[Ranma][FanFic] Meeting Later - Chapter 5

[Trent O'Donoghue]

Meeting Later 5

Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They belong to the
wonderful Rumiko Takahashi and her licensees (Viz Communications in
North America). This work is strictly for the non-profit enjoyment of
fans. No copyright infringement is intended.

Meeting Later is originally a story by Tom Wrensch, personally
one of my favourite authors. Tom has given me the honour of continuing
this series but the idea and first chapter are all his work. To view
more of his work, which I personally recommend, his web site is
http://www.geocities.com/twrensch

Ukyo flicked her ponytail over her shoulder, ignoring the looks
from the students of Bokuto high as they entered the gate she stood
beside.

Most of the students knew who she was, or at least could make a
decent guess. Dressed in black tights and a blue tunic, with the giant
spatula on her back and the bandolier of smaller spatula across her
chest, she held an Okonomiyaki box before her. The box was slightly
tilted to show her business logo, and slightly opened at the sides to
let the smell waft out to the passing students.

She smiled carefully at the passers-by who looked at her but any
who approached she didn't hesitate to ask to please leave since she
was waiting for her fiance. Behind the smile her thoughts tumbled over
and again trying to suppress anger at how little she had seen of Ranma
of late, and how he wasn't even talked about in the store without
mention of Akane Tendo. It sounded like wherever one went the other
followed, and what was worse was it wasn't far from the truth. She was
even seen more and more in the same Chinese style clothes as Ranma.

She knew what she had done wrong. She had been too worried about
her business and too confidant that she was obviously in no danger of
losing Ranma to Sakura or Shampoo that now someone new had appeared
and was worming her way more into his life than his oldest friend and
real fiancee. Now she just had to go and find out what was going on.
And maybe make it clear to him that a fiance shouldn't be hanging with
other girls all the time.

Ukyo's thoughts were interrupted as she saw Akane jogging up the
fence just ahead of Ranma. Her arms were out slightly and her face
showed her absolute concentration. Ranma was slightly behind her
smiling about something as he watched her legwork on the thin fence.
At least he had better be watching her legwork and not her.

*****

Ranma was still thinking about his impending victory next
Saturday, the first of November. Now he finally had Akane's dining
technique solved, the breakfast title would be his. The same day as
the first fights of the tournament, this weekend was gunna be great.
His thoughts were disturbed when his student leapt from the fence a
good fifty meters short of the school gate.

He managed to follow his student's glare to the boys who
'happened' to be leaning against the fence slightly up from them,
trying to look innocent and not disappointed. They wouldn't have
stopped the martial artists from passing but they would have been able
to get a peek up Akane's school skirt. He was surprised by the flush
of jealous anger that gave him and was about to go over and give them
a talking to when he heard Ukyo's voice.

"Ranchan honey."

His anger forgotten, Ranma turned back towards the gate and
smiled and waved, then pointed her out to Akane.

Ukyo managed to hold the smile as Ranma almost immediately spoke
to Akane, rather than rush over to his fiancee. As the pair approached
she increased the smile for her fiancee, he always liked it when she
was cute.

"Hey Ucchan. How are things?"

Ukyo managed to keep her smile on her face as she looked past
Ranma at Akane. "Akane honey, can you give me a few seconds with my
fiance."

Akane felt a little jealousy and had to suppress an urge to say
no, as she heard both the stressing of the 'my' and the fact it wasn't
a question. "Sure Ukyo. I'll see you in class Ranma."

Ranma turned to her giving Ukyo the opportunity to glare daggers
at Akane's saccharine smile, so much like Nodoka's own patronising
look.

"Yeah. See ya there, Akane. So what's up Ucchan?"

Ukyo's smile returned as her fiance faced her again and Akane
vanished into the school gate. She held out the Okonomiyaki box and
lifted the lid to him. "What, I just wanted to see my fiance. Hungry?"
She waited for his mouth and eyes to lock on his favourite food.

"Ah, actually Ucchan, I kinda had a big breakfast." The moment
he saw the shock and disbelief in her eyes he realised he'd done
something wrong in refusing the food. He jumped in before Ukyo could
speak and plucked it from her grip. "Ah, I'll just let it settle for a
second before I eat it. Thanks."

Ukyo lost her shock but her eyes showed her suspicion "Ranchan,
I haven't seen you around the shop in the last week. You know I miss
you when you're not around."

"I've been busy training for the tournament. Are you, Konatsu,
and Junko gunna be ready?"

Ukyo brought out her biggest smile and laid one had on his arm.
"Oh, we'll be ready. I can't wait to be up on the slopes with you."

Ranma was lost in confusion for a second before he remembered
the prize in the tournament, a ski resort in the mountains with him
for four days, well with whoever won the men's division, which would
be him. "Ah yeah, that'd be good. Better watch out for Shampoo, she's
got some new shooting star technique I haven't seen yet. And you know
how dirty Sakura can fight."

"I can take them if it means we get some time together for a few
days. We can pick up from where we left off on our date."

"Date?"

Ukyo almost growled at the complete incomprehension in her
fiance's eyes. "When we went out after I helped you learn the Hiryu
Shoten Ha and get your strength back."

"Oh yeah, that date." If it wasn't for the fact he mastered the
Hiryu Shoten Ha that would have been one of the worst weeks of his
life, culminating with Ukyo trying to force feed him ice cream on
their 'victory date' before Shampoo showed up with that damned Ghost
Cat and it's bell.

Ukyo didn't like that his eyes didn't reflect happiness at their
date. She stepped in close to him. "Soooo, what are Akane's weak
spots?"

Ranma suddenly found he didn't want to look into her eyes and
slipped a hand into the box and tearing some Okonomiyaki free. "Ah,
she's pretty good all round Ucchan." He shoved the piece of Ukyo's
special into his mouth hoping it might placate her a little but
somehow even as he tasted it, he knew it wouldn't.

"But she's got to have some holes."

"Not really. Her technique is very good. Let's leave it at
that."

Ukyo's hand slipped back onto the large spatula handle. "You
don't want me to win!"

"Ucchan. Akane's like... my student. I won't go telling her weak
spots to everyone. And if I told you I'd have to tell Sakura and
Shampoo. Would you rather they could win or just a friend."

"Friend? Is she 'just a friend'? You two aren't ever seen apart.
Wherever you go, she follows. You're my fiance Ranma. Why aren't you
hanging around with me?"

Ranma was looking from side to side feeling the gaze of the
students passing on him. "Ucchan, calm down. I can't really just hang
out with any of you cause if Shampoo sees me she'll be badgering me
for a date claiming you got one."

Ukyo looked angrily at her fiance for a few seconds before she
spoke. "If I hear you have even touched her out side of sparring..."
She turned away and stormed off, leaving the threat hanging.

Ranma sighed heavily as he watched his oldest friend leaving.
Turning he entered the gate, idly holding out the Okonomiyaki box to a
couple of the boys who quickly snatched it. As he began to walk
towards the building, he was irritated to hear Toko's nasally voice.
"Not so fast Saotome." Looking back over his shoulder he was about to
ask what the little jerk wanted but Toko was already pointing past him
to the building.

Ranma turned back and his eyes narrowed on the couple near the
school doors, cursing that he'd given his word to obey the court order
that kept him away.

*****

Akane continued to walk up to the school building thinking idly
that Ranma deserved better than Ukyo. Hell, she'd be tempted to ask
him out if he was single. She'd certainly treat him better than any of
his current fiancee's did.

Reaching the stairs, she turned and looked back towards the
gate, wondering how long Ranma would be.

"All the boys wonder how he does it."

Looking to her right, Akane appraised the young man before her.
Taller than herself with brown hair and dark eyes, he was staring off
towards the gate. "Excuse me?"

"All the boys of this school wonder how he does it. Three
gorgeous fiancees and other pretty girls showing up all the time. And
now someone as cute as you living with him. What is it? The martial
arts?"

Akane looked over the boy with slight anger at his implication.
"Sorry to burst your bubble but I'm living with Ranma and his Mother
for other reasons. I'm not dating him, we're just friends and training
partners."

The boy's smile didn't waver. "Oh? So if I asked you out, you
can accept?"

Akane began to blush, it had been since before Kuno had fallen
for her that she had last been asked out, without it being a trick or
her being used anyway, and she had regretted saying no after what had
happened with Kuno's challenge. She tried to cover the blush with a
question. "Who are you?"

The boy stepped slightly closer to Akane reading her desire to
accept. "Jiro Ohata. So... will you go out with me?"

Akane was caught off guard as his dark eyes looked into hers but
her mind remembered Ranma mentioning the boy on her first day of
school here, and how he apparently led Toko and his friends. She had
an odd form of concern flush through her as she remembered Ranma had
hinted at something that had happened between them. Putting her hand
on his chest she pushed him back to the length of her arm. "So you're
friends with Toko and his jerk buddies?"

Jiro winced slightly. He had feared Ranma had blabbed to her
about him but he wasn't going to let it go at this. He could at least
try and twist it to his advantage. "Can I ask what Ranma has said I
supposedly done to him?"

Akane looked at Jiro's face as she replied. "Ranma only
mentioned you once that I remember. But if you're friends with jerks
like Toko, I don't really want to know you." She began to walk into
the main building with her back to him.

Jiro looked at her back. "I'm disappointed that you don't give
me a chance to refute his claims. Do you trust him that much?"

Akane stopped and looked back at Jiro, "Jiro, he has only
mentioned you once and didn't claim anything. If you want to defend
yourself, obviously you've done something to him in the past. As for
me going out with you, there is as much chance of that as there is of
me dating Toko. Nil!" Akane turned and walked back into the school
grinning at the sniggers from some others who had been watching and a
thumbs-up from one of the girls in the building.

Jiro's eyes narrowed on Akane as she left, already in thoughts
of getting her back even as he ignored the whispers and looks he was
being given by some of the students. The same students who had
wouldn't have dared to laugh at him when he was the toughest here.
Before Ranma Saotome had come to his school.

*****

Akane was surprised when Ranma showed up in class and sat
backwards at his desk facing her. "Can I ask what Ohata wanted?"

She was surprised at the odd mix of worry and anger in his eyes.
Was Ranma jealous? Or just worried because of whatever happened
between him and Jiro before she had come to this school? "He asked me
on a date."

"What! You didn't accept did you?"

Akane looked around nervously since Ranma's shout had drawn the
attention of the other students. "No, of course not."

Ranma calmed and realised everyone was looking at them. He
looked from side to side. "Ah sorry everyone." Seeing most of the
students returned to their own conversations. "Good choice. He's a
jerk, trust me."

Akane leaned in a little closer. "I can't really be dating
anyone if I'm engaged." Ranma nodded knowing exactly how she would
feel on that. "Besides, the only guy I'd want to date here is
engaged."

Akane blushed as she realised what she had admitted, but Ranma
blushed more as her words reminded him of his mothers joke about Akane
possibly being his mistress.

The bell ringing and the teacher beginning class stopped either
from commenting further.

*****

"Oh thank you Doctor, that feels so much better."

"Just hold still for a little more, Shirito-san. Your shoulder
still needs to rest from straining it like that. I'll get you a sling
and you can go home."

Doctor Tofu Ono left the examination room to the back storage
room to get a sling. He lifted the sealed packet from a box on the
shelf when he heard the voice behind him.

"Good morning, Doctor Tofu."

He didn't even turn around as the voice summoned up a thousand
images of the young woman, always smiling, always polite, always so
beautiful. He didn't even realise he was dancing around the room,
knocking off shelves, and at some stage grabbing a broom as a dancing
partner.

*WACK-clack*

The unique clack of the shinai reverberated around the small
room, before the bamboo sword cracked again, this time into his side
rather than the back of his head.

Sena's voice was harsh. "None of that brother, you have no idea
how hard it was to get Kasumi to give you another chance. You will not
be off dancing like that on your date." Sena turned and left with the
shinai and the small tape player in hand.

Tofu looked up at the now at the empty doorway, thinking
disappointing thoughts about his own foolishness when he even heard
Kasumi's voice. He knew he had to be strong if he was even going to
face her again, though Sena's training methods were a little harsh he
thought as he rubbed his head and side. Picking up another sling he
turned off the light and shut the door knowing he'd need to clean all
that mess up before closing tonight.

*****

Ranma and Akane were walking home from after school training, as
the sky began to darken with the fading sun of dusk. Ranma was walking
on the sidewalk while Akane, dressed in her 'training outfit' of some
of his too-small Chinese clothes, was walking along the fence

"So Sensei, am I ready for the tournament?"

Ranma looked up at her question, "You're ready for the ring, but
as for the fights...maybe."

"You think your fiancees can beat me?" she said looking down at
him, part concerned of his opinion, part trying to goad him into
talking.

"Straight up... Ukyo you can probably take, she's good but
doesn't know enough special moves and doesn't fight too dirty. If
you're quick, you can put Sakura down before she uses any of her
dirtier moves, just use the counters like I showed you. Shampoo
though... she's as good as you and I don't really know too much about
what special moves she's got. With her, remember what I said about not
letting her behind you, keep your cool, and don't let her lead you in
the spiral."

"You're adamant about that spiral, what's so special about it?"

Ranma smirked at her for a second, "The Rising Dragon Accession
Blast. A little trick I was taught by Shampoo's Great Grandmother.
When I used it on Happosai, I put him out without touching the little
freak."

Akane stopped to look at him, positive he was yanking her chain,
but she had picked the smug look on his face. Still, the image of
Happi trashing Pantyhose Taro in his monster form was vivid in her
mind, "No way, I've seen Grandfather take down an actual monster in
seconds. No way one move can put him down, well aside from Miss
Hinako."

"I've seen the old pervert come back from all sorts of blows,
but doesn't change the fact that this one put him down quick smart. If
you get good enough, I might even show you it." He grinned up at her.

Akane turned to keep walking, "And just how much better will I
need to be?"

"A bit of focus training and you may be ready. But I'll warn
you, that was one of humiliating times of my life to learn that
technique, and it won't be any easier on you."

"Oh, what'd you have to do?"

"I'll leave that as a surprise, but be ready to be embarrassed."

"This isn't some excuse for you to be perverted is it?"

Ranma blushed before getting indignant, "What? No, I'd never..."

Akane laughed and stuck her tongue out at him, picking up speed
and running from him down the fence.

"Hey, wait up!"

*****

Nabiki shifted her grip on her bags. She'd gotten off at the
wrong train station and had to walk twice as far to the Saotome house.
She knew she should have taken off a few classes early rather than try
and brave Japan Rail and Tokyo as it entered peak hour after school.

Anyway, with the weekend this was a four day holiday for her and
she wasn't going to waste it, especially on a non-event of sitting at
home in an empty house. With Kasumi coming to stay with Aunty in some
plan of getting another chance with the good Doctor Tofu, Grandfather
had decided to take his two old students on a training trip, 'just
like old times' he'd put it.

She had almost made it when someone ran into her, scattering
her bags around and knocking her down. She tried to tuck and roll with
it, as she had learned when she was younger, but lack of practice and
the surprise slowed the reaction too much.

Fortunately a boy caught her before she hit the pavement. A
cute boy with big blue eyes and a pigtail, and if the muscles she
could feel against her were any indication, a really nice build.

"Are you all right, miss?" The dreamboat asked.

Nabiki considered saying her foot hurt to get him to carry her
for a while, but there would be no way to handle the bags. Besides,
anyone this good *had* to be taken already.

A girl wearing an outfit similar to the boys came up with her
packages. Hopefully dreamboat's sister, but probably his girlfriend.

"I'm really sorry for running into you that way... Nabiki?"

Nabiki broke out of her dazed examination of the boy holding
her. Akane? That meant that this was probably Ranma. Figured, her
sister always got the good ones.

"Well," Nabiki drawled. "I've been wanting to meet you Ranma.
Though this wasn't quite what I imagined, not that I mind too much."

"I think you can put her down now, Ranma." Akane said in a terse
voice. "And Sis, wipe that drool off your face."

Ranma set her down and stepped back. He looked very nervous all
of a sudden.

'Looks like Akane had him wrapped around her finger already.'
Nabiki thought. "You have him well trained, Akane."

Akane glared at her for a moment, then grinned. "Actually, he
came out of the box like this, isn't it adorable."

At Ranma's bright blush, the two sisters giggled. "Hey!"

"So what are you doing over here? Are you staying with us like
Kasumi?" she asked, gesturing to the overnight bag amongst the others.

"Yep, it's a long weekend and Grandfather took Dad and Mr
Saotome off on a training trip. I thought I'd come and cheer you on at
the tournament."

Akane looked at her in obvious confusion, "But Sis, today is
Thursday, what about school tomorrow, we only get the Monday off for
Culture Day?*"

[*An actual Japanese holiday event held on the third of
November, celebrating and fostering the ideals of the Constitution
--the love of peace and freedom-- through cultural activities.]

Nabiki gave her a self-satisfied smirk but her voice was full of
innocence, "Principal Kuno decided to close the school tomorrow.
Teachers thought it was odd but the fax did have pineapples on it and
was from Hawaii."

Akane laughed a little, "Come on, we're running a bit late as it
is." Akane handed her sister's bags to Ranma, who took them with a
sigh and followed along behind them.

"So, what's been going on at school Nabiki? I've been out of the
loop a while."

"Well, your leaving caused a lot of changes, to start with the
Hentai Hoard just waited a the gates as normal for a few mornings
before one of them had an even dumber idea..."

* * * *

Ranma walked behind the gossiping sisters with the bags.
Normally he'd have hated having to do this, but watching two
good-looking women walk along from behind wasn't too bad.

Akane was walking gracefully along beside her sister, while
Nabiki walked with a slight swing to her hips and had legs almost as
nice as Akane's.

Watching Nabiki was interesting. She was built almost exactly
the same as Akane, but didn't have as much muscle or the firm strength
that came with martial arts training. She looked like Akane probably
would have if she hadn't been into martial arts as much.

Ranma realised what he'd been thinking of and blushed. Time to
think of something else before his perverted thoughts became a little
too noticeable.

The rest of the way home Ranma struggled to think of school,
seeing Akane's eldest sister again, dinner, or anything else to
distract him from the two very attractive girls in front of him.

*****

Kasumi leaned over to Nabiki as Akane and Nodoka's carried the
empty plates from the table and Ranma excused himself to go to the
toilet after dinner. "Did you notice our little sister hasn't stopped
smiling?"

Nabiki nodded, "Yeah, it's kinda scary how smitten she is. She's
definitely got a crush on him. Did you see how they lean towards each
other, all the time?"

Kasumi spoke low, "She doesn't seem to care about the curse
either. Though turning into a girl is more acceptable than turning
into an animal like his father."

Nabiki shuddered slightly at the thought of such a curse, before
smirking, "Then again, Akane may like that he can be a she."

"Nabiki!" Kasumi whispered in shock at her sister's accusation.
Calming she whispered again, "If you remember, she had a good time on
that date with Taro-kun, and was very upset when she found out he..."

Ranma raised an eyebrow when he returned to the room, the girls'
conversation stopping instantly. He was about to apologise for
interrupting when Nabiki spoke.

"So Ranma, what do you think of our little sister?"

Ranma instantly looked towards the kitchen door at the question,
before looking back and sitting in his place. "She's a lot of fun to
be around and train with, funny, and a nice person. Why?"

Nabiki ignored his question, pouncing on his words, "Nicer than
your fiancees?"

Ranma shuffled uncomfortably. "Well... she's nicer than Shampoo
and Sakura, but when Ukyo isn't on about the engagement, she can be
pretty nice." He replied, stressing the point on Ukyo.

Kasumi spoke up ignoring Ranma's defensiveness of his oldest
friend. "Your father said you only had two fiancees?"

"Heh, I wish. He's just adamant about Shampoo not being one
because he isn't solely responsible for that one, unlike Ukyo and
Sakura, and probably the two others I haven't met yet."

"Shampoo? Odd name?"

Ranma's shoulders sagged a bit, "Shampoo is a Chinese Amazon.
They got this dumb rule about if an outsider woman defeats her she has
to kill them, but if a man defeats her, she has to marry her. I had to
challenge her for the prize in a tournament, a prize that Pop had
already eaten. When I beat her in my cursed form she had to chase me
over most of Asia trying to kill me, but when she got here she
attacked Mom and I accidentally knocked her out to stop her, this time
in my guy form. When she found out there was only one of me she
decided she still had to marry me or she can't go back to her people
with any honour."

Part way through the explanation, Nodoka and Akane came back in
with some tea. Nodoka picked up where her son left off. "Because
Ranma's actions have affected her honour, we agreed that she should be
counted as one of the fiancees contesting for my him. This also
stopped her from trying to kill the other fiancees and lessened her
attempts to bed him."

Kasumi went white, and Nabiki's eyebrows rose, looking at the
now blushing martial artist.

"To preserve the honour of the fiancees as much as possible,
Ranma agreed to give his word to not engage in intimacies with his
fiancees till one has been chosen. Although this hadn't stopped
Shampoo or Sakura from trying."

Both Kasumi and Nabiki blinked twice in unison, trying to
comprehend it all, before looking over Ranma in a way he wasn't sure
he liked. Especially the way Nabiki tilted her head slightly and
pursed her lips in consideration.

"Ahem." Akane's voice held a tone that brought the pair back to
the moment, Kasumi blushing lightly while Nabiki rolled her eyes.

Nodoka served the tea out before bringing up another subject.
"Ranma, Akane, we have to submit your outfits for approval tomorrow.
I've put what I made up in your rooms. Could I get you to try them on
and we can see if you like them."

"Sure Mom."

"Okay Aunty."

The pair gulped the tea in single motions and dashed up the
stairs.

A few moments later Ranma came back down.

"Well, ah, what d'ya think?" he asked the three women at the
table, his voice betraying his self-consciousness at playing model.

The three women at the table looked at the young man walking
back into the room. He wore a clean version of the black pants he had
been wearing earlier, but now with black bracers and a crimson,
sleeveless silk shirt, still Chinese in style, with gold ties. Turning
around, it showed a black stallion, trimmed in gold, rearing on the
back.

Ranma was a bit put off by the appraising looks from the two
girls but the way his mother nodded and smiled he figured it must look
pretty good.

The sound of Akane coming down the stairs made him turn. She
wore an outfit obviously made as a match for his, but where he had
shirt and pants, hers was a single outfit of the same silk. Cut on the
top in imitation of Ranma's, it was the same crimson with the gold
ties, though a little tighter on her. But from the waist down it was
black like his pants, tight over the hips, and upper thigh, cutting
off diagonally from the outside in, revealing her legs generously. A
matching black stallion adorned her back as well.

Akane looked over Ranma, this outfit so like his normal, but the
bright sheen from the deep crimson silk made him seem so much more
formal, more powerful. She looked back at his eyes with a light blush,
trying not to think about his build, or those wide shoulders, or the
way his biceps flexed when he moved his arms. She was initially
surprise as she saw his blue eyes were looking down at her legs, but
rather than the anger she normally felt at a boy staring at her, she
twisted slightly to show more of her thigh revealed by the higher side
cuts of the material, his eyes raising up her leg, to her
appreciation.

Nodoka, Nabiki, and Kasumi all sat watching the two gazing at
each other, slight smiles appearing as Akane led Ranma with her body.
But when Ranma realised he was staring and began blushing, which set
off Akane's blushing, Nodoka spoke up.

"Do you like them?"

Ranma had to swallow for his dry throat, "Yeah, they look great.
Thanks Mom."

Akane was looking down at hers with a slight frown. Her fingers
tugged the material slightly tighter over her waist. "I'm not sure
here, Aunty." The look in her brown eyes was unsure, but hardened into
determined when they saw Ranma was looking at her body again, nodding
slightly. "Can we make it a bit tighter around here?"

"Of course Akane. We could add a sash or belt, or would you
prefer I could..."

A hard knocking at the door interrupted Nodoka, and Ranma called
he had it before anyone at the table could even move. Nodoka rose to
stand beside Akane, checking the material around her waist to see if
she could take it in. The sounds of voices and scuffling turned the
four women's heads turned towards the hall.

Ranma managed to drag himself and the purple haired visitor
constricted around his body back into main room. His face was
reddening from lack of air, his eyes broadcasting a cry for help. He
seemed to be trying to push her leotard clad form off him but his
hands were awkwardly on her lower thigh and shoulder, getting poor
leverage.

Akane growled lowly, her temper flaring and stepped up to help
him, her anger pointing out he wasn't trying to get her off him very
well. "Let him go hussy."

Shampoo felt the flaring of battle aura and released Ranma,
pushing him back into Akane and assuming a fighting stance. Akane
yanked Ranma around and behind her, ignoring him heavily hitting the
wall and collapsing, as she appraised the Chinese girl before her.

"Ladies, there is no fighting in my home." Nodoka's tone forced
both girls to back down. "Better. Shampoo, why are you here?"

Shampoo put on her biggest smile for her 'mother in law',
"Shampoo here to show husband fighting outfit for tournament. You
like? TV men like very much." She asked, posing to show off her figure
and outfit. It was a rich blue leotard, smattered with some tiny
sparkles, with darker purple lining, cut high on the hips. Body paint,
the same purple as the lining, was painted as three stripes on her
biceps and thighs. Topped off with gold hair ornaments and a light
sparkling make up on her face, and her finger and toenails in a
matching paint.

Both Kasumi and Nabiki looked at it as rather skimpy for a live
TV, while Nodoka actually thought it was about what she'd expect for
the Chinese girl. It was Ranma's comment from the floor that really
made eyes wide.

"What outfit?"

The four suddenly became aware of what he was referring to, as
they looked closer at the leotard. It wasn't cloth, it was more body
paint. It took effort to pick out the small bikini that made up the
only actual material she wore.

The women were initially stunned that anyone would wear such an
outfit, especially before a crowd, and especially for a television
audience.

Kasumi blushed brightly in embarrassment that anyone would do
that. Looking away she gulped down her tea to try and regain her
composure.

Nabiki's eyes were wide in amazement, she didn't consider
herself prudish but this was ridiculous. This Chinese girl was
obviously proud of her body, obviously not shy about showing it, and
was offering it to her sister's fiancee on a platter. She glanced at
Ranma wondering how Shampoo had not snagged him yet, was he gay?

Akane was seething, her jealousy of the girl building up with
lightning speed. How dare she wear THAT! How dare she grab Ranma
wearing THAT!

Nodoka groaned and rubbed her forehead at this display of
Shampoo's. The girl wasn't going to accept not being the winner if
they chose anyone else.

Shampoo smiled at the reactions, still keeping one eye on the
shorthaired girl in front of her. She had heard Akane was now the one
to beat and decided to make sure Akane was less then level headed when
they fought. She smiled innocently and kept her eyes wide, "That
outfit for tournament? It very nice. It hide big waist well, no TV
people notice at all."

Akane flashed with blue anger, her arms reaching back as she
readied to attack. But before she could Ranma's hand clamped on her
arm pulling her back. She glanced back at him with angry eyes as he
held her back from showing this hussy what she should have the first
time they met, but his eyes were on Shampoo's.

"Shampoo, shut up. Akane's outfit looks great to me."

Akane's eyes softened before she pulled him beside her and
turned back on Shampoo, gesturing to the two outfits of the Anything
Goes competitors, "Better hope this tournament doesn't get shown back
in China, Shampoo. It'll be hard to say they'll think he's your
'Airen' and not someone else's in these outfits."

Shampoo's face-hardened and she glared at the girl before her
but before she could reply, physically or verbally, Nodoka spoke over
them. "Ladies, that is enough. I'm sorry Shampoo, unfortunately we are
entertaining guests here and I will have to ask you to come back after
the weekend. You outfit looks very nice and we will no doubt see you
at the tournament on Saturday."

"Mother in law have more women stay with husband?!"

Nodoka's eyes rolled. "Shampoo, this is Nabiki and this is
Kasumi, Akane's sisters. They are staying here, and not in my son's
bedroom, while their sister is in the tournament."

Shampoo seemed to lose her anger and pointed at Kasumi, "Aiyah!
This Doctor's Airen Kasumi? One who make Doctor crazy love dance?"

Kasumi 'eeped' and blushed as all eyes fell on her, most with
grins at the accusation. Shampoo could read the reactions and while
Akane was looking at her sister, rushed in and gave her Airen a bone
cracking glomp. By the time Akane swung back around she had released
him and was walking out. "Okay, see Airen, Mother in law, and big
waist girl at tournament. Bye bye".

The two families were left blinking as the underclad young lady
left again, Kasumi still blushing, Ranma trying to get his breath
back, and Akane grinding her teeth.

Nabiki was the first to speak, "Well there's a girl who knows
how to get attention." Nabiki drawled, an amused grin attached to her
face as she considered the few minutes Shampoo was here.

Nodoka shook her head looking at the door one of her potential
daughter in laws left through. She wasn't high on Nodoka's list of
preferences, but she was in front of Sakura. "That she does. Though
she used to go through walls rather then doors. My son does have a
tendency to attract some quite enthusiastic and often colourful
admirers. Akane dear, I do have another outfit that may show off your
slender waist a little more, though it is a tad riskier that this one,
though far more covering than what some competitors are choosing."

Akane looked down at her outfit and then glanced out the door
Shampoo had left through, pulling the material of her outfit against
her and out again in indecision.

Nabiki spoke up and settled the matter, "You can just try it on
and see if it works Akane, if not go back to this one."

*****

Nabiki, Ranma and Akane sat around the table, the girls
listening as Ranma spoke of when Shampoo had first come to Juban after
him. Shampoo had found out the 'girl Ranma' was living here, and had
attacked his mother for hiding the female him from her, which was when
he accidentally knocked her out, this time in male form, becoming her
'Airen'. The girls listened in near amazement as he went on,
explaining the ordeal of Shampoo's memory erasure technique she used
on his mother. Shampoo offered Genma and Ranma the cure in trade for
help killing 'girl Ranma', and after Genma blew his own plan and
Shampoo was about to decapitate the bound and tied Ranma-chan, Nodoka
instinctively tried to save him. Ranma was freed and after she showed
she was also the male Ranma, Shampoo had left. Nodoka had managed to
regained her memory through a secret technique Genma claimed to have
used. Ranma was obviously still annoyed at not knowing how his father
had fixed his wife's memory... and he told the girls with confusion
obvious on his face how his mother had ordered him to not succumb to
Shampoo's technique, that Genma's cure wouldn't work on him.

The three had been chatting since Nodoka had taken measurements
off Akane and went to prepare the alternate outfit. Kasumi had quickly
followed her with an offer to help when Nabiki had turned to her in
preparation for some teasing about 'Airens' and 'crazy love dances'.

As Ranma's story wound down, Nabiki's business mind directed the
conversation onto some ventures this weekend was offering. "So Ranma,
what do you think my little sisters chances are this weekend?"

Ranma glanced at Akane before looking back at Nabiki, "I expect
that only Sakura and Shampoo can take her, but I reckon she'll do well
if they don't get drawn early. Sakura tends to cheat and fight dirty,
but Akane's better than her in fighting. Shampoo... she's good and
she's never had the chance to go all out on me before so I don't know
how good she is, but her Grandmother taught me some of my best moves,
so she could be real good there."

Akane was smiling tightly, her eyes nearly glowing, "I can take
her. She was picking on my waist because she's scared that I nearly
took you down. I can take her."

Nabiki was pleased that her sister was going to do well in the
tourney, but that was a secondary concern to what she had said. "You
nearly took Ranma down? As in, you haven't beaten him yet?"

Akane blushed lightly, "Well, not in sparing, no. But I got him
beat at the breakfast table."

Ranma grinned a challenge at her. "Only till Saturday, Akane.
Then that title is mine."

"You wish Ranma, I am the champion of breakfast, and will be for
a long time."

Nabiki watched the two teasingly posturing, but couldn't sit
back when she was so close to a nice big load of easy yen. "If Ranma
can take you Akane, then he can take Kuno. So you won't mind if I
invite Kuno to see the tournament, will you?"

Akane looked at her sister horrified. "No! No, Nabiki. It's been
so good to be without him for a month. You can't tell him where I am."

Nabiki held up her hand to stop her sisters panicked voice.
"Akane, he's going to know you're in Juban eventually. He's been
offering two hundred thousand yen for your new address, and has even
hired a private investigator that tried asking us for where you are.
And you know he likes to watched televised fights and think he is
there fighting them, he's going to know your in Juban now anyway when
he sees you on the weekend. At least if I tell him, we get some money
into the house. It sounds like Ranma can take him anyway."

Ranma nodded as Nabiki finished. "If you can beat him, I can
Akane. If he starts pestering you, I'll give him some lumps to change
his mind."

"Ranma, when he comes after me, he wants to date me. I've seen
his killing moves Ranma, Toma and his friends were as good as me and
they couldn't stand up to Kuno when he thought I had married him."

Ranma went pale and his voice was rushed, "What?! Who had
married you?"

Akane proceeded to tell the tale of last summer when it was
really hot she had been convinced to take Kuno up on his offer of a
yacht cruise because Nabiki and the rest of her family wanted to get
away from the heat. Toma and his men of Togenkyou Island had kidnapped
her and her sisters. Toma had used his illusion powers to defeat Kuno
in their first fight but in the second Kuno tore through him and
knocked him out before he could really consider what he was going to
do. It was only that Akane held Kuno back that stopped him from
killing Toma, but then in a fight with Toma's men, Kuno did so much
collateral damage he made the entire island collapse in on itself.
They all made it to boats as the island sunk. Even Nabiki looked a bit
worried at the memories of what had happened then.

Ranma had an odd look in his eye as he took it in. He was
surprised at the nervousness this guy inspired in him, but it was
already fading at the thought of a challenger of such calibre, it was
kind of appealing. But he also knew he couldn't have any fights with
such potential damage from recklessness in the streets of Juban.
"Akane, if this guy is gunna show up anyway, you may as well know when
he's coming, and we can try and make sure any fights we have are
formal challenges. That way we can avoid the accidents of street
fighting."

Akane looked at her friend and her sister for a moment, her face
showing that she would prefer he not know at all where she was.
Finally she spoke angrily, "Argh, why can't he just stay out of my
life?"

Nabiki smirked, "Kuno will fall in and out of love at the drop
of a hat for a pretty girl, Akane. But it seems you he isn't going to
give up on. Just let me tell him, and like Ranma said, we can control
when and where he be."

"I don't know Nabiki, what if..." Akane was interrupted when
Aunty Saotome called her to come upstairs. As she stood up she
shrugged, "Let me think about it."

The two watched her quickly leave, the leggings of her outfit
fluttering as she moved. Nabiki looked back at Ranma and smirked as he
was still watching her sister.

"She's got great legs, doesn't she?"

"Hmm" he agreed with a nod, before suddenly realising and
blushing, "Ah, I wasn't..."

Nabiki laughed out loud that he'd even try denying it.

Ranma was still blushing as she wound down her laughter but
decided to change the subject from him being a pervert. "So tell me
about this Kuno guy, what's he like? If he comes in trying to bully
Akane for a date I'm gunna have to challenge him."

Nabiki considered asking for a little payment, but realised if
Ranma thought he could take him, he could help Akane let her tell Kuno
where she was. She began explaining how Kuno used to be an arrogant
jerk, but when he got that magic wishing sword, he became so tough and
skilled. He had begun trying to force Akane into an engagement and on
dates. Nabiki was surprised by the angry scowl on his face whenever
she mentioned something Kuno had tried to do anything to Akane, he
even cracked his knuckles at one point.

Ranma was still listening to Nabiki when Nodoka, Kasumi, and
Akane returned, not that Ranma noticed anyone else as he looked over
Akane. She was in a similar outfit to the last, but this one consisted
of a short black pleated skirt, still showing a lot of her thighs,
with a smaller sleeveless crimson silk shirt, once again with gold
trim and ties, and the black stallion rearing on the back. Though this
one was tighter on her lithe frame, hugging her chest and upper
stomach, then cut off an inch below her breasts, showing off her
smooth skin over muscled stomach and narrow waist.

The women looked at Akane with various nods, though Kasumi was
still a little wary of it being a little revealing for the public. But
the three followed Akane's gaze back to Ranma, who was staring at her
body, nodding slowly in approval.

Nabiki smirked, drawing a hanky from her pocket and reaching to
dab at Ranma's mouth, as if wiping away his drool. "Looks like you
have Ranma's vote Akane."

Ranma flinched and glanced guiltily around the women watching
him. He looked back at Akane who was blushing at the attention, "Hey,
it wasn't like that. It looks... real nice, Akane."

Nabiki was putting her handkerchief away and looked at Akane
again, and spoke knowing she was making her sisters choice for her.
But Akane always had been a little prudish, "Shampoo will have a fit
when she sees you Akane. You going to wear it?"

Any doubt in Akane's mind fled as she looked at the door Shampoo
had left through before back at the others, her lips in a predatory
smile, "Oh yes, this is great. Ranma, would you like to do some light
sparing? Make sure we can fight in these?"

Ranma nodded and followed her out with a smile.

"Don't get those outfits dirty you two." Nodoka called after
them.

*****

Nabiki looked over at the clock, which said that it was nearly
midnight. Nabiki was sharing the guest room with Akane, while Kasumi
was downstairs in Auntie's room. She smiled as her sister described
the events from the massage Shampoo had interrupted weeks before. She
couldn't remember the last time she had had a long gossip talk with
her sister, it was actually a lot of fun. Though she wasn't sure she
wanted to hear any more about something Ranma did again. Her sister
was going to have a fit when she found out Ranma was her fiance, but
she had given her word to Aunty she wouldn't let spill just yet. But
nothing in that oath said she couldn't have a little fun.

"... then Aunty explained how her husband had hidden condoms all
through his room. I was so embarrassed about it all..."

"You were more embarrassed that you had jumped to the conclusion
that he wanted to sleep with you, than that he saw you in just
panties? Akane the pervert hater letting a boy put his hands on her
and see her near naked, what would Kuno say?"

Akane blushed, "It wasn't... I didn't... Ranma's been a complete
gentleman about that. He had the perfect opportunity to have a look
and he quickly covered his eyes. I can trust him, unlike Kuno." That
last word was said with feeling.

Nabiki grinned and leaned in. "Yes, Kasumi said she found the
two of you sharing a bath the morning after you got here." The middle
Tendo kept her voice light, so as to encourage Akane to continue with
her confidences.

Akane blushed more, "It was an accident, the towels just fell as
Kasumi looked in. And Ranma immediately covered his eyes."

Inwardly, Nabiki was relieved to know that Ranma wasn't being
perverted around her sister. She and Kasumi had begun to wonder if
their sister would ever feel comfortable around boys, what with all
the daily stress Akane had had to face at school and the demolishing
of the Hentai Hoard. It would have been just too much had Ranma
proven himself to be as much of a pervert as any of the others who had
been after Akane, although his efforts at watching her today, and her
acceptance had been very telling of their attraction. Nabiki's eyes
flashed , hiding her inner thoughts as she gently replied, "Oh, I'm
sure it was just an accident. But I want to know what our dear sister
simply blushed at when I asked."

Akane looked at her sister quizzically, trying to figure out
where she was going with this.

Nabiki grinned and shifted closer to her sister, "Just as he got
a look at you, you got a look at...?"

Akane blushed brightly before shaking her head. "No, Nabiki.
Forget it. I'm not going there. No way."

Nabiki pouted, "Come on Sis, share?"

"Nabiki, no. I can't."

Nabiki grinned as her sister's eyes unfocused, seeing something
in her mind's eye before blushing more. "Okay, Akane. I'll just have
to ask him about it in the morning." That comment was made with a
determined smirk. Nabiki knew exactly which buttons to push on her
sister.

"Don't you dare."

Nabiki giggled at Akane. "Why not Sis? It's only fair that if
the other Tendo sisters have seen it, all the..."

"Nabiki, don't you dare."

"Okay, okay. You know, with how defensive you are of him, I'd
have to wonder if you two decided that Ranma's promise to not to be
intimate with girls doesn't apply to non-fiancee's?" That ought to do
it, she thought. It was fun being able to tease Akane about a boy,
and especially a cute well-built boy like Ranma. It was even funnier
considering the fact that the two still didn't know that they were
actually engaged to each other. Nabiki knew that she had to be there
to capture the moment forever when Ranma and Akane finally learned the
truth. That was an opportunity she would relish for the rest of her
life.

Akane blushed more at the thought before grabbing her pillow and
stammering heated denials punctuated with pillow blows.

Eventually the pillow fight wound down, Nabiki succumbing to a
vicious tickle attack till she agreed to a smug Akane that she
wouldn't ask. Quickly coming up with another plan and getting to her
feet, Nabiki put on her bath robe over her pink silk pyjamas and
walked to the door. Opening it, she looked back when Akane asked her
what she was doing, "I'm just getting a drink of water. Kitchen's in
the next room right?"

Without waiting for the answer, she grinned like the Cheshire
cat and closed the door.

Akane looked at the door for a few seconds before it all
clicked. The kitchen was downstairs, the next room was Ranma's!

Akane yanked the door open hard and rushed out into the hall,
her yellow pyjamas making wisping sounds as she moved. Seeing that
Ranma's door was open, she looked into the room dimly lit with light
from outside the window and saw Nabiki already within, beside the bed,
looking back at her with a finger on her lips, the other hand gently
drawing back the covers from the sleeping boy.

Akane rushed in and grabbed Nabiki's arm, just as it dragged the
covers down, exposing Ranma's chest, clad in his black singlet, lying
on his side. Akane's voice was a harsh whisper, "Nabiki, stop i..."

Both girls froze as Ranma grumbled something and turned to lie
on his back. The two girls just watched him for a few moments, not
breathing, waiting for him to wake up to find them in here. Slowly the
two exhaled as they realised he was still asleep.

"Come on, Nabiki." Akane whispered as she began to drag her
sister out of the room.

Nabiki tried to shake off the grip of her stronger sister before
she set her feet and whispered back, "Let me go or I'll scream."

"You won't."

"Will! And I'll tell him you dragged me in here."

Akane flushed red, knowing her sister's talent for twisting a
situation. "Don't you dare."

Nabiki looked over at the sleeping boy, still lying on his back
with his face up, before looking back at her sister with a smirk. "I'm
looking, Sis."

"No way, I can't let you do that, Nabiki."

Nabiki eyed her sister for a long moment, "Okay, I won't look...
if you kiss him."

"What!?"

Both girls froze and looked at the bed, but both sighed when the
boy in there was still not reacting to Akane's loud whisper.

Nabiki leaned in, whispering again, "Either you kiss him or I
look. He's facing up, you just have to lean over and kiss him. He
won't even wake up."

Akane looked at Ranma's lips for a few seconds before slowly
shaking her head. "No. Nabiki, he will wake up."

Nabiki broke her sister's weakened grip on her hands, "Then I
get to look."

"No."

"Then kiss him."

Akane winced, completely torn on the two options being given.
One completely unacceptable and the other... He'd wake up, she was
sure of it. She gave a sigh and stepped past her sister. "Okay Sis,
you win."

Stepping up she looked down at the handsome martial artist as he
slept, his head facing straight up. As she leant down, part of her
mind ran through how the hell she was going to explain this to him
when he woke up, but she kept on leaning down, driven by the lack of
choice from Nabiki's demand, and the small piece of her mind that that
wanted to do this.

She stopped a scant inch from his lips, his exhale brushing over
her lips, triggering a shiver down her spine. Her mind whirled with
fears, of him waking, of one or even all of the fiancees bursting in,
of Aunty or even her Father suddenly walking by... but none of those
things were happening. As she closed the distance, she was shocked at
the feel of hands on her hip. Her eyes widened in fear as she was
pulled over her sister's leg, toppling her down on Ranma's low bed.

Akane heard Nabiki give a giggling squeal of mirth as she dashed
from Ranma's bedroom, but her mind locked up as she saw Ranma move
below her. His arms flashed quickly to grab her, before softening to
cradle her body as he rolled the pair of them. Akane's motion stopped
with a thump as rather than landing on Ranma, he brought her down on
the other side of the bed to him, holding her facing him, her legs
draped over his.

Nabiki was still in the hall waiting for Ranma's questions and
her sister's excuses, but nothing was happening. Peeking in she saw
Akane, whose red face obvious even in the dark was looking straight at
Ranma's face, which was away from her so she couldn't see his
reaction. Realising that the pose the two were making was an
opportunity too good to miss, she darted back to Akane's room.

Akane looked in horror at Ranma. Her face felt like it was on
fire she was so embarrassed and this wasn't helped by the warmth from
his body as she lay on and was held against him. Her mouth worked
several times trying to come up with any explanation for why she was
in his bed, but locked open when Ranma murmured something. She tried
to come up with a reasonable answer to his question but then realised
she hadn't heard him properly to answer him.

"Ah, Ranma? Can you say that again? I couldn't hear it?" she
said gently, unnerved that he hadn't opened his eyes yet.

"...smell nice, Akane." He murmured, a slight smile on his face
as he moved his head against his pillow.

Akane's eyes opened in wonder as she realised he was still
mainly asleep. 'Thank the Kami!' Slowly she began to get up, gently
picking up his hand from her and laying it back on his hip. Leaning
up, she was about to try and climb free when he rolled back onto his
back under her, stopping her while she prayed he didn't wake.

"...you, Akane-chan."

Akane stoped still, her eyes wide as she watched him below her,
his lips smiling. What had he said? Slowly she bent down, nearly lying
on him, and whispered. "What was that, Ranma?"

Ranma smiled wider in his dream and mumbled some more. His chin
rose and his lips pursed up towards Akane.

Akane had no idea what to do, her emotions churning. Did he
dream of kissing her? What had he said in the dream? He called me
Akane-chan... Even as her emotions and thoughts stormed inside, her
own lips pursed as if to kiss him.

*Click*
*Flash*

Looking over in horror she, made out her sister Nabiki was
holding something in front of her face when a second flash went off
nearly blinding her. Jolting into action she rose to get her sister
but her foot slipped on the bed sheet and she fell heavily on Ranma
below her. She looked at him in horror as his arms encircled her,
holding her against his warm body again and rolling them onto their
side.

Akane was looking at Ranma's face now, her back to Nabiki from
this side of the bed, amazed as he continued to mumble lightly, his
eyes closed. Yet another flash behind her reminded her of the other
problem in this predicament, and she began to try and twist in his
arms, trying to gently get herself out of his grip without waking the
slumbering boy.

Nabiki smiled and held the button on the camera, the flash
pounding light into the room as more photos were taken of the hapless
girl struggling in the sleeping boys arms, whispering out with her
amusement obvious, "Oh Akane, work it baby. You are such a bad girl."
She almost cried out with mirth as in shifting around in Ranma's arms,
one of Ranma's hands moved again, holding her chest, the flash
capturing Akane's wide eyes.

Akane felt the grip change, firmly holding her breast as the
flash went off again, and heard his murmured words, "Your so soft,
Akane-chan." Akane's face was blank for several moments before her
face went bright red, from both anger and embarrassment and she turned
on the awake pervert.

Seeing her model turn angry, Nabiki darted out of the room,
intent on hiding the film before her sister could hurt her sleeping
partner, free herself, and catch up. She wasn't sure if she'd ever get
to use this film but it would be good for a laugh later anyway.

Akane turned enough to look at Ranma with a glare and threw an
elbow back at his face, sucking in breath to give him a piece of her
mind. Her words stuck in her mouth as her quick elbow was blocked,
Ranma suddenly turning right over in his sleep, his shoulder rising to
knock her elbow high. Suddenly freed from his arms and pulling back
from her missed strike, she found herself off balanced and gave an
'eep' as she fell from the bed with a heavy thump.

Anger still in control, Akane flipped to her feet and moved to
punch him again, but stopped and looked at him. He wasn't giving off
any battle aura. He was still asleep? How could anyone sleep through
that? Finally her eyes softened and she reached down and brought his
blanket back over him.

Akane slipped silently out of Ranma's room, shutting the door.
Out in the hall, her nightclothes straightened once again, she set off
in search of her sister with a strong urge to stick that camera
somewhere permanent.

Back in the darkness of Ranma's room, the pigtailed martial
artist dreamt of a warm girl in his arms, a temperamental young woman
with short black hair and dark brown eyes.

End Chapter 5

The Nabiki entrance scene was reworked from the original scene
notes of Tom Wrench. Also thanks to Sakurabana for her assistance in
getting the 'girl talk' to flow more fluidly.

Special thanks goes out to Sakurabana, Yukatado, Bessie Chow and
Moon Klutz for assisting with the tournament outfits. Though I still
have a need few more for various competitors.

Reviews, emails, ideas and recommendations are all very welcome.

Thank you for reading,

Trent O'Donoghue