A/N: Don’t own Ranma or any of the other cast of characters, I’d be freakin’ rich if I did...but I’d still be writing about them, only WITHOUT this disclaimer...(stupid lawyers)

Ice Queen’s Ascendance

“How bad is it?” asked Bill walking through the still opening doors, his face a mask of concern over the recent developments.

Chase looked over to him with a deep frown, “Like you have to ask?” she shot back, her voice holding an edge.

He paused and sighed, holding up his hand, “Look, I know we’re both stressed but biting each other’s heads off isn’t going to help,” he told his best friend softly, taking the moment to relax and change his own tone of voice.

Waving him off, “No, I’m sorry...things have just been chaotic since you’ve been gone,” she told him, pointing to the displays.

His face grew even more grim then before, watching the chaos and havoc being sown throughout the various regions they were responsible for. “Any chance for some major league help yet?” he asked, watching yet another seemingly normal citizen lose their mind.

She shook her head, “Nope, they’re all tied up for the duration. We’re on our own, but I did put in the call to Bulma. Bad news there is that Drake has ALSO been trying to recruit. Better yet, he got there first,” the woman sighed, leaning her head on her hand, propped up by an elbow as she flipped views once more.

Bill closed his eyes, “Great. Wonderful. I don’t think our kids can take on both Drake and the Saiyans at the same time. They’re damn good but that’s just ridiculous,” he told her while sitting down heavily into the chair.

Chase grinned, “Well, we got the ace in the hole there. Bulma is going to have a rather long chat with Vegeta about what’s right and wrong. If he likes life as he knows it, he’ll see our side of the story. Besides, you know him, if it ain’t earth shatteringly powerful it ain’t worth his time,” she said with a chuckle, knowing how ‘persuasive’ Bulma could be when mad.

Bill nodded glumly, “I hope so, it ain’t like our side can give them much of a challenge. They’d put up one hellova fight, but...” he trailed off with a knowing shrug. Both had seen the power that could be wielded by the aliens, neither wanted to be on the receiving end of it.

“Don’t worry about it, he’s got Goku with him. If nothing else, he should be a deciding factor. I don’t think I’ve heard of a time he didn’t try to do the right thing,” Chase told her friend, leaning against his shoulder with her back.

Shifting his weight so the chair didn’t roll out from under them, he sat and watched the displays with her for several minutes. “Ryoga’s messed up something proper. He’s with Cologne so he should be up and about with a few days. Hopefully Tofu will be able to help out as well,” he said, pointing to the aforementioned doctor as he appeared on the screen, sweeping the front walk of his clinic.

She nodded, “What about Keitaro and Motoko? They still training?” asked the woman, wondering about the unique man they’d encountered.

Bill chuckled, “Yeah, something like that. They’re at the Shinmei Ryuu for a while to take care of that pheromone he picked up over there. If all goes well, Drake is in for one hell of a big surprise when those two get back,” he updated her on the situation.

“I can imagine,” Chase said dryly, smiling distantly. “The others are either standing by or are off doing what they can to track down our little runners,” the woman added, knowing that he’d understand who and what he was talking about.

The man nodded, “Let’s just hope they don’t have to get tapped for another impromptu rescue,” he conceded, sighing slightly.

Chase sat upright from against his shoulder, stretching her arms over her head, “Okay then, let’s get moving. What’s on your agenda for today?” she asked him.

Standing, Bill rolled his neck to loosen the tensed muscles, “Ukyo has got to be dealt with, the longer I delay with her the worse it’s going to get,” he told her.

Chase turned and looked at him with a stern look, “You realize how many protocols you’ve squashed by doing this for him, you know that right?” she asked quietly, showing her displeasure at the turn of events.

He nodded at her, his face losing it’s customary smile, “I know that, more than you could possible know Chase. We’ve both seen what’ll happen if we didn’t do anything, can you live with that outcome?”

She sat and regarded him for a long while, weighing possibilities and outcomes of their actions. She let out a frustrated sound and leaned back into her chair, her arms crossing over her breasts as she looked away from the man’s blue eyes. “No...no, I can’t. It’s just that...” she muttered, her eyes hooding as she spoke.

“I know, that’s why I did it, not you,” he told her quietly, suddenly unable to meet her surprised look. “They deserved better than that, especially with all the help they’ve given us. Sometimes ya just gotta say; Fu...I, uh, mean...SCREW the rules.” he finished, blushing slightly.

The woman smiled and giggled at her friends words, shaking her head. “Maybe Chayn is finally rubbing off on you,” she told him, standing and wrapping him in a warm embrace.

“Yeah, well...I just can’t have my kid spouting off like I do. Chayn wouldn’t wash his mouth out, she’d wash MINE!” he muttered good naturedly, returning the hug.

Stepping back she met his gaze, “Just be careful, okay? Drake’s crossed the line so we can get more involved, but you’re still dancing a VERY fine edge here Bill. You’ve pulled some powerful strings for ALL of them, but it’s your butt on the line, remember that,” she warned him, painfully aware of what he’d done and the ramifications of his actions.

Bill swallowed, but nodded, “Hey, it’s me...if it’s not dangerous as hell with little chance of success, ya know, why do it?” he mocked one Prince of the Saiyans.

Rolling her eyes Chase smiled, “Right, whatever. Now go before I change my mind on this deal. If anything else crops up I’ll give you a shout,” she told him.

“Right, off like a prom dress then,” he said with a wink as he walked from the control center.

Chase groaned and sat back down, still feeling more than a bit nervous for him, but reassured by his confident attitude.

Nerima, enroute to Furinkan High...

“Geez Nabiki, do we haveta leave so EARLY?” complained Ranma, running along the top of the fence, keeping pace easily with his friend on the ground.

“This was your idea Ranma. You’re the one that wanted to stick by my side, and I’ve got work to do. Even with all your help, I still have to keep the money coming in to make sure the dojo stays afloat.” she responded, smiling at him innocently as she did.

His groan was more than satisfying to her, ‘Gotcha Saotome,’ she thought, turning her attention back to the streets before them.

“Hey Ranma, what was your mother talking about last night?” she asked, trying to keep her voice from showing the depth of her interest in the conversation that she wasn’t privy to.

Ranma leapt off the fence post and landed next to her nimbly, never breaking stride nor slowing. “Oh..THAT,” he said darkly, his frown showing darkly on his face.

“She wants me to take Akane out to dinner or something...like a proper fiancé should,” he told her with more than a measure of disgust.

Nabiki grabbed his arm, stopping their run as she regarded him closely, concern etched on her face. “She WHAT?” asked the girl incredulously.

“You heard me, she wants me to take out that ultra-violent, uncute, kitchen wrecking tomboy out to dinner and actually be nice to her,” he complained, missing her expression as he clenched his fist in frustration.

Looking at the sky he shook his head in the early morning sunshine, “Like I don’t know how that’s gonna end, with me getting pounded by her for no good reason. Aw man, I SO don’t want to do this,” he muttered.

Nabiki regarded him closely for a moment, “Ranma, you know that I’m not judging you when I say this, but most times when she clobbers you, it’s because of something you said,” she told him with a knowing smile.

He glared at her, “HEY! Just who’s side are you on anyways? Like I ASK her to hit me or anything? Just because thick as a brick can’t understand plain english or understand when I’m tryin’ ta compliment her ain’t my fault!” he told her defensively.

Her laugh was light, “Oh Ranma, you POOR boy. Seriously, if you’d of tried keeping your mouth shut rather than rising to argue with her, you wouldn’t of had half the problems with her that you did,” she teased him, enjoying watching the boy flustered at her words.

Before he could come up with an articulate denial or defense, she shook her head. “Not that I don’t blame you. Akane doesn’t exactly listen when she’s already decided about something, ESPECIALLY you. You two just happen to go together like oil and water...or fire and gasoline for that matter,” she added with a dark smile.

“Look, don’t sweat it yet. I’m sure something will come up and she’ll refuse to go out with you. And if that doesn’t work, maybe we can find something else that would work,” she added, raising an eyebrow at him.

He smiled brightly at Nabiki, feeling better knowing that she would be trying to help him out of this predicament. “That’d be great Nabs, thanks...but, uh...what else could we do? My mom’s pretty set on me going out,” he asked her, oblivious to her subtle hints.

Grabbing his arm, she shook her head. “First, DON’T call me Nabs. Second, leave that to me and third...” she said as they started to run towards Furinkan. “You’re cute when you’re clueless Ranma.” she told him, finding his blush to be rather funny and endearing.

Tendo Dojo...

Akane sat down with a dark frown on her face. “Where’s the idiot this morning?” she asked Kasumi, who promptly frowned at the comment.

“Now Akane, that’s no way to talk about Ranma,” she chastised her sister, serving her breakfast as she did. “He and Nabiki left earlier this morning. They had something to take care of,” she informed her, kneeling once more in her place at the table.

Soun looked over at the quickly growing anger of his youngest daughter, swallowing nervously as he watched it escalate. “Is there a problem Akane?” he asked, keeping his voice neutral and what he assumed to be authoritative.

Akane, her fingers all but digging into the wood of the table, nodded slowly. She turned her suddenly tearful eyes to her father, “Daddy...Ranma is...” she sniffled, blinking quickly to spread the excess moisture in her eyes.

Her father leaned forwards her, concern etched on his face. “What is it Akane?” he asked her, happy that it wasn’t him her anger was directed at.

“He’s been...at night...” she began brokenly, playing her role perfectly to warp and eschew her fathers feelings. “On the roof...” she whispered, her face falling so that her words were almost lost as her voice dropped.

Nodoka set the chopsticks down that she’d been using to feed Genma, suddenly very interested in the conversation that related to her son. Genma, his eyes now wide with want and disappointment, looked longingly down to the food he so desperately wanted.

“With Nabiki,” Akane finished, as if the simple admission was too painful and unbelievable for her to spoke in a normal tone.

Soun shot to his feet, outrage on his face...right before he started the patented Tendo Indoor Sprinkler System(all rights reserved, 1999).

“My little girl is being cheated on!” he cried, clenching his fists up to his chin in the horror and agony of the moment.

Nodoka, now almost delirious by the news that her manly son had not only engaged himself to one daughter but was taking her older sister on as a mistress, had vivid daydreams of dozens of grand children.

Genma, still oblivious to the conversation, was intently trying to reach his tongue out to scoop up the remaining pickles that had gone too long without his attentions.

Kasumi sat quietly and watched this all play out, though the bulk of her attentions were on Akane. She watched intently as Akane’s expression changed subtly with the actions of her father.

Kasumi frowned, something that almost hurt her to do, disturbing the peaceful aura of the kitchen. It was an action that while physically went unnoticed, did force those in the kitchen to notice the sudden loss of tranquility that seemed to radiate from the room.

Nodoka was the first to look around, blinking as she came back to reality. “Oh my dear, perhaps this evening is exactly what you need to bring Ranma and yourself closer,” she told the young girl, smiling broadly.

Soun, stopping the tears instantly, looked back at Akane, “Yes! Yes of course! That way you both can be alone to talk this through and find your love for one another,” he agreed with the Saotome Matriarch. ‘And if that doesn’t work, perhaps Ranma will choose Nabiki...’ he thoughts sounded confidently, his desire to unite the schools overwhelming his usual strong sense of self preservation.

Akane glared at her father, used to his thought processes and the tell tale expression on his face while thinking such thoughts. “Daddy!” she growled at him, bringing him back down to earth with a sheepish grin.

“Hrhm?” he asked, flinching back from the glare of anger directed at him. “Oh! Yes, it will be a wonderful time tonight Akane, I promise you,” he assured his daughter as he quickly retook his seat.

Kasumi, unable to take more of the scene unfolding before her, quietly stood and left the table taking several dishes with her. She stood in mute reflection as she absently washed the dishes, trying to ignore the discussions going on at the table.

“Kasumi dear?” came the quiet concerned voice of Nodoka, now standing at the woman’s side with a concerned expression.

The eldest Tendo daughter started, surprised to the core at the woman’s approach. “Oh my! I’m sorry Aunty Nodoka, I was just thinking...” she said, replacing a look of concern with her normal beautiful smile.

Nodoka watched her face carefully, “Is there something wrong dear? You looked troubled for a moment. Is there something you wish to tell me?” she pushed gently, helping the girl with the dishes as they spoke.

Shaking her head, “No, I’m fine really. Sometimes Daddy can be quite emotional and I have so much to do...” she began, only to be halted by a soft hand on hers.

The mother of Ranma looked intently into the girls eyes, “It’s okay Kasumi, I’m sure my son is more than manly enough to take you on as his mistress as well,” she assured the older girl with a warm smile.

Kasumi almost dropped the plate in shock, but kept her smile in place. “It’s not that Aunty Nodoka, I’m sure Ranma is more than manly enough but that wasn’t what I was thinking of,” she told the older woman.

Nodoka’s expression was curious as they spoke, wondering what was bothering the normally unphased younger woman.

“Perhaps we shouldn’t be forcing them like this, look at all the damage that was caused the last time. Daddy is just now starting to speak to Ranma and the repairs to the dojo are finally completed...” she began to explain, setting the plate down gently.

The woman’s face showed her marked surprise at such an insightful statement, “But Kasumi...” Nodoka began to say, only to pause and reconsider her normal platitudes and agendas.

Instead the woman nodded slightly, “I see, perhaps what you are suggesting has merit,” she allowed slowly, remembering all too well the chaos and destruction from the last failed attempt at forcing Ranma and Akane together.

“Is everything okay Kasumi?” asked a visibly concerned Akane as she walked into the kitchen.

Both women turned and smiled at the youngest Tendo daughter. “Yes Akane, I just didn’t want to get caught up in Daddy’s emotions,” assured Kasumi, suddenly very aware of the unbalancing influence that the girl was giving off.

“Oh, okay then Kasumi, I was just worried about you,” said Akane, picking up her bendo and walking back into the living area to get ready to leave.

The ringing of the doorbell stopped all further conversation as Kasumi went to answer the door. “Why hello Mutsumi, what a pleasure to see you again,” said the eldest girl, smiling happily at her friend.

“Somehow I ended up nearby and thought you could use some company Kasumi, you don’t mind do you? With Keitaro away it’s ever so boring at the Hinata,” she explained following the girl in.

“Father, you remember Mutsumi don’t you?” she asked as they sat at the table once more.

Soun set his bowl down and smiled at his daughters friend, “Of course! What a pleasure to see you again Mutsumi,” he told her with a nod of his head. “Care for something to eat? With Saotome here recovering we seem to have some extra food and I’d hate to see it go to waste,” he offered, filling a bowl for her as he did.

Mutsumi’s smile was radiant as she raised a hand to her cheek, “Why thank you Mr. Tendo, I would love some,” she told him digging in gracefully.

No one noticed the look of horrified betrayal and dejection on the face of Genma as he watched his beloved food disappearing before his eyes. He moaned inconsolably, tears falling in rivers from his eyes.

“Oh my, it seems Mr. Saotome has had enough and is in pain...” said Kasumi, seeing the man’s tears.

“Maybe it’s time for his medication?” offered Mutsumi picking up her cup of soup and sipping it delicately.

Nodoka smiled at the women, “If you will excuse us, I will assist my husband in taking his painkillers before lying him down,” she told them lugging the portly martial artist to his feet and escorting him from the room.

“What a nice couple,” exclaimed Mutsumi to Kasumi, both woman smiling serenely as peace once more fell over the Tendo household.

Later that afternoon, Outside Uc-chan’s...

Bill paused, watching as the last customer left her restaurant, clutching the envelope in his hand tightly. ‘Hard won battles that are sometimes not better off won,’ he thought, swallowing as he entered.

“Hey! Welcome to Uc-chan’s! What’ll it be?” asked the cheerfully beautiful girl behind the counter. Her hands flying over the grill as she poured batter to sizzle happily on the hot surface.

“I’d like a seafood one if you don’t mind,” Bill said, setting the brief case down and taking a seat at the stools before the counter.

“No problem sweetie, coming right up!” she said with a wink, her hands never slowing as she worked.

Bill watched with amazement at the skill the young girl displayed at her art, not to mention the mouth watering smells her cooking brought to him. “I’ve also got something you need to see, though I don’t think you’re gonna want anyone else around when you read it,” he told her.

She paused then, looking at him closely as if appraising him for threats. The huge spatula was strapped on her back and her normal bandoleer was over 3/4's full. Her hand edged towards the super sharp mini spatula’s across her chest. “Now sugar, I’m not sure I like that idea...” she warned, her tone playful but warning as her finger tapped the weapon.

‘Why do they always go for the weapons?’ Bill asked himself, shaking his head with a low groan. He looked up at her with an annoyed expression, “Don’t. Just...don’t. I’ve no desire to fight you, argue with...whatever. I’m just here to deliver a message to you, you can understand something that simple right?” he asked caustically, finding himself more and more annoyed by the chaos of Nerima.

Ukyo’s eyes narrowed at the man, “I’m not stupid, so don’t treat me like I am, okay?” she replied with the same amount of venom.

Glancing down to where her hand was now holding said spatula, he looked back up to her eyes with an ‘And what the hell are you doing with that then?’ expression on his face.

She had the good grace to actually blush as she chuckled while pulling back her hand, “Oh, well...yeah...” she said to the strange man.

Bill rolled his eyes and extended the letter to her, “Here’s the letter, I can stick around if you want me to, to answer any questions. You still got Konatsu working here with you?” he asked, looking with open suspicion towards every inanimate object, half expecting it to attack him.

The okonomoyaki chef took the letter with shaking hands, it was the filigreed script and paper her father used. “He’s here...somewhere...” she told him distractedly, opening the letter clumsily and pulling the paper from within.

“Hey, Konatsu! You’d best take a break for a while. Your mistress is safe with me, I’ve been sent by her father,” Bill announced, pausing for a moment before seeing the guy/girl’s head pop out of the kitchen.

The pretty ninja’s head swung from first Bill then back to Ukyo, then back to Bill to give him a suspicious glare. “I’ll be close by if you try anything,” he started to say, only to be hushed by a shout from Ukyo.

“KONATSU GO!” the pretty girl roared at him, unshed tears in her eyes, the paper she was holding crumpled in her fist as she stared daggers into the boy.

Her anger surprised and frightened the boy, causing him to duck his head in quiet submission, eyes downcast. ‘Yes...yes, mistress,” he answered with a bowed head, walking quietly out the front, pausing only long enough to close the shop.

When the boy was gone, Ukyo hopped the counter with ease, getting into the man’s face and shoving the letter under his nose. “What the hell is this?” she demanded, her face coloring with anger.

Bill took a step back from the obviously upset young girl, “It’s exactly as it says Ms. Kuonji,” he told her calmly, seeing the pain behind the rage.

She balled up the paper in frustration and tossed it at the man, “I can read you jackass! What I want to know is how in the hell you got my father to agree to this?” she spat at him, eyes flashing in fury.

He watched with mild interest as the paper rolled across the floor, coming to rest against the outside of the counter. Taking a breath he met her furious gaze with his calm one, “Simply put, I estimated the value of your yattai at the time of engagement, compounded it’s yearly viable incoming making potential based upon locations, possible customers and seasons. Multiplying that by how many years it took you to actually find the Saotomes and adding in the additional costs to not only start up your own restaurant,” he motioned around him at the mention of her place.

“But the time and energy spent looking for them. Once I figured all that information into effect, it was a simple matter to take that number to your father in an effort to restore honor to the Kuonji name from the black mark that Genma Saotome left on it,” he finished, turning to face the irate young woman once more.

‘Oh my god...’ she thought dully as he listed the amount of not only time, but vast sum of money he must’ve handed her father. “But, how could you do this?” she whispered to him, blinking as she dimly began to realize that this wasn’t a joke or a ruse.

“Please, Ms. Kuonji, may we sit for a moment?” he asked, motioning towards one of the booths nearby.

Ukyo allowed herself to be led to the table, sitting heavily on the bench as she faced this stranger that had just rendered her life for the last ten years irrelevant.

Bill folded his hands before him, leaning forwards. “I’ve got what you would call a vested interest in Ranma Saotome. I don’t give a rat’s turd about the waste of flesh that calls himself his father. I need for you to understand that up front,” he began, speaking earnestly to her, knowing that she, of all the fiancee’s would appreciate the candor.

Him insulting Genma roused her some what from her shocked stupor, eyes narrowing at the mention of the man that had robbed her of her femininity for so long. “That panda deserves to rot in hell for what he did,” she growled, her anger flaring back up once more.

Smiling tightly, Bill nodded his agreement. “That being said, I am also cleared to offer you, shall we say, physical compensation against the old man. 10 minutes, no holds barred, no interference with the only rule stating that you cannot kill him. You don’t have to accept now, it’s just something for you to keep in mind,” he explained, holding her fierce eyes as he did.

‘Punish the Panda phase two in place, now I just have to get Pound the Pervert up and running...’ he thought, taking a perverse glee in the pain the two old men would be suffering for their transgressions.

Ukyo looked at him suspiciously, “Why? What’s so important about Ranma-honey?” she asked, wondering what this man’s interest was in her...former, fiancé. The word stuck in her throat, and pierced her heart. Former, is sounded so...cold, final.

He didn’t answer her question at first, instead watching her slowly deal with the information that changed her life so drastically. “I am not at liberty to go into details on that, sorry,” he told her, shaking his head.

“My interests in Ranma have a lot to do with the damage and destruction that surrounds him on a daily basis. Think of me as a kind of insurance agent. I’m here to make sure that his life isn’t as painfully destructive as it’s been. For the good of EVERYONE, involved,” he finished, emphasizing the word to her.

Ukyo looked at him with disbelief, “Who the hell do you think you are?” she challenged again, not liking the implications of his statement.

He paused before answering, fighting the urge to yell back at the girl. When he’d calmed himself enough, “Look, I told you before, I’m someone who is trying to help. You, Ukyo Kuonji, who claims to love him should understand and even support that. Or are your feelings for him as shallow as I’ve been led to believe?” he challenged her, knowing the path he was going to take wouldn’t be easy on her, but she needed to see the harsh light of reality when it came to Ranma.

She stood up at the insult, slamming both her hands on the table infront of her. “HOW DARE YOU COME IN HERE AND QUESTION MY FEELINGS FOR RANMA HONEY!” the young lady shouted, leaning forwards as she did.

Her breathing was heavy and labored as her anger fueled on her tirade, “I’ve been the ONLY one that’s supported and believed in him, no matter what! Who does he come to when his life goes to hell? I’ll tell ya who you jackass, ME! That’s who!” she continued, her voice still ragged with emotion and well above normal conversation decibels.

Pointing an accusing finger at him, her eyes narrowed and blazed through slits. “Then YOU,” she spat the word at him. “Come in here, waving around a letter from my father of all people, telling me that honor has been SATISFIED?” she screamed the last word, tears now flowing freely from her eyes as she released her pain.

She swallowed and sniffed several times before speaking again, “FAMILY honor! What about me, huh? What about MY honor? What about everything I’VE been through with him? I’ve devoted my whole LIFE to finding him and being the best wife he could ask for! And you coming strolling in here and think that some letter is just going to change all that?” she asked him, her voice breaking and cracking with pent up emotions.

“YOU’VE GOT ANOTHER THING COMING IF THAT’S WHAT YOU BELIEVE YOU JACKASS!” she yelled once more, all but screaming into his compassionate face.

He sat there stoically taking the verbal tirade from her without getting angry or judging her pain. He watched her battle her anger and vent it at the only outlet she had, him.

With a muffled strangled sound, the girl’s anger fizzled out and she sat heavily onto the seat, covering her face with her hands. “I love him, what about that can’t ANY of you understand?” she asked brokenly, sobbing into her palms.

Bill sat and watched her as she cried, knowing that he couldn’t offer meaningless comfort to her and still keep his end of the bargain. ‘I REALLY hate my job,’ he thought, pulling several napkins from the silver dispenser on the table and holding them ready for her.

Her bloodshot and tear-streaked eyes finally came back into sight, though they still held the fire and determination that had marked her life. She took the offered napkins with a jerk from his hands, as if offended he would be offering her even that simple comfort.

He waited as she noisily blew her nose before speaking again. “Ms. Kuonji, I know you’re upset and have every right to be so. However,” he said, fixing her with a firm stare once more, unwilling to allow her to maintain her illusions.

“If your actions have solely been in an effort to be Ranma’s wife, how can you condone much less justify your actions at the failed wedding?” he asked her point blank, showing his knowledge of events.

Her mouth opened and closed, her face paling at his blunt accusation.

“You needn’t answer, but ask yourself this instead. If you would have killed someone there, someone that Ranma cares about, would we even be having this conversation? Friend or not, no matter the history you two share, he would never have spoken to you again. You, of ALL people, should know his code against killing. Yet, you and Shampoo, working out of selfish reasons, tried to kill a room full of people,” he told her, leaning forward even as she leaned back, trying to escape the simple yet painfully true information.

His heart ached watching her come to grips with this knowledge, unflinchingly and brutally honest. ‘Eyes on the prize Billy boy, eyes on the prize,’ he thought, knowing what he was working for and why.

“But, it wasn’t like that...I, I was...” she stammered, her voice losing most of it’s fire.

“Trying to save him? From what? Something he wanted to do?” Bill asked her quietly, his voice taking a soothing demeanor.

He shook his head, “You claim you’ve devoted you whole life to him, yet...do you know what HE wants? What he REALLY wants Ms. Kuonji?” the man asked her softly.

“Ranma honey wants...” she started, before trailing off, eyes widening as she thought about it.

“Not what you want,” ended Bill quietly, his face showing his sympathy for the realization she’d come to. “You want nothing more than to be the best okonomoyaki chef in the world while having a chain of successful restaurants that you’ll run with him while raising a family,” he explained, telling her life’s goals and ambitions as if he’d known her all her life.

“But, how...” she asked, her hand coming up to her mouth, fresh tears of pain filling her eyes.

He didn’t smile this time, instead he sighed heavily, “I told you Ms. Kuonji, I’m something of an insurance agent and it’s my PLACE to know these things. That doesn’t mean I enjoy doing this or take any type of pleasure in it. I just have to do this for the safety and sake of all parties involved,” he told her once more, trying to show he wasn’t intentionally doing this out of spite.

Ukyo’s eyes closed as tears once more spilled down her face, leaving wet paths that were visible indications of her heart being rent in two. Her head began to shake back and forth, her voice breaking once more as she spoke. “NO! I refuse to believe this! Ranma wouldn’t do this to me...I KNOW it!” she said, trying to sound like she believed it but instead coming across like a drowning woman clinging to a life preserver with desperation.

His hard blue eyes finally softened, his head cocked to the side. “No Ukyo, he COULDN’T, he could never hurt his best friend like this. That’s why I’m here, to stop the madness before someone gets killed,” he told her.

Her eye’s snapped open, wanting to yell and scream at the man for his painfully calm and reasonable words. Instead she found sympathy there in his eyes, along with the pain he felt at having to do this.

“He’ll ALWAYS see you as his best friend, closer to him than even Ryoga. That’s why he comes to you Ukyo, not seeking the arms of a lover, but the company of the only real friend he’s ever had,” Bill said, trying to show her exactly how Ranma saw her now and would always see her.

The girl’s head fell and her face was buried once more into her hands, sobs racking her shoulders as she face the cold hard truth of her relationship with Ranma...that of a best friend.

He sat in silence, wanting to comfort her so badly that his eyeballs hurt, but standing his ground.

It took many minutes for her to compose herself to the point where she could face the man across from her. Her breathing was filled with sorrowful hitching, and quite a few hiccups as well. She once more took the napkins he offered her, almost dejectedly this time, not meeting his eyes, unable to handle the sympathy she’d find there.

“Tell me something, honestly. Who are you really?” she whispered to the man, finally meeting his eyes after blowing her nose once more.

He frowned slightly but nodded, “My name is Bill. Just Bill, no last name. That’s all I can really tell you for now. Maybe one day I can talk to you more about it, but for now that’s all I can tell you. I work for some people that have made it a life’s work to ease chaos and pain, something that happened to follow Ranma where ever he went,” he told her finally, giving her the barest of murky details.

She frowned at his answer, opening her mouth to push further only to find the man’s hand rising from the table while his eyes showed her steely resolve.

“I can’t, it’s for the good of everyone that I do this, trust me. You, Ranma, me...everyone,” he elaborated, his tone going firm as he pointed to her and him.

Ukyo’s face fell once more, “So, what now? Can I ever talk to him again? Does he ever WANT me to talk to him again?” she asked hesitantly. Gone was the spunk and fire that marked her life for so long, in it’s place a cold despondency.

He lifted her chin, “I told you before Ukyo, he wants you to be his best friend, he ALWAYS has. That hasn’t nor will it ever change, unless you want to change it. But if you do that, just know that it’ll hurt him as well, more than you could possibly know. I can’t tell you what’s right and wrong here, I wouldn’t do that. I can tell you that he’s going to need his friends, just the fact he’s gone through so much just to keep you as his friend should’ve told you that, even after you tried to kill someone,” he told her quietly, forcing her to look at the boys actions.

“He’s not the kind to carry a grudge for too long, especially not against you,” he finished, releasing her chin.

She nodded silently, accepting what the man had to say, grasping to what little she had left.

He quietly stood, looking down at the dejected girl, “I’ve gotta go Ms. Kuonji, but if I could offer some advice?” he asked.

Looking up to him, she waited for him to speak, not trusting herself to words at the moment.

“Talk to him, be his friend. Treat him like he treats you. Then take a vacation, relax, see some sites. I can recommend several locations to help, you could even open a cart if you wanted. That way you’d be keeping busy while getting away from it all,” he smiled at her, knowing that her whole life was okonomoyaki, above and beyond all else, even Ranma.

Her answering smile was devoid of humor, but she showed him an appreciation for his concerns and advice. “Thanks Bill, but I’m a big girl and have been taking care of myself for years. I’ll remember what you said though, thanks,” she told him quietly.

Bill nodded and began to walk towards the door, unlocking it as he reached it. He slid open the door and stepped into the night air.

“Just a minute!” she called after him, making him take a step back into her restaurant.

“Yeah? What’s up?” he asked, looking at her curiously as she walked towards him with a stern expression.

“What about the others? Shampoo and Akane, they get the same as me? You get rid of them as well?” she asked, suddenly wondering if his actions just effected her.

His face went serious, but he shook his head. “I’ve already removed him from the Amazon’s Kisses, so he’s not engaged to Shampoo any longer. As for the Tendo’s, well...” he said with a shrug, not directly answering her question.

She grabbed his arm, “Oh no you don’t, you’re gonna tell me!” she demanded, pulling painfully on the man’s arm.

Bill looked down to where she’d grabbed him, then back to her face with a raised eyebrow. “You don’t want to do this, trust me Ms. Kuonji,” he warned quietly, his voice finally showing a controlled anger.

Not backing down, she stepped closer though not releasing the man. “Oh, I think I do sugar,” she said, her own voice showing a cold anger of it’s own.

He frowned at the woman, “I really thought that you were better than this, but I guess not...” he said, meeting her eyes.

“You wanted the answer, then fine. Remember this Ukyo Kuonji, once knowledge is gained, it can NEVER be unlearned,” Bill told her quietly, causing a chill to run down the woman’s body.

“The answer is this, that Ranma is going to decide himself what and who he wants, IF anybody. If it’s Akane, then fine. Same with Shampoo, as for you well, I’m sure he’ll LOVE to hear this. His best friend threatening someone that’s trying to help,” the man said while his eyes narrowed.

She stiffly released her fingers from him, but didn’t step back, “What are you talking about?” she asked, wondering exactly the ramifications of his statement.

“Just what I said. My job was to give him the CHOICE that hasn’t been his before. No one threatening, cajoling, tricking, drugging, coercing...just his decision and his alone. Think long and hard about that Ms. Kuonji, and what it means. Think about it before you act or do or say something stupid...like you just did,” he answered, stalking from the store into the early evening air.

Ukyo stared hard after the man until he was no longer in sight, trying to find meaning in his words. She stepped back into the restaurant and caught sight of the paper she’d thrown at him. Walking over to it, she scooped it up, looking down at it sadly as she started to think about everything the man had told her...and how it fit into her life now.

Looking up at the ceiling, Ukyo remembered the wedding and her actions that had led to the near destruction of the Tendo Home and Dojo. A deep frown marred her beautiful face as guilt from her actions assailed her, not for the first time, and hardly the last.

‘He did forgive me, even after all I did...but nothing changed. Not between them, us or Shampoo,’ she thought, facing the blunt truth that a stranger had had to bring to her attentions.

She glanced over to the door, regret once more filling her face at the thought of how she’d acted to the man. “I’ve gotta talk to Ran-chan, I’ve gotta hear it from him,” she said quietly, knowing what the man would say, but still needing to hear it from him with her own ears.

‘Maybe I can still make him see that I love him...’ her thoughts trying to rally in the face of insurmountable odds.

Turning off the grill, she jotted down a quick note for Konatsu before leaving her restaurant, pausing only briefly to consider the direction the strange man had taken. “He headed towards the Tendo dojo,” she said, wondering just how deeply embroiled the man was, and how badly she might have screwed up with her actions.

Pushing the thoughts aside, she made her way to where Ranma was staying.

Between Furinkan High and the Tendo Home...

The silence was almost tangible as the three teenagers walked home. Akane glaring at both Ranma and Nabiki. Nabiki ignoring the glares from her younger sister while trying not to look too much at the boy on the fence next to her and Ranma, seemingly oblivious to the whole situation as he considered the sky around him.

“Hey, you guys hungry?” he asked, pausing for a moment on the fence and looking down at the two girls.

Nabiki looked up at him and his open expression that spoke solely of hunger and smiled. “I could go for a sundae,” she told him, her sweet tooth reminding her that she’d not catered to it in a while.

Akane snorted and shook her head, “C’mon you two, you know Kasumi is cooking tonight. Besides Ranma, aren’t you supposed to take me out tonight? You want to ruin your appetite?” she asked them. She just wanted to get home so that she could not only witness her fathers anger at him for being with Nabiki but the chance to get the date under way and her relationship with him back on track.

Ranma groaned, “You have to remind me? I was hoping you forgot...” he asked, his shoulders slumping. It took him exactly 2.4 seconds to realize his mistake before he moved, just avoiding the incoming mallet that had been aimed at his head.

The head of the massive mallet, which bore the gold embossed stamp “Widow maker 2001", slammed into the fence he’d been occupying, demolishing it into unusable bits of concrete and twisted metal fragments. Her echoing scream sounded all around them, “RANMA! YOU IDIOT!”, letting everyone within hearing distance know that he’d once more egged on her volatile temper.

He landed behind the irate girl, his eyes wide with surprise at the power and destruction of the hit. “Wow! That was pretty hard there you tomboy, you really been hitting the weights hard lately huh?” he asked, whistling low in appreciation.

Nabiki just hung her head at his comment, sighing in resignation that this fight would last the rest of their trip home. “And here I was looking forward to the sundae,” she said, taking a couple of prudent steps from the now openly fighting couple. Ranma easily keeping his distance from the irate Akane, who was busy making mallet shaped holes in the pavement in her attempts to deliver justice to the thoughtless boy.

Ranma landed nimbly atop a pole, sticking out his tongue at Akane, making her give a frustrated sound of rage. “C’mon gorilla girl, you gotta do better’n that to catch me!” he said with a broad smile.

While Akane was busy knocking down the pole he was on, Nabiki took the time to truly appreciate how easily the boy could rile up his opponents, setting them off balance and thus easier to defeat. ‘It’s all training to him, even the fights with Akane,’ she thought, filing the information away for future uses.

The boy stiffened suddenly, casting a horrified look in her direction, for a moment ignoring Akane, a fact she quickly capitalized on by nailing him in the head and driving him into the ground.

“THERE! NOW WHO’S UNCUTE?” she yelled at his dazed expression, a cruel smile on her face. It lasted only seconds as a hooked blade severed her mallet head from it’s handle as it flew by.

She leapt back from the blade, now imbedded into the concrete, looking in the direction it’d come from. “Who’s there?” she challenged, falling into a fighting stance after dropping the stick.

Nabiki, now with a clearly worried expression on her face, was unsure of what to do. Her eyes caught on the boy struggling to right himself from the vicious blow delivered by Akane, causing her to pause, unwilling to leave him behind to whoever was attacking.

“Ranma Saotome, we finally meet,” came a soft voice from the trees. A lone figure dressed all in black emerged from the shadows, his face totally covered by a mask, obscuring his features. He slowly pulled a short black blade from a hidden sheath on his back as he approached, ignoring the fuming young girl that was spoiling for a fight.

Nabiki reached Ranma’s side, slapping him in an attempt to bring him around more quickly, “C’mon Ranma, snap out of it,” she muttered, watching the man approach with a wary eye.

Akane readied herself, counting the man’s steps and judging his speed preparing her attack against him. She noticed Nabiki helping Ranma to his feet, concern obvious on her face as she looked at him.

‘What the hell?’ she thought irately, watching her sister trying to rouse the dazed young man. ‘How could she do this to me?’ her thoughts continued, fueling the inexplicable anger that seemed to consume her where Ranma was concerned, driving her to new heights of rage and revenge against him.

The man paused some 10 feet from Akane, his faceless mask pointed at her, then turning to where Nabiki was steadying Ranma on his feet, the young man shaking his head to clear the cobwebs from the hammer and nail treatment he’d gotten from Akane.

“You were warned Ranma, offered a place of honor, only to spit in the face of such a magnanimous opportunity. I’ve been sent to follow through on the promise, and to help you reconsider your choices,” he told the pig tailed martial artist, pointing the sword at him as he spoke.

Both Akane and Nabiki looked over to the now pale young man, unspoken questions shining on each of the sister’s face.

Before they could vocalize their thoughts, the man pointed first at Akane then to Nabiki. “It would seem that you have to make a decision here boy, which will it be. Unlike your friend Ryoga, when I say I’m going to ruin your happiness, I damn well mean to do just that,” he promised, his voice hard as steel as cold as a stone.

The threat pulled the fighter from his hazy pain, dropping him into an open stance. “I don’t know who you are but NOBODY threatens Ranma Saotome and gets away with it,” he told the man, his face going deadly serious in a heartbeat.

The man gave a soft chuckle, “It would appear that your life is going to become full of firsts Ranma Saotome,” he answered, his body exploding into motion just as he’d finished speaking.

Ranma had only a moment to shove Nabiki clear of the man’s charge and brace himself for the attack. The man’s sword was held low to the ground as he moved, never wavering as it swept with surgical precision towards him in an upward arc, the air sizzling with the power and speed of the stroke.

Twisting away, he spun on his heel, kicking out his off leg to sweep his opponent off his feet. The man in black jumped over the leg and drove the point of the short sword downwards in an attempt to skewer the leg to the ground.

Using the centrifugal motion and momentum he’d built up, Ranma rolled through the strike, the blade cutting through the loose pants he wore, missing his flesh by a mere centimeter. Tumbling up to his feet, he held his hands out before him defensively, just in time to deflect the abdominal slash that seemed to be waiting for him.

Continuing the motion he spun a left elbow into the man’s short ribs, snapping the back of his left hand into the side of the man’s head. While the reversal lacked his normal devastating power, it did serve to knock the man off balance, forcing him to withdrawal from the close quarter battle.

The man turned the blade back towards Ranma, point down with the edge running an angle between them. “It would seem that you are everything promised and more Ranma. I’m impressed,” he said with respect, nodding to his foe.

His smile was cocky in return, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” he told the man, launching himself into the air towards the man.

The man moved in a rolling tumble away from the incoming foot, taking him underneath Ranma as he found his knees once more. Turning the blade around, he drove it behind him, slicing through the shirt Ranma wore and scoring a long but superficial cut on the boys back.

Ranma hissed in pain, throwing himself forwards away from the man and the sword, mule kicking backwards with both feet, now standing on his hands.

The move caught the man under the chin, snapping his head back and lifting him a few feet up and almost a dozen backwards. He slammed into a chain link fence, bending the supporting poles to bizarre angles as it slowed and stopped his momentum.

Staying on his hands, Ranma turned and regarded the dazed man with the same confident smile he gave all his opponents. “Had enough yet?” he called over to the man, flexing his arms downwards and propelling himself to his feet, falling into the waiting stance he used so often.

The man disengaged himself from the broken links of the fence, taking a wary stance against the boy. The two fighters circled each other, looking for an opening or weakness to capitalize on. As if on an unseen signal they rushed each other once more. Sword and fists moving with such speed it was impossible to tell where one attack ended and the other began.

Nabiki pulled herself gingerly from the ground, tenderly touching her skinned knees from where she’d hit the ground. Grinding her teeth against the pain, she stood upright and watched with silent awe as Ranma moved against his armed foe, dodging the deadly edged weapon with skill and deceptive ease.

Akane, at first annoyed at having been summarily dismissed as a threat, realized rather quickly that this wasn’t the typical battle with one of the wrecking crew. This man’s intentions were deadly as he tried to not just defeat Ranma but kill him in the process.

The sisters, more on an instinctual level then conscious, found each other’s side as the watched with terrified fascination the deadly dance taking place before them.

“Nabiki, hurry and get some help!” said Akane, unable and unwilling to take her eyes from the battle.

The girl turned and looked at her sister, “You’re the one that runs everyday sis,” she replied, her voice not betraying any emotions, though she was irritated at the thought of Akane believing she could order her around.

Further conversation was halted as the man drew blood on Ranma before being thrown viciously backwards by the retaliating double kick from Ranma.

Akane glared at Nabiki, whose eyes responded with cold indifference, before running off towards their home. Neither girl needed words but something significant passed between them, something uncomfortable as if was powerful.

The man wrenched his sword free of the boy’s hands, slamming his forehead into Ranma’s, only to stagger himself in the process with Ranma unfazed by the desperate strike.

Holding his head, the man shook it vigorously for a moment to clear the sudden fuzzy feeling. He was met with a wry laugh from the thick skulled young man. “Ya gotta do better’n that, Ryoga hits tons hard’n you do!” he said, dropping back into the ready stance.

The man watched the boy carefully, realizing that for all his skill this young man outmatched him and could absorb incredible amounts of punishment without slowing. Spinning to the left, the man threw his sword at Ranma as he completed the arc, forcing the boy to snap to the side to avoid the sudden projectile.

One moment the man stood before Ranma, the next he was behind Nabiki, a kukri to her throat. “She’s first Ranma,” he said calmly holding the surprised young girl firmly in his grasp.

Nabiki could feel the icy chill from the razor sharp weapon on the tender flesh of her throat, the knife slowly pressing inwards in an unspoken threat. Her eyes widened as she silently pleaded with Ranma to get this guy off her.

Ranma’s eyes narrowed as he stared with unbridled fury at the cowardly tactics the man was using. “Get yer hands offa her!” he snarled, pointing an outraged hand towards them.

He looked into Nabiki’s eyes, seeing the pleading and fear that was present, something he’d never seen in her face, something that pulled at both his heart and soul. ‘The Ice Queen,’ he thought, inspiration coming to him.

An icy calm descended on him, time slowing to a crawl as the deep cold filled him, consumed him. With a detached sense of curiosity he could see the pulse pounding visibly in Nabiki’s neck, the way her muscles moved imperceptibly under duress from the man’s modified choke.

Nabiki saw his deep blue eyes harden, going cold, then colder still. Her breath caught as she felt the blade of the kukri start to move, separating flesh as it began to pull. Before she could even scream in pain and horror, an icy chill surrounded her, goose-pimpling her skin with the sudden temperature change. The air, once calm, now roared around them, whipping hair and clothing as it tore at them, through them. The metal of the knife, before an icy reminder of her predicament, became warm in comparison to the cold that engulfed them.

The man, rather than spout meaningless threats or tired boasts, simply tried to execute the girl that Ranma cared so much for, his smile cruel beneath the mask. He watched in state of euphoria as the boy’s eyes widened when he started the fatal motion of the knife. The glee and anticipation he felt evaporated, or to put it more accurately, froze within him.

Ranma’s eyes went icy cold as he fully embraced the Soul of Ice, flooding his ki with it’s power and subverting the air around them to an instant sub-zero change. He flared his ki outwards, enveloping them within the maelstorm of it’s power.

He watched the sudden crystallization of ambient water in the air forming on the man’s sleeves, mask and legs. Nabiki, dressed in her school uniform, was untouched by the sudden change though the slight tinge to her fair skin was evidence enough of the sudden change in temperature.

As the knife slowed due to the man’s inability to truly function as his limbs started to freeze, Ranma moved forwards. He moved with blinding speed towards them, catching the man’s knife hand in his, twisting it up and out away from the girl’s neck.

With a tender touch, he moved Nabiki from harms way even as he continued the twisting of the man’s arm, this time downwards, forcing the man to the ground. He wrenched it downwards, straddling the arm between his legs with the man now face down on the ground. With a mighty jerk, Ranma pulled the elbow against the joint, folding it in the opposite direction it was supposed to move while not releasing the wrist. The wet, slick sounding pop echoed harshly in the sudden silence, the rushing of cold air having vanished when Nabiki was clear of the man’s grasp.

She covered her mouth with her hand, the sudden and painful maneuver by Ranma coupled with the sight and sound of it, turned her stomach slightly. She blinked back the tears of fear and pain she’d had, watching him as he released the man’s now ruined arm.

He was oblivious to the man’s screams of pain and suffering, his eyes still stone cold as he observed him cradling the shattered appendage. Kicking the curved kukri from it’s fallen position near the man, Ranma positioned himself for the final strike, one that would lay waste to the spinal column of the man from his heel.

Seeing the boy’s attack and realizing the result it would have on the now defenseless man, Nabiki screamed out to Ranma. “RANMA! NO!” her voice sliced through his icy demeanor, his blue eyes once more filling with the warmth and compassion she’d grown to appreciate there.

His foot hovered only inches from the now quivering man, before returning to the side of it’s counterpart. Ranma blinked at Nabiki, unsure of what to say or do. “Nabiki?” he asked, meeting her deep brown eyes.

“He isn’t worth it Ranma, don’t dirty your honor on someone like that,” she told him calmly, once more falling into the mask she hid behind so often. Her eyes told him a different story though, one of relief that belied the calm and distant tone she used.

He nodded, then turned back to the quietly crying man on the cold ground beneath him. Kicking him roughly in the ribs to flip him over, he crouched at the man’s side. “Tell Drake that NO ONE comes near the ones I hold dear or the next one’s won’t be as lucky as you,” he said quietly, his voice low and deadly in it’s intensity.

Ranma slowly stood upright once more, glaring down at his beaten foe. “Now get outta here and remember what I told ya! Nobody beats Ranma Saotome!” he said taking the blade that Nabiki had retrieved.

As the man watched, Ranma held the hilt in one hand, the back of the blade in the other and broke it over his knee. Tossing the destroyed weapon at the man as he got to his feet, he stared at him hard as he took flight from the area, vanishing into the shadows he’d come from.

Turning to Nabiki, he could easily see how shaken she was by the encounter and her sudden brush with death. “You okay Nabs?” he asked with concern, placing a hand on her shoulder to steady her as she started to shiver.

Nodding jerkily, her eyes fixed on the knife that had been pressed against her throat. “So, he’s why you wanted to hang around me huh?” she asked him, her voice still a model of control. Her hand rose to gently touch the side of her neck, the fingers coming away with blood on them, her blood.

The sight of the blood on her hands sent Ranma into motion once more. “Oh my gosh Nabiki! You’re bleedin’! Hang on!” he said excitedly, scooping up the girl into his arms and bounding off to the rooftops, reaching speeds only he could manage.

The girl held on tightly, arms wrapped firmly around his neck, her face pressed into his chest as the sudden press of a jump followed by the freefall sensations washed over her. She’d been carried by him before, just not when he’d been moving with such a purpose.

Ranma felt her clutch to him reflexively, noting that she was very warm next to him as he moved. Landing lightly within the compound of Doctor Tofu’s he rushed to the door and opened it with his foot. “Yo Doc! I need ya!“ he called out, walking towards the back of the office where the exam rooms where.

“Ranma? Is everything alright?” came the calm reassuring voice of the resident doctor, his eyes widening behind the glasses at the sight of Ranma carrying what looked to be Nabiki. Adjusting the glasses he motioned for him to place her on the exam table.

“What happened?” he asked, noting the blood on the side of her neck. It had run down to her dress, creating a rather large stain that carried down from the shoulder.

Speaking quickly Ranma outlined the basics and how Nabiki got injured. Luckily for the young man, the Doctor was used to hearing him speak at such a rate and was able to not only understand but ask a few questions as well.

“I see, are you sure the blade didn’t move very far then?” asked the Doctor, eyes on his patient as he gently cleaned the area.

“Pretty sure, things were kinda nuts,” Ranma told him, angling this way and that, trying to see what he was doing to Nabiki.

Nabiki sat still as the soft yet firm hands of the doctor poked and prodded her, only making the minimal amount of faces as he did so. “Given that I’m not currently being rushed to a hospital, I take that I’ll live then?” she asked drolly, a faint smile on her face at the reaction from the guys in the room.

“You’re going to be just fine Nabiki, it’s just a shallow cut on the fleshy part of your neck. A little harder or deeper and there would have been serious complications though. You’re pretty lucky,” he told her, dressing the wound after cleaning it.

Ranma hung his head at the news, crestfallen that she could’ve been seriously injured. “I’m, uh, sorry Nabiki,” he muttered to her as Tofu walked away to clean his hands. He stood nervously before her, shifting his weight from foot to foot, unable to meet her eyes.

Nabiki looked at him for a moment, noticing his demeanor and quiet tone. “Ranma, look at me,” she ordered him, though her tone carried no malice in it.

The boy slowly allowed his head to rise, looking her in the eyes again, to find her not glowing with an inexhaustible rage or wielding the mallet from hell, but to see her smiling lightly at him.

“You couldn’t of known he would turn like that, none of us did. Believe me, if I’d of thought for an instant he was going to try to use me for carving practice, I’d of left with Akane,” she assured him.

With the mention of the youngest sister’s name, both sets of eyes widened as Nabiki hopped off the table. “We’d better find her fast before...” Nabiki started to say, only to be interrupted by the tingling of the door and a voice calling out for the doctor.

Poking his head out, Ranma saw that Soun and Akane had rushed into the office, Soun looking winded and worried where as Akane’s expression was one of concerned annoyance.

“Why yes, they’re both right here and fine,” Tofu told him, waving a hand back towards the exam room.

“Well, that was quick,” commented Nabiki dryly. It was then she saw the opening in Ranma’s shirt from where the sword had cut him. Before thinking about it the girl crossed the room and placed a hand on his back, checking to see if the wound still bled.

The touch from behind him gave him a start and he leaped up into the upper part of the door frame, cracking his head soundly. Landing in a pile on the floor, he winced as he rubbed his head, glaring back at Nabiki. “What’d you do that for?” he demanded, hating to be taken off guard like that.

“Forgive me for caring Ranma, YOU’RE wounded too remember?” she told him sarcastically, kneeling down next to him and resuming the check of his wound.

Soun walked in to find Ranma seated in the doorway facing him with Nabiki behind him, her hands inside his shirt. He paused as his mind derailed and tried to figure out exactly what was happening. As per his norm, nothing come to the front.

Akane, seeing her sister, her hands on Ranma, and Ranma not trying to disengage nor fight away from the contact, did what she did best, jump to conclusions. “What happened back there and why the hell are you touching him like that?” she demanded, causing the boy to flinch under the fist she was raising.

It was Doctor Tofu that came to Ranma’s rescue, catching her wrist and holding it aloft. His calm voice and soothing demeanor took the teeth from her rage. “Nabiki was cut by the man that attacked Ranma and he brought her here,” he told the girl, forcing her to look him in the eyes. “She’ll be fine, it was nothing serious,” he told Soun, sighting the man about to begin his patented sprinkling system.

“Doc, Ranma got cut as well during the fight,” Nabiki told him, opening the rip in the shirt to reveal the long cut that was still slowly oozing blood.

Ranma blushed at the sudden attention, trying to down play his injury. “It’s nothin’. The guy got in a lucky strike, that’s all,” he said, bringing his hand to his head nervously.

Akane looked down to where the wound was on his back, memories cutting through the thick red haze in her mind, allowing her to remember her concern and worry for the boy. “Oh Ranma, are you okay?” she asked, switching gears so quickly it even took Doctor Tofu aback.

Looking at her suspiciously, he leaned back from her concerned hands and face, inadvertently placing him more into contact with Nabiki. A fact that wasn’t lost on either girl.

“I just told you, I’m fine,” he said to Akane, blinking at her.

Her expression went from caring to anger in the space of that single blink, jealousy adding to the rage that was plaguing her. “Oh, I see how it is,” she growled at him, her voice taking an edge to it.

Nabiki watched in stunned shock as her sister’s mood swings crossed the spectrum, arriving right back at the beginning. ‘She’s always had a short fuse, but what’s with this?’ she wondered, finding that Ranma was now moving backwards so much he was practically in her lap.

Ranma, seeing the impending pummeling in her eyes, moved backwards to avoid the incoming blow, crawling right into and onto Nabiki’s lap. His eyes widened as he realized two rather important and interesting facts. The first and foremost was that if he moved now Nabiki was going to get nailed with the mallet meant for him. The second was that he’d NEVER seen Akane this angry, it was an expression of borderline hatred on her face that he witnessed.

Before either adult could move to interfere or try to block, Akane moved forwards and attempted not to mallet Ranma, but rather punt him into next year.

Tofu reached out a futile hand, “Akane! NO!” he shouted at her, knowing it was far too late to stop the incoming foot from reaching it’s target.

Soun stood frozen in horror as he watched the scene play out. He’d been witness to countless attacks and beatings of Ranma at Akane’s hands, feet, mallets, tables(‘I really must speak with her about this trend’ he thought,) but never before had she allowed her anger to spike to the point that it was endangering others.

Nabiki on the other hand, remembered a time all too well when she’d been on the receiving end of Akane’s misdirected rage. It had led to Ranma and her being engaged, after Akane had accused them of ganging up on her. That offered little comfort at the moment as she realized the significance of Ranma in her lap. If he moved, she was going to get hit with a kick that at the very least was going to break some ribs. If he didn’t move, she was still going to take collateral damage from the sheer force of the strike. The exam room offered no place for him to flee or a window to leap to in order to avoid the hit. Closing her eyes and gritting her teeth, Nabiki prayed silently it wouldn’t hurt too much before she would pass out.

He watched the incoming foot moving as if in slow motion, his mind racing through what meager options he had. Bracing himself by moving his knees forward to rest on the ground, he pushed himself closer to the kick. His right arm came up with the palm open on the hand, slapping aside the foot as it got closer.

The air that was displaced by her foot swooshed past him, ruffling his hair and flapping the pig tail. Akane, now off balance from the sudden diverting of her strike, spun like a top before toppling backwards...into the waiting arms of Ranma.

Her anger was momentarily subdued as she gazed into the blue eyes of the boy, all else lost but those eyes. Then, the red tide of anger washed over her as she realized that not only had he avoided her strike with ease, but he was now holding her to add insult to the injury.

“RANMA! Get your hands off of me this instant!” she yelled at him, unprepared for his next actions.

Ranma did exactly as she’d demanded, dumping her to the floor to land on her butt. A dull thump sounded in the room as she landed, a look of both shock and outrage vying for dominance on her face at the treatment.

She sat and sputtered in impotent anger at him, unable to put together coherent thoughts or statements.

“Why you so mad for Akane? I only did what YOU asked me ta do,” he told her quietly, giving her a stern yet pained look. Standing he shook his head and walked past the girl in an attempt to leave the confines of the exam room.

A hand on his arm stopped him, “Just a moment Ranma, let me take a look at that,” said the good doctor, steering the boy to an unoccupied room away from the others.

“Please take off your shirt,” he ordered, shutting the door behind him. Tofu moved quickly and professionally, fingers prodding and pulling to gauge the depth of the cut. He whistled low in his throat, “Looks like you got lucky here Ranma. Another half inch and your blood would’ve all been left on the street. But don’t worry, I’ve got some stuff that will fix you right up,” he told the boy cheerfully, opening a vile smelling cream from a porcelain jar.

Wrinkling his nose, he stayed still while the doctor worked on him, covering the wound with a long white gauze bandage, secured with linen tape. Handing him several packages of gauze and a fresh roll of tape, he smiled at the boy.

“Okay, make sure you change that everyday. I would tell you to change it whenever it gets wet, but...” he trailed off into a knowing chuckle.

Ranma joined him, knowing the doctor was one of the few people that treated him like a normal person even with the insanity that followed him. “Thanks Doc. Hey, how’s Ryoga?” he asked while he slipped back into his shirt.

Tofu looked over at him and frowned, “He got hit pretty hard Ranma, I’m surprised there wasn’t more damage done, but with Elder Cologne and myself working on him I’m sure he’ll be up and around soon. Why don’t you go see him? I’m sure he’d appreciate it,” he told the young man.

Ranma frowned in response, the pang of remembering Shampoo’s tear stained face haunting him still. “Maybe...” he allowed, wanting to check on his friend but unsure of what he’d say.

There was a light tapping at the door, which then opened to reveal a concerned looking Cologne. “I sensed an unusual ki and trailed it here, is everything well?” she asked, her eyes finding the long cut in Ranma’s shirt.

Taking a deep breath, Ranma explained to the old woman what had happened, though he left out the bizarre and frightening behavior of Akane.

“Well sonny boy, looks like you’re starting to realize the true benefits of the Soul of Ice after all eh?” she asked him with a wry smile.

“Why didn’t you TELL me about it then?” he demanded, annoyed that the woman would have realized it’s potential while not sharing it with him.

Cologne looked at him, shaking her head, “Ranma, would you have listened to me then? You were all fired up to learn the move that nothing I said would’ve mattered at that time. Besides, you have to discover somethings for yourself you know,” she ended, her tone was hard but her expression was playful.

“Whatever you old...” he started to say, only to get rapped in the head by her ever present staff.

“Some things never change,” she told them, before hopping from the room.

“That HURT ya know!” he hollered after her, rubbing the bump on his head.

Soun appeared in the doorway, a stern expression on his face. “Son, perhaps you and I should have a talk...about your obligations,” he said ominously, folding his arms across his chest.

Ranma’s anger evaporated at the sight of the stern visage of the Tendo patriarch. “Um, uh sure Mr. Tendo, what’s up?” he asked hesitantly.

Doctor Tofu chose the moment to leave the two men alone, confident in their ability to work things out on their own.

Soun looked at the boy, debating on whether or not to strike with his Demon Head immediately or leave it in reserve. “About Akane son, it would seem that you two have been having...issues lately and I for one would like to see them settled,” he started, walking into the little room.

“Daddy, I wouldn’t press him on that matter. Given that the last time you tried to force Ranma, using the Nannichuan, it ended up with the house almost being destroyed,” said the calm and confident voice of Nabiki as she leaned against the door frame.

Ranma’s expression was shocked, then angry, as he remembered the little fact that is was Soun attempting to force Ranma and Akane to marry by holding the Nannichuan hostage until after the wedding. “Speaking of which...” he said, starting to stand.

Soun, looking wildly back and forth from his daughter to the boy and back again, held up his hands in defense. “Now see here...” he said, throwing the infamous demon head to distract and intimidate them back into submission.

Nabiki barely glanced at the horrific visage, clucking her tongue as she pulled the small cork in the bottom of the disguise, causing it to fly away like a balloon that had lost it’s air. “Nice try Daddy, but that’s not going to work this time,” she told him drolly.

Ranma, sweat still on his brow from the sudden appearance of the feared attack, wiped it away in relief as he gave Nabiki a smile of gratitude. “Thanks Nabiki, I hate it when he does that,” said Ranma, enjoying the smile she gave back.

“Don’t mention Ranma, but we’ve got some issues that need discussed, right now,” she said, crossing to the bed and hopping up on it. Patting the space next to her, she waited for him to take the spot before continuing.

“It looks like Akane’s gonna have some issues with us, not that is was unexpected. What I need to know is if you’d object to having the engagement switched earlier than I’d of liked,” she asked him point blank.

He blushed and stammered, looking betrayed as he sought the words to speak what was on his mind. “Just a second Nabiki...” he started to say, only to have her thwak his nose with her index finger, stopping his tirade short.

Leaning closer to him she met and held his gaze with hers, “I didn’t say we’d be getting married, only that you’d be ENGAGED to me...INSTEAD of Akane. Follow me now?” she asked, speaking slowly to get through to him.

He blinked slowly, his mind finally comprehending what it was she was talking about. “Oh! Oh, I get it, so that way the tomboy can’t keep hitting me for stuff that ain’t my fault, right?” he asked, smiling broadly as he got what she was attempting to do.

“Something like that Ranma, it’ll also help keep Daddy from trying to force you back into marriage again. As you can see, I know how to handle him. So, what do you think? Wanna be my fiancé?” she asked him with a raised eyebrow.

Her heart jumped slightly when he didn’t even pause to consider it, “Sure, sounds good to me!” he agreed, extending his hand to her.

She looked at his hand, then back to his eyes, a playful and predatory smile on her lips. “But since we’re going to be engaged, shouldn’t we seal this with a hug and kiss?” she asked, her voice dripping with sugar as she batted her eyelashes at him.

He stood in stunned silence, unable to think or move as his mind fully comprehended her offer.

His slow blinking made her laugh lightly, “It’s okay Ranma, one step at a time. C’mon let’s get home before this gets too out of hand. I’m sure Kasumi doesn’t want to deal with an explosive Akane,” she told him taking his hand and pulling him from the bed as she stood.

He looked at her closely, then put his hands on her shoulders and swallowed hard. Moving quickly before he changed his mind, Ranma hugged the Ice Queen of Furinkan High. Without being forced, drugged, coerced or having ulterior motives, he wrapped his arms around the girl and pulled her to his chest, giving a proper and heartfelt hug.

Now it was Nabiki’s turn to stand in stunned silence, all too familiar was she with Ranma’s phobia of ANYTHING to do with intimacy and the opposite sex. Belatedly she brought her arms up to encircle him, closing her eyes as she leaned into him, enjoying the close contact with someone for change.

All too soon the moment was over, and the two young people pulled back to look at each others blushing face. “I, uh, ya know...wanted to, uh...kinda, make it official,” he stammered out to her.

Nabiki stood dumbfounded at his actions, unable for the first time since she could really remember to respond. She could only nod at the boy before her.

He swallowed hard at her, looking suddenly VERY nervous. “You ain’t mad at me are ya?” he asked quietly, wondering if her silence meant pain, humiliation and torture in his immediate future.

His timid question snapped the girl from her thoughts, most having to deal with a shirtless Ranma covered in sweat. “No, not at all Saotome, not at all,” she assured him, touching him lightly on the arm.

He sighed in relief, “Whew, I thought you were gonna kill me when you got all weird looking right then,” he said, once more opening mouth, inserting foot and swallowing until the knee was reached.

Rolling her eyes, Nabiki smiled at her soon to be fiancé, “Sometimes it’s better if you don’t talk,” she joked with him, turning and walking out of the room.

He followed her from the doctor’s office, both saying thanks on the way past. “So, can I give you a lift home?” he asked, looking up at the rooftops before turning his attentions back to her.

She smiled, remembering all too well her last trip in his arms, only this time being not only prepared for it, but wanting to as well. “Sure,” she said stepping closer to him and wrapping her hands around his neck.

As his strong arms scooped her up, she kissed his cheek, almost getting dropped on her butt for her trouble by doing so. “Thanks by the way...for saving my life,” she told him quietly, her eyes showing him just how seriously she took that statement.

After stumbling slightly from the touch of her lips, he launched himself upwards to the high roof tops and ran the Ranma Expressway towards the Tendo Dojo. “It wasn’t anything, besides...I didn’t mind,” he said softly, unable to look at the girl as the blush was visible even in the dimming light.

Outside the Tendo Dojo...

Ukyo waited impatiently for the arrival of Ranma, wanting answers to her questions, desperate to find out that the man had lied to her. Sighting him vaulting from roof to roof, she nodded in determination.

Hopping with ease over the walls around the compound, she waited for his arrival by the koi pond, her arms crossed over her chest. Her eyes widened as she saw him land, carrying a very comfortable looking Nabiki Tendo.

“Ranma honey, we need to talk...” she said, glaring daggers into the girl he held.

End of Chapter notes: Okay, this one was longer than I expected, but it could have been longer still. That’s what I get for writing while sick( I HATE my sinuses) and also for my internet connection going on the fritz for a couple of days. Kept wanting to add more and more to the story. Anyhow, thanks to everyone for reviewing and I hope you’re enjoying this story as much as I am writing it. I should have another update within a week or so, I’ll cya then :)