"Konatsu." Ukyou's lipped formed the words, though no sound came 
out.   The acidic flavor of salt made itself known in her mouth as she 
tried to crawl along the floor.  A heeled foot collided with her back as 
the breath was knocked out of it.  

The chef strained to lift her head off the cement ground and stare at the 
nightmarish scene that was continued to be played out in front of her.  
"Ranma.  No." she sobbed as she watched the man she idolized kick 
Konatsu in the gut again.   The limp body of her employee and friend 
showed no resistance and little reaction to the strike.

"Are you ready to give up yet?" the cold voice of the man standing 
over her asked again. 

She cleared her throat and croaked out, "never."   She grunted in pain 
as her defiance was answered by a kick to the head.

"Kill him," the calm but cruel voice said.

She watched in horror as Ranma drew a short sword from his side and 
aimed it at the motionless body.   It was poised at the back of his neck 
and she watched as it began its descent.

"Konatsu!!" she screamed. 

Her eyes were suddenly opened and it took her a moment to realize she 
was in her room.  Breathing heavily into the morning chill, she felt the 
sweat that covered her.   She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm 
her nerves.  No matter how many times she had the same dream of the 
past, it always traumatized her.

"You okay, honey?" Yuu asked.  Concern was evident in his sleepy 
voice.  

She sat upright, moving slowly to try and cover her jitters.  There 
wasn't much about herself and her history that she had withheld from 
her husband, but some things she felt too much shame to reveal to 
anyone, even the person she trusted most in the world.

"Just a bad dream," she answer and forced a smile.  "I really don't 
remember much about it now. "

"You yelled, 'Konatsu'," wasn't that the name of friend in Nerima, the 
one that helped you with your restaurant there?"

"Konatsu was in it," she said slowly.  "It was one of those fights we 
would get into back then.  He got hurt in my dream.  I guess my 
conscious is telling me how dangerous the stuff we did was."

"What happened to him?"

"I just remember him falling of a cliff," she said absently while trying 
to make her lie believable.  She looked at her alarm clock and noted she 
had another hour before she had to awaken.

"Really?  I thought you said he got another job and didn't want to 
follow you here?"

"No.  He fell off a cliff in my dream, silly," she chuckled softly.  She 
knew Yuu had misspoken intentionally.  

"My bad," he said smirking.   When she smiled at him, Yuu placed an 
arm around her, hugging her tightly to him and lightly kissing her 
forehead.

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Assassination of Nabiki Tendou
A Ranma 1/2 Continuation of Sorts
By KPJAM
                           
previous chapters: http://kpjam.anifics.com                           


The characters and situations in this short work are mine except for the 
characters and situations I borrowed from Ranma 1/2 which is the work 
of Rumiko Takahashi.  The rights to Ranma �, storylines and 
characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Shogagukan, Kitty and Viz 
Communications.



Chapter Four: Kyoto


Nabiki sat next to Kiyoshi on the express train to Osaka.  They had paid 
for reserved seats in the first class car.  It allowed them more comfort 
and privacy than unreserved coach, and they had only booked five 
minutes before departure.  They hadn't discussed it, but Nabiki 
wondered how much she would end up paying for this trip.  Kiyoshi 
still had complete control of most of her money and until she came up 
with a plan of her own, she wouldn't mention it.

She yawned, and paid attention to the searching she was currently 
doing.  She had started yesterday searching for information on Ukyou.  
She had already been searching for information for days, but that had 
been a general searches on many people.  When they decided on this 
trip, she tightened her search parameters to Ukyou, her clan, and the 
missing Konatsu. 

"Hmm..." she said absently, while reading and old newspaper archive 
about the chef. 

"What?"  Kiyoshi spoke while his eyes were still closed. 

"This is interesting."  She read the announcement, feeling a bit like an 
idiot for not finding it sooner.

"What???"

A small tingle of joy went through her spine at the annoyance in his 
voice.  It probably wasn't prudent, but she needed to see him ruffled a 
little.  His overly calm and collected demeanor had unsettled her almost 
as much as anything else these last few days.

"She married three years ago."

"Anything of real interest?"

"Your old sweetheart getting married doesn't interest you?" she asked 
coyly. 

"Should it?"

"If you don't remember her, I guess it shouldn't."

"Did you find out anything of value?" 

She bristled at the condescending tone in his voice and skimmed more 
of the announcement.  "Her husbands a chef she hired five years ago.  
He moved into her house."

"I said of value," he rebuked her.

There was nothing she could gain from responding, so she ignored him.  
She checked one of her dummy drop sites, hoping it hadn't been 
compromised and rejoiced when she had mail there.  One of her 
contacts, a person that didn't know her real identity, had been taxed 
with providing her tax and other governmental information on Ukyou 
in Kyoto.  

She noted that should would have to wire some money to a certain 
account, and it would probably consume the emergency money she had 
kept from Kiyoshi.  It wasn't an appealing situation and it wasn't her 
top priority right now.  Her top priority was pleasing the man that could 
save her, if she could only find a way to make sure he'd try. 

The property assessment files jumped out at her.  Apparently Ukyou 
owned both the restaurant and her home.  Nabiki wondered how much 
she was charging for her Okonomiyaki to afford both.  Opening the file, 
she scanned for the last assessment which was only a couple months 
old, and let out a low surprised whistle.  Her actions immediately 
earned a hiss from Kiyoshi, which she ignored in favor of scanning the 
directory for the information she currently craved.

Kiyoshi's eyes were boring into her.  She didn't need to look at him to 
feel the intense glare from them, but she continued to put that out of her 
mind as she opened and scanned documents.   Her frustration was 
building, but she had built a career on patience and research, so she was 
undeterred in her probing.  After several minutes she hit the jackpot, 
finding a copy of the sale notice and deed she quickly scanned for the 
information she was looking for.

"Wow," she breathed softly.
 
"You know you're annoying?" Kiyoshi said darkly.

"Moi?" she used her most innocent voice.  Once she found the house, 
the restaurant was easy.  She closed her eyes after they found the 
relevant pages, fearful they would pop out otherwise.

"Whatever.  Wake me when we're there."  Kiyoshi turned away from 
her after she failed to respond.

"You don't want to hear how Ukyou bought a house and restaurant ten 
years ago for," she paused as she did the math in her head," one-
hundred and fifty million yen.  With cash?"  Nabiki asked smugly.

"Hmmm... If you find out where she got the money maybe keeping you 
alive won't prove to be a waste of effort."

Nabiki's heart leapt to her throat, while she sat stunned and breathless 
for a minute.  

"Well, wake me when you find something or we get there."


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Ukyou manned the grill at her restaurant, Ucchan's.  She had 
deliberated on the name for what felt like months when she had first 
returned to the area she had grown up in.  She had contemplated the 
question of if should open a shop at all; the emotional scars from those 
last days in Nerima had been almost intolerable.  Unfortunately, she 
realized she had nothing else she could do.  Her clan, already 
suspicious of and upset about her recent return to Kyoto would have 
never left her alone if she had continued acting as if the world had 
ended.

Her father had predictable refused to speak with her when she had 
returned home.  She actually hadn't cared all that much at his reaction.  
Ruin had been the only thing that trying to appease her father had 
brought her.  Eternal damnation was her lot in life from her lack of 
strength.  Her dreams saw to that. 

Being abandoned when she was young had been rough.  It had been 
horrible at some moments, but she could look back at that situation and 
believe she had done her best.  The situation was horrible, and the 
Saotome's actions had brought ruin to her.  If she had just let it go 
then.  If she had the courage she felt now, then, she could have this 
life without knowing her weakness had cost another, his.

"Ukyou!"

Her husband's yell brought her back to the smell of burning batter.

"Shit," she exclaimed, quickly removing the ruined okonomiyaki from 
the grill.

"You okay, hon?"

"Damn it," she growled under her breath while she tried to steady her 
breathing.   "Yeah. I'm fine."  She reached for more ingredients and 
quickly began the process of whipping up another portion.  The bowl 
slipped from her hand as she was moving it towards the grill.   Ukyou 
reached for it, but only succeeded in batting it away, and watching 
helplessly as it landed on the floor.  Broken pieces scattered 
everywhere while a lump of ruined eggs, pork, cabbage, and a few 
other special ingredients stayed in a clump at her feet. 

A hand fell on her shoulder, "its okay.  Why don't you take a break?"

She jostled her shoulders, dislodging the hand and turned.  "I'm fine, I 
said."  The low guttural hiss caught Yuu off-guard and she ran towards 
the kitchen.  


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Nabiki peered into the bustling restaurant.   It was larger 
than the 'Old' Ucchan's and was teeming with life.   A row 
of booths ran along either side wall.  The ones that 
occupied the left side had mini-grills on them, and were 
built large enough for parties of twelve to cook their own 
food.  The other row of booths seemed perfect for smaller 
groups, couples or friends, and didn't offer the option of 
cooking for oneself.  The remaining floor space was 
occupied with tables and two circular grills.  The d�cor 
was light and cheerful. A few paintings adorned white and 
sky-blue walls, while the wooden floor accentuated what 
must have been restaurant with a very homey feel to it.  
Nabiki failed to recognize the man deftly preparing orders 
at one but the chef at the other was no other than the 
person they sought:  Ukyou.  Nabiki spared a glance at. 
Kiyoshi.  Here, in front of Ucchan's, she had hoped to see 
some flicker of recognition.  Instead, dead eyes appraised 
the environment.  She had gotten used to calling him by 
this new name, but when associating him with the past, she 
sometimes slipped.
       
"Ukyou's the woman behind the grill," she said.
       
He responded by nodding his head slightly.  An action she 
might have missed, had she not been staring for any 
reaction.  She watched as he stared into the establishment 
with unblinking eyes.  The eyes she used to read like a 
book, where now closed shut to her.  Another little 
reminder of the differences this man presented to the 
Ranma she had known.
       
The chronicle of changes to him was too long for Nabiki to 
really believe.  She had gone through changes from her 
youth.  Everyone she knew had.  The alterations to Ranma 
were without peer.  Ranma had been so vibrant and alive, 
especially when around his friends and rivals.  This man 
was cold.  She wondered what was going through his head.  
She wondered if any of the boy she had once knew had 
survived whatever had happened to him.
        
"Well?" she asked finally.  Kiyoshi had mentioned 
recognizing Nabiki when they had met a few days ago, and 
now she had hopes he would recognize Ukyou.  He had to 
remember her.  Ukyou had played a much bigger role in 
his life than she had.  Hadn't she?
       
"Let's go," he finally replied, before turning away, and 
walking down the street.
       
She wanted to protest, if for no other reason than to be 
more than the hapless puppy she was treated as and felt 
like, but failed to articulate any words.  Instead, she 
frowned slightly and watched him walk away, waiting to 
see if he'd slow or even notice.  He did neither.  
       
Nabiki took a deep sigh and began walking after him.  She 
picked up the pace when she noticed a woman break from 
a few of her friends, turn, and run into Kiyoshi.  Kiyoshi 
moved agilely to try and avoid the collision, but the 
woman -- and Nabiki was sure of this - seemed determined 
to take the man down.  They both fell to the ground, limbs 
tangled together, with Kiyoshi straddling the very 
attractive woman.

Nabiki approached and watched with amusement as 
Kiyoshi attempted to detangle himself.   The pair had 
ended up with her skirt flipped up, displaying a sexy pair 
of red thong panties through fishnet stockings.  Kiyoshi 
was stammering an apology and his movement were jerky 
as he covered the woman's private.  Nabiki glanced at the 
woman's face, which had a delightfully smug cast to it. 
 
"Are you enjoying yourself?"  The woman asked in a tranquil voice 
that showed no hint of the amusement on her face.
 
"NO," Kiyoshi blurted as he jumped to his feet as quickly as possible.  
Unfortunately, this had the unintended effect of flipping the woman's 
skirt up again, giving all around a view of her precious box.

Nabiki stifled a giggle as the woman calmly covered herself, and stood, 
looking at Kiyoshi with mirth-filled eyes.  "I think it only fitting that 
you pay for your peeping," she giggled.

A quick glance at her recently departed friends verified that they had 
set Kiyoshi up.  Seeing his lack of grace in the face of fire gave her 
some ideas of her own.

"I'm sorry," he said softly.  His face turning crimson as Nabiki 
approached.

"I think a nice dinner will do nicely," the brazen woman added as she 
moved closer, placing a finger upon his chest.

Nabiki, having reached the pair, took Kiyoshi's arm in hers.  "Dear, I 
told you to wait for me.  Now, have you apologized for the 
inconvenience you've caused this woman?"  

Kiyoshi looked at Nabiki critically, causing Nabiki to wonder if he 
would be quick enough to go along with her little charade.

Kiyoshi sighed, and turned to Nabiki.  "I told you we were in a hurry.  
And I did already apologize.  So let's get going."

They both nodded towards the other woman as she stood there seething, 
and left.


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Commander Abe picked up his private line.  

"Hello?"  He listened intently to the one who had called him while a 
deep frown formed on his face.

"Well, send people then!" he ordered and then listened again.  "Of 
course.  Send him as well.  What do I pay you for?!"

A few seconds passed as Abe listened to trite excuses.  Finally, after 
having enough time wasted he harshly interjected, "Is there anything 
else?"

A smile formed as he listened to the second bit of news. 

"Great.  Have the documents delivered to me immediately."  He hung 
the phone up abruptly and picked his main one.  The secretary 
answered immediately.

"Inform my daughter that I'll be visiting tonight.  I'll have dinner with 
her if she's free, but otherwise I just have some news to give her.  
Thank you," he finished politely and replaced the receiver.

It had been an imaginable amount of time in coming, but finally it was 
here.  The blight on his family was going to be removed in paper, even 
if it had been effective removed before.  This last bit was a crowning 
moment in his efforts.  Now, all that needed to be done was the last 
frayed string needed to be sewn back into the fabric or pulled.  
Apparently, that was happening in Kyoto.


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Ukyou walked up her walkway, determined to bare her soul.  She was 
scared.  The secret had been kept a secret to protect her from her shame, 
but the events of the day had determined her current course of 
action.  She wouldn't.   couldn't let this sit between her and Yuu.   She 
refused to live a lie, letting him believe she was better than she 
was.  He had to see her for who she was, bloodied hands and soul. 
 
The reflection of the moon in the window had a reddish cast to it.  
'Fitting,' she thought when the dogs came running around the corner.   
 
"Yuu must have left them out for me to bring in," she said softly with a 
smile on her face as she watched the two great huskies race towards her.  
The two brothers, both from the same litter, had been with her since she 
bought the house.  They had been expensive, but she wanted the 
company and the warnings in case someone came after her.  They 
weren't the typical guard dogs, much too friendly to be affective 
deterrents, but they sure were loud. 
 
"Inu-Yasha! Sesshoumaru!  Osuwari!"   
 
Both dogs hit the ground, just before they tackled her.  She bent over 
and scratched each behind its ear.  "Good dogs."  Turing, she entered 
the house. 
  
"Yuu!  I'm home!"

"I'm watching television," he called back as she heard the noise from 
the den.  

The dogs, upon entering the house had taken off down the hall, and 
stopped in front of the study, barking wildly.  The scene was strange 
enough that instead of going to talk to Yuu, she went to check on her 
pets.

"What's wrong boys," she cooed, as she stroked both there manes.  
After thirty seconds when they still were more interesting in her 
ministrations, she sighed, and opened the doors.   Both animals bolted 
inside, surprising Ukyou.  

"Crap!"

Ukyou heard the woman's voice before her eyes had adjusted to the 
darkened room.  A swift movement caught her eyes, as she heard both 
dogs growl then snap at something.  Yelping quickly followed as she 
brought both her mini-spatula's to bear and threw them, somewhat 
blindly into the deeply shadowed room.

"Kiyoshi!  No!"

Ukyou heard, rather than saw, both of her projectiles knocked out of 
the air.  The blur she saw earlier streaked at her.  She tried to move out 
of the way, while at the same time blocking with another pair of mini-
spatulas.   Her assailant moved too quickly for her to avoid, having 
been caught flat-footed.  Pain coursed through her arm as it was 
knocked out of the way.  Moments later her breath was taken away as 
she received a blow to the stomach that she hadn't anticipated.

Moments later she was flat on her face.  Her stomach knotted up as she 
heard a metal click from behind her and shivered as she felt cold metal 
at the back of her neck.

"What the hell?!"  Yuu, called out.

"Don't move!" she heard the person atop her call out as the feeling at 
the back of her neck was removed.

"Take it easy buddy," she heard Yuu speaking slowly and calmly, only 
the slightest wavering in her voice.

"Everyone calm down," the female voice said.  Ukyou strained to 
remember, both the female and the make's voice had sounded familiar.

"Close the dogs in that room, Nabiki," the make voice said.  Ukyou 
went rigid when the name was mentioned.  The audible click of a 
closing door was heard moments later.

"We just want to talk to you Ukyou," the female voice said.

"Well then tell this bastard to let me up, Nabiki Tendou," Ukyou 
snarled, placing as much false courage into her voice as possible.

"Kiyoshi."  Nabiki said.

The weight that was pressing down on Ukyou was removed and she 
scurried away as she turned and caught sight of Nabiki standing in front 
of the study door, a sad smile on her face and another person.  She 
softly muttered, "Ranma," before her vision became blurred and she 
feinted.


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Nabiki sat in a soft chair, while all eyes in the room were focused on 
Ukyou.  Very little, and nothing useful had been said as Yuu moved 
Ukyou to the couch.  Kiyoshi had been silent, after the husband 
claimed no knowledge of anything. 

Nabiki watched the concerned husband closely.  A wistful expression 
crossed her face as empathy made its path into her.  Answers were the 
only thing they wanted, not the traumatic experience their actions had 
caused so far.  Ukyou's reaction in and of itself had shocked the 
fugitive woman.  Nabiki had been expecting shock, but a joyful shock, 
the look of abject terror that had gripped the chef's face worried her 
tremendously.

"Mmm..."  The groan from the chef grabbed Nabiki's attention.

"Honey, you okay?" Yuu asked lightly as he stroked her hair.

Ukyou moved slightly before she attempted to get up.  "Yuu, I'm." 
she stopped speaking as her eyes narrowed and she looked around the 
room, her attention going instantly to Kiyoshi.  She stared at him for 
what seemed an eternity to Nabiki.  Her eyes bored into him, hatred 
oozing out of them.

"Get out!" she growled at Kiyoshi as she started to sit up.

"What do you know about me?" Kiyoshi's calm voice answered.

Ukyou blinked before responding, "I said.  Get out NOW!"  She sat up 
completely then, and stood.  Never taking her eyes off of Kiyoshi, she 
began to pat herself down.

"We removed you weapons.  Now, what do you know?"  Kiyoshi's 
hand dipped into his jacket, and removed a small gun from within.  "I 
don't have patience for your theatrics."  He leveled the gun at her head.

"Go ahead," Ukyou said, "You killed me as soon as you walked in here, 
Ranma."

"What are you talking about, Ukyou?"  Nabiki demanded.

"You guys have to leave now." Ukyou continued to stare at the gun 
while she spoke.  "Leave now.  There's nothing I can tell you!" she 
cried out.

"All this time you knew he was alive.  And you didn't tell anyone.  
Jesus, Ukyou.  Why?"  Nabiki asked.

"Did you really want anything to do with this thing?"  Ukyou spat back 
and pointed at Kiyoshi.

"But you knew.  How?" Nabiki countered, still trying to get her wits 
about her.

Ukyou took a deep breath before speaking.  "Listen.  It doesn't matter.  
I found him after I left Nerima.  He was as he is now.  It wouldn't have 
served any purpose to tell anyone.  Now! Will! You! JUST! LEAVE!" 
she screamed into the air as her balled fists began to shiver.

Nabiki stood from the chair she had been sitting in and took a deep 
breath.  Silence had descended upon the room after the outburst.  She 
wasn't prepared for this reaction or negative emotions Ukyou had 
displayed.  The other woman's actions sent her mind whirling, and kept 
her from processing the information clearly. 

"Where did you meet me?"  The calm question cut through the room 
like a knife, and all eyes shifted to Ukyou, waiting for another response.

"Some warehouse by the docks.  Konatsu found it."

"Where?"

"The Ginza area.  I don't remember exactly where, but it was a pretty 
decent area."

"How'd Konatsu find it?"

"I don't know.  I didn't care at the time."

"You didn't ask him afterwards?"

'You bastard!"  Ukyou roared and ran at Kiyoshi.  

Kiyoshi fired.  The gunshot resounded through the room, and Nabiki 
felt herself go a little weak.  Ukyou fell forwards, and Kiyoshi moved 
slightly away.  

Yuu, who had been quietly supportive of his spouse, sprang at Kiyoshi.  
The move was easily dodged by the target, and Nabiki said thanks that 
he hadn't fired yet.

"Yuu, stop.  I'm alright."  Ukyou's voice stopped all movement in the 
room, except Kiyoshi.  He moved slightly away from both husband and 
wife as Yuu ran toward the chef.

"He didn't hit me," she said standing and raising her hands so her 
husband could inspect her.  Nabiki watched in shock as Yuu reached 
over and stuck his finger into Ukyou's shirt, above the shoulder.  

"I think he did," Yuu said when Ukyou flinched.  "Just grazed though."

"Ukyou.  Why are you acting like this?"  Nabiki interjected.

"Because that asshole killed Konatsu!"  Ukyou scream and pointed at 
Kiyoshi.

All head in the room whipped towards Kiyoshi.  Nabiki's head swam 
as she tried to process the information.  Konatsu was dead.  She never 
even thought much of the weird boy dressed as girl ninja.  She had only 
met him once or twice, ignoring him as just another one of the weird 
people that seem to infect the lives of her family.

"When?  How?" Nabiki asked softly.

Ukyou took a deep breath.  Water could be seen trickling from the 
corners of her eyes.  She sniffled, "when we entered that warehouse, we 
were jumped.  We fought, but there were about a dozen of them.  I got 
knocked around a bit and Konatsu was trying to protect me.  They 
dressed in black, and the room was dark.  When it was over, someone 
had me pinned to ground, and Konatsu was on his back, unconscious."

Ukyou stopped speaking and looked down at the ground.  The room 
stood silent and Nabiki took a moment to look at Yuu.  Ukyou's 
husband looked distraught and Nabiki wondered if he had known about 
any of this before tonight.

"Ranma was standing over him.  He held a long blade in his hand.  I 
called to him, but he ignored me.  I tried to get up, to stop this insanity 
but someone kicked me in the back.  The person kept me down and 
started speaking.  He said that Ranma was his now, and he wouldn't 
even acknowledge our existence.  I tried to get up, to help.  I tried 
calling to Ranma, but he just stood there, hovering over Konatsu."

"The man started speaking again.  Laughing at me and saying he'd 
prove it by Konatsu's death.  So he had Ranma stab him in the back.  
The next thing I know I was knocked out.  When I woke up, I was told 
I was only alive because it would be too much trouble right now to 
dispose of me.  They said I could help them out by going back to 
Nerima and saying I had given up.  That they'd make sure I could sell 
the old Ucchan's and have enough for new start anywhere."  Ukyou 
stopped speaking to start sobbing.

Nabiki watched in silence as the Yuu tried to comfort the grieving chef.  
Nabiki had a question.  She had many questions, but couldn't bring 
herself to articulate anything, her own wounds were stinging sharply 
now as her thoughts turned to Akane, and another family.  A family she 
couldn't take part in.

"What else happened?"  Kiyoshi broke the silence.

The three others looked at him incredulously.  Nabiki wondered, again, 
if she should just flee.   She wanted answers.  Revenge was a 
consideration also.  Life on the other hand was something she wasn't 
sure she wanted to gamble with.

Ukyou continued to stare at him.  Her sobs had stopped, and her 
bloodshot-eyes looked murderous.  "Don't you know!?  You're with 
them, bastard!"

"Kiyoshi doesn't remember anything from that time, Ukyou.  You 
think Ranma would have done that on his own volition."  Nabiki 
wanted the rest of the story as well.  She also wanted to get the hell out 
of here as soon as possible.

"He's still with them.  Why don't you go threaten his friends then?!"

"They won't tell me?  You don't exist in the history they've provided 
for me," Kiyoshi said calmly.  His clear eyes met Ukyou's fiery stare.

"They said they'd kill me and my clan if I ever told anyone.  When I 
was packing in Nerima, I received a spatula in the mail.  It was my 
father's heirloom that had been kept in the family for centuries.  One 
that he kept on his person!  It was stained with blood and a note that 
read, 'Silence is life-giving'.  Now go!"

Nabiki looked to Kiyoshi.  Leaving sounded like a plan to her, a plan 
she wanted to enact as soon as possible.

"Did they ever say any names?" he asked calmly.

"No."  Ukyou shook her head sadly.

"We answered your questions.  Now go!"  Yuu yelled.

"Both of you lay on your stomachs," Kiyoshi countered.  He raised his 
gun when they failed to comply immediately.

Slowly, they moved to the center of the room, quietly bearing the last 
indignity.  Kiyoshi moved as well, sitting on top of them, he removed 
some rope from his jacket.   He worked quickly, his hands moving in a 
blur of motion as he tied first one, then the other prisoner's arms behind 
their backs.   A couple quick tears had removed strips of their shirts, 
and Kiyoshi used them quickly and efficiently as makeshift gags.

"Let's go," he said, and moved towards the back of the house.  Nabiki 
glanced at the couple before trailing after the other man.


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A few blocks away from the house Nabiki finally decided she needed 
answers.

"Did you really kill Konatsu?"

"Probably.  I've killed a lot of people.  Although, I'm not sure who this 
Konatsu is."

"Why did you tie them up?"

"You know why, don't you?"

Nabiki stifled her instant rebuttal and thought for a moment.  "So they 
couldn't follow us?"

"Or call for help.  Their clan is of decent size and has members living 
nearby."

Nabiki nodded, not having anything to add on that subject.  But the 
way they were left was tugging at her conscious. "Let me go call 
someone," she blurted as she scanned for a public phone.

"No," Kiyoshi sharp reply felt like a slap.  "We'll wait till we get out of 
town."

"Haven't we." Nabiki stopped in mid sentence.  She didn't have the 
mental strength right now to argue with him.

Kiyoshi stopped and looked around.  A frown formed on his face as his 
eyes narrowed.  "Wait.  No meet me at the train station.  Go quickly!"  
He said as he ran across the street.

Nabiki watched as he turned a corner, frowned at his sudden departure, 
and considered if now would be a good time to ditch the psychopath.


\\_____________ ___
/ ___________{===============================
/ /_`/
/__/


Ukyou struggled in her bounds.   She had waited until she heard the 
back door close, and silence ruled the house before she began her 
struggles.

Rage, impotence, and fear clashed within her body.  But she tried to 
ignore all of those things in order to get free.  She had to talk to Yuu.  
Explain things.  Convince him that she had no choices.

If she could have thought about it, she'd be surprised at how little she 
cared about the pair that had just left.

She stopped her struggling when she heard movement behind her.  She 
checked and Yuu was still tied to the floor next to her.  A fresh wave of 
fear washed over her as she heard a voice speak.  One she hadn't heard 
in ages.

"I see someone decided to make my job easy."

Ukyou scream.  This couldn't be happening.  She had lied to Ranma 
and Kiyoshi before.  It had been easier than telling the truth.  It was 
easier than admitting it to herself.

"Apparently you talked," the voice said from behind her.

She heard a sickening crunch and muffled scream.  The agony of the 
sound ripped her heart out and she was forced to look.  To her left was 
her husband writhing on the ground, a knife protruding from his back.   
A moment later it was lift out of his back.  She could see a flap of skin 
stick to the knife as it hovered over her wailing husband.  In a flash, it 
came down, driven through Yuu's skull.  His screams stopped as the 
knife was sawed into his brain.

Ukyou barely noticed the tears falling freely from her face as the blade 
was remove from sight.

"Killing this way is so boring.  But I do need the money.  A lady has to 
have money to look her best.  Don't you agree," the calm words were 
spoken softly as Ukyou cried.

Her eyes never left the motionless body of her husband as her life 
ended.


\\_____________ ___
/ ___________{===============================
/ /_`/
/__/


Nabiki walked nervously trough the streets of Kyoto.  The train station 
was only a few block away now, but the streets were surprisingly 
empty for this hour.

If this was Tokyo, they'd be packed, especially if they were so close to 
the main train station.   She checked her watch, and noted they had a 
half hour until the next train.

Her conscious was still getting the better of her, and she spotted a 
public phone half-way down the block.

She picked up the receiver and fished around for a couple coins.  She 
didn't know who to call, and didn't want to call the police.  Information 
might be able to give her the name of a random Kounji.  Her dilemma 
resolved; she reached for a digit when a searing pain ripped through her 
right shoulder. 

The force of whatever had hit her forced her forward, and her knees 
buckled slightly when her head hit the phone's protective dome.  She 
heard something fly by her head and clang off the dome her head had 
just been against.

Her only thought was to flee.  Rolling forward, Nabiki ignored the 
tearing searing pain as she felt the blade that had been stuck in her 
shoulder come free.  She settled on all fours and started scrambling 
forward. 

She could feel her heart pounding as another knife impacted into the 
ground next to her.

"Fuck!!!!" she screamed out as she felt a tear in her flesh, near her 
ankle and her movement was stopped.  She turned quickly and saw a 
figure approaching.  Sitting up, she reached down at the blade pinning 
her pants to the ground.

"Where's your friend?" the person said.  She couldn't see his face from 
the shadows, and his dark clothing showed no distinctive markings.

Ignoring his question, she continued to claw at shackle, stopping 
abruptly when another dagger appeared in-between her hands.
 
"I asked a question."

"And you'll kill me after I tell you.  No deal," she responded, trying to 
sound as defiant as possible.

"True.  But I can make your demise, less painful," he said calmly and 
threw another knife at her.

"Argrrrrr," she howled as the knife struck her left shoulder and forced 
her onto her back.

"Tell me.  And the next one will end your pain."

Nabiki looked up and recognized the face as it came into view.  
"Konatsu!" she gasped.  Her mind raced as she tried desperately to 
think of some escape.

"That's not an answer," Konatsu said sadly and reared back, ready to 
throw another weapon.

Nabiki cringed when she heard the sound of a gun going off, and 
watched as her tormentor fell over onto his side.   Bent forward, not 
wasting any time and ripped her pants loose from the pinning knife.

Another two rounds sounded, and she watched disgusted as Konatsu's 
body jerked twice, small fountains of blood spurting up from his torso.

"Let's go.  He was the last of them," she turned to see Kiyoshi offering 
her a hand up.  She took it with little thought and stood.

"That's was Konatsu.  I thought Ukyou said you killed him."

"Doesn't matter.  He's dead now."  He said silently as he walked away.

After a few steps, she said, "The stations the other way."

He continued walking when he replied, "They know we're here, so we 
can't take the train back.  I know a safe place not far from here, where 
we can get you looked at."

Nabiki said nothing as she limped slowly behind him. 


\\_____________ ___
/ ___________{===============================
/ /_`/
/__/


Commander Abe reclined in his car.  Dinner with his daughter had been 
delightful.  She had accepted the news graciously.  He didn't even need 
to remind her that she was doing the right thing, that this was the 
correct, and honorable course of action.

His phone rang and he answered it quickly.  If there was any justice in 
the world, it would be a report from Kyoto about the success of the 
operation.

"Abe, here." He said professionally and then listened.  His blood-
pressure rose as her heard the initial report.  The Kounji woman was 
dead, which could bring problems, but none he wasn't prepared to 
handle.   The Kyoto team and especially Beta's demise troubled him.  
They had been good operatives, and they were always hard to acquire.  
Most troubling though was that the Tendo girl and Alpha were alive 
and together.

"Triple the surveillance at the Tendo home.  Nuke it if you see either of 
the suspects set foot in it!  No I'm not serious about nuking.  But a 
blood bath better occur.  I don't care how many innocents, we can 
cover it!  Now, get me the report on my desk by seven and step up the 
search for them in Kyoto, Tokyo, and the anyplace in-between they 
might stop!"


\\_____________ ___
/ ___________{===============================
/ /_`/
/__/


Author's rant:  Another chapter of something.  Hope you liked.  
Next up?   Probably Enemies, but no promises.  

Comments and criticisms welcome.




Email: noirchloe@nyc.rr.com
webpage: http://kpjam.anifics.com


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