"Nabiki!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
It was a cloudy Saturday morning, and Nabiki and Akane were in the dojo, Nabiki carrying tubs of hot and cold water, and Akane tied to a pole.
"Nabiki, what the hell did you do!? I go to sleep one second, and the next I wake up tied to a pole!! Get me out of here!"
"Shush Akane, you'll wake everyone up."
"I will not shush until you tell me why I'm tied to a pole in the first place."
"Well…" Nabiki smiled up at Akane, a smile that was unsettlingly sweet, and quite uncommon for Nabiki. " I just wanted to help you. I noticed that you and Ranma were having some difficulties…Oh, screw this. I bet Ranma's dad that I could get you and Ranma to like each other. And I intend to win that bet, so I'm not letting you go until my teaching session is over."
"ARGHH." Akane muttered under her breath, aware that there was nothing she could do, as the ropes that bound her were heavy and hard to break.
"Ok, Akane. First lesson: how to be gentle. And for that, I'll bring in Kasumi, since I am not the most gentle person."
Nabiki knocked on the door and Kasumi gracefully tiptoed in, looking as gentle and lovely as ever, as well as very tired, as she had just woken up.
"So Kasumi, you're gonna teach Akane how to be gentle and graceful. If she ever gets out of hand, just hit her with some cold water, ok?"
Kasumi turned to Akane, and yawned. "Did she bet with someone that she could make you and Ranma a couple?"
"Yup. Now how about untying me, here, please. I'm starting to get rope burn." Akane closed her eyes. "Plus, I want to get some sleep. It's not easy being a bunny."
Kasumi untied the heavy cords with her beautiful, slender hands. No wonder all the guys fell for her when she was younger, Akane mused. She and Kasumi walked into the hall, not even hearing Nabiki's frustrated shouting. Kasumi walked Akane to her door, and turned to go. But then she turned back, and whispered,
"Do you want some advice? Because I'm always here if you need it." All Akane had to do was smile half-heartedly, and Kasumi gave her a quick hug and told her to meet her in the Dojo, at lunch hour, when everyone was gone. And Akane nodded.
When she was alone in her room, Akane plopped on her bed and sighed, a low, soft, sad noise. Maybe I can learn a thing or two from the rabbit…maybe I can learn to be less of a boyish girl…I don't know…
But then Akane knew. There were things she could learn from Kasumi, or the rabbit, or even Nabiki. But, ultimately, she would have to be herself. Maybe then Ranma would like her. Just maybe.