Chapter 28

It had been a tense week at the Tendo home. Kasumi and Ranma could only watch as the rest of the occupants sat and ate breakfast in silence. Nabiki didn't look like the silence was bothering her but they could see that Akane, Genma and Soun had angry or disappointed looks on their faces. Kasumi could only sigh in frustration and Ranma could understand why. After Happosai told Soun the news about Nabiki's ownership of the dojo, Soun demanded an explanation. Nabiki did not give him one and locked him out. Angry, he marched down to the office and demanded to know why his dojo was not under his control. The young woman called her manager who told Soun that he signed ownership of the dojo to Nabiki. He looked at the copies and was enraged.

They had a family meeting to discuss it. Soun accused Nabiki of forging his signature but the middle daughter told him that she didn't. She explained that she felt that if things continued the way that they did, he would use his ownership of the dojo to force Ranma to agree with the engagement. She couldn't let that happen and handed him those papers to sign. Soun said he would have never signed those papers but Nabiki told him that he did sign them while he was cheating in shogi with Genma. Soun began to cry and wail about his daughter, making her sigh. She was about to leave but then Akane opened her mouth.

She accused Nabiki of being disloyal to her family. Nabiki turned toward the youngest child and hit her with a glare that froze Akane to the core. Nabiki, with and icy tone, ripped into Akane. She called Akane selfish and a spoiled brat. Nabiki explained that everything she did was to keep them afloat, that she and Kasumi did everything to help while she enjoyed her life due to their father babying her. She demanded that Akane tell her what she had ever done to help her or Kasumi. She insulted Akane cooking, housework and her skills as a martial artist. She ended her rant by telling her that she was a disappointment to the Tendo branch.

Soun quickly defended Akane and told Nabiki to apologize. Nabiki refused and Soun punished her by grounding her. Nabiki didn't mind and left the room. Soun just sighed but he turned when he heard Ranma snot. Ranma apologized to Kasumi before insulting Soun. He agrees with Nabiki and is shocked that Soun would just allow Akane to act the way that she acts. He also added how he is just the same way because he doesn't help out in or out of the house. He even questions Soun, asking if his dreams were more important than his daughters. Soun was red in the face and bellowed at Ranma for his words. Genma demanded that Ranma apologizes to Soun but the young man refused and left. Kasumi left as well, shaking her head at the three. Since then, Nabiki refused to speak to either of them.

Nabiki finished her breakfast and grabbed her stuff. Ranma followed, shrugging off his father's hand as he tried to keep him to walk with Akane. The two walked toward the school in silence. After a while, Nabiki turned to him.

"I never got to thank you for what you said to father that night. I would have said the same thing but I didn't want the house flooded." Nabiki said.

"Don't sweat it. Truth be told, I just couldn't let him continue to think that he was in the right. He was wrong and he needs to know it. I just can't believe that Akane called you disloyal." Ranma said.

"I've given up on Akane. She thinks only about herself and she knows it. If she wants my respect again, she's going to have to show me just how much she can do for the family." Nabiki said. She then decided to change the subject. "So, are you ready for the fight today?"

"Not really. I've tried to talk to Ukyo but she just wouldn't listen. I don't think it helped matters when she learned about me dating Shampoo and Kodachi." Ranma said.

"Eh, just try and do your best Ranma. I've got three to one odds on your victory." Nabiki said with a smirk. Ranma just looked at her.

"We have really got to talk about my payment of rent if you're going to continue to use me." Ranma said with a mock glare. Behind them, Akane just growled softly. She didn't like what was just said about her but she kept quiet as to not alert the two. She didn't feel that she did not say anything that was not true. Nabiki seem to care more about Ranma and Happosai rather than her family. It was their dojo. What right did those perverts have to use it? Nabiki only cared about money and that was truth.

Still, Akane was still sour about Nabiki's words to her. What really hurt were her words about her martial artist skills. It was her rock that was she was a martial artist and Nabiki tore that away from her. She basically said that she wasn't one. It angered her and hurt her deeply. Well, if that was the way that Nabiki was going to act, then she wasn't going to listen to her anymore. She would no longer trust or believe her ever again. She was going to speak out against Nabiki from now on. If she had a problem with that, then that was her problem.

Akane walked pass the two, ignoring them. Ranma and Nabiki didn't really care and just continued their conversation.

XXX

Ranma stood in the ring that Ukyo constructed for their fight. He saw that the outer part of the ring was black and shiny. He was curious about it but he ignored it for now. He turned to face Ukyo who was ready to fight.

"This does not have to happen, Ukyo. What must I do to make this right?" Ranma asked.

"There's nothing that you can do! You and your father ruined my life! I'm going to make you pay for that!" Ukyo shouted. Ranma sighed and readied himself. Ukyo was the aggressor, launching several mini-spatulas. Ranma easily dodged the projectiles and easily dodged Ukyo's swipes with her large spatula. Ranma continued to dodge her attacks with ease. This frustrated the girl greatly. "Damn you! Fight back!" Ranma did not answer her and kept dodging.

Ukyo growled and jumped back. She released some Tempura Flakes to surround Ranma. Ranma got a whiff of something and quickly got away. That was when the flakes exploded. Ranma landed on the black surface and instantly felt his feet get hot. That's when he realized what he was this surface was. Ukyo smirked and quickly threw some oil on the black surface at his feet. Ranma slipped a little but was able to stay on his feet. Ukyo then threw some batter to trap Ranma. Lucky for Ranma his training in Boxing and Tae Know Do he was able to move on his feet. He dodged the batter and made his way onto the ropes. He ran across the rope and looked ready to leap back into the center.

Ukyo didn't let him and launched several Yakisoba noodles at him. Ranma was ensnared and Ukyo tried to pull him. Ranma would not be moved and continued to run around. He jumped and landed in the middle of the ring. Ranma then broke free of the noodles and attacked. Ukyo threw a flour bomb on the ground to blind Ranma and stop his movement. That's when Ranma used the Crushing Palm and blew a hole in the flour cloud. Ukyo was not expecting this and was sent flying out of the ring. She hit the tree with some force and was taken out of the fight.

Ranma sighed and jumped out of the ring. He made his way to help Ukyo but could see from the glare that she was giving him that she didn't want it. With one more sigh, Ranma made his way to Dr. Tofu's office. Ukyo sat there with a downtrodden face. She couldn't believe that all her training was a waste of time. Even with everything that she did in training was worthless. He took her out with one shot, one shot. She grabbed her spatula and used it to pull herself to her feet. She used it as a crutch to take her home. After she got some rest she was going to plan again and this time she would not fail.

XXX

Kasumi wrapped another hand with tape. She asked the student how it feels and he told her it was great. She smiled and the student went back to his training. Kasumi let out a happy sigh as she watched Grandpa Happosai work with the now sixteen students. It was a great thing to see students inside the dojo. It just made her believe that it wasn't just for show. It also gave her a chance to try out a lot of the medical stuff that she read from those books. It worked really well and it cut down on injuries of the students. Happosai was so impressed that he hired Kasumi to help. The two adult were against it but Happosai quickly cow towed them. Kasumi was actually very happy that she got to do it.

She picked up her supplies and made her way back toward the house. As she did, she turned to see Ranma furiously work out. He was dripping with sweat and his fists looked bruised. Ranma stopped and pushed the heavy bag away angrily. Kasumi was worried and made her way over to him. Ranma was surprised when she grabbed his hand. She led him to the house and sat him down. She began to undo the wrappings on his hand.

"So, what happened, Ranma? Nabiki said that you won your fight with Ukyo." Kasumi said.

"It isn't so simple. I know that I messed up when it came to Ukyo. I try to reason it because I was under the influence of that idiot. Still, I can't help but feel responsible." Ranma said.

"You feel responsible because you chose food over marriage?" Ranma nodded. Kasumi giggled at him. "I'm sorry but I find your thinking to be ridiculous." She said.

"How so?" he asked.

"You were a child and you were learning from someone who just as much as a child. You can't be blamed for your choices. All you can do is move forward." Kasumi explained.

"Even if it means losing a friend?" Ranma asked.

"If she can't understand that you were a child with a very bad role model, then maybe she wasn't a good friend. Maybe, she's just like your father, trying to get you to do things that you don't want to do." Kasumi said. Ranma looked at Kasumi and began to think. Could she have been right? Did Ukyo have plans of her own and expected him to just follow? That was something he didn't really consider. Maybe he would corner Ukyo tomorrow and get his answer.

"Thanks Kasumi, that took a lot of my chest. And thanks for re-wrapping my hands. They feel a lot better." Ranma said.

"You're welcome Ranma. Dinner will be ready in an hour." Kasumi said. Ranma nodded and made his way back to the heavy bag. Watching the two was Ukyo. She had found out where the two Saotome were staying and spied on them. She had heard the conversation between Ranma and the adult and was pissed. What right did that girl have to say that about her? Why should Ranma live a happy life while she had to give up everything? Well, she was going to show them what it was like.

Ranma seem to be close to that Tendo. She wondered how he would feel if she wasn't there in the morning.

XXX

Kasumi slept soundly, unaware of the figure inside her room. Ukyo moved silently and appeared right next to her. She took something out of her pouch and threw it over Kasumi. The teen moaned a bit before falling silent again. Ukyo poked her and Kasumi did not wake up. Ukyo lifted the girl and left the compound.

XXX

Ranma awoke to the sound of someone pounding on his door. He opened it and in his face was Nabiki. He could see that she was worried about something.

"What's wrong?" Ranma asked.

"It's Kasumi! She's not in the house!" Nabiki exclaimed.

"What are you talking about?" Ranma asked with confusion. Nabiki just grabbed his arm and dragged him to Kasumi's room. Inside, Ranma saw that bed was not made. He turned to Nabiki.

"I know Kasumi's routine inside and out. She always makes the bed before going through her duties. Something is not right here." Nabiki explained. Ranma nodded and decided to check it out. He searched the room and that's when he found some dust on her bed. He checked and realized that it wasn't dust. It was flour. Ranma narrowed his eyes and snarled. He turned to Nabiki.

"Get in touch with everyone who owes you a favor. You tell them to track down wherever Ukyo is staying at. She's crossed the line." Ranma growled.

XXXXX

Authors' Notes: Sorry about last weekend, I was really sick and I couldn't write. Well, here is the new chapter, so enjoy.