Nabiki stood at the front gate of the school, watching everyone arrive. She was not happy and she was looking for someone to take it out on.
          She’d received Kunou’s letter of apology this morning promising her nothing new and written by Sasuke. *Nothing like adding insult to injury,* she thought. Not even the satisfaction of Ranma coming home last night, female, wet and petrified of his date, making her lots of money had dulled her taste for revenge.
          She normally didn’t like revenge. It took the edge off the sharpness and finesse needed for her normal activities. But today, it burned hot enough to de exactly what she needed.
          She had associates to gather the debts. This was personal.
          Kunou stepped out of the trees onto the main walkway. As soon as she saw him, Nabiki began casually strolling toward him. He saw her approach and smiled. "Good morrow, fair Nabiki Tendo. You shine like a thousand stars in a cloudless sky. And how fares your more exquisite sister, the beauteous Akane?"
          The watching crowd was enlarging, Nabiki’s official story behind their dates - that he had paid her to pretend so they could uncover Kodachi’s plot - had been accepted. But the glowing blue aura around her, of which Kunou was blissfully unaware, indicated something much more interesting.
          "Akane’s fine. She asked me to give you this." Suddenly a large mallet was embedded in his skull. "And this, my dear Kunou, is from me." She dropped a pile of pictures and a small satchel in front of him. "Enjoy."
          She walked away, aura dissipating slowly.
          Kunou got to his knees and pawed through the photos. Lovely shots from the photo sessions she’d given him bits of in the folder. There was hardly any pain. He began laughing joyously. "At last I am free to bestow my glorious love on my pig-tailed goddess and the luscious Akane Tendo. They will love me well again." He grabbed the satchel and ripped it open to find what other wonders she’d left him.
          Nabiki watched from the classroom window as the satchel opened and the smell of the potpourri she’d prepared hit him. She’d increased Kodachi’s dosage tenfold. He doubled over in pain, clutching his stomach then passing out.
          "Sensei," she motioned the teacher over to her. "I think Kunou needs some medical attention."
          The teacher rushed from the room and all the students rushed for the windows. Nabiki smiled as his body twitched helplessly as the dreams began.
          And in that short moment, Akane lost her title as the most dangerous Tendo at Furinkan High.

          Ranma sat at his desk while the rest of the class clamored to the windows. He’d watched Nabiki’s attack carefully, but still had no idea where the damn mallets came from. The rest, he already knew. Nabiki was a dangerous enemy because she wasn’t a physical fighter. Her weapons were words, psychological warfare, sharper than any sword.
          Nabiki he was used to. Even Akane’s mallets were no surprise.
          But last night when he’d arrived home, he’d been blindsided. He’d snuck past Akane’s room to get to the bath, but he hadn’t needed to. She was sitting up in bed, Mousse sitting beside her, his arm around her, as they read Romeo and Juliet. They hadn’t even noticed when he walked by.
          He lay in the tub listening to their voices, remembering the night he’d performed it opposite Akane. Remembering how scared he’d been of how much he’d wanted to kiss her.
          The words washed over him as he lost himself in the memories, until he realized the sounds had stopped. He sat up. Why had they stopped. They couldn’t be….kissing? He leapt out of the tub and hastily wrapped a towel around himself as he ran.
          He stopped halfway into her room, when he realized she was alone.
          "Oh. Hello Ranma. I didn’t realize you were home."
          He looked all around. He met her eyes then quickly dropped his gaze to the floor. "You stopped. I thought maybe something was wrong."
          "No. We were just thirsty."
          "Oh." He started backing out of the room.
          "Nice outfit. Did you wear that out on your date?"
          "Uh, no. No. I was in the bath. It’s raining. Well, since you’re okay…"
          "What did you think was wrong Ranma?" She forced herself not to smile at his discomfort.
          "I…uh…um…uh…thoughtmaybeyouwerekissin’," he mumbled.
          "Oh no. We passed that scene a while ago. Probably before you came home."
          "I see. I gotta go." He’d left the room as quickly as he could and rushed back to the bath.
          Ranma shook his head. He hadn’t left the bath until they’d said goodnight. Now, he wasn’t sure what to do.
          He didn’t want Akane to think he didn’t trust her, so he couldn’t ask her if something was going on. And he couldn’t ask Mousse.
          Which left Nabiki, source of all information. Not that he really needed to ask. He trusted Akane.

          Nabiki looked up from her lunch and met Ranma’s gaze. "You’re the only one brave enough to come near me."
          "If you were going to do anything to me, you wouldn’t have to do it here."
          "True." She poked at her lunch for a moment, letting him start to feel nervous. He shifted from foot to foot, unsure of what to ask. "What is it you want Ranma?"
          "I wanna know about Akane."
          "What can I tell you that she couldn’t? Oh wait, that’s right. You’re too much of a coward to face her."
          "I ain’t a coward! I just…I want to know if she likes Mousse. If they like each other."
          "They seem to get along fine."
          "Nabiki."
          She held out her hand, palm up. "You’re asking me to sell out my sister, Saotome."
          "How much."
          She named a figure she knew was in his price range. He handed her the money and waited expectantly. "Right now, no. They’re friends. They do like each other now that they’ve gotten to know one another, but there’s nothing romantic."
          "Great. I knew…"
          "Yet." She interrupted.
          "What’dya mean yet?"
          "Face it Ranma, with you ignoring her, going out with Shampoo? What do you expect? Why should she pine for someone who calls her names, insults her and hurts her feelings when she has someone else right there to talk to her, share her interests, and treat her like she’s somebody special - not just another fiancée?" Nabiki’s smile was well-rehearsed. "Your days are numbered if you’re not careful."
          "Oh yeah? What about her feelings for me?"
          "Are you saying she’s admitted some?"
          Ranma, sensing her attack, backed away. "Thanks Nabiki."
          She waved casually then turned back to her lunch. Her triumph this morning was creating some interesting side effects.
          Ukyou walked up and stood in front of her, hands on her hips. "Well?"
          "I’m fine. Thanks. How are you?"
          "I paid good money Nabiki. I want some results."
          "Akane and Ryouga kissed. There was a little groping and a lot of embarrassment. He turned into P-chan in the middle of it. I suggest you let it alone Ukyou. Ryouga’s the type to take suspicion as rejection." She closed her bento box and stood. "And that advice is free."
          Ukyou was frustrated. "So, is what happened between you and Kunou for sale?"
          Nabiki turned, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Don’t think your little ruse with Ryouga will work Ukyou. His heart belongs to Akane."
          "I don’t care who Ryouga loves."
          "Oh? Then why spend your hard earned money on this?" Nabiki started off toward the school. "Besides, who said I meant Ryouga?"

          Kunou lay on his bed with his eyes closed tightly. Sasuke was struggling to take down the recently replaced posters of Akane and the pig-tailed girl.
          "Hurry Sasuke."
          "Yes Master Kunou." He jumped to remove the last tack and heard the picture rip. "I’m so sorry Master Kunou!"
          He sat up straight in the bed, his eyes squeezed tightly shut. "Sasuke! How dare you defile my lovelies? Tell me now which angel you have ripped from heaven."
          "Akane Tendo, Master Kunou."
          "Ah, Akane." He attempted to wax poetic, but instead collapsed back against the bed in searing pain. "Perhaps my apology to Nabiki Tendo was lacking in some way?"
          "Hey, Kunou-baby. I see you’re still smart as a whip." Nabiki entered the room and sat down on the edge of his bed. "How are you feeling?"
          "Why have you done this? I have not harmed you. I sent Sasuke with my humblest apologies and highest regard."
          "That’s right Kunou, you did. And you put all the resources of House Kunou at my disposal to help my sister."" She handed a packet of instructions she’d gotten from Dr. Tofu to Sasuke. "Follow these. Cure my sister."
          "Yes Miss Nabiki." The ninja fled the room.
          "Now Kunou, did you really think that I would appreciate you sending your lackey to apologize?" Her voice was calm, just the slightest edge in it. "I put my reputation on the line when I went out with you. I realize you didn’t do anything deliberately, but I thought you were genuine. Do you really think your apology and regard mean anything to me?"
          "I don’t understand. I offered sincere…"
          "Shut up!" The control wavered slightly and her hands began to shake. "You are, by far, the stupidest man alive. My sister does not love you. She never will. Ranma is the pig-tailed girl. He’s cursed. They will never love you! Why do you persist on making a fool of yourself over them."
          "Because I love them."
          "At the expense of everything else?" This time her voice cracked. "At the expense of someone else who might love you?"
          "I think you should go Nabiki Tendo."
          Silent tears slid down her cheeks. He continued to keep his eyes closed, even when a wet drop landed on his wrist. "Good-bye then."
          "Good-bye." He waited until the door shut behind her then lifted her tear to his lips. At the taste, his pain became unbearable.

          Shampoo sat in the tree outside the Tendo household. She told herself she was just waiting for Ranma, but she found herself eavesdropping through Akane’s open window.
          "So you and Shampoo have known each other that long?" Akane laughed. "Funny how you’ve known each other forever and would be perfect for each other as a couple and Ranma and I…" She trailed off, not wanting to think about their situation.
          "Except for Amazon law. Although if Shampoo really thinks Ranma will let her dominate him, she’s in for a surprise."
          "As opposed to you, who is already playing the subservient male."
          "Not anymore. Not since I’ve been here with you Akane." Mousse walked to the window and took a deep breath. Shampoo didn’t realize how acute his other senses were. He could smell her soft scent anywhere. "Which isn’t to say I don’t like the way you take care of me."
          "Maybe I should do it more often?" She sat on the edge of her bed, enjoying all the acting practice she was getting. Who knew bed rest was so educational?
          "Maybe you should." He moved away from the window and sat next to her. He made a face, similar to what he imagined Shampoo’s must look like.
          Akane giggled, "Mousse!"
          To Shampoo, that softly spoken word was too much. She jumped down from the tree and marched to the Tendo’s front door. Kasumi smiled at her. "Oh, hello Shampoo. I think Mousse and Akane are up in her room. I’m sure they’d love a visit."
          "Akane! I kill!" She entered the room, bonbori ready to attack, but stopped, confused. Mousse was sitting on the opposite side of the room from Akane, who was lying on her bed, reading.
          "Oh, hello Shampoo." Akane closed her book and sat up slowly. "Are you looking for Ranma? I don’t think he’s home from school yet."
          "Shampoo come talk to Mousse."
          "Oh, all right." Akane turned back to her book, her sly wink to Mousse barely noticeable.
          "Yes Shampoo?"
          "You no welcome at café no more."
          "I know that Shampoo."
          "And you never be Shampoo’s groom."
          "I know that too."
          "And violent girl can have you."
          "So you’ve said."
          "Shampoo love Ranma. She no care how much fun had as kids. And she no care if you like violent, stupid Akane."
          "Okay."
          "And she no care if you don’t love her anymore!" She turned and fled the room before either of them could react.
          "Funny," Akane said. "It seemed to me like she cared an awful lot." She met Mousse’s happy gaze and burst into laughter.
          Ranma stood in the dojo and listened to Akane’s laugh. He could picture her eyes closed, her bright smile. His heart ached just form the mental picture. He loved her smile, her laugh. Yet, he never seemed to be the one to cause either.
          Things weren’t going his way. The challenge with Akane should have put everything right, but instead it had caused an even worse fiasco.
          All he wanted was to be alone with her and hold her. He wanted to wipe the memory of Ryouga out of her mind. He wanted her to belong to him. He wanted to belong to her.
          He hadn’t even realized he’d begun his workout while he thought. Was Nabiki right? Was he a coward? Was he using the old ghoul’s offer as an opportunity to run away?
          He missed Akane. He missed watching her as they walked to school then denying that he’d done it. He missed her voice in class. He missed her battle cry of Ranma! You jerk! He missed her mallets. Well, maybe not the mallets.
          Kasumi’s voice joined Akane’s as she entered her sister’s room. He couldn’t hear the words, just the familiar lilting tones.
          She laughed with Mousse. She laughed with Ryouga. She laughed with everyone but him. She’d risked her honor for his sake. Maybe she was better off without him. Maybe that’s what Nabiki was trying to tell him. Maybe he should release her from the engagement. He needed a sign.
          He stood still, straining to hear what she was saying. Sure that if he could he’d know exactly the right thing to do.
          "Thanks Kasumi. Could I have more rice?"
          Ranma did the only thing he could think of. Facefaulted.

          Ryouga stood outside Ucchan’s staring up at the night sky. Ukyou had barely spoken to him all day and he’d decided he’d be safer outside. He was about to jump to the roof, when a small, soft shape ran into him. He put his hand under the girl’s chin and raised her face. "Nabiki?"
          She pulled away from him and tried to get around him, but he swept her into his arms and onto the roof.
          "What’s wrong?"
          "Nothing." She sniffed, wishing she were anywhere else.
          "Oh, come on. I lived in your house long enough to know that something’s wrong."
          "Please let me down Ryouga."
          "It might help to talk about it." He smiled ruefully. "I’m no stranger to heartbreak. Especially if it’s caused by one Ranma Saotome."
          He saw the ghost of a smile. "With anyone other than Ranma, it would be strange if I said yes, wouldn’t it?"
          "Very."
          "Can I swear you to secrecy? Even though I don’t have your secret to hold over you?"
          "Why did you keep it? You never pressed me for money."
          "Self preservation. By the time I figured it out, Akane had been sleeping with you, er P-chan for a while. If she’d believed me, she’d never believed I’d just figured it out."
          "Oh. And yes, I’ll keep your secret."
          "There’s a guy. And I let myself like him. And he’s an idiot."
          "Because he likes Ranma in girl form?"
          "And my sister," she mumbled.
          "And you knew this beforehand, didn’t you?"
          "But he really seemed to change. He really seemed to like me. And then I found out it was all some plan his sister had devised."
          "And it hurt?"
          Fresh tears filled her eyes. "Is it so wrong to just want someone to like you? For you?"
          He laughed bitterly. "You mean as opposed to as a pig, a pet or someone to make Ranma jealous with? No. I don’t think it’s wrong."
          "I think Ukyou likes you. She wanted to know about you and Akane."
          "To use as ammunition with Ranma, I’m sure."
          "I’m sorry, by the way."
          "For?"
          "The other night. What I accused you of. I thought I was right. I really did. But I forgot to take into account that it was you and Akane. And with you two, a kiss would cause a reaction that would require sex for most people. So I apologize." She rubbed the top of his head. "Especially for the bump."
          Ryouga blushed a deep scarlet. "It’s okay. Ready to go back down?" He lifted her and sailed to the ground.
          She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Thanks, Ryouga-kun. For being a friend."
          His blush intensified. "Goodnight Nabiki."
          Inside Ucchans, Ukyou watched them part. Hurt, anger and jealousy rose up inside her. Damn those Tendo girls! Always stealing what was hers. First Ranma, now Ryouga. Not that she wanted him, of course. She thought back to Nabiki’s look today when she’d mentioned Kunou. Maybe it was time she took something of theirs.