I do not own anything written by Rumiko Takahashi or Kosuke Fujishima.

Kasumi moved about the kitchen preparing breakfast, her body on autopilot as she listened to the normal morning sounds — the rustling from her father in the family room reading the morning paper, Akane in the furo cleaning up from her morning run. She frowned slightly at the sound she wasn't hearing, Nabiki stumbling down the stairs for her morning wake-up coffee. Her alarm went off fifteen minutes ago, where is that girl? Normally Nabiki was the sensible one, outside of her streak of paranoia and side-hobby of summoning imps and worthy blackmail, but things were rapidly spinning out of control. I know Nabiki said that nothing was going on between her and that nature spirit — boy, rather — and it didn't look like anything had happened when I checked on them when I got up, but she hasn't been acting as she usually does and there was that scent ...

She sighed and, hearing Akane leaving the furo, put the finishing touches on the breakfast plates for her father and younger sister, plastered her normal oblivious smile on her face, and left the kitchen for the family room, carrying Soun and Akane's breakfasts and Akane's bento. As usual, she arrived just as Akane came around the corner dressed for school and carrying her backpack and preceded her in to sit down at the table.

Akane looked around. "Where's Nabiki?"

"Nabiki hasn't gotten up yet. Isn't it wonderful that she is finally sleeping better?" Kasumi gushed.

Akane looked suspiciously toward the ceiling for a moment, then started to rise. "She's going to be late for school, I'd better get her up."

Kasumi hurriedly moved toward the doorway. "Oh, that won't be necessary! You have to get to school, too, and your breakfast will get cold. You just eat your breakfast and I'll see to Nabiki."

Akane stared at the doorway her older sister had just left through for a moment. That was a bit hasty for Kasumi. Are she and Nabiki hiding something? Finally, she shrugged to herself, sat back down, and started eating. Whatever it is, it can't be too serious, not if Kasumi hasn't brought it up to Dad yet.

Kasumi hurried up the stairs, then paused outside Nabiki's door and listened for a long moment. Not hearing anything, she sighed in relief and firmly knocked on the door.

"AAAAAHHH! I'msorryI'msorryI'msorry!"

Kasumi jumped back against the corridor wall at the scream that answered her knock. What the hell?! That was Ranma! Quickly, she threw open Nabiki's door and rushed into the room, only to freeze at the sight of the naked redhead floating in the middle of the room curled into a ball, a continual mantra of "I'msorryI'mnotlikehim, I'msorryI'mnotlikehim" streaming from the balled-up boy, ah, girl, ah, nature spirit. Confused, Kasumi glanced over at her middle sister sitting up in her bed (fully clothed, thank you!) and staring at her friend, a look of confusion ... and was that guilt? ... on her face. "Nabiki, what's wrong with Ranma?" Kasumi asked cautiously.

Nabiki absentmindedly shook her head as she continued to stare at Ranma. "I'm not sure …" she said uncertainly, then shook herself out of her own shock and turned toward her older sister. "Kasumi, there's no way Dad and Akane didn't hear that scream downstairs, and Akane at least will be on her way up here right now. You have to stop her from coming up — tell her I had a nightmare."

"And Ranma?"

Nabiki turned troubled eyes back to the human-appearing floating ball still chanting her mantra. "I think maybe I know what's wrong, I'll deal with Ranma. But I think I'll be missing school today, call them for me?"

Kasumi nodded. "Certainly, sister." She turned and hurried back down the hall, meeting Akane at the head of the stairs.

"Kasumi, what was that?!" Akane demanded breathlessly.

"Nabiki had a nightmare," Kasumi responded serenely, "she'll be fine, she's just a little shaken and wants privacy."

Akane glanced around her sister and down the hall. "Are you sure? That didn't sound much like Nabiki."

"Yes," Kasumi said firmly, "she'll be fine. And when was the last time you heard Nabiki scream? Now let's finish breakfast and get you off to school, Nabiki is going to be a little late."

"Okay ..." Akane said reluctantly, and headed back down the stairs. Kasumi glanced back down the hall herself, then followed her sister.

/\

As Kasumi hurried from the bedroom, Nabiki gazed exasperatedly (with a large dollop of guilt) at the panicked (but cute) redhead on display, curled into a ball and floating in the middle of the room and still chanting her mantra. This is getting to be a habit. Still, if his problem's what I think it is, I can't say I blame him. Face it, girl, you screwed up big time. Remembering the last time, Nabiki got out of bed and, rather than trying to talk Ranma down, simply caught that convenient foot again and pulled Ranma into her arms (carefully, also remembering getting knocked on her ass).

Ranma tried to tighten up even further. "Don't touch me!"

"Why not?" Nabiki asked as gently as she could while walking back to sit on her bed with Ranma again in her lap. "You need help, and you're my friend."

Ranma uncurled a bit and looked up at her. "We're still friends? Even after I … I forced … forced you …"

Bingo! Got it in one. Nabiki wiped some tears away from Ranma's upturned face with a thumb and grinned down at her. "Hey, kiddo, we didn't do anything that I didn't want to do. If anything, my only problem is that it didn't last long enough."

Ranma stared. "Really? Ya mean it, ya aren't just tryin' ta make me feel better?"

"Every word," Nabiki confirmed with a nod. "Tell me, had you ever seen what I was wearing? What about the room we were in?"

Ranma shook her head. "No, I never seen either of 'em before."

"Well, the lingerie I was wearing is over there in my wardrobe," nodding to her right, "and that room was the king's bedroom at the palace of Versailles. Last night wasn't the first time I've been there in my dreams, either — just the best." Nabiki leered at Ranma and was heartened to see her cuddled friend blush a little. "I brought more to that dream than you did, and enjoyed every minute of it, so don't go beating yourself up over it."

Ranma shook her head. "Maybe you were willin', but I was still out a' control. I didn't even think a' what was happenin' 'til it was all over."

"But you didn't know what was happening," Nabiki responded. "Now that you do, you should be able to control yourself, maybe even not join my dream."

Ranma stiffened. "Ya mean it was my fault we were in the same dream?"

"Well, it certainly wasn't anything I did," Nabiki said with a chuckle. "No, much as I'd like to be able to do that, I suspect it's an aspect of whatever kind of nature spirit you are. Tonight, we find out if you can stay out of my dreams, or control yourself if you can't."

Ranma stared up at her. "You mean you still want me to sleep with you? But what if I can't control myself?"

"Then we have another wonderful night," Nabiki purred. "But as much as I'd like that, I doubt it'll happen."

Ranma blushed, and finally relaxed and uncurled enough to straighten a bit, laying her head on Nabiki's shoulder. Nabiki rearranged her hold to keep her arms around the busty spirit without touching anything remotely sexual. For a time they simply sat, but finally Nabiki's curiosity grew stronger than she could ignore. "Ranma, who aren't you like?"

"Huh? What're ya talkin' about?"

"While you were floating up there, you kept repeating 'I'm sorry, I'm not like him'. I figure the 'I'm sorry' was an apology, but who is 'him'?"

"Oh, my pop," Ranma responded nonchalantly.

"Your father is a rapist!?" Nabiki all but shouted.

"No, no! He is a womanizer, though. Half the money he steals or cheats out a' people goes to whores, what doesn't go to fill his fat belly. He tries to get me to be just like him, too — tried to set me up with a whore as a 'birthday present' when I turned fourteen, an' a couple a' times since." Ranma's voice turned bitter. " 'Fore then, I didn't even know when my birthday was, or how old I was."

Nabiki had stiffened in outrage, and it was a few minutes before she trusted her voice. Finally she was able to ask, "Does your father have any good points, and why do you stay with that bastard?"

Ranma thought for a moment. "Well, he really is a good martial artist — some a' his ideas for trainin' are screwy, but he's taught me a lot. And he really does believe in a martial artist's duty to protect the weak. I've seen him drop a bag a' loot to help people that needed it. 'Course, he stole every yen on 'em when they were safe, but they were safe." She shrugged as she added, "An' I stick with him because, well, where else can I go? Pop may be a lazy, greedy, lyin', cheatin', thievin', womanizin' waste a' space, but he's all I got."

Nabiki's arms tightened. "No, he isn't, not anymore. Now, you have me — and Kasumi too, though she may not show it through that China doll act of hers. We just need to figure out how to make that mean something. We're too young to become your legal guardians ourselves, but maybe Dad …" Her voice died off in thought, then she shook herself. "But that's for later, right now we need to figure out what we're going to do with the rest of the day."

/oOo\

Nabiki sighed in contentment as she sank into the warm water of the furo. Oh, that feels good! The only thing that would make this better is a certain redhead cutie joining me! Except with the warm water it wouldn't be the cutie, it would be a certain black-haired, well-hung hunk. Remembering the trip the two shared down to the furo after their talk/cuddle, Nabiki sighed again, this time in mild exasperation. I really hope I was imagining Ranma's body consciousness — it's going to get inconvenient if Ranma starts trying to not see naked people, or let people see him — uh, her, as if they could. Damn, the pronouns are confusing. He certainly was a hunk in the dream last night, though. Nabiki's expression turned dreamy for a moment as the memory of the dream played through her mind again, then she frowned. Still, as much fun as it was, leaving aside the way Ranma freaked afterward it was a bit … odd. Ranma said he was 'out of control', whatever that means, and what was up with that glowing — Nabiki stiffened as a thought struck her. That glow didn't really hit until the tail end of the sex — this could be seriously bad. Looks like I got one more thing to research when I get back online.

Suddenly, the redhead Nabiki was finding such delight in watching (and daydreaming about) popped back into existence, floating beside the furo. Ranma looked around, saw Nabiki almost neck-deep in clear if steaming water, and blushed and twisted her hips a little so that Nabiki couldn't see the small bush that proved her red hair was natural. Nabiki sighed to herself. Damn, his — her, damn it — body consciousness wasn't my imagination. Well, I'll just have to do something about it. Ignoring Ranma's possibly unconscious attempt at modesty, Nabiki asked, "Ranma, I thought you insisted you needed to spend the day with your father to keep him from getting too suspicious, what's up with the quick return?"

Ranma chuckled and tugged slightly on her pigtail. "Ah, it's drizzling in China, no way I'm gonna be able ta hang around there."

Nabiki quirked an eyebrow and chuckled herself as she got out of the furo and grabbed a towel. "Okay, I guess we're going with my plan after all. Let me get dressed and grab my laptop and we'll head over to the park."

Blushing deeply, Ranma gulped at the sight of the water running off of the body he'd enjoyed so much in last night's dream ... Ranma quickly turned away and flew toward the ceiling. "Sure, I'll, uh, um, wait fer ya in yer room."

Sighing more deeply, Nabiki just shook her head as she finished drying off and started getting dressed. That is really going to be a hassle if she doesn't get over it. Well, let's see if time will take care of it.

/oOo\

Whatever it was like in China, it was a nice sunny afternoon in Nerima, where Nabiki was sitting on a shaded park bench with her laptop open on her lap while Ranma practiced on the nearby open lawn. Nabiki wasn't enjoying the day much, though.

Nabiki growled with frustration as she shut down the website on Japanese nature spirits. Nothing! Nothing for China, Korea, Vietnam, nothing that really matches Ranma. Damn it, Ranma, where did your template come from? Ah, well, at least I've had better luck with your mother if not your 'pop'.

Her frown disappeared to be replaced by a happy and more than somewhat lascivious smile as she turned slightly to watch Ranma running through katas. At least the scenery's nice — that cute face, those firm breasts — She shook herself a little as she turned her gaze away. Down, girl! Ranma's already body-conscious enough without you drooling over her — give it some time …

She turned her gaze back to Ranma and watched her friend flow through the latest kata, forcing herself to ignore all those tantalizing anatomical details … and frowned thoughtfully — something was nagging at her, something about the kata … Then she had it, Ranma's kata didn't seem to take into account the fact that she was floating in the air instead of planted on the ground. Nabiki closed down and set aside her laptop, then called out and waved to Ranma, motioning her over when she caught the redhead's attention.

"Hey Nabiki, what's up?" the now perky redhead asked as she floated over on full display, her gaze only slightly averted and locked on Nabiki's face.

Good, she's — he's — she's, damn it. She's starting to relax again, Nabiki though to herself. "Ranma, I think there might be a problem with your katas. These are katas you're adapting to when you're floating, right?"

"Yeah," Ranma agreed, nodding agreement. "Most a' what I know doesn't work without bein' on the ground. I've been workin' on adaptin' the Art ta flyin'."

"But you haven't been actually sparring with anyone while in your spirit form, have you?"

Ranma frowned thoughtfully, then chuckled at a fond memory. "No, not really, outside a' beatin' on Pop when we first got cursed. Don't really have anyone ta spar with, actually. The only one around is Pop and he can't see me. And even if that wasn't a problem I don't want him ta know I turn into a girl and there's no way ta hide that in a good spar."

Nabiki laughed at the thought of Genma getting a beating from someone he couldn't see. "From what you've said, I can't say I blame you for the beating. But you still need to find some way to practice that lets you know how hard you're actually hitting. Maybe practicing on trees? Anyway, it's time for me to head home and maybe you should see if it's still raining in China."

Ranma sighed and shrugged. "It's been nice here, but I guess you're right. Not like I can't spend more time here tomorrow or the next day. Can't say I'm lookin' forward ta Pop's company after spendin' time with you, though."

Nabiki lightly blushed and found herself choked up a bit. Keeping her face straight and forcing her throat clear, she managed to get out, "Thanks, Ranma, I appreciate it." She quickly turned to pack up her laptop, and as they strolled/floated back toward the dojo she added nonchalantly, "Still, I bet you're going to be looking forward to getting something to eat."

"Naw," Ranma replied, glancing at a passing teenaged schoolgirl then looking away with a faint blush. "I haven't been hungry all day. Odd, really, now that ya mention it."

Nabiki winced slightly but covered it up with a shrug. "Probably something to do with your spirit nature. We'll figure it out."

/\

A very confused imp slipped through the trees and bushes lining the park sidewalk, shadowing the summoner and her bound spirit — at least, Gorash thought the naked redhead floating alongside Nabiki was her bound spirit. This is extremely strange. The succubus isn't task-bound, unless she's supposed to be a bodyguard, and her body language is all wrong for that. Besides, who's going to bind a succubus as a bodyguard? Of course, this succubus is an obvious master of unarmed combat, and how did that happen? Too bad I couldn't risk getting close enough to listen in. But if she isn't task bound that leaves personal binding, and the body language is all wrong for that, too. Besides, the master/familiar link isn't there, either. At least that isn't a surprise — unlike the status-obsessed, hormone-driven moron that 'assigned' me to this job, Nabiki will want a better familiar than one of those sex-obsessed bimbos. Only this succubus isn't acting like a sex-obsessed bimbo, just the opposite.

Gorash sighed as the two girls left the park and turned toward the dojo. Great, another long evening and night staring at a house. This is getting old fast, and I can't return to my so-called master yet because I only have the succubus's use name. Then the imp brightened at a sudden thought. I can't return to Gosunkugi yet, but Mara will want to know about this. I'll just wait until after Nabiki's bedroom light goes out for the night, then drop in to headquarters and make a quick report.

/oOo\

Kasumi looked up with a bright, slightly oblivious smile as Nabiki walked into the kitchen, and the middle Tendo chuckled and shook her head at her older sister. "You can relax the act, sis, Dad and Akane aren't around and I'm afraid with me your cover's well and truly blown."

Kasumi's smile turned genuine if somewhat rueful and she echoed Nabiki's chuckle. "You make a good point, little sis." Turning serious, she asked, "Ranma's back in China?"

Nabiki nodded, also turning serious. "Yeah, Ranma needs some face time with his father before he comes back here at nightfall, help keep his suspicions down."

Kasumi sighed at that, and Nabiki frowned. "All right, Kasumi, out with it. What's bothering you about Ranma?"

Kasumi stiffened for a moment, then relaxed and smiled ruefully. "With her personally, nothing — she seems like a sweet if not exactly, well, socially skilled girl. It's just that …" Kasumi paused and stared at the wall for a moment, then screwed up her courage, put down the kitchen knife, and turned to face her younger sister. "Nabiki, you're bisexual, aren't you? Your relationship with Ranma isn't just friendship."

Nabiki looked away for a moment, then turned back. "You've got it half-right. Yes, I'm bisexual, not that I've ever acted on it outside of dreams, and Ranma's spirit form is cute as a button — I wouldn't mind taking her to bed for more than sleep at all. But our relationship is just friendship, because Ranma really is a boy, whatever he — she — looks like when she's here …" she grimaced, "… sooner or later I'll figure out the pronouns. Anyway, however much I might like to drag Ranma off to bed, Ranma isn't willing — too honorable, too ignorant, maybe too repressed, I'm seriously considering taking up the Art again just so I can lay a beatdown on Genma Saotome if I ever meet him."

"Genma is Ranma's father?"

"Yeah." Nabiki waved a hand at Kasumi's doubtful look. "I know, I know, there's no way I could match his skill without years of study, maybe decades. But I can dream, right?"

Kasumi smiled wistfully, her eyes getting a distant look. "Yes, Nabiki, dreams are good." Then her eyes sharpened and returned to Nabiki's face. "In that case, what was this morning all about?"

"Uh, well, that is …" Nabiki paused and took a deep, steadying breath. "That was about sex, but not exactly voluntary — at least on Ranma's part." She leaned back against the counter, arms clasped across her stomach, and gazed thoughtfully at the wall. "Last night, Ranma and I shared a dream — a highly erotic one — and let me tell you, Ranma as a guy is as much a hunk as he is cute as a girl. This morning was Ranma's reaction to that dream when we woke up."

Kasumi frowned thoughtfully, then turned to resume cutting up the vegetables for the night's dinner. "I see why you say Ranma isn't likely to be willing to be part of a sexual relationship. But why would the two of you share a dream, and why was it erotic if Ranma isn't willing?"

"Because of what kind of nature spirit Ranma is, sis. I wasted a lot of time this afternoon trying to figure out exactly what kind of spirit Ranma is, but the general type is obvious — a sex spirit of some kind. Last night was Ranma's new instincts coming out."

Kasumi froze for a moment, then resumed chopping. "A sex spirit? And you're going to still be sharing a bed tonight?"

"Yeah, we need to see if Ranma can keep from joining my dreams now that we know what's going on, and if we can keep from having sex if he does. Ranma needs to learn to control her new instincts, and there's only one way to do that — practice."

"I suppose so … you are sure that Ranma's a sex spirit, and not some other kind? What happened in the dream could simply have been repressed desire on his part and not-so-repressed desire on yours."

Nabiki grinned, but shook her head. "I'm sure. It wasn't just how erotic the dream was, sis, there were some other oddities as well — in the dream Ranma was literally glowing by the time it ended, and she didn't get hungry at all today — he was feeding. Yes, even if I can't find the specific type in any sources for China or Japan, or even Vietnam or Korea, Ranma's a sex spirit. I just hope it doesn't break him when he finds out."

"So you haven't told her yet?"

"Not a chance, not until I can give him some more details besides 'you're a female sex spirit, have fun'."

"I suppose that is for the best. So the day's study was a waste, outside of learning what Ranma isn't?"

Nabiki brightened up and grinned. "Nope, I also did some research on Ranma's parents. I wasn't able to find anything on his father but I have an idea on how to change that, and his mother is another matter. Saotome Nodoka — she's a major player at kendo tournaments, came out of nowhere about five years ago and leaped to the top ranks. When she's not beating people up in tournaments, she does very well in antiquities — besides selling them she gets called in for appraisals and when people are worried about forgeries."

"Oh, good, I'm sure Ranma was so happy to learn about that!"

Nabiki winced. "Uh, no, not exactly."

Kasumi stared at her sister in shock. "Ranma wasn't happy to learn about her mother?"

"No, I haven't told her." At Kasumi's disapproving frown, Nabiki hastily added, "Look, his father is a complete waste of space. Before I get Ranma's hopes up I want to learn if his mother is any better, and how good she is at appraising antiques or using a katana isn't going to tell me that."

Kasumi's frown deepened, but finally she nodded reluctant agreement. "I suppose so. How are you going to learn what she's like?"

"I'm not really sure. I can't just summon an imp and send it off to investigate, I'd need to actually use the information collected for blackmail or take on some karmic debt to a demon, no matter how weak, and neither are exactly good ideas. I suppose I could summon one of the nature spirits I used to use." Nabiki grinned ruefully. "Could you use a new flower bed?"

Kasumi giggled, but shook her head. "Not at the moment, no, but I have a better idea. Remember, I still have some friends among the nature spirits I used to play with, and a few still remind me on occasion that they owe me a favor. Why don't we wait until one of them drops by and ask it to investigate 'Auntie' Saotome for us?"

Nabiki thought about it for a moment, then shrugged reluctant agreement. "Why not? I don't really like waiting, but it isn't as if we have some sort of deadline. Anyway, dinner smells really good and I'm a bit sweaty from being in the sun today, so I'll go get cleaned up."

Kasumi smiled as Nabiki left the kitchen for the furo, then frowned thoughtfully as her hands went onto autopilot, thinking over the just-ended conversation. I'm still not sure I like this, Nabiki sharing a bed with a sex spirit, even a sexually repressed one, but I suppose we have no real choice. I wonder what Ranma actually looks like? Too bad Nabiki isn't an artist … ah, well, Ranma's too young anyway. Maybe someday … And as happened so often, while her body went through the motions needed to prepare dinner her thoughts turned to a daydream of a new life outside of the dojo, with a handsome, gentle young doctor.

/oOo\

With a deep sigh of relief, Nodoka walked slowly through her front door and flipped on the light. Completely inventorying the stock in her antiquities warehouse was never fun, but it had to be done regularly. At least it was over. Considering her upbringing, it was usually fairly easy work, and at least it slowed the decline in her finances.

Changing into house slippers, she flipped through the day's mail. Nothing from the investigation agency — no surprise there, their last report was that they'd lost track of Genma and my son when they left Japan for China months ago. They're going to have to reacquire the trail all over again whenever they get back, and then probably only when Genma once again brings himself to the attention of the police. But at least while Genma's in China he won't be adding to the stack of bills from creditors and victims of his scams.

Turning from the mail, Nodoka headed for her bedroom, where she changed from her business attire into clothes suitable for a workout in her own private dojo. She performed some warm-up exercises and then took up a bokken and started her nightly practice in Kendo and Kenjutsu.

As her body relaxed into the familiar rhythm, flowing from one kata to another, her mind followed its own well-worn pattern, remembering her time with her son and the man she'd loved. What happened to you Genma? The training trip was going so well, you were calling regularly, you'd been back home three times in the first year, well within the agreed-to visit every three to six months, you were drawing money from our bank account as needed, and then … nothing. No contact, no visit, no money being withdrawn … and then the visits from the police looking for you for petty thefts and scams, and the lawyers of the victims looking for compensation, not to mention the families of all the fiancées wondering where the boy promised to their daughters had gotten to. It's as if the good man almost ruined by 'Master' Happosai, that I helped recover and rebuild from the wreckage, never existed!

Finally tired enough that she'd probably be able to sleep through the night, Nodoka cleaned up and had a small evening meal, then paused on the way from the kitchen to the bedroom to open the glass case in the hallway. She ignored the trophies from her tournament victories it contained and instead focused on the photograph in the center, above an envelope containing the shredded remains of a seppuku contract. The picture was of a younger Nodoka and a six-year-old Ranma holding a kitten, both smiling for the camera — only remnants of Genma were visible, the rest cut away.

Reaching out a shaking hand, Nodoka gently touched the photograph. Soon — soon the ten years for the training trip will be over, and Genma will have to bring my son back to me, or my investigators will catch him. He can't keep running forever. And when we do meet he had better have a very, very good explanation for why he broke his word and returned to his old ways, or he will regret it for the short time he survives!

Sighing, she closed the case and headed for her bedroom, hoping that the night would be one of the good ones, with dreams of the happy times over a decade earlier, or of the hoped-for future to come. Soon, my son will return. Soon. Please, let it be soon!