"I just wanted to say... I'm sorry... it was wrong what I did, but I was trying to help you!" the voice rattled outside the tendo gate. Akane frowned, listening the speech being repeated for the 8th time already. "Look, Ranchan..." Ukyou started from the beginning. Akane rolled her eyes and climbed up on top of the wall.
"No solicitors. Challengers go to the back entrance."
"Akane!" Ukyo nearly jumped out of her skin. "What are you doing here?"
"I live here," pointed out Akane drily. "What's your excuse?"
Crap. We're not ready for her yet.
We might have to wing it.
Be easy on her, Ranma asked.
Like hell! You stay out of sight. It's me and her.
Akane, we discussed this, remember? Just bashin' her won't win this fight.
"Look, Akane, we can be reasonable..." Ukyo walked towards the front door.
"I said.... challengers through the back gate."
Ukyo's face turned white.
Seems she heard about my fight with Shampoo. Akane bristled with pride.
Probably from one of the Amazons. She probably also heard I fought ya ta try an' prevent ya from takin' me. Should we try to use that to our advantage?
We're not smarter than Nabiki, even taken together.
Play it straight?
For now, but I'll play it close to the chest.
Ukyo walked around the compound towards the back entrance, Akane right next to her on the wall.
"This isn't what it looks like, Akane. I'm really really sorry about the whole wedding... thing."
"Sorry because you came specifically to interfere with my wedding? Or sorry because you threw a bomb at Ranma?"
Ukyou paused. "A wedding's a very important day for any young woman, Akane!" She passed through the gate, her feet wavering and her hands shaking. "Of course I'm here to apologize to you as well!"
"Funny, because out of takes 1 through 8, my name didn't pop up once."
"You...were listening to me the whole time?"
Akane nodded. "Yes, I was. And I feel I should let you know...you're starting to be a bit of an obstacle."
Ukyo nearly collapsed on the ground in relief. Akane smiled, thinking that perhaps Ukyo went to the restroom before coming, thus why she hadn't pissed her pants yet.
That's not very nice, Akane.
Hey, Shampoo and Ukyo held a skill barrier over my head for a long time!
Ukyo ain't never had more skill than you. She just keeps her cool better in a fight.
"Well, what are you going to do to me then?" Ukyo still kept her left hand on her large spatula.
Akane bent down, getting face to face with Ukyo. "Talk, of course. Ever had girl talk before? Of course not. You throw your gender identity in and out more frequently than Ranma."
Hey! Ease up a little! Are you trying to piss her off?
It'd make my day brighter. Not to mention easier.
I already toldja--
I know, I know. She sighed mentally, then addressed Ukyou again. "You keep going on about how Ranma owes you for leaving you on the side of the road, right?"
"So what if I am? Don't you do something similar?"
"Not the point I'm driving at. You say that Ranma and his father owe you. Am I correct?"
"How?"
Ukyou blinked. "Huh?"
"How did it wreck your childhood?"
"Well...all the other girls, taunting me because my fiance abandoned me..."
"Oh, like kids don't find reasons to taunt each other." Akane sneered. "You're making my heart bleed."
"I lived as a boy for most my life!"
"Ever see a shrink for that?"
"Have you?" shot back Ukyou. "Or did you just start shaving off the mustache?"
Whoa, there, Akane. You're more of a woman when you're a guy than she is at her most feminine.
Akane bit back her temper, and said, "I'll admit that I'm a bit more of a tomboy than most girls--"
Hah!
"--but I never tried to deny my gender."
Ukyo looked right at Akane, speechless. "You're right, I'm sorry. We got off to a bad start, didn't we?"
"It didn't help that we're both chasing Ranma," said Akane. "Can I ask you something personal?"
"Of course."
"Why are you chasing him?"
"Because...he's everything!"
"Everything?" Akane chuckled. "That he certainly is not."
"But he is to me!"
Ya see? She don't know nothin' about me!
"Umm, you didn't know him for a good ten years"
"Oh, and you did?" Ukyou snorted. "At least I'd met him when our fathers arranged the engagement."
"I never said he was everything to me," Akane said .
"From the way you treat him, I'd say he was nothing to you," countered Ukyou. "At least I treat him with respect!"
"You treat him like a prize."
"And you barged in, and destroyed Shampoo's wedding, and took him by force! Hypocrite."
Akane smiled even larger. "That was planned."
"You--" Ukyou's jaw dropped. "Then why did Cologne tell me--" She clapped a hand over her mouth.
I knew the old Ghoul would get one last dig in.
"Notice they're gone and Ranma's not?" Akane stood up straight now. "We can talk more later. As of now, I need a workout."
"I..." Ukyou swallowed heavily. "I'd better get back to the restaurant before the lunch rush. Konatsu's gonna be swamped."
"Loud and clear." She turned and walked away from the compound.
Not too bad, Tomboy. A little heavy handed, but hey...you're still pissed off at her, so...
That felt better than punching the snot out of her! Akane pumped a fist up. Her skills, her claim, and even her feminimity! I hit them all!
Ranma was sitting on the floor, his head down, eyes closed, and arms crossed. Currently, he was battling his toughest opponent ever: His future sister in law.
Nabiki was, as always, straight to the point. "How will you start advertising you're holding classes? What age level classes will you hold? How will you divide the skill groups? Have you ever thought about any of this?"
"No, of course, I haven't," he groused. "Why the heck do ya think I'm comin' to you for this?"
"Why haven't you discussed it with my sister?"
"Because she don't know any more about it than me!"
Hey!
Do you? Ranma asked mentally. Well, all right then!
"You really must think I'm sort of super-lawyer/accountant, don't you? Just because I have one of the few functional brain in the prefecture doesn't mean I'm a super mastermind. They hold college classes for this sort of thing, Ranma."
"We ain't got time for me to fail outta college," said Ranma. "And, yes, you do have a functioning brain, which is rare in Nerima. More importantly, you ran the dojo's finances since you were six years old. How did your pops run the dojo?"
"Into the ground?" Nabiki said with her eyebrows lifted. "I can barely remember the last class we had. You definitely will need teaching instructors, and secondary masters. A dojo with only a single master is worth crap as an actual martial arts school."
"Akane can help out at the basic levels," said Ranma. "But I don't know any other masters who I can trust."
"Make some. And you honestly need more beginner level instructors. Preferably those that have a good grasp of basics and...why are you looking at me like that?"
Oh no Ranma. She will not go for it!
She's crap for strength and speed, but she has great balance.
It involves effort, and you know how Nabiki is with effort!
What's her weak point?
Huh?
She cons me an' you into doin' whatever she wants. Payback's a bitch, ain't it?
Nabiki stood up. "Alright, I don't even need to be on the same channel as you to know what you both are thinking. You have to be crazy to think you can have me diving back into the art like that!"
"Why did you leave it to begin with?" The question was so blunt and point blank that Nabiki had no defense for it.
"Excuse me?"
Ranma stood up. "Why did you quit martial arts? I can understand it not bein' a full time job, but yer smart. You can understand the benefit of even two hours a day."
Ranma, I am NOT going to tell you how to manipulate my sister. You'll just end up using it to do something perverted with her!
Akane, I need something here. Why did she quit?
"Saotome, my goal is to become a big wheel in the business machine. Two hours a day spent exercising is time I can't take out of the day. Plus, it doesn't look good to put on your resume that you can beat people up. Most prospective employers view that as a bad thing."
"Yeah, but runnin' a successful martial arts school does look good. I'm not a business man, and even I understand that."
Hit her in the wallet.
"Plus," added Ranma, "you would be getting paid for that, right?"
Even accountants get salaries.
"You could put yourself down as the dojo's accountant, and draw a salary. Plus another as an instructor."
"That's a lot of time gone, Saotome." Nabiki frowned. "It would impact my study schedule."
"Oh, come off it, Nabs." Ranma shook his head. "Like you aren't already just strollin' through classes."
"Call me Nabs one more time and I'll tell Akane you peeked at me changing."
"That don't work no more," Ranma said with a grin.
Nabiki rubbed her forehead. "Just until you train someone else to take my place as an instructor. And afterwards, I still get to keep both salaries."
"Hell, no." Ranma shook his head. "You only get paid for the jobs you're doin'."
"Having Akane in your head is making you smarter, little brother." Nabiki smirked.
"So, we gotta deal?"
"For now, until something better comes along."
Yatta!
Calm down, baka. You and I both know she's going to need some retraining until we get her back in form.
Yeah, but that's still one less problem to worry about.
One less, or one more? Make sure you thank her!
"Thanks, Sis. I knew I could count on you!" Ranma grinned and flashed her a thumbs-up.
"Are you going to ask Kasumi if she wants to as well?" asked Nabiki.
What do you think?
Kasumi spent more time training in the Art than Nabiki, but she gave it up because she had to run the household. She isn't really suited to the Tendo school, though.
That is true. However, with mom here, and you soon bein' the woman of the house, that means she will have more free time.
Ask, politely. And don't be pushy!
When am I ever pushy?
"I wasn't really thinkin' of asking Kasumi," admitted Ranma. "However, I dunno...she might want to. All I can do is ask, right?"
"Don't be pushy like you were with me," Nabiki warned, before she stretched very slowly.
HEY! EYES TO THE GROUND! NOW!
"One other thing," said Ranma as he quickly looked down. "I know ya really enjoy showin' off your body--"
As much as you enjoy looking at it, you pervert!
"--but I'd rather you didn't do crap like that in front of me."
"Pardon me, Ranma," Nabiki said in a whisper as she put her lips next to his ear. "Akane, I'm not trying to steal your idiot away. Calm down."
Ya get that?
Her, I trust. It's you I've got a problem with.
"Another thing, Akane. If you ever want to succeed in this world, learn one thing: Sex is a weapon. I guess you could say when it comes to that, I'm a grand master."
"Me?" Kasumi nearly dropped the broom. "Teach the family Art?"
"Not full time, no. But we will be needing someone to get the beginner classes started." Akane felt nervous asking this of her sister. The same sister that already gave her so much.
Ya know, Akane. That could be the way to approach her on this. She's given so much to the house...try askin' her if she'd enjoy teachin' the art.
"You trained with Daddy, like Nabiki and I did, back before Mother died," said Akane. "You seemed to like it as much as I did."
"I was a lot younger then," said Kasumi.
"Kasumi, you've gone above and beyond in taking care of Nabiki and I," Akane continued. "You've given so much to this house. I'm not asking you to teach because we want to take more from you. I want to know if you would like to teach."
Kasumi fiddled with her hands a moment. "I would at the very least be willing to try it. Thank you sister," Kasumi said with a bright smile.
No, that ain't good enough.
What do you mean?
Akane, your sister is probably agreein' to this because she feels she has ta.
Oh... Akane shook her head. "Okay, Sis. I understand that you don't want to."
"I just said--"
"Sis, you said you'd be willing to try. That's not the same as wanting to do it."
"It's just that, it's been so long. Feelings change for things, Akane. I'm afraid I may not love it now as I did before. I'm probably more rusty than Nabiki."
Wait, that's a good way to test the waters for both of them!
Sparring match?
Yup
Good idea. You stay outside and don't peek.
Don't peek at what? Ranma sounded peeved. Ya trust me less an' less. I need ta be able to watch them spar!
You don't need to watch them change.
Oh...
Kasumi looked back up. "You are going to suggest that I spar with you?"
"No." Akane grinned. "With Nabiki."
"Are you insane?" yelled Nabiki from upstairs.
Let me use yer mouth for a minute.
No way! I'm the more persuasive one, and they're my sisters!
Akane, trust me.
Akane sighed and cleared her throat.
"We need to see both yer relative combat skills. This is the quickest way. Plus, it'd be a good way to gauge yer comparative interests."
"Oh..." Kasumi nodded. "I understand that, Ranma. It's Nabiki I think that has an issue with that."
For her part, Nabiki was already stomping down the stairs. "I agreed to train students, Saotome. I didn't agree to beat up my sister!"
"Now now Nabiki, you know I had all the advantages when we last sparred. You don't have to be worried for my safety," Kasumi said with her same ever pleasant grin, but there was a hint of pride in it.
Was there a rivalry between them I don't know about?
I never thought it would be brought up again.
"Advantages in reach, because you were two years older than me," said Nabiki.
"I'm still a bit taller."
"But I've been exercising every day to keep myself in tone!"
"Do you think that cleaning up this house isn't exercise?" Kasumi grinned, and it was not her normal grin. "I do a lot of walking, lifting and carrying, every day."
"That isn't the same and you know it, Kasumi." Nabiki scowled. "On top of that, I've done a lot of P.E. at school, stuff that you missed because you had to go home earlier than us."
"Very well, Nabiki. There's only one way to settle this." Kasumi stuck the broom back in the corner where it normally resided, and cracked her knuckles. "Let's spar."
I think we've created a monster.
No, this is good! If they two of them are comparative, they will be constantly going against one another, sharpening their edges.
You mean competitive?
Yeah, that word.
It was a sight the Tendo dojo hasn't seen in years. The two elder siblings were wearing gi, standing across from each other. Ranma and Akane sat to the side, to judge the performance of both.
"Begin," said Ranma.
Nabiki leapt up and tried to attack from the air, only to have Kasumi guard and sidestep.
Nabiki liked air combat?
Nabiki always thought it was the best way to get around Kasumi's longer reach.
Maybe we should train Nabiki in the Saotome side of the Art.
Nabiki snapped a mid-level kick at Kasumi, only to have Kasumi brush it aside. Kasumi then stepped forward, her hand extending in a clean punch at Nabiki's head, and Nabiki ducked underneath her shot and executed a perfect spinning kick, targeting Kasumi's midsection.
Kasumi, to the surprise of everyone in the dojo, chose to absorb the blow, her other hand grabbing Nabiki's attacking leg.
Kasumi's tougher than I thought!
They're both years out of practice.
Yeah. That's twice she's gone for the quick-catch, an' as sloppy as Nabiki's kicks are, she shoulda had her the first time.
Kasumi swept though a large circle, turning Nabiki's kick into a counter-throw, but Nabiki turned the counter-throw into a roll, and came back onto her feet, fists raised.
One point for Kasumi.
You're keeping score?
How else can we rate 'em?
"You're still abusing your reach." Nabiki's eyes are narrowed.
"Nabiki, remember what Father always said: We don't abuse what nature gave us."
Another point for Kasumi, on the teachin' side.
"A very good point, Sis." Nabiki grinned, then launched herself back into battle. This time, she went low, aiming for a leg-sweep.
Kasumi stumbled back, but just a touch too slow. She fell on her butt, but quickly got back to her feet. "You never did that before Nabiki. Have you been practicing?" Kasumi was smiling, but there was an edge of steel in her voice.
"No." Nabiki grinned. "I just remembered that you have difficulty countering sweeps."
Point for Nabiki.
Ranma glanced sidelong at his fiancee. Who are ya rootin' for?
I'm not sure.
Nabiki leaped back towards her sister, going airborne again, and Kasumi was forced back on the defensive. The younger Tendo kept the pressure on, launching attack after attack to keep Kasumi on the defensive.
Kasumi's keepin' her calm, but if she don't counterattack soon...
Almost to answer that thought, Kasumi threw a punch, hitting Nabiki right in the face, forcing the younger of the two to the ground again.
She was waiting for a hole.
Second point to Kasumi.
Nabiki picked herself up on the ground, and rubbed at her cheek. "Good shot, Sis."
Kasumi grinned, a grin that would have been more at home on Akane's face. Then stepped forward in a snap kick. And this time, it was Nabiki who was forced back on the defensive. A rain of kicks and punches pushed her back, but eventually, in an attempt to capitalize on her reach advantage, Kasumi overextended. Nabiki guarded against the next strike and tried to spin into it, her left arm swinging as she stepped past Kasumi, her open hand hitting Kasumi in the back, knocking her froward.
Both combatants paused, looking at Ranma as if he was crazy.
"Okay, I have to say, I wasn't expectin' you two to be that good. But both of ya have the same flaw. When ya go on the offensive, your defense drops too much."
Kasumi bowed to Ranma. "Thank you. Oh, and thank you Akane, for getting me reintroduced. I will enjoy teaching,"
"Defense always suffers when you go on the offensive," muttered Nabiki. "Basic tactics."
"Yeah, but it shouldn't suffer so much as it does when you two attack." Ranma turned to Kasumi. "If ya wanna teach, we're gonna have ta train ya up a bit more, includin' in teachin' methods. You gonna be okay with that?"
"Of course," Kasumi seemed to be trembling with delight.
Wow, I totally had her pegged wrong!
"Hey, you better teach me at least as much as her then!" Nabiki challenged.
Wow, you're right. We have a rivalry going on.
And both will grow from it.
"Nabiki, you'll need the same trainin' in teachin' methods, an' I think you'll be needin' some focus trainin' as well. Your attacks are slightly better, but your defense is weaker. Plus, we can teach ya some counters for fightin' those with reach advantages. I think you'll be workin' with Akane for that, or with me in my girl form."
Nabiki actually bowed to Ranma and Akane. "I'm looking forward to it." She smiled to Kasumi and patted her older sister on the shoulder. "I really enjoyed this session, but I think the next one will be a bit more definitive, don't you agree?"
"Oh my yes, much more definitive!" Kasumi answered with an equally big grin.
"Since we ate so much into your free time," said Ranma, "I'll make dinner, so you can relax, Kasumi."
"Thank you, Ranma." Kasumi grinned. "Perhaps the three of us can take a bath while Ranma cooks?"
Nabiki poked Kasumi in the side. "Hadn't you better think about that, Sis?"
"Ranma would never use Akane's eyes to watch us as we bathe, lather, wash, rinse, and dry ourselves before dinner," Kasumi objected.
Ranma's face turned red as he tried to stop the mental images from sending, but it was too late.
The sound of a large bullhorn sounded in Ranma's brain.
Stop thinking about my sisters that way!
Hey, I can't help it! Obviously, Kasumi's thinkin' that way about me!
My sister is not a pervert!
We thought she wasn't a martial artist, too.
"I'm sorry, but I think Akane wants to help me with dinner, isn't that right?" Ranma said.
Akane flushed with excitement. The other two girls, however, turned a distinct shade of green.
"Hey," said Ranma. "She's gettin' better, and I bet today she does a great job."
"He wants to reward our hard work by poisoning us," quipped Nabiki.
"And destroying my kitchen," added Kasumi.
"Don't worry, she has access to my cookin' knowledge."
"He's got a point," said Nabiki. "Ranma might not be Cordon Bleu, but at least he doesn't burn water.
"All right, I entrust my kitchen to you both." Kasumi bowed and nervously left the dojo, with Nabiki following.
Mighty big of her, mused Ranma.