Hmm, reality showed up, slapped me around, and shouted, "Pay
attention to me!" So I did, for a little while. But here is
Chapter 4 at last. Enjoy! C&C obviously wanted and welcomed.

Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan in
Japan, and Viz Communications in the US. I'm just borrowing the
characters for profit-free entertainment purposes, but I'm sure
Nabiki-san will still send me a bill.

Disclaimer 2: Slayers is copyrighted by Hajime Kanzaka, Rui Araizumi,
TV Tokyo, SOFTX and Egg Films. Characters used without permission
but hopefully Lina-san won't Dragu Slave me out of existence. :)

NABIKI'S WAR
Part 4: The Two Greatest Forces in the Universe Unite! Can Ranma Resist?

By Kagami

 "DRAGU SLAVE!"

 "Shi Shi Hokodan!"

 The pale blue beam annihilated its target, a small boulder
which had been carefully placed upon the Furinkan High School
sports field. Kasumi Tendo, play director, didn't notice.
Instead, her attention was focused upon the two people who had
just attempted to combine acting with martial arts, and had just
failed miserably. She ventured her opinion.

 "Um, Ryoga-kun, I'm afraid I can still hear your voice and
the beam didn't quite look like it originated from Akane. Perhaps
we should try it again?"

 Ryoga, crouched by Akane's side, looked up from his hunched
position. His face alternated between dismay at this latest
failure, rapture at being so close to Akane, and ragged exhaustion
from firing an even dozen ki-blasts in rapid succession. In other
words, it looked pretty much like his everyday expression.

 The protest, when it came, wasn't voiced by him - Ryoga
looked like he might have preferred to keel over in a dead faint
rather than move from his position. It came from Akane instead. A
faint frown of fustration marred her countenance.

 "It's not working, onee-san. Ryoga's exhausting himself to
no purpose."

 "I can continue, Akane-san. Let's just try it again," said
Ryoga in a strong voice. Well, he meant it as a strong voice. The
shaky tone and wavering words cruelly crushed his staunch effort.

 "No, Ryoga." Akane placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're on
the verge of collapse. I can't let you go on like this. You need
to take a rest." She added, "Please?"

 "S-s-sure, Akane-san." Making a supreme effort of will, he
managed to tear himself away from Akane's concern and comforting
hand. And manfully staggered away.

 Akane walked over to Kasumi, face downcast. "I don't feel
right about this, onee-san. There has to be a better way."

 Kasumi paused to consider her answer, then murmured, "Perhaps
Nabiki might have a suggestion. You should ask her later."

 "I will, onee-san."

***

 "As a matter of fact, I do have a suggestion, Akane." Nabiki
managed not to look smug as she contemplated her choice of solution.
She did have another option, but she'd mention that one to Ryoga
directly.

 "Well, what is it?" Akane asked as her sister failed to
continue.

 "Learn a ki blast of your own."

 For a moment, the comment utterly failed to register with
Akane. Then, she reacted.

 "You want me to develop a ki blast in six days?!" Akane
barely refrained from shouting.

 "Why not? Ranma can do it."

 "I AM _NOT_ RANMA!"

 "Good." Nabiki smiled, a genuine smile that grew broader as
she took in Akane's confused expression. "It's about time you
stopped comparing yourself to him."

 "What? But you said Ranma ..." Akane trailed off in
bewilderment. She tried again, "Look, I just said I'm not Ranma,
so how do you expect me to pick up something like that in just
six days?"

 Nabiki looked somber. "No, you aren't Ranma. You're Akane
Tendo - and who is to say what Akane Tendo can or cannot do?" She
examined her sister's expression which had turned thoughtful and
then proceeded to make her point.

 "Only you can do that, Akane. Only you."

***

 "So, I'm this Gourry Gabriev's old girlfriend from the past
huh?" Ukyo Kuonji muttered as she paged through the scriptbook.

 "That's right." Hikaru Gosunkugi seemed pleased to answer
any questions Ukyo had about her character. "Though he doesn't
really think of her as a girlfriend, mostly as just a friend. And
he does remember Slyphiel as being a really good cook."

 "But this Slyphiel has feelings for Gourry from way back
when?"

 "Yep. And he has absolutely no idea. Rather sad for her."

 "You know, this seems kinda familiar ..."

***

 "So, Ryoga, how's that new technique for the Dil Brando
going?"

 Ryoga was indulging in his favourite choice of relaxation -
blowing big holes in the ground. It did have a calming effect on
him.

 "Oh, Nabiki. Take a look at this." Ryoga jabbed a finger at
the ground and yelled, "Bakusai Tenketsu!"

 Nothing happened.

 Then, a crack erupted from where Ryoga's finger remained
embedded in the ground and raced away from the point of contact -
all of two feet - before exploding into the usual shower of rocks.

 "Not bad, not bad at all."

 "Two feet is about as far as I can get it to go for now, but
I'm sure I can improve it."

 "What are you going to call it?"

 "The new attack? I don't really know. I was using the same
old name to focus my ki, so maybe something similar. I'll try to
think of something."

 "How about Dil Brando?" Nabiki asked casually.

 "Um, that might do I guess."

 "By the way, how's Ranma coming along with adapting his
attacks for the play?"

 Silence.

 "You did tell him, right? That's why I made you Special
Effects Director, after all. I can't take of everything myself."

 More silence.

 "Ryoga?"

 "Ah-hehe." Ryoga rubbed the back of his head nervously. It
wasn't as though he was afraid of Nabiki, but ... "Actually, I
haven't been able to find him," he admitted sheepishly.

***

 "How do you like your part, Ranma-kun?" Kasumi enquired
sweetly.

 Ranma pulled his nose from the script folder, looking a
little nervous as he remembered the last occasion Kasumi had
approached him in a similar manner. He relaxed as he realized he
wasn't eating anything this time round. Still...

 "Oh, it seems easy enough. Fight a lot, eat as much, and
insult Akane's figure." He puffed his chest out nonchalantly.
"Heck, I do that all the time."

 "I see." Kasumi's voice seemed slightly ... less warm than
normal. Was the room feeling a little colder? Perhaps it was
merely his imagination. "And, how are you doing with your ki
attacks?"

 "Ki attacks?" he paused in puzzlement. "I thought Ryoga was
handling the special effects?"

 "Oh dear." Kasumi sounded faintly regretful. "Didn't Nabiki
or Ryoga tell you? Ryoga's handling all of Akane's special
effects, but he can't be in two places at the same time so you'll
be doing the same thing ... for Kodachi."

 "WHAT?!"

***

 "NABIKI!"

 Nabiki tried not to look annoyed as Ranma rushed up wearing
an angry expression.

 "Look, Nabiki ..." Ranma broke off as he found himself the
focus of many interested stares from the crowded school cafeteria.
Whispered conversations buzzed in the background. He lowered his
voice and started again. "What's this about me working with
Kodachi?"

 Nabiki shrugged. "I didn't have time to tell to tell you,
and Ryoga couldn't find you. Since you're here, I'll give you the
details. You'll provide the special effects for Naga's spells.
Kodachi has that role, so you'll be working with her."

 "No way! I can't deal with Kodachi."

 "Tough, Ranma. Ryoga's got his job to do, and so do you."

 "What? It's bad enough that you have Ryoga working with
Akane, when I should ..." he stopped, appalled at what he had
almost said and to whom. He attempted to retrieve lost momentum
by looming forward, voice low with false menace. "Get someone
else to help Kodachi. Like Happosai. Or else, I'll ..."

 "Or you'll what?" Nabiki's own voice had gone husky.
"Challenge me again?" She leaned closer towards him, eyes bright
with ... something. She whispered, lips moving softly, so faint
that the words barely reached him.

 "I'd like that."

 Ranma suddenly found himself a table length away from
Nabiki, with absolutely no memory of moving. He swallowed
convulsively, and licked dry lips. "No, I'll ..." He tried to
keep his voice level and calm. It wasn't a very good effort.
"I'll work with Kodachi." Time to use the Saotome Secret
Technique.

 As Ranma stalked off in a huff, Nabiki tried to hide
another expression that threatened to erupt across her features.

 This time it was a smile.

***

 Kodachi Kuno gazed with pleasure at the costume that she
would wear while playing the role of Naga the White Serpent,
foremost rival to Akan - uh - Lina Inverse. The costume, or lack
thereof, guaranteed the immediate attention of all males in the
vicinity, and would certainly attract the attention of one Ranma
Saotome.

 Then, her gaze fell on two objects partially obscured by the
skimpy battle-thong. Her pleasure faded. "What are these?" she
asked her compatriot, indignation colouring her voice.

 "Oh, Martelle, Claudine, you're so cute." Azusa Shiratori
picked up the two objects in question and attempted to hug them
to death. Fortunately, they merely squished a little.

 Kodachi cleared her throat, foot tapping impatiently. "Well?"

 "Hmm, Azusa thinks they are called 'falsies'."

 Long pause.

 "I see." Calm. Calm. Nabiki Tendo. Rage. Impale. Kill.
Calm. Calm. Calm.

***

 "But Saotome doesn't even know anything about kendo!"
Tatewaki Kuno protested to Nabiki. "How can he provide a decent
contest with a sword?"

 "Don't worry your little head about it, Kuno-chan. By next
week, he'll know all that he needs. I've hired him a tutor." And
hadn't it been a surprise to find that name listed in the
phonebook under Martial Arts - Kendo/Kenjutsu. A very pleasant
surprise indeed.

 "You expect Saotome to learn enough kendo to challenge me,
the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, in less than a week?" Arrogance
leaked through Kuno's suave voice. How he kept that confidence
after constant and continual defeat at Ranma's hands was beyond
her. Though it probably helped that he wasn't playing with a full
deck.

 "I guarantee it, Kuno-chan."

 "Very well, Nabiki Tendo. I will hold you to your word."
Kuno paused. "And stop calling me Kuno-chan."

 "Sure thing, Kuno-chan."

***

 "NABIKI!"

 Ranma closed in rapidly.

 "Ranma." A soft purr. A whispered caress. Boing. Ranma was
backed against the far wall, the whites of his eyes showing.

 "That isn't going to work every time, you know." Bravely.

 Nabiki shrugged casually. "As long as it works ... you'll
take the kendo course then."

 "Yes." Reluctantly.

***

 Ranma was in a foul mood. He had to get over this ... this
fear of ... it wasn't as bad as his fear of c-ca-felines. It just
made him nervous, that was all. He had to get over it. Letting
Nabiki walk all over him whenever she wanted was just so
humiliating. 'Course she did that all the time anyway, but this
time the reason delivered a savage blow to his male pride.

 "I can do it. I know I can do it." Ranma tried to build his
confidence. "I can. I can. I can."

 Of course, he was concentrating so hard that he failed to
hear soft footsteps falling behind him.

 "I can. I can. I can." A litany of success. "I will. I will.
I will." There.

 "R-"

 He ignored the voice. Though it sounded very familiar. It
didn't matter. He was Ranma Saotome. Sure he'd been defeated before,
but he always came back and won. This time would be no different.
He'd practice over and over - even if he had to *kiss* a hundred
girls. Even Akane. Speaking of which ...

 "Just you wait, Nabiki! I swear I'll be the one to kiss you
this time!"

 Sudden silence. Lo-o-ong pause. The familiar voice bringing
belated recognition to Ranma's brain.

 "R-a-n-m-a." A low growl.

 Akane.

 Uh oh.

---