"You’re slower than ever today!" Akane woke to Mr. Saotome’s daily taunting of his son. Forgetting about her injuries, she tried to get up for school.
          Her cry of pain was masked by the splash of one of the Saotomes hitting the water.
          "Hey! What’cha do that for?" Ranma obviously. She lay back down. School would wait.
          "Foolish b…growlf."
          "Stupid old man!"
          "Ranma! Mr. Saotome! Breakfast!" Kasumi’s voice grew louder as Mousse opened Akane’s bedroom door.
          "May I eat with you this morning, Miss Tendo?"
          She smiled. "I’d be honored."
          He placed the tray in front of her with a flourish. "The chef has prepared your favorites, miso soup and rice."
          "Such a banquet." Her laughter died in her throat as Ranma walked past her open bedroom door without even glancing her way.
          "Akane? Akane?" Mousse waved a hind in front of her eyes, catching her attention again.
          "Sorry Mousse."
          "I thought we could read Macbeth today. Play cards? Duel the dreaded ointment?"
          Her hazel eyes didn’t quite catch her smile. "Thanks. I’d like that." She took one of his hands in hers and held it tightly. "Thanks for doing this for me."
          "It keeps my mind off my problems. Besides, I like being with you."
          "I like you too."

          Ranma stood next to Akane’s door, cursing himself for not having the courage to face her. *I’m a martial artist. Not a coward.* But the picture of her when he found her wouldn’t leave him.
          But eavesdropping wasn’t the smartest thing to do. He couldn’t bring himself to think about the last time.
          Ryouga. Maybe after school and work, he and P-chan would have a little talk.
          Nabiki leaned against her door frame and watched Ranma. His emotions played so easily over his face. "Ranma?"
          He jumped. "What?"
          "You wouldn’t be listening to my little sister’s conversation, would you?"
          "Nah. I leave that to you."
          "How much money do you think you owe me right now?"
          "Too much," he mumbled. He stared at the ground, waiting nervously for whatever scheme she was about to reveal.
          "Then I’ll tell you this for free."
          "You don’t do anything for free."
          "There’s a first time for everything. She won’t wait forever. I know it’s only been a couple of days, but Akane has always been popular. Soon the well-wishers will visit, then become suitors, then dates then fiancés."
          "She’s engaged to me."
          "From all appearances, you’re determined to change that. I have pictures of you with Ukyou and Shampoo, both rather compromising. Besides, my unobservant brother-in-law, you’re engaged to take over the dojo and help carry on the school. That means babies. And you can’t even look at Akane, how exactly do you plan on fathering her children?"
          Ranma turned the color of his red silk shirt. "I…"
          "In desperation, Father will release you of your engagement to Akane and will allow her to marry someone else. Ryouga maybe, even Mousse if their friendship continues to grow. Or maybe one of the school friends who were lusting after Akane before you showed up. And you, honor bound to the Tendo clan," she leaned closer to him, close enough to kiss. "would get to marry me."
          He stared at her, eyes wide in fear. He was frozen to the spot. Images of Akane with Ryouga and Mousse and Kunou danced through his head. The thought of them dating her upset him, but just the suggestion of her pregnant with Ryouga’s child set his blood boiling.
          Nabiki watched his eyes for a moment, then looked at her watch. Time to finish this or she’d be late for school. Leaning even closer, her breast pressed against his chest, she drove the knife further. "Maybe you and me, Akane and Ryouga, we could all live together. You could help raise their kids."
          The feel of her against him, coupled with the horrible vision she’d put in her mind, caused him to jump back, trip over his own feet and land sprawled in front of Akane’s door.
          He looked up to meet her questioning gaze. "Igottagotoschool. Bye."
          And he was gone.

          Ukyou cornered Nabiki outside the school at lunch. "I need some information."
          "On Ranma?" Nabiki raised an eyebrow. "I’d heard you’d moved on."
          "No. On Ryouga."
          "Ukyou, Ukyou. It’s best to do the background check before you start dating."
          "And your sister."
          Nabiki laughed. "You’re willing to spend your hard earned money on that? You don’t know Ryouga very well." She stopped laughing at Ukyou’s expression. "All right. Standard fees."
          She handed her the yen. "Well?"
          "He’s been sleeping in her bed as P-chan for a long time now. He’s got a serious crush on her and she is completely oblivious. He lived in constant fear of hot water until recently when she found out." Nabiki tapped her small notebook before she closed it. "Without extensive and expensive research, that’s it."
          "It doesn’t seem odd to you that the woman who mallets Ranma for breathing in close proximity to another woman is okay with having slept in the same bed as Ryouga all this time?"
          "I said without research Ukyou. Give me a while, hmmm? Just remember, the better it gets, the more it costs."

          Shampoo watched Ranma working, neglecting her own duties. "Grand daughter, if I wanted someone to stand there mooning, I’d bring back the duck. Get to work."
          "Yes great grandmother." She started dishing up orders, but her mind drifted to a new train of thought. Mousse was now living with the Tendos and, if rumors were true, spending all day with Akane.
          *I don’t care,* she reminded herself. *Mousse is weak and bothersome and….*
          "Hello Shampoo."
          "What you want Mousse?"
          "Kasumi asked me to deliver a message to Ranma." He went over to the redhead. "Kasumi was wondering if you’d be home for dinner."
          "Nah. Too busy here." She looked over her shoulder at Shampoo who was pretending not to watch. "You coulda just called."
          "I am performing some other errands."
          "I think you bein’ here is getting to her."
          "As your absence is getting to Akane?"
          "Maybe we can make this even more interesting." She walked up to the counter with Mousse in tow. "So you’re spending all day with Akane, huh?"
          "You know that."
          "She still have to rub that oil on you twice a day?" Underneath the red bangs, her blue eyes glinted with mischief and something like jealousy.
          But Shampoo looked angry enough to chew nails. Mousse smiled. "Yes. And, of course, I have to apply it to her. You have to be very gentle, almost caressing." He was so busy delighting in Shampoo’s reactions, he missed Ranma’s.
          "Get out," both said at the same time. Ranma looked at Shampoo. "Date number one is tonight."

          Akane hung up the phone in the middle of one of her classmate’s excited sentences. News traveled fast in Nerima, especially when the gossip contained Ranma Saotome.
          "Nabiki?"
          Her sister came in a few minutes later. "Yeah sis?"
          "Taking bets?"
          She nodded silently.
          "Am I winning?"
          She shrugged. "Too soon to tell. Mousse is going to have a few challengers though. Everyone thinks you two are dating." She turned to leave, anxious to get back to her computer and away from Akane’s sad eyes.
          "Hey oneechan?"
          "Yes?"
          "Are you betting on me?"
          "Akane, you are my ace in the hole."
          "Thanks."
          Nabiki stood in the doorway, her expression thoughtful. "Can I ask you something? About P-chan?"
          Akane blushed. "I’d rather not talk about it."
          "I told Ryouga that you could use P-chan right now and he told me that you know."
          She nodded. "I was upset. About the whole Ranma and Ukyou thing. I was crying, sure that I had lost him. Ryouga was comforting me, out in the park. We…we kissed. And in the middle of it, the lawn sprinklers came on."
          "Instant P-chan?"
          "It was rather alarming. Even being used to the curses doesn’t prepare you for the guy you’re kissing…really kissing, turning into a pig."
          Nabiki tilted her head to study Akane. She was lying about something, but most of the story was truthful. Probably a little fondling had gone on and she was too embarrassed to admit it. "So how is it he still lives?"
          "I felt so stupid. First Ranma betrayed me, then Ryouga. I felt like a first class ass. I punted him as far away from me as I could. I was so upset. To see Ranma insult me then kiss her, then to see my pet…my friend… I came home and cried my eyes out. When Ranma came home I confronted him and he told me the truth about both things. I was so angry, he had to stay on the other side of the door so I wouldn’t kill him."
          She felt sad for her sister. No wonder she’d been so upset. "And now?"
          "He feels bad enough. Nothing I could do would make it worse. He had a crush on me," she laughed. "I missed that too. After I calmed down, I realized it was kind of flattering that he wanted to be with me that much." Tears welled up in her eyes.
          "Ranma will come around Akane. I promise. I don’t make losing bets."

          Kunou opened the folder Nabiki had given him. He hadn’t returned to school today, so he hadn’t had to face her. The picture of her lay on top still and he stared at it silently. Underneath that cool exterior, she was sweet and caring. She had gone out with him because she wanted to. And had been hurt by his sister’s evil plans.
          "Sasuke!"
          "Yes Master Kunou?"
          "Dispatch a missive, post haste, to Miss Nabiki Tendo. Inform her that in repayment of my debt to her, I offer all the services of the Kunou estate to help her sister."
          And image of Akane flashed through his mind and a sharp nausea followed. The pain had indeed lessened.
          "Anything else Master Kunou?"
          "Tell her that the depth of my sorrow at any pain she suffered because of my sister meddling is only matched by the depth of my gratitude to her for discovering the plot."
          "Master Kunou?"
          "Yes Sasuke?"
          "Miss Nabiki, she’s quite beautiful."
          He looked again at the picture. "Yes Sasuke. Quite. But my emotions are clouded. And so are now forever tainted."
          "Do you care for her at all Master Kunou?"
          "That Sasuke, I cannot say."

          Ranma poured the warm water over his head and sighed. It was cool outside the café, waiting for Shampoo to change. He was in trouble. Another date with Shampoo. He’d have to be on his guard. It was Mousse’s fault. The image of him rubbing Akane’s body was ingrained into his mind next to the family portrait of Ryouga, Akane and baby.
          "Husband ready?"
          "Yeah. Where ya wanna go?’
          "Husband decide."
          "Fine." He started walking, leaving her to play catch up. It was a good thing Mousse had left. This wasn’t the best start to the evening.
          He stopped in front of a movie theater and bought two tickets. She sat next to him, unsure of how to proceed.
          Ranma was petrified that Shampoo was going to try to kiss him again. Maybe a dark theater wasn’t such a good idea.
          "Out again?" Ryouga smiled his feral smile from the seat next to his rival.
          "Hey pig-boy, I was hopin’ I’d run into you."
          "Ranchan!" Ukyou’s voice changed as she caught sight of the Amazon. "Date on a school night, Ranma?"
          "You are. Why not us?"
          "Haven’t you hurt Akane enough? I may change into a pig, but at least I don’t act like one."
          "Oh yeah?" Ranma felt his anger growing, his guilt and frustration adding fuel to the fire. "I think that’s debatable."
          "Husband? Shampoo want date and kiss, not fight."
          "Why don’t you kiss her Ranma? Won’t she do as well, now that you can’t touch Akane?"
          That was the final straw. Ranma’s punch threw Ryouga out into the lobby. "C’mon Shampoo. Movie’s over."
          He followed the lost boy to the snack bar. "That’s it Saotome! Die!" Umbrella out, Ryouga attacked.
          Shampoo and Ukyou both sighed. "Oh well, so much for an evening out." Ukyou started out of the theater where the fight was headed.

          Mousse stood in Akane’s doorway, eyes downcast. "I’m sorry Akane Tendo."
          "Akane. We’ve been through that already."
          "I was trying to upset her, not him."
          "It’s all right. I don’t mind that he get jealous." She giggled. "I actually kind of like it."
          "But the date…"
          "It was going to happen anyway. One down, two to go."
          He sat down at her desk, "I don’t…"
          "Mousse, I know you love her still, in spite of what she did. This is just as hard on you as it is on me."
          "You’re being quite calm about this."
          "Normally, I act without thinking. Being in here all day, I have nothing to do but think. So I’ve been doing a lot of it. And you know what I think?"
          "I haven’t a clue."
          "Jealousy works two ways?" She looked down at her lap. "He won’t even come near me now, so I’ll make him notice what he’s missing."
          "What if it backfires?"
          "I guess you and I will have to get married."
          "What?"
          "I’m joking. It has to work. Nabiki’s already laid the odds."

          Ryouga glared at Ranma. "You’re a coward Ranma! You can’t even face up to what you did to Akane!"
          "You just stay out of Akane’s life P-chan."
          "Make me."
          Ranma launched himself at Ryouga, chestnut fists flying. "Kachuu Tenshin Amagurikin!"
          Ryouga dodged most of the blows, only taking a few hits which were easily absorbed thanks to his training with Cologne. "The truth hurts, doesn’t it!" He grabbed Ranma’s shirt and pulled him close. "You know she belongs to me."
          Anger flared in Ranma’s eyes. "You’re going to die pig-boy." He shoved Ryouga away and took up his stance.
          "You can try." He smirked until he felt the first drop of rain. "Oh sh….bwee!"
          Ranma-chan smiled. "Now it’s even easier."
          Ukyou’s spatula almost took him by surprise, but he dodged at the last moment. "What was that for?"
          "Leave my boyfriend alone." She picked up the small black piglet and held him close to her. "you just feel bad because he reminds you that you’re doing the wrong thing. Or is it because you’re jealous that he’s kissed Akane and you haven’t? Well go on with your date Ranma," tears welled up in her eyes, belying the venom in her voice and the smile on her lips. "If you can stand her now."
          Ranma turned back to the theater to see Shampoo hiding under the awning, glaring at the rain. "I don’t suppose I could borrow the umbrella?"
          "No. I don’t suppose you could."
          "I thought we were still friends Ucchan."
          "It’s not mine to give." She picked up Ryouga’s things and turned away.
          "Thanks." Ranma-chan walked away, her heart hurting.
          "Jackass," she whispered, unsure if she meant Ranma or herself. "Ranchan?"
          The redhead stopped but didn’t turn around. "Yeah?"
          "Maybe we could all walk home together. You and Shampoo could use the umbrella then." She ignored P-chan squealing against her chest.
          "Thanks Ucchan." She took the umbrella and walked over to Shampoo. "C’mon. I’ll take you home."
          She nodded and walked next to her. Spatula girl and pig-boy kept ruining her dates. She only had two more chances to make him kiss her so that her end of the spell would take effect. He certainly wouldn’t tonight with the other two along. Oh well, at least she hadn’t changed. She snuggled closer to him.
          "AAAH!" Ranma-chan jumped away in surprise, not to mention the ‘Akane’s got a mallet’ and ‘hey, I’m a girl’ reflexes, pulling the umbrella away in the process.
          "Mreow?" Shampoo looked up at Ranma-chan. Definitely no kiss tonight.
          "C…c…c…CAT!!!" Ranma-chan dropped the umbrella and ran for the dojo.
          Ukyou picked up the umbrella and laughed. "Too bad Shampoo." The small purple cat hissed, causing her to laugh even more. "See ya later."