"All right! A fight!" Ranma punched his fist into his palm. "About time!"
"Ranma, this isn't your fight."
"C'mon Nabiki. Some jerks kidnapped Kodachi. Maybe those creeps you heard rumors about. I'm not crazy about the girl, but I'm not gonna let her stay in danger. Besides, knowing her, Akane's next on the list. Maybe this time I can beat them to the punch."
"Oh, like I get kidnapped on purpose Ranma. You are such a jerk." Akane stood up, her irritation with Ranma at an all time high. "I'm a martial artist too. I don't need you to protect me. You know where this warehouse is Nabiki?"
"Akane…"
"Let's go. Kunou won't mind the help I'm sure. We'll find Kodachi. And maybe for her suffering, we'll give her a few minutes alone with Ranma." She knelt down and removed her shoes. "You don't have to come, just tell us how to get there."
Nabiki sighed. "Get your stuff. Once Kunou's ready, we'll go."
"I am girded for battle." He stood there, his finest kendo outfit on, sword at the ready. "My driver shall take us."
"Kunou, I'll need a phone."
"There is one in the car, my beloved. We must make haste. I will not allow any harm to come to her. She may be insane, but she is blood."
Nabiki sighed. That was decidedly not reassuring. "Okay. Akane, Ranma, let's go. Ukyou? Are you coming along to play hero?"
"Of course, I'll always help my Ranchan."
Akane brushed past Ranma angrily. He was anxious to fight, to rid himself of these emotions that threatened to overtake him. He followed everyone out. However, his excitement for the fight was dampened by Akane's attitude.
"She'll come around." Ukyou took his arm, allowing herself a moment to just enjoy the nearness of him. She closed her eyes. Unfortunately for Akane, that was the moment she chose to look back. She cursed to herself. She should have learned by now never to look back. * Fine, * she thought. * I don't need him. Let her have him. I don't care at all. *
**
Kunou eyed the building suspiciously as the car approached. The warehouses surrounding the area were decrepit. "This area is a disgrace."
"That's why your family bought it. The refurbishment is supposed to start in two weeks." Nabiki squeezed his hand. "It's probably one of the only good things your father has done."
Ukyou stared out the window. "So what's our plan?"
Ranma cracked his knuckles. "The way I see it…"
Kunou interrupted him. "No. Here is the plan. I will go upstairs. Saotome, you take the basement. Nabiki you should stay in the car. Ukyou, perhaps the second floor and Akane…."
"Uh-uh. Akane and Ukyou should stick together."
"I'm perfectly capable of being by myself Ranma. I don't need Ukyou as a babysitter."
"Look Akane, we don't know what or who we're dealing with."
"Don't pretend you care," she looked away from him, her features set.
The car stopped. Nabiki bit her lip. "You guys, please be careful."
Kunou pulled her to him and kissed her deeply. "Don't let anyone else in the car."
"Be careful, please Tachi?"
"Of course."
"Don't worry Nabiki, we'll be fine." Akane gave her sister a quick hug as she waited for Ukyou to climb out of the vehicle.
When Ranma started to follow her out, Nabiki grabbed his arm. "Take care of her. She gets hurt, I'll take care of you."
Ranma's blue eyes met hers. "Nobody hurts her Nabiki."
"Except you."
**
Nabiki waited until they were all inside the building before picking up the phone. She dialed the home of one of her most trusted allies, the one she'd left the case with. Making hurried arrangements, she hung up. Something about this whole thing just seemed too convenient, too co-incidental.
**
Kunou crept up the stairs, stealth his main objective. He could sense his sister's presence, but wasn't sure where to look. He would follow the plan for now, but were they not to find her quickly, he would demolish this building brick by brick until she was found.
**
Ukyou shifted the weight of her spatula from hand to hand. Since Ryouga had left, she hadn't gone anywhere without it. She'd felt lost and, more than anything, she hoped she'd run into someone. She really needed to hit something. Hard.
**
Ranma walked down a few steps stopping to watch Akane walk away. He'd wanted to apologize for being such a jerk, but whenever he opened his mouth, another insult jumped out. Staring at her now, watching the dress sway around her body, he wished desperately that he could start the evening over. Wished he could compliment her on all the effort she'd put into looking so beautiful for him.
She didn't look back, so he made his way down the rest of the stairs. He saw something move in the darkness. He stopped, controlling his breathing. * Please, don't let it be a cat. * He made his way along the wall, watching the darkness intently.
**
Akane was furious. He was a dolt. An idiot. A jerk. Blind. Stupid. Arrogant. God, she hated him. She stopped for a moment, taking in her surroundings. She was in a large open area. Typical. He shoved her into the area where she'd be completely out of the action. He had no respect for her talent. He thought she was inept. She noticed a door on the far side of the room. She'd show him.
**
Nabiki took the briefcase from his hands. "Thanks."
"Anything for you Nabiki."
She rolled up the window. Turning on the light, she opened it, looking for clues. Her eye fell on a soft glimmer of metal. Investigating, her face broke into a smile. Picking up the phone, Nabiki called the police.
**
Kunou burst through the first door he came to. The sight of his sister tied to a chair and gagged brought a smile to his face. At least until the door swung back, knocking him unconscious.
**
"Kind of dangerous to be here alone, isn't it?"
Ukyou spun around, spatula ready.
A tall, husky man positioned just out of reach of her weapon, smiled at her. "You must be Ukyou. Surprise."
Another man snuck up behind her, grabbing her arms. "Let me go!" She dropped the spatula in an effort to get away. The man in front of her picked it up.
"Say goodnight."
**
Akane approached to door cautiously. She was trying to prove something to Ranma. It wouldn't do her any good to go rushing into things and end up showing him he was right. She stood next to the door listening for any sound. Not hearing anything, she turned to look behind her befroe trying the knob. A small, ugly man stood before her, holding a knife. "Go inside Miss Tendo. I've been waiting for you."
* Damn it. * She hated when Ranma was right. But she could hold her own. As soon as she was through those doors, she was going to show that troll exactly what Akane Tendo was made of.
She stormed into the room. At least, that was her intention. It was difficult to do, she realized, when there was no floor to stomp. She fell for what seemed like a long time before landing in a cold, wet pile of material. The feel of it made her skin crawl and she let out a shreik.
**
"Damn it!" Ranma unconsciously echoed Akane's thought. He heard her scream and raced toward the sound. He couldn't decide what to think, unable to get past his concern. He ran, wishing she'd make some other noise so he could pinpoint her location. Then a large bundle on the floor took him by surprise and he tripped, falling right on top of Akane.
**
Nabiki led the way into the building, despite the officer's warnings. She was sure. No one was going to hurt her. She automatically headed for the top floor while the troops behind her began searching for the bad guys. She knew that the person behind this wouldn't expect her to call the police. But, Nabiki thought with a sly smile, the punishment should fit the crime.
She found Kodachi, drugged and still tied up. Kunou lay in the entryway of the room, a large bruise already forming. She leaned down and shook him. "C'mon Kunou- baby. Wake up." She slapped him softly, causing him to moan. Okay, she didn't want to think about that. "Come on Kunou. Don't make me find a watermelon."
He sat up quickly. "I'm awake." He was surprised to see Nabiki. "I thought I told you to wait in the car."
"Don't worry. The police are downstairs rounding up the bad guys. Looks like one of them bonked you in the noggin. But Kodachi seems to be safe." She pointed to his sister. "Thank goodness for small miracles, huh?"
"Indeed." He stood with her help then went over to Kodachi. He struggled to unfasten the bonds holding her. Finished, he picked up her. "Shall we go?"
**
The policeman helped Ukyou to her feet. "Are you all right Miss?"
"Fine. Thanks."
"We may need a statement."
"Tomorrow?" She asked. "I have a horrible headache."
"Tomorrow." He allowed.
Ukyou grinned her thanks to him. Leaving the building, she found Sasuke sitting on a bicycle. "I'm to take you home Miss Ukyou."
"On a bike? In this dress?"
"I'm sorry Miss Ukyou, but Master Kunou, he doesn't let me drive the car."
"That's okay Sasuke, the night air will do me some good."
**
A muffled "oof" startled him. But his reflexes were well honed. Grabbing the lump of cloth by what he assumed was the neck; he held the figure down to the floor. "All right. I've got you now. Tell me where you've taken Kodachi."
The form struggled against the pressure, trying to force the foul smell away from her face. She started beating on his arms.
He threw her back a ways to keep out of her reach. Finally the cloth fell away. "Akane?"
"Ranma! Are you trying to kill me?"
"No. I thought you were a bad guy. I was trying to get you before you got me."
"Well, you win."
"You look like hell Akane."
"Thanks."
He stared at her for a moment, taking in her now ruined outfit. The satin or silk, whatever it was, that made the red shimmer was now stained with some liquid. The white top was a horrid brown. Her hair had wood and dust held in by the dampness. He also noticed that her skin was turning a soft, sexy shade of pink from his observing her. Sweeping his gaze back up towards her face, he paused at the sight of her hard nipples, so obvious under the too tight bodice. Which was ripping just a little along the seam.
"What are you staring at Ranma?"
"You're beautiful."
"What?"
He moved closer and took her into his arms. "You're the most foul looking creature I've ever seen right now, but all I can think of is how sexy you look."
"What are you up to?"
Her whole body was damp and shivering from the onset of the cold. "Akane, you remember how I told you there was a first time for everything?"
As if she would ever forget the promise in his eyes that night. "Yes."
Before his lips met hers, he smiled and whispered. "Now."
**
Nabiki stared out the window of the limousine, her eyes half closed. She could hear Kodachi's soft breathing beside her. It was still slow, but improving.
Kunou sat across from her, staring at his younger sister. "I owe you a great debt."
"No. You don't."
"You were wise enough to call the police. Obviously we were unable to handle them." He cleared his throat nervously. "I also owe you an apology. I thought…I was afraid that you may have been behind all of this."
"What changed your mind?"
"I got hit."
She continued to stare out the window. "You were right to be suspicious. I was sort of behind it. I sold the information on Kodachi's daily routine to them. By law, I'm just as guilty as they are."
"I won't be informing anyone of the part you played."
"You won't have to. They'll confess. They'll tell them."
"You weren't aware of their motives for needing the information."
"I knew it probably wasn't good. Besides, before the fact, after the fact, it makes no difference."
"Nabiki, neither my sister nor I will allow charges against you. Without you, she would not be back safe with me."
The limousine stopped in front of the Tendo dojo. "Goodnight Kunou."
**
Kodachi opened her eyes. "Are you quite finished with me brother dear? I would like to take the remedy now."
"No sister. I don't wish you quite back to your twisted self as of yet."
"I can't believe you are giving away money for no reason to that horrid, conniving girl. Much less subjecting me to manhandling, dank warehouses and bad food in some stupid charade."
"And I thought her attitude would impress you. No mind. A lesson you will learn, dear sister, is that sometimes you make strange sacrifices for love. Play elaborate games, employ captivating ruses." He grinned devilishly. "Besides, you owe me. I'm sure you'd hate to be the recipient of your own concoction of herbs where Saotome is concerned."
Kodachi sighed. "You're right brother dear. But I still don't see why I have to help that horrible girl."
"Because I love her."
**
Nabiki closed her bedroom door behind her and leaned against it. The smile on her face belied the worry in her eyes just moments earlier. She tossed the briefcase to her bed, opening it as she sat down.
She'd been worried. And impressed. She never knew he was such a good actor. She dumped the yen onto the covers, pulling the empty case onto her lap. She stroked the metal plate she'd seen earlier with affection. In the soft light of the moon coming in her window, she read it aloud to herself. "Property of Tatewake Kunou. Age five."
Perhaps she'd change her rules about letting emotions cloud her judgement. She eyed the yen as lovingly as she had the small plaque. It certainly could pay off.