Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They belong to the wonderful
Romiko 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.


=================================
Proper Punishment
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic by Tom Wrensch
Completed 1999-03-14
=================================


Authors Notes: First, I'd like to thank Greg Young for prereading this
story. Note that the first few chapters did not have the benefit of his
feedback, and so may have the kinds of errors that prereaders are
supposed to catch. Also thanks to the other brave souls who sent me
C&C. I want you all to know that I considered your advice carefully
before deciding to ignore it :-).

This story is not dark, but does deal with Akane's sometimes excessive
violence. Any of you who have read any of the more enlightened
literature on raising children may not agree with some of the
discipline techniques in here. Tough, live with it. I will be glad to
listen to any comments you have, but only if you are a parent yourself.

Some of the characters may seem OOC in this story. It helps if you
think of Kasumi and Nabiki as coming from the Manga, and Akane from the
Anime.

Continuity: This timeline splits from the Takahashi-verse sometime
shortly before Nodoka shows up.


========
 Part 1
========

Akane glowed blue with anger. 
she thought. She produced her mallet and stalked toward him.

Yuka tried to calm her down. "Hey Akane, it's not a big deal. He just
said your cookies weren't the best. Heck, *my* cookies aren't the best
either."

Without looking at her, Akane swung her mallet into Yuka's stomach.
Yuka stumbled back several steps, a shocked look on her face. With a
moan of pain she collapsed.

"Ranma! Die!" Akane screeched as she launched herself at Ranma.

Ranma was wide-eyed, looking back and forth between the enraged Akane
and the obviously injured Yuka. Just before Akane landed her first blow
he twisted around so the mallet missed him by several centimeters. Then
he dashed over to Yuka, scooped her up and headed to the nurses office.

Akane slowly circled, mallet ready to crush. She realized there were no
targets so she unproduced the mallet and stood shaking, the blue glow
slowly fading. When it was completely gone she stopped shaking and
looked around in confusion.

Across the school grounds Midoko, a long-time friend of Akane's, and
Nabiki traded concerned looks.

"I thought she was past all this." Midoko said.

"I had hoped so. She's been a lot better since Ranma came. But now..."
Nabiki shook her head and walked off.

* * * *

"Kasumi?"

"Yes Ranma?" Kasumi said without looking up from the sink full of
dishes she was washing.

"Can I talk to you about Akane? Something happened today that's got me
really worried."

Kasumi looked up from the sink with a frown, or the closest she ever
had to one anyway."You must mean the incident with Yuka. Nabiki told me
about it. How is Yuka doing?"

"She should be okay. They're worried about possible internal injuries
though. She's under observation at the hospital."

Kasumi looked back down at the dishes. "I see."

"Look Kasumi, something is going on. Yuka kept saying stuff like 'not
again', and now you don't seem surprised by this. What's happening?"

"Well, Akane used to have some trouble controlling her anger. She
sometimes got quite violent.

"Used to?" Ranma said sourly.

"No, Ranma. I mean like today, where she had no control over herself at
all. She... she's been a lot better since you got here. I think we all
hoped it was over, but now..." Kasumi sighed deeply. "Ranma, I think
father would understand if you wanted to call off the engagement. If
she's returning to the way... well, I don't think Father would force
you to marry her as she is now."

"Huh?"

"If she's going back to the way she was before you got here, then I
don't think anyone would blame you if you left."

"Kasumi, I think you better tell me *exactly* what's going on. How was
she before?"

Kasumi dried her hands. "All right Ranma, you have a right to know. Why
don't I make some tea and we'll talk."

* * * *

Ranma found the two fathers playing one of their endless games of Shogi.

"Yo, Mr. Tendo, I need to talk to you."

Soun looked up from the board. "What's on your mind son?"

Rather than answering, Ranma just stared at his father with a menacing
expression.

Gemna coughed. "Well, I think I'll go.... take a bath now." Gemna said
as he got up and scurried from the room.

Ranma sat where his father had been. "I just had a long talk with
Kasumi about Akane's 'violent tendencies'. Kasumi seems to think
they're coming back."

"What happened?" Soun said in a worried voice.

"She went crazy at school today and put one of her friends in the
hospital."

Soun closed his eyes. A single tear fell from the left one.

"I thought...I had hoped she wouldn't do this again." He said without
opening his eyes.

"So what are you going to do about it?" Ranma asked.

"There's nothing I can do." Soun answered.

Soun just sat there with his eyes closed while Ranma fumed. Finally
when Ranma was about to explode Soun opened his eyes and spoke again.

"I can see you're angry with me for not telling you. I have to admit
that Akane in this state is not a proper fiancee. Perhaps we should
discuss the engagement. Nabiki..."

"No!" Shouted Ranma startling Soun into silence.

"First Kasumi and now you, you're both just ready to give up on Akane.
What is wrong with you! She's your *daughter*, you should be trying to
help her."

Soun shook his head. "It's not that simple. We had to deal with her
anger and violence for ten years. Everything we tried simply made it
worse. It wasn't until high school when she had to fight off a hoard of
young men every day that she regained some measure of control. And, of
course, your presence seemed to help quite a bit."

"She got over these problems once, we can try again.  I...I care about
her. I will *not* just give up and cancel the engagement."

"But what can be done?" Soun looked at Ranma hopefully.

"I don't know." Ranma looked down at the shogi board. "It's my fault
isn't it? I shouldn't have let her keep malleting and hitting me when
she was angry." He said quietly.

"Maybe son, or maybe that let her work off her anger so it wasn't
turned on anyone else."

"But that's *not* how you handle anger." Ranma said. "First you have to
have control, learn to handle yourself even when you're angry. Then you
can think about channeling it or doing something to work it off if it
becomes unbearable."

"Yes that's basic to martial arts training. But..."

"But?"

"But it's a very difficult lesson to teach to a young girl who has just
lost her mother." Soun whispered.

Ranma was silent for a moment, trying to think. "Kasumi said their
mother kept Akane under control when she was younger."

"She was always so good with the children." Soun said, more tears
starting to leak out of his eyes as he thought of his late wife. "She
was somehow kind and a stern disciplinarian at the same time. I was
never able to do that." Soun's tears turned into a waterfall. "Oh if
only her dear mother was here to help us now!"

Ranma watched Soun break down into a miserable crying heap. Ranma
signed, he knew he'd get nothing else out of Soun until he calmed down.
He would just have to find someone else to talk to about this. It would
have to be either Nabiki or Akane. Nabiki might be expensive, but he
didn't feel ready to talk to Akane about this. Not yet anyway.

* * * *

Ranma gave Nabiki's door a hesitant knock.

"Come in Ranma."

He opened the door and stepped inside. Usually Ranma felt comfortable
in Nabiki's room. Despite the problems he often ran into here the
utilitarian layout and spartan decorations fit his own preferences and
put him at ease. This time they didn't help.

"Let me guess." Nabiki said without looking up from her computer. "Our
fathers decided to switch the engagement to the two of us." Nabiki
somehow sounded both disgusted and resigned at the same time.

"Actually, no. Though I think your dad was going to suggest it." Ranma
answered. As usual he felt like he was starting in the middle of a
conversation when he spoke to Nabiki.

"So what do you want?"

"Where's Akane now?"

"She's in the bath." Nabiki answered. "Looks like I'll have to get used
to tracking her every move again so I can avoid running into her when
she's angry."

Ranma sighed. "Not you too? What is it with your family? Why do you all
act like this is something you can't do anything about?"

"Because when we tried to help her she hurt us."

"What!"

"You know Akane is stronger and more skilled in martial arts that
Kasumi and I. If we tried to calm her down or stop her when she got
angry she hurt us." Nabiki looked up, her usual emotionless mask
replaced by one of pain and frustration.

"You don't know what it's like Ranma. We *wanted* to help her. Whenever
we tried she just got worse and we got hurt. Even Daddy couldn't handle
her after she was about twelve or so." Nabiki looked down at her hands.
"So we just learned to avoid her when she was in a bad mood."

"Dr. Tofu helped some." Nabiki continued.  "He seemed to be able to
control her when no one else could." Nabiki looked up at Ranma. "And
you've helped even more. She had calmed down a lot and focused what
anger she did have on you. It made things easier for all of us."

"Kasumi said she was okay when your mom was alive." Ranma said.

Nabiki laughed. "Of course she was, Mom was one tough cookie. Nothing
got by her and if you did something wrong you got it right then and
there." Nabiki sighed. "Maybe if our mother hadn't died she could have
handled Akane, taught her that things couldn't always go her way."

Ranma frowned. "So your dad let her get by with too much once your mom
was gone?"

"Kind of." Nabiki answered, a sad, thoughtful look on her face. "It was
more like he wasn't even here for a couple of years after mom died.
Kasumi took over the house, and I took over the finances. Akane...
actually Akane wasn't much help."

Ranma continued frowning at Nabiki, who just raised her eyebrow. "So...
what your saying is that Akane is a spoiled brat?"

Nabiki's eyes widened, then narrowed in anger. She opened her mouth for
a scathing reply, then closed it. After a bit her looked changed from
anger to thoughtfulness.

"Well, yes." She finally admitted. "An incredibly strong, skilled, and
violent brat. That's kind of the problem. She still acts like a child,
but no one is strong enough to play parent and punish her when she
needs it."

"I guess I still don't get it, why doesn't your dad start disciplining
her properly? He cries a lot but he's not that much of wimp."

"Didn't you hear me? When we try to punish her she lashes out and
*hurts* us. Even Daddy. She even gets you with that mallet of hers."

"Only because I let her." Ranma replied absently. He was trying to fit
what Nabiki and Kasumi had told him into what he knew of Akane. Sure,
she was kind of violent and childish sometimes, but she could also be
so kind and thoughtful. He just couldn't fit the description of the
vicious, thoughtless child with the Akane he knew. His musings ended
abruptly when Nabiki grabbed his collar and pulling him down to look
him in the eye.

"Do you mean you could stop her from malleting you?" Nabiki asked in a
low, even voice.

"Well... yeah." Ranma answered. "I *am* pretty good you know."

"Then *you* can play parent." Nabiki said.

"Hey! She's my age, I can't treat her like a little kid." Ranma
retorted, pulling himself from Nabiki's grasp.

"We'll see. I don't know too much about this parenting stuff. Let's go
talk to Kasumi...unless you think you can't handle it?"

"Of *course* I can handle it!" Ranma retorted. "At least I think so...I
guess talking to Kasumi won't hurt."

* * * *

Ranma's hands were shaking so badly he had to use both of them to
steady his tea. He couldn't believe they wanted *him* to do this. He
tried one more time to talk his way out of it.

"Look, Kasumi, if I start doing this to Akane she's going to hate me. I
really don't think that would do much for our engagement."

Kasumi just smiled at him. "I don't think you have to worry about that
Ranma. Children don't hate their parents for punishing them when they
deserve it, do they?"

"Sometimes. I know I didn't like some of the stuff Pop did."

"Of course, no one *likes* to be punished. But you don't hate your
father for it do you?"

"Umm... No."

"Besides, Akane likes strong men." Kasumi said. "Particularly men who
are both strong and gentle. That's why she had that crush on Dr. Tofu.
Do what you have to, but be as gentle with her as you can. She won't
hate you for it."

"She's not the only one who likes strong men." Nabiki told Kasumi with
a grin.

Kasumi blushed slightly. "I admit I prefer men who are strong and
gentle as well. Though I like them a bit more mature than Akane does."

"Err..." Ranma said, uncomfortable with the way this conversation was
going. "Umm... Mr. Tendo, are you done yet?"

"Just finished." Soun said, pushing a piece of paper over to Ranma.

Ranma read it slowly. Nabiki had suggested her father give Ranma
written permission to discipline Akane, partially to eliminate any
problems Ranma might run into if someone saw him doing it, partially to
convince Akane they meant business. But this...

"Mr. Tendo, are you sure about this? You're giving me permission to do
just about anything."

"I trust you son." Soun said. "I can hardly do less considering what
I'm asking you to do."

"Right, I guess we're ready." Ranma said.

"Don't forget what I told you Ranma." Kasumi said.

"I won't Kasumi. I hope this works out, Akane's not a little kid
anymore."

Nabiki stood up and pulled Ranma to his feet. She looked him in the
eye. "Can you make yourself hit Akane hard enough?"

"Umm... I hope so." He mumbled.

Nabiki sighed. "Come on, we've got one more thing to do before dinner."
She dragged him up the stairs to her room.

"Now what was that about?" Soun asked Kasumi.

"I think," Kasumi said with a slight blush, "Nabiki is going to give
Ranma some training in how to punish Akane."


========
 Part 2
========

Dinner was strained. Everyone was treating Akane like she was made of
glass and she didn't like it. She'd been treated the same way at school
after the incident with Yuka, and she hadn't liked that either.

Akane watched Nabiki shift around again on her pillows. She was using
both hers and Ranma's pillow and couldn't seem to get comfortable.

"You okay Nabiki?" She asked. "You're squirming around a lot."

"I'm a bit sore." Nabiki admitted. "I...fell and hurt myself a bit."

"Oh." Akane answered. Silence returned to the table. After a few
minutes Akane couldn't take it anymore.

"What is wrong with all of you!" she shouted.

"Hey, Akane, cool it." Ranma said. "Everyone's just a bit concerned
about what happened this afternoon."

Akane turned on him, her face becoming red and her body outlined with a
faint blue aura. "What about this afternoon?" she demanded.

Ranma took a deep breath. "I said to cool it Akane." he said firmly.

"And who are you to tell me to cool it!" She yelled at him as she
produced her mallet. "Ranma no baka!"

She swung the mallet back for a strike but never had a chance to use
it. With no apparent effort Ranma took the mallet from her, tucked her
under one arm in a grip too tight to break, and started walking to the
dojo. She thrashed her body around trying to loosen his grip. He just
ignored it and kept walking.

"Ranma! Let go of me! What do you think you're doing you pervert!"

"I'm giving you what you deserve. You're acting like a child, so I'm
treating you like one."

She continued to struggle as he carried her into the dojo. He sat down
in the middle of the floor and swung her around so she was face down
over his legs. Then he swatted her on the butt - hard.

"Ranma! What do you think..." He swatted her again. She couldn't
believe he was doing this to her.

"Ow!" She yelled as his hand came down again.

"Just what do you think you're doing!" She screamed and twisted around
to glare at him.

He just looked sad and swung again.

"Ow! Hey, that really hurt!"

She turned to look back at the floor. She closed her eyes, determined
not to utter another sound no matter what Ranma did to her. It was
hard. Not only was the spanking painful, but the humiliation, the
feeling of helplessness, and especially the memories of childhood
punishments churned her feelings into an indescribable, unbearable mess.

When it was over he let her be for a moment before gently helping her
up off his knee. She wanted to yell at him, or better yet mallet him
into next week, but she couldn't seem to move. Finally she forced
herself to look up at his face through her bangs. He was still wearing
that sad, pained frown. Like *he* had been the one hurt.

"Akane." He said softly. "You have to stop trying to mallet or hit
people when you're angry. If it doesn't end soon one of us - or someone
else - is going to get really hurt."

"But..." She managed to say.

"No." Ranma said firmly. "You can argue with me, you can yell at me,
you can call me names, but every time you try to physically hurt me or
someone else I will do this again. Is that clear?"

Akane just nodded, unable to think of anything to say.

Ranma started toward the dojo's door. Just before exiting he turned
back to her.

"I'm sorry it had to come to this Akane." He said.

She didn't respond. He looked at her sadly for a moment, then left.

Akane sat there trembling with suppressed emotion. A sob escaped her,
then another. Soon she was weeping uncontrollably.

* * * *

Ranma wasn't really hungry anymore, but decided to headed back to the
table anyway. Kasumi would want to know what had happened. When he got
there everyone was still eating, but his and Akane's places were empty.

"Oh, Ranma, I put your and Akane's food in the oven to keep warm. Just
a moment." Kasumi quickly went into the kitchen and came back with his
plate. She sat back down and looked at him expectantly. Ranma just
shook his head and started eating.

"How did it go Ranma?" Nabiki asked.

Ranma opened his mouth, then shut it and went back to eating. "I wont
tell you." he mumbled through a mouthful of food.

"Come on Saotome, she's our sister." Nabiki prodded.

"No." Ranma said in the same tone of voice he'd used on Akane. "If she
wants to talk about it with you that's fine, but it wouldn't be right
for me to tell you what happened."

To everyone's surprise Nabiki just nodded and went back to eating.

After picking at his food for a few more minutes Ranma announced he was
going upstairs to do some homework. The two fathers went to play a game
of shogi, leaving Kasumi and Nabiki alone at the table.

"So how did it go?" Kasumi asked.

"You heard him, he won't tell us."

"I meant your 'training session' before dinner."

"Oh, that." Nabiki didn't look up from her food. "It was... kind of
weird." She finally said.

"What do you mean?" Kasumi asked gently.

"Well...I thought it would hurt a bit, maybe be a little embarrassing,
and that's it." Nabiki looked up at her sister. "And that's all it was
until we did a little 'play acting' session and Ranma started acting
like I'd really done something wrong." Nabiki looked down at her now
empty plate.

"And?"

"It was very emotional. I didn't think anything could effect me that
strongly." Nabiki said quietly, still looking at her plate.

"Hmm, maybe you like strong men too?" Kasumi asked with a grin.

Nabiki swatted her sister lightly. "Not likely. At least not a dumb
jock like Ranma."

"Okay, I want strong, gentle and mature. You want strong and
intelligent." Kasumi said as she started to clear the plates.

"And what does Akane want?" Nabiki asked.

Kasumi started cleaning dishes with a thoughtful look. "Right now she
needs someone strong enough to help her. I think at some level she
knows that. Sometimes I wonder if her violent behavior toward Ranma was
her way of trying to goad him into *making* her stop."

"You think she's been trying to make Ranma prove he's stronger than
her? That he can control her when she can't control herself?" Nabiki
asked.

"I think so. Not consciously, Akane doesn't think through her own
feelings that well."

Nabiki thought about it while chasing the last bit of rice around her
bowl. She wasn't about to second guess Kasumi when it came to knowing
how people thought. Kasumi was the only person she knew who could
'read' others better than she could. If Kasumi was right, then they
were doing exactly the right thing, assuming Ranma *was* strong enough
to go through with this.

She had no doubt Ranma was physically strong and skilled enough to
handle Akane, but the kind of strength she and Kasumi had been talking
about was something else. A strength of character that was more than
just a little rare in the people she knew. She thought back to the
'training session' she'd put Ranma through. Even though it wasn't the
real thing she'd felt his seriousness and determination during the time
she was playing Akane.

 she thought. 

She shook her head and realized she would never be able to think of
Ranma as some kind of mindless buffoon again. If he let things happen,
like her selling pictures of his female form to Kuno, it was because he
*chose* to let them happen. For perhaps the first time Nabiki found
herself regretting pushing Ranma off on Akane. There was a lot more to
him than she'd realized.

At least now she knew the answer to her question 'what does Akane
want?'. Akane wanted, even needed Ranma, even if she didn't realize it
yet.

* * * *

A knock interrupted Kasumi's late night reading. She quickly slid the
mushy romance novel under her pillow and pulled out a book on herbal
treatment of foot problems.

"Come in." She said.

Akane opened the door and slipped into the room, closing it softly
behind her.

"Can I talk to you Kasumi?" Akane asked in a small voice. "Privately?"

Kasumi gave her sister a warm smile that hid a slight nervousness. She
remembered dreading Akane coming into her room to talk. She only came
in when she was upset, and when she was upset her temper could get
nasty.

"It's about Ranma. H-He did something tonight that has me worried."
Akane said without looking directly at Kasumi.

"Oh. What happened?" This was not the way Kasumi expected Akane to act
after what happened with Ranma.

"At dinner, when he... dragged me off, he took me to the dojo and,
and..." Akane stopped and looked down at her hands.

Kasumi sat up straighter. What was going on here? Had she misjudged
Ranma so badly? Had he done something improper to Akane?

"What did he do?"

"H-He spanked me." Akane's face was red with embarrassment.

Kasumi let out a mental sigh of relief.

"Please don't tell Daddy." Akane continued. "You know how
overprotective he can be. He might want to cancel the engagement or
something."

 Kasumi thought. 

Kasumi tried not to let her nervousness creep into her voice. "Akane,
please listen to me and try to remain calm."

Akane just nodded, looking a bit confused.

Kasumi took a deep breath, trying to come up with a way to tell Akane
without angering her. She wasn't sure of Akane's reactions anymore,
she'd just have to be gentle and hope.

"Akane, you know your family loves you very much." Kasumi began.

Akane nodded, still looking confused.

"We were all worried about what happened at school today."

Akane nodded once more, her face expressionless.

Kasumi swallowed nervously. "Ranma was worried too. After he checked on
Yuka at the hospital he asked me about what happened."

Akane was motionless.

"Umm... well... he talked to Daddy and Nabiki too."

Akane was frowning now.

"We told him how you used to... have a small problem controlling your
anger..."

Akane frowned deeply.

"... and Daddy decided to give Ranma permission to discipline you if
you got too violent."

Akane stared down at her sister with a light blue glow starting to form
around her body.

"He what!" Akane shouted. "And you didn't stop him?"

Somehow Kasumi had backed into the corner of the bed farthest from her
sister. With her head against the wall she could hear Nabiki jump out
of bed. Akane's shout must have woken her. Knowing help was on the way
Kasumi found the courage to reply.

"Actually I thought it was a good idea." Kasumi said as gently as she
could.

The glow around Akane brightened and she balled her fists. "My own
sister!" she said through clenched teeth. "How could you!" Akane pulled
back her fist.

Kasumi closed her eyes and tried to crawl farther back into the corner.
She whimpered slightly waiting for the blow to fall.

"Kasumi!"

 Kasumi peeked out from under her arms
to see Nabiki sitting on her bed, a look of concern on her face.

"It's okay." Nabiki said in a soothing voice. "Ranma took Akane to her
room."

Kasumi uncurled and swallowed around the lump in her throat. "B-But she
was just here." She managed to say.

"You know how fast Ranma is. He didn't give Akane a chance to fight
back. Now please tell me what happened."

Kasumi sat up and fussed with the sheets to give her some time to
collect herself. Nabiki, understanding how her sister felt, just waited.

"It's simple really." Kasumi said. "Akane came to talk. I told her
about Daddy giving Ranma permission to discipline her. She didn't take
it well." Kasumi began fussing with the sheets again.

"Hey, you already straightened out all the wrinkles." Nabiki scolded
her.

Kasumi let her hands drop to her lap.

"I'm scared." Kasumi admitted.

"Its not the same this time Kasumi. We don't have to tiptoe around her
and let her have her way all the time."

"Umm..."

"As a matter of fact I think that's what got us into this mess in the
first place."

Kasumi gave her sister a strange look.

"Hey! Just because I'm not into parenting and all that doesn't mean I
can't figure out what's going on!"

Kasumi giggled a little at Nabiki's indignant look.

"That's better." Nabiki said with a smile.

"Should I count some money for you?" Kasumi asked.

"Certainly not! Only one of us can be this out of character." Nabiki
said haughtily. "Besides I *like* counting money."

"Thank you Nabiki. We both better get back to sleep."

"Right."

"Oh, and you're right." Kasumi said just before Nabiki walked out the
door.

"Hmm?"

"We should keep treating her like we have since Ranma got here."


========
 Part 3
========

Ranma peeked at Akane from the top of the fence. They were actually on
time for once. More accurately, they were a bit early. He signed in
frustration and started watching the sky for airborne bicycles.

He certainly didn't mind being early, but he didn't like the *reason*
they were early. With the exception of one cold hard stare just before
breakfast started, Akane had ignored him completely. He'd never
realized how much time their morning bickering took up. He certainly
never realized how empty the morning would feel without it.

 He thought. 

Three days. So far he'd had to 'administer punishment' as Nabiki put it
every evening when Akane got pissed and tried to slug him. He'd been
trying *really* hard not to give her a reason to get mad, but by the
end of the day there always seemed to be something.

Last night had been the worst. Or at least the worst since the night he
thought she was going to punch Kasumi. Ryoga had made a - thankfully
brief - appearance on their way home from school. Akane had really
sucked up to him too, she was actually flirting with the stupid pig!
When he'd told Ryoga to back off Akane had started yelling at him.
While it wasn't a punishable offense, it wasn't exactly fun to have her
screaming at him. Ryoga had just stood there and smiled the whole time.
Fortunately, he'd somehow wandered off during Akane's tirade and hadn't
returned in either form.

Ranma snuck another look at her and sighed again. He'd told them
playing parent to Akane would make her hate him and it was beginning to
looked like he was right. Akane had kept yelling at him all evening.
When he finally told her he'd heard enough, she went ballistic and
pulled out her mallet. He'd had to drag her off to the dojo again even
though it was his fault for giving her a reason to attack him. Akane
had *not* taken it well. She'd fought every inch of the way to the
dojo, then screamed and threatened him the whole time. When he was
done, and tried the few moments of comfort that Kasumi said were so
important, she had just growled at him and run up to her room.

He sighed yet again. This just sucked.

His musings were interrupted by a bicycle bell and a hearty 'Ni hao'
before he was plowed to the pavement by Shampoo's front tire. This was
quickly followed by a glomp from a well formed Amazon.

He sighed. This seemed to be a day for sighs. "Yo, Shampoo, lay off.
I've had a bad morning."

Ranma missed Shampoo's answer when he saw a blue-aured Akane stepping
forward with mallet in hands.

"Akane! No! Remember what I said!" Ranma hoped she'd listen. He didn't
want to give her another reason to hate him.

Akane paused, still glowing and still with her mallet but not actually
attacking. As Ranma watched the glow started to fade. Unfortunately
Shampoo chose that moment to let a hand slide from his lower back to...
even lower, where it started squeezing. Of course Akane noticed the
Amazon's grope. The blue aura went full-force and the mallet came up.
For a second Ranma considered letting it go this time, after all
Shampoo was the target and he wasn't too pleased with the liberties she
was taking.

Then he remembered Kasumi's advice: make rules, be consistent, no
excuses, and let them know you care. The rule was no hitting or
malleting except in sparing and self defense. There was no way this
qualified as sparring or self defense. Just before Shampoo was
flattened he pushed her out of the way, grabbed Akane in an
under-the-arm carry that she couldn't get out of, and ran for the
school. He racked his brain trying to think of somewhere private.
They'd be late if he went back to the dojo, so it had to be somewhere
at school.

The roof! The only one who ever went up there before class was Kuno. If
he was there Ranma would just boot him off.

Some of the students in the school yard gave him a funny look as he ran
in with Akane under one arm, but everyone (except Kuno) had learned to
leave them alone. Akane hadn't struggled yet so Ranma decided to take a
shortcut, using the window sills and occasional projections to pull
himself up the side of the building. He landed neatly on the roof,
looking for any sign of other students. Seeing none he carried Akane
behind the clock tower.

He almost gave up when he put Akane down and saw that she was crying.
Big tears ran down already wet cheeks and her eyes looked large, dark,
and very unhappy. She tightened his resolve and placed the unresisting
girl face down over his crossed legs. Somehow her lack of resistance
made it even harder to continue. He found he was letting up a little on
the force of the blows, but just couldn't make himself hit her any
harder.

Kasumi had stressed the need to show that he cared afterward, so he
gave her a little hug as he helped her up. To his shock she put her
arms around him, crawled up into his lap and started sobbing into his
chest. Acting mostly on instinct he wrapped his arms around her and
rocked her gently back and forth. It seemed to help, and in a few
minutes the sobs stopped.

Akane released him and slowly leaned away from his chest. She looked up
into his face with a look of blank astonishment, stared into his eyes
for a moment, then jumped up and ran through the door to the stairwell.

 Ranma thought.  He knocked
himself in the side of the head, hoping the pain would reduce the
confusion.

* * * *

Kodachi watched from behind the stairwell door as Akane dashed by. She
had come to give her dear brother a special lunch she had prepared. Not
finding him waiting at the gate or in his classroom she had come up to
check his favorite thinking spot on the roof. It was pure luck that she
heard the slapping and crying sounds before stepping out.

She slipped down the stairs behind Akane. She had no desire to meet
Ranma right now, not when he'd just show such care for the little minx.
How could he! Was she not much more deserving of his love and his
discipline than anyone else? Her breath quickened as her imagination
called up the scene she had only heard. She had no idea that he could
me so masterful. Perhaps she had not done anything bad enough to
warrant his attention? No, that could simply *not* be it, she had been
quite...naughty at times.

And what had that Tendo girl done that required such action? She knew
that her Ranma-sama would not bestow such without a good reason.
Kodachi bounced off, stopping only to gift a random schoolboy with her
brothers lunch. Then she headed for home. School be dammed, she was too
excited and too disturbed to study today, a few hours caring for her
roses would calm her and give her a chance to think.

In the school yard the student eating Kuno's special lunch turned an
interesting shade of blue before passing out.

* * * *

"We're home!" Akane called out happily.

Kasumi came out of the kitchen to greet them. "And how was your day?"

"Just fine. I'm going to practice until dinner, okay?"

"That's fine Akane. I'll call you a little before dinner so you can
take a bath."

Akane smiled her thanks and bounced off to her room to change. Kasumi
turned to look at Ranma.

"She's cheerful today. Did anything happen?"

"Yes." Ranma said, making the word sound almost like a question.

"Sit down and I'll bring some tea and we can talk about it.

* * * *

"So tell me what happened."

Ranma sipped at his tea thoughtfully. He didn't really understand what
was going on with Akane, but he could at least tell Kasumi what
happened. Maybe she could figure it out.

"We ran into Shampoo on the way to school." He began. "Akane tried to
mallet her, I dragged her to school, and..."

"And you spanked her." Kasumi finished for him. "Did anyone see?"

"No. I went to the roof of the school. No one could see without me
noticing."

Kasumi stared at the steam rising from her cup. "That can't be it
then." she muttered to herself.

"What can't be it?" Ranma asked.

Kasumi's face colored slightly. "Well Akane has is a bit of an
exhibitionist. Not really a bad thing when living with someone like
Nabiki."

"You're kidding."

"Oh no, not at all. She suppresses it, but it still effects her
behavior. You don't think her walking in on you in the bath all those
times was an accident do you?"

"How do you know all this stuff?" Ranma asked suspiciously.

"You know I'm interested in medicine and psychology. I've taken some
correspondence courses for college credit." Kasumi took another sip of
tea, then frowned slightly at the look Ranma was giving her.

"You don't think I spend *all* my time cooking and cleaning do you?"
she asked with a tiny edge to her voice.

"Uh no, not really. I guess I never really thought about what you did
with your spare time." Ranma grinned at her. "After all, if it isn't
martial arts what good is it?"

Kasumi grinned back. "Maybe we better get back to Akane."

"Right." Ranma took a breath to relax and focus back on the subject.
"She acted kind of different after the, umm...spanking."

"Tell me please."

"She kinda climbed into my lab and cried all over my shirt."

"What did you do?"

"Just rocked her a little and stuff."

"Stuff?"

"I held her." Ranma's face was red.

"Was she cheerful all day?"

"Yeah. Well, afterwards anyway."

Kasumi sipped her tea, grimacing when she found it had become tepid.
She sighed and set the cup down.

"So what's going on?" Ranma asked.

"I'm not completely certain." Kasumi hedged.

"Hey, you can't possibly know less than me." Ranma countered.

"I think she's beginning to lose some of her guilt."

Ranma shook his head. "What are you talking about?"

"She's beginning to feel like the punishment is her payment for doing
something wrong, so once she's been punished she no longer feels
guilty."

"You're kidding."

"Now, Ranma." Kasumi said with some exasperation. "It's well known in
child development and parenting literature."

"Guess I better take your word for it. So what do we do about it?"

"Hmm. I think we should use it. We should make sure Akane gets punished
for anything she feels very guilty about."

"Like?"

"I think she feels *very* guilty about what she did to Yuka." Kasumi
suggested.

"You think I should spank her for that?" Ranma said. "You said that
only works if you do it right away."

"Oh no, not spanking. It has to be something else."

"Like?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe we should ask Yuka."

"Hey, that's a great idea." Ranma jumped up. "I'll run over to the
hospital and see what she thinks."

"It would be better if I went."

"But what about dinner?" Ranma's stomach choose that moment to rumble
loud enough for Kasumi to hear.

"I'll pick out some recipes and ask Akane...no. Ask you *and* Akane to
make dinner."

"Huh, why..."

"Akane never listens to me when I try to teach her to cook, maybe
she'll listen to you."

"Oh great, another reason for her to hate me."

Kasumi smiled to herself as they went to the kitchen. 

* * * *

"Hey Akane?"

"What do *you* want Ranma." Akane said without stopping the kata she
was working on.

"Kasumi had to run an errand. She asked if you and I would make dinner."

Akane stopped her kata to face Ranma. "Both of us?"

Ranma tried not to fidget nervously. Kasumi said this was the right
thing to say, but he was less than sure.  "Kasumi said you sometimes
grab the wrong ingredients, and I'm supposed to make sure you don't."

Ranma tensed as Akane clenched her fists, then relaxed as the slowly
uncurled.

"Well, okay." Akane said. "I need the practice. What should we make?"

"Kasumi picked out some recipes. She said we better follow them, and
better not trash the kitchen. Or else."

"Or else?" Akane asked as she slung a towel around her neck. "Kasumi
*threatened* you?"

"Yeah, pretty weird. I don't want to find out what the 'or else' is."

"I see what you mean. Just let me wash up. I'll meet you in the
kitchen."


========
 Part 4
========


Kasumi walked through the late afternoon sunshine, smiling and waving
at her many acquaintances. Behind her usual happy smile she was
worried. Putting Akane and Ranma together in the kitchen was more that
a little dangerous. Still, they needed to learn to work *together* in
their new relationship, or it could lead to Ranma trying to dominate an
angry and resentful Akane. That would kill any chance of their eventual
marriage as surely as Akane's temper tantrums.

Kasumi sighed. She shouldn't worry, Ranma had risen to this challenge
with a great deal more restraint and maturity than she had thought he
was capable of. Akane was responding to it too. Maybe everything would
turn out.

She looked up at the multitude of lighted windows of the hospital. She
liked hospitals, so many people she could help. Kasumi firmly set the
thought of Akane and Ranma in *her* kitchen out of her mind.

* * * *

Akane smiled and wiped her damp hands on her apron. She grabbed the
carton of corn starch and was about to sprinkle some into the pan when
Ranma gave her hand a stinging slap.

"Owe! Hey, what was that for?"

"Kasumi said to follow the recipe exactly! What do you think you're
doing?" Ranma held up the corn starch she'd been about to add, shaking
it for emphasis.

"Look, Right here." Akane said as she pointed to the open recipe book.
"Add corn starch if the sauce is too thin."

Ranma didn't even look at the recipe. "Okay, Akane. You followed
Kasumi's rule about the recipe. Now I have a new rule: always check the
label." He held the box so she could see the label clearly.

"Soap flakes? I could have sworn that the yellow box was corn starch."

"It is." Ranma held up another, slightly smaller yellow box.

"Well it's stupid to have things that are so different in similar
boxes!" Akane complained.

Instead of following his instinct to call her a stupid uncute tomboy,
Ranma did something he'd been slowly getting better at over the last
week. He thought about it.

"Actually, you're right. It is stupid." He admitted. "They should color
code them or something."

Akane sighed. "But they don't."

"Yeah. So in the meantime we'll have to check the labels."

"Okay, I'm... sorry Ranma."

"No problems. Hey, you better stir that."

* * * *

Kasumi knocked lightly on the open door. Yuka looked up from her school
books, which surrounded her on the hospital bed.

"Kasumi?"

"Hello, Yuka, can I come in and talk?"

* * * *

"Akane!" Ranma said in exasperation. You've *got* to read the recipe
carefully. What temperature is the oven supposed to be set at?"

"240 degrees."

"You didn't look at the recipe before you answered. Remember what
Kasumi said."

"Oh, all right." Akane walked over to the open book and looked
carefully. "See right here it says to preheat the oven to...140
degrees." Akane turned down the oven, then turned and looked down at
Ranma's feet. "Sorry Ranma."

"Just follow the rules Akane. Rule one is 'read the recipe carefully
and follow it'"

"And rule two is 'read the labels'" Akane added. Then she blew out her
breath. "I always thought cooking was supposed to be - you know -
relaxing, easy. Like when Kasumi does it."

Ranma bit down on a comment about it being easy if you're not a tomboy.
"It probably is easy and relaxing after you do it a couple times a day
for ten years like Kasumi has."

"Oh. Good point."

* * * *

"First of all I'd like to thank you for not pressing charges." Kasumi
began.

"I couldn't do that. Akane is my friend, even if she is a violent
maniac at times."

Kasumi got up from the visitors chair and fussed with the flowers on
the table by the window. She was surprised to see that Ranma, Diasuke
and Hiroshi had chipped in for a bouquet. There was also one from Kuno
- roses of course.

"Kasumi?"

"She isn't you know." Kasumi said quietly.

"She used to regularly beat up everyone around her. She might limit
herself to Ranma and the occasional friend now, but she's still
violent." Yuka's voice dropped. "She needs help."

Kasumi turned to look at Yuka. "Yuka, I want to tell you something, but
it's a secret. *No* one can know about it. You can't even talk about it
to the other people who know, except Ranma - and then only in an
emergency."

"This is about Akane?" Yuka asked.

Kasumi nodded.

"Okay, I promise to keep it a secret."

"Akane *is* getting help, though it's probably not what you were
thinking..."

* * * *

Ranma grabbed Akane's hand, stopping the knife from murdering another
vegetable. "Akane, what are you doing?"

Akane's answer sounded a bit testy. "I'm cutting the vegetables, just
like the recipe says!"

Ranma took the knife and set it next to the cutting board, then took
Akane's arm and pulled her around so she was facing the open recipe
book. "Read it." he commanded.

"Cut the vegetables for the stir fry...into even pieces." Akane looked
down. "Sorry Ranma. I just can't do this right."

"Don't be dumb, of course you can.  You're just not focusing." Ranma
winced when he saw a tear drip from Akane's eye.

"Umm... hey, why don't we cut the vegetables together." Ranma grabbed
Akane's elbows from behind, lifting and swinging her back to the
cutting board. He stepped directly behind her and slid his arms along
hers.

"Uhh...Ranma, what..." Akane said uncertainly.

Ranma lightly held the backs of her hands. He directed one hand to the
knife and the other to a carrot. He carefully maneuvered her hands so
the knife was over the end of the carrot and pushed down. She got the
idea and sliced the carrot where he indicated.

Ranma was glad she couldn't see his face. He hadn't realized this would
be so intimate. He was sure he was blushing to his toes. But it felt
nice, and it was distracting her from her mistakes, so he wasn't going
to stop unless she complained.

"See, it's not so hard." Ranma whispered in her ear. "Just carefully
position the knife before you cut."

"Umm hmm." Akane agreed.

Was it his imagination, or was she pushing back against him a little?

* * * *

"Do you really think this will help Akane?" Yuka asked doubtfully. "I
mean, it seems a little cruel."

"It's supposed to be hard on her, it wont feel like punishment if it's
fun. You'll have to force yourself to be a little mean." Kasumi told
her.

"Okay, Kasumi." You'll take care of the costume?"

Kasumi smiled, "of *course* I'll take care of the costume. And thank
you for agreeing to help." [Authors note: If you looked very close you
might have seen just a hint of viciousness in that smile, but this was
Kasumi, so it would have to be your imagination. Right?]

"This is great Kasumi. I get to help out a friend and get back at her
all at once."

* * * *

Let's see, next we need the celery." Ranma said.

"Ah, the celery. That one was fun." Akane said playfully as she fetched
the bowl.

"Yeah, but we got a little energetic, so you better check it for wood
chips."

* * * *

Kasumi opened the gate with a certain amount of trepidation. Leaving
Akane to cook was just plain *dangerous* even with Ranma watching her.
Maybe *especially* dangerous with Ranma watching her.

She sniffed the air. No smoke, and the house was intact, both good
signs.

"I'm home!" she called.

"Kasumi?" Soun said from the head of the table. "If you just came home
who's cooking... No! you didn't ask Akane to cook did you?"

"Now, father, Akane's not ready to cook dinner unsupervised..." Kasumi
resisted the urge to look in the kitchen and sat with everyone else at
the table.

"Of course Kasumi, I should have known you wouldn't..." Soun
interrupted.

"...that's why I asked Ranma to help her." Kasumi finished, ignoring
her father's comment.

"Saotome, don't we have a council meeting tonight?" Soun said
desperately.

"Quite right Tendo! We don't want to be late!"

"Relax father, your council meeting is tomorrow." Kasumi said. "Just
sit back down and I'll go see when dinner will be ready."

Kasumi was saved the trouble of getting up, not to mention working up
the courage to actually *look* at the kitchen, when Akane bounced in
holding a casserole dish.

"Dinner's ready." She called out happily.

Kasumi examined Akane for signs of disaster. Her apron could use a good
wash, but that wasn't unusual. Still, Akane seemed too cheerful and
Ranma hadn't shown up yet. Kasumi decided she would *not* eat any meat
dishes until she actually saw him.

"I've got the rest." Ranma said. He was holding a pan of stir fry and
had a rice cooker balanced on top of his head.

"Showoff." Akane stuck her tongue out at him.

"Dinner's kind of plain tonight." Akane told them all.

Akane still sounded too cheerful. Kasumi watched with some fear as
Akane dished out some of the casserole.

"Who want's to try some of my casserole?" She asked.

A deathly silence fell over the table. Kasumi leaned forward a bit to
give the alleged food a once over. Smell: pretty good, color: a
reasonable light brown, consistency: a little soupy. It looked like a
dish made by an inexperience cook she realized.

"If no one else wants it I'll take some." Ranma said. "Since you're
serving I'd like some of the rice and stir fry too."

"Of course Ranma." Akane still sounded cheerful, but it was kind of
forced now. She dished out a generous helping of everything and put it
in front of Ranma.

"Let's eat!" Ranma dug in without a sign of hesitation.

Kasumi held up a plate of her own. "Please, the same as Ranma, but
about half as much."

"Sure Kasumi."

Once Ranma and Kasumi showed no ill effects Soun, Genma, and Nabiki
politely asked for service. Akane was so thrilled that everyone was
eating her food that she had to be reminded to eat herself.

"This is very good, though the casserole is a bit thin, did you thicken
the sauce at all?" Kasumi asked.

For some reason Ranma cracked up at that, almost spraying a mouthful of
food across the table.

"Almost, Kasumi." Akane said.

* * * *

Akane hummed happily as she changed into her pajamas. Halfway through
she suddenly stopped.

 she wondered. 

She finished getting ready for bed, trying hard to keep from humming
merrily. Once ready she climbed into bed and flipped off the light.
Instead of curling on her side as she usually did, she put her hands
behind her head and stared at the ceiling.



Her thoughts drifted over the events of the evening. She and Ranma
cooking dinner together, Ranma and Kasumi eating her food right away
and everyone enjoying it. Okay, that was fine. More than fine. But...

Then there was that 'secret meeting' between Ranma and Kasumi that she
wasn't allowed to be near. Ukyou showed up with food, as if Akane's
food hadn't been good enough. That jerk Ranma had even eaten some, and
after he'd made such a pig of himself eating the food they'd made
together. Of *course* she'd pulled out her mallet. She didn't know who
she was going to use it on, but *someone* deserved a malleting.

She sighed. She should have learned by now. Ranma took the mallet away
and had her in the dojo before she even knew what happened. Then he'd
beat her. Again. How could he do that after the fun they'd had making
dinner together?

She'd cried in front of him again too. She really hated that, but she'd
been so angry and frustrated and...ashamed of herself. She shouldn't
have resorted to the mallet. Besides being futile with Ranma around it
just wasn't the right way to handle things. They had hurt her
emotionally, she shouldn't try to get back at them physically.

And then Ranma had done what he always did after he spanked her, he
held her. It was weird but that always made her think of her mom for
some reason. Like it was her mom holding her, only it was her fiancee's
warm arms and he smelled so good and..."

 she realized. She was grinning and happy
for no good reason at all. She drifted off wondering how things could
seem so nice and so bad at the same time.

* * * *

A small sound from the window woke Akane. She wondered if Ranma was
sneaking into her room again. A thrill ran through her and she decided
she wouldn't just kick him out this time. She didn't know just what she
*was* going to do to him, but he wouldn't get off that easy.

She was disappointed when a leotard-clad gymnast slipped through her
window. She sat up and clicked on the bedside lamp.

"Hello Kodachi. Ranma's room is farther down if that's what you're
looking for."

Kodachi blinked a few times, whether at the light or in surprise Akane
didn't know. Then she narrowed her eyes to angry slits.

"I came to see you, you little minx." She hissed. "What have you done?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Ranma. You steal his love, and then you...you do something that forces
him to discipline you. Now tell me what you've done!"

"Just go away Kodachi." Was all Akane could get out.

"I saw." Kodachi said. "He carried you to a hidden and safe place. Then
he hit you, carefully, enough to show you his displeasure but holding
back his great strength so you weren't harmed. And then..." Kodachi
looked down and let out a low sob, "then, to prove he did not do so out
of malice, he comforted you." Kodachi stood there, shaking, tears on her
face and her fists clenched.

"So tell me Akane Tendo. Tell me what you did to evoke such loving
discipline."

Akane felt like the answer was dragged out of her. "H-He said I was
malleting and hitting too much. I-I was hurting others, and him."

"Such a small thing." Kodachi said in an almost dreamy voice. "My
mother used to punish me like that, when I would hurt Tachi. Sometimes
daddy did too, before..."

Kodachi looked up at Akane with hatred in her eyes. "Goodbye Akane
Tendo. You are the most fortunate of women to have won such love." She
jumped to the window and looked back once more.

"If you betray him I'll kill you." She said in a low, dangerous voice.
Then she was gone.

Akane got up and shut the window.  She
thought.

Something about that conversation bothered her, something beyond having
Kodachi show up in her room in the middle of the night. Kodachi said
Ranma was punishing her because he loved her. She had a hard time
believing that, but then why *was* he doing it? He certainly didn't
seem to enjoy it. Why then? Duty? Did he feel it was his duty to keep
her from hurting others?

Akane rubbed her eyes and sighed in frustration. She needed to talk to
someone. Ranma wasn't an option, at least until she knew more. She
didn't think Kasumi would be comfortable talking to her after what
happened a few days ago. Her father was hopeless, and Mr. Saotome was
worse than hopeless. Nabiki was her only choice.

* * * *

Nabiki woke to a light tapping at her door. A brief moment of panic
shot through her when she realized it was the way Akane knocked. She
forced herself to relax. Ranma was within shouting distance, and unlike
Kasumi she was willing to yell for help at the first sign of trouble.

"Come in Akane."

Akane peeked around the edge of the door. "Can I talk to you?" she
asked meekly.

"Come in little sister. What can I do for you at..." Nabiki squinted at
her clock. "At two in the morning?"

Akane came in and sat in Nabiki's desk chair. Her lights were still
turned off but the moonlight shining through her window gave enough
light for Nabiki to see the troubled look on her little sisters face.

"What's wrong Akane?"

"W-Why is Ranma doing this?"

Oh boy. This was going to be tough. Nabiki took a deep breath to clear
the remains of sleep from her head.

"You tell me Akane." She said.

"If I knew I wouldn't have to ask!"

"Relax, I'm just trying to help you figure it out yourself. Guess if
you have to."

Akane bit her lower lip and nodded.

Nabiki relaxed a bit. At least Akane was *trying* to be reasonable.
She'd made some progress.

"Umm..." Akane began uncertainly. "Because he thinks it's his duty?"

"Nope. Daddy tried to talk him into it using that one, but it *isn't*
his duty. Try again."

Oh. Well... Hey, what do you mean daddy talked him into it?"

"You don't think Ranma *wanted* to do this, do you?" Nabiki managed a
calm voice, though she knew the situation was getting dangerous.

"So why..."

"That's what we're talking about, remember?" Nabiki said, trying to get
the topic back to safer ground.

"I just don't know Nabiki!"

"Okay, here's a hint. Ranma was given the option of ending the
engagement because of this."

"What!"

"You heard me. He could have ended the engagement and instead he
decided to do something he didn't want to do to help you."

"Help! Why would he..."

That was too much for Nabiki. Her little sister always had everything
go her way, and was too stupid to realize what she had. "Shut up." She
commanded.

"He loves you you idiot." Nabiki continued in a low, angry voice. "He
loves you so much he's willing to put up with all the crap you've
dished out over the last year. He's even willing to risk losing you to
help you. I have no clue what he sees in you, or why he puts up with
everything you do to him. You're skilled though, if you keep working at
it I'm sure you can drive him away. Now why don't you go. You have your
answer and I need to sleep."

Nabiki saw the tears running down her sisters cheeks and cursed herself
for letting her anger get the better of her. She took a breath and held
it, ready to yell for Ranma if Akane's tears turned to rage.

"Okay." Akane whispered. "Good night big sister."

Nabiki let her breath out in a sigh of relief as Akane closed the door.
She felt bad about the way she'd treated Akane. Her anger had made her
harsh, but maybe that's what Akane needed right now.


========
 Part 5
========


Ranma shifted his school bag to his back, using the motion to take a
covert look at Akane. She'd been really quiet this morning - so much so
that they were early again. She looked tired too, like she hadn't slept
well.

He sighed a bit and let his mind drift to worries about Kasumi and
Yuka's plan. It seemed kind of wacky to him. The only good part was
that he only had to play the big bad guy once. Unfortunately that once
had to be pretty soon and Akane didn't seem to be in the mood to talk,
much less take what he was going to say. Time was running out though,
he had to get this out in the open now.

"Akane, I gotta talk to you."

She turned to him slowly, her eyes taking some time to focus. "Yes?"
She said in a distant voice.

"Umm... Hey, you okay? You seem pretty spaced out."

"Yes, I'm fine. Just didn't sleep well." Akane's voice still sounded
distant, almost mechanical. "What do you want to talk about?"

"It's about Yuka."

The blank, distant look in Akane's face switched to a haunted one.

"W-What about Yuka?"

Ranma took a deep breath to calm himself. He had a sudden urge to run
off and do...something. Look for a cure, train, anything except face
telling Akane this. With some effort he batted down the urge. He may
have done that in the past, but no more. He would *not* become like his
father.

"You hurt her." Ranma got out.

"But she..." Akane began

He couldn't believe she was trying to make excuses. The anger wiped
away the last of his hesitation. "No! You can't justify what you did to
her. There are no excuses."

Akane stopped and sunk to her knees. She hid her face with her hands,
but not before Ranma saw the tears.

As quickly as it had shown up, Ranma's anger disappeared.  He knelt down beside
her and after a moments hesitation, put his arm across her shoulders.

"You have to pay for what you did. If she wanted, Yuka could file a
complaint. You'd have to spend some time in a juvenile correction
home." At that Akane sobbed once, loudly. Ranma tightened his arm
around her shoulders, trying to comfort her.

"You'll visit me, won't you?" Akane whispered hoarsely.

"Huh?"

"When I'm in jail, you'll visit me?"

Ranma was glad Akane couldn't see his smile. "Oh, no Akane. You're not
getting off that easy."

"I don't understand."

"Yuka and Kasumi had a long talk. They cooked up a punishment they
thought would be...proper for what you've done."

Akane looked up at him, her eyes still filled with tears. "What?" She
asked.

"Err, well, I don't really know. Kasumi didn't tell me. After school
today we're going to the hospital to meet Yuka and take her home. You
have to promise to do anything she tells you for the next month." Ranma
looked away. He was about to lie to Akane and couldn't face her when he
did it. "If you don't you're going to end up in a correctional home,
and I *won't* visit you."

"No, I..." Akane's voice faded out. "All right Ranma, I'll do it. If
it's what you want."

Ranma turned back to look into her eyes. "I think you should do this,
but not 'cause I said so. Do it because it's the right way to pay for
what you did."

Akane just nodded uncertainly. He helped her to her feet and they
walked slowly to school. About halfway there Akane took his arm,
leaning heavily for support.

* * * *

"Come *on*, we gotta hurry."

Akane nodded and started walking faster, catching up to Ranma.

"You're moving pretty slow today, you feeling all right?" Ranma asked.

Akane did *not* feel 'all right'. Her stomach was queasy, her knees
felt weak, and there was a hollow feeling in her chest. In short she
was terrified.

 she told herself. 

Ranma stopped and she gratefully stopped with him. Anything to delay
what was coming.

"You're not okay, are you." Ranma said, turning her to face him and
taking her hands in his.

"Your hands are cold and you're really pale." Ranma looked into her
eyes. "You're scared, aren't you?"

Akane managed a jerky nod. She stared up into his eyes and felt her
nervousness ease a little. He'd be with her - she wasn't sure if
Kodachi was right about how he felt, but he'd always protected her in
the past. She was even beginning to see how his punishments were a way
of protecting her.

"Talk to me Akane, why are you this frightened?"

"Because..." Akane licked her suddenly dry lips and tried to put her
fear into words. "Because it's Yuka...and Kasumi. They...they *know*
me. My likes and hates and...and my worst fears."

Akane took a stuttering breath. "I have to promise to do *anything*.
They could make me...kiss Kuno or, or let spiders crawl all over me, or
sit alone in a dark closet for days..." Akane's voice faded out and she
clutched Ranma's hands painfully hard.

"It won't be like that. I wont let it be like that." Ranma said. "I'm
not promising them anything, and I will not allow them to hurt you like
that."

Akane relaxed, her fears evaporating. She should have known Ranma would
protect her like he always did. She leaned forward, releasing his hands
so she could put them against his chest and putting her head under his
chin. She smiled in contentment at the warm, safe feeling she got when
Ranma slid his arms around her shoulders. Kodachi's and Nabiki's words
from the night before came back to her. Somehow, standing there with
his arms around her, they didn't seem quite so impossible.

* * * *

Yuka looked up at the knock and was unsurprised to see Ranma step into
the room. Behind him she could just see a pale-faced Akane peeking
around the edge of the door. She looked pretty meek, Kasumi must have
been right about her changing. Yuka gave Ranma a wink, then forced a
frown onto her face.

"Come in Akane." She said in as cold a voice as she could manage.

Akane walked in with her head down. She walked up to Yuka's bed and
bowed deeply. "I'm so sorry Yuka, there's no excuse for my actions."

Yuka could not hide her smile, Akane had made a *lot* of progress. She
managed to put the frown back on before Akane looked up.

"You're forgiven Akane, provided you're willing to pay for what you
did. Kasumi told you about our agreement?"

"No she didn't. Ranma told me I'm supposed to promise to do anything
you say for the next month." Yuka could just detect a slight quaver in
Akane's voice.

Yuka nodded in agreement and waited expectantly.

"Ah, okay." Akane said. "I promise to do anything you say for the next
month. On my honor as a martial artist." Akane glanced nervously at
Ranma as she made the promise.

Ranma stepped forward and put his hand on Akane's shoulder. He gave her
a reassuring smile before turning to face Yuka.

"Akane may have promised to do anything you want, but I won't let you
use that to hurt or frighten her." He said.

Yuka could help it, she giggled. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about *that*
Ranma. She won't be hurt or frightened, just very, very embarrassed."

* * * *

Yuka's comment brought Akane's nervousness back full force. She *hated*
being embarrassed. Yuka knew that and so did Kasumi. Akane put her hand
to her suddenly aching head. Of *course* they knew, that's why they
were doing it. Somehow it didn't seem fair that Yuka would probably
enjoy it as much as Akane hated it.

"All right Akane, here's your first command." Yuka said cheerfully.
"You carry my stuff home." She gestured at an enormous pile at the end
of the bed.

While Akane eyed the stack doubtfully Yuka put her finger to chin, her
face relaxing into a thoughtful frown. "Hmm, I'm not supposed to walk
too much yet, so I'll need a ride. Too bad I don't have a hunky fiancee
like yours to carry me."

Akane's nervousness increased as Yuka's face widened in a huge grin.
"Akane, convince Ranma to carry me home."

Akane blinked and looked over at Ranma. The baka was leaning against
the wall with his arms crossed. And he was smiling! They would pay for
this... With a sinking feeling Akane realized Yuka had already paid for
it and a lot more, now it was her turn. She decided she'd do her best to
follow Yuka's wishes, no matter how much she hated it.

Still, there was no reason why she couldn't enjoy it when possible.

Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Akane started walking toward
Ranma. She was careful to take small steps, shifting her weight fully at
each to maximize the swing of her hips. She reached out and ran her
hands up Ranma's chest to lock behind his neck. Ranma 'eeped' when she
pulled herself against him.

Trying to ignore the heat she felt in her face Akane pitched her voice
in tones that she hopped were low and sultry. "Ranma, would you please
carry Yuka home? For me?" She asked adding a slight wiggle at the last
two words.

Ranma opened his mouth, but nothing come out. He closed it and just
nodded wildly. Akane pulled away, sliding her hands back down his
chest. She smiled and murmured "Thank you." before stepping completely
away.

Yuka applauded.

"Wow." Yuka said. "He's like putty in your hands. I didn't know you had
it in you."

Akane's face still felt hot, and she was pretty sure it was at least as
red as Ranma's. She only hoped Yuka and Ranma would think it was all
from embarrassment, and wouldn't realize it was partially the flush of
excitement. She'd *liked* doing that. Liked touching him, seeing his
face get that panicky and excited look, having him cave in to her
'female charms'. Just let him try and call her a tomboy again!

"Okay Akane, get my stuff. Ranma if you would?" Yuka said, holding up
her arms like a child asking to be picked up.

Akane sighed, her momentary feelings of excitement and triumph swinging
quickly to resignation. She walked over and lifted the stack of stuff.
The top went over her head, she'd have to walk sideways to see in front
of her. This was not going to be fun.

* * * *

Ranma shifted his arms *again* as Yuka leaned out to wave at some
friends. "Come on Yuka, hold still already." He complained.

"What's wrong Ranma? I've seen you carry Akane lots of times. I weigh
about the same as she does."

Ranma glanced back at Akane. She was preoccupied with the huge stack of
crude Yuka managed to accumulate at the hospital, and didn't notice him
looking back toward her.

"It's not the same." He said, turning back to Yuka. "She's shorter and
sits different."

"Well! I'd sit different too if it was Hir... if it was someone special
carrying me."

"Huh?"

Yuka gave him a look of pity. "A girl is going to act different if the
guy holding her is someone she cares about."

"But Akane doesn't..."

Yuka bopped him lightly on the head. "Idiot." She said. "Let me tell
you a little secret. Something so secret that only you and Kuno haven't
figured it out already."

"Hey, don't compare me to Kuno!"

"Oh, I'm not. You haven't figured it out because you're charmingly
naive. Kuno is just an idiot."

"Umm... okay." Ranma felt a little better at that, though he wasn't too
sure about the 'charmingly naive' business.

Yuka looked over Ranma's shoulder toward Akane. Seemingly satisfied,
she moved closer to Ranma's ear.

"The secret is that Akane is madly in love with you."

Ranma snorted. "Yeah, right, like I wouldn't know that if it was true."

Yuka leaned back and gave him a dark look. "I'm just trying to help you
Saotome. Sometimes those closest to a 'secret' are the last ones to
know."

Ranma couldn't really argue with that. Just look at Kasumi and Doctor
Tofu - they were definitely in love and neither one had a clue. Or
Hiroshi and..."

Ranma grinned. "Yeah, I guess you're right about that." Ranma tried to
keep his face serious. "Kinda like you and Hiroshi having the hots for
each other but not realizing it."

Ranma had to tighten his grip to keep Yuka from falling. She stared at
him with wide eyes.

"I don...we can't...he...He does?"

Ranma grinned and nodded. "Guess I'm not the only one who's 'charmingly
naive'.

Yuka was quiet, and thankfully still, for the next few blocks. Then she
stirred and looked up at him.

"Ranma, this is important to me. Were you telling the truth when you
said Hiroshi likes me?"

Ranma took in the serious expression and the slight pleading in Yuka's
voice. He hoped Hiroshi wouldn't be too angry at him for telling. "On
my honor as a martial artist." he said.

Yuka gave him a funny little smile. "I owe you one Saotome."

"Just don't be too rough on Akane."

Yuka looked back toward Akane again and shook her head. "I can't. It
has to be hard or it won't work. You know that."

Ranma sighed. "I guess so."

* * * *

To Ranma's surprise Yuka's house was dark and quiet when they got
there. She unlocked the door and he took her to the couch while Akane
staggered upstairs with Yuka's stuff. Yuka waved Akane over when she
came down a few moments later.

"Okay Akane. I want you here right after lunch on Sunday. Kasumi should
have a package for you to bring over. I'm also going to need help
getting to school for a few days, so would you arrange transportation
for me? Maybe you could...*talk* Ranma into carrying me again.

"Yes master." Akane said sarcastically. Yuka just smiled.

"Hey Yuka, we can stop by tomorrow before school, but Hiroshi was going
to meet me to work on something. Is it okay if he comes along?" Ranma
asked.

Yuka gave Ranma a grateful smile. "Sure Ranma, that would be great."

* * * *

"Hold up Ranma. I'm really tired from carrying all that junk from the
hospital."

Akane expected him to stop and wait for her to catch up. She was
surprised when he turned around and walked back to her. She was even
more surprised when he scooped her up and started carrying her.

"Hey. I'm just tired, not crippled." She said mildly.

"You've had a rough day, just relax." Ranma said.

"If you insist." She happily settled into his arms and let herself
relax. After a few minutes the silence started getting to her and she
tried to start a conversation.

"So what are you and Hiroshi working on tomorrow morning?"

"Don't know yet, but we'll think of something."

"Huh? You told Yuka..." Akane let her voice fade out at the grin on
Ranma's face.

"What are you up to Ranma?" she asked.

"Just a little matchmaking. Those two have been eying each other all
semester. It's time they did something about it. "

Akane giggled. "I'm not supposed to say anything, but since you've
already figured it out I guess it's all right." Akane grinned up at
Ranma who nodded for her to continue. "Yuka's had a thing for Hiroshi
since junior high. They're both so shy though, I don't think they'll
ever admit anything to each other.

"Maybe not, but it'll be easier if they already know how the other
feels." Ranma said.

Akane looked up into his face.  she
thought.  Akane sighed. "Maybe I should just ask." She murmured
to herself.

"What did you say?"

Akane blushed. "Oh, nothing."


========
 Part 6
========

Yuka grinned when a red-faced Akane stepped out of the bathroom in her
"work" outfit. She walked slowly around Akane, carefully examining the
outfit. She had to admit it was good, Kasumi had really outdone herself.

"Not bad," Yuka said. "Personally I would have moved the whole thing
down a few centimeters. Show a bit more cleavage and a bit less leg."

"*More* cleavage!" Akane sputtered. "I don't think I *have* more
cleavage than this thing shows. And the skirt is so high you can
practically see my belly button!"

"Oh, come on." Yuka said calmly. "You're exaggerating...a little."

"What *is* this thing?"

"A French maid outfit," Yuka answered. "Kasumi did a nice job. I really
like the frills on the apron."

"I have to wear this thing every Sunday, just to help you clean up
around the house?"

"Oh, no!" Yuka assured her. "Kasumi's going to make new outfits every
week. This is the only week I knew what to expect. The rest are going
to be a surprise."

Akane growled something about Kasumi. Then gave a western style curtsy.
"So what do I do now, master," she said glumly.

"Start by cleaning my room. After that find me and ask. I'll be in the
back yard."

Yuka watched Akane stalk upstairs, making sure she was out of sight
before dashing for the phone.

* * * *

"Okay, Yuka. Your room is clean now, what else...."

Akane's voice faded out as she took in the scene on the porch. Yuka
wasn't alone. Sayuri was there as were Hiroshi and Daisuke. Akane
turned and saw Ranma, sitting with his mouth hanging open and staring
at her. Why was he staring at her?

. Akane thought with a blush. She turned away
from Ranma in embarrassment and found herself looking at Daisuke and
Hiroshi, both almost drooling at her. Suddenly angry, Akane turned to
Yuka.

"Yuka, how could you invite people over when I'm dressed like this!"
she growled. She took a step toward her friend.

"Stop, Akane," Ranma said quietly.

Akane stopped. There wasn't much use in trying to attack anyone when
Ranma was around. Akane sighed. She really shouldn't be angry, this was
part of her punishment. Yuka *said* she'd be embarrassed. For a just a
moment Akane was tempted to attack someone, anyone. Ranma would stop
her, and take her somewhere and spank her. She'd get away from everyone
and then he would hold her...she shook herself. That was crazy, why
would she *want* him to to something like that?

Akane did another western style curtsy toward Yuka. "I'm sorry to have
yelled at you...my lady."

"Oh, well I see the serving wench knows her place," Sayuri said with a
giggle. Akane managed to limit herself to a dirty look.

Yuka leaned over and bopped Sayuri on the top of the head. "Please, no
comments about the help."

"Hey, how about some drinks 'my lady'," Said Hiroshi.

"That's a very good idea. Akane, please get drinks for everyone," Yuka
said. "Oh, and Hiroshi, no *touching* the servants. You too Daisuke."

"Hey, what about Ranma?" Daisuke said.

"He's allowed to touch, they are engaged after all," Yuka said with a
grin.

Akane hid her blush by stopping into the house and heading for the
kitchen. Once there stood and fumed. Yuka knew just how to embarrass
her and she just had to take it. This wasn't punishment, it was
torture! Jail or whatever Yuka wanted for a week? Jail would be easier!

Finally calming down, Akane gave a large sigh and set about digging out
everyone's favorite beverage.

* * * *

Yuka, Akane, and Sayuri were sitting together eating lunch as usual. As
had become usual in the last few weeks Ranma, Hiroshi, and Daisuke were
eating nearby. If someone had asked both groups would have claimed the
proximity was just an accident. Anyone who noticed would most likely
assume that Akane and Ranma were trying to stay close together, after
all they had been nicer to each other recently. To Yuka and Hiroshi's
relief, no one besides their close friends seemed to notice how much
time *they* were spending together.

"I think the bunny outfit was the best," Sayuri said, continuing a
running conversation.

Akane shuddered. "That thing! Yuck!"

"I still like the French maid outfit from the first time," Yuka said.
"Too bad it's too short for me."

"You'd actually *wear* it?" Sayuri asked in mock surprise.

"Well, you've got to admit it was sexy," Yuka countered.

"The only one *I* liked was the silk pant suit," Akane said.

"That one was no fun. It covered you completely, even if the material
was kind of sheer and clingy," Yuka complained. "I hope Kasumi comes up
with something better for this Sunday."

The nearby trio of boys were having a similar conversation, once
cultural differences and hormones were taken into account.

"You are the luckiest bastard, Ranma," Daisuke was saying. "Akane
looked *hot* in that dark blue silk thing she wore last Sunday."

"She did look pretty good," Hiroshi agreed with a distracted look.

Daisuke elbowed him in the side. "Bet you're thinking about how Yuka
would look in that," he whispered.

Ranma paused in his eating to defend Hiroshi. "Lay off Daisuke, of
course he wasn't." Ranma took a few bites before continuing. "Naw, he
was thinking about how she'd look in that maid outfit."

Daisuke laughed as Hiroshi turned purple. "Looks like you got him
Ranma."

The bantering stopped as a loud male voice spoke up from nearby. "Of
course they're doing it, wouldn't you if you had a fiancee like Akane?"
the voice said. "What I want to know if they do it when Ranma is a girl."

Ranma turned white. He was used to being a major subject of the rumor
horde, but not too many people were stupid enough to say things like
that where he could hear them. Even worse, Akane had obviously heard,
and it looked like her anger was winning over her hard-won self
control. The situation could get very nasty.

Hiroshi jumped up. He causally strolled over to the offending party and
tapped him on the shoulder.

The older boy turned to look down at Hiroshi. "What do you want,
underclassman?" he sneered.

"Run," Hiroshi said softly. "Now. Fast."

The sight of Ranma sitting nearby was sufficient to convince the
upperclassman of the wisdom of Hiroshi's advice. He ran, keeping low to
help hide in the lunchtime crowds.

For a moment Ranma was torn between squashing the gossiper and helping
Akane calm down. A low sob from his fiancee made his decision for him.
Akane crying was much more important than mere revenge.

* * * *

Nabiki looked up from her conversation with Kasumi as Ranma slunk into
the kitchen and poured some warm water over his head from the kettle.
Turning male didn't seem to improve his demeanor much.

"Hey, Saotome. Did the old lady down the block get you again?" Nabiki
asked.

"Yeah. I don't know how she does it. I could have sworn she wasn't
there and then suddenly I'm wet. She must be some kind of evil water
spirit or something."

Nabiki watched Ranma's face as it turned back to the same dour look
he'd walked in with. Usually a little joking around was enough to bring
back Ranma's good spirits, something must be really bothering him. She
shared a worried look with Kasumi, who nodded very slightly. Nabiki
nodded back, it was her turn to deal with Ranma. Knowing Ranma's
incomprehension of subtlety, she decided on the direct approach.

"So, what's bothering you Ranma?"

"It's this thing with Akane," he said dejectedly. "I'm just no good at
it."

Ranma stared at the floor a while. Nabiki kept quiet, giving Ranma a
chance to put his feelings into words.

"She's doing pretty well, and her self control has gotten a lot better.
Then something comes along like that big mouthed idiot at school today
and she loses it. I can't blame her if she gets angry in situations
like that, but I'm the one that's gotta drag her off and punish her if
her temper gets outta control."

"Oh dear, did Akane lose control today?"

"Naw. Hiroshi got rid of the guy fast and we managed to calm Akane
down. That's not the point though! If Hiroshi hadn't been around Akane
would have tried to clobber the guy. Maybe if I wasn't around there
wouldn't be so many rumors and stuff for her to deal with."

"Don't be so hard on yourself Ranma. Akane had problems with her temper
long before you showed up. You've done a great job." Nabiki said.

"I agree Ranma, you've done a wonderful job with Akane, I'm only sorry
you had to do this. Daddy or I should have been able to handle it,"
Kasumi said.

"We all owe you big time Ranma," Nabiki admitted.

Ranma smiled slightly. "You do? Then I want to collect."

A worried look flashed across Nabiki's face before it settled into its
normal, emotionless mask. "What did you have in mind?"

"School is pretty tough on Akane. Kuno is around all the time, there's
all those rumors, and sometimes Ukyou says some pretty bad stuff. I was
hoping you could do something about it."

"What did you have in mind?"

"I don't know. Just try to make things easier for Akane as school,
okay?"

Nabiki shook her head. "You don't know what you're asking Saotome.
Creating a rumor is easy, squashing or softening them is not. Kuno is
an idiot, but an obsessed idiot. I'm not sure he can be manipulated
sufficiently to leave Akane alone."

"But you can try."

Nabiki sighed. "All right. I *do* owe you. I'll try."

* * * *

Ranma was following Nabiki and Akane. Normally Nabiki left for school
way before they did, but she had insisted she needed the time with
Akane at school before she could figure out a way of making things
better. Ranma wasn't sure it was a good idea to let Akane out of his
sight, so he was following them at a distance, hoping they wouldn't
notice.

He watched as Nabiki traded verbal barbs with Kuno before Akane sent
him to his morning nap in the nurses office (Kuno smashing was no
longer considered a spanking offense). They stopped and talked to a few
friends of Akane's and a few business associates of Nabiki's. Everything
seemed normal until just before they reached the school doors. Someone
said something that made both Nabiki and Akane spin around. He started
running as soon as he saw Akane clench her fists.

He was fast, he could get there before anything happened. Nabiki had
told him to stay out of the way though. At the last second he leapt
into a tree a short distance from the altercation. From the branches he
could hear and see what was happening while remaining hidden.

"...one knows it." The girl said. She was in Ranma's grade, but he
couldn't remember the name. He did know that she and Akane didn't get
along.

"That's ridiculous!" Akane shouted.

"I agree," Nabiki said calmly. "Where *ever* did you hear such a silly
rumor."

"Silly?" the girl taunted. "I think not. Everyone knows Akane is
unstable. It only makes sense that she would be forced to spend time in
a mental hospital if she goes off the deep end again."

Nabiki shook her head. "A little hot headed certainly, but not
unstable. You shouldn't spread such rumors, they have a way of coming
back to haunt you."

"Look at her!" the girl said. "Quivering in anger, I bet she would just
love to hit me right now."

"Of course she wants to hit you!" Nabiki said. Ranma though he heard an
uncharacteristic touch of anger in Nabiki's voice. "You're insulting her
and in general being an obnoxious bitch. Hell, *I* want to hit you."
Nabiki dropped her bag. "In fact, I *will* hit you."

Nabiki lunged forward and swung at the girl who dodged at the last
second. One of the girls watching the altercation ran in to attack
Nabiki from behind. Akane put out her arm to block the girl and
inadvertently clotheslined her. Nabiki made another attack, which the
first girl again dodged. The girl then swung around and tried a
roundhouse kick to Nabiki's face.

Ranma was just about to jump down to save Nabiki from a girl who
obviously knew some martial arts when Nabiki leapt back and dropped
into a fighting stance. The stance was one Ranma liked to use himself.
Arms loose, knees bent slightly in, chin tucked in slightly, it was a
good posture if you were faster than your opponent. It also didn't
*look* like a fighting posture if you weren't trained to watch for it.
Ranma decided to let Nabiki handle this herself.

The girl smiled like a shark and moved in for a double armed strike.
Nabiki ducked under it and punched the girl right in the nose. The girl
fell back and held her bleeding face, bleating in pain.

"All right, what's going on?" A teacher, attracted by the commotion and
noise broke through the circle of onlookers and immediately jumped to
the wrong conclusion.

"Miss Tendo!" he said, looking at Akane. "Another fight? Detention for
you."

"Actually I'm afraid I'm the one who punched this snot in the nose."
Nabiki said with a hint of satisfaction.

"Oh?" the teacher said in surprise. "Then detention for you, Nabiki
Tendo."

The girl who Akane had inadvertently knocked down chose that moment to
groan. Ranma thought it sounded rather theatrical.

"And what about this girl?" the teacher asked.

"She ran into my arm when she tried to jump my sister from behind,"
Akane explained.

"Hmm." After a look at the girl on the ground by Akane and the first
girl, still clutching her bleeding nose, he pronounced his final
judgment. "Miss Iwaki has suffered enough, but detentions for the three
of you." The teacher gestured at the girl lying on the ground and
bleeding. "Will someone please see her to the nurses office?"

The crowd quickly broke up as the first bell rang. As Akane and Nabiki
walked into the building Ranma saw Akane give Nabiki a look of
gratitude.

* * * *

Nabiki looked sidelong at Akane as they entered the dojo. She'd been
very quiet since that morning's run in with the school gossip. Nabiki
had tried to start a conversation on the way home, but Akane just would
just answered briefly and go back to her thoughtful look.

Maybe Ranma could have brought her out of it, but they'd had to stay
late to serve their detention, so they'd been walking home alone.

"Nabiki?"

Nabiki jumped a little. She'd gotten used to Akane's silence and her
quiet voice startled her.

"So, she does speak!" Nabiki instantly chided herself. This was not a
good time to tease her sister. "What's up Akane?"

"Could you come into the kitchen? I want to talk to you and Kasumi for
a minute."

Nabiki shrugged. "Sure."

They walked into the kitchen where Kasumi was working on dinner.

"Could I talk to you for a moment Kasumi?" Akane asked in the same
quiet voice.

"Certainly Akane." Kasumi turned down the heat on a few dishes and
turned to her youngest sister.

"I, umm, I want to apologize, and thank you." Akane said.

"For what?"

"I want to apologize for lots of things I've done to both of you, but
mostly for the way I treated you Kasumi, that night a month or so ago.
You were just trying to explain and I flew off the handle and would
have hit you. There's no excuse for what I did."

Akane traced a pattern on the floor with her toe and continued. "And I
wanted to thank you both for lots of things too, but mostly Nabiki for
helping me out today with that nasty Iwaki girl telling stories about
me."

"You're welcome, Akane," Nabiki said.

"You're forgiven Akane," Kasumi said gently. "Isn't there someone else
you should apologize to, and thank?"

Akane blushed deeply and looked down at the floor. "I guess so," she
answered.

"Ranma is in his room studying," Kasumi said.

"Thanks." Akane continued looking at the floor a moment, then her face
twisted in a look of determination and she headed for the staircase.

Once she was out of sight, Nabiki turned to Kasumi. "She's finally
growing up."

Kasumi smiled. "They both are."


===========================
 Epilogue: One month later
===========================

Nabiki put her school bag on the table and sighed. It had been one hell
of a day. Since accepting Ranma's charge to keep things calmer for Akane
at school she'd worked harder than she ever had in her life. The worst
of it was that she wasn't even making a profit on it. As if that wasn't
bad enough, several people had noticed her non-profit efforts on her
sisters behalf, and that was beginning to tarnish her reputation as a
tough businesswoman.

Today had been simply horrible. Kuno had been unbearable, his sister
had come for a visit, and the rumor mill was going crazy because a few
students saw Ranma and Akane holding hands before school.

Nabiki smiled as a cup of tea was slid next to her school bag. Trust
Kasumi to know when she needed a little calming of her own.

"So how was school today?"

Nabiki frowned. "Not too good. I kept a lot of the heat off Akane
again, but there was so much that I'm sure she still had a rough day. I
*tried* Kasumi, it was just too much."

"It's all right Nabiki, I'm sure Akane appreciates your effort."

"Maybe. It's starting to affect my image though." Nabiki fell silent,
not sure she really wanted to talk about it.

"You mean someone noticed you can be a nice person?" Kasumi said with
that hint of amusement most people missed.

"Well...yes," Nabiki admitted. "It's not funny, Kasumi! I worked hard
to get people to think of me a certain way, and now that's starting to
fall apart."

"What happened?"

"At first it was just a few of my assistants chiding me a little for
being so nice to Akane and Ranma. Then I started getting some funny
looks from some of the people I do business with."

"Funny looks?" Kasumi asked. "What kind of funny looks?"

"They...umm...well, they smiled at me. A nice smile, not one of those
fake business smiles."

"That doesn't sound too horrible," Kasumi had that amused look again.

"It gets worse. Today someone actually asked me out," Nabiki said
sullenly.

"How nice!"

"Yeah right. You should have seen me! I acted like a fourteen year old
being asked on their first date. I stammered. I even *blushed*. Me,
blushing!" Nabiki shook her head. "I don't think anyone saw us, but if
they did, my reputation is gone."

"So when are you going out?"

"Saturday...Hey!" Nabiki frowned at Kasumi, upset that her sister had
tricked her into admitting that she said yes to the date.

"Don't worry little sister," Kasumi said gently. "Your secret is safe
with me."

"The way things are going it won't be a secret for much longer," Nabiki
played with her tea cup for a moment. "And it's not even helping Akane
that much."

"Why do you say that?" Kasumi asked, looking genuinely puzzled.

"Didn't you hear? Daddy told me Ranma has had to punish Akane twice
this week. And she'd been doing so well the last month."

To Nabiki's surprise Kasumi giggled. Before she could ask her sister
about her strange reaction, Akane came slamming into the room.

"Arrrgh!" Akane yelled. "I can't believe that Kodachi!"

"Hello Akane," Kasumi said pleasantly. "How was your day?"

"Terrible! Everyone keeps telling these horrible stories about us. And
Kuno was a real pest."

Ranma stuck his head around the door behind Akane and gave her a
worried look.

"Hello Ranma!" Kasumi said, ignoring the shushing motions Ranma was
making.

Akane spun around. "You! You have some nerve showing up here. How could
you let Kodachi grab you like that."

"Come on Akane, it's not like I asked her to do it."

"Well, mister hot shot martial artist, why didn't you just dodge?"

"I was distracted, okay!" Ranma yelled back.

The two fiancees paused a moment staring each other in the eye. For a
moment Nabiki thought Akane was going to back down. But then...

"You jerk!" Akane said, and punched Ranma in the chest.

Nabiki shook her head in dismay. Akane had been doing so well and now
this. Still, there was something wrong about this whole thing. It took
a moment for Nabiki to figured it out: Ranma was standing there. Even
Ranma couldn't take one of Akane's punches without at least flinching.
Usually he flew backwards through a wall or two before coming to a
stop. Akane must have just tapped him.

Ranma grabbed Akane and threw her over his shoulder. "You know the
rules Akane, time for your punishment."

Akane swung her arms, beating Ranma lightly on the back as he carried
her toward the dojo. "You cruel, nasty man, what evil punishment do you
have in store for me today?" Ranma said something Nabiki couldn't make
out and Akane started giggling as they moved out of sight.

Nabiki just stared after them. "What just happened?" she asked Kasumi.

"Oh, just a little game they've been playing. I'm sure their act would
have been much more convincing if Daddy or Mr. Saotome were around.
Please be sure to tell Daddy how you saw Akane hit Ranma and Ranma take
her to the dojo for punishment."

"So it's just a way to get some privacy?"

"Yes. Silly isn't it?" Kasumi said with a smile. "Actually, though, I
think they have a lot of fun putting on an act for the fathers."

"So, Akane hasn't been hitting Ranma? Really hitting him I mean."

"Of course not. I think she's much better now."

Nabiki smiled. "So it isn't all for nothing." She stood up suddenly,
feeling much better. "Kasumi, will you excuse me? I've got to go
shopping for a new dress. Can't go on a date wearing some old rag, can
I?"

"Of course not, Nabiki. Hurry, or you'll miss dinner."

=== END Proper Punishment ===


C&C is welcome, flames ignored. Please send comments to
twrensch@geocities.com. My completed stories and relatively complete
drafts are posted at http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/5201/.

    Source: geocities.com/tokyo/dojo/5201