Subject: Nabiki-New Horizons Pt 7a - [No Title Yet]
From: "G.L. Sandborn" <sandborn@microlink.net>
Date: 4/5/1997, 9:28 PM
To: fanfic@fanfic.com, "Tony Johnston" <tony_johnston@yes.optus.com.au>

        Ok, my trusty pre-readers, I give you the first half of Part 7.
If this flies alright, I'll press ahead with the rest of the epic.
Part 7 will take us up to the kidnapping of Sodoshi.  Part 8 will be
the rescue and the last great shinobi war.
        You will notice I'm following three threads here; 1)Jeff,
Nabiki, and Sodoshi / Nabiki bad mother / kidnapping of Sodoshi,
2) Ranma and Akane / Ranma has a job / Akane suspecious of what
he's up to, and 3) Kasumi and Tofu / Kasumi gets a new boyfriend -
the new local policeman / Tofu has to make his move or risk losing
her for good.  I also promise you'll see Kasumi go ballistic while
still totally in character.  Only one thing in the known universe
can do that... badmouthing mother - but only if it comes from one
of her sisters (in this case, Nabiki).  Stay tuned. Gonna be fun.
        BTW, some of you have already read parts of this.  Don't 
worry, I've rewritten much of what you've already read so that it
reads better and adds more detail.
        Enjoy.





                        Nabiki - New Horizons
                       Part 7 - [no title yet]
                            G.L. Sandborn




     It was 3:12 AM, Hawaiian Standard Time; a time when most people
are still asleep.  However, most people do not include those with
babies.   In the Lawrence household, the sound of a baby crying echoed
through the master bedroom, awaking the sleeping parents.  With a pair
of groans, the couple stirred.
     "Your turn," Nabiki mumbled as she rolled over to face her
husband, determined to remain under her warm covers.
     "I did it last time."  Jeff was facing away from his wife but
equally determined to remain in bed.
     "It's your turn," she repeated, adding emphasis by planting one
of her cold feet in the small of Jeff's back and pushing.  Just before
tumbling out of his warm bed, Jeff got the message.
     Grumbling about lack of sleep, he stumbled out of bed and
staggered over to little Sodoshi's crib.  Inside, the girl was crying
in genuine discomfort.
     "So, you hungry or..."  Jeff slipped a hand under her diaper only
long enough to determine that hunger was *not* Sodoshi's primary
concern.  "I don't know how, but I'm gonna get you house broken as
soon as possible."  Sodoshi just squalled louder.
     With a sigh of resignation, Jeff gently picked the baby up and
carried her into the nursery, making sure to close the door behind
him.  Nabiki was a sound sleeper but still had a mother's reflexes -
and a crying baby was certain to irritate her sufficiently to disturb
her sleep.  And a disturbed Nabiki is not a happy Nabiki.
     As he changed Sodoshi's diaper, he thought back to how much their
lives had changed over the last six months.  Nabiki had registered for
classes at Chaminade University, almost from her hospital bed,
immediately after Sodoshi's birth.  She was determined that a baby was
not going to alter her plans for financial independence.  She also
began the first of her investments; mostly US government securities -
nothing too risky until she felt more comfortable in the American
financial shark pool.
     Jeff's life had changed only in that he found himself playing
'nanny' to his daughter more than other fathers.  While this allowed
him to 'bond' better with Sodoshi than his wife, it also cut seriously
into his business dealings - not to mention the enjoyment of his
financial situation.  He found himself relying increasingly on his
computer and phone for many of his dealings and a proxy in those
critical, face to face, situations.  It wasn't ideal, but allowed him
to retain *some* control over his financial empire.  His secretary,
Rachel, earned her raise by working longer hours and keeping track of
more of the daily affairs for Jeff.
     Once dry, Sodoshi clearly indicated her hunger.  With another
sigh, Jeff carried his daughter down the hallway to the kitchen. 
Rooting around in the refrigerator, he produced a bottle of formula. 
Nabiki, having long since abandoned the breast feeding idea as too
time consuming, had carefully chosen store-bought formula for her
daughter.  Besides, Sodoshi wouldn't stop biting.  Popping the bottle
in the warmer, Jeff took a few moments to admire his ability to take
care of his daughter.  He was not mother, mind you, but he knew enough
to feed, bathe, and diaper her.  He also, knew how to entertain her in
an educational way.  It was not the ideal, but considering the
alternative...
     Selecting his favorite chair in front of the TV, Jeff settled in
to a long feeding session while he surfed the many cable channels
available.  He wasn't very happy with his situation - being a young
father and all.  He longed for the days when he had few
responsibilities and lots of time to do the things he wanted.  Jeff
finished the feeding, burping, and smiled to himself as Sodoshi yawned
her willingness to go back to sleep - perhaps, he was going to get off
easy tonight.  Instead of carrying her back to her bed, Jeff simply
reclined his seat, turned the chair's heat to low, threw a small
blanket over Sodoshi's dozing form, and settled in to his familiar
alternate bed.
     As he lay there in the darkness, the TV still flickering with
images of some old Western, Jeff's mind sorted through all the changes
that had taken place in the world that surrounded him since the birth
of Sodoshi.
     Akane and Ranma had both graduated from high school and were
attending the local prefectural college.  They were still unmarried
and still dealing with assorted fiances, troublemakers, and bizarre
martial artists.  It was a wonder they found time to attend college.
     Kasumi was still unmarried, but her mother-promised union with
Dr. Tofu began to look more promising now that he had overcome his
'Kasumi-lunacy' whenever he saw her.  She was still living at home,
caring for her family, but spent increasing amounts of time down at
the clinic helping Dr. Tofu with his paperwork and cleaning.  The
doctor's patients gradually accepted Kasumi's presence, now that she
proved no further threat to their health.
     In spite of it all, Jeff and Nabiki had not gone home to Nerima
since the birth of their daughter.  Kasumi, especially, was perturbed
at this development.  Nabiki had promised to bring the baby home so
father and the rest of the Tendo extended family could see her.  Over
many phone calls, Kasumi made it clear she wanted to see her American
family, but Nabiki deferred, sighting her class schedule and Jeff's
busy work.  Still, summer vacation was coming and there was no putting
off Kasumi this time.  Jeff and Nabiki would have to travel home
before the end of summer.
     Before he could find any sense or conclusion to all this, his
mind joined his body in slumber.

     "Well, isn't *this* a cozy sight."  Jeff knew that voice.  In
Japanese or English, she had the same irritating voice first thing in
the morning.  Slowly, Jeff opened his eyes to see Nabiki's pretty face
graced with her usual sardonic smile as she viewed her husband and
baby. "I think this is what they call a 'Kodak moment'."
     "I think she's wet again."  Jeff slowly tried to hold the
squirming Sodoshi towards her mother.
     "Sorry, I've got an early final this morning."  Nabiki glided to
the table where her books were.  "You'll just have to take care of
that little matter yourself, Jeffrey."
     "I'm curious.  Just when is it *my* turn to get a good night's
sleep, leave early, and go back to my office."  He wasn't angry, just
irritated at his wife's apparent lack of interest in their daughter.
     "Don't be absurd, Jeffrey.  You've slept in lots of times."  She
snatched up her book bag and a cup of coffee on her way to the door. 
"You know how important getting an education is to me.  You already
have all the money *you'll* ever need.  You don't need an education." 
She paused to take a swig of her hot coffee.  "Besides, I can't take
her to class with me."
     "The school has a day care center."  Jeff tried to shift
Sodoshi's wet diapered bottom off his arm.  A second odor warned him
of her 'other' surprise.  "I know they take infants."
     "Leave MY daughter in the hands of strangers?"  Nabiki looked out
the door to see her ride approaching.  "You've *got* to be kidding. 
Gotta go now.  See you for dinner.  Bai Bai."
     As Nabiki disappeared from the house, a cloud seemed to settle
over the sun, casting the Lawrence household into the gray twilight
that matched Jeff's mood.  Sighing in resignation, he wearily got up
and carried his fussing daughter back to the changing room to deal
with her morning 'gift' to her father.  (GOD! But he hated this part
of the job.)

     Nabiki shifted her body to get more comfortable in the back seat
of the newer Toyota.  She was secretly enjoying being a school girl
again - this time with all the freedoms she dreamed of back in high
school.
     Her new friends occupied the front seats.  Sandi, the driver, was
a tall, thin and very attractive blonde from the mainland.  Her father
was rather well off and tended to give his only daughter everything
she wanted - like college in Hawaii and car to go with it.  Summer,
the other occupant in the front seat, was a cute, short Japanese-
Caucasian-Hawaiian-Cheerleader mix who always seemed to be the
conscience of the group.  Her father was a successful owner of a large
local import-export business but was a little more thrifty when it
came to his daughter.  As a result, she was always conning others into
paying for her fun.
     Nabiki smiled to herself as she listened to the excited
conversation in the front seat.  It was like the 'girl talk' she
remembered from back home - except it was all in English.  Sandi was
discussing her latest boyfriend and Summer kept warning her about the
guy's 'reputation'.  Each was practically shouting to be heard over
the thundering rock-and-roll coming from the tiny car's overstuffed
audio system.  All the while, Sandi was driving her usual break-neck
pace down the mountain, dodging small animals and kids as she went.
     "So, what do you think about Sandi's new guy?"  Summer twisted
around in the seat to address Nabiki.  Nabiki was able to pick up
enough of the words through the blaring music to respond.
     "He sound very nice."  She giggled in her best Japanese form.
     Summer just wrinkled her pretty nose and shook her head.  She was
a self-styled expert on boys and their sincerity, and her take on
Sandi's latest was decidedly negative.
     "Being married has really warped you, girl," she shouted back
Nabiki's way.
     Nabiki, bobbing slightly to the heavy beat of the music, chuckled
more because of Summer's look than what she said - seeing she could
barely hear the girl.
     Further conversation was limited until they pulled into the
parking lot of the university.  As Sandi shut off the car, the sudden
silence was almost deafening.
     "So, we still on for tonight?" Sandi finally asked as she checked
her makeup in the rear view mirror.
     Nabiki's look of confusion clued Summer to an explanation.
     "Don't you remember?  We're going to the 'Big Kahuna' tonight to
celebrate the end of finals.  Besides, it's Friday and girls get in
free."  Summer bobbed like she was dancing before recalling what, she
thought, was the cause of Nabiki's hesitation.  "Oh, yeah, you're
married - I forgot."
     "So bring him along," Sandi suggested as she finished with her
makeup.  "We'll even let him buy us our drinks."
     Nabiki grimaced slightly as she stared at the car's floor.  It
wasn't her husband she was most worried about.  The other girls knew
all about Jeff - and his money.  Nabiki had just kept her other little
secret from them.  In Japan, being married wouldn't keep you from your
friends - being a mommy could.
     "We too young to get in."  Nabiki's mind was desperately looking
for ways to avoid doing this and still be part of the group.
     "Honestly, Nabiki," Sandi moaned.  "Scottie's working as the
doorman tonight.  He'll let us in without ID's.  Come on, it'll be
fun."
     "Hey.  Just call your husband and tell him you'll be home late." 
Summer started bobbing again.  "He'll understand.  It's the end of
school.  It's Friday.  We've worked hard all semester.  We deserve a
break."
     Almost shyly, Nabiki looked at her two friends.  They were her
age, single, and free - all the things she wished she was right then. 
All they had to worry about in their lives was school and boys.
     "I... I don't know..."  Nabiki was genuinely torn.  She wanted to
go along with her friends - be part of a group again - that was
expected.  It was just she felt something was wrong in what she was
going to do.
     "Well, if you don't want to go..." Sandi seemed a little peeved
by her friend's reluctance.
     "No no no... I just...Jeffrey might... might have other plans. 
Must check first."  Nabiki finally offered.
     "Okay, you call him and we'll meet you at 5, just after Summer's
last final."
     The girls seemed relieved at Nabiki's apparent agreement.  While
they genuinely liked Nabiki and were her truest friends in Hawaii,
that didn't always prevent them from taking advantage of her on
occasion.  Nabiki knew how to do two things very well; use her credit
card and get money from an ATM machine.  The card she used like it was
her own money - very carefully.  The ATM machine... well, let's just
say she knew were every ATM was in Hawaii and had liberally used them
in the past for her growing social life-style.  Her friends knew well
that if Nabiki came with, there would never be a problem with money.
     It was going on 4:30 when Nabiki finally decided to call Jeffrey. 
Half hoping he would put up some kind of a fuss, she was a little
disappointed at how calmly he took the news that she wasn't going to
be home for dinner.  He expressed even less emotion over her notice
that she was going out with her friends.  Neither mentioned Sodoshi.
     Feeling genuinely rotten, Nabiki hung up the phone and joined her
friends.
     "So, how'd it go?"  Summer was the most animated of the bunch. 
Sandi was too busy working on her 'cool' look to get as excited as her
friend over a night on the town with, if things worked out right,
somebody else picking up the tab.
     "Jeffrey understood.  Said he find something else to do."  Nabiki
didn't look at her friends as replied.  Most of what she said was
really a lie.
     The three had little to say until they reached the nightclub. 
There really wasn't much sense in trying to shout over Sandi's car
stereo system anyway.
     Outside the club, Sandi pulled the group up short.
     "Nabiki, if you want to have a good time tonight, you better get
rid of 'that'."  She pointed to Nabiki's wedding ring.  Nabiki never
went anywhere or did anything without her wedding set.  It wasn't
because it was so expensive or anything.  On the contrary, it was
fairly simple - certainly something less than a person like Jeffrey
could afford.  Still, it was something Nabiki valued as much as her
husband.  To remove it, even for just an evening, signaled something
in her that felt as wrong as anything she had ever contemplated.
     "No.  I couldn't..."  Nabiki looked shocked at her friend's
suggestion, covering her ring set with her other hand.
     "Suit yourself, sweetie."  Sandi shrugged as she started for the
main door.  "But with that 'thing' on your finger, you're gonna have a
rotten time."
     Nabiki looked cautiously at Summer who was glancing back and
forth between Nabiki and Sandi.  She wanted to follow Sandi's lead but
felt a little awkward with Nabiki's reluctance.
     "Wait a minute.  I've got an idea."  She dug quickly through her
small purse and produced a tiny silver high school class ring.  "Just
take off your wedding rings, put them in your pocket for the evening,
and wear this over where your rings were.  It'll cover the marks left
by your wedding set."  She held the class ring in front of Nabiki.
     "Come on, you two."  Sandi was getting impatient.  She was ready
to party and her two cohorts were holding up the fun.
     Nabiki stared at Summer's little class ring while she fingered
her own wedding set.  She really didn't want to go through with this
just to go into an American nightclub.  It felt wrong.  But she was,
for the first time since her mother died, part of a group - something
she had always wanted.  She had forgotten how much independence one
had to surrender to belong.  Cautiously, she looked at the front of
the nightclub.  As nightclubs go, it was certainly less impressive
than those she had seen back in Tokyo.  Still, she had never before
been to such a place and if wearing a wedding ring was improper, then
she would reluctantly go along with the 'custom'.  With a nervous
smile that looked more like a grimace, Nabiki slowly removed her
wedding ring.

     Jeff took Nabiki's news in stride.  She was becoming more of an
American college girl - hanging out with her friends.  Jeff just
looked at it as a phase she was going through.  When she was done,
she'd be home.  His only concern was Sodoshi.  It wasn't good for a
mother to be absent from the home so often during the child's
formative years.
     As usual, dinner time with Sodoshi was a messy affair.  She
seemed as intent on playing as she was eating.  Throughout it all,
Jeff remained calm, only mildly chastising Sodoshi when she spit or
played with her dinner.  Usually, he wound up cleaning the kitchen
after a Sodoshi meal, but didn't really mind.  He just wished Nabiki
was there to help him.
     Jeff wasn't naturally a good father.  He spent the first few
weeks, constantly on the phone with his mother and taking careful
notes.  With her help, Jeff learned all the ins and outs about basic
child care - the rest, he improvised.  In relation to Nabiki, he was
miles ahead.
     With dinner over, and a fresh diaper applied, he settled back
into his favorite chair, Sodoshi in his lap for the evening.  First
they played a little shinobi game where Jeff would hold up a fist. 
When he quickly extended a finger, Sodoshi was to try and grab it
before he could tuck it back into his fist.  Much to his surprise,
Sodoshi quickly mastered this game, being able to grab his extended
finger every time.  He watched in fascination as her face set itself
into a deep concentration while she played.  Her little hands seemed
to streak out of nowhere to grab his finger; each try seeming faster
than the last.  Jeff just swallowed hard and thought back to his
earlier vision of his young daughter, the one where she was an
accomplished shadow warrior - like her namesake.  That thought caused
him to flinch slightly - he knew how his wife felt about such things.
     Sodoshi finally tired of the game and snuggled into the crook of
her daddy's arm to watch TV.  Jeff had been careful to select only
educational or nature shows for Sodoshi.  No movies, sports, or
cartoons for her.   Well, an occasional football game was okay. 
Sodoshi tended to fall asleep during them anyway.

     "Come on, you guys."  Sandi sounded really anxious.  "There's a
place at the bar big enough for three."  In spite of her age, she
shouldered her way through the crowded night club like a veteran.  At
the bar, Sandi attracted the attention of a bartender and quickly
ordered her first drink of the evening.  Summer followed and looked
Nabiki's way as everyone waited for her to order.  Nabiki looked
around in panic.  She had no experience with alcohol.  She didn't even
know the proper names for what the others were drinking.  At first,
she was going to order sake.  After all, *that* she knew something
about but decided against it thinking that this American bar wouldn't
know what sake was.  The only other drink she knew was champagne - so,
that's what she ordered.
     "Whoa, little lady.  That's pretty fancy stuff."  The bartender
seemed amused at Nabiki's choice.
     "She'll have a rum and coke," Summer said firmly.  As the
bartender started to turn away, Summer grabbed his sleeve and added:
"Easy on the rum, okay?"  He winked his acknowledgment and set about
preparing their orders.
     Sandi took to the night club scene like a fish to water; dancing
and flirting with every male in the place.  Summer kept trying to rope
in her friend but had to split her time between the flirtatious Sandi
and the decidedly uncomfortable Nabiki.
     Nabiki nursed her drink like a trapped animal, her eyes darting
from patron to patron.  She didn't really want to be here to begin
with - watching Sandi's antics on the dance floor only pushed her
further into her Japanese shell.  
     Summer had just disappeared to the girls room when disaster
crawled out from under its rock.
     "Hey babe, you come here often?"  A short bearded male slurred as
he slid onto the seat next to Nabiki.  Her response was the most
incredulous look she could muster.  Considering she was on her second
rum and coke, it must have looked insincere.
     "Summer" she called, tinges of fear in her voice and her eyes
fearfully glancing from her drink to the area she last saw her friend. 
Without a friendly face in sight, she knew she was on her own.
     "My name's Josh, can I buy you a drink?" the intrusive man asked
leaning in close to the trapped Nabiki.  His alcohol laced breath
washing over his intended victim like an ill wind.  Nabiki just
gobbled more of her drink and resumed frantically glancing around for
either Sandi or Summer.  Neither were to be seen.
     "You wanna dance?" the guy leaned in even closer and slid an arm
around Nabiki's thin waist.  
     Her reaction was to go stiff and try to back away - her glass
clattering over, spilling its contents across the bar.  She had never
experienced such a physical forwardness before.  In Japan, his actions
were akin to attempted rape.  She frantically looked around for help. 
None was to be found - few even paid any attention to the overly
aggressive drunk.  
     Panic began to assert control in Nabiki.  She was out of bounds. 
In over her head.  An under-aged married woman with an infant at home
in a bar she had no business being in.  She glared at the interloper
with as much of a warning look as she could muster but that only
seemed to encourage him.  She tried to think of the appropriate
English words to tell the guy to go away but kept getting confused
with proper tense and form.  A few words in Japanese instantly sprung
to mind but appeared to have no effect on the aggressive Josh.  Out of
options, all she could think of doing was to start crying.
     Before the first tear had a chance to roll down her pretty cheek,
help arrived.
     "She's with me, buster!" Summer growled as she put her arm across
Nabiki's shoulders and appeared to hug her slightly.  Nabiki's
response was that of a little girl, frightened by something and having
an oneechan to protect her - she buried her face in her hands, her
head rolling to Summer's shoulder.
     The affect on Mr. Smooth was electric.  "I... I didn't know.  I
mean, I thought she...  Sorry."  He mumbled, stumbling away - secure
in the opinion that he had just interrupted a pair of lesbians.
     "Summer, I go home now.  Don't like it here."  Nabiki finally
said as firmly as she could.  Disengaging herself from her friend, she
headed for the door.  Summer, feeling guilty about having gotten
Nabiki into such a predicament, worked her way through the crowd to
catch up with her friend.  She caught Nabiki just outside the club.
     "Look, I can't leave Sandi.  She drinks too much and somebody has
to drive home."  Summer placed a hand on Nabiki's arm as she tried to
think of how else to explain that she couldn't leave with Nabiki. 
"I'm sorry about all this."  She waved her hand at the club and tried
to look apologetic.  "I know you didn't really want to come."
     "You are good friend, Summer."  Nabiki understood what her friend
was saying and felt better knowing Summer was going to look after
Sandi - making sure she got safely home.  It was what Japanese girls
were expected to do for each other.  "Arigato," she practically
whispered, squeezing Summer's hand in gratitude.
     Without taking her eyes off Nabiki, Summer slowly wandered back
into the bar.  It would be many hours before Sandi would be ready to
leave and Summer would have to: first, fight her friend for her car
keys, and later, try to get her back to their apartment in one piece. 
Summer had a long night ahead of her.
     Nabiki had another problem.  She would now have to go home,
smelling of alcohol, and face her husband.  This had NOT been a fun
evening.
     The cab ride home seemed to take forever.  The alcohol finally
kicking in and fogging most of Nabiki's reasoning mind.  She didn't
even notice that she gave the driver a 20 dollar bill for an 8 dollar
ride and failed to collect her change.  The driver, of course, was
pleased with the tip.
     Nabiki stopped at the front door and straightened her clothes as
much as she could in the dim porch light.  Satisfied, Nabiki placed
her key to the lock.  At least, she tried to place her key to the
lock.  Her alcohol impaired coordination made such a simple act more
of a frustrating challenge.  Four tries is what it took to make the
connection and get the annoying door open.  In spite of all her
preparations and intentions, Nabiki Tendo-Lawrence stumbled in to her
home, tripping over her book bag.
     "Chikusho!"
     Jeff heard her arrival.  He noted her attempts at finding the key
hole and watched as his wife stumbled through the door, cursing at her
clumsiness.  Throughout it all, he continued to watch the television,
Sodoshi soundly sleeping in his arms.
     "Konbanwa," Nabiki mumbled as she kicked her bookbag free of her
legs.  That act almost caused her to lose her footing again.
     Jeff continued to watch the TV, saying nothing.  His only change
being he started rocking Sodoshi.
     Nabiki stopped in the entryway and looked in at her husband and
sleeping child.  Swallowing hard, she tried to take the offensive.
     "Why isn't she in bed?  It's late you know."  She tried to sound
authoritarian but her words kept slurring.  She knew she was in
trouble.
     "She couldn't sleep."
     "You're spoiling her."
     Jeff shot his wife a disapproving look before returning to the TV
and continuing to rock the baby.  Nabiki got the message but still
refused to acknowledge it; choosing, instead, to stand where she was
and stare authoritatively at her husband.  Actually, the wall was the
only thing holding her up as the room kept slowly moving to her left.
     "Kasumi called again tonight."  Jeff's face took on more of a
grimace as he relayed his sister-in-law's message.  "She wants to know
if we will visit now that your finals are over."  His head turned to
look at Nabiki.  "I told her I would have to consult with you."  He
shifted Sodoshi slightly as she squirmed to find a more comfortable
position.  "She wasn't pleased."
     "I don't know."  Nabiki slowly put her hand on her forehead to
steady the room slightly.  "I'll have to see what my schedule..."
     "Your schedule be damned, Nabiki.  You promised Kasumi six months
ago to bring your daughter home to your family.  You owe them, Nabiki. 
You owe them."  Jeff knew such language with Nabiki always ignited
some kind of quarrel.  Tonight he didn't really care.  She was so far
over the line that something was going to have to give.  Either she
returned to reality and fulfill her obligations or he would go alone -
taking little Sodoshi himself.  That would produce a most embarrassing
situation for her - a situation that was guaranteed to produce a 
long-term war.
     "OK, fine.  We'll go back to Nerima."  She slumped tiredly
against the wall.  "Happy?"
     Jeff ignored his wife's barb and returned to his TV - still
rocking his daughter.
     Nabiki, figuring the main event of the evening was over, turned
to go back towards her office with her bookbag.
     "You know, Sodoshi said 'daddy' today," Jeff called after is wife
before she had the chance to take even a single step.  It had the
desired effect - she froze in place for a few seconds, her eyes shut
tight and her jaw set, before starting down the hall.  That's when he
dropped the 'big' bomb.
     "Of course, there's no telling when she'll say 'mommy'."  Nabiki
jerked to a halt like she had been stabbed - eyes staring straight
ahead, her mouth a tight, thin line, her whole body trembling.  It was
a blow as painful as any delivered from a blade or fist.  Jeff's
shinobi training had taught him well.  All attacks were only a case of
timing - proper timing would result in maximum effect on the intended
victim.  Jeff just demonstrated his mastery of such subtleties. 
Nabiki's sudden hurried footsteps down the hall and loud 'thunk' of
her book bag being thrown in her office, confirmed his effectiveness.
     Jeff watched TV for 30 minutes longer before deciding that, if
Sodoshi was going to sleep all night, he might as well let her sleep
in her own bed.  Shutting off the TV and the lights, Jeff tiredly
carried his daughter to her crib.  A blanket and a kiss later, he
retired to the master bedroom.
     He paused outside the door when he noticed a light was on inside.
With a sigh of resignation, he figured Nabiki had fallen asleep before
shutting off everything.  His surprise came when he opened the door
and stepped into the room.  Nabiki was seated on the end of their bed,
dressed in her lightest, most seductive nightgown - the one she wore
their wedding night - the one that, in the right light, you could see
through.  She was waiting for him.
     "I don't want you to go to bed mad at me, Jeffrey," she cooed
while unsteadily getting to her feet.  Her voice shifted to that of a
little girl.  "I really need you right now.  I know I've been a bad
girl."  Slowly, Nabiki reached up to the lace bow right below the
bodice of her gown.  With a sly smile and a tug, the top half of the
gown seemed to peel away from her body, collecting at her waist.
     Jeff sadly took a brief tour of territory he had many times
explored in detail.  He could tell she was sexually aroused, figuring
the alcohol-induced libido was mostly responsible.  His eyes slowly
lowered to the floor - he knew what was happening - it only made him
feel worse.  She knew what the sight of her trim body did to him and
knew by his reaction that she had him again.  Seductively, she glided
up to him, took his hand and placed it on her breast.
     <I *always* get what I want.> she happily thought before
delivering her knockout blow.  Nuzzling the base of his throat, her
tiny tongue working the most sensitive spot that only she knew about,
she murmured in that tiny voice he found so seductive: "I love you,
Jeffrey."
     That did it.  She'd won again.  Jeff seemed to shudder as his own
sexual desire kicked in.  She knew just the right buttons to push and
was more than willing to trade sex for forgiveness - again.  It always
worked in the past and it was working tonight.  With a whimper, Jeff
gave in to his urges.  Nabiki smiled to herself.
     They had just maneuvered to the bed, Jeff beginning at the spot
on Nabiki's body of her choosing, when Sodoshi began fussing.  Jeff's
body instinctively jerked taut, his sexual overtures coming to an
abrupt halt.
     "Wha...what's wrong?"  Nabiki seemed genuinely confused at her
husband's reaction.  Sodoshi seemed to answer for him as she worked
herself into a full fledged cry - her little voice cutting through the
house like a katana.
     "Don't you hear her?"  Jeff asked tiredly.
     "Babies are always crying, Jeffrey."  Nabiki tried to resume the
foreplay.  "She'll go back to sleep."
     Jeff stared at his wife incredulously as little Sodoshi's cries
became the distressed wails he was most familiar with.  All thoughts
of his wife's sexual overtures were forgotten.
     "I've gotta check on her," he apologized while untangling himself
from Nabiki's arms and putting his yukata back on.  "She probably
needs her diaper changed again."
     Nabiki could only watch, stunned, as her husband, looking tired
again, walked to the nursery.  Her alcohol fuzzed brain demanding he
return while her conscience demanded she go help.  For the second time
this evening, her conscience won out.  Doing up her gown, she tried to
follow her husband into the nursery.
     Jeff found his daughter with a full diaper and not a bit happy
about it.  He was just gathering the things necessary to deal with the
problem when Nabiki stumbled against the half-open door in her attempt
to enter the room.
     "Chikusho!"
     Jeff seemed to freeze, his jaw set in frustration at his wife's
entrance.
     "Here, let me."  Her hands were unsteady, her speech was slurred,
and she was barely able to stand without assistance.  Jeff finally had
enough.
     "Nabiki, you're drunk!" he barked as he looked at his startled
wife.  "Go to bed.  I'll deal with this."  As he turned his head back
to Sodoshi he added softly: "Like I always do."
     Nabiki, a look of startled rejection on her face, stood rooted to
the spot long enough for Jeff's admonishment to have its full impact.
With trembling lips, Nabiki retreated quickly back into the bedroom,
slamming the door on her way.  Sodoshi continued to cry.
     Jeff dealt with Sodoshi's diaper problem and retired to the
living room.  He slept, once again, in his chair - Sodoshi nestled
comfortably in the crook of his arm.  He couldn't hear his wife's sobs
and didn't see her beating his pillow out of frustration.  She was
struggling with her own driven desires.  She wanted to have it all;
career, family, children, a home.  It all looked so easy before.  She
couldn't conceive of what went wrong.  
     Soon, the alcohol and spent emotion drained Nabiki.  Her whimpers
muffled by her own pillow, she finally cried herself asleep - alone in
their king sized bed.

     Jeff awoke to the sounds of a struggle.  It wasn't your normal
struggle.  It sounded more like a woman fighting a crying child.  With
a groan, Jeff rolled out of his chair and followed the sounds of
conflict to its source - the kitchen.
     "Why won't you eat, you little brat?"  Nabiki snarled as she
tried to shove another spoonful of baby food into little Sodoshi's
mouth.  "It's good.  Eat."  Nabiki was clearly on the losing end of
the breakfast struggle with her daughter.
     "Nabiki, what are you doing?"  Jeff was really not ready for this
so early in the morning.
     "Jeffrey, why won't she eat?"  Nabiki looked genuinely
distressed.  She also looked like the loser of a food fight.  She was
wearing more food than was normal for a feeding.
     "Have you changed her diaper?" Jeff wearily asked, leaning
against a counter, his arms crossed.  Nabiki despised it when he did
that.  To her, it looked like such a condescending position.
     "Yes," she snarled back in a sassy voice.  It was a lie, of
course.  She never thought to check in her haste to prove to Jeffrey
that she could 'out-mother' him.
     Sodoshi continued to cry, spitting out every spoonful of the
offending breakfast.
     With a sigh, Jeff approached the table and felt the jar of baby
food.  It was stone cold.
     "Nabiki, you didn't warm her food.  It probably tastes terrible
cold."  Jeff reached over for a wet cloth to wipe his daughter.
     With a look that could melt steel, Nabiki angrily snatched the
little jar and stomped over to the microwave.
     "Ah, Nabiki, That's not how..." His voice was cut off by his
wife's slamming the microwave door shut and punching buttons,
seemingly at random.  Once again, Jeff leaned back against the
counter, his arms crossed - matching Nabiki's glare from across the
room.  Sodoshi continued to cry.  In seconds, the inevitable happened
- a loud 'pop' marked the explosion of baby food as it reacted to the
sudden intense heat of the microwave.  Jeff just sighed again.  He
would now have a very large mess to clean up.
     Nabiki slowly turned to look at the microwave mess.  It took
several seconds for the full impact of her failure to strike home -
the sight of her baby's food spattered all over the interior of her
microwave like the entrails of some smashed animal taunting her
efforts.  Her reaction was like she just watched her dog die.  Her
shoulders sagged and slowly began to jerk as she started to cry again. 
This time she had tried - she really did.  But she still couldn't get
the 'mother' thing right.  Jeff just shook his head and walked over to
his hung-over, exhausted, beaten wife.  Softly turning her around,
Jeff hugged her to him. Hesitantly, she gripped her husband and sobbed
about what a terrible mother she was.
     "Nabiki, motherhood being an instinctive thing is highly
overplayed."  Jeff said over his daughter's wails.  "You didn't have
the opportunity to learn, first hand, how to be a proper mother."
     "How is it *you* know these things?"  Nabiki's voice was more of
a whine.
     "The first thing I did was call *my* mother.  She taught me
everything I know."  Sodoshi cried harder as her parents were
seemingly oblivious to her needs.
     "Jeffrey."  Nabiki picked nervously at her husband's shirt.  "I
don't like asking for help."
     "That much, I know," Jeff kissed his wife's head.
     Sodoshi began bouncing with frustration.
     "I tried to take a course at college once... about caring for a
baby, I mean."  Jeff could tell this was hard for Nabiki to admit. 
She never liked admitting defeat in anything.  "I didn't even finish
the enrollment process.  I was too embarrassed to admit that I didn't
know how to take care of my own baby."  Her voice dropped to barely
audible when she added: "I guess, that's why I don't want to go home. 
Kasumi..."  She couldn't finish.  Instead, she buried her face in her
husband's chest, her eyes squeezed shut against the shame, her 
half-hearted clutches became frantic hugs.  She wanted the hurt to go 
away.  She wanted to be a good mother.  But most of all, she wanted 
Kasumi's approval.  Returning to Nerima like she was would guarantee 
trouble with 'mother' Kasumi.
     There were times Jeff could be a little dense.  Up to this recent
exchange, Jeff had no idea what was behind Nabiki's reluctance to
return to her home.  Suddenly, it all made sense.  Nabiki was
embarrassed to go home where her family, especially Kasumi, could see
how bad a mother she really was.
     Sodoshi's cries became howls of anguish over her parents ignoring
her.
     "Do you think your mother would help me?"
     "I'm certain of it.  And she'd be delighted to do it.  I'm sure
in a couple of weeks you can learn enough to proudly go back to Nerima
and show Kasumi what a good mother you are."
     A spoon whizzed past the couple and bounced off the wall.
     "And I'll help.  The first thing we need to do is get the little
darling changed," Jeff said as he slowly turned to look at his highly
animated daughter.  Her face was almost coral colored, she was so
frustrated.  "I also think it's time I started her shuriken training. 
She missed us by two feet."
     Nabiki's incredulous look accompanied Jeff as he retrieved his
daughter from the high chair.  Sodoshi continued to cry but seemed to
cry slightly less now that someone was paying attention to her.
     "Wait a minute,'" Nabiki protested while following her husband. 
"What do you mean by 'two feet'?  Come back here."
     Nabiki followed, irritated.  She wasn't sure just what her
husband meant by 'shuriken training' but was certain she wasn't going
to like it.
     "You better not be talking about turning my daughter into some
damned shinobi 'shadow warrior'."
     "Nabiki, I'm not suggesting any such thing but she has to undergo
some training."  Jeff set the squirming Sodoshi on the changing table. 
"Our daughter is shinobi, like it or not.  She *has* to know what it
is to be a daughter of the clan.  Surely, you know all this."
     "My daughter will NOT be a damn martial artist!"  Nabiki grabbed
her husband's arm.  "Do you hear me?"  Her anger was cutting through
all her earlier fears.
     "We're not talking shadow warrior, Nabiki."  Jeff gathered the
things necessary to change his daughter's diaper.  "Besides, I'm not
qualified to teach her such things.  All I'm talking about is showing
her what it is be shinobi - that's all."
     For several seconds, Jeff and Nabiki locked eyes and stared at
each other.  He knew Sodoshi would have to be trained.  Deep down, he
was certain Nabiki knew it too.  In reality, the whole matter was out
of her hands.  He could have answered.  He could have argued, but
chose, instead, to change the subject - safer that way.
     "Now get over here and let's learn how to change a messy diaper."
     Distastefully, Nabiki stepped up to the changing table and
watched her daughter squirm uncomfortably.  As Jeff walked her through
the process, her face took on a look of complete revulsion.
     "Jeffrey, I'm rich enough to afford to pay someone to do this,"
she moaned, while releasing the tabs on the disposable diaper.
     "No, dear.  I'M rich enough to pay someone to do this."  He
corrected his wife.  "But, so long as I'M willing to do this, you will
too."  Nabiki just wrinkled her nose as the full odor of the diaper
washed over her.  <I can't believe I'm doing this.  STOP SQUIRMING, YA
LITTLE BRAT OR YOU'LL GET IT ON...  Ewwwwww, gross!>
     "Dear, the trick is getting the diaper off without getting the
contents all over your hands."  Nabiki's 'look' told him she already
knew that part.  "Why don't you go wash up and I'll finish here."  He
fought hard to control his instinct to laugh at the face his wife was
making while trying to hold her soiled hand as far away from her as
possible.
     Nabiki practically bolted from the room in search of soap and
water - or maybe disinfectant.
     Jeff finished and was playing with a cooing Sodoshi when his wife
returned.
     "Jeffrey, that's disgusting!" she grumbled while wiping her hands
for the 43rd time.  "How do you do that, time after time?"
     "I just keep repeating to myself: 'They eventually grow up.  They
eventually grow up.' and try to remember she'll be potty trained soon
enough."
     "Not soon enough for me," she mumbled.
     "I trust you're in agreement that we will return to Nerima next
week."  Jeff picked up his daughter and handed her to his wife.
     "I suppose so."  Nabiki sighed, shifting Sodoshi's weight to her
right hip.  She held her squirming daughter like a sack of groceries. 
As she ran her left hand through her hair, Jeff's eyes were drawn to
her ring finger.  What was most interesting to him was the fact it was
currently sporting a new ornament, namely a high school class ring.
     Nabiki sensed something was amiss when she caught him staring at
her hand.  He quickly looked away, like he never saw whatever it was
he saw.  Instinctively, Nabiki thought that she didn't get all of
Sodoshi's mess off her hands and quickly scurried off to find more
soap and water.
     In the bathroom, she shifted Sodoshi around to get a good look at
her hands.  Nope, there was no 'Sodoshi residue' on her fingers.  Just
a high school class ring.
     Nabiki's body jerked taut so violently that little Sodoshi was
almost catapulted out of her arms.
     <MY RING!  Where is my wedding ring?!?> 
     Nabiki's mind quickly scanned back to the previous night.  She
remembered the night club.  She remembered Summer's suggestion and
offer of a substitute.  She remembered removing her wedding set...
and... and...  Panic.  She couldn't remember what happened to her ring
set.  Frantically, she plopped little Sodoshi on the bed and scurried
around the bedroom.  <They've *got* to be here somewhere!>
     She looked on her dresser, on her night stand, in the bathroom,
on the floor, even going through her clothes from the night before. 
Nothing.  Her wedding set was no where to be found.
     She was frantically feeling around on the floor under her dresser
when she noticed Jeff leaning against the door frame watching her. 
His face was as neutral as she had ever seen.  They stared at each
other for a few moments until, swallowing hard, Nabiki slowly rose to
her feet.
     "You know, I was just trying to remember what year you graduated
from Windward Senior High School.  You want to tell me or should I
look it up in a yearbook?"  She could tell by his voice he was upset. 
She quickly assessed each possible option available to her.
     She could counterattack and accuse him of being 'nosey' - but
*that* would probably backfire.  After all, where would she say the
wedding ring got off to.  She was clearly wearing it yesterday morning
when she left the house.
     She could try the 'sex for forgiveness' bit again - but figured
he was even less in the mood than usual - so *that* wouldn't work.
     She could break down and sob into his chest again, begging him to
forgive her - but she wasn't sure he'd buy *that* act twice in the
same day.
     So, in the end, she used the only 'trick' she had left - she told
the truth.
     "I lost it."
     "Where?"
     "If I knew that, I'd know where to look."
     "How did you lose it?"
     She told the whole story about Sandi and Summer and the night
club.  In the end, she had to admit she didn't have a clue where she
lost her wedding set.  Sadly, she plopped down on the bed.  Thinking
Jeff wouldn't hit someone with a baby in her arms, Nabiki picked up
her daughter and cuddled her like a large doll - all the time glancing
at her husband with the 'I've-been-a-bad-girl' look she had been
perfecting over the last few months.  Deep down, she knew that if the
baby in her arms and the 'look' didn't work, she was good as dead.  In
Japan, taking your wedding rings off to 'step out' on your husband was
grounds for, not only a divorce, but getting cut off without a cent as
well.  Nabiki shuddered at the thought of the prospects.
     "Well, I suppose you'll just have to look for it," Jeff said like
he was talking to a child who had lost a sock.  "Won't you?"  He asked
the last with a touch of menace in his voice.  Deep down, Jeff didn't
understand why Nabiki removed the rings in the first place.  The fact
she lost them after removal only added to the insult.  Needless to
say, Jeff was most upset.  He just quietly noted that Sodoshi's food
was ready and left the room.
     Nabiki sighed her relief that Jeff was not the 'violent' kind. 
In Japan, she could have been beaten and thrown out of the house for
what she did.  Her relief continued to wash over her as she hugged her
baby.
     "What have I done, So-chan?" Nabiki toyed with her daughter's
face, her fingers tracing the child's Japanese features.  "Why do I
keep doing things that hurt him?"  She started rocking Sodoshi as she
talked.  "Why can't I do anything right?  In Japan, everything I did
turned out right.  What am I doing wrong?"
     Sodoshi started rooting around the front of Nabiki's blouse.
     "Give it up, kid.  I don't do that anymore."  Nabiki said while
gently peeling her daughter's fingers off her blouse.  "Daddy's got
your breakfast ready in the kitchen."  She glanced nervously at the
door before adding: "Will you let me, at least, feed you?"  A nervous
smile flickered across her face.  Sodoshi wore a slight scowl as she
looked at her mother.  So far, mom had failed to feed her *anything*
edible.  Clearly, Sodoshi expected better of a parent.  Still, she
*was* enjoying being held.  Too bad it wasn't because Nabiki wanted to
cuddle.
     As the pair stared at each other, they seemed to declare a short
truce - at least until breakfast was over.  The wedding ring crisis
would have to wait till then.
                                                      
     "Brother Sato," the voice came purposefully from the darkness. 
"Our world is about to be torn asunder."
     Master Sato stood before the elders of his clan, once again, in
the darkness of their cave.  He knew full well the necessity of their
anonymity.  For they were the jonin of his clan; the leaders.  For
centuries the only safety the shinobi leadership of any clan had was
the sure knowledge that those who ventured outside the clan's holdings
could not identify them to their enemies.  Sato, a chunin, was one of
the middlemen who directed the warrior genin on their missions into
potentially hostile territories.  The genin may talk if captured but
would only be able to reveal their immediate commanders, the chunin. 
The elders would always be safe.  There was, however, one weak link in
this system - treachery at the top.
     "One of our brothers has left us."  The second voice, the one of
reason, sounded more fearful than the first.  And for good reason. 
Should one of the elders turn against his own people, nothing could
stand in the way of his eventual victory.  He had all the advantages -
he knew where the elders were, he knew the entire command structure of
the clan, and he could chose the time and place of his strike.  Master
Sato quietly leaned on his staff and contemplated the possibilities. 
For some reason, the room suddenly felt colder than before.
     "Our brother, Fukoono, left because he disagreed with our making
peace with the Clan of the Cold Moon.  He disagreed with your adopting
young Lawrence-san and making him one of our people.  He believes you
have damaged the purity of the clan by allowing such a gaijin to join
with us."
     "When I first told you of my plans - you didn't object."  Sato
was quietly holding his temper as he outlined the failures of his own
elders.  "When I trained young Jeffrey in our ways - you said nothing. 
You never expressed reservations about his faith, his courage, or his
sincerity."  Sato's voice was rising with his anger.  "You only
intervened when he chose a wife.  You only objected to his marriage to
a woman from the Clan of the Cold Moon because you feared he would not
deliver the secrets of the cave to your hands.  Admit it, you smelled
power."
     "Your tongue is sharp today."
     "And so is my memory.  You brutally tested Jeffrey's bride in
ways not seen by our people in 200 years.  Still, she proved herself
stronger than your... magic."  Sato carelessly waved his hand in a
dismissive gesture at the elders.  "She passed your 'tests'."
     "That was Fukoono's doing," the first voice objected loudly.  "We
had no choice.  YOU placed us in this position with your making
Lawrence-san a member of our clan."
     "NO!  Prophecy placed you in this position.  Young Jeffrey was
destined to marry Tendo Nabiki, daughter of the Clan of the Cold Moon. 
Prophecy of peace and a new direction for our people.  Prophecy of a
great secret in the monk's cave.  Prophecy, noble elders."  Sato stood
proudly erect facing the remaining leaders of his clan.  In his mind,
he had only done what was necessary to fulfill the 400 year old
prophecy and save the remnants of a people from extermination.  He
wasn't going to take the blame for the actions of one renegade member
of his own clan.
     "Never the less, Sato, YOU are now responsible for the outcome."
The second voice seemed to have found courage enough to place the
ultimate responsibility for what was to come on Master Sato's
shoulders.
     "Did many of our people follow Fukoono?"
     "Only a handful, but we fear he may have allies outside our clan,
possibly even survivors of the Snow Fox clan."
     "Why don't you just deal with him yourselves?  You have the
power."
     "No so.  We are powerless against a fellow elder, evil or not. 
Only the chunin can confront an elder and only a genin can defeat
one."
     "Then we are in for a 'shinobi war'."  Sato's declaration
silenced the elders for only a few moments.
     "So it would seem," the first voice sadly noted.  "I fear the
first victims will be young Lawrence-san and his family.  They will
eventually return to Japan, you know."
     Sato had indeed shared the opinion that Jeffrey and Nabiki would
return, along with their new baby.  A cold chill crept up his aging
spine as he thought the danger they were in.
     "They must be warned," Sato said flatly.
     "Agreed.  You must also enlist the help of his wife's clan."
     "There are so few, honorable elders."
     "True, but they hold the key to Fukoono's destruction."
     "How so?"  Sato was genuinely curious what so few could hold that
was so powerful.
     "We do not know for sure.  But they possess a power we have been
unable to identify.  All we can deduce is that it centers on the three
daughters of Soun Tendo.  They are the key."
     Sato left the audience with his clan's elders and stepped into
the bright summer sunshine of central Japan.  Shielding his eyes
against the warm sun's glare, he determined it was early afternoon. 
With a sigh of resignation, he trudged back towards his village.  He
had much to do before nightfall.

     It was late when Ranma Saotome returned to the Tendo residence,
but coming home late had become the norm for young Ranma - for a good
reason.
     Hoping to avoid answering questions from some alert member of the
family, he quietly climbed to the roof and crept towards his open
window.  He always left the window slightly open so he could just
swing over the edge of the roof and into his room, unseen.  If any
asked the following morning when he came home, he could simply lie and
suggest that he was working on his 'silent walking' technique so as to
not disturb the other members of the household.
     Silently, he found his open window.  With a final check to make
sure he was unobserved, he slipped over the edge and easily swung
himself into his darkened room - landing quietly on the tatami mats in
a crouch.
     "About time you got home," came a familiar voice from the
darkness.  "I've been waiting all evening to show you the new dress I
bought today for Nabiki's visit."
     Ranma groaned softly.  He'd been caught by the one person he
feared the most, Akane.
     "Akane, I'm tired.  I've had a long day.  Can't this wait till
morning."
     "Fine," she snarled as she swung open the door and stepped into
the brightly lit hallway.  In doing so, she revealed the very thing
she had hoped to show Ranma under more pleasant circumstances - her
new sundress.
     Ranma instinctively followed his fiance out into the hall.  He
couldn't help but notice how nice the dress looked on her, in spite of
the fact she was stomping around like a tom-boy.  He had to admit, red
was *her* color.
     "I'm sorry, Akane," he stammered as he paused in front of his
doorway.  He had learned from Jeffrey that a quick apology with Akane
(as with Nabiki) sometimes worked wonders.  It seemed to work again
tonight.  Akane paused and turned to face her fiance with a wary look.
     "So, where've you been?"  She crossed her arms and glared at him. 
"Ucchan's?"  The last more of an accusation than question.
     Ranma just shook his head.  "No, I haven't been to Ukyou's place
in over a month.  I've been too busy..."  He quickly cut himself off,
fearing he'd reveal more than he intended.  What he was doing was a
secret.  What he was doing it for was even more of a secret.
     Akane looked at him sideways, her eyes tiny slits.  Her bare foot
was tapping the floor quietly as she tried to think of a way to get
him to reveal his secret.  It was time to try the little thing Nabiki
taught her - the one way to get what she wanted from Ranma - without
violence, that is.
     Like a little girl, she clasped her hands behind her back and
innocently walked up to her fiance.  With a tiny grin, she leaned in
real close - close enough to let him catch a whiff of her perfume;
something else she'd purchased today.  Instinctively, Ranma backed up
slightly.  Akane with a weapon in her hands, he understood, but *this*
was something that left him defenseless.  Ever since Akane had been
making those phone calls to Nabiki, she'd been acting... well,
strange.  Goofy and all... mushy-like around him.  He swallowed hard
and thought how he'd rather deal with the violent tom-boy he
remembered.
     "You like my new dress?" she cooed seductively - or, at least, as
seductively as she knew how.  She made sure he got a good look at her
bare shoulders and the one thing that drove him to sweat - cleavage.
     Ranma stopped backing when he came up against the door frame to
his room.  Swallowing hard he fought his mind for appropriate words to
express what he was feeling.  His heart was pounding  like he'd just
come from a fight.  He palms were sweating like someone just threw a
cat on him.  He swallowed hard again.
     "You like... red?" she pouted as she adjusted the straps to play
peek-a-boo with her cleavage.  Nabiki taught her that little move and
she had practiced it for hours in front of a mirror until she was
certain it would have the right effect.
     "It was... IS great."  Silently, Ranma cursed himself for not
saying something more appropriate.  He was breathing hard now and his
pants were getting strangely tighter than he remembered.
     "Been out with your college friends tonight?"  She bored in for
the kill.  She could tell the 'softening up' process had been
successful - the signs of her success was written all over him. 
"You've been sweating.  I can tell."
     "I... I've been working... OUT.  I've been working out."  He
closed his eyes and thought vile things about his foolish mouth.
     "Really?"  She was leaning in *really* close now - almost
touching him.  The air around them both smelled of Akane's sexy new
perfume and something else...
     "Yeah... that's it... working out."  He closed his eyes and
fought his emotions - a battle he already knew was lost.
     Akane spotted an opening and gently blew on his sweaty throat. 
The effect on Ranma was electric - with a shudder and low groan, he
promptly broke down and confessed.
     "Ok, it's just a part time job, Akane.  I'm teaching a small
class three times a week at Inoue-sensi's dojo.  Nothing fancy, just
common kempo.  It doesn't pay much.  Just enough to..."  His hand
suddenly came to the rescue as it slapped loudly over his blubbering
mouth.
     Akane leaned back with a huge grin on her face.  It worked just
like Nabiki said it would.  And this was just her first try.  Imagine
how good she could be with a little practice.
     "A job!?!" she crowed.  "How wonderful!  How much are they paying
you?  Where's the money?"
     Ranma looked at the floor, totally miserable.  This was exactly
the thing he was hoping to avoid.  The first half of his secret was
out.  Mentally he dug in to protect the second.
     "I told you it didn't pay much."  He scowled at the floor trying
to center himself to put up a solid front.  "Besides, I owe a lot of
people a lot of money."  His head came up to look directly at Akane. 
"School costs a lot of money too, you know.  I don't have the
financial aid you've got."  He was referring to Nabiki's secret
sending of money to her sister.  Ever since Sodoshi was born, Nabiki
has been acting like she owed Akane something.  Perhaps as partial
repayment, she was sending her sister sufficient money each month for
her to attend her small Japanese college.  Ranma was keenly aware of
his fiance's financial windfall and struggled with trying to keep up -
a race he knew he was destined to lose.
     Akane knew Ranma felt insecure about Nabiki providing her with
funds for school.  Still, he was ducking the central question of how
much he was making at this job of his - and she didn't like it.
     "You didn't answer the question, Ranma.  How much are they paying
you?"  She crossed her arms and glared at her fiance.  All Nabiki had
taught her was out the window now and the old Akane was back -
stubborn, irritable, and abrasive.  Ranma reacted predictably.
     "Akane, when we're married, I'll have to turn over all my
earnings to you.  Until then, it's none of your business!"  He quickly
scrambled through the door to his room and slammed it shut behind him.
     Akane reacted as she always did when faced with Ranma's
foolishness; she reached for something heavy to bash him with. 
Stomping up to his closed door, she raised a fist ready to either
knock loudly or bash a large hole in the door.
     "RANMA NO..."  Then it hit her - what he'd said.  She froze, her
fist poised to strike but her face a mask of surprise, her eyes
staring blankly ahead - when they weren't blinking loudly.  <'When
we're married...'> she thought.  <He said: 'when we're married'.  Not
'If we get married' or 'Should we get married'.  He said: 'WHEN!'> 
Her face slowly dissolved into a content little version of Nabiki's
sardonic smile.  It all worked exactly as big sister said it would. 
Get a guy enough off balance and he'll tell you anything you want to
know.  With Ranma it was easy - once she learned how well her feminine
charms worked on him.  
     Slowly, she lowered her hand to join its companion behind her
back again.  With a sassy turn and a little shake of her hips, Akane
almost skipped down the hall to her own room.  Tonight had worked out
better than she had hoped - and she didn't even have to hit him once.