Sexuality: Happosai's Revenge
Chapter 9: Dealing with ex-Inazukes

Nabiki entered the kitchen to talk to Kasumi. She knew she was worried about Ranma. Ranma had eaten half as much as he usually did and didn't look or talk to anyone. He now looked almost at down as Akane. Nabiki checked to make sure no one was nearby before beginning.

"Kasumi?"

"Oh, Hello Nabiki. Do you know what's wrong with Ranma?" Kasumi paused in washing dishes, twisting a dishtowel, fidgety with worry.

"Yes, Kasumi. I thought you'd want to know." Nabiki paused and gathered her thoughts. "Ranma told Ukyo that he only thought of her as a friend today. I...I kinda said something that about Ranma's lack of interest in her and that put him on the spot. Ranma doesn't like to lie so..."

"Oh..."

"Ukyo...didn't take it well. She tried to kill him before she broke down. She told Ranma she hated him and to get away from her."

"Oh, dear. Ranma may not think of Ukyo romantically, but he does think of her as his best friend. It must hurt to think that he's lost her forever."

Nabiki nodded sympathetically in agreement. "I'm pretty sure he's going to be pretty mad at the old man for this. If it wasn't for him engaging Ranma..." Nabiki thought for a moment. "I think I'm going to give him some company. I think he needs it tonight."

Kasumi's eye ticked. "What do you mean?" Kasumi was proud that her sweet voice only cracked and not came out harsh.

"He needs someone to hold him until he goes to sleep. I don't mind."

"But Nabiki..."

"It's okay, I don't mind. I know you like to help so you can help him tomorrow."

"But..."

"Really, It's okay..."

Kasumi set a dish she finished washing rather roughly on the dish rack. She was pretty irked Nabiki was planning on sleeping with her inazuke. She had to take a deep breath trying to restore her resolve for her earlier conclusion. She would not fight over Ranma with her own sister. She realized at that moment that Nabiki's veiled words blatantly suggested they take turns spending the night with Ranma. Nabiki must be trying to appease her because as his inazuke she had final say. She could not wisp Ranma away until she had his favor (or their fathers') to change the engagement. However, she was still trying to get her time with Ranma.

Kasumi turned from her dishes, drying her hands off on the towel that hung from her apron pocket. She looked Nabiki straight in the eyes. What she saw was barely concealed pleading in Nabiki's eyes. The rest of her face presumed a questioning look, complete with a quirked eyebrow and tilted head, but the eyes spoke differently. Kasumi loved her sister and had not seen such a look from her in so long. Nabiki was not the type that asked for something if she could help it. She bartered for something, figured out how to get it on her own. She never pleaded or asked. Kasumi felt her resistance fail to her love as an older sister. Nabiki hadn't asked for anything from her in such a while she couldn't resist.

"Fine. I'll wake you early in the morning." Kasumi saw Nabiki's eyes flashed with gratitude before she quickly turned and left. Nabiki had undoubtedly picked up that Kasumi meant that she could even rest with Ranma without worry of getting caught because Kasumi would wake her up before anyone else.

The eldest sister began musing on how complicated this was getting. How would Ranma take to them sharing him? Kasumi had committed herself to marrying him within the next month, but Nabiki wasn't helping herself by trying to stay attached to Ranma.

Kasumi sighed. If Nabiki was going to comfort Ranma, Kasumi thought, using the word "comfort" loosely, she could try to talk to Akane.

Kasumi knocked on Akane's door.

"Akane?"

No answer. She opened the door, stepping in and shutting it behind her. She saw Akane laying curled up in the bed facing the wall. Kasumi didn't know how she knew, but she knew Akane was awake. Kasumi spoke while letting her eyes wander everywhere but to Akane. She straightened her clothes as she spoke, needing to find something to do as she spoke.

"Akane... I know it hurts to lose someone you love, but sometimes a relationship doesn't work between people. You also have to put effort and understanding into a relationship. How can you make a relationship work without trust? Ranma never did anything to make you mistrust him so much, yet you do. How can you make a relationship work if you can't even admit your feelings for him?"

There was silence before a low hissing voice was heard.

"This advice from the sister who stole him from me."

Kasumi's anger at that accusation made her defensive.

"You tell me how that worked?"

Akane turned over, sitting up with an expression of righteous anger on her face. Her tears stained cheeks didn't take away from her angry expression but underlined it.

"You slept with him like a slut!" Akane hissed. Kasumi was taken aback by the tone. She had never had such a tone used with her. Kasumi was hurt, but like most people, anger welled in protest of being hurt. Kasumi's voice was sharp and almost shrill as she spoke.

"I asked YOU to help him with his moxibustion FIRST. But like USUAL you let your illogical mistrust of Ranma hurt him. You left him in agony. Why? Because of your own childishness! You were going to allow Ranma to possibly get so bad he'd RAPE someone. Do you think Ranma would EVER forgive himself for something like that?! You were endangering others and condemning your inazuke. Ranma is like FAMILY, and I take care of my family! You think I run this house for my HEALTH?! I cook and clean and organize so you and Nabiki can live comfortably!"

Akane face flickered with guilt before hardening. "You were just using that moxibustion as an excuse."

Kasumi tested Akane to see if she learned anything at all "Why do you care, it's not as if you love Ranma, right?"

Silence greeted Kasumi's question.

Kasumi's face fell into a sympathetic expression. She felt sad that Akane couldn't even see how twisted her own logic was even when it was rubbed in her face. "I see you still have a lot growing up to do. I'm talking on deaf ears. You complain about that Kuno fellow, but you're no better. You would make a great couple."

That caused Akane to flinch.

"You can sulk all you want; I've just stopped caring. " Kasumi sounded painfully convicting. Kasumi left Akane to her own thoughts.

Shampoo overhead a lot of things about Ranma. She heard he finally dumped pervert girl and spatula girl later that day. She didn't manage to make it yesterday when she heard the gossip, there was an unusual rush. Today, however, she was determined to go. She would make tracks to Ranma's house before the dinner rush. Great grandmother wouldn't mind when she came back with Ranma in tow and they wouldn't have to stay here anymore.

Kasumi answered the door to find Shampoo standing there with a hand raised in greeting. Kasumi blinked, taken aback at Shampoo's sudden appearance even though she should have expected it.

"Nihao!"

"Oh my. Hello, Shampoo."

"Here see Ranma?"

"Oh yes...he's not really up to seeing anyone right now." Kasumi wasn't lying and she did not think Ranma needed to put up with yet another suitor. She suspected Shampoo was here to drag Ranma off an marry him. Ranma didn't need to put up with this – Kasumi found herself using a word that was a little harsh from her – trash.

Shampoo just quirked an eyebrow. "Shampoo not anyone. Is airen." Shampoo walked right in calling for Ranma. She checked his room not to find him there. She decided to check all the rooms.

Ranma was in Nabiki's room doing homework to talk his mind off everything. He'd do it in his own room, but he felt like company. Nabiki understood and say anything when he came plopped onto the floor to study. Ranma flinched when he heard Shampoo calling for him. She was alternating between Airen and Ranma.

"Ranma?" Shampoo called as she poked her head into the mercenary girl's room.

"What Ranma doing here? Should stay away from Mercenary Girl. She take clothes off back."

Nabiki smirked from her place on the bed, barely managing to keep from bursting out laughing at her preceding reputation. She'd done a good job with it.

"I'm doing homework, Shampoo."

Shampoo just shook her head. "What need school for anyway? Ranma is great warrior. Besides, you come with Shampoo to China anyway."

Ranma gave her a droll look. "Who said I'm going to China with you?"

"Ranma finally choose true airen! You dump pervert girl and spatula girl. Know you don't like crazy rose girl. So you come home with Shampoo now, yes?"

Ranma gaze became darker. "I'm not going anywhere with you Shampoo." Oh great, more inazuke bullshit.

"Of course Airen is. You pick Shampoo, you must expect we go back to China."

Ranma shut his book he was using before Shampoo came in with an audible thump. "Shampoo I didn't 'pick' you at all. Ukyo is just a friend, and Akane...," Ranma's throat caught for a moment, "Akane and me didn't work out. That does NOT mean I 'picked' you."

"Stupid Husband! You come back with Shampoo now! Is no more obstacles keeping you here!"

"Or what?" Ranma asked in a dangerous tone, narrowing his eyes. "Even if there aren't any other girls does not mean I want you, Shampoo."

"You just drop Shampoo after all trouble she go through for you? Shampoo thought Ranma honorable man!"

Ranma's voice became VERY dangerous when someone questioned his honor. "This coming from the Amazon that used every dirty means possible to force me to marry her."

Shampoo was taken aback by Ranma's tone.

"Shampoo, I am not to be forced into anything. Not even the old goat got me to apologize to him when he locked my strength away. He even scares the old ghoul. Whatever little leverage you ever had with honor was lost when you proved you had none, using every underhanded trick to get me. Maybe you'll learn not to underestimate people from all this. You shouldn't have underestimated me, thinking that it was impossible for an outsider to beat you. You have no one to blame but yourself. You should have been ten times more cautious. I showed no fear when you approached me, even showed amusement, when I just saw you win a tournament handily. If the old ghoul was there she would have smacked you on the head and not evened allowed you to challenge me."

Nabiki spoke with a condescending smirk, "I heard about Ranma's second fight with Mousse. You've known that Ranma never wanted you the whole time or you wouldn't have gone through the trouble to sabotage his fight. I wouldn't be surprised if Cologne got you cursed to use that as leverage on Ranma's conscience. Am I correct?"

Ranma's expression went from arctic to hellish, "You just wanted me as some prize to take back to your village! I'm the warrior you never imaged could have existed, dropped into your lap! Well, I'm not going anywhere with you Shampoo. I don't love you and I'm not marryin' someone I don't love!"

Shampoo felt blind rage. "I came all the way to this STUPID country that I hate, to play a waitress everyday! Help you out many time! Now you try send me home in disgrace!"

Bonbori were drawn as Shampoo took on an aggressive stance.

"Just what do you think you're doing Shampoo?"

Shampoo tried to calm as she realized she could never even touch Ranma if she tried. "Ranma regret this."

"Just how are you going to make me regret it? I hope that isn't a threat Shampoo. You know they do no good."

Shampoo just snarled ferally and jumped over Ranma onto Nabiki's desk. She smashed the window and went off into the night.

Nabiki looked at the window, irritated. She turned to Ranma who was glaring in the direction of Shampoo's retreat. There was silver lining to every cloud. "Can I spend the night with you?"

Everyone had heard the commotion and came running, including Akane.

"What happened!?" Soun asked as he barreled into the room.

Genma popped up behind him, "Yes, what happened boy?"

Akane showed up and upon seeing the Ranma in the room, automatically deducted it was his fault. She stood steaming like a pot on a slow boil.

Kasumi came up behind the group. "Oh my." Kasumi figured Ranma must have broken it off with Shampoo now. If only he could take care of Nabiki too... Kasumi shook her head. She thought quickly, speaking in a sharp lilt that only Nabiki would understand to be directed at her, even if she sounded like she was thinking aloud absently. "I guess that means Nabiki will be sleeping in my room tonight."

Nabiki's mood, someone very observant would realize, visibly dropped an octave.

"Shampoo came here tryin' to make me go with her to China. I told her I wasn't going anywhere."

Genma shouted, "That's my boy! Tell that crazy Amazon off!"

Soun nodded in agreement, tears flowing dramatically.

Akane's was on slow boil long enough.

"If this is all your fault! Can't you keep your floozies away from here?!" Soun and Genma wisely removed themselves from Akane's path. When a missile locks on to a target, you get out of its way. Ranma rolled his eyes with an expression that said, 'this old shit again?'

"Akane," Kasumi said in what most people would take as her usual airy tone, but Akane heard the disapproval in it. Akane ignored the traitor.

Nabiki stepped right on her feet into Akane's path, putting her face right into Akane's. She regarded her with an expressionless face with eyes that bore into her. Akane had stopped out of the surprise of someone suddenly getting in her face. That had never happened before.

"First, you are going to punish Ranma for something he can't control. Can Ranma control you? He can no more control them than he can control you. Second, it's my room, Akane, and I pay for destruction done to the house. Might I remind you most of the destruction done daily is done by you? You were going to 'punish' Ranma for damaging my room by adding to it?"

That put out Akane's flame like Nabiki licked her fingers and snubbed out a candle with her index finger and thumb.

Nabiki rose her voice to address everyone in the room. "Now if you excuse me, I need to clean up the broken glass. Shows over!" Nabiki shooed everyone out, including the now guilty and reflecting Akane.