The next morning was an interesting one.
Ranma had returned to female form and returned to the dojo with Nabiki, at which point the sleeping arrangements for the fiancees had evolved into what could best be described as a 'dogpile' with Ranma at the bottom. Somehow they had managed to sleep that way, though Ranma was complaining of being stiff and there was some awkwardness in the morning sorting out who's limbs belonged to whom.
Ryouga had gotten up early to train a little, making use of the rope-bound wooden posts set up for strike practice. Though he naturally couldn't hit them very hard by his standards, he made good use of them for speed exercises. Rin had gotten up to watch the display of martial arts, rapt, while Yuka and Riko had gotten up to watch, equally rapt, as Ryouga had elected to practice without a shirt.
Kasumi was in her element, shuttling about to get breakfast ready and to prepare bentos for the whole gang. Some had tried to insist she didn't need to but Kasumi seemed determined to give those in her charge the full treatment. Shampoo and Ukyou joined her efforts in the kitchen while the rest quickly busied themselves cleaning up, the boundless generosity of the eldest Tendo motivating them to contribute however they could. By the time breakfast was ready the entire compound had been thoroughly cleaned and tended by the small army.
"It seems you've deprived me of my day's chores," Kasumi noted wryly as she finished her miso soup. "I don't think the dojo has been this clean in years."
"Just don't tell my parents?" Hiroshi said sheepishly. "If they knew I cleaned this hard they'd expect me to keep my room at home like this."
"Ditto, please Ms. Tendo," Rin added quietly, raising her hand.
Sheepishly, most of the rest of the table raised their hands in agreement.
"Ranma, put down your hand," Akane admonished the redhead.
They finished up and headed out with time to spare, able to enjoy the walk. The conversation strayed from the movie to vague plans to repeat the gathering, especially as there was a test coming up that many of them wanted to study for.
Imagine that, Nabiki thought as they walked. The Tendo Dojo full of STUDENTS. Too bad none of them are paying. She considered the idea of setting up an impromptu study hall at the dojo but she didn't feel right charging. Besides…
She turned and walked backwards ahead of the group for a bit, just taking the mass of them in view. This felt like something. It was such a mixed, eclectic group and yet… it felt like something was gelling here. She felt an odd feeling of responsibility to the group.
I wonder if any of us would even know each other without all of this chaos? She sighed and visualized her corkboard. The strings crisscrossing the group were getting thick and it was forming a kind of knot in her model of The Madness.
A bulwark, to be sure, but also a much larger target. That would be something she would have to account for.
At least some of the chaos is actually calming, she thought. The Hentai Horde is broken. Nodoka is in a place where we can negotiate things and Kasumi is on board to keep Dad and Mr. Saotome in line. There are some wobbles but, if I can keep this up, we might just be able to get our big problems off the board. And, at least for now, there's nothing looming. So maybe we can have a quiet day for once? She turned and resumed walking to the gates, rounding them before the rest of the group.
A half-remembered bit of training from when she was a kid prompted her to duck out of the way as something bright purple over her head. It struck the stonework of the gates, chipping away a piece before it flicked back.
That was followed by a very, very familiar manic laugh.
Nabiki stumbled back, off-balance, and would have fallen but strong arms caught her from behind. Ranma had caught her.
Before them stood Kodachi Kuno, clad in her usual St. Hebereke's school uniform and twirling her gymnastics ribbon in one hand, creating a spiral of vibrant purple that experience told Nabiki was far more dangerous than it appeared.
"What are you doing here, Kodachi?!" Akane demanded, coming up next to her. Shampoo and Ukyou flanked them, dropping into ready stances.
"Now, now, is that any way to treat a classmate, Akane Tendo?" Kodachi asked with a smirk.
"Oh crap…" Daisuke said from the back of the group. "I knew I forgot something…"
Nabiki winced. The important thing they were coming over to tell us. It slipped my mind after… She cursed herself for allowing her personal emotional state to affect her professionalism. She stood up and shot Ranma a grateful nod as the redhead came to stand beside her protectively.
"Don't tell me you transferred? Why would you want to come to Furinkan?" Ukyou asked skeptically.
"Father has always had a long-standing invitation for me to change schools but we felt it best for me to stay where I was due to the ongoing… sibling rivalry between myself and my dear, dear brother. However, the poor dear has been laid up with terrible injuries from an assault by some uncultured brute…" she glared at Akane. "And, since my engagement to my Darling Ranma has been confirmed, I saw this as an ideal time to join him here, so that we might more easily plan the wedding particulars between classes." She tittered, covering her mouth daintily and blushing.
"So this planning includes taking my head off?" Nabiki asked archly.
"I was merely practising while I awaited my future husband, Nabiki Tendo. One could hardly blame me if one of my misguided rivals happened to wander into the path of my ribbon," she smirked.
"I wonder if Ranma's mother would see it the same way?" Nabiki asked, crossing her arms.
Kodachi's eyes narrowed. "I hardly see the need to involve her in what was obviously a misunderstanding." She flicked her ribbon, coiling it with a flick of her wrist and tucking it away as she walked up to Nabiki. "Simply be more cautious where you walk, dear." She smiled and reached up to flick an invisible mote of dust from Nabiki's shoulder. Her eyes darted down to Ranma. "And as for you… I have heard from my brother that you are in fact my dear Ranma's sibling. Odd that you were not present at the omiai, nor were you mentioned by Mother Saotome."
Ranma narrowed her eyes.
"Nodoka Saotome doesn't acknowledge she exists," Nabiki said. "Hence Genma trying to marry her off quickly to the Hibiki family to get her out of sight."
Kodachi raised an eyebrow. "She's illegitimate?"
Ranma shot Nabiki a horrified look.
Nabiki merely smiled. "Genma was away on training journies a lot. He didn't even bother to give her a different name."
Kodachi's stance changed. She gave the redhead a searching look then her expression almost softened. "Mothers… can be cruel to those they perceive as competition for their favored offspring, can they not?" She took a breath, and glanced at Ryouga. "Then the rumours of an engagement I heard are true as well. A homeless wanderer certainly is an… appropriate choice for one of your social standing. But it seems there is little reason for us to be antagonistic… outside of gymnastics at least." She smirked. "Provided, of course, your sisterly affection for my darling Ranma is not taken to inappropriate extremes and you are wise enough to stay out of my way."
Her gaze returned to Nabiki and her expression darkened. "You, however Nabiki Tendo… I am familiar with your tricks. You have drunk deeply from the coffers of the Kuno family for quite some time and, while your schemes may have worked on my brother, you will find I am far more canny."
"Even if i were to say that the Ranma Summer picture sets were ready?" Nabiki asked, settling into her typical Ice Queen confidence.
"Ooooh they're ready?!" Kodachi's air of menace dropped immediately and she squealed in excitement. After a second she caught herself, glanced around and realized she was putting on a scene in front of the ever-growing crowd of Furinkan students. She cleared her throat. "~Ahem~... yes, well… such materials should not be left for public consumption. It would only be right for Ranma Darling's future wife to have such things. P-perhaps we can negotiate for their repatriation another time?" She narrowed her eyes. "But don't think that this will purchase you any mercy from me. I know not what your scheme is in participating in the omiai but Ranma is mine. Best seek your profit elsewhere lest you have need of it to cover your medical bills. Now… where is my Darling Husband? Before I am forced to do something Mother Saotome would frown upon, if you please."
Nabiki quirked an eyebrow. "Haven't you heard? Your father, Principal Kuno, banned the male Ranma from appearing on campus."
"What!?" Kodachi gaped, aghast. "But… but…"
"His sister here has been attending in his stead, taking classes for him to make sure he doesn't fall behind," Nabiki pressed on with her story. "The Principal even had the registration switched to female, since Ranma's parents didn't bother to register them separately. Go ahead and ask him if you don't believe me."
Kodachi's eyebrow twitched. It was obvious she could easily envision her father doing something so petty. "Y-you can be assured I will verify the accuracy of this claim. And…" she glanced at Ranma again, "If it is true you are attending in Ranma's stead to fulfill his scholastic obligations for him… perhaps I have misjudged you." She glared at Nabiki. "But you, however, I will watch closely." She turned and walked away her trademark laugh echoing as the crowd parted for her.
"Ranma Summer picture set!?" Ranma growled as soon as Kodachi was out of earshot.
Nabiki held up a hand. "It doesn't actually exist. Not that there wasn't absurd demand for it."
Ranma crossed her arms.
Nabiki made a placating gesture. "I promise! And Hana has no negatives to make one, so you're safe."
Ranma scowled skeptically for a moment then sighed. "All right." She rubbed her forehead. "So… I'm now the illegitimate daughter of Genma Saotome, who my own mother doesn't acknowledge exists because, apparently, she's not my mother… in addition to being the sister of male Ranma, raised as a boy, and being engaged to Ryouga… am I missing anything in the cover story?"
"And you're attending in male Ranma's stead," Ukyou said, concerned. "This is getting kinda unwieldy."
"Kodachi will believe what she chooses to believe, regardless," Nabiki said. "It's not like we're liable to get much contact between her, that neurologist you're working with, or Ryouga's mother. This way it at least gets her off our backs a little."
"Let's just get to class," Akane said. "The day hasn't even started yet and already I can't wait for it to be over."
000
Nodoka flipped through the pages of Kodachi's rirekisho. She rubbed her eyes and at the dark circles that had formed from lack of sleep. She had stayed up late pouring over the documents and what sleep she had gotten was fitful.
On the surface the problem was so simple. If all of the girls were equally suitable then the obvious choice was Akane. But… were they? The rirekisho provided by Akane, Nabiki, Ukyou and Shampoo had almost undoubtedly been crafted by Nabiki herself, drawing on assistance from the three girls to ensure that each was airtight and that each presented themselves to the ideal that Nodoka was seeking. It was salesmanship, pure and simple. The only one without the mark of it was Kodachi which then suggested that she was the correct choice, if she was so appealing on her own.
But then if she were to accept Nabiki's interpretation of the Art… which was compelling for the sheer ambitiousness and scope of it… then Nabiki would be the clear winner for such skillful use of this new application of the Art, turning her opponents into advantages. Add to that her son apparently favored the middle Tendo now.
No, I mustn't let the fickle whims of my son's young heart or my own prejudices decide this matter, she resolved. This must be decided for the one who will see to his future in developing the Art and rebuilding the Saotome family prestige and who will give him an heir most quickly.
She smiled. From how they looked at him, it was quite obvious that all the girls all adored her son. For a moment she thought about how nice it would be to simply let nature take its course. It felt cruel to cut short his chance to sow his wild oats.
No… The longer this matter continues, the greater the chance something else will arise to cause problems. Ranma MUST be ushered on to the next stage of his journey, now, while things are favorable. She sighed and flipped back to the index of the massive leather tome.
"No-chan, are you still obsessing over that silly book?" Genma asked, walking into the room and settling down at the table. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes, as he often did to seem more knowledgeable when lecturing. "You're merely tormenting yourself. You know the only correct choice in this matter is Akane."
Nodoka sighed. "No, that is your choice, Genma dear. I know how important uniting the schools is to you, but the goal is the restoration of the Saotome family and to ensure Ranma's success in becoming a man among men. We may have to wait to unite the schools with our grandchildren."
"Unacceptable!" Genma huffed. "Uniting the schools of Anything Goes Martial Arts is…"
"What is unacceptable is how you mishandled raising Ranma!" Nodoka said coldly, freezing him mid-sentence. She picked up the cloth-wrapped bundle she carried with her nearly everywhere she went and laid it on the table, methodically unwrapping the katana from the blanket.
This terrified him, she knew. For all his faults and for all the dishonorable things he had done, she knew that this was one point of honor he would uphold. It had been the thrust of his entire life, after all; to restore the Saotome family to greatness and a place of honor. Even when he realized that the compromises it demanded of him would leave his own honor so tattered that he could never be the one to see it to completion.
"If the Tendo arrangement was so vitally important, you should not have diluted it so ruthlessly, my husband," Nodoka chided him as she drew the katana, taking out a soft cloth to carefully polish the blade. Genma sat there, unmoving, shaking slightly with fear. Good. He's EARNED a little fear. It will help keep him focused. "Nor should you have brought Ranma back from China blighted as you did."
"I had no control over that," He said tightly.
"So you've told me…" She said, nonchalantly holding up the blade, turning it so her reflection was visible in the polished metal. "But the people who lived there had much greater knowledge of how the waters of that place work. You could have remained to find a solution."
"You know why I couldn't do that!"
She paused in her polishing and turned the blade slightly so that she could see his face and glared at it, knowing he could see her as well. "Again, you explained why you couldn't, but I don't see it. Instead, you elected to return to Japan with your job only half done. And you chose not to tell me, letting me think something awful had befallen you and my son!"
"Ranma is more than manly enough, even with the curse," Genma muttered. "You said so yourself."
Nodoka sighed. "Did you think I wouldn't? That I would opt to invoke the contract over anything but utter failure?" She put the sword down to gather her thoughts. "He is… a miracle, Genma. But all you have accomplished is not fair recompense for what I gave up for him! He could be so much more if he wasn't saddled with… with the mistakes of the past. If you had done your task properly, Akane would be more than suitable for the task. But now? For him to achieve his destiny?" She shook her head and picked up the sword to resume polishing more briskly. "He will need an extraordinary woman by his side. I don't know if Akane can be that for him. This cannot be left to chance and it cannot be further bound by your whims."
"But No-chan…"
She sheathed the sword with the loud snap of the guard hitting the top of the scabbard. "You agreed to allow me to handle this after the last failed wedding attempt. You gave me your word."
Genma slumped. "Yes. I did." He took a deep breath. "But please remember… we wouldn't even be having this discussion if it weren't for Soun. We owe him a great debt and he has the future of his own legacy to secure."
"I know…" Nodoka said, slumping a little. Genma came up and embraced her from behind and she sank back into his arms, closing her eyes. "I will do my best to honor the Tendos and all they have done for us. But Soun's family can endure another generation at least. Ranma is our only hope." She shook her head. "If only he wouldn't preoccupy himself with frivolous things. I wish… I wish he could understand that his life is not merely his own to waste on friends or sports or distractions. He was born for the Art and for the future of the Saotome family line. We have sacrificed so much for him to this end."
"The boy has always been ungrateful," Genma agreed sadly.
"He will be. Someday," Nodoka said softly. "Someday he'll understand all we've done for him. A true Man among men would understand and would thank us." She sighed. "Get me some paper, would you, dear? I need to put out the invitations for the next interview."
000
"Ranma, we need to practise!" Sayuri yelled after the redhead as she retreated from the volleyball field towards the meeting tree where the usual group was gathered. "Our first game is tomorrow!"
"I know, I know!" Ranma called back as she backpedalled away. "But I'm starving! Just lemme grab a bite, okay?"
"I don't know how you can be hungry with how much you packed away at breakfast!" Sayuri shot back.
"I'm a growing boy!"
Ranma trotted up to the lunch circle and plopped down next to Akane, crossed her arms and scowled in frustration. "Geez, she doesn't need to make a big deal about it!" She picked up a pair of chopsticks and reached into the collection of bentos for a morsel.
"She has a point, Ranma," Akane said. "You're going to be totally unprepared for the game tomorrow if you keep this up."
Ranma shrugged. "I'll just wing it, like I usually do. Not like Volleyball is hard." She popped a pickled vegetable into her mouth.
"Excuse me, but I seem to remember the only reason you won our game was because the coach gifted you three rounds!" Ukyou said haughtily.
"But I won," Ranma pointed out. "And there's no way they'll have someone like you on their team, so…"
"Just because they won't be martial artists doesn't mean they won't be experts at their Art, Ranma," Nabiki cautioned. "This team went to the quarterfinals last year, after all."
Before Ranma could reply, there was an incoherent scream of rage from the upper floors of the school building. They all looked up and, through the windows, could make out figures running through the halls.
"How DARE you keep me from my Darling Ranma!"
"Kochi, please, listen to yer Papa…"
"I AM DONE LISTENING TO YOU!"
There was a sudden crash and the body of Principal Kuno, thoroughly mummified in a bright purple ribbon, was forcefully ejected from one of the third floor windows of the school. He howled as he plummeted to land heavily on the field and bounce a couple of times before rolling to a stop.
Before he could recover, a figure in a green leotard landed gracefully on his gut, driving what little breath he still had from his lungs.
Kodachi daintily stepped off the groaning form of her father and crouched next to him, still holding the handle of her gymnast's ribbon. "Now, will you allow my Darling Ranma to return to school?"
"But Kochi… Ranma Saotome be right over dere!" Principal Kuno jerked his chin in the direction of the group under the tree.
Kodachi scowled. "Again with this insane babble about magical water and sorcerous transformations?! I am not the child to whom you once read bedtime stories, father dear. Perhaps I will need to be more conscientious about reminding you of that fact until you learn." She straightened and, with a deceptively casual flick of her ribbon, caused it to unwind violently and hurl Principal Kuno across the field to skip and bounce until he smashed headfirst into the metal post of the soccer net.
"Feh. I begin to see why my brother despises him so." She folded her arms with a scowl. She glanced over at the group and her expression soured momentarily, as though she was considering doing something further until her eyes finally lit on Ranma. "Hmpf… as you were then, peasants." She waved airly and began walking back towards the school building.
Ranma had a sudden inspiration.
It was a terrible idea. It ranked right up there with going on a date with Tatewaki Kuno to try and scam a wish from a magic sword, but she had done that too. And there wasn't a whole lot of time to decide, just to act.
But first… Anything Goes School of Bomb Defusing.
Ranma turned to Akane and put a hand on her shoulder. She gave her an earnest look. "Akane, I gotta go talk to Kodachi."
"What!?" Akane squawked, incredulous.
"Look… I'll explain later. But just remember she doesn't realize I'm her 'Darling Ranma' like this. She doesn't really like me much as a girl at all, really, so there's no reason to be jealous," Ranma said in a grave tone.
Akane's brow knit slowly. "I know that, and I wasn't going to be jealous until you made a big production of pointing that out!"
Ranma winced. "Look, please Akane? Just give me the benefit of the doubt on this one? If I was lying, I'd just be ending up with Kodachi anyway, right? Wouldn't that be a better punishment than any malleting you could give me?"
Akane's expression softened. "... All right. Baka. Go talk to her. And be good!"
"Thank you!" Ranma leaned in and kissed her on the cheek then hopped up and bounded off after the gymnast.
Shampoo, Ukyou and Nabiki glared at Akane as Ranma left.
"Why Akane get kiss on cheek and beg for understanding?" Shampoo asked, scowling.
"Even now she's always thinking about Akane first," Ukyou groused in agreement, the two of them giving Akane a united suspicious glare.
"She trusts the rest of you to give her the benefit of the doubt, or at least ask before pounding her into toothpaste," Ryouga said nonchalantly, plucking a rice ball from the lunch spread.
Akane whirled on him, outraged. "Are you saying that I jump to conclusions, Hibiki!?"
Ryouga didn't even bother to look in her direction. "Yes."
"Why you…!" Akane snarled, reared back and threw a punch at him.
Which he caught casually in his hand, his grip on her fist like steel. He finally looked in her direction, giving her a smirk. "I'm not Ranma, Tendo. I don't give free shots. You wanna fight? Make it a proper challenge. And do it after lunch."
Akane ground her teeth. "Fine. After school then."
"Akane, don't…" Nabiki said weakly.
"Done," Ryouga nodded, releasing her fist and pushing it back. They locked gazes for a few more moments, sparks nearly visible between them.
Nabiki rolled her eyes and started mentally figuring odds. She'd need to be prepared to ensure she kept Hana from getting any of the action. "Hiroshi, Daisuke? Looks like it's high time to teach you boys about the fine art of making book…"
000
"Kodachi, wait!" Ranma waved, trying to get the raven-haired girl's attention.
Kodachi paused, sighed and turned, crossing her arms in a gesture of annoyance. "My brother's 'Pig-tailed Goddess,'" She said scornfully. "What is it you want? My time is precious and your relation to my Darling Ranma will in no way protect you from my wrath if you are here for some trickery…!"
Ranma held up her hands. "Woah, woah, truce! I'm not here to fight. I'm actually here to ask you a favor."
"A favor?!" Kodachi repeated, incredulous.
"Yeah. On behalf of… uh, my brother," Ranma finished weakly.
Kodachi raised a delicate eyebrow. "... Speak."
Ranma put down her hands. "So, uh… I saw you chatting with Principal Pineapp… uh… Principal Kuno about the whole deal with him not allowing Ranma on school grounds," she swallowed, hoping she had things worded right. "Thing is… Mom doesn't know about this challenge. Specifically, she doesn't like that I'm attending school in his place so he doesn't get behind."
Kodachi's expression softened again oddly. "She truly does not like you, does she?"
Ranma winced. So many of these stories painted her parents in a bad light! But… maybe it was for the best if Kodachi didn't think to highly of her mother right now. Sorry Mom! "She… uhh… she'd probably be happier if she never saw me again," Ranma admitted. It was true enough of her girl side, after all. "Look, Ranma'd get in trouble if she found out I was doing this, but if I don't he'll get suspended or expelled because of the dumb rules of the contest. So… please don't tell Mom about seeing me at school?"
"I didn't see any reason to unless it came up," Kodachi said. She held up a hand to forestall a protest. "And I see no reason for it to be brought up. For the sake of my Darling Ranma, I will grant you this small boon." She narrowed her eyes. "But do not mistake my concern for his well-being as mercy for your sake. You and I still have accounts left unbalanced."
Ranma sighed in relief. "I'd be happy to give you a rematch just as soon as the volleyball season is over," Ranma said. "Sports team members aren't allowed to fight on school grounds outside of officially sanctioned matches and I don't think they'd sanction one between us, seeing as I'm not on the gymnastics team."
Kodachi huffed. "Yes, I was made aware of that bit of authoritarian annoyance. Fortunately such protections do not extend to faculty. As I verified before Father and I had our little 'discussion'." She twittered.
"Oh? That's actually good to know. Thanks," Ranma replied.
Kodachi raised an eyebrow again. She rubbed her chin, looking Ranma over, as if considering something. "I notice you are quite close to my rivals for Ranma's affection. I presume you favor at least one of them in this marital contest of ours?"
Yes. Any of them. All of them. I'd rather marry RYOUGA.
Ranma felt a brief pang of something at that idea, though she wasn't sure what or why. It oddly did not give the sense of the kind of terrible fate she had been trying for. Scratch that, I'd marry your BROTHER over you! At least I could be sure HE wouldn't poison me! That was better. Pure revulsion there.
"I… uh… I try not to play favorites?" Ranma said, truthfully enough. "They get mad if I do." More truth.
"And yet they cluster around you and ply you with food to try and curry your favor," Kodachi's eyes narrowed. "You are close to your brother, yes?"
"You… could say that," Ranma said sheepishly.
"You ape his clothing style, his martial arts and you even appropriate his name for your own use. That much is obvious," Kodachi said dismissively. "So… you know a great deal about him, then?" She started pacing in front of Ranma, still stroking her chin thoughtfully.
"Probably more than anyone else," Ranma replied. Another easy truth.
She turned and unexpectedly seized Ranma by the shoulders, rocking her back on her heels. Her eyes were glistening with unwept tears and her expression was pleading. "Please! If truly you are impartial as you say and you know his heart so well… Why does my beloved flee my advances so? What can I do… what can I be to soothe his fearful heart and show him the depths of my devotion?"
Ranma stiffened in fear a second until she remembered that she was girl-type at the moment and, in Kodachi's eyes, wholly separate from the object of her obsession. "Well… uh… He doesn't like being poisoned…"
Kodachi released her and affected an air of innocence. "Oh, the paralysis powders? Those are merely a game! A message to his would-be paramours that seem to go astray, or… sometimes a 'marital aid' of sorts…" She abruptly closed her eyes, her face screwing up in concentration. "No… no, this is exactly the sort of information I wished." She gave Ranma a determined look. "Continue, Pig-tailed girl. Be cruel in your honesty. I must know my love's heart!"
Ranma's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Well… uhh… I mean… To be honest, you kinda intimidate him with how strong you come on," she found herself saying. It was an odd opportunity to perhaps de-escalate Kodachi's attempts, after all. "And he doesn't like it when any of the girls fight, including you."
"So that explains their current state of armistice," Kodachi nodded, understanding. "Continue."
"And… uh…" she sighed, wondering how far to go. "You scare him a little."
Her face fell. "I scare him? But… but what would he have to fear from me?"
"The poisoning…" Ranma ticked off her fingers. "The insane laughter… the attempts to buy him or our idiot father with money or expensive gifts… the attempts to hurt the other girls..."
Kodachi collapsed to the ground in a dramatic swoon. "Truly? Has my beloved forsaken me so?" Her head drooped and her tears began to run in earnest. "Such bitter cruelty your words are."
"H-hey!" Ranma's instincts about crying girls and her protective nature overrode her good sense. She knelt next to Kodachi. "Don't cry. I mean… he doesn't hate you. He's just… overwhelmed, I guess? Maybe you could… tone it down?"
Kodachi looked up at Ranma, and she swallowed at the all too familiar look of shining adulation in Kodachi's dark eyes. Kodachi clasped Ranma's hands with her own, leaning close. "Do you mean… you will aid me? You will help me woo my Darling Ranma above all others?"
Ranma blinked. "I didn't…" She looked around frantically. If Akane sees this…!
Kodachi saw her nervousness. "No, no, I understand! You must maintain the semblance of impartiality before the others! This will be our secret, I swear on the Kuno name!" She held Ranma's hands close to her chest and leaned in, an expression of genuine joy on her face. "Oh my dear, future sister, you do not know what this means to me! I have misjudged you sorely!" She immediately pulled Ranma into a fierce hug.
"... Ack?!" Ranma managed, realizing that things were spiralling out of control again.
Kodachi released Ranma and stood, pulling the unresisting redhead up with her. "I will make a new start with you, then, my dear, dear sister!" she said, still holding her hands. "For this you will no longer be the outcast from the family, for you shall have a place with the Kuno clan always, I swear it!"
"Uhhh… thanks?" Ranma said sheepishly. She was starting to wish Akane would show up and interrupt.
"Think nothing of it! Together we shall win for me my Ranma's heart and you your rightful place in the family!" Kodachi beamed then looked pensive. "But I can't keep referring to you by my brother's simplistic nickname! Did your parents not see fit to grace you with a name of your own at all?"
"Uhh…" Ranma swallowed. "Sometimes I'm called 'Ranko'..."
"Ugh, how very common," Kodachi made a face. "But… perhaps…" She took Ranma's hand, opened it and traced the character for the name 'Ran' on her palm, using the kanji for 'orchid' rather than 'wild'. "Yes, better. You shall be 'Ran', then. Together we shall be the flowers of the united Kuno and Saotome clans!" She giggled, a much more genuine sound than her typical laugh. "This will be an adventure! After school, meet me by the gates and we shall discuss your brother and the omiai further!"
000
Ranma wandered back to the group in a daze. She sat down, more of a flop, really, and stared ahead sightlessly. Her eyes had the vacant look of a person who had seen something she could not properly process.
"So, how did things with Kodachi go?" Akane asked. Her voice had an edge of accusation to it, as though she were biting back further comment.
"Great! Just… just great…" Ranma said, still somewhat shell-shocked. "We're besties now. Gonna hang out after school and chat about how she can best seduce Ranma."
"WHAT!?" Akane's eyes widened, her expression twisting into outrage.
Ranma didn't notice. She slumped, still staring off into nothing. "Oh yeah… she even decided to give me… Girl me… my own name. She's calling me 'Ran' now… using the kanji for 'orchid', of course, not 'wild'... she was very specific about that… You can probably put it on my tombstone when they find my corpse on the bottom of the river." She dropped her face into her hands and groaned.
Akane's rage bled away. "What…?"
"Kodachi doesn't see Ranma's girl side as a romantic rival anymore," Nabiki supplied helpfully. She scooted over next to Ranma and put a hand on her shoulder. "So, as Ranma's sister, she'd be the best ally she could hope for to try and win the omiai."
"She's calling us the 'Flowers of the United Clans' now," Ranma mumbled into her hands. "This is so much worse than what happened with her brother…"
"Well, she'll just have to be disappointed with you all over again," Sayuri sniffed. "You have volleyball practise after school."
"Actually…" Nabiki said, giving Sayuri an apologetic look.
"No… no," Sayuri shook her head vehemently at Nabiki. "Nabiki, our first game is tomorrow. We haven't gotten any practise with Ranma!"
"I know…" Nabiki held up a hand. "But this is a way to keep tabs on Kodachi. She's less likely to decide to coat the volleyball in paralysis powder before 'Ran's' game if they're on friendly terms. Plus this gives us an inside track on any tricks she's liable to try in the omiai."
Sayuri pinched the bridge of her nose. "God damnit Ranma… Your popularity is getting really obnoxious." She glared at Nabiki. "And you aren't helping! In case you haven't forgotten, the stakes of this are indentured servitude and/or jail time for Ranma?"
Nabiki gave her a cool stare. "I'm aware, Sayuri. The stakes in the omiai include a contract for Ranma to commit seppuku if his mother isn't kept happy. So you'll forgive me if my priorities can't always make things easy."
Sayuri, Yuka, Rin and Riko went silent, stunned expressions on their faces. Even Ryouga looked concerned.
Ranma sighed, looking up from her hands. She looked tired, almost resigned to the continuously compounding drama. "I never actually told them about that, Nabiki."
Yuka held up a hand. "I think you need to explain that, please."
Nabiki sighed. She reached into her pack and pulled out a print of the picture she had taken of the seppuku contract. She handed it to Sayuri. "You all know Genma took Ranma away from his mother when he was very young to go on an extended training journey across Asia. To get Nodoka to agree to it, he gave her this contract."
"''I, Genma Saotome, do solemnly swear that I will train my son, Ranma Saotome, to be a man amongst men. Should I fail, my son and I will commit Seppuku,'" Sayuri read out, her eyes widening. "Wait… this is seriously a thing?"
Riko leaned over and looked at the paper. "What's with all the handprints?"
"Those are Ranma's 'signature'," Nabiki said. "As far as we can tell, Ranma thought he was fingerpainting."
Riko's eyes widened.
"This can't actually be binding," Yuka said. She looked at the martial artists for confirmation, eyes widening at the looks on their faces. She stared at Ranma. "You wouldn't seriously commit suicide because of this, would you?!"
"It's a matter of honor," Ranma said miserably.
Rin simply stared at Ranma, wide-eyed. She was trembling slightly, but otherwise silent.
"Ranma's Mom wouldn't actually call that in, would she?" Ryouga asked. "I mean, I thought she already declared him a 'Man among men' because he was a shameless pervert!"
"Thanks, Ryouga," Ranma growled.
"It was with the proviso that Ranma continue to uphold himself to the standards of a 'manly man'," Nabiki said. "Basically the contract is indefinite and can be called in any time Nodoka declares it in breach. Plus, she's the one who gets to define what 'Man amongst men' means. Which currently is apparently 'marry who Mommy picks for you'."
"This is…" Sayuri's voice was quiet. She handed the contract back to Nabiki, her hand trembling a little. "I knew your Dad was bad, but this…!"
"I get it, okay!" Ranma suddenly stood up, her fists clenched. She grit her teeth, trying to keep frustrated tears from showing. "Everybody thinks my parents are terrible! Well I'm sorry my life isn't up to your standards, okay?!"
"Ranma…" Akane's eyes went wide.
"You don't… you don't understand. None of you could possibly understand! It's so easy for you to judge, but… but my parents aren't bad people!" She clenched her fists tighter, nails digging into her palms. "They make bad decisions sometimes but they want the best for me, and they want to be honorable, and they're trying their best, and it doesn't help that people keep on… on… pitying me for stuff I don't need to be pitied for!" She snatched the contract out of Nabiki's hands and tore it up. "Just… just worry about your own side of the problem. This stuff doesn't have anything to do with you!" She turned and stomped off towards the school building.
There was a moment of silence.
"Ukyou, go after her," Nabiki said softly.
"Nabiki, why…" Akane protested, but Nabiki held up a hand.
"Ukyou doesn't have contact with her family. I'm hoping that will help her to keep from making this worse." She looked at Ukyou again. "Go."
Ukyou nodded, got smoothly to her feet and trotted after the retreating redhead.
Akane and Ryouga both looked like they wanted to protest further. Shampoo looked torn as well, though she was watching Nabiki and seemed to be willing to take her cues from her for now. The rest of the group was still sitting in shocked silence.
"These people are close friends for your family?!" Yuka asked finally, giving Nabiki a horrified look.
"We're not really impressed with them either," Nabiki said. "But…"
Yuka shook her head then looked at Akane. "How…? How do you just pass something like this off as normal?!"
"It's not, okay?!" Akane shot back. "We know it's not… none of this has ever been normal!"
"How old was Ranma when this was signed!? Three? Four?"
"Two," Nabiki answered softly.
"No…" Yuka shook her head angrily. She laughed darkly, still shaking her head. "No, no, no, this is… How did I get mixed up in this?" She stood up. "Come on, Sayuri. We'll go talk to the police." She scooped up a few scraps of the contract.
"You can't…" Akane said weakly.
"I think we can," Sayuri said quietly. "I know you think you're dealing with this appropriately in martial arts land, but in the real world this is a death threat. There are people who deal with these things." She looked as Riko stood as well to give Rin, who was still out of it, a hand up. "We'll go down to the police station…"
"There's already a file started," Nabiki said finally.
Everyone stared at her.
"You went to the police!?" Akane said, eyes wide. "When?"
"When Ukyou showed up," Nabiki said quietly. "I started the file as a way to cover our own liability in the event any more of Genma's creditors came looking for us - let alone one with a more valid legal claim. I updated it the day I found out about the seppuku contract because if a crazy martial artist family decides to carve their own guts out in your back yard in this day and age, the police ask questions. I've already given them a copy of that contract." She shook her head. "They aren't going to do anything."
"You can't be serious…" Yuka said.
"Ranma was sixteen by the time this all came out. That's old enough to declare his independence if he felt he was in an abusive situation," Nabiki continued, frustration edging into her voice as she recalled the process she had gone through for the past year, feeding her concerns into a bureaucratic black hole. "Ranma's parents can't force Ranma to do it; it would be Ranma's own choice, based on his own concept of honor. Ranma isn't depressed. Ranma hasn't expressed any desire or want to die - quite the opposite. And Ranma's parents haven't expressed any desire to require him to, beyond the ridiculous belief that they can if he doesn't meet their standards. It might shock you to learn that's not even all that uncommon in Japan. Most of them just don't bother with the stupid barely-coherent contract." She sighed. "They showed me how many teenage suicides they deal with daily. They don't care. They don't have the resources to care."
"There has to be something we can do…" Riko said.
"Ranma has to want it," Nabiki said. "Trust me, I've been looking into this since that 'Neko Ken' nonsense came out. I had it pegged at three months before Ranma would either marry into the Tendo family or ask to be adopted by us to get away from Genma Saotome. I severely underestimated both how stubbornly loyal Ranma is and Genma's Saotome's nearly bottomless capacity to ruin a sure thing."
"Should have killed Panda in China," Shampoo said softly. Oddly there was no rancor in her voice, just sincere regret.
"You probably should have," Ryouga said, his jaw twitching. He was remembering what he had seen of the Neko Ken in Ranma's mind - the images he had caught.
"What else don't we know?" Sayuri folded her arms. "If we're going to be this deep into this mess, we might as well get the full story. You said something about the 'Neko ken'? That's related to Ranma's fear of cats, right? Is that her parent's fault too?"
Nabiki took a deep breath. "All right. But not here."
"Fiancee's Tea?" Shampoo asked.
"Fiancee's Tea," Nabiki agreed. She looked over at Akane. "Sister of mine, could you make sure you and Ukyou drop by after the dinner rush?"
Akane nodded.
"This 'Fiancee's Tea' doesn't involve any sort of obligation to actually marry Ranma, does it?" Yuka asked, crossing her arms.
"For you guys? No," Nabiki said. A small smile crossed her face. "Jury is still out on Ryouga."
"HEY!" Ryouga and Akane protested in perfect unison.
000
The rest of the school day had been somewhat awkward for Ranma.
Ukyou had been shadowing her for most of that time. She had initially tried to get Ranma to talk, but eventually she gave up and just followed her around. Ranma could feel her eyes tracking her.
In truth, Ranma felt guilty for going off on her friends and fiancees that way. But she felt worse about the growing negative opinions they all seemed to be getting about her family. What would her parents say if they heard of this? The… the almost murderous rage that mentioning Ranma's parents seemed to evoke now. Even Akane, who used to love her mother, got a dark look in her eyes when Nodoka's name was mentioned.
I gotta find some way to defuse this. I mean… we're all gonna hafta be family at some point, right? Not Sayuri and the others, but… they're still friends and that's not gonna just go away once this fiancee mess is sorted out, right?
That was a bit of an odd thought. She hadn't really considered what would happen after the volleyball season ended, but… there was no reason to think they'd stop being friends, was there? Ranma tried to think back to friends she'd had long term… and came up blank. She'd always moved, or something she or her family had done had turned them into enemies or rivals, even if she had reconciled with them later.
That's probably what'll happen this time, too, Ranma thought glumly. By the time we get through all of this they'll be sick of me. It already happened with Ukyou and Ryouga...
In some dark part of her mind, she wondered if the same thing would happen with Nabiki or Shampoo… and remembered that it had already happened with Akane. Was that what relationships were going to be for her? Just an escalating cycle of love and hate?
Maybe that's why I've been feeling so unsettled. I'm just waiting for them to all start hating me again. Ranma thought. It's inevitable, isn't it?
She squeezed her eyes shut. No! They wouldn't DO that!
... Would they?
It was hard to shut out the thoughts. If her parents were so hateful, what would make Ranma any better?
She felt a hand on her shoulder that caused her to jump. She turned to see porcelain skin with perfectly manicured nails.
"The bell has rung, my dear," Kodachi smiled and cocked her head. "You seem preoccupied? We had an appointment, did we not?"
Ranma sighed. Maybe this is for the best. Get away from the others for a while so I don't make them tired of me. "Uh, yeah, sure… just lost in thought. Didn't hear the bell." She got up, grabbed her bag and followed Kodachi out. She could feel several sets of eyes watching her.
"So, where are we going?" she asked. She didn't particularly want to go back to the Kuno Estate, but with Tatewaki still in the hospital and the Principal likely busy at the school for most of the rest of the day, it would hopefully be more tolerable than the last visit.
"I was thinking of a little shopping trip, actually," Kodachi said. "I've noticed your wardrobe could use some freshening and I thought it would be a pleasant distraction while we chat."
Ranma slumped a little further, thinking about the poor state of her finances. "I… don't really have any spending money right now…"
Kodachi smirked. "That much is obvious, my dear. No, a pittance like this is of no concern, and I would prefer if you didn't continually have to raid my Darling Ranma's closet just to avoid traipsing about naked. Which reminds me," her eyes dipped towards Ranma's chest. "We'll need to get you properly fitted. That simply won't do. You'd think you got all your underthings second-hand!"
I kinda do, actually… Ranma thought. Most of her girly underthings were either donated by one of the Tendo sisters or liberated from Happosai's hoard. "That's… not really necessary, is it? I mean... you just wanna know more about Ranma, right?"
Kodachi paused. She turned and regarded Ranma with a searching gaze and a raised eyebrow.
"Head back! Chin up! Back straight!" she said abruptly.
The half-remembered bridal training Ranma had endured once as part of the challenge with the La Belle France School of Martial Arts kicked in unconsciously and Ranma instantly straightened and adopted a more refined, demure pose - though she blushed hard as soon as she realized what she had done.
Kodachi nodded. "You do have some breeding in you. Good. Now, allow me to be clear; while winning my Darling Ranma's hand is of the utmost importance, I am also a woman of my word. If you are to be an active and visible member of the wider Kuno extended family, we must make sure you are presentable." She motioned towards the limousine that had arrived to pick them up. "Now come along, future sister-mine. While we chat on how to secure our future as a family, we can ensure that you are properly dressed for it."
Maaaaybe this was a worse idea than I thought, Ranma mused glumly.
000
"BAKUSAI TENKETSU!"
Akane skidded backwards from the explosion. She frantically deflected chunks of concrete but she wore a grin a mile wide. Yes! I made him use it!
Of course, objectively speaking, this was very bad for her as she lacked both the speed or the durability to properly counter the breaking point. But Akane counted it as a win because if Ryouga was using the move it meant he was taking her seriously as an opponent.
Ryouga erupted from the cloud of dust and debris, umbrella drawn. Time seemed to slow as he hurtled towards her.
Now it was just a matter of figuring out how to avoid getting flattened.
Akane had one advantage over Ranma in that she could hit harder. If hitting Ryouga was like punching concrete, that was fine with her. Rather than evade or block she opted for offense, solidifying her stance and reaching back with her fist for a haymaker. With her feet solidly planted, leverage was on her side. She'd likely take a hit, but she could punish his use of acrobatics with her full force and if she could bull through he'd be forced to try and recover his footing while she had free reign to pummel him senseless.
She locked eyes with him, saw the slight smirk on his face and instantly realized she had made a mistake, even as she committed her weight and momentum to the punch.
Ryouga tossed his umbrella to the side, the momentum of the weighted bamboo weapon altering his course to his left. He twisted his body and the right straight punch that should have slammed into his gut instead grazed past his ribs as he dropped to her right side, inside her guard.
She was already moving, coiling to try and make a leap of her own to evade and recycle the momentum of the punch into a dodge, but it was far too late. She felt the chop of the knife edge of his hand hit the pressure point between her neck and shoulder and her vision filled with stars as her entire body stiffened. She started to topple over forwards.
Ryouga caught her with his right arm. He extended his left and the handle of his umbrella slapped firmly into his palm as the weighted implement boomeranged back around to him.
In total, the fight had only lasted a couple of minutes.
"You… can put me down now Hibiki," Akane growled, twitching weakly. Her limbs were tingling like they were asleep and she tried impatiently to get her numb legs under her.
"You mean I could drop you now," Ryouga retorted, casually slotting his umbrella into the modified loops on his school bag. She was still draped over his arm like a damp towel. "Most people... that hit would have knocked them flat out."
"Felt like a baby's slap," Akane said fiercely, though her attempt at bravado was somewhat marred by her enduring paralysis.
"You get knocked on your ass by babies a lot then, Tendo?" Ryouga hoisted her up onto her feet and, though shaky, she found she was able to keep herself upright.
"You got a lucky hit in," Akane rubbed the back of her neck and winced.
The crowd that had gathered around started applauding and cheering.
Both the teenagers blushed, not accustomed to having an appreciative audience.
"Smile for the camera!"
Both of them turned to see Hana snapping pictures, the flash catching them momentarily off-guard.
She grinned as she lowered the camera. "Thanks. Not as much clothing damage as the crowd usually likes but stuff with Akane fighting is always a good seller. Especially since I got some good upskirts. Thanks for not changing into a martial arts gi, by the way."
Akane growled and cracked her knuckles.
"Oh, gonna break my camera again?" Hana asked, smirking. She held the camera out to her. "Go ahead. I've uploaded all my pics to the school wifi. All you'll get is a big fat suspension for destruction of school property. Cuz guess what? This camera belongs to the student newspaper!"
"Since when has the student newspaper been able to afford something like that?" Akane glowered at her skeptically.
"Since I took it over. Which means snapping pics is also part of my job, and a school-sanctioned activity." She wagged a finger. "You wouldn't want to be guilty of suppressing the student's free press, now would you?"
"You just said you were gonna sell those pictures!" Ryouga said.
"Ooooh, so I did!" Hana said, feigning shock. "That sounds like corruption! You'd better tell the student newspaper! Or the Student Council? Maybe go to the Principal?" She grinned and winked. "Tell you what, beefcake. Why don't you just focus more on wrecking more of your opponent's clothing and try not to hurt yourself thinking too much, huh?" She turned and gave them a casual wave. "Tell Nabiki thanks for running the bookie side of things. She and I will settle up later. Ta."
Akane's jaw set. She clenched her fist, and came to a decision. "It's worth the suspension." She took a step but felt Ryouga's hand on her shoulder stopping her. She shot him an annoyed glare.
"It's what she wants, sis," Nabiki said, walking up to them with Shampoo, Hiroshi and Daisuke flanking her. "We're Ranma's support. If she can knock a few of us off by getting us suspended or expelled, it makes getting access to Ranma that much easier."
"Surprised Hana's willing to take that kind of risk just to help Himura out a little," Akane crossed her arms.
"It's how people like Himura work," Nabiki said. "Start off by promising you the world. By the time they're done with you, you're the one delivering the world to them and thanking them for the privilege."
"No offense, but isn't that what you used to do?" Ryouga asked, arching an eyebrow.
Nabiki shrugged, unfazed. "I supplied services to answer a need. I charged a premium for it but I delivered. Himura doesn't actually sell anything." She narrowed her eyes. "It's all just a cult of personality and manipulation. You pay into the golden idol and pay more for the privilege then get told all those rewards you've been promised will be right around the corner if you pay just a little bit more."
"Want Shampoo go break camera again?" Shampoo asked, cracking her knuckles.
"Don't bother. She's already uploaded all of the pictures," Akane said. "You'd get in trouble and Himura would just buy her a new one."
"Uploaded?" Nabiki raised an eyebrow. "To the school's network, I presume?" She glanced in the direction of the school. "Let her have this one. She didn't get anything particularly good or damaging. In the meantime… Hiroshi? Daisuke? I need you to source me another talented individual."
000
'Spending the afternoon with Kodachi' was one of those concepts that ranked somewhere near 'bathing in a vat full of furry feline animals' on Ranma's list of 'Things Not to Do'. The gymnast's obsession with her male side, manic demeanor and tendency to dose everything with some sort of chemical made her someone best avoided.
So she wasn't exactly Ranma's first choice as a companion for buying cute underwear.
Not surprisingly, buying cute underwear was also on that same list, not far below Kodachi herself.
Thankfully the saleswoman at the store had been professionally reassuring about the matter. Ranma was normally unconcerned about being topless in front of people but she found herself bashful and shy as she stood in the booth with the woman wrapping the measuring tape around her ribcage - something about being judged in such a precise and clinical manner.
Fortunately the woman didn't make any of the observations about her figure Ranma had been anticipating and had kept the conversation to the same sort of light fluff a hair stylist would, chatting about the weather or politics or any of several other topics that slipped from memory, being so utterly unimportant as not to be worth retaining. Afterwards she had given Ranma her measurements and several modest bras to try on. Ranma had to admit that the difference was startling. The saleswoman insisted, however, that she wear the fitted bra when she left.
"I'll not have a customer walk out of the store looking so uncomfortable." She said. "We do have a reputation to uphold. Ms. Kodachi was clear this was all to be covered on her family account, so please," She smiled. "A young girl like yourself shouldn't have hunched shoulders and strap marks!"
More embarrassing, Kodachi had insisted on some rather less practical selections. It all reminded Ranma entirely too much of that horrific shopping trip with Akane when she had been convinced that she was actually a girl - except this felt more real as she was in her right mind - at least in theory.
"Oh come now, Ran!" Kodachi tittered. "You must keep a few lacey things in your closet. Something to reward your fiance with when he's good, hmmm?"
Ranma winced. Oh yes, let's imagine wearing this for RYOUGA. That'll make this less awkward! "It… uh… It might kinda be overkill…" She tentatively held up a lacey pair of pink panties that involved entirely too little fabric for her to be comfortable with.
"I do seem to remember the boy being a bit bashful," Kodachi said. Then she noticed what Ranma was holding and snatched it out of her hands. "No, no, no dear! Blacks or reds I think… maybe greens. With your hair color and complexion, pink would be horrendous." She peered a little closer. "That is your natural color, isn't it?" She reached out and examined a strand. "Hmpf. Genetics are profoundly unfair. A natural redhead in Japan, with your figure to boot and not a freckle or spot to mar your complexion? Though this makes it clear where we need to go from here." She released her hair. "You have terrible split ends, my dear. We will have to address that next." She peered a little closer. "Aha… you do have freckles!"
Ranma blinked, jerking back a bit. "Wait, what? No I don't…"
Kodachi smirked and held up a mirror. "They're extremely faint, my dear. But there, just at the top of the cheekbone." She traced over them with her finger to point them out. "Hardly what I would call a blemish, but at least it's reassuring to know you aren't completely flawless."
Ranma grabbed the mirror and stared, bringing it closer, until she could see the faint spots along her cheeks. They weren't noticeable unless you were looking for them, but they were there. She even noticed they were slightly uneven, just ever so slightly more prominent on one side.
She continued to stare, uncomprehendingly at them. For the longest time she had assumed her female form was something created by the magic of the spring - not really hers and not really real but an idealized image of what the magic figured a girl would be. A form with no marks or character - nothing to suggest an origin but something that had come about unnaturally.
Discovering something so simple and so subtle as a faint dusting of freckles on her cheeks was oddly unnerving. It was one of those moments she had described to Ryouga where she lost the assurance of knowing who and what she really was and simply was what she was.
"Was your mother irish?" Kodachi asked, then reconsidered. "Hmmm, not fully I think, but perhaps some there."
"My mother?" For a moment the question confused Ranma as she tried to conceive of what the mother of the girl she was might have looked like, before she realized how ridiculous that was. Nodoka was her mother and the resemblance was obvious.
Does Mom have freckles too?
She swallowed, feeling unnerved without really knowing why. "I… I uh… didn't know my mother. I was taken away when I was very young. Pops raised me. Us. Me an' Ranma."
Kodachi sighed. "That explains so much."
"You haven't been asking me a whole lot about Ranma, actually," Ranma said. Not that she had been wanting to field questions about how to seduce herself all night, but somehow her girl side being the focus of Kodachi's interest was even less comfortable.
"Oh, I am learning quite a bit," Kodachi beamed. "You are siblings, after all. Learning about you gives me a window into seeing what my Darling Ranma's childhood was like. And it is so much less awkward." She sighed. "It must have been so difficult for him on the road for so much of his life! But it explains why you and he share such tenacity!"
"Yeah… uh… You know, 'Ranma Saotome never gives up', right?" Ranma rubbed the back of her head self-consciously.
"I would not love him so otherwise," Kodachi sighed. "But it does make it so very difficult to win his heart. I doubt even such sights as this would sway him." She held up a particularly nosebleed inducing translucent nightie. "Tell me… what would you suggest? Where should I start?"
Ranma swallowed. While Kodachi was something of a nightmare personality-wise, the mental image of her in that particularly nightie was far from it. That was part of the terror that Kodachi had for her - madness and enslavement wrapped in a very tempting package. "W-well… maybe… just talk to him, you know?"
"Oh, how I would adore that!" Kodachi said, clasping her hands. "But, how might I get him alone? He is perpetually surrounded by those harridans that monopolize his time."
"Well… that's kinda the problem," Ranma said. "He's never alone, and you usually show up and everyone gets all catty and then a fight breaks out. Maybe… you gotta take what you can get? At least to begin with?"
"You mean be civil with those wretches?" Kodachi growled. "Unthinkable."
"You're being nice enough with me." Ranma pointed out. "Even if you do marry Ranma…"
"When I marry Ranma!"
"... When you marry Ranma… he's probably still gonna be friends with some or all of 'em. And most of 'em always got along to some degree," she shrugged. "You don't hafta like 'em. But maybe don't pick fights all the time?"
"I would think my Darling Ranma would appreciate that I consider him to be so worthy of fighting over!" Kodachi replied.
Ranma sighed. "No, no, it… Well, it's like you're there for the fight, not him, you know?" She shook her head. "I dunno why everyone think havin' people fightin' over you makes you lucky. It sucks and half the time I get dragged into it or get hit because I get blamed, or…" She trailed off, realizing she had slipped out of referring to herself in third person. "Uh… I mean…"
"You refer to my Brother's unwanted advances," Kodachi said. "And others as well, if I am not mistaken? I had heard of rumors of that glutton Chardin courting a fiesty redhead."
"You know Picolet?" Ranma asked, surprised.
"We are in many of the same social circles. I may have met him once or twice," Kodachi admitted airly. "Such a bore. To think they've spent generations perfecting the art of removing the last flicker of joy one might extract from those awful dinner parties. You did well to refuse his advances, regardless of how far it might have boosted your social standing." She sighed. "But… I take your point and see you speak not only from sympathy for your brother, but experience. I… will try. That is the most I can promise." She stretched. "Now come along. I feel the need for a little pampering and before we go any further we absolutely must do something about that dreadful hair!"
000
Akane was the one who ended up waiting up for Ranma to get home.
Naturally she ran through the whole gamut of emotions. She started with anger and jealousy that Ranma would be spending time so freely with Kodachi when Akane already had to share her so many ways, then on to resignation that it was necessary to neutralize Kodachi as a threat. From there she made her way to fury that Ranma had four girls now and still managed to find a way to be a two-timer, which faded into worry that something might have happened to Ranma at Kodachi's hands and swelled again to rage that something might have happened to Ranma at Kodachi's hands and that Ranma had probably enjoyed it, with a final segue into terror that Ranma might find reasons to rethink being with her in favor of the beautiful, elegant and rich Kodachi Kuno…
She had rather exhausted herself by the time she heard the door open.
"I'm home…" Ranma called, her voice flat, tired.
Akane got up and walked to the front door.
"Oh… hey Akane," Ranma said. Her arms were weighed down with bags and she looked exhausted. She managed a sheepish smile.
Akane ignored it. She ignored all of the observations she could have made in that moment, all of the conclusions she could have jumped to. She had raged and worried in turns so much already that she simply didn't have it in her to go through the cycle again. Instead she walked wordlessly up to the redhead and threw her arms around her in a hug.
"A-Akane?" Ranma squeaked in surprise. She dropped her bags and wrapped her arms around the girl in return. "A-are you… did something…?"
"I missed you…" Akane murmured softly, hugging tighter. All she wanted now was for Ranma to say the right thing. Just for once. Without the fight or the tears or the struggle on both sides.
Just this once.
Ranma seemed to sense it too. Her arms tightened around Akane's waist and she closed her own eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered in Akane's ear.
The tension drained out of Akane's body. Thank you… She drew back from the hug just a little but only so she could cup Ranma's face and give her a deep, heartfelt kiss. This was better… they had been down this road so many times before but finally, finally they had done better!
Ranma stiffened for a moment, not having expected this but she quickly melted into the kiss. It wasn't as passionate as some of the others but it was heartfelt and warm and reassuring and it drove the chill of all of those dark thoughts and doubts from her mind at last.
They finally broke. Ranma ducked her head and blushed a bit, still getting used to this side of Akane. "H-hey…"
"Hey yourself," Akane smiled. She was feeling much better now and she found she was enjoying Ranma being off-balance and subdued for once. She trailed her fingers through Ranma's hair. "Did you get your hair done?" She noticed Ranma's hair was unbound. It felt softer and silkier than usual, too, and it definitely had more body to it.
Ranma's blush deepened. "Kodachi insisted." She held up her hand, showing off beautifully manicured and polished nails. "This is gonna be such a pain to clean off and get my hair so it doesn't look weird as a guy," she whimpered.
Akane giggled. She slid her arms around Ranma's neck, a sly grin appearing. "You could just leave it for now," she purred. "I certainly don't mind my fiancee making herself pretty. Especially if I get to pretend she did it for me."
Ranma's eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat. She still had absolutely no defenses against Akane being seductive like this. "I-I-I… if… if you like it," she stammered, fidgeting cutely. "I… I wouldn't mind… for you…"
Akane was savoring this. There was something endearing about Ranma being flustered, boy or girl, especially when she didn't immediately default back to insults or teasing to escape it. "I see you did a lot of shopping? She loaded you up with girly stuff, didn't she?"
Ranma merely nodded, cheeks burning.
"I noticed a couple of bags are from that upscale lingerie boutique at the mall," Akane quirked an eyebrow. "Anything cute?"
"A-Akane…" Ranma squirmed.
Her grin widened. Oh this was fun. She leaned in and whispered in Ranma's ear. "Show me."
000
The impromptu late-night fashion show had quickly devolved into a rather intense make out session and ended with them tangled with each other under the covers of Akane's bed. Things still hadn't quite crossed the line into lovemaking; Akane could still feel some hesitancy from Ranma and hadn't wanted to push the half-girl. Truth be told, she was still getting comfortable with these feelings herself. But it did a lot to erase any doubt about where her preferences lay, and it was reassuring that Ranma seemed to be as responsive to her advances as she had been as a male.
Both sides want to be with me. Ryouga can't say that! she thought smugly as she buried her nose in Ranma's hair. "Did you happen to find out what shampoo they used? It smells nice."
"It's a little… fruity smelling, isn't it?" Ranma asked sheepishly.
"So? The only ones who are going to be smelling it aren't going to judge. Besides, I asked because I want some," Akane giggled. "What do you think the chances of you convincing 'Ko-chan' to play nice enough to pay for a spa day for all of us?"
Ranma shuddered. "Please don't call her that. It's weird enough that she has a pet name for my girl side. And she's only so nice because I'm not competition anymore."
"Oh, I don't know. I think you could have a lot of influence on Ranma's final choice for his bride, don't you think?" Akane kissed her forehead gently, earning a mumble and another blush from the redhead.
"She didn't even ask all that much about her 'Darling Ranma' or how to win him," Ranma admitted. "She seemed… I dunno… she was really getting into the whole dressing me up and coaching me on how to look and act more 'refined' thing. That and just… talking I guess."
"That doesn't sound like Kodachi at all," Akane said.
"I know! She hardly even did the creepy laugh! She was just… you know how her brother gets super enthusiastic about stuff sometimes? It was like that. Like she was showing off and I was the first real audience she'd had in a long time."
"Maybe showing off for the cronies at St. Hebereke's wore thin after a while. She at least respects your female side as an equal," Akane said. "Her brother was quick enough to make peace with your guy side when he didn't think you were a romantic rival anymore either. And remember how worked up he got when Sasuke quit?" She shrugged. "Maybe she's just lonely?"
"Trust my luck that my biggest nightmare is because Principal Kuno couldn't just get his kids a puppy," Ranma groused. "I don't know if I really wanna go down the rabbit hole of feeling sorry for Kodachi right now. Especially if Nabiki's plan needs me to do something really scummy to get her out of the fiancee running."
"I'm not her biggest fan either, trust me," Akane muttered. "But Nabiki has a point… if we can use this to get early warning on whatever nasty scheme she comes up with for the next omiai interview, it's worth it. As long as she doesn't get any ideas."
"I'm pretty sure she's not into girls," Ranma replied.
Akane gave her a stern look. "Are you? Sure, I mean?"
Ranma swallowed. "... I hope so. That's… I don't wanna imagine that, please."
Akane smirked. "You sure? She's probably all kinds of into whips and chains and fun spikey things."
Ranma buried her face in the pillow. "Doooooon't…"
Akane giggled and patted her head. "So, what else did you do? You guys were out for a long time!"
"Dinner at some high-end restaurant where the plates have like two bites plus sauce on them, arranged in artful designs you're supposed to wax philosophical on rather than eat," she grumbled, remembering the dirty looks she had gotten from the other patrons. "Then a movie. Something in French with subtitles. Didn't make a lot of sense even with 'em. At least there was popcorn."
"It's like Picolet all over again, huh?"
"We actually talked about him a bit. Apparently Kodachi doesn't think any more highly of him than we do. Probably less," Ranma sighed. "In fact, she spent a lot of time trash-talking other rich-types. What is it about having a lot of money that makes you hate other people with a lot of money, or go out of your way to make them hate you, and then lie about it to each other's faces?"
"Ask Nabiki when she gets rich," Akane replied. "What does she think about Himura?"
"Called her 'New Money'. Guess that's a bad thing? Said she thought she was a creepy psycho."
"Ouch," Akane mock-winced. "At least that means they aren't likely to team up against us." She ran her fingers through Ranma's hair, earning a soft noise of pleasure from the smaller girl. "Hope you don't have to go through that too many more times."
"Akane?" Ranma mumbled, starting to feel sleepy.
"Yeah?"
"I have freckles."
Akane smiled. "I know."
Ranma raised her head a bit to look at her. "You do?"
"They're hardly noticeable, but… when you look into someone's eyes enough you notice things about them," Akane replied.
"I never noticed them. My guy side doesn't have them."
"No," Akane gave her a searching look. "Does that bother you?"
Ranma looked thoughtful. "It… I'm kinda used to thinking of my girl side as just my guy side that's been transformed and that every time I change it's just shifting everything over. But… this makes it feel like this body is a separate thing, somehow." She shook her head. "Today has been kinda surreal, you know? Playing the role of 'Ran,' this girl who doesn't even exist. I kinda… forgot what it's like to be a guy for a while. It's as if it got… I dunno, disconnected. I started to think of 'Ranma' as a separate person to keep from slipping up with Kodachi and… then the freckles… the fact that it's something Ranma doesn't have… it just made it a little too real." She gave Akane a timid look. "Is that weird?"
"I don't know," Akane admitted. "For you? Probably not. I mean I know sometimes really good actors can lose themselves in a character… think and act like they are the character for a while."
"Yeah, but I'm not a good actor," Ranma admitted.
"You're actually pretty good when you don't bog down in chauvinistic stereotypes," Akane replied. She cocked her head a bit. "So… what is this 'Ran' like?"
Ranma swallowed visibly. She blushed a little, but her arms around Akane tightened. "She's… Her name is spelt with the kanji for 'Orchid'," she said softly. "And she gets embarrassed when people spend a lot of money on her."
"So, not like you at all."
"Ha ha," Ranma scowled, then continued slowly. "She never got fitted for a bra before today or really had girly things that were… hers, you know?" She closed her eyes. "She's really close to her brother but… but she's kinda starting to wonder what it would be like to have a life separate from his…" Her voice lowered, hushed now, almost a whisper. "She likes playing volleyball, and… and… she liked… she likes having her hair styled for her, not just to match her brother's. And… she likes having freckles… because… they're something that will always be just hers."
She was trembling a little, her voice soft, almost as though she was in a trance. Akane kept silent, just listening. She could feel in her gut that this was one of those important moments that she kept missing, when Ranma just needed her to listen and to understand.
Ranma shuddered slightly and opened her eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered, looking a little shaken. "It's… I'm…"
Akane gently touched her forehead to Ranma's. "It's okay."
Ranma swallowed again. "I must sound crazy. I feel kinda crazy, sometimes."
Akane didn't reply at first. She ran her fingers through Ranma's hair again, letting the redhead calm down a little. Part of her was reminded of the time Ranma had hit her head, but that girl had been cartoonish and ridiculous and almost intentionally opposite to everything Ranma was. This was… what she had imagined seeing once, like the echos she'd kept glimpsing. Except… this wasn't just an echo anymore, was it?
Or was she just seeing something she wanted to see?
"I don't think you're crazy, Ra…" She swallowed, suddenly not wanting to say a name and push things one way or another. "I don't think you're crazy."
The redhead looked at her uncertainty.
"I think… I'm glad you have freckles," Akane said finally. "Just you."
The redhead's breath hitched softly.
"And I think it's okay for Ran to be here sometimes instead of Ranma," Akane said carefully. "Maybe… because I've always suspected she was there… and I've always loved her just as much as her brother. Maybe… because she was the one I fell in love with first."
The redhead clung to her a little more tightly. She hiccuped softly and trembled.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," Akane said softly.
"Mom will kill me if she finds out," Ran said. There was something deeper than just the fear of the seppuku contract there. Something older.
"No," Akane said fiercely, cupping her cheek. "She won't."
000
The residents of the Tendo dojo went about their morning business the next day, completely unconcerned by the sounds of a fierce battle in the backyard where two teenagers hopped about, traded blows and often switched between the roof and the yard as they vied for the advantage.
Akane parried a punch from Ranma by deflecting it to her right and stepping into it while she reached down for an uppercut. Ranma weaved back but, instead of the backward leaning dodge that was one of his signatures, he rolled backwards and stuck his legs up to catch her arm between his feet. She yelped as her world suddenly started to tumble as he finished the roll, using his momentum to yank her off her feet and throw her across the yard. She hit hard, bounced and flopped gracelessly on her back, panting.
She felt a tap against her forehead.
"Damnit," Akane muttered as she sat up and rubbed at her wrist.
"Not bad, tomboy," Ranma said, crouching next to her. "Good parry. You're getting faster. You prolly shoulda used it to bind my arm, though, and throw me instead of going for the uppercut."
Akane sighed. She had actually thought of that. "That wouldn't work on Ryouga. He'd just overpower a shoulder throw."
"Yeah, well you ain't sparring with Ryouga," Ranma said, tapping her forehead again. "Use the right tricks for the right opponent."
Sometime during the night, whatever alchemy that had resulted in 'Ran' faded. Ranma woke up, slightly sheepish and disoriented, and immediately left to change. He remembered everything that had happened but he claimed Kodachi must have dosed him with something to make him act odd. He griped about his hair and nails but decided that morning sparring was more important, since he was just going to have to switch to girl form for school anyway.
Part of her wondered if it was just some powder or toxin. But the fear she had seen in the girl's eyes had been very real. If she was some deeply buried aspect of Ranma, it would explain a great deal. She'd keep an eye out to see if there were any more signs of 'Ran'.
"You jealous of pig-boy?" Akane asked, smirking.
Ranma looked like he was going to protest, thought about it a moment, then shrugged. "You know what? Yeah, I am! I haven't had a decent fight with anyone in… in… forever!"
"Hey!" Akane scowled.
"Uhh… no offense! You're gettin' real good Akane, but I don't think you're ready for me to really uncork yet…" He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Ryouga thinks I'm good enough to use the Bakusai Tenketsu on!"
Ranma's eyes went wide. "What!? That little…! I'm gonna wring his neck!"
Akane walked up and tapped him on the forehead, exactly as he had done to her. "No fighting on school grounds for you, remember?"
"I…" Ranma deflated and sighed. "It's not fair…" He sulked for a moment then took a deep breath, folded his arms much like his father did and nodded. "All right then, just means we gotta get you into shape to beat him, right?"
Akane grinned. "Right!"
Ranma rubbed his chin. "Okay… lemme think. No point in teaching you stuff that doesn't go with your fighting style. You're a ground fighter, teaching your more speed ain't really gonna help unless you totally change how you fight. Gonna hafta go for power to blow through his defense."
"Ranma! Akane! Breakfast is ready!"
Ranma sighed. "We'd better call it here. I'll keep thinking about it though."
Akane smiled and nodded. She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you for training me, sensei."
"I… uhh… I didn't…" Ranma blushed, stammering and fidgeting. "Don't call me 'sensei' yet. I ain't earned it. I'm makin' mistakes all over the place here."
Akane felt her smile widen. Just as cute when it's 'Wild' who gets flustered as it is when it's 'Orchid'. "You're a better teacher than your Dad. And you're the only one I want teaching me from now on." She skipped back towards the house, calling over her shoulder. "Oh, and since I got the last hit in today, I win!"
"Wait, wha…?" Ranma looked puzzled a moment, then his hand went to his forehead. "Hey, that doesn't count! That was cheating!"
000
The walk to school and the morning classes were thankfully uneventful, though there was considerable buzz in the school as the first game would be right after classes.
Nabiki had scraped together what she could on the other teams Ranma's team would be facing. She sat under their usual tree, having finagled a free period before lunch that she was using to study her file.
Fuji Senior. Eliminated in the Quarterfinals last year but were favored to go further. Three of the five starters from that team carried over. Other two spots were filled by alternates who were also part of the Championship run and played in a number of games. About as senior and serious as you get in High School Volleyball.
That was just the first school Ranma and her team were going to have to face. Unfortunately there hadn't been enough time to get more useful information on them. She hoped Ranma's usual ability to improvise and adapt would be enough to carry this round.
She glanced at her other file, the one that detailed the schools Himura's team was going to face. They were all jokes - teams that got eliminated early on. Most had poor sports programs or were more heavily focused on academics. One was even a reform school whose team members typically failed to meet the requirements to be allowed to play competitively. Another was a drama school that fielded their team as an ongoing bit of performance art rather than a serious attempt to play the game. Then there was the boarding school for foreign students which suffered from an unfortunate team name, language barriers and a history of prejudice from referees stemming from the school's less than stellar reputation.
… Hold on. Nabiki opened the file and flipped through it, plucking out the information on the last school. Cobblepot Preparatory Academy. Lots of military brats from American bases, foreign businessmen and a smattering of reform school students. The team is the last one Himura is scheduled to play before the challenge to decide who Furinkan's official team gets to be. She considered. No obvious reason why their athletics would be terrible, except… ah, they haven't actually had a real Gym teacher since 1983. The job is covered by whichever other teacher has time that period. Nabiki tapped her chin with her finger. I wonder if I can do something with this?
"Hey boss."
Nabiki looked up, seeing Hiroshi and Daisuke had snuck up on her while she was preoccupied. She closed the folder and put it back into her bag. "You two have been busy, I hope?" she asked.
Daisuke nodded. "We've put out feelers. There's no one in the school with those sorts of skills but our photographer says he knows some people who know some people online."
Nabiki nodded. "Keep me posted. But for now, keep our photographer quiet. I don't want Himura knowing about him. You said you had someone outside of the school picked out? Can they be at Friday's game?"
"You mean Himura's team?" Hiroshi said. "Yeah, sure. Why?"
"Documentation, mostly. Partly to see if Himura catches on or not, partly to see if she's doing anything sneaky in her own matches," Nabiki sighed, "...and partly to keep busy because, at this point, there's not much else I can do until I find a new angle." She let her head thunk back against the trunk of the tree and closed her eyes.
Hiroshi and Daisuke exchanged a worried glance then sat down opposite her.
"You okay, boss?" Daisuke asked, leaning forward a bit.
Nabiki smiled, eyes still closed. "Yeah. This is the problem with being personally involved in the outcome. A smart businesswoman stays detached and hedges her bets and balances things so that she can eke out a 'win' regardless of the outcome. You can't lose if you've figured out a way to profit from any possible end result. But… this isn't business and those sorts of tactics don't work here." She shook her head. "I'm a reed in the wind. Posturing aside, I'm not used to applying force and taking a stand, like Ranma."
"'I am a leaf on the wind - watch how I soar.'" Hiroshi said with a smirk.
Nabiki cracked open an eye and gave him an annoyed glare. "You would quote that. You realize he dies, don't you?"
"I didn't know you watched Sci Fi!" Daisuke yelped.
"Also… spoilers! Some of us haven't seen the movie yet!" Hiroshi finished.
"What, you figured me for 'Slice of life' anime perhaps?" Nabiki smirked. "Anything that isn't at least as crazy as my actual life just doesn't seem realistic anymore. Also… River Song is Melody Pond."
"Aaaaugh!"
"Get a better torrent site."
000
Himura's phone started buzzing as soon as the lunch bell rang. She knew the timing wasn't coincidental and let it buzz while the teacher dismissed the class. She had been expecting this call, after all, and knew they would wait until she could pick up.
She made her way nonchalantly to the student council room, not bothering to fish her phone out of her pocket until she was inside.
"I do hope you have good news for me, Ms. Sasaki."
"Y-yes, Ma'am." The voice on the other end sounded relieved. Most likely negotiations had been rather tense but Himura had expected that. "They recognized the scroll immediately and I believe they are interested. H-however… they would like to speak with you before they will agree to anything. In… in PERSON, ma'am."
Himura sighed. This would be a strain on the limited resources her stipend afforded her, but it was not unexpected. "Can they wait until Saturday? I have business here that I cannot simply leave. Getting to China is not as simple as hopping on the family jet anymore."
"Y-yes, ma'am, I believe so. There merely said they will await your arrival before they give an answer."
"And they've agreed to discretion? It would be unfortunate for me if the Nerima contingent learned of this before I was ready."
"Yes, ma'am. You were correct about the political situation here. I believe that as long as they feel dealing with us is advantageous to them, they will be discreet."
Himura sighed softly. With her resources so severely curtailed by her Grandfather's ridiculous contest 'rules', what had originally been a tertiary backup plan was now vitally important. This meeting would have to be flawless.
"I'll need you to send me a full briefing - everything I'll need to know before I meet with them. I can't afford a cultural gaffe at this point."
"Yes ma'am. Uhh… Ma'am? They… they're quite skeptical. I don't believe they are taking this very seriously. I think…" her voice lowered to a whisper, "I think they are just doing this to try and get the scroll. I… I can't guarantee your safety if you DO come here."
That explained the woman's nervousness. "That's to be expected, Ms. Sasaki."
"If anything should happen to you, your grandfather…! He was VERY clear about what would become of your staff should any harm come to you."
Himura's jaw tightened. "Then you had best hope my negotiations go well. For both our sakes."
000
"Welcome, Keki and Wahine!"
Ranma scowled as the Principal's voice boomed over the gym loudspeaker. She tugged at her uniform bottoms, to make sure they were in place. Being as tight at it was, the wedgie potential was awfully high but at least there was plenty of freedom of movement.
"I kind of wish we had gone with something less tight…" Riko groused, rubbing her stomach with a grimace. She twisted to glance at her own backside and sighed.
"You worry way too much," Yuka said, smacking her bottom and earning a yelp. "You fill that out better than I do!"
Riko crossed her arms and blushed. "I would be happier if the jiggle factor wasn't quite so high, thanks!"
Rin put her hands on her own flat chest and sighed dejectedly.
"Ranma, how do you deal with it?" Riko asked, still blushing. "I mean parading around in outfits like this with all of your flaws on display to the whole world?"
"Simple. She doesn't have any flaws," Yuka sniffed.
Ranma smiled sheepishly. Self consciously, she reached up a finger and brushed it across the faint line of freckles she knew were dusting her cheekbones. "I dunno about that, but I can tell you guys ain't noticing all these 'flaws' you're so worried about," she shrugged. "Most of the stuff you're worried about doesn't even get noticed."
"You know, that's a good point," Sayuri said, adjusting her top. "You've got an inside track on that. What do guys notice?"
"Boobs and Butts," Yuka said dryly.
Ranma rolled her eyes. "Well… yeah. But more'n that. A lot of it comes down to attitude and demeanor. These guys...?" She thumbed towards the doors leading to the gym. "Confidence is a huge turn on. Why do you think they completely lose it over Akane? A girl struts out there, acts like she's the hottest thing since fire was invented, and that's what they see." She shrugged. "That's not the only thing that works and there's different approaches of course… tsundere, cutsey, haughty… but all of 'em got the confidence thing in common."
Yuka raised an eyebrow. "That… actually makes sense."
Riko beamed and clasped her hands. "You're our own secret weapon! An informant with all the secrets of the boys' minds!"
Ranma snorted. "Ain't no secret. Guys're simple. Look, just go out there with the attitude that you got what they want. 'Cause you do. You can do what you want with that and, whatever that is, they'll eat it up as long as you're confident."
"Th-that's easy for you Senpai…" Rin said, fidgeting a little.
"We be havin' de big fun yeah? YEAH!" The crowd outside roared in response. "Now, to introduce da teams, here is our Volleyball team captain, Himura Tanaka!"
"I do so love the idea of Himura introducing us every game," Yuka growled.
"Sayuri is the Captain," Rin huffed.
Sayuri grinned and ruffled her hair. "Not yet… but give us five or six games." She held out her fist. "All right. Remember the Team motto…"
"We have a team motto?" Riko asked, confused.
"I'm making one, right now." Sayuri said. She glanced at Ranma. "In honor of the spirit of Anything Goes, and the theme music Hiroshi and Daisuke chose for us. 'No member of this team may, under any circumstances, ever give up.'" She put her fist forward. "Got it?"
Ranma smirked and put her hand on top. "It's how I live."
Rin put hers on top next, nodding. She looked at Ranma, her expression uncertain, thoughtful, but it quickly changed to her usual exuberant confidence. Yuka was next, finally followed by Riko.
"Break!" Sayuri said, then motioned them to follow her to the door.
Ranma was about to follow, bit Rin caught her shirt.
"Senpai… are… are your parents going to be watching?" She asked.
Ranma cocked her head. "No… why would they?"
"B-because you're playing? To cheer you on?"
Ranma shrugged. "Why? There's nothin' in it for them." There was no bitterness or sarcasm in her words. Just statement of fact. "Honestly, they'd probably be pretty horrified by all this."
Rin's expression darkened a moment, but she covered it with a reasonable facsimile of her usual smile. "W-well I'm rooting for you!"
Ranma gave her a lopsided smile. "Yeah, I know. Thanks Rin."
000
Himura stood in the middle of the court, wearing her training jumpsuit and waving to the crowd, mic held high as she basked in the spotlight that was rightfully hers.
"Now for those of you who were naughty and not listening to the announcements. Furinkan is currently maintaining TWO volleyball teams in order to ensure that only the best of the best serve our school in our run to the Championships!" Himura said, waving to the crowd. "So, if any of you are hoping to see me play tonight, I'm afraid you'll have to wait until Friday."
There was a chorus of 'Awwws' and 'Boos' from the crowd.
"BUT, those of you hoping to see Furinkan's own star martial artist Ranma Saotome play, you're in luck!" Himura smiled as the cheers rose. "It gives me GREAT pleasure to present to you Furinkan's team for ALL of the home games for the first half of the season, THE FURINKAN BUSTER CORP!"
The loudspeakers kicked into Saikyou Yuusha Robo Gundan as the locker room doors opened. Himura had even arranged for a smoke machine and some colorful light choreography.
It would have been so easy to leave them to their own devices but she didn't want that. Nabiki had already demonstrated that she was more than capable of turning Himura's attempts to make the other team look poor against her, so she would go the opposite direction. She'd build it up, give the students a spectacle and fan the flames of interest and rivalry. Showing honest support for the team would serve to make Nabiki more paranoid and, in the end, it didn't really matter, did it? The real game had nothing to do with a silly game of volleyball.
Sayuri trotted out first. Himura scowled a moment before she could cover it. She didn't like Sayuri's presumption. She didn't like that she had usurped the position of Team Captain from Ranma nor how comfortable she seemed in that position. She especially didn't like how the crowd roared for her as she ran out or the confident smirk she wore. "And first, Acting Team Captain for the home team, Sayuri Kamei!"
Sayuri was one of those difficult people who wouldn't play the game properly. Himura had tried to train the girl - to educate her as to her proper place in things. Everyone had a station they were destined for, be it by skill, breeding, social standing or wealth and Sayuri had none of these things. But the girl not only refused to acknowledge the rules surrounding her proper place, but seemed hell-bent on circumventing them, substituting flair, defiance and pride for actual substance.
What was even more infuriating was that it was working. And now Himura was in the galling position of having to acknowledge one of the lowly sheep as an equal, however temporarily.
When this was all over, Himura resolved to ensure that Sayuri's future prospects were as dim as they deserved to be.
Next were Riko and Yuka. Himura saw them simply as hangers-on, caught up in the wake of their more flamboyant friends. Might do well to show them mercy when all was said and done, depending on how quickly they retreated to their proper places. Himura suspected without the support of the others they'd snap back to their proper level of anonymity quickly enough. For now, though, they seemed to take on a disconcerting glow as the roar of the crowd reached them. The spotlight could give unfortunate notions of grandeur to those who were in the midst of their allotted fifteen minutes. "Next up is the midfield, Riko Shimizu and Yuka Toshima!"
Then came Rin. Again Himura needed to struggle to maintain her smile. "And the team's infamous little striker, Rin Ito!"
Himura had little direct quarrel with Rin, but the girl's family was like Sayuri - defiant, reaching for things beyond their station, and her own father had utterly failed to deal with them properly, instead stumbling into abject failure himself. Rin herself was innocent enough, even talented, but her ambitions needed to be blunted here and now to ensure her father's legacy was not further rewarded. It was a matter of pride at this point, something Himura's father had had entirely too little of.
It was… disconcerting how much the crowd shouted Rin's name, however. She could be a problem if she proved too popular. Her facade of innocence and her admittedly tremendous skill made her a danger for that.
And finally out came the last. Ranma. The prize of Himura's little contest.
Himura smiled. Already things had progressed better than she had hoped. All of the pieces were falling into place and with Ranma herself blossoming more than she could have dreamed. "And lastly, the girl you've all come to see play, RANMA SAOTOME!"
She wondered if, deep down, Ranma knew? It was unlikely, but… she imagined it must be there somewhere, driving all of this.
The crowd roared. The rumours going around casting doubt on Ranma's true gender certainly hadn't hurt. Himura hadn't even needed to help those along, though she had been sure to make Ranma's supposed 'engagement' to the Hibiki boy public enough to give them some credibility. Ranma so perfectly fulfilled the fantasies of the male populace of the school that they were certainly eager enough to cling to the slightest hope that the fantasy might be real.
There was a delicious irony there.
For now, though, she would let her prize enjoy her limelight and enjoy the meaningless game Himura had arranged to entertain her. It would all be moot soon enough.
By the time she noticed the Principal, it was too late. She shouted a warning anyway but the large cooler was already upended, the visibly steaming water about to strike the redhead and profoundly ruin everything.
Ranma did her best to twist out of the way, but it was already impossible to avoid. The deluge of hot water drenched her from head to toe.
"Heh heh! It's an old American sports tradition, ya!" Principal Kuno laughed in triumph. "Just tryin' to enrich the kekis and wahines with some foreign culture."
"You're supposed to dump the cooler on the coach. After the game! And why is it full of hot water!?" Yuka demanded
"Honest mistake," Principal Kuno replied, grinning hugely. "But, I'm afraid one of your members is…" He blinked as he looked over the dripping wet, thoroughly enraged form of Ranma Saotome.
Water dripped from her very red bangs, down into her face. Her uniform, now soaked, clung to her obviously feminine curves, thankfully not quite thin enough to go translucent. Her blue eyes burned with rage.
Himura's smile returned full force, a nasty edge to it as she gave the Principal a smug look. Oh my, it seems Ranma and I are in full agreement about something. I am sorry, dear Principal, but I'm afraid I WILL be enjoying this. "Well! I don't think that was at all agreed upon event, Principal Kuno!"
"B-but… but…" Principal Kuno stared at the girl in confusion. "This be some sort o' trick! This wahine should be a keki!"
"I would think Ms. Saotome's gender would be OBVIOUS," Himura replied. "While I can understand this may have been a misguided prank on your part, I'm afraid since Ms. Ranma was not party to it, this would qualify as an assault. And under the new bylaw you signed off on in the Student Charter, there is a zero tolerance policy for violence by OR TOWARDS members of the sports teams by students OR faculty."
"Wait…" Kuno gave her a panicked look. "It includes da Headmaster?!"
"It does, thanks to your signature," Himura replied. "And not only will I be forced to ask you to leave for the duration of the game but any retaliation Ms. Saotome chooses to take would, under the provisions of the bylaw, be considered self-defense…"
Himura barely got the word 'defense' out before Ranma suddenly blurred in an explosion of motion. There was the staccato sound of impacts, almost like the machine-gun fire. The Principal wheezed and skidded backwards as the enraged redhead pummeled him. A savage uppercut clacked his teeth together and lifted him off the ground, before an airborne spinning roundhouse kick slammed into his head and sent him spinning. His trajectory carried him through the gym's double doors that two students had thoughtfully held open for him, and solemnly closed again after his body sailed through.
"... Well, it seems I won't have to worry about an escort for our dear Principal. Thank you, Ms. Saotome," Himura gave Ranma a wink which earned a satisfyingly confused look from the redhead. She decided to give a bit extra; she thumbed her mic off for a moment and said "Seriously… thank you. You have no idea how much of a pain he's been!"
"You're… welcome?" Ranma replied, earning a quick elbow in the ribs from Sayuri.
Himura grinned and flicked the mic switch back on. "Now that the usual Furinkan fun is over with, let's meet our opposing team! All the way from Fuji Senior, the team that made it to the Quarterfinals last year, the Fuji Senior Ratels!"
The speakers erupted into blaring rap music and a quote in english of "Honey Badger don't give a F***". The visiting team locker room door burst open and a quintet of girls strode out. Their uniforms were black two piece garments, consisting of a pair of shorts and a halter top with a white stripe down the back.
"Team Captain, Hitomi Uzaki!" The first girl had short white hair, reddish eyes and was curvy and well toned, much to the approval of the hooting male audience. She had a fierce, almost hungry grin. She was wearing a jacket over her top, but pulled it off and flung it off to the side and waved to the crowd. Her gaze passed over the girls present and immediately locked onto Ranma. She licked her lips, her expression predatory.
"Striker Ui Inaba!" The next girl had an almost timid air about her but she was smiling brightly. She was average height and build, shorter than Hitomi, with a shock of dyed pink hair and pink-tinted contacts.
"Midfield Eruza Nakanishi!" The next girl had brown hair tied in short twintails and was slightly shorter than Ui, though she seemed considerably more confident. She had a cheetah-print sarong worn over her shorts and mimed cat paws at the crowd as the Fuji fans in the crowd chanted her name.
"Kaori Rikujo, Midfield!" The next girl was the tallest, with short blond hair and a statuesque figure. She had the strut of a supermodel down and seemed to be earning her fair share of cheers from the Furinkan side as well.
"And finally, server Ryoko Araka!" the final girl was a redhead with long hair that cascaded down her back. She was smiling brightly, but there was something definitely off in her eyes and smile, a glimmer that went somewhat beyond predatory.
"If the team captains will step forward we will have the coin toss to determine who goes first!"
Sayuri stepped forward. She seemed somehow small before Hitomi as the silver-haired girl stepped up to face her.
"Cute spacesuits," Hitomi said. "My little brother loves that anime. I'm sure you can make good use of them at the next anime convention."
"I get the feeling we'll be too busy this year. Maybe after the season is over," Sayuri replied, managing a confident grin of her own.
"Oh? I knew Himura's team had some teeth but I figured you were the trash she sent out to wear yourselves out in the early season."
Himura held out the coin. "Visiting team gets to make the call."
"Heads," Hitomi replied, never breaking eye contact with Sayuri.
The coin flipped and was allowed to hit the floor where it spun, wobbled, and fell, heads up.
Hitomi quirked an eyebrow. "Well. Our ball. Guess it's time to see if you have any fangs in that mouth of yours." She grinned, showing her own exceptionally sharp canines while she accepted the ball and turned back to her team and tossed it to Ryoko.
"Good luck!" Himura said brightly.
"What's with the nice routine, Himura?" Sayuri asked as Himura turned to walk away.
Himura turned, giving her a sad smile. "Oh Sayuri… Can't I support the members of the team I am captain of? Don't fret if this all gets too much for you, by the way. I know Nabiki has you in over your head. Just try and have fun, hmm?" Without another word she sauntered off, smile remaining on her face for once.
000
Sayuri seethed as she returned to her team, something which was apparently quite obvious, to Yuka at least.
"Himura say something nasty?" Yuka asked as Sayuri took up the server position.
"She doesn't want me to worry my pretty little head by trying too hard," Sayuri growled. "I think she's afraid I might catch a bad case of the vapors or something."
"Well, she's gone almost an entire 30 minutes without being a bitch to one of us. I imagine it was either that or her head would just explode," Yuka replied as she turned and got ready.
"Oooh, don't you put some beautiful images in my head, Yuka." Sayuri tittered, immediately feeling better.
"Speaking of heads exploding…" Riko said. "Ranma… how?" She motioned at the still wet girl.
"Waterproof soap," Ranma grinned. "I figured pineapple-brain would try something like this."
"You mean you can just use this stuff to keep from changing?!" Yuka said, shocked.
"Kinda. It's hard to get and I've only got the one bar," Ranma said sheepishly. "Also, it takes a couple of days to wear off, so once I use it I'm stuck. Which can get awkward if my parents are around and I'm in the wrong form."
"Senpai doesn't have a wrong form," Rin said, almost growling. "Only the form she's in, which is always the right form whichever it is because it's always senpai."
Ranma smiled and ruffled her hair. "I think that's the closest you've come to acknowledging I'm a boy, Rin."
"Senpai is a boy sometimes," Rin said, looking perplexed. "Just… not right now."
Sayuri smiled briefly then put her game face on. "All right, Ranma… We went over this in practise, but since you missed it, I'll give you the short…"
"Don't worry, I've got this," Ranma said, giving her a grin.
Sayuri blinked. "No, that's not what I meant…"
Hitomi beckoned to Ranma from the other side of the net. "Let's see what you've got, little red."
Ranma's attention immediately snapped to the silver-haired girl. "Oh, you'll see what I've got!"
"God damnit Ranma…" Sayuri muttered.
Ryoko took the exchange as her cue and served the ball, dropping it neatly mid-court. Yuka got under it, popping it up for the strikers.
"Mine!" Ranma called, earning another wince from Sayuri. She leapt for the ball, but seeing Hitomi was there to block, pivoted slightly then slammed the ball, sending it to Hitomi's right, where it landed mid-court.
"Point, Furinkan!"
Ranma smirked. "Heh…Not so tough. Where are those fangs now, huh?"
Hitomi grinned, opened her mouth and flicked one of her canines. "Right here, little red. Got anything else or should I just end this quick and go home?"
Ranma scowled then laughed dangerously. "Oh you have no idea!"
Sayuri gritted her teeth. She knew what Hitomi was up to but she also knew Ranma well enough to know she wasn't going to listen just yet.
Sayuri served back, carefully watching the other team. Eruza was pacing, impatient. Ui had been shying away from Ranma's spikes so was probably timid about getting under the ball. Kaori and Ryoko were harder to get a read on. And Hitomi was focused on Ranma. That could be a decent size hole to take advantage of if Sayuri could get Ranma to listen. She intentionally dropped the ball practically right on Ui, who sure enough seemed a bit off-balance with actually having to set. She set it a little shakily for Hitomi, who made an insultingly weak spike, right to midfield again
"Gonna let the middle-schooler get that for you, red?" Hitomi asked while it was still in the air.
Ranma didn't answer. She practically leapt over Rin, who yelped in fear, and spiked the ball savagely, narrowly missing Hitomi in the process.
Hitomi didn't even flinch.
"Point, Furinkan! Next point is Round!"
Hitomi yawned and buffed her nails against her top. "I had heard you were some kind of martial arts wonder, little red. Guess that just translates into being a mediocre volleyball player, hmmm?"
Ranma was incredulous. "I'm kicking your butts here!"
Hitomi grinned. "Everyone gets one, little red."
"Stop calling me that!"
Sayuri put the next serve near the back of the court, though she had a pretty good idea what would happen next. The other team popped it up in an amateurish lob over the net, far corner from where Ranma was, but perfect for another spike. Ranma sprinted, made a leap that a pro basketball player would be envious of, and actually made the spike while upside-down in mid-air, driving it savagely into the floor between the two mid-fielders who seemed perfectly content to let it happen.
Sayuri noticed Hitomi watching and as Ranma made the move, she nodded.
"Point Furinkan. First round goes to Furinkan!"
She's gauging Ranma. Speed, jumping ability, reaction time, how she responds to goading. Sayuri thought, narrowing her eyes. She beckoned Rin to drop back, calling the girls over.
Ranma didn't notice, too busy staring down Hitomi.
"Looks like you're going to go home early tonight," Ranma said, smirking. "I'm barely having to work for this!"
Hitomi still wore that maddeningly confident smirk. "Yeah, you're definitely showing us something, little red. Tell you what, when this is all over, maybe I'll take pity on you and explain to you why you lost, hmmm?"
"What is with you?!"
Sayuri scowled as Ranma ignored her. She pulled the others into a huddle. "Okay, they're playing Ranma and ignoring the rest of us. They probably figure we're window dressing."
"So far we are," Riko said.
Sayuri shook her head. "They're not even trying. They're figuring out what Ranma can do so they can get around her. Next round they're going to keep playing it to her, but they're going to stuff it back down her throat when she tries her usual tricks."
"So how do we counter it?" Yuka asked.
"We don't. We give them the round."
"What?!" Yuka hissed. "Sayuri, these guys are championship-grade. We can't just give whole rounds to them!"
Sayuri shook her head. "We need Ranma on board, so… we give them the round. Ranma will figure out she's being toyed with. Then maybe she'll remember she's part of a team and we can start using some of those strategies we worked on. For now, play it easy, let Ranma have the ball and watch them for openings and weaknesses. Third round we go for real, with or without Ranma, got it?"
"I don't like this…" Rin said nervously, stealing a glance at Ranma.
"I know, Rin. Just hold off on the Thunderbolts, okay? I'll tell you when it's time," Sayuri replied, patting her shoulder. "Okay, everyone clear? Break!"
They all returned to their positions. Sayuri accepted the ball from the referee. Okay, nothing fancy but no reason to make it too easy. She served, aiming for the far left corner of the court.
Ryoko got under it, bunting it back up to midfield. Kaori set it, evidently for Hitomi, but seemed to muff it, the ball sailing just over the net on Ranma's side, perfectly set up for a smash.
"Heh," Ranma smirked and jumped for it, not seeing anyone in view as she slammed the ball down… only to have a pair of hands pop up and block at the last second, sending the ball sideways. Ui had slipped in unnoticed and popped up with impressive jumping ability to block, sending the ball…
Straight to Hitomi, who smashed it directly at Ranma, who was still in mid-air and out of position. The ball struck the redhead square in the face, sending her tumbling backwards as it bounced off out of bounds.
"Point, Fuji!"
Sayuri winced.
"What the hell was that?!" Ranma demanded, coming right up to the net.
"That was the rest of the game, little red," Hitomi said, smirking. "I hope you enjoyed those three points you scored, because those were the only ones you'll get."
Ranma scowled, but took her position again.
Ryoko served. This time Ranma was wary, letting Riko set it up for her. She eyed Ui and Hitomi, then went for the spike again, managing to get between the pair mid-court.
Eruza blurred forward with surprising speed, dropped to one knee and bunted the ball back up perfectly for Hitomi, who drove it back down savagely, narrowly missing Ranma.
"Point, Fuji. Next point is round."
Hitomi sniffed. "You understand, don't you? Just doing a clean sweep of you losers wouldn't be any fun."
They're keeping it away from Rin. Sayuri thought, watching. They know about her, too. Using Ranma's ego to keep her hogging the ball. They don't seem to see me, Yuka or Riko as a threat.
Sayuri smiled. Perfect.
Ranma yelped as a third and final spike was shut down, then ball hitting the court and skittering away.
"Point and Round to Fuji. Score is now 1-1!"
The other team laughed. Ranma glowered and gave them the finger, then looked back at her own team a bit sheepishly.
Sayuri crossed her arms and waited as Ranma trudged back over, head hung.
"Ummm… Okay, I'm ready to hear what I'm s'posed to do now," Ranma mumbled, looking embarrassed.
"Ranma… look, this is a team sport, okay?" Sayuri said. "I know that's not usually your thing…"
"I played basketball and softball all the time last year," Ranma said, confused.
"Yeah, and you more or less played by yourself against the other team! That's fine when it's just gym class against the regular kids in your class, but these girls are high-level." Sayuri put a hand on her shoulder. "It doesn't matter how good you are, you can't cover the whole court at once."
Ranma sighed. "I know, I know. We did this before, remember?"
Sayuri nodded. "Yeah, but you actually played with us that time. You're back to trying to do it all yourself. Look, we've been practicing for this, we have a plan. Last time we followed your lead, but now I really need you to follow us, okay?"
"Hey, are we going to play, or would you rather forfeit now?" Hitomi called, spinning the ball on her finger.
Ranma snarled and glared over her shoulder at her. Sayuri grabbed her head and turned her back to face her.
"She's baiting you," Sayuri said sternly. "Ignore her. Listen to me." She leaned in and quickly whispered instructions to Ranma. She wasn't sure she could convey an entire week's worth of strategizing to Ranma in a few hurried words but as she straightened she saw comprehension dawn on Ranma's face.
"We good?" Sayuri asked, uncertain. She knew she was asking a lot of the redhead's ego.
Ranma seemed to be running through the possibilities. It was fascinating watching the process in her head as she took what little Sayuri had given her and extrapolated strategy from it. A smile spread across her face. "Yeah… yeah, I'm, uh… I'm sorry…"
"Come to practise more," Sayuri smirked and gave her shove back out onto the court.
"So, little red, shall we get this done so we can go home?" Hitomi said, crossing her arms and tapping her foot. "I've got movie tickets for tonight."
Ranma smirked, gave her a salute, then stepped back, and let Yuka take her position up front as she moved to the midfield.
Hitomi raised an eyebrow at the shuffle. "What the hell is this?"
Yuka grinned. "Oh, just giving you someone more your speed."
"My speed?" Hitomi gave her an incredulous look. "If that wasn't so delusional, I'd be insulted."
Yuka waggled her eyebrows. "Oh you have no idea."
Ryoko served, sending it to Riko's side of midfield. Putting Ranma midfield gave her fewer good options for where to put a shot. Riko easily set the ball to Yuka, who then set it again for Rin. Rin leapt and spiked, but with nowhere near her usual power, allowing Ui to dig for it and pop it back to the midfield
"So…'Honey Badgers', eh? So was that to reflect the general intelligence of your team, or is it referencing the smell?" Yuka asked.
"Trying to mess with my concentration, little girl?" Hitomi asked, giving her a fierce grin. "Is that what they sent you up here for?"
"Nah, I just like pointing out the obvious. Like those uniforms worked better when the team was called 'The Skunks'." Yuka's own grin got nasty.
Hitomi's eye twitched. "... Shut up."
"Oh, sorry… that was never official, was it? Just what they called you after you choked in the quarterfinals…"
"Shut up!" Hitomi snarled and grabbed the net.
"Foul! Net contact Fuji. Point to Furinkan."
Hitomi jerked her hand off the net as if it were burned. She stared at Yuka then snarled. "You're going to pay for that…"
Yuka's smirk widened. "How about we just call dealing with your breath making us even? I know real honey badgers eat rotting things but that doesn't mean you need to."
Sayuri nodded in satisfaction as she watched Yuka do what she did best. She accepted the ball and considered her options. She gave Ranma and Rin a nod. They had set up this idea without Ranma present, but she figured Ranma could improvise as soon as she figured out what was happening. She served the ball, aiming a bit further back.
Ryoko bunted the ball back to her own midfield for Kaori to set. The tall girl popped the ball up to Hitomi for a spike.
"One of your fake fangs fell out." Yuka said.
Hitomi hesitated just a moment, hand going to her mouth before she snarled and leapt for the ball. But it had already dropped too much, and she was forced to angle her strike, making a much weaker one to Riko, who dug it out easily, sending it forward to Rin, who leapt… and set the ball again, rather than spiking, sending it high and to the mid court, causing a moment of confusion for the Ratels.
Confusion Ranma took advantage of as she made one of her impossible leaps and smashed the ball, missing the top of the net by a hair and landing it right in the back left corner of the court in a completely unreachable shot.
"Point, Furinkan. Next point is round."
"I bet you think you're clever," Hitomi growled at Yuka through the net.
"Nah, I'm just a bitch," Yuka said casually. "Sayuri's the clever one." She got a thoughtful look. "Which is probably why I'm guessing she matched me with you. I'm also terrible at volleyball. Again… perfect match."
"I'm going to feed this ball to you," Hitomi snarled, pacing a little back and forth.
"Sure, but could you wash it first? I'm allergic to cheap press on nails and bad dye jobs."
Sayuri shook her head to Rin at a questioning glance. No Thunderbolt. Not yet. Sayuri took a deep breath. She hefted the ball, feeling an odd sense of certainty as her hand struck. She felt something pass from her hand into the ball.
A second after leaving her hand, the ball's arc suddenly changed. It actually seemed to speed up, and dive for the floor, though Sayuri knew that was impossible. It hit the ground between Eruza and Kaori and spun away crazily, as though it had an unreasonable amount of topspin.
"Ace! Point and round goes to Furinkan!"
"What the hell was that?!" Hitomi screeched, glaring at the ref and pointing at the ball. "That ball is rigged!"
The referee picked up the ball, looking it over and tossing it in his hand a couple of times. He shook his head at Hitomi. "We'll swap out the ball, but there's no signs of tampering or weighting. The point stands."
Sayuri grinned as the new ball was tossed to her. She beckoned her team over for a quick huddle.
"Looks like that's 2-1 for us. Just two more and you get to make your movie date," Yuka said with a wink and waved as she trotted off to join her teammates.
"Okay, so far so good…" Sayuri said. "But we still need another two rounds."
"It looks like they're rotating their own team," Riko said, glancing over. Hitomi had moved back to the server position while Ryoko had come up to the front.
"I thought you had come up with a bunch of strategies?" Ranma said, suddenly concerned.
"We had like two decent practise sessions, neither of which you were present for - what do you want from me?!" Sayuri growled. She sighed and gathered herself. "Okay, okay… Anything Goes, right? Improvise. Riko, move to the front. You and Yuka are going to block and stuff their spikes. Just that."
"Just block? No attack?" Riko asked uncertainly.
"No, we'll attack, but from mid-court. Ranma, they're going to look for the gap Riko and Yuka leave and try and spike through that. I need you to get under it and get the ball up for Rin to spike in one bunt. We want to hit back while they're still out of position." She glanced at Rin. "No Thunderbolts, though. We'll save that for if things get dicey."
They all nodded and took their places.
"That little blonde you have there is cute," Ryoko said with a gentle smile.
"She isn't into girls." Yuka said with a smirk.
"Oh, that's not what I meant," Ryoko cocked her head slightly. "She just looks like she would be a bleeder to me." She winked, that cheerful, serene smile still on her face.
"...What?"
"You'd be surprised how much blood there is even in a small girl like that… or how red it can be," Ryoko continued, as if discussing a new miso soup recipe.
Ryoko's expression and demeanor reminded Yuka entirely too much of Kasumi, and the dissonance between that and the slasher talk distracted her enough she didn't notice Sayuri making her serve. She saw a momentary glint in Ryoko's eyes, then saw them flick to the right, and realized the ball was in play. She scrambled, but she was too late to get into position as Ui spiked the ball between her and Riko. It impacted the gym floor and bounced away, the whole team watching.
"Yuka, what the HELL?!"
Yuka slowly closed her eyes. "This is gonna be a long game, isn't it?"
000
Nabiki tapped her chin as she watched the game unfold. She didn't know much about Volleyball, but the premise seemed simple enough. Ranma's team had gotten off with an early lead, but Fuji's team was closing the gap quickly.
She wondered what Himura was up to with her little 'truce' at the start. Something about it bothered her. While it did make sense that Himura wouldn't want Ranma disqualified from playing entirely any more than Ranma did, she kept playing up like she was concerned about Ranma, like she had at the Hospital.
This stinks of a Narrative. Nabiki though glumly. It's like she's trying to lay the groundwork to try and spin things. Rattled by her Grandfather's conditions? She glanced over to the team seats where Himura watched with her own group of 'Elites', as well as a number of other girls from the team. Now that there's more at stake, she's trying to hedge her bets, maybe? Generate sympathy so even if she loses the games Ranma will still play for her out of pity?
Her brow furrowed. Not that she particularly wanted to win her supposed competition with Himura. Being a person of interest to the Yakuza was a potential nightmare she wanted nothing to do with. But she hadn't accepted Himura's offer of an easy out because something felt wrong about it all. She didn't have anything concrete to base that on, but there was no reason to just give Himura what she wanted for literally no benefit.
"How game going?"
Nabiki looked up as Shampoo settled into the spot next to her. Most of the Fiancee Brigade had scattered through the gym and bleachers in case Himura or the Principal tried something beyond hot water. Ukyou'd had the foresight to decide to pair with Ryouga to keep him from getting lost and Akane had been happy enough to stay near the team bench. Shampoo had been prowling around Nabiki's side who knows where since the game started.
Nabiki shrugged. "Okay, I guess?" She winced as Fuji scored another point. "... Maybe not."
Shampoo peered at her. "Nabiki look preoccupied again."
Nabiki sighed, though she did crack a small smile. "Expanding your vocabulary a little, huh?" She sighed and pulled out her notebook, scribbling a few notes about who she saw on Himura's bench. "Ever have that feeling you're missing something but you can't figure out what?"
Shampoo nodded. "Shampoo never come across good word for it, though."
"Someone probably forgot it," Nabiki said. The ghost of her old smirk appeared briefly then faded. "I don't trust all of this. Himura playing nice, helping Ranma without asking anything in return, offering truces… Aside from Hana's little annoyances, she hasn't done anything to screw with Ranma and I can't even clearly flag Hana's mischief as having Himura's hand in it, or it it's Hana just doing her own thing to try and impress her. It's certainly nothing that would give Himura a major edge." She motioned to the bench. "Himura hasn't been watching the game seriously for about half of the match." She snapped her notebook shut. "She doesn't appear to be taking any of this seriously."
"Good… what saying… 'Poker face'?" Shampoo asked, following Nabiki's gaze.
Nabiki shook her head. "Even with a good poker face you can tell the person is paying attention and they have a stake in the game. This…?" She waved in Himura's direction. "... She doesn't seem to care about the outcome of this." She chewed on the end of her pen. "Which means she's got something else going on. But what…?"
Shampoo casually plucked the pen out of her mouth. "No chew on pen. Plastic, inks, all chemicals. Toxic. Bad for teeth. Dirty. If need chew, use wood or rawhide made for purpose. Better yet, break habit."
Nabiki gave her an incredulous look. "Since when did you become my mother?"
Shampoo scowled, a little color raising to her cheeks. "Nabiki bad at taking care of self. Good teeth important in village. If be with Shampoo, need start paying more attention," she wagged her finger scoldingly.
Nabiki's eyebrow rose as her incredulity deepened. "You're making it sound like I'm the one marrying you…" A more lively grin tugged at the corners of her mouth. "... Kitten."
Shampoo's blush deepened but, rather than her stance wavering, her jaw set harder. "Nabiki not first girl Shampoo kiss. Not be last. Good kiss not change Shampoo's point." She poked Nabiki in the collarbone. "Nabiki sleep bad. Eat worse. Exercise okay, but could be better. Not live to 300 that way."
Nabiki chuckled. "I'm not entirely sure I'd know what do with myself if I lived past 30."
Shampoo reached up, took Nabiki's face in her hands and forced her to look her in the eyes with a gentle but surprisingly strong grip. Her reddish eyes were flashing. "Shampoo planning to live as long as great-grandmother. Not let Ranma, or Nabiki, or any other sisters die before Shampoo. Nabiki need make better plans."
Nabiki considered a snarky comeback but she saw something in Shampoo's eyes and decided to drop her usual attitude to play straight for the moment. "Why is that so important to you?" She put her hand over one of Shampoo's and cocked her head curiously.
Shampoo looked away and quickly removed her hands. "It… it nothing."
Nabiki found her own gaze falling away. "We… should talk, Shampoo." Her eyes flicked to the side, realizing that there were a number of people who were paying far more attention to them than they were to the game currently. Damnit… "Later. Somewhere private."
"Awww…" A disappointed sound came from a few seats away.
Without looking at the source, Nabiki plucked her black notebook from her bag. "Don't I still have that marker pending from you, Shibata?"
"... I'll be good!"
She smirked and put the book away again. She glanced back over at Shampoo, who was once again uncharacteristically subdued.
Himura and her scheming could wait. For now, Nabiki had a more interesting puzzle to solve.
000
I apologize for splitting this in the middle of the volleyball game. The chapter would have been huge otherwise.
I originally had a scene in Clara's Leaf where the volleyball team learned about all of the various ugliness of Ranma's past but, honestly it was all rehashing and didn't serve the plot very much, so I cut it. I think Ranma has made it sufficiently clear to them that it's a sensitive topic and bringing it up will only aggravate her further, at least for now. Naturally it'll come up again, but essentially I just wanted to show that the volleyball team was now up to speed on all of this.
I am intensely curious about the reaction this chapter is going to garner.
