Previous installments can be found on my webpage at
www.geocities.com/tokyo/4022.  

I know where this story is going, but I'm not entirely sure how it's getting
there, so any comments that you can send will help me get the next few
chapters out a little sooner.

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Ch. 3   A Meeting of the Minds?



"*What* did you say Ranma-kun?"

	The red and embarrassed face that Nabiki was staring at suddenly changed
from flustered and mortified to flustered and irritated.  It seemed to be
saying: "Don't make me say it again.  The first time nearly killed me."  

	Ranma had decided that Mousse's help would be great, but doubted that it
would really be enough.  He needed Nabiki's help as well, and he wouldn't
turn up his nose at any other allies who came along.  Still, asking her for
it had been the hardest thing that he'd ever done.

	Nabiki smirked.  "Let me see if I've got this straight.  You want..."

	Ranma nodded.

	"my help..."

	Another nod.

	"to marry Akane."

	The third nod had some spirit to it and was accompanied by a sound that
would have been a "Yes." if Ranma's mouth had been open.

	Fighting down another smirk, she raised an eyebrow.  "You," she said smugly
"are obviously a man who recognizes talent when he sees it.  I think we can
arrange something.  And if I help you with this, you'll do what for me?"

	_Battle tactics._ Ranma reminded himself for what would not be the last
time.  "Two things."

	"Do tell."

	"First, I make your sister as happy as I possibly can."

	Nabiki's eyebrow arched just a bit higher.  It was mostly affected.  The
truth was that she was quite glad to hear that he was taking this seriously,
and suspected that Akane would be as well.  Still, she had a reputation to
maintain.  "And?"

	"And second, I don't beat the tar out of you for inviting everyone to the
last wedding and letting them break it up."

	_Touche'_ she thought, but didn't say it.  Though she would never admit it,
the truth was that her reasons for spoiling the last wedding had been  deep
and complex, and only partly monetary.  The gift checks had been a nice
bonus, but the idea of Ranma and Akane married at sixteen without resolving
their differences had genuinely frightened her.  She couldn't have stood by
and let that happen.  Looking at Ranma now, however, and seeing the
determination and sincerity in his face, she wondered if she had made a
mistake.  She smiled.  "You drive a hard bargain."  

	He smiled back, but his eyes were cautious.  "Is it a deal then?"

	"Deal.  What do you want me to do?" 

***

	"Where is Akane-san?" Mousse asked suspiciously as he knelt between Ranma
and Nabiki on the floor of the dojo. 

	"Akane is doing homework at a friend's house." Nabiki said loftily.  "She
doesn't know about this, and it would be... unwise for us to involve her at
this time." 

	Mousse stared at her for a moment in disbelief, then looked at his rival.
Ranma frowned a little, but nodded, trusting Nabiki's instincts.  Mousse sat
next to him.

	"Let's begin, shall we?"  

	As the meeting progressed, Ranma was more and more glad that he'd asked for
Nabiki's help.  Her pleasant and business-like voice put things on an
impersonal level that kept both he and Mousse focused.  Without her, he
suspected that the discussion would have quickly degenerated into a brawl.
Ranma was still unable to tell Mousse what his real motivation was, but
Nabiki had no such reservations.  Her bluntness completely embarrassed Ranma
all over again, his face turning several colors not normally found in nature
during her little presentation.  Still, it was for the best.  If he had
tried to explain the plan to Mousse himself, they'd have been there all
night even if they didn't come to blows.

	"That's our goal."  Nabiki concluded.  "Mousse, once Ranma and Akane are
blissfully married, it should be easy for the three of us to find a way to
make the girl of your dreams fall into your arms.  Any questions?"

	"Yes." Mousse said, his head still spinning from the briefing.  "How are we
going to do it?"

	Nabiki smiled.  "I have a few ideas."

	"Hmph.  Where have I heard that before."  Mousse said under his breath,
then out loud he said "Go on."

	"First and foremost, we've got to get Romeo over here to talk to Akane.
This isn't going to work without her help.  Ranma believes that she wants to
marry him, but he can't stop saying stupid things and setting off that
temper of hers.  He's kind of thick headed that way."

	"Hey!"

	"Are you denying it, Ranma-kun."

	Ranma looked sheepish.  "No."

	"I didn't think so.  You obviously need help.  Tomorrow on the way to
school might be a good place for you to start.  Try your hardest to avoid
ticking her off, then talk to her once you're away from the house.  You said
that you wanted to ask her to start training with you.  Ask her then."

	Ranma smiled.  This was a good idea.  His smile faded.  "Just one problem.
Whenever I try to talk to her, one of the others always shows up.  That's
about the time that she hits me, or pushes me into the canal or something."

	"Ranma Ranma Ranma.  You're over simplifying.  It's the timing that's
important here.  Ukyou usually makes goo-goo eyes at you at school, then
comes on to you when class gets out.  Kodachi usually waits until you're
inside the gate at Furinkan.  The only girl who ever really attacks you on
the *way* to school is Shampoo.  If we can keep *her* away from you for one
morning, then there would be only one thing that could mess up this plan."

	"And what's that?"

	"Why, your big mouth, of course."

	Ranma glared, but didn't say anything.

	Nabiki smiled sweetly.  "Try not to make her mad, okay Ranma-kun."

	"Okay.  But what about Shampoo?"

	"Leave her to me." said Mousse.


***

	For once, they weren't late.  Ranma had been up on time, and he hadn't
stalled or complained or fought with her, which meant that they'd actually
left the house at a decent time.  It was nice to be able to walk to school
at a leisurely pace for a change.  Ranma's balance didn't seem to be as good
at this slower pace.  A few of his steps seemed to be unsure as he walked on
the fence beside her.  Akane was in a good mood.  She vowed to herself that
she wasn't going to let anything spoil it.  

	"Hey Akane?"  Ranma said softly.

	"Yes?"

	"Um, do you think that...  Would you like to start, and, I mean, I think
that we should, if you want to, and-"

	"What is it, Ranma?"  She smiled, but she was starting to get suspicious.
What did he want now?  She reminded herself that it hadn't even been a
minute since she'd resolved not to let anything spoil her mood.  Anything
included Ranma.  _Give him a chance to speak._  A part of her mind said.
_Last night he surprised you.  He may again._   

	Ranma stopped, did a basic layout, and landed next to her.  He put a hand
on her shoulder so she had to stop walking.  She fought the annoyance again
as she turned to face him. _*Good* mood. *Good* mood.  *Good* mood._ she
reminded herself.

	"Akane," he looked into her eyes for a moment, losing himself once again in
their depths.  That dreamy smile was tugging at his lips again, but he
forced it down, deciding that, if he was going to speak intelligibly, he
couldn't look at her.  With an effort, he pulled his eyes and thoughts away
from her face, focusing on the ground instead.

	_Battle tactics.  Battle tactics._  "I'd like to start training with you.
Everyday."  There, he'd said it.  Now how was she going to react?  She'd
either like the idea, or think that he was saying she was no good, and pound
him. Still not daring to look at her face, he watched her hands.  They were
starting to clench, which probably meant that he was going to be
reintroduced to her fist soon.  Maybe he should cover his butt a little.  "I
think that we could help each other improve a lot."  

	She was silent, but the fists that had been forming slowly disappeared.
When the quiet finally got to him, he looked up again.  She seemed quite
shocked.  Her eyes were wide.  He frowned a little.  "If you don't want to,
then-"

	"No!  I mean...  Um," her hands started fidgeting.  "I mean I'd love to
train with you."

	He smiled.  "Really?"

	"Yes.  I'd like to spend more time with... and, you know, improve."  It was
her turn to look down, but she was smiling.

	"Let's start today after school.  Okay?"

	She nodded quickly and started to turn away.  Ranma tightened his grip on
her shoulder.  "Akane?"

	"Y-yes."

	He waited until she met his eyes.  "Thanks."  That goofy grin was starting
again.  This time he didn't try to hide it.  Suddenly he felt shy and unsure
again.  "You won't regret it."  _Am I brave enough?  I don't wanna lose this
chance to show her._   He reached down and touched the back of her hand.
She breathed in very sharply at the contact, taken completely off guard.
This just made Ranma more nervous, but he really did want to move in the
right direction with her.  It wouldn't be the first time they'd held hands,
just the first time they'd done so in public.  

	Akane froze as that darned wonderful feeling washed over her.  Why did it
feel so good when he touched her of his own free will.  A tap on the back of
the head when they were sparring, the way he'd carried her sometimes, and
best of all, holding his hand in the forest that day.  It was so wonderful
and so rare, and now, suddenly, on this beautiful morning on the way to
school, his fingertips were sliding slowly, gently down the back of her
hand.  She held her breath, hoping. _Just a little lower.  A little more.
Please let it be true._  

	When he reached the ends of her fingers, he hesitated for a moment, scared
and excited and praying silently to any gods that were listening, and then
curled his fingers lightly around hers and began moving up her palm.  He
wasn't sure at exactly which moment they were officially holding hands, but
through the whole process, she didn't get angry or pull away.  And then it
was done.  He smiled down at her for a moment, enjoying the feeling of her
small hand in his, then began to walk her to school.



.\\ishamouse~   	www.geocities.com/tokyo/4022

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Second Student Tendo Kasumi School of Philosophy

"That was Zen; this is Tao."
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