Nabiki - New Horizons Part 9 - The Shinobi Strike Back By G.L. Sandborn The next morning came too soon for nearly everyone. Sodoshi, who was keeping to her own schedule, and the fathers who slept like two drunks, were the only exceptions. Nabiki and Jeff wandered down for breakfast, carrying a wide awake and energetic Sodoshi, who just wanted to play with anything she could see or reach. Nabiki kept reining in her daughter's enthusiasm while fighting off Sodoshi's apparent attempts to go back to breast feeding. It was typical Nabiki/Sodoshi interaction; Sodoshi seeing what she could get away with and Nabiki grumpily denying her daughter any fun. Akane finally staggered down still dressed in her night clothes, her hair a mess, her eyes all blood-shot. Obviously, listening to Sodoshi all night had taken its toll on her 'beauty sleep'. The family joined the coffee-sipping Soun at the table, to the sounds of Ranma and his father 'working out' on the lawn outside. Jeff stared at the pair as they dodged, struck, and weaved all over the grass around the koi pond. "Do they do this *every* morning?" Jeff yawned over the sound of a body striking the side of the house. "Yup." Akane stifled a yawn of her own. "Every morning." She stared at the highly animated Sodoshi. "Does Sodoshi cry like that every night?" "Yup. Every night." Akane thought as her head slowly impacted the table. Kasumi was scurrying about the kitchen, preparing breakfast but doing so while being unusually quiet. She looked only marginally better than her little sister; her eyes red and her dress... well, not her usual, neat and orderly appearance. Obviously, Sodoshi had an effect on her as well. Still, there were parts of her manner that suggested she was more upset than tired. Ever since her American relatives arrived, Kasumi had noticed things about Nabiki - things that didn't seem right for a new mother. She had tried to dismiss them as just her imagination but every time she was able to convince herself of that, Nabiki would do something else that started Kasumi thinking again. Nabiki had obviously stopped breast feeding. The endless stream of bottles and formula clearly confirmed that assertion. Still, this alone wasn't sufficient for Kasumi to brand her sister a poor mother. A lot of Japanese women had refused to breast feed their babies. Considering Nabiki's initial reaction to the issue, it wasn't all that surprising. But Kasumi had also noticed that Nabiki refused to sleep with her infant daughter. And *that* was most damning as a Japanese mother. She tried to rationalize that Nabiki lived in America now and they do things differently there. But she kept coming back to the same arguments over and over again - Nabiki was Japanese; born and raised Japanese. She had no excuse for not bringing her daughter into her bed unless she and Jeff had been.... Kasumi shook her head to banish the thought that Jeff and Nabiki had confined Sodoshi to exile for the sake of their own personal pleasure. She couldn't believe - she didn't want to believe - that Nabiki was not the kind of mother Kasumi had hoped she would be. Besides, there was a more immediate problem she felt needed to be addressed. Nabiki noticed Kasumi's preoccupation and jumped to a conclusion about why - Sodoshi's sleeplessness at night. Feeling confident she had her sister fooled about her real level of mothering experience, Nabiki decided to confront the issue head on - like she thought an experienced mother would. After breakfast, Nabiki wandered in to have a talk with Kasumi in the kitchen. Still carrying Sodoshi, figuring the baby would deflect any anger Kasumi might have - just in case. At first, it seemed to work as they talked quietly about Sodoshi and her sleeping habits. Nabiki could tell her sister was upset about something specific in relation to Sodoshi but refused to get to the point. Finally, Nabiki came right out and asked Kasumi what she was upset about. "I know things are different in America..." Kasumi started before losing track of exactly how she wanted to say what was on her mind. Nabiki, feeling her conclusion about Sodoshi's crying last night was correct, shifted her daughter to her other hip and fidgeted nervously. Deep down, she feared this discussion was going to go further than just Sodoshi's sleeping habits. It might actually reach all the way to Nabiki herself. "I know you're young and..." Kasumi seemed to run out of gas again. "I'm sorry about Sodoshi." Nabiki decided to take the lead in the discussion as she cast worried looks between her baby and Kasumi. She didn't want this to happen. She didn't want the confrontation with her sister. She certainly didn't need the aggravation. "I'm talking about some common courtesy for others." Kasumi shifted her position nervously, her eyes only occasionally catching on her sister. She didn't want to have this conversation either but after spending the entire morning cleaning, felt it was an important subject that needed to be discussed. "I'll try to keep her quiet at night, Oneechan," Nabiki softly suggested, hoping it would satisfy her older sister and advert the coming crisis. "What are you talking about?" Kasumi blinked in surprise at her sister. "Apparently not the same thing *you're* talking about." Nabiki looked confused as she sheepishly set her daughter on the nearby counter and fussed with her little shirt. Whatever Kasumi was getting at had nothing to do with Nabiki's mothering skills. That was good enough for Nabiki. "Nabiki, I'm talking about you... and Jeffrey... and the furo... last night." Kasumi practically whispered the last. "Now, I know you've become more American since your marriage but you must understand that such things are simply not done in such a... communal place." Nabiki's look went from confusion to incredulous as it dawned on her what Kasumi was talking about. Somehow, Kasumi had been spying on her and Jeff last night. Quickly, she recalled all the times she 'spied' on others. There were the times she spied on Ranma and Akane, on Ranma and Ukyou, on Ranma and Shampoo, on... well, she figured that Kasumi must have planned her activities if she saw what she claimed to have seen. Things like that don't happen by accident, you know. Nabiki's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized her embarrassed looking older sister. "Jealous?" she finally asked lightly, more for a reaction than to answer her sister. Deep down, she was still relieved that Kasumi wasn't complaining about her mothering skills. "Wha... What do you mean?" Kasumi stammered, her face bright red with a blush, her eyes darting between the floor and her sister's smirking face. This whole conversation had taken a decidedly unpleasant direction. "What can I say? Jeff's good." Nabiki shrugged her shoulders and slipped back into her typical expression. There was no denying it. Kasumi caught Nabiki and Jeff's little 'act' in the furo late last night - it was nothing unusual... for them. It was just something so outside of Kasumi's level of thinking that it truly troubled the poor girl. "Nabiki!" Kasumi hissed. "In *our* furo?" *That* comment almost caused Nabiki to lose her composure. It was getting hard to keep from laughing. "I see what you mean." Nabiki faked a pensive look as she stifled a chuckle and flashed her famous 'look'. She couldn't believe the opening her sister left her. Either Kasumi was really flustered or didn't want this subject voiced out loud. Whatever the case, this was going to be more fun than she'd had in a long time. "You're right, of course. We *have* been rather selfish and self-centered. I'll tell you what I'll do to make it up to you. Next time, we'll let you know beforehand and you can join us." She grinned at her mortified looking sister. Just watching Kasumi's reactions was more than worth the time. "You can take notes if you want. No charge." She practically lost her calm composure at the look on Kasumi's face when she said *that*. "It'll come in handy. You have a boyfriend, don't you?" It was *really* getting hard to keep a straight face. "Well... well..." Kasumi fumbled for her words. Her hands were fidgeting nervously with the hem of her, ever present, apron as she looked bug-eyed at the floor. Nabiki was pushing buttons she'd never tried before and THAT was turning out to be more fun than she ever imagined. "Well, not everyone thinks... *that* is something done outside the bedroom!" Kasumi hissed before stomping out of the kitchen. Nabiki lost control at that point and collapsed onto the counter giggling and holding her daughter. Her mirth was interrupted by a clearly upset Kasumi reentering the kitchen. "And don't you dare tell Jeffrey about this." Kasumi warned before departing again to start her morning cleaning routine out in the dojo. That just launched Nabiki into another round of uncontrollable giggling. She was laughing so hard, she was crying. "So-chan, we've *got* to tell Jeffrey about this." She hugged her incredulous looking daughter. Nabiki didn't spend much time laughing and holding her daughter - it was a new experience for her. Sodoshi was more used to a grumpy mother who had a really good grasp of the word: 'NO'. Quietly, Sodoshi gummed her little thumb and stared at her giggling mother - quite unsure just what to make of it all. Nabiki's reverie was temporarily interrupted by her little sister who wanted to know what was so funny. Nabiki just laughed harder and told her to go ask Kasumi. As a confused looking Akane left the kitchen, Nabiki spasmed through even more laughter as she thought of Kasumi trying to either explain to or evade Akane. Either way, it was going to be a hoot and Nabiki was determined to be there when it happened. There would be time later to share the 'furo incident' with Akane. She breezed through the main room and handed Sodoshi to Jeff. Noting that there was something she simply *had* to do, Nabiki disappeared the same direction as Kasumi and Akane. As usual, Jeff didn't have a clue as to what was going on but felt sure he better do what he was told anyway. Besides, Nabiki was giggling the whole time. If nothing else, it was good to see her laughing again. He and Sodoshi were playing softly, when a wet Genma-panda came waddling into the room and plopped down at the table between Soun, who was still reading his morning paper and sipping the last of his coffee, and Jeff, who was struggling with a more animated than usual daughter. "Ranma got you again, huh?" Jeff noted with raised eyebrows. The panda just rumbled some kind of response and settled in, staring at the far wall. To Sodoshi, this was the neatest thing she'd ever seen. She couldn't take her eyes off of the over-sized and furry, black and white creature only a baby arms-length away. As she kept reaching for the large fuzzy object, Jeff figured he would just have some fun of his own and set her on the floor within easy reach of Genma-panda's large posterior. Jeff remembered when he wanted to get a dog back in Hawaii. His mother cautioned against doing so as babies and dogs didn't always mix - babies having the annoying habit of grabbing great, whopping handfuls of fur and pulling. The usual result was a fleeing dog and a bitten child. Jeff figured the human acting (well, most of the time, anyway) Genma-panda was the perfect critter for his daughter. Besides, he owed Genma for all the 'Saotome money-making scams' he was forced to endure over the last year. The first sign of success came as Genma-panda made a little 'woof' sound and sat bolt upright. Jeff and Soun turned to see Sodoshi with two handfuls of fur attempting to pull herself upright. The pair watched, first in amused fascination and later in awe, as Sodoshi pulled herself, first to her knees, then, with a mighty tug with both hands, to her feet. Jeff just stared, mouth open and eyes wide, as Sodoshi, obviously pleased with herself, tried to hop up and down using handfuls of Genma's fur for support. The panda whimpered aloud again. "Hush, my friend. My granddaughter has just reached another milestone." Soun started to blubber as he set down his newspaper. Watching his granddaughter stand for the first time was a most emotional experience for him. Jeff, too, was astounded by her feat. He expected her just to lay on her stomach and annoy the rotund panda, not climb him. After all, she had just learned to sit up by herself. This standing business was a total surprise. Both men abruptly clapped their approval, while Sodoshi, a mischievous grin on her face, squealed with delight and tugged on Genma's fur like she was going to climb all the way up his back. "Look at that," Soun said proudly. "She has no fear of going even higher. She must be shinobi." "Well, shinobi *and* Tendo," Jeff added. "Quite so." Soun's smile told Jeff of a grandfather's pride. Genma, on the other hand, just kept whimpering and holding up signs that said: 'Ouch!' 'Pain!' 'Enough, already!'. Reluctantly, Jeff retrieved his daughter, who promptly threw a fit at having her giant panda taken away - crying and grabbing for her new 'toy'. Genma, unwilling to be mauled a second time, beat a hasty retreat to the bath, only to discover it empty and drained. Panda paws being totally unsuited to the process of manipulating hot water faucets, Genma reluctantly waddled back into the room with Soun and Jeff to seek help. Soun just stared at the request while Jeff struggled with the squirming Sodoshi; still trying to reach her panda 'toy' once again. "I'll help, Mr. Saotome," Jeff finally chuckled. "But it's gonna cost ya." Genma held up a sign that said: 'No Money.' "Nope. Don't need money." Jeff grinned conspiratorially. "One piggy back ride for Sodoshi." Genma cast a silent pleading look at his friend only to have confirmed that Soun thought Jeffrey's idea was a good one; besides, he was enjoying watching Genma squirm. Convinced that Jeffrey and Nabiki deserved each other, Genma-panda let out a reluctant 'woof' of resignation and dropped to all fours to await his torture. All the time, thinking how embarrassing this was for such a trained martial artist to be reduced to giving 'piggy back' rides. Jeff set the highly animated Sodoshi on the panda's broad back and watched as she grabbed handfuls of fur to hang on - absolutely thrilled with her situation. "You know, father-in-law," Jeff sat back pensively. "The next thing she'll want is a pony." Soun just nodded knowingly. He remembered both Nabiki and Akane went through the 'pony' stage somewhere around age 7 or 8. Unlike his new son-in-law, the best he was able to do was the mechanical riding horse on top of a local department store. He smiled to himself as he thought how, at least, his granddaughter would have all the things he was unable to provide for his own daughters. Such are the dreams of grandfathers. With a grump, Genma-panda began his lumbering 'ride' as little Sodoshi clung to his back squealing with delight. Outside the open engawa, Kasumi staggered past repeatedly telling the trailing Akane: 'NO!'. "Aw, come on Oneechan," Akane begged as she pursued her big sister - clearly enjoying the 'game'. "What were you and Nabiki talking about?" "No, I won't tell you." Kasumi scurried away, totally flustered. "You're too young." As Akane followed, the pair were trailed by a still giggling Nabiki. If nothing else, she was having the time of her life with this visit. As the trio disappeared around the corner of the building, only the occasional Kasumi's loud 'NO' being heard. Jeff and Soun looked at each other in amused confusion. Whatever was happening, was more 'life' than the old home had seen since Nabiki moved out. Seconds later, Kasumi reappeared going in the opposite direction, still protesting Akane's questions and still retreating around the building with a loudly laughing Nabiki trailing. All things considered, this had not been the best morning for Kasumi. Kasumi's day took a turn for the better when a messenger arrived around noon. It was Mrs. Suzuki, again acting as an official 'go-between' and bearing an invitation from Officer Kenji Watanabe for an early dinner that afternoon. Nervously, Kasumi accepted - still flustered at her two sisters and quite apprehensive about her first 'date'. Still, Officer Watanabe was the first to show such interest in her and she wasn't getting any younger. Besides, a policeman in the family wouldn't be so bad. At least, he had steady work and would be a good provider. ***** 1 ***** In a cave, not far from Nerima, Fukoono the renegade elder was listening to reports from his latest attempts to start a 'shinobi war'. Things were not going well - especially the key part. "What of the child?" His voice boomed from the darkness. The rag-tag band of shadow warriors that chose to follow him cringed at the sound of his voice. He had chosen not too wisely nor too well. Many who followed him were the misfits, the low skilled, and the weak of mind. There was also the issue of Fukoono's increasing bouts of madness. Where once dwelled a mind as sharp as any within the shinobi hierarchy, now resided only a dark fanaticism. His dementia demanded the lives of Jeff, Nabiki, and especially Sodoshi Lawrence - but NOT right away. He needed them first. To him, Sodoshi was the key to everything. She, more than any other, would guarantee either Jeff or Nabiki would come to him - on his terms. She was an only child, an easily abducted infant, and the last of the Clan of the Cold Moon line. Yes, he still hated the Clan of the Cold Moon - still convinced that Nabiki Tendo-Lawrence found more in the monk's cave than a worthless scroll read only by a now dead clan woman. She knew the secrets of the cave alright. And she passed those secrets on to her gaijin husband who, that idiot Sato, mistakenly made a member of Fukoono's own clan. The whole thing was a plot, you see? A plot to destroy their clan - their people. A plot hatched by evil outsiders like Jeff and a rival clan led by Nabiki. His foolish clan brothers didn't see the danger but *he* did. He saw the despicable Jeff Lawrence, now armed with the unstoppable power of the cave secrets and backed by a vengeful Cold Moon clan, making clan after clan cower and bow to *him* - a gaijin - a despicable gaijin. Fukoono saw himself as the only possible savior of his people - the man who would protect his people from being stabbed in the back by fools like his brother elders, the misguided Master Sato, and especially that evil gaijin - Jeff Lawrence. His plan was simple. Abduct a member of the Lawrence family. Use that member as bait to lure either Jeff or Nabiki to his cave where he would brutally extract the cave secrets from them. With such in his possession, he could take his rightful place at the head of all the shinobi and return his people to the power and prestige they once enjoyed so many years ago - after disposing of the remaining Lawrence family members, of course. Naturally, he did not fear the secrets being used against him. As both a master shadow warrior and an elder, Fukoono felt more than confident of his own safety - knowing full well that his magic was always strongest in his own lair. He was certain that he could prevail once the quarry was enticed into his trap. Still, there was a little matter of the bait. "Why have you not brought me the child?" There was much exchanging of looks among the gathered as each silently challenged the other to answer to their master. They only had bad news for him and each understood fully what the master's reaction was to bad news. "Master," one, braver than the others, answered in a hesitant voice. "We have tried but our agents have been no match for the other clans who have swarmed to the defense of our intended victims." "Fools!" Fukoono screamed. "Have you idiots forgotten our ways? I know full well the layers of protection that surround Jeffrey Lawrence and his family. I also know of your childish attempts to penetrate that protection. Have you all forgotten the ways of guile and deception?" There was much shuffling of feet as the gathered contemplated their failures. Such failures had already cost them nearly half their number - among them the best the new clan had. "This is all that idiot Sato's doing," Fukoono muttered. "Perhaps we should deal with Sato first." The gathered warriors seemed to gasp in unison at the thought of going up against such a formidable opponent. "Cowards! I have cowards for warriors!" "But master, harming Sato will not get us the child. The other clans would not abandon their protection of Lawrence-san to help a chunin of another clan." "Perhaps, but it would make *me* feel better," Fukoono almost sounded rational as he pondered the problem. "Maybe a strike at Jeffrey's parents..." "We can not do that, master," the spokesman protested. He was clearly becoming bolder in the face of Fukoono's potential wrath. "His parents are protected representatives of a foreign government. To harm them..." "I did not suggest harm, fool." "We have already tried to abduct his mother..." "And...?!?" "She cornered our agent in the pantry and beat him into submission with a can of peas." Fukoono groaned audibly. "Or was it succotash?" "Idiots!" "She is most skilled in the way of our people, master. She was able to detect our agent and use such simple weapons in his capture..." The spokesman's voice trailed off as he got the feeling all was not right with his master. He was fatally correct. Without warning, a bolt of crimson lightning creased the darkness and seemed to engulf the spokesman, his body snatched from the floor and jerking like a rag doll, his cries rising in pitch and volume until all in the cave had to hold their ears against the unearthly din. As abruptly as it began, it was over. The victim's smoking body dropped to the polished cave floor like a bag of old laundry. The remaining warriors swallowed hard and stepped away from the still sizzling carcass. "Now," Fukoono sounded tired and almost rational. "Follow them. Pursue them. Use your skills and your heads. They will make a mistake. They will leave the child unguarded." His voice suddenly switched from grandfatherly to pure evil. All shuddered at his last pronouncement. "Do not return without that child." ***** 2 ***** Kasumi patiently waited outside the agreed upon restaurant, nervously checking and re-checking every detail of her appearance. She wanted to make the best impression on her new suitor, such things being most important in this situation. Deep down, she was excited and a little sad. She had expected and secretly hoped that her first real date would be with someone else - someone she knew much better than this relative newcomer. "Kasumi?" Kasumi turned in surprise, her hand going instinctively to her mouth. "Oh, you startled me." "I'm sorry. You certainly look nice this afternoon." Officer Kenji Watanabe, dressed in his uniform for work, calmly approached with a friendly smile. Kasumi couldn't help but notice how dashing he looked in his policeman's uniform, complete with white gloves. "Thank you." Kasumi blushed a little at someone taking notice of *her* looks. She always considered herself a person of simple means and needs, not someone who needed to look 'just right' all the time for others. Still, it *was* nice to be noticed for a change. "You'll have to forgive me for scheduling this so early. I go on duty at 7 PM and really wanted to see you this week." "How sweet." "Shall we go in?" He held the door for her and smiled fully as she glided past, the sound of her nylons and ruffle of her dress sending pleasurable vibrations through his body. Kasumi had spent several hours thinking of just what to wear, how 'formal' to dress and what accessories to use. She even borrowed some of Akane's new perfume, as she had none of her own. She was a little worried about the effect such would have on her gentleman friend, worried it might stimulate him improperly. Above all else, she didn't want him 'over-stimulated'. She'd had enough of that this morning with Nabiki. Dinner was delicious, more so for Kasumi as she didn't have to clean up afterwards, and the conversation limited. Both were content to simply allow themselves to become accustomed to the presence of each other. Kasumi kept catching Kenji's eyes and quickly turning away, blushing. All through dinner she was thinking how handsome he was and how polite he acted towards her. In many ways, he was so much like the kind of person she hoped to marry. Slowly, the thought of any rivals to this new suitor began to fade. After dinner, they sipped tea and had a few moments to discuss things. "Do you like being a policeman?" Kasumi looked at him with the half-open eyes she'd seen used in movies and magazines to make herself look more... Western and alluring. It really wasn't necessary as Officer Watanabe seemed to melt every time he caught her looking his way. "Police work is very important to the welfare of our community." He sounded like a public relations brochure. "It is a difficult but satisfying job." Kasumi watched him closely as he talked and noticed small things about his mannerisms that told her much about his character. The way his eyes lit up when he talked about his work. The eagerness in his voice. The way his hands clenched as he described the thrill of chasing some miscreant. She smiled to herself, thinking how lucky she was to have met him. "Tell me, Kasumi," he asked, almost in passing. "Does your family own all the land inside the walls?" "Yes, it's been in our family for generations. Until mother died, we ran a martial arts training school in the dojo out back." Kasumi paused to scowl slightly at her tea as memories of her mother passed. She really missed her mother - more so now that she was officially dating. "You *are* the oldest daughter, are you not?" Officer Watanabe seemed to lean forward slightly with that question. It made Kasumi a bit uncomfortable. "Hai," she answered softly, barely above a whisper. "But my sister and her..." She paused trying to fit together exactly how to describe Ranma. "...fiance will, most likely, inherit the family home and dojo." Kasumi paused again, this time to consider something new. Something that made her scowl slightly. Something she had never considered before. She was the eldest daughter. As such, she would be the logical person to inherit her family's possessions, providing she had a husband who wouldn't mind changing his name. This put a whole new light on the subject of courtship. Could Kenji Watanabe be interested in her only because of what she could financially bring to the marriage? She looked at Officer Watanabe with a more critical eye but saw only his genuine looking smile and open expression. He looked, for all the world, like someone who was keenly interested in Kasumi and only Kasumi. Quietly, Kasumi chastised herself for thinking such things and dismissed all thoughts that this new suitor was less than he appeared. The rest of their dinner seemed to pass quickly. Officer Watanabe shied away from any further questions about Kasumi's inheritance or dowry and Kasumi actually relaxed in the company of someone who treated her like she wanted to be treated. At 6:30, they reluctantly ended their first date outside the restaurant - no kiss, no hug, not even a handshake. Kasumi was determined things would progress in accordance to traditional courtship rules, regardless of her attraction to the handsome Officer Watanabe. As each left, their thoughts took radically different directions. Kasumi repeatedly reviewed the date in her mind, looking for every scrap of detail that would help her in coming to a decision about her young suitor. He was old enough - certainly older than herself; a decided plus. He was good looking - this caused Kasumi to blush as the 'furo' scene quickly replayed itself in her head, only this time with different actors. She quickly shook her head and chastised herself again for holding such thoughts in public. Further along, she pondered the most significant piece of evidence she currently had - he treated her with much respect and great kindness. While this could be due to his desire to make a good impression, Kasumi dismissed such as being unfair. He was supposed to be trying to make a good impression. Only with time will she be able to determine just how much is an act for her benefit. Satisfied she had plenty of time to come to a decision, Kasumi happily strolled home through the gathering dusk. Officer Watanabe arrived at his assigned koban just in time to start his shift. One of the sergeants kidded him about not arriving any earlier than necessary and how such was the prerogative of a more experienced officer. Watanabe endured his 'superiors', figuring it was wise, for the time being, to 'suffer fools gladly'. He would deal with them in good time. When finally alone, Kenji Watanabe pondered the matter of Kasumi Tendo. She was beautiful, proper, and appropriately deferential. He smiled at the thought of Kasumi as his wife. Closing his eyes, he tried to envision life with her - how she'd have his dinner waiting when he got home, have his bath prepared just the way he liked it, the house would be spotless, the books accurate and up to date, and his children (there would, of course, have to be children) would be properly disciplined and appropriately studious. He leaned back in his chair, placed his feet on the desk, and allowed himself a moment to revel in the darker aspects of such a union. Kasumi *was* a very attractive girl. So attractive that he couldn't resist mentally undressing her, imagining every curve and highlight. He added more lustful thoughts along the way, always careful to make sure Kasumi understood who was the lord and master of their house. The house. Yes, that too he envisioned. He could see himself as lord of the manor, where everything inside the walled compound bent to his will. After all, she *was* the eldest daughter and he would be her husband. The path to complete control was very clear: marry Kasumi; convince her elderly father *he* had rights to the property over some younger rival; once in control of land, have the stupid little sister and her worthless fiance or husband removed. They could still rent the dojo from him if they wanted to operate a school or something - he could use the extra income - but the home and property were *his*. After all, such a place would fit the future status of someone like himself. A cold chuckle escaped his lips as he worked out the angles. This was perfect. Everything was perfect. He doubted anyone in *that* family, or anywhere else, had the mental capacity to match him in his schemes. Nothing could stop him from gaining control - nothing. ***** 3 ***** "What are you talking about, Ranma?" Jeff groaned as he was trying to settle down in front of the TV. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm hungry, I'm tired, and I'm on my vacation. I'm staying right here." As if to prove his point, he scrunched down into the pillows on the floor and crossed his arms. "Shhhh, not so loud," Ranma waved his hands at Jeff and looked towards the hallway nervously. "I don't want anyone to hear you." "Big deal." Jeff was obviously not taking this as seriously as his future brother-in-law. All he knew was that Ranma was trying to drag him out to some unknown location to see some unnoted item for some unexplained reason. "Please." Ranma almost sounded like he was pleading. That struck Jeff as a bit odd. Ranma, of all people, didn't seem like the type that would beg for *anything*. Jeff reconsidered his reluctance. "I'll only go if you tell me where, what for, and especially, why." "I can't tell you here." He looked at the hallway again like he was expecting a surprise attack. Considering his father's penchant for such things, Jeff wasn't surprised. "It's real important to me." Jeff looked at Ranma warily. Ranma might be immature, overly active, and hard headed, but he was also sincere when it counted and it was beginning to look like this was one time when it counted a lot. Jeff checked to see how much money he had on him. Somehow, he got the impression that whatever it was Ranma wanted to show him, it was going to be expensive. Besides, with Kasumi gone, they were going to have to eat somewhere. Judging by stories he'd heard about Ranma's appetite, he was going to need *lots* of money. "Alright," Jeff grumbled as he started to get up. "Just so long as this doesn't take all night." Ranma's look of relief, mixed with fear of discovery as he kept casting nervous glances at the hallway, accompanied the pair as they made their way out of the house. Jeff couldn't be sure but he got the impression that Ranma was scared of something - something, or someone, in the house. Since there was only his wife and Akane still at home, it had to be Akane. After all, why would Ranma be scared of Nabiki? "Do I need to call a taxi?" Jeff asked as they cleared the compound. Ranma was setting a brisk pace which the longer legged Jeff found fairly easy to match. "No, we can walk there." Ranma's demeanor had lightened tremendously now that they were out of the house. "Are you going to tell me where we're going now?" "You'll see." That response just irritated Jeff more. He didn't like being led to unknown places for unknown reasons. If it was anyone other than Ranma... Turning off the main street, they wound through a maze of back streets, each a little less impressive than the last. After numerous twists and turns, they came to a stop on a dead-end street with small, family owned shops lining each side. Jeff exhaled hard and shook his head. "Well, the Ginza it's not," Jeff observed as his eyes wandered over the run-down buildings and family owned shops. "Honest to God, Ranma, I never knew places like this existed in Japan." "Not everyone is a 'salaryman', Jeffrey." Ranma seemed to gaze sadly at the dilapidated buildings. "Most of these people live day by day. Those that don't own or work in one of these shops, help by doing whatever low-paying menial jobs they can find." Jeff, too, scanned the neighborhood. Small shops, barely wider than their doorways, were wedged together like tattered books on a shelf. Above each was at least one floor where laundry hanging from the windows testified to their use as living space for the owners of the little shops below. He could easily imagine more than one generation crammed into each 'rabbit hutch' home - each member doing something to help the family survive. It was a truly wretched environment. He was about to ask Ranma another question when a tiny noise behind him caught his attention. Jeff quickly looked the direction of the noise and paused with a questioning look on his face at what he saw. A small boy, no more than 8 or 9 was standing in the street, shuffling his feet and looking at the ground like he was embarrassed at being caught. It took a lot of courage for such a young person to approach the Western looking Jeff Lawrence. What he did next took even more. "You Amerikan?" the boy asked in very broken English, stumbling over the words like they were unfamiliar obstacles. He looked extremely uncomfortable, his eyes glancing from his respectful downward gaze to Jeff's face. Jeff surveyed the boy with a mix of pity and curiosity. He could tell by the boy's clothes that he didn't come from a financially secure family - they were old and well worn, his wooden geta showed signs of recent repair, and his hair obviously hadn't been cut in many weeks. Still, he looked clean and well cared for. In a country where everyone seemed to have the basic necessities, this young man represented the many who lived in the shadow of Japan's success - not comfortably but decently and with honor. Jeff suddenly felt very awkward. "Hai, Amerikajin." Jeff tapped his nose with his answer and went on to ask the lad in Japanese what he wanted. The boy seemed to relax slightly at being able to deal with the stranger in Japanese, in spite of the fact he was talking to, what seemed to him to be, a giant. "Would you like to have a dog?" The boy shifted his weight nervously, his eyes pitifully meeting then avoiding Jeff's. "She is still a baby. Needs a good home. Free." He looked hopefully at Jeff, silently praying that his sales pitch was well received. Jeff lowered his eyes and pursed his lips. A dog was the last thing he was in the market for. On the surface, such an acquisition was impossible. Being only a visitor to Japan, he would have to subject the poor animal to tons of veterinary inspections and months of quarantine back in Hawaii before being able to bond with his pet. It would be unfair to him and the dog. This didn't even address what Nabiki would do to him for bringing such an animal home. "Please," the boy motioned to a little girl standing on the curb holding a small, scruffy looking puppy. Jeff fancied himself a pretty good judge of when he was being taken and when those negotiating with him were lying. He didn't detect either from the boy. That would mean that either he was VERY good at lying or he was telling the truth. In either case, Jeff began to feel a pressure - a pressure he'd never felt before. "Our dog had babies. A few lived. We cannot afford to keep the babies. I have given away the others to good homes. But we have one left." He paused with a pout as the little girl joined him in the street. She was holding a listless looking puppy in her arms. Slowly, the pup raised its head to regard the two newcomers. For several seconds, the little boy looked like he was debating telling the rest of his story. After a couple of false starts, he finally finished: "Father said any left when he gets home tonight, he would drown in the river." Jeff knelt down in front of the girl, she never tried to make eye contact, as if she was ashamed at having to approach strangers on the street to save her dog's babies. She also looked sad at having to help give away those puppies. Jeff could tell she loved the little puppy she was holding by the way she stroked its head and, every now and then, rubbed her cheek against the dog's muzzle when it looked up at her. "Is this the dog?" Jeff asked as he tilted his head. He knew full well this was the dog in question. He only asked as he suddenly felt tongue-tied and it was the first thing that came to his mind. "Hai, a little girl dog," the boy answered hopefully. Jeff shot a quick glance at Ranma to see him looking wistfully at the puppy. Ranma was the consummate protector of the helpless - a champion for those who needed protecting. And *here* was someone that really needed protection. However, here was also a situation unlike any he ever encountered. A situation where there was nothing he could do to protect the threatened. He couldn't adopt the puppy - the Tendos were unlikely to allow him to have such an animal while living with them and his mind simply failed to come up with any plausible solution to saving the animal otherwise. His frustration was clearly etched in his face. Jeff examined the puppy carefully. Her eyes were clear and bright, like two shiny brown buttons, but her general listlessness and bloated belly spoke of worms. "She is very healthy. She is a very happy baby. She will make a good pet." The boy was really laying it on thick. It was getting late and Jeff was likely his last chance. "I won't take your dog," Jeff said seriously as he stood back up shaking his head. The boy's shoulders seemed to sag at the announcement. The girl looked like she was going to start crying. "I will, however, buy the animal from you." Jeff reached into his pocket as Ranma shot him an incredulous look. The two kids just stared wide eyed. "In America, such a fine animal as this would go for..." He held out a 10,000 yen note. Collectively, the kids eyes bugged out. Neither had ever seen such money. "Too much," the boy protested as he waved his hand in front of him. "Too much." "It is a fair price for such a magnificent animal." Jeff idly ran a finger over the scruffy head of the puppy. The animal seemed to sense that Jeff was coming to her rescue as her muzzle followed his hand while her nose soaked in the myriad of smells that clung to him. "Take it or leave it." The boy and girl exchanged excited glances. In their young minds, they were going to be rich. That's when Jeff dropped the other shoe. "All under one condition." He reached into another pocket and pulled out one of his business cards. Taking a pen, he wrote the Tendos phone number on the back. "You take the mother dog tomorrow..." He emphasized the word 'tomorrow'. "Take her to a veterinarian, *any* veterinarian, and tell him to fix her so she cannot have any more babies." Jeff used simple terms as he didn't know the Japanese word for spayed and wasn't sure the kids would understand anyway. "Give him this card and tell him to call me. My name's on the other side. I will pay him to take care of your dog. You'll never have to go through finding homes for her puppies again. Deal?" The boy stared at the gaijin with astonishment. He was getting 10,000 yen, unloading his last puppy, AND getting his dog fixed so she wouldn't have any more babies. This was more than alright. "HAI!" he practically yelled with a deeper than necessary bow. Jeff handed the boy both the money and his card. The boy looked at the card carefully, as if he was trying to memorize the phone number, before bowing politely and happily leaving. The girl handed over the puppy to Jeff and, with an almost sad look, kissed the animal's head before following her brother. Jeff felt a momentary stab of regret at taking the girl's puppy - children and puppies just naturally went together. Still, he reminded himself, if he hadn't, her father would have surely drowned the poor animal when he got home from work. "Nabiki's gonna kill you," was all Ranma could say as he shook his head. "What's the matter, didn't you ever want a dog?" Jeff answered as he stroked the pup's scruffy little head. Ranma paused to consider Jeff's question. He'd spent most of his time on the road. The only real contact he ever had with dogs was when they chased him or tried to bite when he got too close. He never really considered them as companion pets - someone to share a lonely night or the remainder of your food. He watched as his future brother-in-law happily stroked the contented looking dog's head. "Still, Nabiki doesn't like dogs. You won't be able to keep it." "Who said the dog's for me?" Jeff answered as he held the animal up and stared into its eyes. He frowned as he noticed the little critter had fleas too. "Then who?" "Don't know," Jeff shifted the dog's tiny body to his arm and chuckled as she tried to push her head between his arm and the side of his body in a rooting motion. "Haven't given it much thought." He grinned lazily Ranma's way and endured the incredulous return. "Oh yeah, I forgot. You're a cat person." Ranma made a face and shook his head. "Anyway, I know you didn't drag me down here to buy a dog." Jeff looked at Ranma with a satisfied expression. "Oh, right... right." Ranma pointed towards a small building wedged in between a green grocer and a book store. Jeff squinted at the sign. "Jewelry?" "Yeah, come on." Ranma quickly closed the distance between the street and the little shop's doorway. Screeching to a halt just outside, he turned to Jeff and lowered his voice in genuine seriousness. "You gotta promise not to tell anyone - even Nabiki." Jeff just shrugged and agreed. He was willing to go along with Ranma until given a good reason not to. They quietly entered the little family owned shop, passing a large fan that provided some relief to the afternoon heat. A wave of odors struck the pair and quickly enveloped them as they crossed the threshold of the store. Old musty wood scents mingled with the odors of someone cooking vegetables in the back room - probably the owner's dinner. In the gathering darkness, the store's poor florescent lighting gave the room a sickly yellow tint. Jeff looked casually in the aging glass display cases while Ranma made a beeline to a special case. "Over here." Ranma anxiously motioned for Jeff as he stared into the glass case. The shop's owner emerged from the back room as Jeff was looking in the same case as Ranma. "Ah, Saotome-san," the owner crowed as he slowly worked his way over to the new customers. Jeff glanced up at the man briefly before returning to what was in the display case. In that momentary glance, Jeff gathered enough information to tell him all he needed to know about the shop owner. He was an older man, perhaps 45 or 50 years old, who walked with a slight limp, like his hip or leg hurt. Jeff noticed two things on the wall behind him as he approached; a picture of several men dressed in nice suits - on of them the current shop keeper, and a certificate honoring the man's service to his company - a well known international firm. Secretly, Jeff wondered if the man was a recent victim of Japanese companies 'downsizing'. He'd heard how tough it was on many of the victims - how they often had to rely on old family businesses to survive - how they struggled to recover their shattered lives. With another glance at the dozing puppy in his arms, Jeff vowed to keep a closer watch on his own companies - no CEO was going to get a bonus for laying off workers if *he* could help it. "You haven't sold it yet." Ranma sounded excited as he repeatedly pointed out, what looked like, a diamond ring. The only problem was that the 'diamond' looked too large and, even in the lousy light of the shop, Jeff could tell wasn't a real diamond. "It's... ah," Jeff struggled with an appropriate answer he could give without causing hurt feelings. "...Impressive." "Yeah, she's gonna love it." Ranma longingly stared at the ring, like he was mentally fitting it on her finger. "Who's going to love it?" Jeff already knew the answer. He was just stalling for time as he tried to figure out how to help Ranma without insulting him. "Akane, who else?" Jeff's eyes slowly rolled back into his head as he contemplated what Ranma was getting himself into. "And that's where you come in." Ranma pressed ahead, figuring there was no time like the present to deal with the most important part of this transaction. "I'm working now - down at Inoue-sensi's dojo - teaching a class three nights a week. It doesn't pay very much, but I've already saved almost 30,000 yen." Jeff glanced at the price tag in front of the ring in question. It read: 80,000 yen. Jeff immediately didn't like where this was going. "I just need..." Jeff raised one finger in front of Ranma to stop him. Turning slowly to the shop keeper, he asked if they could have a moment alone. The man immediately nodded and moved over to another case and started dusting. Certain that there was no place possible to have a serious discussion of the type they were about to have anywhere inside the shop, Jeff pulled Ranma by the arm back outside. "Eighty Thousand YEN?!?" Jeff whispered *very* loud once they were outside. "Have you totally lost your mind?!?" "But..." "Do you even know what it is you're buying?" "A diamond..." "Not even close. I've seen 'Ring Pops' that looked more convincing." "But he *said* it was..." "NOT ON ITS BEST DAY!" Ranma pouted at the sidewalk. He had come close to making a very expensive mistake. Having Jeffrey point that out to him only made it worse. "How did you even find this place?" "Some of the guys as school..." Ranma paused as he swallowed his mistake. "They said it had the best prices in town." "Maybe, but not *that* ring." "Oh...." Ranma looked totally dejected. Fighting, he knew all about. This buying things for Akane was all new to him. He was going to need help. "Look," Jeff shifted the puppy to his other arm. "I have a cousin who's in the diamond business in New York. I spent part of a summer with him once and he showed me how to rate a diamond. I'm no expert but I can keep you from making a really bad mistake. Let's go back inside and I'll help you pick out something nice for Akane." "Really?" Ranma looked surprised that Jeffrey would help him this way. At first, all he wanted was to show Jeff the ring. Then he was going to see about a small... loan. The loan. Ranma groaned to himself. How in the world would he be able to ask Jeffrey for a loan if he helps Ranma pick out the ring? He hesitated. This was worse than going to Nabiki. "Now what's wrong?" Jeff quickly picked up on Ranma's hesitation. "Well, I was going to show you the ring and then ask if you would... ah,..." Ranma ran out of appropriate words. With a hand behind his head in embarrassment, he cast a pleading look at Jeff. "I smell a family loan here." Jeff shifted the puppy again while giving Ranma a withering look. "I sure hope you weren't thinking of spending more money than you have for this." "Actually...." Ranma took a deep breath and forced it out. He *hated* doing this - it involved depending on others, something he was never good at. "Well, yeah... sorta." "I thought so." Jeff's look was pure Nabiki. Ranma remained silent for several uncomfortable seconds. However, that didn't mean his mind was quiet as well. "Ranma, I didn't say I wouldn't provide you with the money." It was as if Jeff could read Ranma's mind. "It's just that you shouldn't start a relationship with someone deep in debt. And borrowing money to provide an expensive ring for someone is just not a good idea." Ranma stared at the ground while he digested Jeff's advice. There was a different, 'more Ranma' type reason for choosing that specific ring. "It's just that you gave Nabiki such a nice ring for your engagement and I wanted Akane to have, at least, as good a ring for hers." There was a long pause as Jeff regarded his younger companion. Jeff had been dealing with his 'money problem' now for almost two years. He'd been challenged by older, more established people on a regular basis. Time after time, he had been belittled, put-upon, and treated like a child. Throughout it all, he'd maintained his quiet shinobi-taught dignity. Now he was being challenged by Ranma Saotome - a kid with more spunk than business sense - a kid who had no more financial wherewithal than the kid who sold him the puppy. At first, he didn't much like it. "Don't try to compete with me financially, kid. I have too much of a head start." Jeff scowled at Ranma, his voice flat and ominous. He used the same look on Ranma he'd used in the past on Nabiki whenever she got 'uppity'. While what Jeff said was quite true, Ranma would never be able to rival Jeff financially, it nevertheless represented a challenge which caused him to instinctively bristle. Fortunately, Jeff had matured enough to act like a 'big brother' instead of a rival. "What I mean is that you have to learn to live within your means." Jeff's expression was that of an older brother trying to help a younger sibling. "Stay out of debt, Ranma. You'll be a lot happier in the long run." He placed a hand on Ranma's shoulder. "Besides, if it comes from you, I'll bet Akane will be happy with whatever you give her." Ranma peeked up at Jeff, feeling better and a little closer to his future brother-in-law. Maybe Jeff knew what he was talking about. Maybe Ranma would have made an expensive mistake. Maybe Akane would be happy with a simple ring. With a sheepish smile, Ranma nodded his agreement and they returned to the shop. A half hour later, Jeff had helped Ranma pick out a pure diamond ring in a nice setting. It was only a half carat, but as close to flawless as the little shop had. The best part was that the shop owner was willing to settle, after a little bargaining, on 40,000 yen for the ring - a fair price anywhere. Jeff sprung for the extra 10,000 and Ranma had the symbol of the most important step he had ever thought of taking in the palm of his hands. As they emerged into the early evening darkness, Jeff carrying his 10,000 yen puppy and Ranma his ring, they were met with the smells of cooking. It reminded them of their hunger. "I don't know about you, but buying things makes me hungry." Jeff noted. "I think that's why they put food courts in shopping malls." Ranma smiled at Akane's new ring before suggesting a place for dinner. "You ever have okonomiyaki?" He grinned like he knew a deep dark secret. "Once," Jeff admitted. "It was pretty awful." "That, big brother, is because you don't know where the best okonomiyaki in Japan is." Ranma surprised himself with how easy the phrase 'big brother' rolled off his lips. The more he thought about it, the better he liked the sound - especially when applied to Jeff. He never had a sibling of any kind, much less an older brother. As he looked over at the American husband of his fiance's sister, he started to think how lucky he was. "And you know of such a place?" "Of course. I even know the owner." "A man of your appetite. I'm not surprised." As they strolled down the narrow street, a thought suddenly occurred to Ranma. "We didn't cheat that man, did we?" he asked with a scowl. "Are you kidding?" Jeff laughed. "He made a good profit on the ring. Trust me. The diamond is probably Chinese and the setting has the feel of white gold - nicely made, don't get me wrong, but worth what we paid for it." He laughed again. "Everybody won this time." Ranma grunted his relief and continued to stare at the ring as the two happily made their way to the best okonomiyaki in Japan. ***** 4 ***** Kasumi's return home from her date was greeted by a barrage of questions from her sisters. Both were determined to know just how far she was willing to let this courtship go before making a decision. Deftly, Kasumi deflected their questions as she made her way to the refuge of her room - saying little and smiling much. As Kasumi quietly closed the door to her room (as well as the subject in question), Nabiki and Akane gave up, at least directly. "I can't believe she's doing this to Dr. Tofu," Akane grumbled as she stomped away from Kasumi's room. Her face was fixed in a locked jaw scowl as she bitterly thought of how she willingly gave up her hopes of the doctor returning her love in favor of her oldest sister. This wasn't fair to him... or Akane. Nabiki, sensing her little sister was about to do something rash, followed purposefully. She, too, thought Tofu and Kasumi were perfect for each other but now had the maturity to realize that sometimes things just don't work out the way they are supposed to. Besides, she thought, perfection was in the eye of the beholder. If Kasumi was determined to abandon the reluctant Dr. Tofu for a more energetic suitor, who were either Akane or herself to object. "Akane, I hope you're not planning on doing something stupid," Nabiki finally suggested as she caught up with her more athletic sister. "Depends." Akane turned suddenly and scowled at Nabiki. "On what?" "On what the doctor says." "Oh good, Akane. Like going down to Tofu-sensei's clinic and confronting him is going to change things." "I've *got* to do something." Akane was waving her arms in frustration - her voice becoming almost loud enough for Kasumi to hear behind her room's door. "If I don't..." "If you don't, things will work out anyway." Nabiki finished while looking at the floor. She, too, was a little surprised at Kasumi's sudden interest in a strange man. But, he *did* come through a 'go-between' so his motives were above question and he *was* doing everything the proper way - not like his father and her's made some goofy arrangement without consulting the two parties involved. It was now up to Kasumi as to whether or not she concluded the courtship with an engagement. It was, in fact, out of all their hands. Nabiki sighed as she glanced up at her sister. If she could just keep Akane from doing something stupid. "I just think Dr. Tofu has a right to know," Akane grumbled while looking at the floor. "Well, therein, lies the problem," Nabiki folded her arms and leaned against the wall. "Letting him know is acceptable. But storming into his clinic and demanding he do something about the situation is totally out of line and you know it." "I wasn't going to 'storm into his clinic'," Akane answered with a sassy voice, her pretty little nose wrinkled in disgust. "It's just..." "It's just he should know about this," Nabiki interrupted. "And since you're too emotional to do the job properly, that job falls to me." "I am NOT EMOTIONAL!" "Oh?" The two glared at each other for several seconds before Akane began to back down slightly. "Well, I've gotten better." Akane turned and placed her forehead against the wall while softly kicking the baseboard out of nervousness. What Nabiki had said was quite correct; she *was* too emotional, at times. "I've taken your advice and started listening more. It's really helped with Ranma." "I'm glad." Nabiki pushed herself from the wall, slid her hands into the back pockets of her jeans shorts, and sighed. "You two were beginning to get on my nerves." Akane continued to scowl at the floor while she tapped the wall with her toe. "So, what are we going to do?" she finally asked. "Leave it to me," Nabiki sounded confident, like she always did when she had a plan. "Tofu-sensei has wanted to see Sodoshi ever since she was born, so I'll just take her down to the clinic tomorrow morning and casually mention to him that Kasumi is dating another man. If he has any interest in Kasumi at all, he'll do the right thing. Otherwise..." Both knew what 'otherwise' meant. If he had any feelings at all for Kasumi, he would make an effort to... well, let *her* know, anyway. If not, then the issue of Dr. Tofu was dead forever. "Anyway, we've got somewhere else to go tonight," Nabiki grinned at her sister. "Yuka and Sayuri are meeting us at the neighborhood baths. They want to see Sodoshi and I could go for a hot bath right now. Go get Kasumi. Tell her I'll pay for her admission if she'll come along." Akane willingly agreed. As she scurried down the hall towards Kasumi's room, Nabiki added: "And tell her to bring a swim suit." ***** 5 ***** Jeff jerked to a halt as soon as the sign of Ukyou's place came into view. Ranma, looking confused at his future brother-in-law's reaction, stopped as well. "What's wrong?" Ranma glanced around trying to see what Jeff was so hesitant about. "Ucchans?" Jeff almost growled. "You were taking me to Ucchans?" Ranma could tell by the expression on Jeff's face that something serious was amiss. However, try as he might, he couldn't understand what Jeff was so upset about. "Well, she's a friend..." Ranma's voice began to trail off as he caught Jeff's incredulous look. "Excuse me," Jeff waved his free hand at Ranma as he scowled and tried to compose his thoughts. "You've just purchased an expensive ring for Akane - supposedly a ring to mark your acceptance of the engagement - and now you want to skip over to an ex-flame's place for a few snacks?" Jeff's voice had risen with his final question. He had become loud enough for passerby's to wonder who was the noisy gaijin holding the puppy. "Hey, it's not like that." "I sure as hell looks like it." "She's a *friend*." "I'll bet." Jeff rolled his eyes. "Does the phrase: Two-timing, mean *anything* to you?" "She listens to me! She feeds me!" Ranma protested before looking at the sidewalk in embarrassment - his voice suddenly dropping back to lower than normal. "She makes me feel better when I'm unhappy." "What about Akane?" Jeff caught Ranma in his icy stare. He knew of all the phone calls between Akane and his wife. He knew all the work Nabiki was putting in on helping her little sister improve her relationship with Ranma. He knew Akane was trying harder - Nabiki told him so. Ranma was something Akane now admitted she wanted. Now, he finds Ranma slipping back into his old habits - and so soon after Jeff helped him buy a special ring for his fiance. "I donno..." Ranma shrugged his shoulders as he thrust his hands into the pockets of his pants and grimaced at the sidewalk. "She's different." "Different?" "She's... I mean, we...." He seemed stuck. Jeff regarded his future brother-in-law with a critical eye. Somewhere in what Ranma said was genuine affection for his wife's sister - you just had to dig for it under all the 'macho Ranma- denial' horse manure. "Do you really love her?" Jeff asked as he critically eyed Ranma and waited for his reaction. Ranma hesitated before nodding like someone forced to admit to something embarrassing. He also seemed relieved at not really having to say 'that' out loud. "I thought so," Jeff sighed with relief. "So, when are you going to tell..." He gestured towards Ucchan's. Ranma quietly fingered the little box in his pocket that contained Akane's ring. Jeff was right, of course, Ukyou would have to be told. "Come on," Jeff started towards Ucchan's. "I'll stay with you if you want - for moral support, you understand." To Jeff, Ranma looked positively miserable. He looked like someone who was about to lose his best friend. In a way, he was. Inside, Jeff was surprised to see few customers, if Ranma's claim of the 'best okonomiyaki in Japan' was to be believed. As they moved to the counter, Jeff bumped into a cute waitress. The dashing American seemed to jerk taut in surprise. He'd bumped into a lot of girls in his time, even made an art of bumping into the real pretty ones when he was younger. But *this* girl was... well, anything but. Dressed in a cute waitress uniform, the 'girl' certainly looked feminine, even cute. Still, when they collided, Jeff was certain she had more and less equipment than a typical girl, Japanese or not, was entitled by God to have. As Ranma selected a place at the counter, Jeff just stood in the middle of the room - a goofy look plastered on his face as he tried to sort out all the data his collision had provided him with. he thought before joining Ranma. Ukyou soon made her appearance, emerging from the back room carrying a large bowl of some topping mixture. Initially, she looked tired - like she'd spent too many late nights worrying about her business. That all changed when she saw Ranma. Like the return of a long lost lover, Ukyou bounded over to the counter, bubbling with enthusiasm at seeing her old friend and would-be fiance. "Ranma! It's been ages. How are you?" She plopped the bowl down in front of Jeff. Cautiously, Jeff eyed the contents while trying to listen in on the interesting Ranma/Ukyou conversation close by. "I'm okay," Ranma replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "It's only been a couple of months." "A lifetime for me. What have you been up to?" She leaned her elbows on the counter, resting her chin on the backs of her folded hands. Her flowing black hair was done up with a cute bow and her working ukata easily emphasized her attractive figure. Jeff scowled slightly at the wistful looks she was giving Ranma. The girl was obviously madly in love with young Mr. Saotome. "I've been working and going to school, you see and... there's not much time for anything else." Ranma sounded nervous but glad for something else to talk about other than how to dump Ukyou gracefully. Jeff set his puppy on the counter and leaned on its polished surface to listen in on the couple's conversation. Ordinarily, having such a large gaijin eavesdropping so openly would have been most annoying to both Ranma and Ukyou. But today, Ukyou was too tied up with her Ran-chan to notice or care who listened in. The puppy, obviously hungry as well, started helping herself to whatever was in the bowl Ukyou had set in front of Jeff. Curious, Jeff examined what his dog was eating. It was dead, fishy, but didn't look like it would be fatal to the pup. With a modest shrug of his shoulders, he resumed his eavesdropping. "And you took time off to visit me," Ukyou beamed at her Ran-chan. "How sweet." "Yeah, well..." He cast a nervous look Jeff's way. Jeff just grinned back and continued to pet his puppy as she ate. "Still living at the Tendo's?" Ukyou's eyes seemed to be caressing every visible inch of Ranma. Those parts she couldn't see, she made up and lavished the same loving attention. In any case, for the time being, Ranma was all that existed in her world. "Don't forget to tell her about the ring, Ranma," Jeff added with a friendly smile. "Ring?" Ukyou sounded hopeful - even a little excited at the prospects. "Is there somewhere we can talk privately," Ranma asked while glaring at Jeff. This *wasn't* how he wanted to approach the topic. Actually, he wasn't sure he wanted to go anywhere near the subject - at least not before he ate. Ukyou motioned towards the back room and smiled wistfully as Ranma slowly slid off his stool. "Be gentle," Jeff whispered at a solemn looking Ranma as he passed. "It'll be alright." Ranma nodded with a weak smile as he trudged around the counter and followed Ukyou into her back room - Ukyou seeming to walk on air and Ranma looking like someone taking his dog to be put to sleep. With a look of satisfaction, Jeff casually turned around on his stool and scanned the patrons of Ucchan's until his eye caught on the strange waitress again. Coolly, he reevaluated the waitress - taking careful note of every feature and motion. She certainly moved like a girl, looked like a girl, acted like a girl. So why was it he couldn't shake the feeling that she was something else. A thought crossed his mind that the shinobi clans were keeping an eye on his family and the Tendos. Perhaps this was one of their people, following their long tradition of dressing for deception. As the waitress passed by, Jeff felt compelled to get an answer. "Excuse me," he casually tossed the waitress's direction. The waitress silently stopped and stared in anticipation of an okonomiyaki order. "Pardon me, miss," Jeff tried his best 'Colombo' voice - which must have sounded extraordinarily strange in Japanese. "I couldn't help but notice when we collided back there that you are a most... unusual female. Would you care to account for that." The waitress's reaction was a stunned look of obvious distaste for the forward young American. Jeffrey might have gotten an answer too if not for the commotion suddenly coming from the back room. "You have the nerve to come here and show me Akane's engagement ring?!?!?" Ukyou screamed. "Ukyou, I'm just trying to..." His voice was cut off by Ukyou. "Well try this!!!" A loud crash in the back room heralded Ranma's hurried escape back into the diner followed by Ukyou swinging a giant spatula. "Now cut that out!" he yelled as he assumed a defensive stance. It didn't seem to have an effect on the 'mild mannered' Ukyou. "I'll cut it out! You worm! You mongrel! You... you..." "Two-timer?" Jeff offered. "Thank you. You two-timer!" She punctuated her last declaration with a strike at Ranma's mid-section with her spatula. He leaped high to avoid being sliced in half as the giant blade imbedded itself in the wall, sending a shower of plaster in all directions. Ranma landed lightly, crossed his legs nonchalantly and leaned on the handle, giving Jeff a disgusted look, while Ukyou yanked and struggled to retrieve her weapon. "I tried gentle. Got any other ideas?" he accused while holding the spatula blade in the wall so Ukyou couldn't use it on him again. Jeff just shrugged his shoulders and smiled at the transsexual waitress once more. Ranma glared at his friend until he noticed that Ukyou was no longer trying to pull her spatula out of the wall. He groaned slightly at the sight of Ukyou holding a handful of throwing spatulas. "Now Ucchan, calm down. I'm just trying to be reasonable," Ranma cautioned with raised hands. He had no idea she would take this all so... emotionally. "I'll show you 'reasonable'," she growled plucking a throwing spatula from the bunch and twirling it in her fingers in preparation of throwing. "You worm! You mongrel! You... You..." "Insensitive jerk?" Jeff offered with a grin. "Thank you. Insensitive jerk!!!" The first spatula impacted the wall just over Ranma's head, showering him again with bits of plaster. Ranma tried to escape by jumping, pushing off the wall, and attempting to use the handle of the imbedded giant spatula as a springboard to bound over Ukyou and gain the front door. Unfortunately, as he landed on its handle, the giant spatula dislodged from the wall, leaving Ranma in a heap on the floor, showered once again with chunks of plaster. He had scant time to contemplate his failure as Ukyou's next spatula struck between Ranma's outstretched legs, quivering only inches from his crotch. A short look of panic washed over his face as he glanced in surprise between the lethal looking projectile and Ukyou's angry face. She had the expression of someone thinking: "If I can't have it..." Both Ranma and Jeff grimaced at the thought of where the next spatula might land. Figuring now would not be a good time to try and reason with Ukyou, Ranma bounded to his feet and, using his superior skills, escaped through the front door, a whole flock of throwing spatulas in hot pursuit. "You know, you really should calm down. He was just trying to let you down easy," Jeff dead panned with crossed arms. Ukyou spun around, out of throwing spatulas but not anger, and glared at the gaijin. "Just who ARE you?" she snarled. At this point Jeff had three possible choices: He could claim to be a simple hungry American tourist; He could deny any relationship with the recently departed Saotome; or He could just tell the truth. Funny how Jeff seemed to pick the wrong answer when under pressure. "I'm with him," Jeff pointed to the exit Ranma had just used. The highly animated Ukyou growled a warning and snatched her giant spatula from the floor giving Jeff time to grab his puppy off the counter. "You wouldn't hit a fellow with a puppy in his arms, would you?" Jeff offered as he held his puppy up as a tiny shield. The puppy just grunted and belched. Still, both had a chance to duck just before Ukyou brought the heavy flat blade down on the counter with an ear shattering 'clang', just over Jeff's ducked head. "Apparently, you would," Jeff mumbled before he bolted for the door, only inches ahead of Ukyou's giant spatula. Her few stunned patrons just stared quietly as Ukyou came up short of the door, satisfied that she had dispensed with her irritating 'guests'. "Humph. Come in here showing me the engagement ring he bought for someone else," Ukyou mumbled loud enough for her strange waitress to hear as she stomped back to the counter while flicking strands of her beautiful long black hair out of her face. "Smashing is too good for them both." She angrily snatched up a broom to clean the plaster mess and scowled at the retreating Ranma. "Ranma Saotome, if you think this is the end of the issue, you're badly mistaken," she growled at no one in particular. Just then Jeff stuck his head back inside the diner. "By the way, is there a McDonalds anywhere around here?" With a yell of frustration, Ukyou dropped everything and reached behind the counter for another set of throwing spatulas. Jeff, being at least smart enough to know better than to ask what she intended to do with the new set of spatulas, made a dash for safety weaving between people on the street like a halfback - his puppy tucked safely under his arm like a football. "Did you see that?" one young lady asked her friend as Jeff ran past them. "See what?" her friend replied. "That gaijin running down the street carrying a puppy," the lady insisted. "Nope, didn't see a thing." her friend dead-panned as she casually stepped over a pair of still quivering spatulas. "Lunch at McDonalds alright with you?" The first young lady just shrugged her shoulders and they continued on their way like this sort of thing happens all the time in Nerima. Jeff finally caught up with Ranma around the corner of a nearby building. More precisely, he was yanked to cover by Ranma as he tried to run past. Gasping for breath, Jeff took the opportunity to peek back around the corner to see if it was safe. The impact of a throwing spatula in the wood near his head loudly claimed it was not. "Ya know, *that* one has a real nasty temper," Jeff gasped as he checked his puppy. The poor dog looked a little sick from all the handling. "What did I say to set her off?" "She's a little touchy about the new McDonalds down the street." Ranma looked wistfully back at Ucchans as they carefully left their hiding place and began the trek back to the Tendo residence. "That little restaurant came in and took almost half her business in the first week alone. It hasn't been easy for her since." "So I guess suggesting we go eat dinner at McDonalds now would be a bit out of line." Ranma looked one more time at Ucchan's before shaking his head. After a short thought, he suggested a small yakatori shop down the street. It wasn't as good of food as Ukyou's place but it was cheap and quick. Jeff agreed and the puppy belched again. As the pair headed for dinner, Jeff asked Ranma to remind him to stop at a veterinarian's on the way home to have the pup wormed and given her shots. Leaving the dog with the vet for a couple of days would give him time to consider what to do with her. He still didn't know who he was going to give the dog to, feeling certain that, as Kasumi would say, all things work out for the best. ***** 6 ***** The party of Tendo sisters plus Sodoshi met Yuka and Sayuri out front of the public baths. The two college girls performed the time honored ritual of 'cooing' and pawing the new baby while telling the mother how lucky she was. Nabiki took all this baloney in stride, making sure to smile and nod her agreement to everything her former associates told her. Kasumi was unusually quiet, trailing the group with her painful little smile securely in place - like someone with something important on her mind. Nabiki kept casting nervous glances at her sister, having misinterpreted Kasumi's silence for some level of disapproval. Nabiki didn't know what she had done wrong now, but felt certain that *she* was the cause of Kasumi's odd behavior. Inside, the girls passed quickly through the changing room to the washing area. Nabiki, her 'mommy' sense cranked up to 'high' - or at least her sense of what would look good to her sister - made sure to obtain a foam pad on which to lay little Sodoshi for her washing. Living in Hawaii with Jeffrey had 'Westernized' Nabiki just enough so that she was quite uncomfortable sitting naked in a room full of people washing herself and her baby. Knowing Kasumi was watching her every move only increased her discomfort. Carefully, Nabiki washed and rinsed her baby, paying special attention to keeping the soap out of her face and making sure she paused every now and then to 'coo at' or tickle her daughter. Sodoshi accepted the washing from her mother, after all it wasn't as if Nabiki never washed her daughter at home. And she always enjoyed her mother's touch, in so much as her mother was obviously uncomfortable doing this anywhere - much less in public. Still, like every child before her, Sodoshi craved her mother's touch - rejoiced every time her mother held her; all things Nabiki did too little of. To Nabiki's relief, Sodoshi responded appropriately in all the right places - giggling and kicking her legs happily whenever her mother did something meant to entertain her. After quietly washing, the girls padded excitedly towards the large pool, obviously forgetting their agreement about swimsuits. Nabiki hesitated. She was uncomfortable enough in the washing area, but bobbing naked in a large pool of strangers, for some reason, really irritated her. She dallied behind the others, half hoping they would notice and remember their agreement. When they disappeared into the pool, Nabiki sighed her resignation and stubbornly put her swimsuit on. The baby could go as she was. With the increased confidence that came with being 'properly covered', Nabiki joined her sisters and friends in the pool. Placing Sodoshi in one of the little baby rings provided by the facility, Nabiki huddled with her former associates, excitedly chatting about boys, school, and who in her high school class was seeing whom. Sodoshi bobbed happily splashing and turning her head back and forth as each new sight or sound caught her attention. Kasumi was content to settle back along the shallow edge and sighed contentedly as the steaming water seemed to seep into every pore, relaxing her entire body. It had been a long time since she had allowed herself this kind of luxury. It was a perfect setting for someone deep in thought. Akane quietly joined her, content to stay close to her Oneechan while casually looking around to see if she knew anyone there. At first, Nabiki seemed to be doing alright. She had a hand on Sodoshi's little ring and looked like she was keeping close tabs on the baby in the large pool. Somewhat relieved, Kasumi closed her eyes, confident that even Nabiki wouldn't be foolish enough to take her eyes off her baby in such a place. When she opened them again, something didn't seem right. Sodoshi was still bobbing happily in her ring, only now Nabiki was no longer holding on to it. In fact, Nabiki was huddled with her former schoolmates gossiping, their backs to the baby. Before Kasumi could say or do anything, Sodoshi lunged towards a brightly colored ball floating only a few feet away. The float ring instantly tipped over, spilling the tiny child into the steaming water. In a second, Sodoshi sank out of sight. Time seemed to stand still for the stunned Kasumi - all her senses kicked in to provide samples that burned themselves into her mind. The sight of her sister Nabiki, still huddled with Yuka and Sayuri, her back turned towards her baby - laughing and gossiping, oblivious to her baby's plight. The patch of water where Sodoshi, only a heartbeat before was playing happily, was now only an empty float ring and a few bubbles marking where she went down. The joyous cries of other children playing in the big pool. The bright lights. The smells. Things Kasumi would remember forever. Shocked beyond action, all Kasumi could do was utter a tiny, choked cry. Fortunately, Akane was still paying some attention. In a flash, the youngest Tendo sister closed the distance between herself and the spot where Sodoshi had disappeared. She easily retrieved the sputtering baby from 3 feet of water and was busily wiping water from the child's face when a peeved Nabiki turned back around. "Akane, you don't need to hold her all the time," Nabiki chastised with a scowl on her face. Obviously totally oblivious to the fact her child almost drowned and her younger sister was the child's rescuer. Kasumi continued to stare in shock at both her sister's inattention and her callousness towards the just rescued child. Akane retreated from her older sister to the safety of the shallow edge, still holding the baby as if the child's life depended on it. To her, it did. Nabiki just shook her head and followed her sister. "And you shouldn't dunk her head under water, Akane," Nabiki continued to chastise, certain that she was doing the right thing in front of Kasumi. "It gets her hair all wet." Akane just stared at her sister in horror. Nabiki obviously didn't have a clue as to what just happened. Because it was her sister, Akane was, uncharacteristically, speechless. Kasumi, however, was not. "I'm going home," she abruptly announced, getting out of the water and striding briskly towards the changing rooms. Kasumi had much more to say about the incident but this was certainly not the place for such things. Akane, torn between following Kasumi or remaining to further protect Sodoshi, froze in place still holding baby. Sodoshi, none the worse for her experience, was back to looking around for the brightly colored ball. "I better go too," Akane said while staring at the water. "Would you like me to take Sodoshi home?" "No," Nabiki sighed. "I guess I should go with you and get her ready for bed." Akane didn't wait around for Nabiki to extend her regrets to Yuka and Sayuri. She bolted for the dressing room, little Sodoshi pressed tightly to her chest. Her mind was a whirl of contradictions. She was holding her sister's baby. She was protecting someone who was supposed to be protected by her mother. She saw Kasumi's look and knew what her reaction to the incident was. Kasumi would deal with Nabiki but only within the family. This put Akane in the middle between two sisters. She didn't want to be caught in the storm of what was to come. She knew Kasumi. She also knew Nabiki. The two had never crossed before. Akane was certain that clash was about to take place. Nabiki finally wandered in to the dressing room to help Akane with drying and dressing little Sodoshi. She couldn't help but notice that Kasumi was already gone. That alone was strange, but Akane was unusually quiet, and *that* made her even more uncomfortable. "Are you still upset that I yelled at you for dunking Sodoshi?" Nabiki asked as she fit the baby's socks on. Akane just stared at the bench between them trying to avoid having to answer. Unfortunately, Nabiki wasn't going to take silence for an answer. "I can't believe you're making such a big deal out of this," she grumbled while picking up her daughter. "If it will make you feel any better, I'm sorry. Okay?" "Fine," Akane softly exhaled and stomped out of the dressing room, heading home alone. She didn't want to fight Nabiki - not here, not now. She didn't like fighting in the family - except when Ranma deserved it. With an annoyed shake of her head, Nabiki quickly changed back into her clothes, muttering to herself about touchy sisters. Sodoshi just continued to look around the room, totally unconcerned about what had just happened or about what was going to happen. With a sigh of resignation, Nabiki gathered up her daughter and their things and slowly started the trek back to the house. All the way home, Sodoshi was more talkative than usual. If Nabiki hadn't been brooding she would have noticed. Every brightly lit shop they passed, Sodoshi would point and call out the same, unintelligible words. At times, she would even turn to her mother, like she was seeing what *her* reaction to Sodoshi's new discovery was. As Nabiki was paying even less attention to her daughter than usual, Sodoshi was reduced to looking for something else to get her mother's attention. She pointed to a Western male she saw and called out 'dada' as she looked at Nabiki. That seemed only to irritate her mother. "Yes, we go home to 'dada'," Nabiki bitterly mumbled in English. "Not 'mama'." Mama. Sodoshi rolled the word around in her mind, even going so far as silently mouthing the word. It was a nice word; a warm, friendly word - it seemed to easily form on her young lips. She wondered what it meant. As Nabiki approached home she noticed that the whole house was dark, except for the lights in Akane's and Kasumi's rooms. Nabiki figured the fathers were off to Mr. Miyagi's place again. Heaven only knew where Jeff and Ranma got off to. Entering the darkened house, Nabiki struggled with her shoes and thought how many times she had done this very same act, never dreaming some day she would have to do it while holding her baby. Not that Sodoshi was cooperating or anything. She kept squirming and saying: 'dadadadadada', which irritated Nabiki even more than before. Silently, Nabiki climbed the stairs. She figured if she could just get to her room without any interruptions, she would be fine. At the top, she paused to listen carefully. Only Akane's radio playing softly in her room broke the silence. Nabiki thought to herself as she wrinkled her nose. Checking the hallway, Nabiki stole the remaining distance from the stairs to her room. Without so much as a Sodoshi 'dada', Nabiki and child were safely behind the closed door. "Let's get you ready for bed," Nabiki mumbled softly to her daughter. Sodoshi just sucked on her thumb as her mother laid her on their bed. A few more 'dada's' and Nabiki was in little mood for even the most perfunctory 'goodnight' to her daughter. She couldn't be sure, but it was beginning to sound to Nabiki like her daughter was taunting her - using 'dada' around Nabiki because she knew how much it irritated mommy. Nabiki had just placed Sodoshi in her crib when she heard a soft knock at her door. With a sigh, Nabiki opened the door to reveal a serious looking Kasumi, still dressed in the same clothes she had worn to the baths. "We need to talk," Kasumi said flatly as she moved like she was going to enter Nabiki's room. Nabiki stood her ground, blocking her sister's entrance; her face locked in her typical slit-eyed, scowl. She may have had to defer to Kasumi's 'big sister' routine in the past, but she was a married woman now - a woman with a child. As far as Nabiki was concerned, that put her two points ahead of her older sister. "Nabiki, where did you learn to take care of a baby?" Kasumi's question was direct and to the point. It was also the one question Nabiki had hoped to avoid. "What difference does it make?" Nabiki defiantly shot back. "She's *my* baby, after all." "A baby is more than an object to be possessed." Kasumi's look was pure incredulity. "I take care of her." Nabiki was on the defensive now. "Nabiki, I've been watching you..." "I *thought* so! Always spying. Like in the bath." "No, it's not like that," Kasumi stammered, trying to void the image she had again of Jeff and Nabiki in the furo. Nabiki, sensing she had the advantage, pressed her attack home. "You've been watching, all right. Always hoping to catch me in a mistake with my daughter, Miss Expert On Babies. Tell me, where did *you* learn how to take care of a baby?" "That's not the point..." "It sure is! I give my daughter the best of everything." "Even the best of yourself?" Nabiki glared at her sister. "Maybe I should take my daughter and go home," she growled. "That's not what..." "It's none of your business how I raise my daughter!" Nabiki's yelling at her sister obviously had an undesirable affect on Sodoshi as she started to cry. "SHUT UP!" Nabiki screamed at her baby. For several seconds, time stood still. Nabiki could hear her sister gasp at her actions. She could still hear Sodoshi crying. She closed her eyes and groaned to herself. This was exactly the situation she had nightmares about back home. This was exactly what she feared would happen with their visit. This was exactly her worst nightmare coming true. "Nabiki!" Kasumi gasped in disbelief. "I can't believe you just did that!" Nabiki couldn't believe it either. Slowly, she ran a hand through her hair as she sagged against the door frame. Sodoshi continued to cry. "I've tried," Nabiki finally sighed. "I've really tried but I just can't do anything right." "Why didn't you ask for help?" Kasumi's question was logical and reasonable, considering the situation. However, this didn't take into account the fact she was dealing with Nabiki. "Because you're too much like mother." Nabiki's reply came more as an accusation than an answer. "What about mother?" Kasumi's voice lowered and went flat. Something in Nabiki's accusation sparked inside Kasumi, like a blade striking armor. "You're so much like mother, you'd try to make me like her too." Nabiki glared at the floor. "I told you before - I'm not going to be like mother," Nabiki growled, her eyes aflame with determination. "I have ambition. I have goals. I have..." "A baby," Kasumi finished firmly. Nabiki hesitated, like such a revelation would totally void her arguments. The only way around that was to go further on the offensive. "That's *not* going to stop me. That child," Nabiki gestured towards the crib with the still crying Sodoshi. "will not hold *me* back. I saw what children did to mother. That's not going to happen to me. I'm going to become someone!" "You already *are* someone - a mother." Kasumi insisted. "I mean somebody important!" "A mother *is* important!" "Not to me!" Nabiki look was as much fear as it was anger. She truly believed that her mother suffered from having children. It was a something Nabiki was totally determined to avoid herself. Kasumi gasped in shock at her sister's pronouncement. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. To her, mother devoted more time to Nabiki and her 'problems' than to both of her sisters combined. "I've done pretty good with my baby considering I had no mother to learn from." "Your mother did the best she could with you." "My mother," Nabiki spit in anger. "Punished me, nagged me, harassed me, and made my life miserable." Kasumi was rapidly approaching the last boundary of her control. She was beginning to tread uncharted territory with her anger. Never before, had she ever felt so upset with anyone as she was now with her sister. With her hands clutching the front of her dress, Kasumi stepped forward towards her sister in a genuinely aggressive manner, their faces inches apart. Nabiki had just pushed the wrong button. "Your mother," Kasumi growled. "Sacrificed everything for you. Your mother, cared for you, covered for you, cleaned for you, suffered your independence, endured your insolence, and cried her self asleep at night trying to think of what she could do to get you to love her." "She could have left me alone!" Nabiki was practically screeching now. With a frustrated flap of her arms, Kasumi cast her eyes towards the ceiling. "What am I to do, mother?" she called in frustration. "And stop with the phoney 'talking to mother' routine," Nabiki screamed. "It's sick! People will think you're crazy! Mother's dead! Accept it!" Nabiki finally crossed the line. Kasumi snapped. "HOW... DARE... YOU..." Kasumi's voice was pure malevolence, her eyes aflame with anger, her hands clenched in fists of rage, and her face bright red. Her whole being was vibrating. The look on Kasumi's face actually frightened the usually unflappable Nabiki. She'd never seen her sister so angry. Instead of fighting, Nabiki took the easy way out. Stepping quickly inside her room, she slammed shut the door in her older sister's face. For almost a minute, all that could be heard was Sodoshi's crying, Akane's radio, and Kasumi's ragged breathing as she trembled through the last of her unspent anger. Into this loving environment, Jeff and Ranma returned. Ranma, knowing better than to get between fighting sisters, ducked into his room and, eventually, onto the roof. Jeff, however, walked directly into the cross-fire. "What's going on?" he asked cautiously. "Is there anything wrong?" "Fine," Kasumi hissed between clenched teeth. "Everything's fine." She suddenly turned and stomped back to her own room. Pausing only long enough to slam her door loud enough so that Nabiki could hear. Cautiously, Jeff entered the room he shared with his family. He was not prepared for what he found. Nabiki was angrily pacing, Sodoshi was crying, and Akane's radio was loud enough to shake the wall. "What did you say to Kasumi to get her so upset?" Jeff asked as he reached for his daughter. Nabiki couldn't help but notice that her daughter was actually reaching for her father in turn. "What did *I* say?" Nabiki stopped pacing and stared at her husband like she had just been betrayed. "Why do you always assume *I* caused the trouble?" "Now, Nabiki, that's not..." "And why do you always take the other person's side?" Nabiki now found a new target for her anger - a familiar one at that. "Why don't you *ever* stand by ME?" "I'm not taking any sides. I just want to know what happened." Sodoshi had stopped crying but was clinging to her father like he was the last refuge on earth. The sight of the two of them together only poured gasoline on Nabiki's fire. "I never wanted to be a mother. That's all *your* fault." Nabiki began to stalk her husband. "I've tried, but I'm not good enough for Kasumi." She practically spit out her sister's name. "Since that baby's come, my whole world has come undone. Rachel's turned against me. My friends in Hawaii think I don't have time for them anymore. And, now, my sisters hate me!" She was really close to Jeff now. "AND IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!" Jeff swallowed hard but stood his ground. He could see her red face, angry expression, tense body, and especially her clenched fists. Realizing that his next words could very well determine the fate of his marriage, Jeff chose them carefully. "You're not going to hit me again, are you?" Nabiki's anger quickly dissolved into shock. She stepped back slightly, her mouth trying to form words, her face a mask of fear, her eyes stunned open. Only Sodoshi said anything. Unfortunately, she used her favorite word: "Dadadada." With a tiny cry of anguish, Nabiki flung open the door and bolted from the room. The sounds of her frantic footsteps on the stairs marked her flight from the house. The slamming of the front door punctuated her grief. Jeff didn't notice Akane's radio suddenly going silent. He didn't even notice his daughter patting him with a tiny hand while saying over and over: "Dada-dada-dada." He *did* notice Akane's entrance. She looked concerned and upset. "Did I say the wrong thing?" Jeff asked as he continued to stare at where his wife fled. "I don't know, Jeffrey," Akane said with a sigh. "I've never seen them act this way before." Jeff and Akane stared at the hallway, each lost in their own thoughts, while Sodoshi sucked on her thumb and looked between her aunt and her father. "I guess I better go and try to calm her down," Jeff said softly while placing Sodoshi back in her crib. "Maybe she'll listen to reason now." "No, *I'll* deal with Nabiki," Akane answered firmly as she started for the door. "You just get Kasumi downstairs. If I can get them together, maybe I can put an end to this fighting." Jeff didn't know what the youngest Tendo had in mind but figured she knew them better than he did. With a sigh of resignation, he walked silently down to Kasumi's closed door. He listened carefully for a second before lightly knocking. Moments passed before a red-eyed Kasumi opened the door abruptly. At first her expression was like she was expecting someone else - someone unwelcome. "Oh, Jeffrey-kun," she chirped in a tiny voice as her face flushed with embarrassment. "I thought..." She shook her head and instinctively bowed. With a tiny sniff, she stepped aside and, much to his surprise, invited Jeff into her room. Nervously, he accepted, squeezing sideways past the uncomfortably close Kasumi. Once inside, he marveled at the ambiance of her simple existence. With quick glances all around, he quickly summed up her life; neat, tidy, and very boring. When he turned to look at Kasumi she was staring at the floor like she was going to cry again. That only made Jeff feel worse about what happened. "I'm sorry about Nabiki," Jeff offered in a soft voice. "She's having a few adjustment problems right now." "No." Kasumi shook her head again and hugged herself like she was cold. "It is I who should apologize for my actions. I shouldn't have lost my temper like that. It was most inexcusable." "Aren't you being a little hard on yourself?" Jeff crossed his arms, more out of not knowing what to do with them than anything else. "You don't understand. I *never* lose my temper. A good Japanese wife must always be in control of herself." Kasumi sniffed again. "Nabiki has a way of bringing out the worst in just about everyone," Jeff offered, not sure if it was the right thing to say or not. This comforting females thing was harder than it looked. "I'm just so confused," Kasumi whined as she fought a losing battle with her emotions and covered her face with her hands. What happened next stunned Jeff beyond words. As he was about to suggest something about her taking a walk or cleaning something to feel better, Kasumi lunged forward, burying her face in his chest, her hands clutching at his shirt. At first, Jeff just held his hands up in panic like he was surrendering. The *last* thing he needed was to do *anything* that could be misinterpreted as encouraging her. As Kasumi's tears began to wet his shirt, his sense of pity took over and he slowly began stroking her hair while looking around nervously. This was clearly above and beyond what he expected to do when he agreed to deal with the older Tendo sister. For Kasumi, of all people, to react like this - well, she must have taken the fight with Nabiki far harder than he imagined. "Mother has stopped talking to me, I've made Nabiki angry, and the only person who's shown interest in me is not...." Kasumi whined into Jeff's chest between sobs. It had all been just too much for the Tendo family stalwart. Before, she could cope because of her daily talks with her late mother along with the sure knowledge of her family's love. Because of everything that had taken place in the last few days, she felt more alone than anytime since her mother died. She hadn't needed comforting or someone to hold on to since 'that night'. Jeff looked around the room, hoping for Kasumi to regain control of herself soon and for him to maintain his own control. He noticed her frilly curtains..., he thought. ...her many books on cooking, homemaking, and how to be a good marriage prospect..., ...her stuffed animal collection..., ...her perfectly made bed..., ...Ranma standing in the doorway..., Ranma, looking like a deer caught in the headlights of a car, froze staring at the couple. Jeff's look of surprise only caused him to start slowly backing away from the open door - his eyes huge, his mouth open in shock. He had caught his brother-in-law in the arms of another woman - the substitute mother of the family. Comforting her or not, it *looked* suspicious. Ranma recalled how Akane pounded him for less. Jeff shifted his expression to that of irritation which only made things worse. Before Jeff could say or do anything, Ranma silently bolted down the hall and was gone. Jeff chastised himself. "Jeffwey, you'wre sqwueezing mwe," Kasumi's slightly panicked and muffled voice came from where Jeff had accidentally pushed her face hard against his chest. Jeff's arms had instinctively tightened when he caught sight of Ranma, causing an almost stifling pressure around Kasumi's head. Quickly, he released the embarrassed Kasumi and watched sheepishly as she felt her nose for damage. "Sorry about that," Jeff muttered. "No, it is *I* who should apologize for my inexcusable actions," Kasumi tried to bow slightly, a totally miserable look on her face. This had been the closest she had ever been to a man and it wasn't all that bad, just... inappropriate, especially in her bedroom. Kasumi blushed deeply when she thought of what people would say if they knew. "Perhaps, if you were to make us some tea," Jeff swallowed hard, trying to find *any* acceptable solution to this current situation - not to mention one that would get the eldest Tendo sister downstairs as Akane wanted. "We could talk in a more... appropriate surrounding. Kasumi painfully smiled her acceptance and thought how clever he was to think of such a solution. She was more than slightly nervous as the full impact of what she had just done became apparent. With a sharp, nervous gesture towards the hallway with her hand, she directed Jeffrey out of her room. She followed a discreet distance behind her brother-in-law, pausing only long enough to turn out the lights and close the door. Her mind shyly peeked back at the scene she and Jeff just shared. She reviewed the emotions and feelings of that moment and smiled quietly to herself. Jeffrey had endured her foolish display of emotion. He allowed himself to be embarrassed by his sister-in-law, in her own room, and came away with his dignity intact. She reminded herself how lucky her little sister was in finding such a catch. However, when her mind wandered further, she remembered what being pressed up against Jeff's firm body felt like. It really wasn't all that bad. In fact, it felt kind of... good. Kasumi blushed harder when she thought perhaps *this* was why Nabiki married Jeffrey - and why all their... activity. Nabiki. That name stung her with guilt. She had fought with a sister, something she promised her mother she would never do. Silently, Kasumi wished she could have a few minutes with her sister to straighten things out. ***** 7 ***** Outside, Akane searched for Nabiki. Feeling confident that her sister wouldn't bolt for parts unknown, opting instead for somewhere familiar and reasonably safe, she confined her search to the family compound. It was amazing how many hiding places there could be inside the walls of their compound. Eventually, she found Nabiki out behind the dojo, leaning against the outer wall, arms crossed and staring sadly at the ground. Akane could tell she had been crying again. She could also tell in the dim light that approaching Nabiki in this state could be highly dangerous. Carefully, Akane crept closer, stopping ever so often to check for a reaction from her sister. "Go away, Akane," Nabiki growled sadly. "I'm not in the mood." "I just happened to be coming outside for some air and noticed you standing here." Akane sounded genuine and innocent; which she was not. Nabiki must have thought so too as she rolled her head Akane's direction and shot her a look that, even in the darkness, clearly conveyed her disbelief. Akane looked sheepishly at the ground before assuming a position against the dojo wall opposite Nabiki, her hands behind her and her legs crossed. "Look, if this is about my yelling at you earlier, I've already apologized once." Nabiki looked at her sister with a bubble of anger. Akane went from hesitantly meek to irritably confrontational in a heartbeat. "You don't have a clue, do you?" she snapped at Nabiki. "What are you talking about?" "In the baths, while you were gossiping with your friends, Sodoshi dumped over and fell out of her float ring." Akane paused as Nabiki's look went to stunned. "She sank to the bottom, Nabiki. Right in front of Kasumi." Nabiki continued to stare at her sister, her mouth slackly open, denial grabbing firm control. "No... nonononono," she denied with repeated shakes of her head - her deep brown hair fanning out with every turn. "No, you removed her. You were playing with her. I saw you." "Nabiki!" Akane couldn't determine whether or not to continue in anger or pity. "Your daughter almost drowned because of your inattention. I saw it. Kasumi saw it. It happened." Nabiki's denials continued but with less conviction. She recalled talking to her friends - they were gossiping about a former classmate's abortion. She remembered hearing a splash and when she turned around, there was Akane holding Sodoshi dripping wet. Still, she pleaded with herself, this couldn't have happened. It just couldn't have... "I just can't believe..." "Believe it!" Akane collapsed back against the wall again, her arms crossed, a scowl on her face. "You screwed up and Kasumi caught you." Nabiki just shook her head sadly, totally at loss for words. "I.... I just don't know how to deal with Kasumi anymore," Nabiki lamented with a pleading look Akane's way. "She's so different from what I remember." "It's not Kasumi that's changed." "What? Surely you're not suggesting *I'm* somehow different." "You *are* different," Akane pressed. "You're a mother now." "Being a mother hasn't changed *me*." Nabiki bristled at the charge. "Well, it should." Akane glared at her older sister. "You have to think for two people now. You have to put someone else first in your life. You have to subvert your own feelings in favor of your daughter." She paused to gauge the effect she was having on her older sister. From where she stood, Nabiki looked positively miserable. "You could get away with being self-centered around Jeffrey, he's so in love with you I doubt you could run him off if you tried." Akane paused again, this time to imagine what it must be like to be married to someone as understanding and patient as Jeff Lawrence. It only made her angrier when she thought of what Nabiki had done to her family. "But Sodoshi *needs* a mother. Like it or not, *you're* Sodoshi's mother. So you better start acting like it!" "Not you too," Nabiki murmured in her defense. "Look, I'm no expert but even *I* could tell you're uncomfortable around Sodoshi. It's also obvious that you're making Jeffrey do all the work." She changed her expression to almost lethal with her final accusation. "I can't believe you're doing that to him - making him do all the things *you* should be doing. What kind of mother are you?" Nabiki groaned as she rolled her head back, whacking it on the stone wall. "I... I don't know anymore." "Well, Kasumi's certainly noticed and she's not a bit happy about it either." "So that's what's got Kasumi so upset," Nabiki moaned lightly. "It's more than just that." Akane was starting to get herself worked up now. Nabiki deserved this and Akane wasn't going to let such an opportunity slip by. "More?" "What you said earlier. Kasumi's been able to absorb a lot of the craziness around here without complaint. Sometimes I wonder just how she does that without going crazy herself." Nabiki snorted a response. "There's a lot of things you can pick on Kasumi about; her clothes, her quietness, her unbelievable optimism," Akane pushed herself upright and bored into Nabiki. "But when you picked on mother. Well, I can't blame her for how she acted." "Aw, come on," Nabiki finally protested as she scowled at her little sister. "Surely *you* don't believe in that 'mother' bit as well?" "I don't know, Nabiki. All I *do* know is that Kasumi does and that's good enough for me." Nabiki groaned again as she shook her head. "Listen, Miss Money-britches," Akane stepped even closer to her sister, her posture clearly aggressive. "Oneechan gave up everything to fill in after mother died. She lost out on all her junior high activities, her senior high clubs and trips, and she gave up her chance for college to see to it we had a mother around the house." Akane's hands were on her hips as she leaned in closer still to her sister. Nabiki could clearly see, even in the dim light of the compound, the determination on her sister's face. "So if she believes that mother is still around here talking to her, I believe her." The two looked at each other hard, neither willing to back down. Slowly, like for the first time in her life she was willing to publicly acknowledge the obvious, Nabiki lowered her eyes in submission. "I know she gave up a lot for me," Nabiki seemed to sag into the wall as she spoke. "And I'm appreciative, really." She paused, sniffed and tried to smile at the still aggressively postured Akane. She had used up all the irritation she had in her. Almost uncharacteristically, she didn't want to fight any more. "Maybe you should listen to some of your own advice." Akane looked firmly at her sister. "'Start listening more and hitting less'. That's what you told me." "I'm a great one for giving advice," Nabiki snorted as she kicked the wall with her heel. "Well, maybe you felt qualified." "Because I'm rich?" "No. Because you're my older sister and you care a lot about me." Akane paused with a sly smile. "Well how do you suppose you got that idea?" Nabiki shot her sister a sour look. It didn't work. She wasn't fooling anyone - especially Akane. Akane just grinned. "Oh, stop it, stinky," Nabiki growled with much less than her usual seriousness. The 'stinky' tag didn't bother Akane as much as it once did. Where before it dug at her insecurity of being the youngest, it now was a soothing taunt from her big sister - something that let her know Nabiki still cared. "Maybe we're both growing up. Growing up enough to stop fighting like children." Akane congratulated herself on being able to finally get the conversation around to where she wanted it. "You've been listening to more than just me," Nabiki noted as she regarded her sister with a cocked head. "Yeah, well, Kasumi's been talking to me too," Akane shyly admitted. "Hmmm, I should have known." "Come on, it's getting cool out here. Let's go inside and have some warm tea. I've got the feeling we can talk more now." Nabiki chuckled to herself. Akane took Nabiki's hand like a little girl would when hoping to be led by her oneechan. Nabiki hesitated. This 'big sister' thing was not as easy as it looked. Together, they walked back to the house. Inside, Jeff had successfully gotten Kasumi into the main room where the two were quietly sipping tea and talking about child raising. It seemed that Kasumi was well read on the subject and shared information frequently with old school friends who, themselves, were having children. In the short time they had been talking, Jeff learned much about what he was and wasn't doing wrong with Sodoshi. To Jeff, Kasumi was her old self again - confident, motherly, and easy to talk to. Kasumi's suddenly stiffened posture and averted eyes told Jeff they were no longer alone. Slowly, Jeff turned in his seat to see the other two sisters standing in the hallway looking serious. True to her word, Akane had gotten Nabiki back in the house. Now it was all up to Akane's negotiation skills. Something in the back of Jeff's mind screamed: 'Are you out of your mind?' but Jeff paid little attention. He had plans of his own. Namely, clearing out of 'ground zero' as soon as possible. Quietly, Jeff got up and escorted his reluctant wife to his place at the table, directly across from Kasumi. Each went out of their way to avoid looking at the other. Jeff checked quickly with Akane, noting she was most pleased with the arrangements and confident in her ability to resolve this conflict, before retiring upstairs to keep an eye on Sodoshi. Nabiki's parting look towards Jeff was clearly unforgiving. For several minutes, the house was totally silent - broken only by the ticking of the clock and an occasional 'sipping' sound. Nabiki and Kasumi continued to stare at the table in front of them while Akane, resting her elbows on the table and holding her cup in front of her face, casually sipped her tea and cast glances back and forth between the two sisters waiting for something to happen. Finally, Kasumi couldn't stand the silence anymore. Without so much as glancing at her sister, she offered her opening apology. "I was only concerned about the well-being of Sodoshi," she said to the table. "I shouldn't have questioned your raising of your child. That was most unforgivable." She bowed abruptly like a child when forced to give an apology. Akane calmly looked at Nabiki over her tea glass. Nabiki fidgeted nervously and glanced at Kasumi before looking at Akane and scowling. This little 'tea and talk' session was not supposed to include Kasumi. "I reacted badly," Nabiki said in a low voice. All present could tell that this was hard for her to do. But then, neither sister thought that was particularly unusual. Nabiki *hated* to apologize to anyone. "I shouldn't have said the things I did. They were unkind, unfair, and..." Nabiki swallowed hard with this last admission. "I didn't really mean them." Akane casually shifted her gaze from Nabiki to Kasumi for her response. It was like a slow motion tennis match, with Akane acting as the judge and spectator. "I should not have confronted you about Sodoshi," Kasumi almost whispered. "Tonight's accident..." "Was... unfortunate...," Nabiki stalled searching for the right words. "I understand I have Akane to thank for Sodoshi's rescue." She briefly glanced at her little sister. "It would appear I chose well when I picked her as one of Sodoshi's protectors." Akane acknowledged her sister with a slight bow before resuming her passive listening position. She was going to make her sisters work this out if it takes all night. Not that she was going to wait *that* long. For several, long minutes, all that could be heard was the ticking of the clock on the wall and Akane's loud sipping of her tea. Getting two stubborn sisters to resolve this feud was turning out to be harder than it looked. Neither seemed willing or able to proceed beyond their current positions. In spite of the fact that both had sort-of apologized, they were still like two warring parties at the peace table - neither willing to swallow enough pride to follow through with the peace making. "That's it?" Akane set her cup down hard enough to cause the remnants of her tea to slosh over onto the table, attracting the attention of both sisters. She couldn't believe this wasn't working out as well as she planned. Glancing between her sisters, she returned their shocked looks with a meaningful scowl. Kasumi slowly hung her head and stared at her cup of tea still sitting untouched on the table. Nabiki just lingeringly twirled the little cup with her index finger and tried to look unconcerned. Akane, however, had had enough of this 'negotiation' business. It was time for things to be resolved - her way. "Nabiki is terribly sorry for all the things she said tonight," Akane blurted out, looking only at Kasumi while making this offer. She was through with this nonsense. She wanted a resolution and she wanted it NOW. "And Kasumi is sorry for causing the fight in the first place," Akane said while turning to look at Nabiki. This speaking for others was easy. Akane wondered why she never thought of it before. "And Nabiki wants you to know that she honors mother's memory every time she holds her baby." Akane was shooting these rapidly, back and forth, before either of the other sisters could say anything. "And Kasumi offers to help you become the mother she knows you want to be by teaching you everything she knows about babies." "And Nabiki is grateful for anything you are willing to do to help her." Akane cast a sly look Nabiki's way. "Oh, and she promises no more sex in the furo." Nabiki looked mortified by the revelation while Kasumi, surprised that Akane even knew about it in the first place, hunched over a little in embarrassment of her own. "And Kasumi accepts your apology and wants to know that you and Jeffrey are always welcome in her home. Just so long as you behave yourselves but keep sharing all the juicy parts with your little sister." Akane giggled lightly to herself. "And Nabiki offers to take us all out for ice cream so we can get back to normal around here... her treat... whatever we want." Nabiki and Kasumi stared at each other for several seconds after Akane finished with her 'negotiations'. Slowly, they began to chuckle, quietly at first, but growing louder as the full impact of Akane's methods became clearer. Soon the sound of three girls laughing engulfed the room, casting away the dark clouds of doubt and animosity and reuniting the sisters. It was really a silly fight in the first place. Nabiki, deep down, had hoped Kasumi would help her learn how to take care of Sodoshi but was afraid of displaying just how deep her ignorance of child care went. Kasumi only wanted to help but felt awkward in a situation where Nabiki refused to ask for such help. In the end, it took Akane to make them realize the only real way out of their dilemma - openly admit their errors and ask each other for forgiveness. Akane provided both. As the girls got up to leave, Nabiki slipped next to Kasumi and did something boorishly American - she hugged her Oneechan and whispered: "I really do love you, Kasumi. I'm very sorry about earlier tonight. It won't happen again." Kasumi was surprised at first but quickly learned that an American hug felt just right between sisters who loved each other. Kasumi held on for an uncomfortably long time as she banished her final demons of guilt. When they separated, both were their old selves. "Can we take Sodoshi?" Kasumi asked shyly. Nabiki checked the clock and nodded. "Why not. It's still early. Besides, she's a Tendo girl too. We gotta stick together." The three sisters happily climbed the stairs to fetch Sodoshi, earlier misunderstandings dismissed. There would still be much to do if they wanted things to change permanently, but they had a good start. For now, the night would be just for them. The 'boys' would have to fend for themselves. ***** 8 ***** The next morning found Nabiki casually pushing her little stroller with Sodoshi towards Tofu's clinic. While to those who saw her, she was just another Nerima housewife hurrying on her way to somewhere important, to Nabiki it was a most unnatural and uncomfortable situation. Passers by smiled and nodded their approval as Nabiki appeared to be a new mother following the Japanese tradition of getting married and having babies. Little did they know that she was far from traditional. Little Sodoshi was at her talkative best - alternating between sucking on her thumb and excitedly pointing at things that caught her attention - sometimes adding a look up at her mother to see her reaction. Unlike the previous day, such activities didn't seem to bother her mother. Nabiki acted most attentive, nodding and responding with the proper word in Japanese for whatever her daughter indicated. For both, it was turning out to be a pleasant walk. A few former class-mates spotted Nabiki as she turned onto the street that ran past Dr. Tofu's clinic. At first, they seemed to hesitate - Nabiki's past reputation still fresh in their minds. But the lure of a baby, even Nabiki's baby, was simply too much. They approached cautiously, ever mindful of what their former classmate was capable of. Nabiki eyed the girls suspiciously before trying out a friendly smile. The girls looked at each other, as if questioning Nabiki's sincerity. Nabiki decided to try something else. "Wave at the nice girls, Sodoshi," Nabiki finally said as she knelt down next to the stroller and used Sodoshi's free arm to wiggle her tiny hand like a wave. With giggles of relief, the girls scurried over - performing the time honored tradition of making a fuss over the child. For the first time in her life, Nabiki was the middle of an excited frivolous conversation about boys, babies, and things in general. She'd never been included in such before; with her reputation and all. Secretly, all this fed a distinct need in her for group acceptance - something she seemed to get now only with Sodoshi. For Sodoshi's part, she accepted all the fuss with her usual thumb in mouth expression, as her head turned from one girl to another. She noticed something else - something different. Her mother was smiling and laughing. Sodoshi repeated the visual circuit of the strangers several times, always ending with her mother's smiling face. She quickly came to the conclusion that she liked her mother this way and wondered why mommy wasn't like this more often. Sodoshi finished by smiling broadly at her mother - an act totally missed by the preoccupied Nabiki. In all too short a time, the visit was over and the girls departed to their destination, waving their goodbyes to both Nabiki and her baby. All were convinced that Nabiki had changed and credited Sodoshi for the transformation - noting that if a baby could turn such a cold-hearted miser like Nabiki into a decent human being, well, there was hope for objectionable people everywhere. With a sigh of relief, Nabiki resumed pushing her stroller, heartened at having passed her first encounter with former classmates. She knew how the old school grape-vine worked. Soon word would get around that Nabiki had *really* changed. Maybe this motherhood thing won't be so bad after all. Nabiki struggled a bit getting Sodoshi's stroller through the door to Tofu's clinic, cursing slightly her own clumsiness and the designers of the door for not taking in consideration a mother with a stroller in their designs. Inside, she found an empty waiting room. she thought with some amusement. She eyed the central flower arrangement. The one thing Nabiki *did* learn from that worthless flower arranging class she was forced to take in high school was that each arrangement reflected the personality of the arranger. The flowers in Tofu's waiting room practically screamed 'Kasumi'. Poking her head through the inner door, Nabiki called for Tofu-sensei. Moments later, the smiling doctor emerged from his office to acknowledge Nabiki. "Nabiki, how nice to see you again," he chirped with a respectful bow. "And who have we here?" He bent over to look at Sodoshi who stared back suspiciously. She was entering her 'wary of strangers' phase and let Dr. Tofu have her full effect - leaning slightly away from the black-clad doctor and scowling while sucking on her thumb. "We were in town and decided to pay you a visit," Nabiki offered innocently as she pulled Sodoshi from the stroller. "How nice of you. Would you like for me to give her a quick check up?" He asked with a friendly smile. This was working out better than Nabiki had hoped. With a return smile of her own, she placed the skeptical looking Sodoshi on an examining table and removed her little shirt. "So, have you noticed anything unusual in her behavior?" he asked lightly as he began to gently probe the silently staring Sodoshi. Nabiki, standing slightly out of the good doctor's field of vision, scowled apprehensively. She hadn't anticipated having to answer any questions that could prove... embarrassing. She tried to stretch out the inevitable. "What ever do you mean?" "Oh, like tenderness in any part of her body, inability to sit up straight, or... not sleeping at night." The doctor stopped his examination to tickle and coo at the baby who responded with her usual giggle and flourish of arms and legs. "Well...," Nabiki hesitated, trying to think of some way of avoiding answering directly. "She, ah, sucks her thumb a lot," Nabiki finally offered as she noticed Sodoshi working over her little thumb in her usual, sloppy way. Dr. Tofu quietly checked the baby's mouth and lips before asking: "You're not breast feeding her, are you?" "Well, no. It got too time consuming. I'm going to college and there is simply no time to stop whatever I'm doing an feed Sodoshi." Nabiki congratulated herself on such a logical and straight forward answer - certain it would deflect the doctor from her more damning shortcomings. It didn't work. "I'll bet she's not sleeping too well at night either," he finally turned his head to look Nabiki's way - his eyes, not accusing but clearly serious - in spite of his usual smile. Nabiki tried to hide her irritation by pushing some stray hair out from in front of her face and 'smiling it off'. "That's really not all that unusual for young babies. If she wakes at night, just reach over and rub her back lightly - just to let her know you're still there." Tofu smiled at the nervously sweating Nabiki. "Most often, she just needs to know she's not alone at night." "Um, okay," Nabiki mumbled as she looked at the floor sheepishly. She certainly *wasn't* going to tell the doctor the truth about her sleeping arrangements - that Sodoshi slept alone in a crib, usually in a different room. Dr. Tofu gently rolled Sodoshi onto her stomach and lightly probed her back with his fingers. All the time, Sodoshi lay still and allowed the doctor to apply his therapy, her little head turned towards the wall. "I see Kasumi's been here," Nabiki offered as she tried to redirect things towards the whole purpose of her trip. "I could tell by her flower arrangement in the waiting room." Tofu smiled slightly. Just enough to cause Nabiki to suddenly worry about the welfare of her daughter. Knowing Tofu's long history of 'Kasumi Lunacy' and its unfortunate effects, if mommy said the wrong thing, Sodoshi could get the adjustment of her life. "Yup, she's really growing up." Nabiki leaned over slightly to gauge the effect her words were having on the good doctor. From the way he was frozen in position, staring blankly at little Sodoshi's back, Nabiki felt certain she had the doctor's attention. "She's reaching that age where a woman needs to be married. Wouldn't you agree?" Nabiki, certain she had the good doctor hooked and ready to land, leaned back against a nearby counter, crossed her arms, and waited for everything to sink in before delivering her punch line. She didn't have long to wait. Dr. Tofu slowly nodded his head as he raised his eyes enough to look at Nabiki over his glasses - his hands still poised over the softly babbling Sodoshi. He had an almost wistful look of longing as his eyes unfocused and he looked right through Nabiki. "I'm glad you agree." Nabiki cocked her head slightly as if she were measuring Tofu for a knockout blow. This wasn't going to be pretty, but it had to be done. "You see, she's started dating some guy named 'Watanabe'." If she was expecting some wild or even obvious reaction from the good doctor, she must have been disappointed as his face seemed to drain of emotion and his new found control reclaimed him. "How nice for her," he said in a calm voice. "Yes, she really seems to be impressed with him." Nabiki pressed her senses to the limit to grasp an angle that would give her the kind of edge she required here. Unfortunately, the doctor was too good at shielding his inner emotions. Nabiki was getting absolutely nothing of value from her senses. The only thing she could be sure of was, the discussion had reached its apex. What would come next would either guarantee the kind of action she desired or blow her sister's chances for happiness with Dr. Tofu forever. It was just the kind of challenge she was best at. "Of course, it's all too early to be making wedding plans." Nabiki looked off to her right and lightly tapped an index finger on her arm. "After all, they just started dating." Tofu slowly turned away from Nabiki and silently started for his office. He walked like a man who had just witnessed a disaster - his motions being slow and zombie-like. His forgotten patient continued to kick and coo on the table. The patient's mother just watched him go - a sardonic smile slowly spreading across her face. she thought with some satisfaction. Tofu quietly entered his office and gently closed the door. "Well, So-chan, it looks like we better be on our way," Nabiki said softly. "How about I take you home so you can go shopping with Akane and her friends?" Sodoshi's response was to coo and babble even louder as her mother slipped her shirt back on. Nabiki was just settling her daughter into the stroller when the door to Tofu's office flew open and the good doctor stuck his head out. "Did you say Kasumi was dating?" he asked absently, his glasses totally fogged up. "Hai, just this week," Nabiki answered with a confused scowl. She was starting to think she had laid it on just a little *too* thick. Tofu nodded thoughtfully and reentered his office, quietly closing the door again. "Well, *that* certainly wasn't what I expected," Nabiki admitted to her daughter as she tucked the girl into her stroller. She was just about to open the door back out into the waiting room when Tofu's door abruptly swung open again. Nabiki paused to incredulously survey the doctor - his glasses still fogged but now his hair was badly mussed up. He looked like a man who's parts were slowly coming unattached from his body. "Did you say Kasumi just *started* dating?" His voice even sounded mussed up. "Hai, sensei. Just this week." Tofu nodded again and ducked back into his office, closing the door a little harder than last time. Nabiki, figuring there was more to come, parked the stroller and leaned against the wall, crossing her legs and arms. Her patience was rewarded when the door to Tofu's office opened again. This time, she didn't even give him a chance to ask. "Hai, sensei. Kasumi just started dating this week." Tofu stood in the doorway stunned - his glasses still fogged, his hair still mussed, but now his tunic was partially askew. The man was slowly falling apart. Nabiki shook her head and sauntered over to the doctor, her look of pity clear - if Tofu could have seen it. Blinded by his full blown 'Kasumi Lunacy', Tofu stood his ground and stared past Nabiki. "Tofu-baby, you've got to pull yourself together," Nabiki said seriously with a hint of sweetness in her voice. All the while she was adjusting his tunic and brushing lint off his sleeves. "My sweet sister has simply gotten tired of waiting." Nabiki paused with a little smile as Tofu's expression slowly melted into fear. Gently removing his glasses, Nabiki looked deep into Tofu's eyes and growled: "So you better get off your butt and tell her how you feel or she'll be gone forever and you'll have no one to blame but yourself." Nabiki turned to leave before discovering she still had Tofu's glasses in her hand. With an irritated look and a snort of exasperation, she spun back around, grabbed his hand and slapped the glasses into his palm. She paused only long enough to shake her head in amazement at his lack of reaction before quietly leaving with her daughter. Tofu, still staring into space, was frozen to the spot, his face blank, his mind stuck on the image of Kasumi marrying someone else. Like a man in a trance, Tofu turned back into his office and softly closed the door. It was time to have a heart-to-heart talk with Betty. ***** 9 ***** The aging and slightly rotund Sgt. Fujimoto nervously adjusted his tie as he stood in the doorway of the police koban watching the people pass by. He had good reason to be nervous. Reports had been circulating down at headquarters about deficiencies in duties of the post under his command. That was bad enough but there was also talk of replacing him if things didn't improve. Sgt. Fujimoto may have been the only person nervous, but he was not alone in the koban. Officer Kenji Watanabe was also present, calmly seated at his desk in the corner. He never like the location of his desk - feeling it was demeaning to a person of his ability. His corner was where all young, rookie police officers were expected to sit - a situation that galled Watanabe every time he thought of it. he thought to himself as he sneered at Sgt. Fujimoto's backside. "It is very important we make a good impression with the District Inspector, Watanabe." Fujimoto's voice sounded tired as he still faced the open door while talking. Watanabe smiled to himself. "I understand completely, sir." Fujimoto turned towards his junior associate and straightened his dress coat, his white gloved hands smoothing its pocket flaps. His face looked older, more tired than Watanabe could remember. he thought. Seeing Fujimoto looking like an old man could only help his situation. "I just can't understand who could be sending such unfavorable reports to the District Office," Fujimoto lamented with a sad shake of his head. "I've always been so close to all the people in this neighborhood." "I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding. Perhaps a malcontent of some sort." Watanabe looked serious and concerned, which he was not. His people had done well, submitting carefully timed complaints to the District Office about Fujimoto's 'lack' of attention to his duties. If all went well, Watanabe would be in control of this part of the district within a month. That thought left him with a warm and confident feeling. Things were going as planned. "Please forgive me, Watanabe," the sergeant said in a hushed voice while bowing slightly to his junior officer. "I have not been the best mentor to you." He really looked distressed at his apparent failure to guide and direct Watanabe's development. "Not so, sir. Everything I am, I owe to you." "You are too kind, Watanabe. I am most fortunate in having such a trusted and reliable officer such as you assigned to this post." Watanabe's reply was interrupted by an authoritative voice from the doorway. "Sergeant Fujimoto?" The sergeant spun around, surprise clearly etched on his face. Only his years of experience prevented what could have been, under different circumstances, a most unfortunate first meeting. His smile of relief betrayed him slightly as the voice was attached to the last person from headquarters he expected to see. "Hai, Inspector." He snapped to attention. Watanabe followed suit in his best Police Academy manner. Both examined the district officer before them. He was younger than expected, perhaps 35 or 40 with only a hint of gray in his perfect police official haircut. It was obvious, even under his official uniform jacket, that he was a powerfully built man. His glasses gave him the look of one who'd spent too many years behind a desk, typical of someone who had earned his lofty position. His uniform was spotless and befitting one of his rank. Watanabe tried to size up this newcomer to his little plot. Try as he might, there was no way of telling just whose side this officer would come down on when the situation warranted. Watanabe decided to play it cautious... for now. The three men bowed appropriately before the Inspector broke into a grin, extending a white-gloved hand to Sgt. Fujimoto. "Good to see you again, Fujimoto," the Inspector almost chuckled as the relieved looking sergeant gratefully took his hand. "Inspector Abe," the sergeant grinned. "I had no idea they would send you." "Well, when I found out your koban was being investigated, I thought: 'This doesn't sound like the Sergeant Fujimoto I know'. So, I asked to be assigned to the investigation and do the preliminary interview." Watanabe scowled inwardly at this new development. He expected a more 'hostile' investigator, one that would put the sergeant through the wringer over the reports. Instead, he was getting an old friend who would be more sympathetic to the local situation. "Forgive me, Inspector Abe." Fujimoto turned to the younger officer. "This is my most promising young officer, Officer Watanabe." Watanabe did all the proper things in greeting a superior officer but was slightly disappointed in the almost casual manner that the Inspector greeted him - like an understanding uncle instead of a 'by the book' investigator. With the formalities out of the way, the three sat down around the koban's small meeting table. Watanabe did his duty, pouring the previously prepared tea as Abe and the sergeant removed their gloves and chatted amiably. Again, Watanabe grimaced inwardly at the sight of the two being friendly towards each other. No, this wasn't going like he planned at all. "As it would appear that someone within the district itself harbors ill will for you Fujimoto, perhaps it would be appropriate to begin this investigation by going over the results of your recent block visits." Inspector Abe leaned back in his chair and eyed the two officers across the desk from him. He was looking for more than the simple answers to complaints filed down at headquarters - he, and he alone, suspected there was more afoot here than a few random complaints about an aging police officer who'd always been the model neighborhood policeman. Too many odd things were happening in the district; too many mysterious transfers, too many odd retirements. His concerns were carefully worded in dispatches to his superiors at Tokyo Police Headquarters. Two weeks and numerous meetings later, all agreed that something strange was going on in the district and Abe was assigned to the unusual task of an 'internal' investigation of his own district. Officer Watanabe retrieved the stack of block visit reports and slowly began to go through them, reading each out loud and adding his personal observations. Abe and Fujimoto listened attentively, nodding at key points and acknowledging each household. Things went well until Watanabe got to the Tendos. He started alright, mentioning the 'elderly' father and the daughters, but seemed to skip over the rest of the occupants. "Only two daughters?" Inspector Abe asked with a raised eyebrow. "I seem to recall there were three." "Hai, Inspector," Watanabe replied, his mind racing to determine the significance of Abe's observations. "The third daughter married and moved away." Fujimoto and Abe exchanged quick, amused glances. "Any other people living at the residence?" Abe casually asked. Watanabe cleared his throat. "Well, there *is* a young man engaged to the youngest daughter." This was an oversight on Watanabe's part; one that embarrassed him in front of a superior. "Saotome Ranma and his father, Inspector," Fujimoto added without emotion. "Ah, yes," the Inspector chuckled as he pulled out his pipe and began loading it from a small pouch. "The famous 'Saotome Incidents'. We haven't seen many of those in recent months. I trust it's because he's calmed down somewhat." "Somewhat." Fujimoto chuckled as the Inspector lit his pipe, sending a cloud of sweet smelling smoke to hover lightly over the table. "I suspect the youngest daughter is responsible for that. She always struck me as a 'take charge' type of girl." "Well, I think 'struck' is the appropriate term here," Fujimoto laughed openly. The Inspector joined him as he remembered the physically aggressive youngest daughter of Soun Tendo. Watanabe just feigned his laughter, totally lost as to what the joke was about. "This certainly explains the Saotomes." The Inspector blew another puff of pipe smoke with his laughter. Watanabe only forced a painful grin. "Don't forget little Ranko and her pet panda," Fujimoto added while wiping a tear from his laughter. If nothing else, the Tendos had provided a welcome diversion to the usually quiet koban station. "So, we have the father, two daughters, a fiance and his father, and a red headed girl with her pet panda." Abe summed up the situation in preparation for his last set of questions. "Hai, Inspector," Watanabe snapped formally. He didn't like where this was going - setting *him* up to be the inefficient one here. It was supposed to be Fujimoto that was the negligent officer. It was Fujimoto that needed to be transferred. It was Fujimoto that was unfit to serve. Watanabe flicked nervously at the corner of the Tendo report. "You have left out the most important frequent visitor to the Tendos; who, I believe, is staying there this very minute." Inspector Abe leaned forward, resting his hands on the table. Watanabe swallowed hard and looked at the Inspector. He couldn't read anything in the Abe's expression but felt certain that he had committed a second, more serious gaffe in his report. He *really* hated that. "You left out the middle daughter and her family," Fujimoto crossed his arms and looked at his junior officer with an expression that matched Abe's. Like the model neighborhood policeman that he was, he knew all the comings and goings. "All I know is that she married some American and moved away." Watanabe's nervousness caused him to switch from flicking the report to adjusting his collar. "Close, Officer Watanabe. Close." Inspector Abe leaned even closer with that announcement. "Do you have any idea who the American is?" "I didn't think it important...," Watanabe admitted as he looked over his report again. He had *really* made a mistake this time. "Not important?" the Inspector chuckled. "Did you hear that, Fujimoto? Not important." The two shared another laugh at their young colleague's expense. "Who is he?" Watanabe's voice began to take on a tinge of concern. This could complicate everything he had worked for. "He is the son of the assistant to the American Ambassador here in Tokyo." Fujimoto chuckled loudly shaking his rotund frame like a Japanese Santa Claus. "Not only that," Inspector Abe interjected as he leaned back in his chair again. "He is probably the richest person you'll ever meet." "Rich?" Watanabe's interest went from mild to intense in a heartbeat. "Whomever marries into *that* family will be fixed for life. Isn't that right, Fujimoto?" Abe blew another cloud of smoke and carefully watched the young officer's reaction. He knew more about Watanabe than he was letting on. "Quite right. Jeffrey Lawrence and his wife Nabiki are worth... millions." He leaned towards the Watanabe and said conspiratorially: "And that's in American Dollars." The Inspector and Fujimoto broke into hoots of laughter at their young associate's omission. Watanabe just stared off into space, a tiny grin spreading lightly over his face. he thought coldly. ***** 10 ***** That evening, Jeff and Nabiki took Ranma and Akane out to dinner at a fancy restaurant. Nabiki claimed it was to pay back her little sister for her quick thinking at the baths. Jeff agreed because he thought it would be an opportune time for Ranma to present his little 'surprise' to Akane. He purposely hadn't told Nabiki about the ring - mainly because Ranma asked him not to but also because he knew his wife. If she even suspected such was afoot, she would have been hatching all kinds of plots aimed at setting just the right atmosphere for her little sister to get properly engaged. Jeff, however, felt it important that this is one thing the pair would have to do on their own. No Nabiki meddling allowed. Kasumi offered to stay home and watch little Sodoshi. She claimed there was a particular television program she was anxious to see and that there was no other babysitting arrangement feasible. The fathers were off to Mr. Miyagi's bar again, thanks to arrangements made earlier by Jeff to pay for whatever they wanted. An arrangement both fathers were determined to take full advantage of. Just after dark, Kasumi settled down to her television show with her sewing and mending, having put Sodoshi down to sleep in her crib up in Nabiki's room, when a lone figure slipped over the wall of the compound and ducked quickly into the shadows. For several minutes, the figure's eyes swept the compound to ensure he was unseen before scurrying in practiced ways towards the back of the residence. With the movements of a trained martial artist, he climbed to the roof and slipped silently through an open window on the second floor. Alighting quietly on the floor, he crouched just inside the window and scanned the room. A small night light gave enough illumination for him to see a small crib with the sleeping child curled around a stuffed kitty, intermittedly sucking her tiny thumb. Without hesitation, he silently drifted to the door and opened it a bit; enough to look into the hall and assure his presence was still a secret. As he opened the door a little further, attempting to check the rest of the hallway, he heard a noise behind him. Spinning into an aggressive crouch, he looked quickly for the source of the sound only to have his eyes catch on the baby, now on her stomach, her head raised and staring his direction. His eyes narrowed as the two stared intently at each other. Quietly, with muscles tense and nerves alert, he crept over to the crib and looked inside. Little Sodoshi Lawrence, last daughter of the Clan of the Cold Moon, looked defiantly at the intruder, her eyes ablaze with fear. Someone had broken into her room. Someone had woken her up. Someone was going to pay for this. Devoid of any of her ancestors' formidable fighting skills, she resorted to the only weapon she knew - she began to cry. Ryouga Hibiki staggered back from the crib, gesturing wildly for the child to remain silent, while quietly 'shushing' the baby. It had no apparent effect as Sodoshi let loose her first squall. Thinking quickly, Ryouga started to make faces at the baby and hopping silently on one foot as he did so. That seemed to have the desired effect as Sodoshi stopped crying, figuring this person was no danger - only someone who came to play. With a look if mixed suspicion and anticipation, Sodoshi slowly pushed herself into a sitting position while Ryouga continued going through his funny faces. Ryouga was desperate to keep the child quiet - needing only a few minutes to stash his clothes safely before dousing himself with cold water and turning back into P-chan so he could crawl tiredly into Akane's bed. A noisy Sodoshi would only bring the babysitter to his attention, spoiling his sudden return. He knew now that he had picked the wrong room to enter. Instead of Akane's room on the end, he had chosen Nabiki's old room in the middle. Noting that the baby was looking bored again, he slipped off his bandana and held it up for the baby to see. Sodoshi just pointed to the yellow and black piece of cloth and said something unintelligible before smiling and slapping her little legs in delight. Whatever it was about the bandana she liked, Ryouga was grateful for. As the two looked at each other, he making funny faces and dangling his bandana while she cooed and chuckled, Ryouga began to feel something about this child that he hadn't felt about anyone before. She was so little and helpless, yet not afraid of him. Perhaps *that* was the difference. When he looked into her deep chocolate brown eyes he saw no fear, just happiness at discovering a new playmate. Something inside him melted with her smile. Ryouga cautiously stopped making faces and peered in at the squirming Sodoshi. "Who's baby are you?" he asked in a voice barely above a whisper. Sodoshi just sucked her thumb and stared at Ryouga. "You want to play?" Sodoshi answered by pulling her thumb loudly out of her mouth, pointing to Ryouga and saying: "Babababa". Ryouga chuckled before reaching in the crib and softly feeling her dark hair. When he smiled, she smiled back, apparently ignoring his oversized canine teeth and odd dress. Such things mean nothing to a child. To Sodoshi, he was a new-found friend who just came to play - nothing more. Sodoshi permitted the touch, enjoying the gentle attention of the strange boy, before yawning and starting to babble again. Nervously, Ryouga tried to shush her again, gesturing lightly for her to not make any noise. When Sodoshi started babbling louder, Ryouga looked anxiously around the room for something to quiet the child. Spotting a glass of water on a nearby dresser, he got an idea. Sodoshi ceased her talking and stared at the 'lost boy' as he tried to hand the glass to her. Making a face like she didn't want a drink of water, she again started to babble, only louder. In desperation, Ryouga held up his hand to get the child's attention before dumping the whole glass over his head. Sodoshi's eyes went wide when the inevitable transformation took place. Where once stood a slightly amusing human, there was now a little black pig. Clapping her hands with joy she giggled and crowded up closer to the bars of her crib to get a better look at this wonderful new playmate. Ryouga, anxious to amuse the baby, disengaged himself from his clothes while making little 'oinking' sounds. Soon, the two were engaged in a type of play, the likes of which had not been seen in the Tendo house before. As quietly as he could, Ryouga ran around in circles 'oinking' as he went. Sodoshi loved it - clapping her hands and cooing excitedly as he made each circuit. He ended each round by sitting up on his hind legs, pausing to make a simple 'bwee' sound before rolling comically onto his back. Sodoshi, laughing with delight, duplicated her new friend's backward flop each time. She was totally thrilled with her new found playmate as they repeated their play over and over again. Ryouga, even in his pig form, smiled and chuckled to himself at sharing the simple act of play with someone else. As one who lost much of his childhood in training and misdirected adventures, he never had a real playmate before - not since Akane had someone accepted him so openly and without reservation. Sodoshi's innocence was not lost on Ryouga. Her smiles were genuine, her laughter infectious. Her friendship honest. But the hour was late and it was far past time for little children to be asleep in their beds. After a few more rounds of 'oinking' and more back flops, Sodoshi began to tire of the game and finished by laying back down, thumb in mouth, stuffed kitty under her arm. Moments later, the exhausted child fell fast asleep. Ryouga waited patiently while Sodoshi dozed off before considering his immediate problem; namely how to get his clothes down the hall into Akane's closet in his pig form. He approached the door to check the hallway. For some reason, he couldn't remember leaving the door quite this far open before the transformation. Discounting the whole issue as just the difference between human and pig perceptions of time and space, he poked his snout through the open door to find the hallway empty... with one exception. On the floor just outside the doorway was a large pan of steaming hot water. Suddenly afraid that his secret was no longer, he slunk timidly back into Nabiki's room to assess the possible ramifications. The pan wasn't there when he checked to see if the coast was clear the first time. Therefore, someone *had* to have placed it on the floor sometime *after* he transformed. That would mean someone now knew his secret. Someone who would, most certainly, tell Akane. Slowly, Ryouga's snout lowered to the floor as he closed his eyes and prayed for a miracle. Almost five minutes passed before he concluded that whomever knew his secret would do what they would with it regardless what happened next. With a pig-sigh, Ryouga silently padded over to the pan and jumped in. For some reason, the transformation back into human always hurt more than going the other way. He couldn't explain it but just figured it had something to do with the radical change in size he had to go through. This too was another reason to hate Ranma. He was certain that Ranma didn't have the same pains in transforming; compared to Ryouga's fate, going from boy to girl must have been a snap. Naked, wet, and miserable, Ryouga sadly gathered up his clothes and started to dress. "When you're done, Ryouga-kun, please come downstairs," came Kasumi's light, reassuring voice from the bottom of the stairs. With a small whimper, Ryouga finished dressing and paused, considering the option of just slipping back out the way he came and disappearing into the night. Akane would understand. Akane. The thought of her discovering his secret tore at his heart as he thought of all the nights he slept nestled in her arms, his head resting comfortably against the firmness of her small breasts. He groaned lightly as he thought of how she would hate him and curse his name - all because he wanted to be close to the one person that ever showed him a tiny bit of love. "I'm waiting, Ryouga." Kasumi's voice sounded more like a mother awaiting her child than a guardian looking to punish an intruder - an intruder with an embarrassing secret. Reluctantly, Ryouga descended the stairs, taking each step deliberately, like a man going to his own execution. What awaited him at the bottom scared him more than any of the other members of the family. Akane would have just pounded him. Nabiki would have probably sold him into slavery - or worse. Kami only knew what Soun would have done. But Kasumi scared him. She was too nice, too understanding, too controlled. To him, because she was no fighter, she had no weaknesses he could exploit. He paused at the bottom of the stairs, looking between the freedom represented by the front door and the warm lights of the main room where Kasumi was. With a sigh of resignation, he trudged wearily into the room with Kasumi. He stopped in the doorway to assess his situation. Kasumi was seated on a large pillow at the table, her sewing set aside in neatly arranged piles. The TV was still on but was showing only dull commercials, Kasumi's TV program having ended. On the table in front of Kasumi was a tea pot with two cups waiting patiently to be used. "Please come in, Ryouga-kun," Kasumi chirped as she started pouring the tea. "I hope you'll accept my hospitality and my tea. I'm sorry Akane or the others aren't here." Nervously, Ryouga bowed abruptly and clumsily staggered to a cushion across the table from Kasumi. He winced slightly as he sat down; the transformation process always left his joints a little tender for the first hour or so. Kasumi handed Ryouga a cup of tea and sat back with a motherly smile. It didn't help. It only made Ryouga more nervous. "How did you know...?" he stammered as he stared at his tea. He couldn't figure out just how Kasumi knew he was in the house. What's more, unless she actually saw him transform, she wouldn't have known that P-chan and himself were one in the same. Kasumi considered her answer for only a few moments. "This house is very old. It has a personality and life of its own. I have long since learned how to listen to its moods." "You heard me come in," he stated flatly. "I heard you come in." Silence reigned in the Tendo residence as both were lost in their thoughts. Kasumi was considering how to approach a delicate subject and Ryouga was just thinking of how to get out of all this with his secret and dignity still in place. "Ryouga-kun," Kasumi began softly. "I think what you did for Sodoshi was sweet." 'You saw me?" He fought the urge to look at Kasumi's sweet face. She was more of a mother to him than his own. "Yes, I saw you playing with So-chan." "At first, I just wanted to keep her quiet," he answered with a small voice while shrugging. "She really is a nice baby." "Yes, Sodoshi is a sweet child and very perceptive too. She knew you wouldn't hurt her." Kasumi smiled at Ryouga again. "And so did I." Ryouga could only nod his agreement and wait for the rest of Kasumi's thoughts. "Ryouga-kun, I... I want to talk about you... and Akane." Ryouga closed his eyes and awaited what he knew and feared would come. "I know of your... problem. I also know much you like Akane." Kasumi was looking directly at Ryouga now. He could only hang his head. "But it's not fair to her for you to continue with this... deception." She paused to allow the full impact of what she had said to take effect. "It's not much of an honorable person who would deceive Akane in order to sleep in her bed." "It's not like that!" Ryouga protested loudly before recovering himself and adding modestly: "I *wanted* to tell her but Ranma kept getting in the way." Kasumi smiled at her young guest, trying to measure his sincerity. She didn't think of him as a bad person, just one who was lonely and friendless. "I only wanted to be near her. I've never intended it to be anything more." His voice sounded sad - like he was on the verge of tears. It had been many years since he'd felt like crying. Kasumi, in her mother role, was just the type of person who could make Ryouga admit things he'd never consider admitting to anyone else. "I understand. But you must accept that Akane will marry Ranma someday. Nothing can stop that." Kasumi was speaking with confidence and certainty, sounding more like a mother carefully explaining things to a child than the older sister of the girl he secretly loved. "Your interference will only cause pain for Akane. And, eventually, yourself." "I know." His voice barely above a whisper. "Ryouga-kun, I want to be your friend. You'll always be welcome in my home." Kasumi poured Ryouga some more tea. Ryouga, showing he'd been properly raised, reciprocated by filling Kasumi's cup. "I want you to promise to never deceive Akane again as P-chan." "You won't tell her, will you?" Ryouga looked aghast at the possibilities should Akane know the truth about him and her favorite pet. "No, that would only cause her pain," Kasumi replied with a shake of her head. "I want you to promise me, Ryouga." Kasumi's firm voice accurately conveyed the seriousness of her request. Ryouga reluctantly agreed, in exchange for Kasumi's silence. "Will I still be able to see her... and Sodoshi?" he asked timidly. Kasumi's smile reassured him of her friendship. "Of course. You'll always be welcome here." "Thank you for that." Ryouga sighed and swallowed another gulp of tea. He had to admit, Kasumi certainly made good tea. Something worth looking forward to with each visit. "I think you, Akane, and Ranma could become good friends." Kasumi should have left well enough alone. So long as she kept the discussion to about him and Akane, he could be reasonable - even conciliatory. The hint of his long time rival and hated enemy - even if it *was* a one way hate - triggered his usual, aggressive self. "NO! For Akane I will honor your request." He staggered to his feet and struck a menacing posture. "But I will NEVER forgive that coward Saotome for what he did to me. NEVER!" "Ryouga..." "NO!" With that, he bolted out through the engawa and into the welcoming darkness of the night. "Oh dear," Kasumi muttered. "Perhaps I went too far." The dinner party returned in typical fashion. Typical, that is, for a Tendo dinner party. "I can't believe you, Ranma!" It was Akane's voice, as angry as Kasumi had ever heard. "How was I to know? They set it in front of *me*!" Ranma was in his usual denial mode - loud denial mode. "They set it in front of US!" The rest of what Akane wanted to say to her fiance was lost in the pounding of two pairs of feet as they stomped their way up the stairs. A pair of slamming doors terminated the evening's activities. Jeff and Nabiki calmly entered the residence and removed their shoes in the entranceway. Like patient parents, they had endured an evening with the children with as much dignity as they could. It wasn't easy, considering what they both expected - a quiet evening, a good meal, and pleasant conversation. What they got was quite different. Oh, it started out alright, Akane and Ranma acted nervous but manageable enough considering they were seated in a fancy Italian restaurant, among well dressed patrons, in a quiet setting - quite out of their element. Jeff even had hopes that Ranma would use the occasion to deliver his ring to Akane. The atmosphere was right. The time was right. Unfortunately, Ranma insisted on acting like Ranma. Jeff had ordered the 'Lovers Meal', entrees designed to be shared between two people, for both couples. Ranma, being the hungry and nervous boy that he was, pounced on the meal the moment it arrived and proceeded to gulp down everything delivered for the couple like a starving dog. While Akane and the others stared in shock, Ranma displayed the table manners he was known for - sloppy, loud, and embarrassing. By the time Jeff got Ranma's attention, the boy had eaten both portions, all the bread, and was busy scooping out the dipping sauce. The rest of the evening kind of went downhill from there. Needless to say, the ring was never delivered. On the plus side, nobody got hurt in the ensuing Ranma/Akane altercation. For now, at least, Akane's engagement ring would remain a secret. ***** 11 ***** The next morning, Nabiki was patiently holding her squirming daughter, trying to feed her breakfast. Under Kasumi's patient tutelage, Nabiki was discovering how easy caring for a baby really was. All it took was a little planning and patience. The former she knew all about. The latter was going to take a little practice. Sodoshi was more animated than usual, talking a blue streak - like she was telling her mother something important about the night before. What was even more puzzling to Nabiki was the fact that Sodoshi started making new noises along with her usual babbling. She couldn't be sure, but it sounded like 'oinking'. Kasumi had been careful not to reveal anything about last night's visit by Ryouga - feeling certain she was doing the right and honorable thing by abiding by her agreement. Still, there were subtle hints being dropped by one who never agreed to such a deal. After the usual breakfast mess, complete with a baby version of a food fight, Nabiki finished by wiping her daughter's face. Kasumi just smiled from across the table. Nabiki was acting almost as if she were comfortable holding and feeding her daughter. That pleased the eldest daughter. As the two sisters chatted, Sodoshi repeatedly reached for Nabiki's tea glass. With an indulgent smile and a note to Kasumi about how Sodoshi was learning how to drink from a glass (at least, that is what Jeff had said before they left), Nabiki handed the glass of tea to her daughter. Before Kasumi could offer a word of warning, Sodoshi dumped the entire contents over her head, squealing with laughter. "Sodoshi!" Nabiki wailed. There mother was again; saying 'NO' to all Sodoshi's fun. The child stopped laughing and scowled at her mother defiantly. Nabiki, however, missed it all as she was looking at her older sister with exasperation. There were some things about caring for a child that simply defied explanation. "What ever, do you suppose, possessed her to do that?" Nabiki asked with a silly look on her face. She could feel the tea running down into her underwear. No doubt about it, both were going to have to take baths this morning. Kasumi, biting her tongue, could only look at her sister and try to keep from laughing out loud. Her eyes expressed surprise and shock at Sodoshi's actions but behind her hand, she hid her amusement. "I haven't a clue," she lied, leaving the table to find someplace quiet to laugh. ***** 12 ***** Early that afternoon, Kasumi was pushing Sodoshi in her little stroller as she went shopping. Kasumi, basked in the approving looks of those she passed, enjoying the image of motherhood; even if it wasn't hers. At every stop the pair were greeted by friendly people who spared no effort in fussing over the baby. Kasumi enjoyed every minute. Sodoshi, however, was wary of each new stranger and constantly looked to Kasumi for hints on how to react. Each time she saw her aunt smiling and chatting happily with store owners or other customers, she would reluctantly allow herself to be pinched, patted, and fingered by adoring strangers - her thumb comfortably tucked in her mouth. Midway through the shopping trip, Sodoshi finally got bored with the whole exercise; letting the rhythm of the stroller's wheels on the street and the almost constant buzz of admiring people lull her to sleep. Kasumi's schedule led her past Tofu's clinic. Laden down with bags and packages, Kasumi fought her instinct to continue walking past without stopping. she thought. She looked at the sleeping Sodoshi and smiled slowly. It would only be a short visit. Certainly not long enough to inconvenience her little niece. Besides, she had planned on stopping by his clinic by herself anyway. There was something she really wanted to ask him. Something she *had* to know. With remarkably little trouble, Kasumi maneuvered the stroller into Tofu's waiting room. Two young patients were already there, quietly reading while apparently waiting their turn with the doctor. "It's 'her'," one whispered to the other from behind her magazine. Her companion could only nod nervously and begin to tremble just enough to make the magazine he was reading start to flutter. Neither liked this but both were determined to see it through. Pushing open the inner door, Kasumi called out Tofu's name. He was quick to respond. "Oh, Kasumi," he lightly chirped as his glasses started to fog. Obviously, Nabiki's earlier visit had pushed Tofu back into his 'lunacy' when it came to Kasumi. "Why, we were just talking about you." He gestured towards his clinical skeleton over in the nearby corner. Kasumi quickly noted there was only one other person in the room with them; a young lady already stretched out on a treatment table, apparently resting from a treatment. "And what a cute baby," Tofu babbled as he patted one of the shopping bags hung from the stroller's handle. "Nabiki has one just like it." There was no question about it; for some reason, he had reverted to his former self around her. Kasumi, slipping back a bit herself, tried to pretend she didn't notice. "This *is* Nabiki's baby, sensei." Kasumi flashed her usual innocent smile Tofu's way. "You don't say," he giggled. "They *do* look remarkably alike." "Sensei, could.... could we talk," Kasumi blushed as she made the suggestion. This was being extremely forward for her but she was feeding an urge that demanded she say something to Dr. Tofu about the 'go-between', Officer Watanabe, and other important developments. She didn't know why, exactly, but she felt he needed to know something about the situation - something very important. "Certainly, Kasumi. What's on your mind?" "Not here," Kasumi said softly as she cast a nervous glance at the resting patient. "Somewhere private." "Of course. How about my office?" he offered indicating the toilet. Kasumi scowled slightly before resuming her pleasant smile and starting for the doctor's real office. Surprisingly, he followed - after pausing at an empty treatment table, patting the pillow, and telling the 'patient' to rest for a few moments and he would be right back. Kasumi noted the real patient, her face turned towards Kasumi, looked surprisingly young for someone needing Tofu's full treatment. Still, there was something in the girl's face she didn't like - something.... not right. Kasumi quickly dismissed her suspicions, thinking the poor girl must be in much distress to come to Tofu's clinic in the middle of the day like this. Probably missing work to do this as well. Tofu's office wasn't large enough to accommodate the doctor, Kasumi *and* Sodoshi's stroller. Kasumi looked at the sleeping child and figured that she would be okay parked just outside the doctor's door. After all, this *was* the doctor's clinic. What could happen here? Just to be safe, she left the door partly open. Once inside, the doctor offered Kasumi some tea. Flustered as to what to do next, Kasumi accepted. As Tofu spooned sugar into the tea pot instead of tea, Kasumi sighed and shook her head. "Perhaps, I should make the tea, sensei," she offered as she reached for the tea pot. As fate would have it, their hands met at the tea pot's handle. For several seconds, they froze together, her hand covering his. For, what seemed like a lifetime, they noted the feeling of each other's hand and stood rooted to the spot, barely able to breathe. Both blushed like school children. "Per.... perhaps I should sit down," he offered weakly, making no move to remove his hand. Kasumi could only nod and slowly disengaged herself, clutching her hands together in front of her, staring at the floor and blushing. Tofu, totally lost to his lunacy now, sat down heavily on the floor, still clutching the tea pot. Kasumi decided that, perhaps, tea wasn't exactly the right thing for the moment. Reaching down deep within her for enough strength, she began her carefully rehearsed speech. "I believe in tradition," she said softly. "Oh, yes. Tradition. Good idea, that." Tofu had removed his hand and slowly slid it down through the opening on the top of the tea pot - reaching for what, neither would ever know. "Yes, well, I believe in tradition in almost all things." She was beginning to feel flushed, sweat breaking out on her forehead. She was also beginning to feel faint. She had rehearsed this speech almost all night in hopes she would be able to carry on in *any* situation. She knew this was going to be tough but was determined to follow through regardless. "I quite agree." Tofu was trying to remove his hand from the thin opening of the pot. Obviously, it was easer to get his hand inside than remove it. "After all, where would we be without tradition?" He finished with a ridiculous chuckle. "I believe that tradition should usually extend to when a girl is introduced to a young man - for courtship, I mean." She couldn't continue while facing the doctor. She nervously turned to face the counter, her fingers intertwining repeatedly. "Courtship, huh," Tofu asked absently as he concentrated more on removing his hand from the pot. "Hai. And I think that a woman should be married before she turns 25. Don't you agree?" "Oh, absolutely. Anything older would make her a 'Christmas Cake'." "Still, a girl mustn't ignore her obligations." This was getting harder for her with every passing second. Panic began to sneak out of its hiding place and fight for control of her actions. "Obligations are important too." Tofu was now waving the tea pot stuck on his hand in an effort to dislodge it. "But if a girl is confronted with a traditional courtship when she clearly desires another.... Should she continue with the courtship or follow her heart?" There, it was finally out in the open. The real reason she made this visit. She closed her eyes and prayed that her Tofu would choose the latter. "Well... it would be very hard for her to ignore the tradition just because her heart is in the wrong place." He was banging the pot on the floor now. "After all, if we all ignored tradition, where would we be?" The pot finally gave way and shattered, freeing his hand. Slowly, Kasumi's chin dropped to her chest as her shoulders sagged. It was the wrong answer. It was Tofu admitting that her decision to accept the 'go-between' had sealed their fate together. Because of the traditional courtship being carried on by Officer Watanabe, Tofu would feel honor bound to step aside and relinquish his feelings for Kasumi. Slowly, her hands slid over her face to hide her disappointment and shame. Such was not lost on Tofu. He could see Kasumi's reaction. He could tell she was in tears. Tears *he* was the cause of. The last thing he wanted was to hurt the one he loved. "Of course, there *are* situations where the girl's feelings should take precedence," he offered, nursing his bruised hand. It was beginning to dawn on him that Kasumi was not speaking of her sister Akane. He couldn't be sure, but it sounded like she was talking about herself. Surprised by his answer, Kasumi spun around and looked at the gaping Dr. Tofu. She couldn't help but notice his youthfully handsome face and his kind eyes. Yes, he would be the best catch of all. "Do you really mean that?" she almost whispered, praying he would agree - her face a mask of joyful optimism. "Hai, I agree with you totally. You should not be forced to marry against your feelings." He blinked at Kasumi, wearing his usual helpful smile and praying he had guessed right - that all this was about Kasumi. They grinned at each other like two kids; he out of nervousness and she because it was as close to she was ever going to get to what she wanted to hear. He still wasn't sure he said the right thing. All he knew was it felt good and she was smiling. "I'm sorry to have taken so much of your time, sensei," she said politely while bowing. "It's getting late and I really must be going." "Of course," Tofu seemed to come alive with the announcement of her departure. "Obligations." Kasumi blushed, "Hai, obligations." She thought again how good a catch he was and how natural it felt being around him - like she and he were destined to be together. She felt so lucky. This had all worked out better than she expected or even hoped. Opening the door back into the treatment room she reached for Sodoshi's stroller. In spite of the many bags attached to the stroller, she could tell something was wrong; something her mind refused to acknowledge. Looking frantically this way and that, her mind fought for control of her emotions as she looked for the missing item. No matter how she tried to look at the stroller, she always came up with the same result - Sodoshi was missing. "Tofu!" she screamed, her voice rich with panic. Stumbling through the door, Dr. Tofu arrived at her side and quickly diagnosed what was wrong. He even jumped to a suspect. A quick glance at his empty treatment tables confirmed his suspicions. The woman patient he had been treating for the last week, never seemed to get any better despite his treatments. That was suspicious enough, but she always asked about his 'assistant' and when she would be back. Anger and panic now dwelled in the heart of Tofu Ono. He had been set up - used as a trap for Sodoshi. Without a word, Tofu dashed out through his now empty waiting room to the street beyond, looking frantically for any sign of Kasumi's niece - or his wayward patient. He asked several passers-by but no one had seen a young woman carrying a baby leaving his clinic. Whomever snatched little Sodoshi Lawrence had done their job well, leaving behind few clues and no witnesses to the act itself. Reluctantly Tofu returned to his clinic. The police, of course, would have to be called as would Jeff and Nabiki. However, that could all wait - he had an even harder task to perform first. Finding Kasumi still standing by the now empty stroller, he quietly closed the door to the waiting room and started for Kasumi. Her look was of panic, her eyes unfocused, her mouth aimlessly trying to form words to the question she feared to ask. Tofu instinctively knew what she wished to know but could only shake his head sadly and look at the floor. It was *his* fault this happened. It was *his* patient that took the child. It was in *his* clinic, a place that was supposed to be a haven for those in need, that this heinous crime took place. Kasumi could only stand and tremble, clutching Sodoshi's little stuffed kitty as she stared at Tofu with pleading eyes. As Tofu slowly looked again at his secret love, she could read in his eyes that Sodoshi was truly gone - taken from her in a moment of inattention, a moment she would forever regret. "NOOOOOOOO!" she screamed before passing out, collapsing on the smooth tile floor of the clinic.