Kodachi smiled at her sleeping brother. The bokken clutched in his arms was so typical of him. "Oh brother dear, will anything do for a substitute? No Akane Tendo, no dreaded pig-tailed girl." She sat beside him, mask firmly in place to filter the air. "What would your newly beloved Nabiki Tendo say, knowing you have someone else in your arms?"
          Kunou stirred slightly in his sleep, his face covered in sweat. He moaned as Kodachi’s poisons tormented his dreams.
          "You will welcome Ranma when he comes to me brother, then you may have your pick of the Tendo girls." She took the bokken away, amused as he reached for it like a lifeline, even in his sleep. "Or whatever else you might need to pass the time."

          Nabiki listened to the tapes Sasuke had brought her. He sat silently in a corner, watching her reactions. Her face was a typical mask of impassivity. "Did you see anyone else?"
          "No Miss Nabiki, although Mistress Kodachi has many of her squad who are very loyal to her. And many hiding places."
          "Very well. Is she drugging him?"
          Sasuke lay a small leaf on her desk. "I couldn’t take much. There was this and some kind of incense in a wall compartment."
          "All right. Thank you Sasuke." She handed him an envelope. "I’d appreciate knowing if you see anyone…with him."
          "Would you like cameras?"
          An image of Kunou with someone else ran through her mind. Was that moan passion or pain? "No Sasuke. Thank you." She watched the ninja leave with a heavy heart. "Damn it Nabiki," she whispered. "You’re supposed to know better." Tears appeared in her eyes then ran down her cheeks unchecked. "Damn it."

          Mousse practiced quietly in the dojo, working on getting his skills back up to speed. He stopped when he sensed a presence in the doorway. "Hello Ranma."
          "I didn’t realize you were here." He turned to leave.
          "You needn’t go. I apologize for my attack last night. It’s something of a reflex."
          "Yeah. Like Akane’s mallet."
          "Sort of." Mousse sat on the floor and watched Ranma warm up. "She wants you to spend some time with her."
          "I gotta find the cure."
          "Cologne is devious Saotome. Don’t get me wrong. She may have the cure. But her goal is to keep you from Akane and dating Shampoo."
          "But she may have the cure. Shampoo can’t touch my heart." Ranma sat down. "How can I protect her if I can’t touch her?"
          "You’re the only one hurting her. She’s going to start thinking that you don’t care."
          "She knows…"
          "Ranma," Mousse stood. "Don’t leave her alone. She needs you."

          The next day dawned bright and warm. Ranma walked slowly to the Cat Café, enjoying the day. "Nihao Ranma."
          Shampoo fell in step beside him. "Shampoo already do delivery. Is going to be busy day."
          "Good. It’ll go by quickly." He stopped, suddenly suspicious. "Hey! You’re not hugging me."
          "Shampoo be good while work. She too, too excited to spend all day with Ranma then date with him. Shampoo already pick out dress."
          "Hey, nowhere fancy."
          She laughed. "Okay Ranma!" and bounced away.
          Ukyou stretched and yawned. Then reached for her spatula to take care of whomever was lying next to her. As her hand connected with the handle, Ryouga turned to face her.
          "R…Ryouga?"
          "Ukyou?" He sprung away from her.
          "What happened?"
          He began laughing uncontrollably. Ukyou slapped him. "Don’t be a jackass. We’re both fully dressed. All I remember is kissing…" She blushed. "We must have fallen asleep."
          "Uh, yeah. Okay." He stood and helped her do the same. "Time for work?"
          "I think we should clean up first." She started out, turning back to face him. "Sugar? Thanks."
          "For?" Ryouga looked suitable confused.
          "The best night’s sleep I’ve ever had."

          Kunou staggered out of his family’s mansion and into the waiting car. "To the Tendo’s."
          Kasumi openned the door. "Oh my. You should come inside."
          Kunou thanked her and allowed her to lead him inside. Nabiki looked up from her paper as they entered the room. "Kunou-baby?"
          "Nabiki." He sank down next to her.
          "You look horrible."
          "Nabiki!"
          "Sorry Kasumi, but it’s true. What happened?" She tried to ignore the images of what could have happened dancing through her mind.
          "I’m not sure." He closed his eyes, vision of his hallucinogen induced nightmares flashing there. "I have these dreams."
          "Kunou," Nabiki took his hand and squeezed it tightly. "I have to show you something." She pulled the leaf from her pocket and explained what she had discovered it was for. "It’s turning your desires against you. Your dreams, they’re about my sister, aren’t they?"
          "I just get flashes." He refused to meet her eyes.
          "Kunou, it’s not your fault. It’s Kodachi’s." She openned a folder she had lying on the table in front of them. On top of the small pile was a picture of her in her skimpiest bikini.
          "You tempt me."
          She wished she could believe him. She turned the next page, a picture of Akane in a short, blue nightie. A moan much like the one on the tape escaped his lips and he held his head between his hands. Nabiki turned the page again to a picture of Ranma’s female half posed in tight black lingerie.
          "Oh god," he moaned, curling into a fetal position.
          "You had to put Akane and the pig-tailed girl out of your mind Tatchi." She sniffed back the tears that threatened to fall. "If you think about them with desire at all, you undergo this extreme pain. At first you could just not think of them, but it’s getting worse."
          "My sister…" He held his head still trying to think of anything other than his loves.
          "That’s why I was safe. Because you have no desire for me. You despise me, so I couldn’t hurt you. Go home. Air out your room. Send your sister away for a while. Get better." She closed the folder, easing his pain. "Sasuke told me you had to burn all your other photos. Those are free. Anything else will cost you." She squeezed his hand once again. "Don’t look past the first page for a while."
          "Nabiki…"
          "Please, call me Nabiki Tendo."
          Akane glanced sadly at her clock. It was almost five in the afternoon. Kasumi and Mousse had both come to see her, but for the most part, she was alone. And lonely. Again.
          She heard the front door shut and then the sound of Ranma’s footsteps going toward the kitchen. Kasumi’s voice drifted up to her. "Oh Ranma! You’re just in time for dinner. Would you take this tray up to Akane?"
          "I can’t Kasumi. I’m beat. I’ve been waiting tables all day." His female voice sounded panicky. "Maybe Mousse will do it?"
          "All right Ranma."
          He turned around so he would miss the disapproving glance he knew would come with the tone. "Work was great though. I made a lot of tips and Shampoo didn’t touch me once."
          "Perhaps because you were a girl?" Kasumi asked as she loaded two dinner trays.
          "Nah, she don’t care anymore. She’ll glomp onto me no matter what." She picked up the ever-present kettle and poured the warm water. "Man, I hate being a girl for that long."
          "By the way, Ukyou called. She wondered if you would like to go to a movie with her and Ryouga."
          "Hey! I can invite Shampoo and that could be one of our dates!" He rubbed his hands together delightedly. Mousse walked into the kitchen and frowned at him.
          "I doubt a double date is what Cologne and Shampoo have in mind. Do you need help Kasumi?" He looked at the floor, pretending the thought of Ranma and Shampoo didn’t bother him.
          "Perhaps you can take these trays upstairs to Akane and Nabiki?"
          "Of cour…"
          Ranma grabbed one of the trays. "I’ll help. I’ve got Nabiki’s. Mousse, you take Akane’s."
          Akane closed her eyes, wishing she could somehow shut out the sound as well. Ukyou and Ryouga? Ranma and Shampoo? She pressed her lips together to try to hold in the sob. She curled tightly into a ball and hid under the covers. When Mousse knocked, she refused to answer, quietly crying herself to sleep.

          Ranma knocked on Nabiki’s door then let himself into her room. She was sitting at her desk, her back to him. "I brought up your dinner. Are you feeling okay?"
          "You know Saotome, there are very few times in y life when I regret a decision I’ve made. But nights like tonight when you demonstrate so eloquently that you are a completely insensitive ass, I regret that I helped push you on my sister." She turned to face him, her eyes lit up with anger. "She’s physically hurt, which is not your fault, but on top of that, you delight in tormenting her. Do you think she can’t hear you? Do you think she’s immune to the things you say?"
          Ranma backed away. "I’m sorry. She…"
          "Haven’t you hurt her enough?" Nabiki turned back around to her desk, staring sightlessly at the small box containing the few memories of her love affair.
          "I don’t mean to hurt her." Ranma walked up behind Nabiki and lay an envelope on her desk. "My tips. For dojo repairs."
          "Did you keep enough out for your date with Shampoo?"
          Feeling threatened, he became defensive. "Yeah. Enough for a nice date. Dinner and a movie."
          "And maybe a hotel room after?" Nabiki’s voice was sharp and angry.
          "Well, I can’t just do it here like…" Ranma stopped, frozen in fear.
          "Like who?" Suddenly Nabiki looked very much like the cat who caught a particularly tasty looking mouse.
          "Nobody." Ranma met her gaze, refusing to back down. "Nobody."
          Nabiki, sensing his honor was at stake, knew she wouldn’t win. This time. "Fine Ranma. Run along. Your little pussy is waiting."

          Shampoo waited impatiently by the doors of the restaurant. Cologne stood beside her, balanced on her stick. "Remember Shampoo, don’t let him talk you into agreeing that a double date counts as one of your three agreed upon ones."
          "Yes great-grandmother."
          "It is crucial."
          "Shampoo understand. Spell need Shampoo and Ranma be alone." She flung open the door as Ranma approached. "Nihao Ranma. No try to trick Shampoo tonight. No is date."
          "Sure." He shrugged and held the door open for her. "Find the cure ghoul."
          "Have fun son-in-law."
          They walked slowly to Ucchans, Shampoo trying carefully to behave like a responsible woman. Cologne had told her to attract Ranma, she would have to be subtle. "Why husband so sad?"
          "I’m just worried about Akane."
          "Maybe movie take your mind off for while?" She smiled as he absently jumped on top of the fence.
          He looked down to reply and realized he could almost see down her shirt. "Uh, mind off, yeah."
          She smiled. This shouldn’t be hard at all.

          Ukyou glared angrily across the table at both Shampoo and Ranma. "So, Ranchan, how’s Akane?"
          He started guiltily then turned back to his food. "Okay."
          "Maybe I’ll go see her tomorrow. You’ll come with me, won’t you Ryouga-honey?"
          Ryouga was also busy glaring at Ranma. "Sure."
          "Careful P-chan. Wouldn’t want to get your girlfriends confused. What’s wrong? Can’t find one of your own, so you have to take mine?"
          Ukyou slapped him. "Don’t you dare say things like that Ranma Saotome." She threw her napkin on the table and stood up. "On second thought, I don’t think we’ll be going out with you at all tonight."
          "Ucchan…"
          "I don’t want to hear it." She took Ryouga’s hand. "What’s happened to you? Akane’s laid up in bed, so you’re out with her?"
          "That’s not it!"
          "One’s not enough Ranma?" Ryouga smirked.
          "I could ask you the same. Stay the hell away from Akane."
          "Why? You’re already doing that."
          Shampoo followed the conversations sensing, as Ukyou had, that there were definitely some strange undercurrents. "Ranma?" Her voice was soft, almost a whisper.
          He turned to her, surprised. He’d almost forgotten she was there. "Yeah?"
          "Let’s go. It’s almost time for movie." She took his hand and led him from the restaurant.
          Ukyou almost screamed. "Damn her. And damn him." She turned to Ryouga. "And damn you too."
          "Me? Why me?"
          "Just because." She sighed and sat down. "Damn."

          The theater was dark ad full, but not too noisy, which was just the way Ranma liked it. And for the first time, Shampoo was acting a way Ranma liked too. She wasn’t hanging onto him all the time, just an occasional touch or lean. He looked down and noticed they were holding hands. He hadn’t even realized. He smiled at her and she smiled back. She really was pretty….He leaned forward slightly, then caught himself. What was he thinking? He dropped her hand and sat back in the seat. He loved Akane.
          Shampoo sighed. Great-grandmother’s scent for attraction hadn’t worked. Almost. Only a couple more days until their next day. She’d have to try harder next time.

          Akane sat up in bend and listened to Nabiki describe the restaurant she and Kunou had gone to. "Are you upset Oneechan?"
          "About?"
          "You don’t fool me, you know. You liked the attention. And I think you liked him."
          "I only go after a sure thing Sis. You know that."
          "Then why did you date him in the first place Nabiki? Your logic doesn’t hold up." She reached out and took her sister’s hand. "People are afraid of you. They’re afraid you know their secrets. But that doesn’t mean they don’t like you, want to date you."
          "You forget Akane, I’m not the one who had to beat off every guy at Furinkan High."
          "Yes, but no one ever respected what I wanted, which was to be left alone. Everyone respects you." Akane smiled. "No one dares risk the wrath of Nabiki."
          She smiled back. "Thanks."
          "I know you like him Nabiki."
          "Just like you like Ranma?"
          The light suddenly left Akane’s eyes. "I do Nabiki. But he feels so much guilt. And it hurts so much when he won’t come and see me."
          "I know. The best advice I can give you is to not let it show. Do what you can and enjoy the company you do get."
          "I do. But to know he’s out here with her, for whatever reason, hurts so much. And I can’t even mallet him without hurting myself."
          "Shampoo is just a means to an end, Akane."
          "For him. But she wants him and I’m not sure how far she or Cologne will go to get him."
          "Don’t worry little sister. I promise, your cure is not going to be left in the hands of that old monkey."
          "Thanks Nabiki."
          "Hey, what good are all these connections if I can’t help my little sister?"

          Ranma walked Shampoo back to the café, leaving her with only a hug, which she’d instigated. He headed home, wondering about her behavior. Other than the hug, she’d been acting way too cute and nice for his own good.
          He thoughts turned to Akane. He missed her. Tomorrow he’d have to walk to school alone. Three long weeks of walking to school alone. He passed the park, head down, mind occupied with vision of Akane. He stopped abruptly when he collided with someone. "Hey, sorry man."
          "So it is you Saotome." Kunou stepped aside. "I have no quarrel with you today."
          "That’s great." He looked more closely at the upperclassman. "You look bad."
          "My sister has been drugging me. Nabiki…Tendo has directed me as to how to relieve myself of these poisons."
          "So you’re better now?" Visions of chases involving Kunou’s pig-tailed goddess danced in Ranma’s head. "Well, stay away from Akane. She’s too sick to deal with you."
          Kunou, upon hearing Akane’s name, turned and ran.
          Ranma shrugged and continued home.

          Ryouga stood in the hallway outside of Akane’s room. Ukyou had left him out there, deciding she and Akane needed to have some girl talk.
          "Sooo, Ryouga." Nabiki smiled slyly at him. "Haven’t seen P-chan around lately."
          "Oh?" Sweat slid down his brow.
          "C’mon Ryouga. Tell me the truth. Are you hiding from Akane? Or do you just like Ukyou better?"
          "I’m moving on with my life."
          "Akane needs friends right now. Maybe a special friend? A certain pet, maybe?"
          "I can’t."
          "Ukyou wouldn’t mind."
          "I can’t."
          "Ranma can’t do anything. He’s honor bound."
          "Please Nabiki, I can’t. Believe that?"
          "Do it or I’ll tell her."
          "She already knows." He stared at her, trapped. "She knows. And that’s all I’ll say."
          Nabiki stared back at him, her brain working at top speed. "How long has she known?"
          "I won’t say anymore."
          "No wonder Ranma won’t look at her. How long have you been sleeping with my sister?"
          Ryouga fainted.

          "Ukyou, I told Ranma he could date whomever he wanted." Akane answered for the tenth time. All she wanted was for Ukyou to stop reminding her of Ranma’s date.
          "But her? why her?" She paced the room. "I’m cuter."
          "You’re also with Ryouga."
          "Only because Ranchan is in love with you."
          Akane frowned. "That’s not the only reason is it? He deserves much more than that."
          "You two would be great together Akane. He told me about what happened between you two."
          "He…he did?"
          "Yeah. I think it’s great."
          "You…you do?"
          "Sure. It’s a great way to start a relationship."
          "Is that how yours started with Ranma?" Akane’s eyes brightened with a sheen of tears. Ryouga betrayed her. Ranma lied to her.
          "Oh no. We never kissed before that day in the park."
          "Kissed?" Akane asked, somewhat stunned.
          "Yeah. What did you think I meant?" Her eyes narrowed, her suspicions aroused.
          "Nothing. Nothing at all."
          Outside the door, there was a soft thump.

          Ranma sat on the roof waiting for Ukyou and Ryouga to leave. One confrontation a night was his limit right now. He hoped they’d leave soon, it was January and starting to get cold at night.
          Nabiki sat at her desk running the evening over in her mind. She really hadn’t believed her own thought until Ryouga had passed out. As if things in her life weren’t bad enough, she had some of the biggest and juiciest news around and she couldn’t do a damn thing with it.
          Ranma crept down the roof to stand on Akane’s window sill. She was sleeping, her face turned toward the wall. He openned the window quietly and crept inside.
          Nabiki heard her equipment start rolling, so she put on her headphones. For the longest time there was no sound other than Akane’s breathing.
          Ranma sank to his knees beside her bed and wept silently.
          Nabiki heard the soft snuffle of tears falling, "Poor Ranma," she thought.
          "Akane, I’m sorry I can’t face this pain I’ve caused you by day, to your face. I’m sorry all I can see is my own guilt. I love you."
          Nabiki closed her eyes. Apparently when it came to her little sister’s sex life, she kept guessing wrong.
          "Sleep well Akane-chan. I’ll find us the cure. I swear."
          Nabiki took off the headphones and turned off the equipment. She’d definitely read it all wrong. Poor Ryouga, he had a bump on his head he didn’t deserve. She crawled under the covers and hoped Akane had been awake to hear Ranma’s words.

          Ukyou wiped the grill clean and hung up her rag to dry. Ryouga sat in a corner having already cleaned the tables and swept the floor. "So sugar, you never explained why you fainted earlier."
          "Nabiki surprised me."
          "Oh? The only surprise I’ve ever seen that made you faint was nudity." She frowned. "She wasn’t nude."
          He looked at the floor to avoid her gaze. He’d never actually answered Nabiki, so he was safe there. But it was obvious that Ranma had told her. He simply had no shame. "She startled me, I hit my head and knocked myself out." Embarrassing, but close enough to the truth. And Akane was safe.
          "Oh? I thought she might have said something about you and Akane." She paused to watch his reaction. He turned crimson and shuffled his feet nervously. "Your kiss, I mean."
          He seemed to deflate with relief. "Oh, our kiss. No she didn’t mention that."
          "I mentioned to Akane you’d told me what happened between you two and she got very nervous." She looked at him to see him act like he was guilty of something. "Damn it Ryouga, what’s going on?"
          "Nothing. We just both feel a little awkward about it since she and Ranma have admitted their feelings." He looked up, hoping he’d convinced her.
          "Why won’t you tell me?"
          "I have."
          "It’s because you think I’m using you, isn’t it?"
          "I’m telling you Ukyou, I’m letting myself be used. I can’t hold that against you, can I?" he stood and walked to the hallway that led to the bedrooms. "Goodnight."
          Ukyou felt like she’d been struck. He felt like she was using him. Fine. It didn’t bother her a bit. She sniffed back what were certainly not tears. Fine. As for the rest, she’d just have to pay for her information.