Ranma watched from the side lines as Nabiki beat the crap out of Akane. The three were in the dojo for the purpose of training Akane. Nabiki had devised a plan to help her with her defense. Akane attacked, Nabiki dodged and whenever Nabiki saw an opening she jabbed Akane with a two finger strike attack, strong enough to hurt for a minute and leave a bruise. Ranma was glad they had worked out her training so that he wouldn't have to spar with Akane much. Nabiki would do most of that, while Ranma would help Akane with aspects of her training that didn't involve him hitting her. He had a hard enough time hitting Nabiki because she was a girl. He doubted very much he could any other girl unless maybe in Neko-ken. Well, there was also Cologne. And Shampoo. And... well, a few other Amazons. Oh, and that chick Raveness, Ranma shuddered at the memory of HER, from America. Okay, so basically Ranma's thinking could be a little screwy and what he really meant was that he wouldn't hit a girl unless his pride demanded it of him or if they pressed an attack enough. He watched as Akane got her first and second hits of the day in rapid succession one right after the other. Nabiki and Akane stopped, bowed to each other. Akane blew out a deep breath and wiped the sweet off of her glistening brow. Nabiki tossed her one of the towels they had brought into the dojo with them and dabbed at her forehead with one of her own. Ranma got up from where he was leaning against the wall and applauded Akane. "That was really good Akane. I'd like to help you with some speed training right now but I'll let you rest for a while. We'll do that later tonight, okay?" "Sounds good to me Ranma," replied Akane, still trying to catch her breath "Besides, I'd like to talk with Akane about our upcoming date," said Nabiki. Akane scowled. "Don't remind me," she intoned darkly. She then smiled just as darkly. *I think I _will_ use a bucket of cold water tomorrow morning.* "Well, I'm gonna go talk with Pops then." "Okay Ranma. Later," Nabiki gave Ranma a quick peck on the mouth before he left for the house. "Now, Akane, about Friday..." "Nabiki?" "Yes?" "Is this important?" "Not really important but..." Akane interrupted Nabiki in midsentance, "Then for your sake let's not talk about _friday_ and just get a bath." "Okay." Nabiki and Ranma 1/2 Part 4 By: Mike Malaspina After they had washed, both Nabiki and Akane had slipped into the furo and now sat in silence enjoying the warmth of the water. Akane sighed as she thought how soothing the warm water felt against her aching body. She wanted to ask Nabiki a question, but wasn't sure how to start, so she just blurted it out. "Nabiki, I was, um, just wondering... Do you... Are you... attracted to Ranma's... girl form?" "Why? Are you?" asked Nabiki, grinning, as Akane blushed. Her mouth worked up and down a few times before she could get any sound to come out of it. "No! No way! I'm not like that! I just wondered. I mean it's kinda... weird. Your husband is your wife half the time. Something like that would probably end any relationship I had," said Akane. "Obviously you haven't been in love." "Yeah, I guess not." It took Akane a moment to realize that Nabiki hadn't answered her question and decided to ask again, "You never answered my question. Are you... attracted to Ranma's girl form?" Nabiki thought before answering. "Yes. I'm not attracted to other girls though. It's very strange. I mean when I see girl Ranma...," Nabiki whistled and smiled lecherously, then continued, "I get just as excited as if I see boy Ranma, but anime and manga girls, models or just pretty girls walking down the street do absolutely nothing for me. That's actually very comforting, but it doesn't make my attraction to Ranma's girl half any less strange." "Maybe it's because you're in love with Ranma?" asked Akane, noting mentally that in just a few days she had seen just _how much_ in love with Ranma Nabiki was. And vice versa. The two were like newly weds even though they had been dating, and a bit more, according to Nabiki for almost two and a half years. "I thought that was it at first, but it wasn't that, it was Ranma. It's purely physical attraction. In any case, it doesn't make much difference, Ranma is Ranma boy or girl and I love Ranma." -------------------- Ranma knocked on the guest room door and came in when he heard Genma 'Growf'. #You know Ranma, you and Nabiki make a great teaching team from what I saw earlier.# "Thanks, Pops," said Ranma. "Uh, I was sorta wondering... Have... That is do you think that I've been acting... I don't know, less... guy-like at all since getting the curse?" Genma panda stared at his son for a moment, confused. He then looked thoughtful as rubbed his chin with a large paw. Using a marker seemingly pulled from nowhere Genma quickly scribbled on the back of his sign. #Nope. Why do you ask?# Tiny sweat drops suddenly formed on Ranma's brow. "No reason, Pops. Just making sure I didn't get a personality trait with my curse like Nabiki did," Ranma covered quite well. #Oh. I'm glad, son. For a moment you had me worried.# "Why?" Genma wrote furiously with his marker. He reached the end of his sign and pulled a new one out from where ever he got them, to continue writing. He finished the second sign, and held the two up one next to the other. #Well, I thought maybe you had picked up some girlish traits from the curse that you were hiding. And that was your way of checking to see if I noticed. Because after all, didn't I acquire a taste for bamboo because of my curse? In panda form I find myself acting lazy. Also, I find myself strangely compelled to play with beach balls whenever I see them. They're so round and fun and colorful and... Those are very panda like traits and I didn't have them before and don't have them in my human form.# Ranma quickly buried the feeling of fear as it entered his gut and retorted, "Ah, you'd eat anything old man! And you've always been lazy, panda or human!" Genma attempted to swat Ranma with his sign, but missed as Ranma ducked out of the room tongue sticking out of his mouth. Ranma couldn't resist popping his head back in to stick his tongue out at Genma again. Genma expected as much and used expert timing to slam the door... right on Ranma's tongue. -------------------- "Ranma, what's the matter?" asked Soun as his son-in-law descended the stairs a frown and hint of pain on his face. Not to mention a dash of hurt pride underlying it all. "Nuffing, Misser. Hendo," said Ranma. "Do you hink I coul get some ice for my hongue?" "Of course, what happened to it?" "I rather not tawk abou it, Misser. Hendo." "All right, Ranma, but Mr. Tendo is too formal, you're my son-in-law now. Call me Father or Soun." "All wight, Soun," said Ranma as he left for the kitchen. Soun began to think about what could have happened when Genma came down the stairs freshly changed into human form and asked, "Tendo, how about a game of Go?" "I'd love too." -------------------- Ranma overheard them as he came back from the kitchen to wait for Nabiki, and went back to the kitchen. He quickly filled a glass with cold water. Then, being careful not to get himself wet, returned to where Soun and Genma were just beginning to play. *Slam the door on my tongue will you, old man? Let's see how you like this.* Ranma used every stealth technique he knew in approaching Genma. He smiled as his prey soon loomed in front of him. He entered the room and seeing the open shoji leading to the koi pond a thought suddenly struck him and he changed his approach tactic. Crouching low he prepared himself, then launched himself forward and over his fathers head. A quick flip of the wrist upended the glass, sending water onto Genma instantly transforming him into Genma-panda. Ranma landed a few feet away from the pond and quickly jumped again, landing on the roof after a perfect back flip. He giggled as he imagined the scene inside. He then quickly stopped himself. *Was I just giggling?* -------------------- "So, Tendo, would you like to go first?" Asked Genma as the last piece was set up. Soun didn't fall for the Saotome Go technique 243, 'Surprise Opponent by Offering First Move and then Take it for Self as he sits Stunned,' and accepted. Genma silently winced and rethought his strategy. *And I was counting on his skills being rusty after all this time... Perhaps... Yes, that should work nicely.* Soun needed little thought before making his first move. Nor did Genma. Soun's second move however took some thinking. He was staring at the board when a sudden yell turned into growf and Genma turned into a panda. As Genma searched the room with his eyes for the culprit, Soun quickly moved pieces around the board, giving himself a rather large advantage. Genma looked rather freaked out and jittery until he suddenly gave up searching and went back to the game, calm as ever. Again, until he looked back at the board. His eyes widened in shock and his mouth hung loosely. *Tendo Go Technique 836 'Leaping Tiger's Breath!' How is this possible!? The only way is if he got better. Time for the Saotome Ultimate Go Come Back Technique.* #Tendo, how about we go get something to drink?# -------------------- "Ranma?" asked a surprised Akane from her room as he suddenly popped up outside her window. Nabiki, who had been sitting on the bed with Akane, laughed and went to the window and slid it open, letting Ranma slide in. "Thanks," said Ranma. "Don't worry about it," said a bewildered Akane. "We, I mean Nabiki and I were just... having girl talk." "Oh, sorry to interupt," said Ranma as automatic response. He looked down and noticed he still had some cold water left in the glass. He smiled and dumped it over his head. "Could... I mean would it be all right if I... err... joined in?" "I don't mind, do you Akane?" "Well, I guess technically you _are_ a girl. Sure, why not." "Thanks Akane. Now what, were we talking about?" "I was just telling Akane about America." Ranma held back his fear at the mention of the country where he had faced his greatest cahllenge to date. "You get to, _her_, yet?" "I wasn't sure I should tell Akane about, _her_, Ranma. That's your story to tell and I know how you feel about that whole situation..." "What are you talking about?" asked Akane causing Ranma and Nabiki to suddenly notice she was in the room still. Nabiki was speechless not sure what to say, knowing the bad feelings Ranma had over their trip to America in search of the ancient art of Wild West Horseback Fu. Ranma spoke up breaking the silence, "Akane, some... things happened while we were searching for a Master of an obscure style in America. Some things I'd much rather forget. So, why don't you just forget about this conversation okay?" "Sure, Ranma. I understand if you don't want to talk about it," said Akane still a little confused about what was going on. "Thank you for understanding. Now how about some of that, errr... girl talk?" Nabiki and Akane couldn't help but giggle at Ranma's obvious discomfort. It took Ranma a little while but he joined in too deciding for once, to just let go of his inhibitions and worries of manliness to have some fun. Something he found he did often around Nabiki, no matter how much his father tried to rub out the behavior. He liked it. -------------------- "You know, Ranma, I'm glad you're finally trying to get past your curse," said Nabiki as she looked into Ranma's eyes. "I've been thinking about it a lot and I think you're right... It's only a curse if we make them curses," said Ranma from across the pillow. "That's right. Besides, I keep trying to tell you that you're cute as a girl." "But I don't _want_ to be cute as a girl, Nabiki." Nabiki sighed in frustration, "Ranma, would you listen to me. Being a girl is not bad. And enjoying it is NOT wrong. Ranma, you admit it's only a curse if you make it one... Why not make it into a blessing?" "I try! I just can't get over being in a woman's body... It's been a year Nabiki and I still have trouble letting you hug me in that body. That's something that I'm not comfortable with and I can barely stand to do it because of the body. How could you think I could do much more?" "I don't know Ranma. I just wish you could. It would be so much easier on you. And me. Please keep trying for me, okay, Ranma?" "I will Nabiki. I swear I'll never stop trying." "Thank you."