CHAPTER TWO
          Nabiki glanced around the silent house. There were no new holes shaped suspiciously like Ranma, so apparently he and Akane had managed to get along. Strange, especially since Akane had been so upset when she’d gotten home. Well, maybe Saotome hadn’t made it home yet. She walked past Ranma’s room and looked in. He was there. "Is Akane home?"
          "She was when I got home from Ucchan’s."
          Perhaps that explained the earlier theatrics. "Thanks."
          "500 yen."
          "What?" Her expression of shock was priceless.
          "Isn’t that the going rate for information these days?"
          "Nice try Ranma, but outline the terms of the deal before you give the information away. 200 yen for the lesson." She smiled. "But since you surprised me, we’ll call it even."
          She laughed to herself on the way to Akane’s room. *Not so dumb after all Saotome.* She knocked softly above the duck nameplate. "Akane?"
          "Come in Nabiki."
          She walked in, surprised at how heavy the air felt. "Do you have the heat on? That costs money."
          "Oh, no. Just…exercising. I’ll open the window."
          She looked critically at her little sister. Whatever had plagued her earlier was gone now. The younger girl almost looked happy. "Are you better now Akane-chan?"
          "What?" She started at the question, afraid Nabiki could read the truth on her face.
          "This afternoon you looked as though your heart were breaking. Now it’s as though nothing was wrong."
          "Nabi-chan, have you ever been so sure of something only to find out the complete opposite was true?"
          "No. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be the financial whiz you see before you."
          "I’m okay oneechan. For the first time in forever." Akane tied the belt around her waist. Her yellow gi rested snuggly against her body. "I’m gonna go practice."
          "Okay." Nabiki headed for the door, not quite sure of what was going on.
          "Nabiki?" Akane walked over and gave her a quick hug. "Thanks. It means a lot that you care."
          "Akane…"
          "You mean a lot to me. I know we’re not the closest of sisters, but I know you’re always there when I need you."
          She watched her sister walk away, feeling slightly guilty. Akane was getting better at hitting close to the nerve. Or perhaps Shampoo had slipped yet another potion into the house. She felt another pang of guilt. *Akane was trying to thank me. I shouldn’t have to thing that magic is behind it.* But thinking back to the past, she changed her mind. *I’m not eating anything in this house tonight.*
          She headed back downstairs. Kasumi was just walking in with groceries. "Need help oneechan?"
          "No thank you Nabiki. Where are you off to?"
          "Oh, I have a project due for one of my classes. The group is getting together tonight, so I’m off to the library."
          "Would you like to take some cookies? I made them this afternoon."
          "Thanks. I won’t be home for dinner."
          "All right."
          Taking a handful of cookies, she left the house and made her way to the school library. Her group consisted of six people, one of whom was Kunou. *I should have brought earplugs.* Although the latest batch of Ranma-chan pictures should occupy him enough that she’d be able to get her work done. She pulled them out of her bookbag and flipped through them. Ranma sleeping, Akane working out, Akane sunbathing. She’d had to be much sneakier lately to obtain the images. Both had been on their guard.
          "Ah the fair Nabiki Tendo. My heart thrills at the sight of thee. For bitter or sweet, she doth bring joy."
          "You mean pictures."
          "I despair that you so callously describe my true heart’s turmoil. That vile Saotome abusing the affections of both sweet Akane Tendo and my beloved pig-tailed goddess. I only hope they know that these fair visages incite me to continually find a path to free them from his evil clutches!"
          *You better hope they don’t know,* she thought to herself with a sigh. "1000 yen each."
          "Ye Gods! That you should acquire such wealth from their enslavement by that evil sorcerer saddens me."
          "You’re right Kuno-baby. I shouldn’t profit from their misery. They’re not for sale."
          His eyes widened in fear and shock. "Haste not! Er…wait, um, without their sad faces to spur me on, they may forever remain in Saotome’s grasp. So…um…"
          "In their best interest?" she prompted.
          "Oh yes! It is in their best interest that I purchase these from you."
          "Well," she paused for just the right effect. "I suppose it may be the only way they may ever be free, but still, it just doesn’t seem right."
          "2000 yen each!"
          *Bit desperate, eh Kunou? Too bad you’re so hung up on my sister.* "Swear to me that you’ll constantly try to break Ranma’s hold on them? *Secure the fights and the betting pool.*
          "I do swear to thee Nabiki Tendo. I make it my life’s mission."
          "Okay. 2000 yen each. And you pay attention to the project. Your pig-tailed girl is not going to fail me. Understood?"
          He met Nabiki’s eyes. "Of course. A Kunou always upholds an obligation."
          She was surprised at the small thrill that coursed down her spine. Honor and passion. And money. And an obsession with my sister. "Let’s go then. We’re late."

          "Foolish Boy!" Genma launched a swift attack at Ranma, innocently sitting on the back porch.
          "What the heck was that for Pop?" Ranma, distracted but still a martial artist, deflected the blows rained down on him.
          "What happened to Akane this afternoon?"
          He froze. "Wha…what?"
          "She came home in tears. Refused to speak to us all! You ungrateful boy! After Tendo and I have gone to all the trouble of getting you two together. It is obvious that you hurt her."
          "Aw, come on. It’s not what you think." *Or what I thought*. "We resolved it anyway. So back off old man unless you wanna fight."
          Akane stood in the doorway of the dojo and watched the battle come to it’s inevitable conclusion.
          SPLASH
          "Ah, what’cha do that for?"
          "Growf."
          "Now I gotta heat some water and…" Ranma-chan looked up at Akane’s small laugh. "Hey Akane, want to practice?"
          "Practice?"
          "You know, just a little light training?"
          "Sure," she smiled.
          Ranma climbed out of the koi pond *Poor fish* and started for the dojo. "I’m not going to go easy on ya."
          "As hard as you like Ranma." She turned away from him so he wouldn’t see her small grin.
          Ranma’s progress was stopped by a sign. "Foolish boy! Don’t antagonize her. She might cook in revenge."
          "Don’t worry Pop. I got a plan."

          Ryouga sighed angrily. He’d gotten lost. Again. It always happened when there was something important. Akane had probably gone to look for him after Ranma had hurt her and now he wasn’t there to comfort her. By the time he could find the dojo again, there was no telling what Ranma would do. Poor Akane. She must hate him. She probably thought he’d had his fun … a mental picture flashed through his mind *Don’t think about that now*…and left her to deal with all of the consequences.
          He stopped and looked around. He was in some sort of jungle or swamp. Perhaps he was near Kyoto? He heard a succession of popping sounds and jumped out of the way just in time as a burst of flame flared up. He’d have to be more careful. His reflexes were shot. Perhaps a quick rest on this soft sand…

          Nabiki closed her book and stared across the table at her elected partner. Not even the promise of knocking off a weeks worth of interest had saved her from this fate.
          "Wither thou thoughts fair Nabiki? You gaze upon my visage with no apparent malicious or mercenary intent." Kunou stared back at her, confused. He’d put the pictures she’d sold him earlier away, as admiring them had begun to upset his stomach. Once they were out of sight, the nausea had dissipated somewhat, but only staring at the beautiful woman in front of him made it completely disappear.
          The object of his interest didn’t even notice. If it couldn’t make her money, Nabiki really didn’t care right now. This project was half her grade. "It’s getting late. I should head home. We got quite a bit done tonight. I imagine we’ll need just one more meeting."
          "It would behoove my honor to let such a vision walk these foul streets unaccompanied. Fear not! The noble Tatewaki Kunou, Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, shall escort you to your abode."
          "No thanks."
          "I insist. I will not have it said that I shirked my responsibilities. I am a man of honor."
          Nabiki stood with a sigh. *I’ve been sighing far too much lately.* "All right, Kunou-baby, but nothing about my sister or the pig-tailed girl, got it?"
          He grimaced in pain at the mere mention of them.
          "Hey, if that’s going to be too much for you, I’ll walk myself home."
          "No. Indeed. I shall be of stealth and…"
          "Kunou, shush."
          They started for the dojo, enjoying the soft twilight, the twinkling lights of the district, and the silence that seemed quite comfortable between them.
          "Nabiki?"
          "Hmm?" She was lost in thought. Then she realized he’d stopped with just her name. "What is it Kunou?"
          "They say that love so fair can hold one’s heart forever. Yet my heart is torn asunder. The beautiful Akane Tendo is as the huntress, pure and strong. The pig-tailed girl is so vivacious and playful…"
          "I thought I said…"
          "Yet in the fading light, as the sun doth slip away, my heart espies a beauty heretofore unseen, although it be so near for eternity."
          "Huh?" She shifted through the flowery prose. Not Akane. Not Ranma. Someone new who’s been here all along?
          "You shine in the golden twilight like a star caught in Earth’s pull. You are beautiful Nabiki Tendo." He leaned forward and placed the softest of kisses on her lips. She froze and melted at the same instant. Shaking his head, he pulled back. "I am too bold and beg your forgiveness." He bowed to her and left.
          "Hey! I thought you were going to walk…me…home?" She looked up to see the gate to the house. "Oh." She pressed her hand to her lips as though to hold the kiss there. "Kunou…?"

          Ranma dodged Akane’s attacks, dancing around the dojo.
          "I thought you said you weren’t going to take it easy on me?" She hissed, growing angrier with every blocked hit.
          "I didn’t say I was going to hit ya, did I ? Besides, maybe I just want to get comfortable with a woman’s body." She grinned wickedly. "You see a little tense. Maybe you should relax."
          Akane moved in for the kill. "Maybe a nice bath? The last one I took was so refreshing."
          Ranma stopped in her tracks. "What?"
          Akane launched an attack and held Ranma down on the floor. "Foolish boy! Not paying attention in a fight! Letting a girl beat you!" She tried not to laugh as she imitated Genma. "Never let an enemy know your weakness."
          "Take your own advice." Ranma freed one of her hands and reached up to stroke the tip of Akane’s breast. It hardened immediately in response.
          Akane blushed a fierce red and rolled off of Ranma. Sensing the move, Ranma refused to let go and instead ended up on top.
          "What’s the matter Akane?"
          "You…you’re a girl."
          "I am a guy."
          "Not at the moment."
          "C’mon Akane. You once said to me that even in this form you viewed me as a guy, which is what I am. Always."
          "But…"
          "Are you embarrassed because you’re excited?" She noticed her blush deepening. "Don’t be." She took Akane’s hand and rubbed it against her own nipple. It responded the same as hers had. "We want each other Akane. Our bodies know it now, that’s all. They don’t care about the curse. And now that we’ve admitted how we feel, I don’t feel the need to hide my reaction from you. Believe me, if I were in guy form right now, my nipples wouldn’t be the only thing that was hard."
          "Ranma!" she gasped, her body arching upward in response. They both blushed, glad of their newfound freedom with each other, but still shy and nervous. She took a deep breath. "Ranma, will you promise me something?"
          "Anything."
          "Don’t use this in our duel? I’m a little uncomfortable…"
          "I thought you were heir to the school of anything goes martial arts?"
          "Please Ranma? I want it to be special the…the first time."
          "My first time."
          "Our first time."
          Ranma looked down into her pleading eyes, smiling. "Hai. Our first time."
          "Ranma? Akane? Dinner!"
          They jumped apart at Kasumi’s call, shy once more.


Chapter 3 Equal Romance (story) Ranma 1/2 Equal Romance