Chapter 3
DISCLAIMER
Ranma and Co. are not owned by me, nor were they created by me.
They were created by Rumiko Takahashi and I stand in awe of Takahashi-sama
and her remarkable creativity. Suing me would be unproductive for the
companies like Viz and Kitty who publish her works.

*this isn't what you think it is

Tendo Dojo, Nerima Ward. 4:12 pm

Kasumi was in the kitchen, again, humming a little song to herself.

"If you want my body, and you think I'm sexy, come on sugar let me know."

Kasumi had always done pretty well in English in high school, and she was
looking forward to having a chance to talk to an honest to goodness native
speaker, to refresh her skills. Songs always helped her absorb the language
before,even when she didn't pay attention to the words.

She stopped stirring the cake batter she was making as the phone rang.

Wiping her hands on a dishrag, she left the kitchen to answer it.

"Hello, Tendo residence.. Yes, This is Kasumi Tendo."

She then switched to English

"Oh my! Hello, Cervantes-san it's a pleasure to hear your voice.. Oh?... Oh
my!. I see.. Well, if you stay there I can have father come get you. He and
Mr Saotome stepped out for a few minutes to go to the store with Master
Happosai. Yes, I'm afraid everyone else is out shopping also...Oh...
really?. Oh, Ryoga-kun is with you?. Oh, how wonderful..May I speak to him
please?

Switching the phone to her other ear while she got a sheet of paper and pen
from the telephone stand, and started writing.

She switched back to speaking in Japanese.

 "Oh hello, Ryoga-kun?  It is you?... Oh, how wonderful.. Oh, yes, I needed
to talk to you about something..Yes, well we're having a party to welcome
our new guest this evening, would you like to come? ..Splendid. now if you
just wait there for a little while, I'll get father to come get you
both..Oh.. he asked you to lead him here?"

 Kasumi let a small edge of worry enter her voice.

"Are you sure?.Well, if you say so Ryoga-kun. I'll meet you at the Nerima st
ation in a half an hour or so..  I'll see you there."

Setting down the phone Kasumi made her way back to the kitchen.

"Goodness, that Ryoga! Never wanting to sit still. I suppose that's why he
and Ranma are such good friends, they're so much alike. Well, I suppose I'd
better hurry this cake along if its going to be ready to cool before I
leave."

She considered what she needed to do for a moment.

"Hmmm, Cervantes-san will be tired from his trip, I should heat the Furo for
him, I'm sure he'll want a bath to relax in."

Smiling to herself she set about making sure everything was done before she
left.

***

  Ryoga hung up the phone and turned to Dan, "Heh, Kasumi wanted to invite
me to the party they're having tonight. It seems they're expecting you, just
not so soon."

   Dan smiled.

"Well let's not keep them waiting. I've just got this overnight bag, and the
presents I'm supposed to have for them. Everything else will show up later.
Lead on guide."

Ryoga nodded.

"No problem", he sweated nervously, "Uhh I think it's this way."

 Ryoga started off down the hallway, Dan in tow.

Internally, Ryoga was seething with worry. He knew how bad his direction
sense was, and he was certain they'd end up in Sri-Lanka, long before they
reached the tram. He desperately prayed to the Gods above to guide him, not
thinking for a second that anything, like that, might actually happen.

What made the situation even worse was the unfamiliar feeling he'd suddenly
gotten, It was a sort of dull throbbing in his head that drew him along in
the direction he was going.

.They exited the airport, that's when he knew something was wrong.

 Dan's mood seemed to brighten a bit.

 "Hey, alright! Look it's one of those limo-bus things. Here, let me find
out which one goes through Nerima."

Dan started asking one of the drivers if she could tell him which bus they
needed to ride..

Ryoga was in a mild state of shock.

Internally he was screaming in frustration.

"No! The one time the Gods actually listen to me, it's for something
pointless like this"

He sighed in depression, thinking "My life is a dark and hopeless pit of
injustice."

He was jarred out of his gathering gloom by a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, Ryoga, I found the right one, come on, I've got tickets for each of us
already. Oh, hey, I don't mean to be a pain, but do you mind maybe giving me
a hand here after you stow your backpack? Some of this stuff is a bit bulky,
especially the gifts I've brought for the Tendos. I don't think it'll all
fit in my lap. And I sure as hell ain't putting it in storage. I don't want
any of it to get broken."

Ryoga was still a little shell-shocked and just nodded, taking what he was
handed.

"So, what's the plan?"

"Train station.", Ryoga muttered.

"Huh? Oh. I get it, that's where the Tendos is meeting us huh? Sounds great,
I've heard that public transportation in Japan is really good, especially
the trains. The closest thing I'm used to is the BART system in Cali. So
where exactly is the Dojo located, I have a vague idea, but it's always
different when you actually try to end up somewhere."

Ryoga just muttered in depression, "I'll show you when we get there."

"Fantastic, hey come on, let's go" said Dan.

Ryoga nodded softly, "Yeah, let's go"

"So," Dan asked while sitting down in the nicely cushioned seat of the bus,
"What's the deal with Ranma and you? He sounds like he's less than your
favorite person?"

Ryoga suddenly felt he was on back on familiar ground, so he desperately
grabbed onto the topic.

 "I hate Ranma Saotome. Because of him, I've seen the depths of-"

"-Hell." Dan finished for him.

"Yeah I got that, so what's that mean?"

"Well it all started back in junior high school. He stole my curry bread you
see."

"Ya don't say."




Shopping district, Nermia-ku, Tokyo 4:19pm

 Ranma Saotome sneezed suddenly.

"Rannnnmaaa!"

He knew that sound wasn't good.

He looked up.

Later he decided that was his second mistake.

Across from him sat Akane Tendo, the front of her dress covered in light
pink Calpis, and some of the whipped cream that had been on her sundae.

Ranma's first mistake, he realized, was letting Nabiki talk him into
stopping off at the ice cream parlor to cheer Akane up in the first place.

"Oh man. don't laugh, Ranma." He thought to himself.

That's when the final mistake made itself known.

"Akane, I don't think pink is your color", snorted Nabiki, who suddenly
started laughing.

Ranma desperately tried to keep a straight face, all he was able to manage
though was a series of odd looking faces right up till Akane got nose to
nose with him.

"I know you aren't laughing at me.", she asked with a dangerous tone in her
voice,".or are you, Ranma?"

What broke his resolve was seeing the drop of carbonated strawberry milk
hanging from her nose.

"Bwahhh hahaha!"

Akane drop-kicked him out the front door of the ice cream shop, in a
direction, and with an arc designed to inflict maximum damage on her
fianc�e.

Nabiki shielded her eyes from the sunlight, with her hand used visor-like.

 She gave a low whistle.

"Whew Akane, you got some distance on that one. What's the big deal? He's
done a lot worse and not gotten that kind of response."

Akane let out a small sniff, and what sounded like a small sob.

"This was a new dress. H-he probably ruined it"

Nabiki gave her a small smile and rested her chin in her palm as she leaned
in toward the table a little, elbow resting on the tabletop, watching Akane
dab at her dress with a napkin.

"Heh, really? I don't think so."

Akane looked her sister in the eye before glancing away.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Nabiki gave her a sly smile.

 "Okay sis, spill it! I know you're upset about what he told us earlier. But
I know you're dealing with that, you know that he loves you. Even if he can'
t say it.  What's got you so damned worked up? You're acting like the
'mallet machine' I used to tease you about being last year."

Akane shot her sister a nasty look.

"Fine, I'm upset, okay!? I don't like having a stranger in our house.
 Happy?"

Nabiki sighed.

 "Don't tell me it's that whole 'westerner rapist' thing again is it? I mean
come on. You've got Ranma standing guard over you, what's the problem."

Akane stood, putting both her palms on the table top, arms straight in
anger.

"Fine! Ranma is looking out for me. Great! Not that I need anyone protecting
me. I'm a martial artist, I can take care of myself. But what if he tries
something with Kasumi, or you huh? What then? I'm telling you, I still think
this is a bad idea, and we're going to end up regretting this. I've been
having all sorts of bad dreams since you brought this up. I just have a
feeling something really awful is going to happen."

Nabiki looked at her sister with a twinkling of amusement

"Well it's good to know that you're keeping the old traditions of Japanese
superstition alive and well. Come-on girl, are you one of the 'new-people'
or one of the 'old-people'? But hey, I guess it's a good thing you have
Ranma as a punching bag, otherwise you might have ended up taking your
frustrations out on our guest."

Akane sat down looking a little guiltily.

 "I suppose that was a little unfair of me to do to Ranma, but he didn't
have to laugh. I'll have to do something nice for him to let him know I'm
not mad at him anymore."

A happy light came on in her eyes.

"I know, I'll make him some cookies when we get home."

Nabiki rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm sure he'll feel much happier after YOU cook him something."

***

Limo bus 214, onroute to the Nerima Train station. 4:38pm

Dan had been sneezing periodically during the trip, but finally seemed to
have gotten it under control.

"Sheesh , I'd heard about Tokyo air being thick enough to cut, but I've
never had an allergic ration to pollution before. Heck I'm used to it, LA is
almost as bad, especially during the summer."

Ryoga just nodded absently and handed him a bandanna he'd taken off earlier
in the day. Ryoga was enjoying the ride on the limo bus. The sheer novelty
of going in the right direction for an extended period of time was a heady
feeling for him.

Dan put down the bandanna after wiping his nose.

"Okay, let me see if I got it right this time, okay?"

Ryoga looked over at Dan and sighed, nodding. This was the third repetition
of the 'bread duel' synopsis.

"Okay, it all started when Ranma stole some bread from you in your junior
high cafeteria, where you both went to school together."

"Right"

"You fought each other all the time at school, but neither of you hurt each
other too much or anything. A kind of 'rivals in martial arts' code thing."

"Right"

"Then, after a while, you challenged him to a duel of honor."

"Right"

"But when you got there for the duel, you found out he'd had to leave with
his father on some sort of training trip to China or something like that,
right?"

"Right"

"And now you have this feud thing going on with him, because when he stole
your bread back in Junior high, and missed that duel thing, this somehow
made it so that; you've seen 'hell'.... So, did I miss anything?"

"Nope you got it, that's exactly it."

"Ahhhhh!"

Dan nodded.

"Mmm, I see."

Ryoga sighed in relief.

"So you understand now, right?"

Dan shook his head.

"Nope"

He gave Ryoga an apologetic smile.

 "I just don't get it. But hey!, I'm sure it makes sense if you're Japanese
or something"

Dan shrugged.

"Probably some sort of cultural thing I'll never understand as a westerner.
Don't worry about it."

Dan blew his nose on the bandanna.

Ryoga looked out the bus window, seeing the buildings going by, pounding his
head slowly against the glass. He'd have face-faulted, but there wasn't
enough room to pull off a good one.

"Hey, Ryoga, if I'm reading this map thing right, we're almost at the Nerima
train station. The Tendos are meeting us there?"

"Just Kasumi, the rest were out when you called, remember."

"Hmm, that's what I thought, but the noise in the airport kinda threw me. I
wasn't sure I'd heard her right. Good enough. Whew, All those hours in
economy class is something I am not going to repeat."

Ryoga wrinkled his nose, "I can see why."

Dan looked a little hurt, "Hey, it ain't my fault, I got boxed in between
two guys that had no concept of personal hygene"

Ryoga nodded.

"Well, you're lucky that the whole family isn't going to be there to meet
you. It'll give you a chance to get cleaned up first."

Dan leaned back in the seat stretching.

"You got that right. A shower'll do me a world of good. Hey, ya know, it's
great speaking with you in English and all, but if I'm going to get any
better with Japanese I really need to speak it."

Ryoga nodded, switching languages he replied.

 "Okay, but when it comes time to get directions from Kasumi, I'll translate
them into English. And for goodness sake, relax, you're murdering the
language."

Dan looked puzzled.

"Huh."

Ryoga was silent for a moment, he'd been dreading telling Dan about his
'problem'.

"I've got a bit of a.problem with following directions."

The reaction he got was more than a little irritating.

Dan started laughing.

Ryoga started fuming, considering how hard to hit Dan and whether he felt
like putting him through the other side of the bus or not.

"No way! You too?"

Ryoga froze, his fist clenched in preparation.

"What?"

Dan clapped a hand on Ryoga's shoulder.

"Heh, the way you were acting a minute there I thought it was something
serious. I'm terrible at directions too. They go in one ear and out the
other. I always have to write 'em down or I get lost. Hey this is great, I
meet a new friend right off the plane, and you've got the same problem as me
even."

Ryoga looked shocked.

"A friend?"

His fist unclenched.

Dan looked back at him a little uncertain, "Uhh yeah, of course. I mean .
well. You're a likable kind of guy from what I've seen. A little obsessive
about bread, but hey that's okay. I'll just make sure not to steal any of
your sandwiches. I just assumed that we're friends now. Did I say something
wrong?"

Ryoga was still trying to get his mind around the concept, "A friend.. Not
just another rival, or an opponent, or a sometimes ally. An actual friend.".

For the second time that day Ryoga felt he was on terra incognita. So far,
about the only real 'friend' he'd ever had was Akane. He wasn't sure he even
knew what to do with a friend. However, then and there, he decided he was
going to figure it out no matter what it took.

He looked at Dan and nodded once.

 "No, not a problem at all. I've just never had too many friends. I've
traveled most of my life, and that means I've never been able to really have
any real friendships."

Dan nodded.

"Same here. Wow, sounds like we've got a lot in common. My father was in the
military when I was younger, we had to relocate a few times. It's a tough
way of life, leaving all your friends behind and trying to make new ones
when you arrive, knowing you'll have to do it all over again when he gets
reassigned. After a while you wonder if it's worth it."

Ryoga nodded back.

"So, what is all this stuff?"

Dan shrugged.

"Well, I've tried to study up before I came here. You know, traditions and
such. Anyway, this Japanese woman that lives down the street that let me
practice my Japanese on her, gave me some advice. She said I needed to bring
gifts for each member of the host family if I wanted to make a good first
impression."

Ryoga shook the long cylinder he held in his hand that was wrapped in
metallic blue paper, it clattered inside the tube and he noticed that it
seemed a little heavy.

"So what are they all"

"Um.. well, the one you're holding is for Ranma. Ummm I didn't go all out
for him or anything, since from what I gather he's a guest there too. But
most of the stuff I brought is actually from my great Grandfather's war
chest."

Ryoga looked confused.

"What do you mean?"

Dan looked a little embarrassed.

"Well, Great grandpa was stationed in China back in the late 1800's and
early 1900's and it looked like he collected all sorts of interesting junk
from China, and some from Japan too, it looked like.

Most of what I brought are things from the trunk. I figured that maybe it
was time that some of that stuff went back where it came from, or at least
close to it.  You know, kinda like for a visit.

Dan leaned in close to Ryoga.

"Honestly, I think some of it was loot."

Ryoga give him the fish-eye.

"Loot?"

Dan nodded.

"Yep. He was in China during the Boxer rebellion, served as a major in the
infantry. Got promoted to Lt. Colonel because his Commanding officers all
got killed, field promotion kind of thing you know. Helped lead some of the
big battles that ended the rebellion. Anyway, I think that a lot of the
stuff in the chest was loot he sent home from Beijing."

Ryoga was impressed.

"Wow. sounds like he had some real stories to tell."

Dan nodded.

"Yep, hey, that reminds me, I brought something really good with me on the
plane. I packed up some steaks in ice in a cooler. I heard that beef is
pretty expensive here. If they're having a party tonight, maybe I could
break those out and I'll treat you and the Tendos to a steak dinner. What do
you say?"

Ryoga looked a little embarrassed, unsure if this was a genuine offer or
just life playing some cruel joke on him again.

Suddenly his stomache rumbled loudly.

Dan laughed.

"I guess that's a 'yes', good. Hey! Looks like we're here."

Dan looked out the window, scrutinizing  the people near the Limo-bus
parking area.

"Oh wow! Look at that babe."

Ryoga looked out the window as he gathered up his pack and some of Dan's
packages.

He clouted Dan on the back of the head with an open palm.

"Ow, hey! What did you do that for?"

"That's Kasumi"

"What? You're kidding, good lord!"

Ryoga sighed as he and Dan moved down the central aisle.

"All the Tendo daughters are beautiful. Kasumi is the eldest."

He gave Dan a hard look.

"Watch how you behave."

Dan nodded, rubbing the back of his neck.

Ryoga nodded back.

"Akane is even more beautiful. She's the kindest, most beautiful, sweetest."

Dan smirked.

"Man, you got it bad. Is she your girlfriend or something?"

Ryoga shook his head.

"That damn Ranma is engaged to her, and cheats on her continuously."

Dan gave Ryoga a look of disbelief.

"You, must be joking. Cheating on someone more beautiful that that?", he
nodded his head toward Kasumi who was waiting on the sidewalk.

Ryoga shook his head.

"No! he cheats on her, and even worse.", he clenched his hand in an angry
fist, bowing his head, voice shaking with anger ".he even.he even.  insults
her cooking, and calls her uncute."

 Dan looked at Ryoga oddly.

"Sheesh.Nice guy, but a bit melodramatic.", he mumbled.

"Geeze, you're right, he does sound like a jerk. But isn't that always the
case, seems like all the real jerks end up with the best looking women."

Ryoga nodded in depression and sighed.

"Well let's go talk to Kasumi, I think she's seen us. See she's waving at
us."

Dan looked over at her.

"Man, this is going to take some getting used to, in the states, that sort
of wave is for 'goodbye'. Wow.. man she's got a smile and a half on her
doesn't she?"

Ryoga nodded.

"She is a truly wonderful person." , he turned and gave Dan a hard look,
"Don't get any ideas. I won't stand for anyone hurting Kasumi's feelings."

Dan held up a hand.

"Easy there, I'll be a total gentleman. I'm here to learn, that's all. Plus
I've, kinda got a fianc�e of my own back in the states. Umm well. at least
that's what she says she is."

Ryoga nodded.

"You can ask her for directions from here."

Dan looked puzzled.

"Huh? I'd figured you'd know your way from here."

Ryoga looked a little embarrassed.

"I usually walk, and .. well. I've never come this way before."

"Ahhh.. I get it."

Ryoga nodded, as Kasumi met them on the sidewalk.

She executed a perfect bow that seemed to carry an aura of welcome in it.

 Dan's clumsy bow in response left him feeling completely out of his
element.

 She spoke in a soft lilting voice that seemed to suit her perfectly,
surprisingly she spoke very clear and easy to understand English.

"Greetings Cervantes-san, I'm Kasumi Tendo, I humbly apologize on behalf of
my family for not having been there to greet you at the airport. I hope you
do not hold this poor first impression against us."

Dan smiled.

"Not at all Ms. Tendo. It was my fault, I knew I should have called myself,
rather than relying on the agency in the States to call you. But, I can
already tell that I'm going to enjoy Japan. I've already made my first
friend when I met Ryoga, and now I hope I've met my second one just now."

Kasumi nodded and smiled.

"I hope so to. I don't know if I'm the first person to say it to you
Cervantes-san, but welcome to Japan."

Dan smiled.

"Thank you. Wow, everyone I've met seems to speak English so much better
than I speak Japanese, I was a little worried about whether or not I would
be able to say how happy I was to be hosted by your family."

Kasumi blushed.

"You are too kind Cervantes-san. I haven't spoken eng-lish for a long time.I
was ...afraid... I would not speak it so good... anymore."

Dan smiled back, and looked at Ryoga, then back to her, "Ummm. Please
forgive me, I don't mean to be rude, but do you suppose you could Ummm..show
us the way? It is wonderful meeting you, but . my arms are about to fall
off, carrying all these packages."

Kasumi blushed.

"The house is right up the street, I'll lead you there, but I will need to
go back out immediately after to complete my shopping for tonight's party. I
'm not sure if I'll be able to get everything as it is.

Dan shook his head.

"Oh. well I don't want to interrupt your shopping, if you just give us
directions, I'm sure Ryoga and I can muddle through, and find the house. He
said he'd lead me there back at the airport. That way you don't have to
rush.

Kasumi gave them a nervous smile.

"Well, if you think that's wise. I suppose we could do that."

She fished through her purse for her house key, handing it to Ryoga.

"Just go down that street there" she gestured, "until you see the house with
the blue gate on the left side of the street, then turn down the alley that
is right after that. You'll pass under a bent street lamp. Turn right and go
straight, you'll see our house on the left. Go right in."

Dan sat his bag down and scribbled out the directions, handed them to Ryoga
and picked up his bags again.

"Straight, blue gate on left, down alley, right, bent lamp, turn right..
straight. House on left.. got it. One question though.. where is the shower,
I need one badly."

Kasumi smiled with some amusement.

"I've got a bath heating for you right now, you do know how to use a Furo?"

Dan nodded.

"Yep, you clean up before getting in the tub. Yeah I'll not make that
mistake."

He gave her a small smile.
 "I watched a movie called Shogun back a long time ago, I found out about
that sort of stuff a long time ago, just never had the chance to use a real
Japanese bath."

Kasumi gave a small laugh .

"You're funny, I hope we'll have a chance to talk when I get back... before
the party."

Dan wasn't sure how much better things could get, here he was talking to one
of the prettiest women he'd ever met, and had already made what he felt was
a good friend less than an hour after arriving. Everything he'd read about
Japan had indicated he'd have a hell of a time trying to get to know anyone.
Surprisingly everyone he'd met, so far, were very open and friendly.

Dan nodded and motioned to Ryoga.

"We'd better get going, we've already held you up long enough. Me and Ryoga
will find our way. Thanks for meeting us here Kasumi. See you in a little
bit."

Kasumi nodded, smiling sweetly.

"See you soon, oh.. and the towels are already out waiting for you in the
bathroom. Be careful though, I cleaned the tile floor, and it might be
slippery."

Ryoga and Dan parted ways with Kasumi as she headed off into the
marketplace.

"Aww damn Ryoga, I forgot to tell her about the steaks."

Ryoga looked about, trying to get his bearings.

"Huh? You saying something?"

Dan kicked him on the side of the leg.

"Yeah I was saying lets get a move on it. She said straight this way
and .ummm, what does that pad say?"

Ryoga looked at the pad.

"12 pairs of sport socks, 8 pair of dress socks, 12 T shirts, 14 pairs of
boxers. Hey what sort of directions are these?"

"Idiot! flip the pages, it's a few pages in. Sheesh."

"What did you call me."

"I called you an idiot, now you insult me back and we're even okay? Come on,
use the directions man."

Ryoga flipped a few pages muttering.

"Fine, you jerk, it says; 'look for a blue gate on the left' wherever that
is."

Dan rolled his eyes, thinking "This is gonna be a long walk."


***

Ten long minutes later Ryoga screamed his frustration toward the heavens,
"Where on Earth are we now?"

"Umm, you're facing the wrong way man. The house is right across the street
I think."

 Dan pointed, Ryoga looked.

"Heh heh heh. So it is. I was just playing you know."

"Right... Let's go, I hear a bath calling my name."

They entered the Tendo house and put the packages on the table at the
entrance.

Dan looked around.

"Nice place, different from what I'm use to though"

He marched his sock covered feet in place on the Tatami mats, making "woosh
woosh" sounds.

"Springy"

Ryoga rolled his eyes.

"Why don't you go take your bath? I'll go out to the Dojo or something."

Dan nodded.

"Good idea. Hey, where will they be having the party you think?"

Ryoga shrugged, "The dojo, I guess."

"Hey, how about you just take the gifts out there, that way we don't clutter
the hallway up, I'll carry my bag to the bathroom I've got a change of
clothes and some soap and stuff in it.?"

Ryoga nodded, "Good idea."

Ten minute later Dan was nicely clean and soaking in the very hot Furo.

"Aww man, I could get used to this"

He gradually dozed off a little in the steam filled room, sinking deeper
into the tub, spilling some water onto the tile floor.

He entered a state halfway between wakefulness, and sleep, something he'd
found relaxed him a great deal and that he'd found himself able to do when
needed since he'd been young.

He was so relaxed he didn't hear the voices of Nabiki and Akane as they
arrived home.

***

Say Akane, why don't you wait before you bake Ranma those cookies you
planned on. Maybe till after the party hmmm? You know how Kasumi can get if
someone messes up her kitchen?"

Akane sighed.

"I suppose, but I'd better not wait too long. Yuck! I need to get out of
this dress. Ranma's drink is getting all sticky on me."

Nabiki gave her an affirmative sound.

"Good idea, hey, I wonder where Kasumi is?"

Akane went up the stairs toward her bedroom but called to her sister.

"Check the note board, maybe she left a message,"

Nabiki said, "Right, I'm on it."

Nabiki looked over the note board and pulled off a yellow sticky note that
was on the refrigerator and nodded to herself as she started reading it.

She yelled up the stairs.

"Hey Akane, It says she had to go to pick up the exchange student, he got in
early, it says she left the Furo to heat up."

Akane stripped out of the last of her stained clothing, slipped into a robe
and went back down the stairs.

"Well I got dibs on the bath first then. I'm all sticky."

"Fine, greedy"

Nabiki turned the note over to read the rest. She went pale and made motions
as though to hit the wall, just barely stopping herself.

"Aww God damn it!  I knew something like this would have to happen."

She threw the note on the floor and stomped on it.

"What's wrong Nabiki?"

Akane grew worried, she'd never seen her sister become this upset in a long
time.

Nabiki snatched the note off the floor and shoved it at Akane.

"Read it yourself! We're ruined!"

Akane flipped the note over, reading it.

"I don't see what's wrong, it says she's going to meet him at the train
station."

Nabiki threw her hands up.

"Akane, she said she's meeting Ryoga and Cervantes there. Ryoga is going to
help him get there. We're probably never gong to hear from him again. Ryoga
could get lost in a closet. We're utterly screwed."

Akane smiled, happily.

"Well, good, there's  nothing to do about it now anyway. So, I'm going to go
take a bath.If we're lucky, good old Ryoga will beat him up and scare him
off."

Nabiki growled at her little sister as Akane made her way to the bathroom.

Nabiki sighed, rubbing her temples.

"All that planning, wasted. Damn it! One small detail missed and the whole
thing falls apart. Well, maybe we'll get-"

"AIIIEEEEEEE Pervert!, Rapist!, Help me! Ranmaaaaa!"

WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!

Nabiki ran down the hall and into the bathroom.

In front of her was a scene she hadn't expected to see. Her little sister
was clutching a towel to herself, panting in fear , while a tall, black
haired, naked, and wet, Gaijin lay on the floor passed out cold, small lumps
appearing on his head already, and eyes X'ed out.

Akane still had one of her bokkens in hand, the one she'd left in the
bathroom for 'just in case Ranma tried to peep'.

Nabiki sighed, leaning against the door frame, eyes closed and rubbing her
temples in annoyance.

"Good job Akane. The 'mallet machine' strikes again I see. You do realize
you probably just killed our guest."


TBC


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