Chapter 39

Akane walked home, beaten and defeated. This had to be the worst lost that she suffered since the Dojo Destroyer. She kept going over the fight in her head and she couldn't have lost to that gymnast. All she did was use those tools of hers. She defeated her with just a ribbon and clubs. That couldn't be it. There just had to be a different reason that she was defeated. She pushed herself hard for this fight. She trained day and night and she still failed.

Akane blamed this on her sister, Nabiki. If she didn't forbid her for using HER DOJO when those people were using it, she would have gotten better training. She also suspected that Ranma had been training Kodachi. That had to be the only reason she improved so much. It wasn't her training that was the issue. As Akane kept thinking of reasons for her defeat, she forgot what she had challenged Kodachi to. When she does remember, it will be a lesson in humility she would never forget.

XXX

It was Saturday and everyone was seated, eating breakfast. That's when the door was knocked on. Kasumi stood and went to get it. When she opened it, she was surprised to see not just Kodachi but Tatewaki and her father. She led them into the dining room where everyone was. Akane glared at her but Kodachi ignored her. She turned her attention to Soun.

"Mr. Tendo, I have come to settle the debt that is owed to the Kuno family." Kodachi said. Everyone was confused until realization hit Akane in the face. Everyone saw her reaction and was curious. Kodachi looked at her with a little disgust. "So you did not tell them about what happened yesterday? Why am I not surprised?"

"Sister, I beg of you to let this go. Ever since you have been with the foul sorcerer, you have been bewitched by his spell. I will not allow you to do this to the beauteous Akane!" he shouted.

"Enough Tatewaki!" Principal Kuno shouted. "The girl made the challenge and lost. She must pay the price for making such a choice. Just because you have a think for her does not excuse her actions. You will stand there and not interrupt or I will shave you again." Seeing just how serious things were, Ranma just had to get answers.

"Kodachi, what is this about?" Ranma asked.

"Yesterday, Ms. Tendo challenged me to a fight at my school. I refused at first because it was just annoying. She then decided to challenge me to a clan duel." The Tendo family looked very surprised and faced Akane. She had her head bowed and refused to look at everyone. "I see that you understand. She owes my family since she lost and I have come to collect. Refuse me and I will make sure that you will be shame among the people of the ward." Kodachi threatened.

"Please, let's be reasonable. This is nothing more than a dust up between you two. There is no reason to bring our families into this. How about we forget about the challenge and I promise that Akane will never bother you again?" Soun asked nervously.

"No, I don't think so. She made the challenge and she must abide by it. If you, the head of the Tendo family, would allow her to skate on such a thing, then perhaps the fault falls to you because you did not teach her about tradition and respect." Kodachi spat.

"Now see here, I will not be spoken to like that in my home!" Soun shouted.

"Are you threatening my Kochi? Do not assume that I will not step in." Principal Kuno said with a glare, clippers in his hands. That's when Kasumi stood up.

"Please, excuse my father. He is out of line." She said. She looked at Kodachi. "Do you have any proof of your claim Kodachi?" The teenager pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to her.

"Those are the numbers to the people who heard her challenge me. You can also call my school and they will tell you that she was there challenging me." Kodachi answered. Kasumi took the paper and handed it to Nabiki. Nabiki took the paper and went to the phone. It would be a tense couple of minutes until she returned. Nabiki walked back into the room and sighed.

"They're all legit. The school even has it on record. Akane did challenge her to a clan duel." Nabiki said.

"Very well, we will relent to the request of the Kuno family." Kasumi said.

"Kasumi!" Soun exclaimed.

"No father, I will not have our honor besmirch just because you want to." Kasumi said sternly. She then faced Akane. "Akane must learn that her actions have consequences. If she expects to be taken seriously in life and as a martial artist, she must learn to accept those consequences." Akane reeled back due to the serious tone that Kasumi used toward her. She huffed and turned away.

"Fine, whatever. I lost and I will accept whatever she wants." Akane said with a scoff. Kodachi just looked at her with a dark smile. Ranma knew that smile and he could only think that this will not be good.

"Very well. What I want is for you, Akane Tendo, is to never challenge me again. You will just have to accept your lost to me and move on. If she should break this request, she must be expelled from the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū (Anything Goes Martial Arts) and never take up the arts again." Kodachi said. Akane snapped her head toward Kodachi with a glare.

"What? That is totally unfair!" Akane roared.

"You are asking for too much!" Soun added.

"I do not believe so. She is so easy to rile up that she strikes out at anyone who messes with her. What if she just attacks me just because she sees me? I believe that this is the proper punishment for her lost. She is to never challenge me again or she is to be expelled. That's what I want." Kodachi said. Akane was growling and her fists were clenched hard. Before she could open her mouth, Kasumi spoke.

"Very well, I do believe that is a fair request." Kasumi said. Her family looked at her.

"No way, I'm not agreeing to this!" Akane shouted.

"You will because honor demands it. Like I said earlier, you must realize that your actions have consequences. I will not allow you to shame our family just because you are angry at the conditions. This is not up for discussion Akane. You will accept this." Kasumi said with a serious look. She stood up and faced the Kuno family. "I apologize for all this. Allow me to show you out." They nodded and were led by Kasumi. It would be a few moments before she was returned. Soun looked at her with a disapproving look.

"Kasumi, I am very disappointed in what you just did. We could have worked some out with them." Soun said.

"What leverage did we have father? Kodachi had witnesses and records of Akane's actions. I have no doubt that if you attempted to ignore this, Kodachi would have told everyone in the ward. Akane would have been shamed, you would have been shamed and the dojo would have been shamed. If all it takes to save face is for Akane to control her anger, so be it." Kasumi said. Soun looked at her and couldn't believe that she would talk back to him. Akane was steaming and looked at her. Kasumi knew this but she was not afraid. She turned to face her.

"You can be angry at me all you want but I do not regret my actions. I have told time and time that you need to have better control of your emotions. You refused to listen and you got yourself in trouble. I'm not going to defend your actions if you don't learn from them. Besides, it isn't like we are close any more." Kasumi said. Akane felt like she had just been slapped by her sister. She stood up and walked away. Kasumi sighed but did not follow. The dinner was one of silence.

XXX

Kasumi was alone, washing the dishes. Ranma entered the kitchen and looked at her back.

"Hey, you need a hand?" Ranma asked.

"I don't really what to talk right now Ranma." Kasumi said.

"I know but I wanted to tell you that you weren't wrong in what you did. Know that I have your back." Ranma said. Kasumi turned around and smiled at him.

"Thank you Ranma." Kasumi said. She went back to the dishes while Ranma exited the kitchen. He only got a few steps before someone grabbed him. He quickly twisted the wrist and held it. He looked to see his father. He was joined by Soun. He released him and stood to face them. They did not look happy.

"Do you see what you have caused boy?" Genma demanded, rubbing his wrist.

"Really, how is this my fault?" Ranma asked.

"If you had just gone along with our plans, everyone would be happy. If you had just done what honor demanded, no one would be against the other." Soun said.

"Funny how you talk about honor now but earlier you were trying to get out of something that honor demanded. Quite a double standard that you've got." Ranma said amused.

"Do not test me boy! You are already on thin ice with me and I will no longer tolerate it! Now, you will marry my daughter and join the schools as we planned." Soun said.

"Uh, no." Ranma said and walked away. Soun walked up to him and spun him around. His head grew and got scary.

"You will do as I command!" Soun exclaimed. That's when Ranma unleashed his Ki. Ranma's image grew larger than Soun. The man's head shrank and he coward in the corner. Ranma calmed down and made his way upstairs. When he was gone, Soun stood back up. He looked at Genma.

"He learned how to channel his Ki like that? What are we going to do? He is getting beyond our control." Soun said.

"I know but do not worry. We will get him under our thumb soon enough." Genma said. The two turned around to get something to drink.

XXX

Akane was lying on her bed and was looking at the ceiling. She was still angry at what just happened. She thought that Kodachi would have made her do something stupid to get a few laughs. But what she demanded, it just wasn't fair. It made her so mad that Kasumi made her do this. She might have had a point but she should have at least attempted to be on her side.

"Looking for someone to blame?" Akane looked toward her door to see Ranma. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"What do you want?" Akane demanded.

"Are you seriously angry at Kasumi for what she did? You made the challenge to Kodachi. Did you think that she would let that go?" Ranma asked.

"I though you would be proud that your girlfriend beat me again? You sent her after me for my part in making you weak." Akane snarled.

"I never sent Kodachi after you. Why would I need to? Kodachi has her own way of doing things and she cares about me. She attacked you on her own. Why didn't you back off when she gave you the chance to?" Ranma asked.

"Why should I back off? I could have taken her." Akane said. Ranma just sighed at her answer.

"Whatever you say Akane. If that's what you think, I'm not going to argue with you. Still, you need to apologize to Kasumi. She's done nothing wrong to you." Akane was about to say something but she was cut off by him. "Don't even blame her for this. She did what she could to save you and your family from being embarrassed. You're going to look me in the face and tell me that you would be okay with everyone talking about you behind your back, calling you names? You really think that your father can take it?" Akane could not refute anything that he was saying.

"Kasumi does not deserve your attitude since she has stuck by your side through everything. She starts thinking about herself and now all of a sudden you have a problem. If you don't settle things with Kasumi, you are going to lose the only person in this house who thinks well about you. Do you really what to lose that Akane? Would you really be happy to not have any of your sisters in your life?" Ranma asked. Akane looked at him before turning away. Ranma just shook his head and walked away. Akane waited until she could hear his door close before releasing a sigh.

She wanted to be angry at what Ranma said to her but she couldn't refute anything he told her. Everything he said struck a chord with her. Still, she wouldn't be doing that any time soon. She'll do that on her own terms.

XXX

Ukyo was sweeping the front of her store with a frustrated sigh. She was beginning to regret choosing Ryoga as an ally. How did that guy get lost all the time? The first time, she attempted to sign him up to go to Furinken. She only turned away for a second and he was gone. A week later, he returned but he just barged into her bath when she was bathing. She chased him away and he got lost again. She didn't know where he was now.

She let out another sigh and just continued to sweep. That's when she sensed an attack. She raised the broom to block the attack. She looked at it and saw that they were playing cards. She turned her attention back to her attacker and removed the spatula from her back and smacked them. They slammed into the wall, their hat falling to the ground. When his face was revealed, Ukyo gasped in shock.

"You…"

XXXXX

Authors' Notes: Another chapter done. I hope you like the way that I made Kasumi out of character. The way I have changed her was be design. I'm not saying that she won't still be that nice girl from the manga but she will not be as accepting as before. Hope you like the new chapter.