Ranma 1/2: Siblings
Episode 6

All Ranma 1/2 characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi.  Viz owns the US
rights, and I'm using them without permission.  Don't sue me, I have no
money.

***

Nabiki rolled over on her futon, trying to get some sleep.  She sighed and
turned on her light.  She grabbed a manga from beside her bad and began to
flip through it.  *Maybe some light reading will help me sleep.*

She heard a knock on her door.  "Nabiki?" Andrew asked, his voice muffled
by the door. "Can I talk to you?"

Nabiki's recognized the potential for profit and quickly sat up.  She
grabbed a robe and slipped it on.  "Come in."  The door cracked and Andrew
slipped into her room, looking embarrased.

"Umm...I wanted to take you up on your offer," he said softly.

Nabiki raised her eyebrows.  "Oh? And what offer was that?" she asked
innocently.

Andrew looked down at the floor, and shifted his feet.  "Girl advice," he
mumbled.

"Let me guess, it wouldn't happen to have anything to do with a certain
Kaori Hidaka?"  Andrew looked up at her in suprise.

"How the hell did you know?" he asked.

Nabiki smirked and rolled her eyes.  "I have my ways," she said, her voice
taking a mysterious tone.  "Besides, she's beautiful, she's a martial
artist, and she's not engaged to Ranma.  I expected it."  She shrugged and
looked at him in a predatory sort of way.  "So what can Nabiki Incorporated
do for you today?"

"Well, I wanted to ask her out on a date, but..." he began, and trailed
off.

"But?" she prodded.

"I don't know what a good date is," he admitted.  "I don't want to do
something dumb."

Nabiki considered the matter.  "How much do you have to spend?"

"About 15000 yen," he told her, "is that enough?"

Nabiki whistled in awe.  "Oh yes, definitely.  For a first date, plan on
spending 3500, and be prepared for up to 8000."

Andrew looked confused.  "But.."

"You don't want to look like you're trying to buy her affection, and
besides, if you spend every yen you own you won't be able to take her out
on later dates."  She sighed.  "How about a dinner and a movie?" she
proposed.  Andrew nodded.  "Good.  Take her out to dinner someplace nice
and quiet." She gave him a glare.  "That means you avoid the Nekohanten and
Ucchan's like the plague."

"I don't know anyplace else!"

Nabiki stood, went to her desk, and rooted around in a drawer.  "Here," she
handed him a card.  "Take her to this place.  It's near to the school, so
it shouldn't be a far walk."  Andrew looked at the card.  It was for an
italian joint called La Taverna.  "Find it first, so you don't get lost. 
Also plan to go to a movie you'll both like.  I'd recommend something
romantic and action packed."

*I hope I remember this,* Andrew thought.  He suddenly gulped.  *I hope she
agrees.*

"Finally, as for the end of the date," Nabiki continued blithely.  "Don't
forget to do two things.  First, don't forget to thank her for the
evening."  She smirked a little.  "And don't forget to kiss her."  She
smiled lightly as Andrew blushed.

"T-thanks, Nabiki."  He reached into his pocket pulled out a handful of
bills.  "How much do I owe you?"  Nabiki shook her head.

"Put away your money, Andrew, all I want from you is a little favor..."

Once again, the peace of the Tendo household was shattered by a loud cry. 
"NO WAY!!!!"

***

Andrew grumbled to himself as he followed Nabiki and Akane to the park. 
Ranma-chan walked beside him, grumbling as well.  *Man, I should learn to
ask what she wants FIRST.* 

Andrew looked over at Ranma-chan. "So, how did you get roped into this?"

Ranma looked guilty and blushed.  "I asked for some girl advice."  Andrew
looked over at her in shock.  "I wanted my date with Akane to be special." 
Andrew couldn't help himself, he began to laugh.

"We're pretty pathetic, you know that?" he asked his brother.  "Same thing
with me."  Ranma-chan started to chuckle as well.  They laughed for a short
time, until the two girls looked back at them curiously.

"What's so funny?" Akane asked.

"Oh, nothing," gasped Ranma.  She looked over at Andrew and the two
exploded into gales of laughter again.  Akane and Nabiki looked at each
other, confused.  Nabiki shrugged, said something about men and idiots, and
the two girls walked on, carefully ignoring the two behind them.

The group reached the park.  Akane began removing her shirt and skirt,
revealing a bikini underneath.  Ranma-chan did the same, but she was
wearing a a rather revealing swimsuit.  Andrew averted his eyes and
blushed.  "Gak!  Bro, promise me you'll never wear that again."

Ranma-chan looked at him in suprise.  "Why?"

"Because I find it hard to remember I'm your brother when you wear that." 
He pulled off his shirt and opened the water bottle he was carrying. 
Nabiki looked admiringly at his muscular torso.

"Speaking of which, it's an awful pity we're going to be related," she
said.  Ranma-chan looked at her brother and snorted.

"Whatever, I'm better built," she said loftily.

"38-24-36 isn't a set of measurments most girls look for," Andrew
countered, and poured the water over his head while avoiding the kick
Ranma-chan leveled at him.  Andrew-wolf wriggled out of his clothes and
looked up at Nabiki expectantly.  *Well?*

Nabiki pulled out her camera and handed the frizbee to Akane.  "Go on, have
fun." Akane smiled and ran off a ways, Andrew-wolf following her for a
short distance.  Ranma-chan ran to her own position.  Andrew-wolf noticed
with a growl the several young men ogling the two girls.  *Man, would I
like to bite...*

His thought was cut off as Akane threw the frizbee to Ranma-chan over his
head.  "Come on, Andrew," she cried, "let's play!"  Ranma-chan threw the
frizbee back at Akane, and Andrew-wolf plucked it out of the air, running
it over to Akane.  Nabiki took pictures like a madwoman, counting up her
profit in her head.

After a few more throws, Andrew-wolf picked up on a trick.  Instead of
running the frizbee to the girls, he firgured out how to redirect the
frizbee mid-flight.  Soon, the three had a triangle going, with Andrew-wolf
running all over the park, leaping and jumping in the air.  *I have to
admit,* he thought, *this is fun.*  He looked over at Ranma-chan, and
stumbled as he noticed her impressive assets bouncing.  *God, we're going
to have to have a LONG talk about that.*

After an hour or so, Nabiki ran out of film.   Akane and Ranma-chan ran
over to get their clothes.  Nabiki poured the contents of a thermos out on
Andrew-chan, but to his great displeasure the water wasn't warm enough to
make him change back.  "Sorry, Andrew," Nabiki apologized.  "You'll just
have to wait until we get home."

Andrew-wolf grumbled in wolf as they walked home, leading the way for the
others.  He rounded a corner, nearly running into a pair of legs. 
Andrew-wolf backed off with a yelp, and looked up to see Kuno.  Andrew-wolf
growled and snapped at the kendoist, who quickly fell into a battle stance.

"Back!  Away foul beast!" he cried.  The three girls rounded the corner,
Akane and Ranma-chan sighing in dismay when they noticed Kuno.  "Akane
Tendo and the pig-tailed girl!" he cried.  "Be not afeared, for I, Tatewaki
Kuno shall defend you from this monster!"  With that, he took a swing at
the growling wolf.

Andrew-wolf pressed himself to the ground and replied with an attack of his
own, but the other's defenses were a little harder to get by in wolf form
than they were in human.  Still, Andrew-wolf managed to bite the kendoist
several times.

"Ranma!" Akane cried, whirling on the readhead.  "Help him!"

Ranma-chan yawned.  "Why?  Andrew has the situation under control," she
said, pointing back at the combat.  Andrew-wolf had wrestled the bokken out
of Kuno's grip, where it lay, several feet out of reach.  Kuno lay still on
the ground, trying to remain calm as Andrew-wolf's jaws encircled his
throat.

Nabiki walked up to Kuno, and looked down at his face.  "Kuno-baby, I see
you met...Acchan, Ranma's pet wolf," she smirked.  Andrew-wolf growled
softly at the name, and Kuno paled.

"Nabiki Tendo, I emplore you.  Your aid would be most welcome," Kuno said
softly.

"10000 yen," Nabiki replied.

"Done!" the kendoist cried.  Nabiki touched Andrew-wolf's shoulder, and the
wolf let go of Kuno's throat and backed off.  Kuno sat up, his hands around
his neck.  "That beast held my very life in it's jaws," he said as he
pulled out his wallet to pay Nabiki.  "Saotome will pay for this as well." 
He stood and went to pick up his bokken, but a growl from Andrew-wolf made
him back off.  "I will not forget this affront!" He cried.  He turned to
Akane and Ranma-chan.  "Mine apologies, fair maidens, I will rescue you
another day."  He ran off.

Andrew-chan spat with distaste.  *He even tastes like a pompus ass.*

Ranma-chan looked down at the wolf.  "I'm impressed, you made Kuno back
off," she told it, then smirked.  "Acchan."  She laughed as the wolf gave
her a disgusted look.  "It works.  Hey Akane, what do you think?"

Akane got a thoughtful expression on her face.  "I think it's perfect," she
said, and smiled down at Andrew-wolf.  "You're such a cute little puppy,
you need a cute little name." Andrew-wolf wimpered in dismay as the others
laughed.

*Aww...man...* he thought to himself as they walked home.

***

Andrew walked home, humming to himself.  *First time in a while I haven't
been in detention.*  He frowned, and sighed.  *Too bad Kaori wasn't there
today, I really wanted to ask her out.* He smiled lightly.  *Oh well, I've
got another 5 days to do it.*

He came upon the gate to the Tendo Dojo and saw someone standing there.  He
stopped and appraised the man, his eyes narrowing.  He was somewhere in his
early twenties, thin but muscular.  He has a slightly feminine look to him,
and the kind of face girls sigh over.  He wore some sort of lizard vest,
similar bracers, and loose Chinese pants.  

Andrew groaned inwardly.  *If this guy's here for Akane or Ranma, I'm going
to kill him.  Last thing those two need is another complication.*  He
walked over to the man, who was now watching him warily.  "Hello, can I
help you?"

"No," the man said shortly, and turned away.

Andrew flushed, his temper flaring.  "Look, I live here, and I'm not about
to let you cause any trouble.  Just tell me what you want!"

The man turned back to him, and blinked slowly.  "I want Happosai," he
said.

"He's not here."

"I know," the man replied.  "He will be.  I'll wait."

"What do you want to see him for, anyway?  I mean, we haven't seen him for
weeks!"  The man stiffened at the first question, but wilted at the second.

"It's a personal matter," he said evenly.  "Thank you.  I'll go then."  He
turned and began to walk away.

"HEY! Wait," Andrew yelled.  "If you want to see Happosai, it's probably
because he did something to you."  He grinned.  "Maybe I can help. 
Anything to incovenience that lech."

The man looked Andrew up and down, and snorted in derision.  "I don't think
so."

"Well at least tell me your name!"  Andrew growled at him.  The man
stiffened, and he seemed to shake slightly.  "I'm Andrew Saotome."  The man
whirled and looked at him in shock.

"You're related to fem-boy?" he demanded incredulously.

*Fem-boy?* Andrew thought, mouthing the words.  *Oh, Ranma.*  "Yeah, I'm
Ranma's brother."

"Fem-boy doesn't have a brother," the man said suspiciously.  "You're
lying."

Andrew rolled his eyes.  *Why can't they believe me from the start?* 
"Look, it's a long story."   He looked at the other.  "Now who the hell are
you?"

The man paused.  "Call me...Tarou."  Andrew's eyes widened.  *Oh shit.*  He
quickly ran through what Ranma and Akane had told him about Tarou.  

"You're HIM," he breathed. *I can probably take him in human form, but if
he goes monster I'm dead.  Let's try making nice.* He shook his head
sympathetically.  "Tough break with the name."  He grinned suddenly.  "It
could be worse, I knew a guy with the name Hentaii.  Two 'i's, but
still..."

"Save me your pity!" Tarou snapped.  "So you already know my shame.  Get it
over with.  Mock me, laugh, have your fun."  He chuckled evilly.  "Enjoy
it, because you'll pay for it."

Andrew sighed.  "I offered to help, and it still stands."  He looked the
other in the face calmly, meeting the other's cold glare with his own
sincere one.  "Maybe between us we can figure out how to convince that
freak to change your name."

Tarou snorted.  "Last time I trusted one of you, he betrayed me.  Why
should I trust you?"

Andrew's face became red as he started to grow angry.  "Because I give you
my word."

Tarou looked at him silently for a moment, then held out his hand.  "Deal."
 Andrew reached out and took the other's hand, and they shook.  "You're not
like fem-boy.  By now he'd be throwing punches."  Tarou smiled faintly.

Andrew snickered and released his grip.  "Yeah, well, I'm not Ranma.  Come
on, lets grab something to eat."  He started to walk away, and noticed the
other hadn't moved.  "I'm buying?"  He forced a grin as Tarou moved to
follow.  *Damnit, you arrogant ass, let down a wall or two.  Can't you see
I'm trying to be friends?*

"So," Andrew began, "I'll bet you want to hear how I became Ranma's
brother.  Well, it all started with this pact between his family and
mine..."

***

Andrew and Tarou sat in Ucchans drinking sodas and chatting.

"Nice food," Tarou said as he eyed Ukyo's retreating form.  "Nicer chef."

"Number 3," Andrew quipped.  At Tarou's confused look.  "Akane, Shampoo,
Ukyo.  She's fiancee number 3."  He chuckled.  "Well, there's Kodachi, but
she's not an official fiancee."

Tarou shook his head in as much disgust as amazement.  "I don't know how
fem-boy does it.  Why do all those girls go nuts over him?"

Andrew shrugged.  "I'm guessing it's a combination of bad luck, Pop's
meddling, and his macho ego.  I've dumped him in that pond a dozen times,
and he still claims he's better than me."

"Who is better?" Tarou asked.  "You or fem-boy?"

"I am, of course," Andrew answered seriously.  Tarou snorted.  "Heh, well,
I think we're about even.  He's quicker, but I'm sneakier."  He looked
Tarou over.  "You're supposed to be pretty good too, as far as I hear."  He
got a predatory look on his face.  "Want to go spar?"

Tarou grinned, his face a mixture of amusement and arrogance.  "Why,
anxious to have me kick your butt?"

"You can try," Andrew smirked back, but sobered.  "Actually, I have to get
back.  I promised Ramna I'd play bodyguard for his date with Akane."  Tarou
looked a little shocked at that.

"So fem-boy finally decided," he said with a bit of respect.  "About damned
time, I thought he liked that one.  I'm suprised it only took a year, I
expected decades with this crew."

"Ah, they're not that bad," Andrew said defensively. "Although Shampoo's
after me too."  He shuddered.

Tarou laughed at him a bit.  "Amazons.  Be afraid.  Be very afraid."

Ukyo came and handed Andrew the bill.  "Here you go, 'Drew."  She looked
over at Tarou.  "Who's your friend?"

"Ukyo Kuonji, meet Tarou," Andrew said.  Ukyo's eyes tightened for a
moment, but the look soon passed.  She smiled brightly at Tarou.  "Pleased
to meet you." 

"Likewise," Tarou said charmingly, locking eyes with Ukyo.  His intense
gaze caused her to blush.  

Andrew looked up at Ukyo with a pained look on his face as he counted yen. 
"How come I have to pay for meals while Ranma gets them free?" he
complained.  He handed her the yen.

"Because I'm not engaged to you," she told him primly, walking away. 
*Andrew's talking nicely with that Pantyhose Tarou guy everyone told me
about, and Ranma and Akane are going on a date.   This is trouble.*  She
walked to behind her counter and put the yen in the register.  *I'll say
this much, that Tarou guy is cute."

Andrew cursed.  "Crap, she probably heard.  Come on, let's go."  Tarou
stood and followed him out.

Ukyo watched the two young men leave, her thoughts whirling.  *Oh no you
don't, Akane.  I'm not about to let this one slide.*