted uneasily, these two nurses, or former nurses had, as far as Kasumi could tell from their utterly terrible habit of speaking about personal matters in front of patients, been sleeping with the doctor in exchange for raises and pocket money.
If they were working for Tofu now . . .
Why would he even hire women like this?
Kasumi's eyes narrowed, what had Mika meant when she said she had needs? What had she been doing, what was 'that thing' Minako had accused her of doing again?
Kasumi was not a suspicious woman; she did not always jump to conclusions though she did on occasion. This was one of those occasions, and it only got worse when Tofu came out of an office, adjusting his glasses, how dare he look so innocent when he'd hired women like these two to work for him?
Kasumi could see clearly what he wanted from them.
She scoffed as Dr. Tofu smiled nervously, "Heh-hello Kasumi, fancy meeting you here!"
"I came to see you." Kasumi said crossly.
"D-don't say! Well that's l-lovely!" The doctor said adjusting his glasses which were fogging up, the nurses began to giggle to themselves, oh what did they think was so funny? What was the big joke?
Kasumi "humphed" and folded her arms, not something she did very often. "I see you're busy." She told Dr. Tofu.
"Oh yes—I mean no! I mean . . . well I'm not really busy Kasumi, did you w-want something? I mean it's lovely weather today isn't it? The kind of day that makes you glad to be alive, you know?"
Kasumi shook her head, he wasn't making any sense, he was babbling like a madman, he was trying to hide something.
Why had Mika been buttoning up her shirt when she came?
Kasumi shook her head, "Well I don't want to take up your time, and you feel free to go back to whatever you're doing." Kasumi said, and she stormed out.
FLASHBACK ENDS! AMAZING, NO?
Akane's mouth hung open. She knew, though Kasumi didn't that Dr. Tofu had a major crush on her oldest sister, and that might explain the insane babbling. But it was true that the rest of the scene seemed suspicious.
And since when did Tofu need nurses?
"Well Kasumi I'm sure he wasn't doing anything bad with them."
"Oh? Well what do I care? I mean it's not like I . . . care." Kasumi decided.
Akane shook her head, evidently Kasumi did care. Akane had always thought her sister returned Dr. Tofu's affections, even though there were times that she suspected Kasumi wasn't interested in physical love at all, since she seemed to be so content playing the virgin housewife.
"I tell you what; Ranma and I will go and sort those hussies out after breakfast, how's that?" Akane asked.
"Oh you don't have to do that for me . . ." Kasumi said, then added quietly so that no one might overhear, "Get the blond first!"
Soun, Nodoka and Genma came down to breakfast together. The family had long since learned not to question why.
When Genma, Nodoka and Soun sat down at the table however, many heads tilted to the side at their announcement!
"We're leaving!" The three old-folks said together.
"For where?" Ranma asked.
"Doing what now?" Nabiki yawned.
"Well you see Yutaro's movie is being shot in Hawaii, so Nodoka is going to have to go there, well I've got some great land there and Genma and I are going there to build a new house, and a new Dojo, we'll wait there with her while the film is shot, then when it's done we'll come back and the house and dojo will be our wedding gift to Ranma and Akane. It all works out."
"I don't really want to live in Hawaii." Ranma said.
"Oh boy, I've always wanted to live in Hawaii!" Akane said.
The two frowned at each other, and then both agreed, "It'll be a summer home."
"Good, see how it all works out?" Genma nodded. "Kasumi will be the head of the household while we're gone, Ranma and Ryoga will be in charge of protecting the dojo."
"What about me?" Akane protested.
"Well yes, you two. But you're used to representing the Tendo name."
"So's Ranma!" Akane protested.
"No, Ranma is used to fighting for the sake of fighting." Genma said.
"Darn skippy." Ranma confirmed.
"And Ryoga needs the practice if he's going to marry Nabiki." Soun added.
They waited for Ryoga to say something . . .
"Hey, where's Ryoga?" Akane asked. She frowned at Nabiki, "Didn't he come down with you?"
Nabiki looked thoughtful for a moment, but after a while a frown began to grow on her face. "Oh my . . . I . . . I haven't seen him since we were separated at the park!"
"What?" Kasumi gagged, "How did you forget him?"
Nabiki shrugged, "I got distracted."
Ranma wondered what could have distracted Nabiki from her little love toy Ryoga. But then he realized he didn't care. "I can watch the dojo alone y'know."
"Probably, but we should find him anyway." Soun said. "Nabiki I'll be expecting you to help Kasumi with managing the household."
"Cant do it." Nabiki shrugged.
"What? Why not?" Nodoka asked.
Nabiki smiled, "Because I'm not going to be here!"
Nabiki was a little disappointed that she'd be missing out on nearly a year without her father, his dopey friend or his friend's super loose wife around to bother and parent them, the things she could get away with over a year with just Kasumi to fill the role of adult observer!
But now was as good a time as any to announce, "I'm going to college."
"You can still get in?" Her father asked, looking pleasantly surprised.
"Why not? She's got time before the school year starts again, right Nabiki? You've got . . ." Ranma counted on his fingers, "Seven months!"
"Days Ranma dear. Seven days" Nabiki corrected.
Ranma frowned, "No kiddin'? Man that's no good. 'Means I got to get back to school in seven days. Sure hope its repaired by then."
"You were there a weak ago!" Akane said.
"It was dark!" Ranma shot back.
"And honestly, seven months? Where do you get that?" Akane demanded.
"That's not important." Nabiki said, "The point is I am going to college."
"Where at?" Nodoka asked.
"I dunno. Kuno-baby didn't bother to tell me where it is exactly, but it's a college for the obscenely wealthy, so I'll do okay."
Everyone sort of frowned, Kasumi shook her head.
"Little problem," Ranma said.
"While we're not doing badly," Soun began.
"You're going with Tatewaki Kuno? And where will Ryoga be?" Kasumi blurted suddenly.
Nabiki tried to meet her sister's gaze, but Kasumi was avoiding making eye contact. Nabiki shook her head; she'd be on her best college behavior, which meant she would not be getting laid by a different guy every night, why should Kuno matter? And why would Ryoga? Ryoga trusted her, and Kuno wasn't really her boyfriend anyway.
"Uh, actually what I was going to say," Soun said, "is that we're not obscenely wealthy."
"Oh . . . yes, okay. That is true." Kasumi said with an exasperated sigh.
"Wont matter, I'll just 'earn' my money from the other students and creative use of a deck of playing cards." Nabiki said.
"How will we pay for this college?" Soun asked.
"Don't have to, Kuno-baby is paying."
"Oh, so you'll be in his debt hmm? And I wonder what he'll want by way of payment!" Kasumi blurted.
"Do you have a problem, Kasumi?" Nabiki demanded. "Are you trying to say something about me?"
"Don't mind her," Akane said, "She's upset because she just found out Dr. Tofu got over her and is hot for those two slut nurses from the hospital."
"Hmm . . . you know I think I have a pain in my lower back." Soun said.
"Oh my aching neck!" Genma groaned. "Better go see Tofu, eh Tendo?"
Nodoka rolled up her sleeves then whacked both men on top of their heads!
"Well what've they got that Kasumi hasn't?" Nabiki demanded.
"They are stacked!" Soun, Genma and Ranma said together.
Kasumi looked down at her own breasts and pouted.
"They're not bad Kasumi-chan," Nabiki assured her sister, "You're stacked just fine."
"Just not as well as those two." Ranma pointed out.
"Oh I . . . I don't care about that." Kasumi said.
Nabiki allowed the subject to move away from herself by focusing on Kasumi, she raised a fist into the air, "I say we go down there, run those hussies out of town and see to it that Tofu and Kasumi make up!"
"Make up?" Kasumi squeaked, "B-but we're not a couple, a-and it's none of my business who he's seeing!"
"Drop it; we all know you want him!" Ranma cried.
"B-but I don't!" Kasumi protested.
Akane and Ranma grabbed Kasumi by the wrists, "Yeah, we'll take care of this, we're the martial artists!"
"Hey!" Soun and Genma protested, but the kids rushed out the door, dragging a reluctant Kasumi. Soun and Genma waited a moment, then followed, probably still interested in seeing the stacked nurses.
Only Nabiki and Nodoka remained.
Nabiki grinned, and folded her arms. She'd miss her family; miss how easy it was to control them.
"So Nabiki," Nodoka said with a sly grin, "Why's Kasumi so against you hanging out with Kuno? I heard her at the park, she wasn't pleased that he'd come along. Anything you want to tell us? Or perhaps . . . Ryoga?"
Nabiki's eye twitched, "No auntie, that's okay. I'm not like you."
"True, I'm far more experienced." Nodoka said.
"Yeah, not sure that's something you want to brag about, hmm?" Nabiki said.
Nodoka gave a shrug, "You don't seem to see how much we have in common. We both wear our hair short, we both wanted the same job, and we both like men. We even love the same guy."
"You love Kuno-er I men Ryoga?" Nabiki demanded.
"No. But I'd do both of them anyway." Nodoka said.
Nabiki shook her head. What ever happened to the kind, loving, moral Nodoka she once knew? The one she used to hold minimal hatred for?
She hoped that Nodoka would invoke herself soon, otherwise Nabiki would have to kill uncle Genma's wife.
The fifth and missing Koruda fighter woke up, his head was throbbing. Okay, he must have gotten drunk or something, which was bizarre since he didn't drink.
His entire body felt really heavy, he groaned and it was difficult to do so.
Then he realized he was tied to a chair. "Darn," he mumbled. So he'd been fooling around with Tomoko then . . . and he didn't remember it at all!
That was just unlucky, he'd been trying to hit that for months, now evidently he'd succeeded and had been too drunk to remember it.
Then he noticed the tall young man sitting on a windowsill across from him.
Oh snaps, he'd been fooling around with a guy? Good thing he didn't remember.
"Sleep well? It was quite a hit you took you know." The young man said, leaning against the sill and putting down a book he'd been reading. "Lucky for you I was there. Or maybe . . . it was unlucky." The youth smiled for the briefest second.
He looked to be in his late teens or early twenties, he wore a pair of baggy black pants, and a long sleeved blue shirt. His shoulder length hair was stark white, he wore a black bandanna.
He got up and approached the K-Fighter, "I want to know everything you know. You'll tell me . . . or I can't guarantee your continued safety."
"Wh-what do you think I know?" The K-Fighter frowned. He didn't know anything really!
The young man tossed him a picture, "Seen this man before?"
The K-Fighter tried to shrug and failed. "Yeah. He talks to Ushio-sensei all the time, I think they're friends. I think Anzu said he was at the tournament too. I wasn't listening . . ."
"Why not?" The young man demanded.
"My gosh, have you seen Anzu? She's hot, I so want to hit that."
"Very funny." The young man said darkly, "But if you could think outside of your pants for a while, your life does depend on it."
"Outside of my pants? Look man that's something one dude should never say to another dude."
"Do you want me to leave you here until you starve to death?" The youth sighed.
"No, not really."
"Then you will tell me where I can find Ushio."
The K-Fighter tried again to shrug, "Y-yeah sure. He's at the dojo, he almost always is. I don't know if he actually has a house or anything, and I'm pretty sure this one time I found his secret stash of naughty movies and a couple boxes of tissue . . . though I thought it was Tomoko's, y'know how hot that would be? I mean let me tell you—"
"You'd so hit that?" The young man asked through narrowing eyes.
"How did you know?" The K-Fighter gasped, "Do you read minds?"
"Even if I did, I don't think you'd have anything to read. Never mind that, and stop thinking of girls."
"Okay . . . just sayin' though . . . and Tomoko and Anzu aren't girls, they're real women, y'know what I'm saying? Oh gosh and those Tendo sisters that showed up for the tournament? I think one of them got killed, but she was hot I would—"
"Please don't say it . . ." The young man said, shaking his head and holding his forehead as if it were in pain.
The K-Fighter remained politely quiet for a moment, then blurted "I'dsohitthat!"
The youth glared at him for an instant, "Don't you realize that in focusing your attention on multiple women who're all too good for you anyway, you're limiting your chances of getting with any of them?"
"Well I almost got with Anzu, but then she woke up and started freaking out, said she'd press charges and—"
"Okay, enough, just stop! I don't want to hear any more! Maybe I should just leave you here to starve!"
"Aww c'mon, I thought we were getting along. We could hang out man, I tell you what, I'll take Tomoko first and you can have Anzu, then a week later we'll switch, what'dya say?"
"Do not speak to me ever again." The young man sighed.
"Aw c'mon buddy, don't be like that!" The K-Fighter said.
"Wait, wait, wait, did you just call me "buddy?"
"Yeah."
"Thought so. Don't. Or else I'll get you a great big long 'naughty video' as you call them, and leave it playing non-stop when I'm gone."
"Sweet!" The K-Fighter cried.
"But you'll still be tied with your hands behind your back."
"Aw son of a—"
"Finish that sentence and I'll make sure it's all guy on guy." The youth added.
"Whoa, whoa, I don't swing that way. I mean I can't help it if you feel that way about me, but I—"
"Stop making noises now." The youth sighed. "I'll be back after I've spoken to Ushio . . . I ask you to kindly abstain from talking about hitting things until I'm out of earshot."
"Okay, but if you see Anzu and Tomoko you'll know why I'd so hit that! I have this fantasy where we're all together at once and they're fighting over me and—whoa!" The K-Fighter said in surprise as the white haired youth threw himself out of the window he was sitting on.
He waited expectantly to hear a wet thud, but he didn't. They were on ground level, who knew? The youth shook his head at him and walked off.
The K-Fighter sat there alone wondering if maybe Ushio would get him freed. Probably not if the sensei knew he wanted to knock up his daughter and his top instructor. But maybe it'd be Anzu and Tomoko and that dead Tendo girl. Oh yeah . . . and when they got there they'd 'play' with him first, then fight over who got to free him and take him to their secret love nest, man how hot was that? He'd so hit all three of them!
Ranma knocked on the door to Dr. Tofu's clinic and it was promptly answered by the brunette. "Hello and welcome! How can we help you?"
Ranma wasn't sure what her name was, and she wasn't wearing a name tag which would have given him a great excuse to keep staring at her chest
Akane whacked him and he came to his senses, "Uh, right! Hey we're here to talk to Tofu, is he available or do we have to wait for him to get dressed?"
"Uh, no I think he always wears that outfit. I'm almost sure they're scrubs, but they do look like pajamas. Hey Mika!"
Sure enough the blond showed up, buttoning up her shirt again.
"Oh son of a—were you doing it again?" The brunette demanded.
"I couldn't help it, Minako . . . it's so good!"
Ranma was afraid he'd get a bloody nose so he quickly ended their conversation, "Hey, we want to talk to Tofu!"
"Yeah Mika, get the doctor!" Minako snapped.
"R-right! Sorry!" Mika squeaked and rushed off, "Doctor? Doctor! That pretty woman is back and she brought her daughters!"
Ranma patted his chest, and check his pigtail. No knockers, no red hair, "Hey!" He protested.
Tofu came very quickly, "Hello Ranma, Akane . . . K-Kasumi! What are the odds of running into you way out here!"
"This is your clinic, doctor." Minako pointed out. "She was just here yesterday."
"Too right, too right, I am being rude, but I haven't got any tea!"
Mika frowned, "What's tea got to do with anything?"
"C-come into my guest room for a moment and—oh my, what a mess!"
"Sir we don't have a guest room!" Minako said.
"Now, now Mika don't be rude to our guests," Tofu said with a chuckle.
"But I didn't say anything!" Mika protested.
"See? He's doing it again, acting funny, trying to cover up what he's doing!" Kasumi said.
Ranma wasn't sure if he should tell her that this was the way Tofu always acted around her, since Akane didn't say anything he figured he shouldn't.
"Now ah, sit down."
"On what?" Akane asked.
Tofu blinked, then rushed off and came back with some stools, he set them down and said, "Now what can I do for you?"
Akane shook her head, "Well actually we're not sure how to tell you this but . . ."
"We're grossly disappointed in you, we thought you were cool and pretty okay for an old guy," Ranma said.
"Old?" Tofu blinked. "I'm not old!"
"But now you've gone and disappointed us," Ranma said, "It's shameful, having those two hussies around here for your sexual pleasure!"
"What!" Minako screamed, "What did you call me? What does he have us here for?"
"Sexual pleasure?" Tofu blinked, "What on earth are you talking about?"
"Well . . . what d'you got 'em here for?" Ranma asked.
Tofu shook his head, "Well I decided since I'm not always minding the clinic these days I should get some nurses to handle things in my absence, these two were the only ones who applied for the position. They wouldn't tell me what their last job was but their bedside manner is extraordinary, the patients seem to really like them."
Ranma held his tongue, but he could tell Tofu exactly why these nurses were so popular, it's called a D cup.
Actually Ranma didn't know much about bras, since he never wore them . . . maybe they were Z cups, they were stacked!
"So explain why she's always buttoning up her shirt!" Akane said.
"She is?" Tofu blinked. "Minako, explain this!"
"What? It's not me! It's the dumb blond!" Minako cried.
Tofu frowned, "Mika? But she's so sweet . . . well explain yourself!"
Mika looked down, "Uh, well I've uh . . . got special interests . . ."
"Meaning?" Akane demanded.
Ranma put his hand over his mouth so he'd feel any blood trickling down his nose, he couldn't wait to hear this!
"I . . . I really like . . . I mean I just love . . ." Mika looked ashamed, "Ball room dancing."
Okay, that wasn't really sexy.
"I d-don't have anyone to practice with, so I dance with the skeleton." Mika said.
"That's so gross." Minako shook her head.
"Why no shirt then? Don't tell me Betty turns you on." Akane said, sounding unconvinced.
"Well it's kind of creepy dancing with a skeleton, so I put my shirt on her. I wear two so I figured it was all right."
"Gross is more like it. If you want to dance, find a boyfriend." Minako said.
"I said 'dance' not 'get sexually molested again'!" Mika said.
"True." Minako nodded. "But the doctor wasn't really a boyfriend."
"I'm not what?" Tofu gasped, "I should say so, I've only just met you two!"
"We mean the other doctor—uh I mean never mind, slip of the tongue!" Minako said.
"You didn't hear anything!" Mika nodded.
"Oh come off it, we all know you're the nurses from the hospital." Akane said.
"Uh, okay, granted but can you promise not to tell anyone?" Mika asked.
"We all make mistakes, we're not proud of what we had to do at the hospital." Minako said.
"But Mina-chan you said it was great and the only thing you didn't like was how he was seeing all the other nurses at the same time as you!" Mika said.
"Shaddup!" Minako cried.
"Well ladies we cant always control the things that happen in the past and sometimes these things, no matter how bad, can be learning experiences. Therefore as long as you promise to never engage in sexual intercourse with any patient while they are in this clinic you can keep your jobs here. I solemnly swear never to ask you for sexual favors."
"Done!" Mika said.
"But you're kind of cute—uh I mean deal!" Minako said.
Tofu smiled and nodded once, "That settles it," he turned back to Ranma and Akane, then noticed Kasumi again and his glasses fogged up. "Oh . . . Kasumi! Fancy meeting you out here! So uh . . . what brings you here?"
Kasumi frowned at him, "N-nothing, just some confusion . . . but I think I'm over it now. I think I'm over few things actually." The eldest Tendo girl said, "I should go. But I'll come visit you tomorrow, if that's all right."
"P-perfectly!" Tofu said, he waved good bye to a wall as Kasumi and the others left.
Ranma spotted his father and Akane's dad, they were dragging their feet and panting towards the clinic, "D-d-d-drat!" Soun panted.
"Did you k-k-kill them?" Ranma's dad asked.
"No, they're still alive." Akane said, "We all ready worked everything out."
"Good . . . now we need to see Dr. Tofu and his nurses." Soun said.
"But you're not hurt!" Ranma said.
Soun and Genma turned to each other, each took the other's hand and violently pulled, both shouted in pain.
"Our arms are out of socket!" Genma said, "Point us towards that doctor, it really hurts!"
"Point us towards those nurses!" Soun said, "Akane needs a new mommy!"
"No I don't."
"Quiet!" Soun scolded.
"One problem pop," Ranma grinned, "Kasumi was just in there, Tofu might still be lethal, wouldn't go in there if I were you!"
Soun and Genma frowned at each other, knowing now that ripping their arms out of socket probably wasn't as smart as they thought it was.
Meanwhile, Ryoga hadn't found his way back to the Tendo Training Hall with Nabiki, hadn't even seen Nabiki since he'd seen her with Kuno. He'd gone to Ukyo's place to stay with her for a while, though it made him uncomfortable staying with another woman who had an interest in him.
Even if Nabiki's loyalty was questionable . . .
Ukyo had made breakfast, Ryoga and Konatsu had sat and ate and once to subject of Ukyo came up Konatsu had spoken of her in such a light that Ryoga was certain that Konatsu herself—er himself was either in love with Ukyo, or had been told to put in some good words for her with Ryoga.
The wistful look in his eyes told Ryoga it was the former, the latter was something he'd expect from Nabiki.
Oddly enough thinking that made him sort of miss her. That' why when Ukyo said "I'm going to go to the Tendo school" Ryoga agreed to accompany her.
They walked hand in hand to keep Ryoga from getting lost, it made him uncomfortable.
Maybe he'd spent too much time with Nabiki, because he kept watching Ukyo for signs of deception, the sort of signs that Nabiki almost always had.
"You know Ryoga, I really think it'd be a good idea for you to start going to Furinkan with Ranma honey and me." Ukyo said. "Nabiki can stay at home and wait for you, Ranma honey and I'll make sure you get to class and back, no worries."
"Why would I want to do that?"
"Well you'd get to challenge Ranma, might even be able to reinstate the Bread Feud and actually win this time, and . . . well we could spend more time together."
Ryoga thought bitterly that that would mean Nabiki and Kuno could spend more time together.
He didn't like this jealous feeling inside of him, he didn't like the fact that though he didn't know Kuno very well it was incredibly easy to tell himself that the older boy was a cretin, a villain, a cruel rapist even, why else would Nabiki have kissed him?
Of course he could remember the scene perfectly, had even had a dream about it where he tried to protest and was cruelly laughed at by the happy couple.
He shook his head, maybe school would be good, some time away from Nabiki to relax and maybe make her miss him.
In fact as they neared the house he sort of figured that if she weren't missing him by now she never would.
"Well?" Ukyo asked, "What do you think? I mean you don't have to decide right away or anything Ryoga," She added, as if in after thought "honey."
"I'll think about it." Ryoga said, not sure if he'd act on it. He didn't really want to go to Ranma's school, he didn't want to suffer the humiliating bread feud again, and he suspected Ranma would reinstate it to be a jerk, or to beat Ryoga to the punch if nothing else.
He felt funny as Ukyo knocked on the door, his heart began to beat faster and he just knew Nabiki would answer the door.
She did, her face lit up, "Ryoga!" She cried, and threw herself at him!
It didn't bother Ukyo as Nabiki threw herself at Ryoga and began smothering him in rather suggestive kisses, but she figured if she were going to keep pretending to be interested in Ryoga she'd better at least pretend to be disturbed by the sight.
"Ahem," she said coolly, "why don't you two get a room?"
"Oh good idea!" Nabiki purred. She looked up at Ukyo "Thanks for finding him, I was looking everywhere!"
"Oh yeah?" Ukyo scoffed, realizing that knowing Nabiki would cheat on Ryoga did disturb her, so she drew on that for fuel as she continued to treat Nabiki coldly.
Unfortunate Nabiki didn't seem to notice, or care, and Ryoga was trying not to look at her as if he thought even a minor glance would tell Nabiki that she'd kissed him.
"Ranma honey here?" Ukyo demanded.
"No. He's castrating Tofu."
"What the heck? What does tofu have to do with anything? I thought Ranma honey hated tofu!"
"No, they get on pretty well normally. But Tofu is cheating on Kasumi so Ranma and Akane went to beat him up." Nabiki said.
"Oh! Doctor Tofu," Ukyo nodded, understanding. "Well I guess I'll head over there then. Should I just leave Ryoga here?"
"Oh yeah," Nabiki said, kissing Ryoga again, "I'll keep him busy."
Ukyo shook her head, why didn't Ryoga throw that girl off of him and tell her they were through so he could focus on helping Ukyo get Ranma?
Instead he just kept looking uncomfortable.
Ukyo shook her head some more, then left the two alone.
She wondered why, as she left, Nabiki's kissing Ryoga had annoyed her. She got sort of angry really. She decided it was nothing, just resentment that the older girl would drop Ryoga like a bad habit and be allowed to reinitiate their relationship at her mere whim.
Yeah, that was it, she didn't care if they were together, she just didn't much like Nabiki.
Yoshimi's eye twitched as she watched Ryoga from the bushes. Nabiki was lavishing affection on him, and that was fine, she was used to that by now.
But now that Ukyo or what ever he name was woman was flirting with him too! It made her so mad! And after that girl had said she wasn't interested in Ryoga! Yoshimi burned under the collar.
Well that was fine. Because she'd just have to deal with Ukyo too. But not so nicely as she'd dealt with Nabiki.
She'd have to force Ukyo to hate Ryoga before they fell too deeply for one another. Oh she'd get Ukyo all right, she'd get her good!
She turned away and stormed off, angry but also thrilled, she was rather beginning to like being a secret agent type girl, on that note in fact she'd have to see Tatewaki and tell him that everything was ready for the next phase of their plan, she only needed to call the school principal and tell him that his newest students would be there right on schedule, and ready for work.
She smiled, too bad Ukyo was still a year too young for college . . . if she weren't she could suffer the same fate as Nabiki, and that sure would be swell.
Ryoga enjoyed being kissed by Nabiki, yet at the same time it made him feel bad. He loved Nabiki, he probably always would, but as she kissed him he kept seeing Kuno in his mind, laughing at him.
Nabiki whispered into his ear, "Let's go upstairs."
Ryoga was shaken awake by her request, and for some reason it sounded very appealing, even after what he'd seen.
He nearly followed her like an obedient servant, but he fought down his own carnal desires and gently as he could pried himself free of Nabiki.
He got to his feet and frowned at her, "No." He said. "I'd rather not."
Nabiki pouted, "Aw we've only got seven days to play Ryoga!"
"Seven days?" Ryoga asked.
"Yeah . . . I'm going to go to college after that."
Ryoga frowned, "Do they allow pets?"
Nabiki smiled, "Ah, want to come with me hmm? Sorry baby, we cant, strict no pets allowed rule, I don't think Kuno baby can bend it for me."
"Kuno?" Ryoga asked, though it came out as more of a bark so he quickly coughed into his hand.
If Nabiki noticed she didn't show it, she just wrapped her arms around him, "Yes. He got me into the college, it's really last minute, but it's for the obscenely wealthy he says, so I'm sure I'll enjoy it. I'll see you every break, and I'll write."
Ryoga nodded, but pried himself from Nabiki again, "I really don't feel like doing . . . that right now though." He said.
"Y'know while we were on our little adventure you got to it whenever I told you to, whenever we're here in Nerima you're harder to turn on than a rusty faucet." Nabiki pointed out.
Ryoga scoffed, "Hey, I'm not a faucet, and I'm not going to jump whenever you tell me to. I'm a person too, or did you forget?"
Nabiki frowned, "I'm sorry. You know I didn't mean anything."
"Whatever." Ryoga said, a little embarrassed that he'd gotten mad at her. "Let's just go inside."
"Sure." Nabiki said, and led him in. She didn't seem able to resist sitting on his lap and kissing him over and over again though, and even though Ryoga knew she was trying to use sex appeal to change his mind he didn't allow himself to be swayed, didn't give in to her charms.
Instead, when he felt himself getting excited he said, "So where were you yesterday? I kept looking for you, but you didn't come find me."
"I what?" Nabiki blinked, then realization came to her, "Oh! Oh that's right, I'm sorry. I uh . . . I was looking for you, I really was, but I couldn't find you."
"Did you ask anyone to help you?" Ryoga pressed, maybe she'd asked Kuno to help her, and then he'd told her about the college and she'd kissed him for joy! Yes that was it, even though he remembered seeing rather passionate kiss maybe a jealous mind had been playing tricks on him!
"Nope, not a soul. Couldn't find anyone, Ranma was fighting some K-Fighters and I didn't know where Ukyo and the others were." Nabiki said.
"Well . . .what about Mousse?" Ryoga tried, and dared to add "Kuno?"
Nabiki didn't even blink as she said, "Mousse couldn't find himself if he wanted to, let lone find you, and I didn't see much of Kuno."
Yeah, because you closed your eyes whenever you kissed him. Ryoga thought, and the bitterness of his own thoughts surprised him.
Nabiki kissed him once more and said, "Look, I'm going to be up in my room, I'm going to start packing okay? If you change your mind . . . I'd love for you to come up and see me."
Ryoga nodded, he probably would do no such thing, but then again he wouldn't discount the idea of going up to see Nabiki. He did still love her, though he wondered why. He guessed he had too much history with her to really just throw their relationship away over one kiss, and who was he to judge after he'd kissed Ukyo? He couldn't say that he was morally superior because he hadn't wanted to kiss Ukyo because he was still seeing her, friendly with her even though he knew Nabiki would demand he never lay eyes on her again.
Of course he couldn't tell her to do the same with Kuno, especially since he would just be being a filthy hypocrite . . .
He wouldn't tell Nabiki he'd seen her, and he wouldn't tell Nabiki that he'd kissed Ukyo.
Not yet anyway.
He felt ashamed, he felt kind of sick. He felt like just following Nabiki upstairs and forgetting anything negative had happened between them.
But he just couldn't. He sat alone on the couch, feeling miserable until finally he fell asleep from boredom.
In his dreams he saw her kissing Kuno, they laughed at him, what a fool to trust his beloved, who loved money more than him.
Kuno would always have more money than Ryoga, Ryoga couldn't even guarantee he'd find the chapel on the day they got married, Kuno could show up in a stretch limo.
He was no good for Nabiki . . . maybe she was just starting to see it.
Tatewaki poured Yoshimi a glass of his family's best cider. Yoshimi wasn't old enough for wine yet and she reminded him of this.
Really he thought it'd be okay since this was a very special celebration, but he wouldn't force alcohol on her, he wasn't trying to sleep with her.
"To a plan well carried out." Tatewaki said, raising his glass.
"To true love." Yoshimi nodded.
Kuno sat down in a chair and shook his head, "It came together so well, she didn't even need much convincing!"
"Excellent." Yoshimi said. "I'll call the college and tell them that third student is confirmed."
She whipped out a cellular phone and dialed about fifteen numbers. "Hello? Ah, is the principal there? Oh yes I'll hold, but not for long . . . hello? Ah principal, wonderful. This is Yoshimi Harume, yes I know it's an honor. Yes I know you cant wait for me to attend your school . . . yes I know you would like to cut my hair."
Kuno twitched, cut her hair?
No . . . no it wasn't possible. He didn't know where his father was, but he did know he wasn't teaching any high grade college for the obscenely wealthy.
"I just wanted to call to tell you that those three students I mentioned to you before will be attending. They'll be there in seven days. Yes I will be paying for two of the three, the third has decided to pay his own way. Yes principal I'll tell them. Okay, goodbye."
Yoshimi hung up her phone and shook her head, "Ah that man." She sighed. "Well he tells you to dress warm, make sure you have nice hair cuts, and he added in an Aloha, even though the school isn't in Hawaii."
Aloha? All this talk of hair cuts?
Coincidence, Tatewaki decided. Pure, simple coincidence.
There was no way that man would be the principal of two schools, he could barely manage even one!
Tatewaki shook his head and horror crept through him!
What if it was that man? He shuddered again, "Have you ever met the principal?" He asked.
"Not in person." Yoshimi said.
"Do you know his name?" Tatewaki pressed.
"I never cared enough to remember it. I think it's Kendo or something like that."
Tatewaki relaxed. That was that, his father was Kuno, not Kendo. He was perfectly safe.
When Ryoga woke up it was dark, he was sprawled out on the Tendo couch and he noticed Kasumi was clearing away the dishes from what looked like a great dinner.
He sighed as his stomach rumbled, Kasumi heard both sounds and turned towards him, she smiled warmly at him and said "Good evening Ryoga. You were sleeping so well I didn't want to disturb you."
"Th-thanks." Ryoga yawned. He wished she had woken him, he'd only had nightmares.
"I made sure to set aside some dinner for you," Kasumi said, "It's not much but it should be enough." She said, and she quickly went and got a rather large plate covered and piled with food.
Well at least she'd been right, it'd be enough.
Ryoga headed over to the table, and ended up behind the new TV that Soun had bought with his American wealth.
Kasumi came over and took his hand, he felt a jolt move between them as the older woman slowly and calmly led him to the table without once calling him an idiot.
He sat down, and she sat down across from him.
"I'll have to move the dish when you're done anyway," Kasumi said, "I'll wait. I know you don't take long."
Ryoga felt himself blushing as he said "Well that's because it's so good."
Kasumi smiled, "Thank you." She said. "So tell me, what did you do yesterday, when you got lost?"
Ryoga shuddered, "I . . . I wandered around . . . saw some things, got found by Ukyo. What did you all do?" He asked.
Kasumi frowned, "Well I was rather upset yesterday. A misunderstanding really. I don't know what the others did. Today however father and Mr. Saotome announced that they'd be going to build a new dojo on some land they bought in Hawaii while Mrs. Saotome fulfills her dream of becoming an erotic film star."
"Oh that's just ducky." Ryoga scoffed. He knew since his mother was a wicked old creature he had no right to pity Ranma, but he did anyway.
"Father is leaving me in charge of the house," Kasumi went on, "He said I could act as if it were my own, and that I'd be the temporary guardian of Akane and Ranma."
"That's cool. Maybe you can get Ranma to behave." Ryoga said.
Kasumi frowned at him, and he thought he'd said something wrong, but she said to him, "Ukyo told me you might go to Furinkan with Ranma."
"Yeah . . ." Ryoga said. "I haven't really decided."
"I think you should." Kasumi said, reaching across the table and taking Ryoga's hand again, he felt his heart rate accelerate and Kasumi said softly, "I'd like it if you stayed here while you attend school. I know with Nabiki gone off to college you wont have much reason to stick around but . . . I'd like it if you stayed. To help me keep Ranma in line that is, and . . . well I'm a little worried about you begin alone."
"Why's that?" Ryoga asked, swallowing a lump in his throat.
"Well . . . I'll tell you the truth," Kasumi said.
Ryoga bitterly thought The truth, well that'll be a refreshing change of pace.
"Those assassins that came for you and Ranma . . . they have me scared. Scared for you more than anyone else Ryoga, Ranma almost always has a friend with him, but you . . . aside form Nabiki you're almost always alone." Her eyes seemed to plead with him, "Stay here with me where you'll be as safe as you can be."
Ryoga shrugged, "Okay. Sure." He said. He guessed Kasumi was genuinely worried about him, but at the same time he realized that she'd need protection too. Nabiki would be fine because Jun had really been after Ryoga, even though he wanted to go with her to and keep her safe.
He realized that though he disliked him immensely now, he'd have to put his hopes in Kuno's fighting abilities in case something did happen to Nabiki.
And he'd just have to help Ranma protect Kasumi and the others.
It was his duty, and it made him sort of glad to know he could call the Tendo house "home" even when Nabiki wasn't there.
It made him feel as if he really belonged there, even though he knew he didn't, being able to pretend that he did made him feel good, so he smiled at Kasumi and said "There's nothing I'd like better."
Kasumi smiled, "Good." She said.
Ryoga ate the delicious food she'd prepared for him, and then midway though a thought occurred to him, he wasn't sure if he should mention it, since he didn't know what had happened to the assassin but he wanted to keep talking to Kasumi, didn't want her to get bored just sitting there patiently waiting for him to finish.
He said, "What about that bakery you were going to open with Lotion?"
"Oh that?" Kasumi smiled, "If Lotion ever comes back we'll do that. If she doesn't I hope she enjoys whatever it is that she finds herself doing."
"You think she'll come back then?" Ryoga asked.
Kausmi smiled, "The question you really want to ask is whether or not I think she's still alive, and the answer to both is yes. But that's not important, you eat up." Kasumi said.
Ryoga felt uncomfortable, Kasumi just sat there patiently she had to be hoping he'd finish soon, but he was rather enjoying it and wanted to take his time so he tried one more conversational piece, "Kasumi . . . I don't want to seem rude . . . but this is so great you could probably have a restraint without anyone's help."
"Thank you." Kasumi smiled.
"And I was thinking . . . since I don't want to have to fight Ranma for bread once we go back to attending the same school . . . well maybe . . ."
"You'd like to know if I'd pack a lunch for you. Of course I would, you're part of the family after all . . . it may not be official until you've married Nabiki, but I still see you as part of the family."
Ryoga smiled, such a warm feeling filled his chest, he sort of wished Kasumi was really his older sister, he'd have suffered less if he had someone like her in his life from the start.
Of course they'd never see each other if she had been, she'd probably have inherited the family sense of direction.
"Actually, on that note," Kasumi said, sounding reluctant, "do you still think you'll marry Nabiki?"
Ryoga frowned. What a question. He wanted to still, he loved her still, but he knew he'd have a hard time trusting her completely, knew he himself was unworthy of her trust as well.
He wanted to be her husband, but did he deserve it? Was it the best thing for either of them?
He shook his head, "I'll see how she feels about me when she gets back from college." He said.
Kasumi nodded, "Wise. Who knows what might happen while you two are apart." She smiled and took Ryoga's now empty plate, "Should I walk you to her room now? She may be asleep, but that's where you prefer to sleep isn't it?"
"N-no." Ryoga said. "The uh . . . the couch is fine." He got up and head for the couch.
It got really dark all of a sudden.
"Ryoga . . ." Kasumi said, "That's the hall closet."
Wow! Ryoga decided he was out of it. But he ended up in here a lot, maybe this place had some kind of magnetic pull to him.
Kasumi let him out and guided him to the couch, "Sweet dreams Ryoga." She said.
Ryoga thought sadly, that he'd try.
And though he did, as soon as he fell asleep it was the same old dream.
Nabiki and Kuno kissing and laughing at his stupidity.
To Be Continued . . .
Next Time: Ryoga goes to school, but wouldn't you know it, school hasn't started yet! But who's this hanging out at the school? Ranma and Akane discuss life in a house without their parents, both see possibilities, but can it be that Ranma's ideas are so widely different from Akane's that she is forced to draw him a diagram, and Kasumi, of all people, will hit on Ryoga? But what about her "older men only" rule? And how will the already upset Yoshimi handle that? Our unnamed youth will confront Ushio, but does the Koruda patron have the answers he seeks? What does he need them? Find out next time!
Note: Akane the Great was not really my favorite chapter either, I'd love to lie and say that I was just rusty, but to tell the truth though I wasnt happy with the chapter at all it was what I planned it to be. It was hard to be funny while trying to make readers think Nabiki was dead though. I tried to manage to damage with Akane's victory, and Lotion's first official victory, but I knew it wouldnt bust any gutts.
