What has gone before:  What, didn't you read the repost?
Ranma's lost a curse.  Akane's gained one, along with 
an Amazon who considers herself engaged to "Kaneda".
Ranma is still searching for a way to defeat the 
perpetrator, a water-spirit known unimaginatively as 
"Mizu" while Akane in boy form has just ended an
ill considered "date" with "his" Amazon fiancee.

Comments, corrections and suggestions welcome at 
rgorman@telusplanet.net

Characters and situations of this fic are the 
creation of R. Takahashi.  No offense intended.
_________________________________________________________

For Every Action, Part 14

The old dial phone in the central hallway of the Tendo
household rang with a tone that Nabiki always found
particularly irritating.  She cut it off in mid-scream.

"Hello? Nabiki...san?"

Nabiki smirked at the sound of her sister's newly 
acquired masculine voice and answered, "Hello Kaneda,
how's the date going?  

"It isn't.  Like I said, she isn't my type.  Listen,
is Ranma there?"

"Sorry, Kaneda, he's out."

"Where is that baka?!"  

"Wouldn't know.  You know, the way you ask, a girl might
almost think that _Ranma_ was your type.  He isn't, is 
he?"

"NO!  I just...need his help with something."

"He's probably out visiting one of his girlfriends
since Akane seems to have run off on him.  You haven't
seen her, have you?"  Nabiki waited patiently for a 
response that seemed slow in coming. 

Akane forced herself to unclench her jaw enough to say, 
"I'm sure she'll be home soon."

"Say," Nabiki purred, "There isn't some problem _I_ could
help you with, is there?  Normally I don't do favours for
free, but in ...your... case, I'd consider making an 
exception..."  Her voice trailed off enticingly as her 
shoulders shook with silent laughter.

On the other end of the phone line Akane could feel her
ears burning with embarassment.  Her boy's voice squeaked
embarassingly as she stammered, "Uh...oh...no thanks 
Nabiki-san.  That's all right, I'll uh...  Nice talking
to you."

"Nice talking to you, as well.  You're sure that there 
isn't..."  Nabiki gave a little gasp ala Marilyn Monroe.
"...anything I can do for you?"  A click and a dial tone
was her only answer.  She grinned widely.

"Nabiki?" Kasumi emerged from the kitchen, stripping off
her rubber gloves.  "Who was that on the phone?"

"Oh, it was that Kaneda guy looking for Ranma."  Nabiki
answered casually.  Really, Akane was probably right to
keep what had happened to her from Kasumi and their 
father.  They probably couldn't handle it.  But trying to
trick Nabiki Tendo?  She was lucky to get off so easily.

"Nabiki..."  Kasumi hesitated.  "Have you noticed how...
muscular that boy is?"

"Yes, I guess he's in pretty good shape."  Nabiki conceded.
"He does a lot of martial arts, I understand.  Gives him
something in common with Ranma."

"And how good his manners are?"

"Uh-hunh."

"He has a really nice smile, don't you think?"

"Uh..."  Nabiki was beginning to feel really 
uncomfortable with this conversation.

"And doesn't he have the most perfect...lower end?"

"Ak!" The middle Tendo sister prided herself on never
panicking, but the idea of her older sister, almost her 
mother, lusting after her little sister in disguise was
just about the scariest thought she'd ever had.

"He doesn't seem terribly happy with that Chinese girl,
does he?  Perhaps he's looking for something else in a
girlfriend," Kasumi mused aloud.  "Do you suppose he's
mature enough to be interested in a slightly older girl?"

Nabiki found herself sweating.  There was no way she'd
let Kasumi humiliate herself this way.  "No!  I mean...
he's way too immature for you, he's almost as immature
as Ranma, and I think he has a violent streak..."  

"Goodness, you seem almost upset," Kasumi observed.  
"You aren't interested in him, yourself, are you?"

There was a pause, and then Nabiki muttered, "You could
say I feel close to him."  She wasn't blushing.  She 
wasn't going to blush.    

"Well I certainly won't try to get in the way of you and
happiness," Kasumi assured her with a blissful smile and
returned to the kitchen.

Nabiki let her breath with a sigh, then smirked a little
at herself.  Imagine letting herself get caught that way,
but of course it wasn't likely to go any further.  
Protecting Kasumi from heartbreak was worth a minute's
embarassment.  At least she knew what was going on so 
there was no chance this situation would get any more
difficult.  

Kasumi put the gloves away and went out to the Dojo 
where her father was practising.  She delicately said,
"Father?"

Soun said, "Yes, Kasumi?" without pausing as he kicked 
his imaginary opponent.  

"I think that Nabiki is falling in love."

"Really?!"  Well used tear ducts began to warm up in 
preparation for use.
________________________________________________________

And Now For a Word From Our Sponsor:  OK, so it's short.
It's been a while since I've written anything but C&C,
give me a break.  

I could use a little commentary, this fic is in a shaky
stretch.