Meeting Later 6

	Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They belong to the wonderful Rumiko Takahashi and her licensees (Viz Communications in North America). This work is strictly for the non-profit enjoyment of fans. No copyright infringement is intended. All spelling is pretending to be Australian. 

	Meeting Later is originally a story by Tom Wrensch, personally one of my favourite authors. Tom has given me the honour of continuing this series but the idea and first chapter are all his work. To view more of his work, which I personally recommend, his web site is http://www.geocities.com/twrensch 

	Last Updated: 15/12/05

*****

	The train doors finally slid open, the other passengers jostling the young woman with short brown hair in their rush to get off. Eventually Nabiki was finally able to step onto the platform herself, quickly stepping aside and straightened her jacket, letting the main crowd of businessmen and students of the burgeoning evening peak pass her by. She had gotten the outfit only a month and a half ago and was very pleased with the fit of the woman's business suit. The blue grey material had strong lines in its formal cut while not hiding her blooming curves. Not that it accentuated or displayed them like some women's power suits did.

	Moving out of the railway station, she mentally reviewed her day, going into the city under the pretext of investigating more on the Daiginkou Corporation by talking to a friend she had there. Truth was, she was there to hopefully be seen by their junior vice president. She was in the running for a college scholarship and following internship with the company. The friend she had was a previously successful intern she had managed to cultivate a friendship with.

	She had gone in for this meeting and, in her opinion, made an excellent impression with the junior vice president when he had come past. And since the final decision on the scholarship was his...

	It was far from over, as the final decision would include the results of the second semester finals at the end of the month, and of course the final interviews, but now she had put herself in his mind, not just another name on a piece of paper. 

	She had actually gotten far more than she had hoped for, she reflected as she patted the folder under her arm. Her friend had been *nice* enough to give her photocopies of the applications of some of her major competition. Just a glance showed her she had a difficult road ahead, but knowing she could top them bolstered her confidence on the matter. The scholarship was good money and the internship was excellent experience and big points on her CV.

	She was only just leaving the station, a block or two from the Saotome household, when she was accosted.

	*Glomp*

	"Hi, you're cute, what's your name?"  Came from the blue orbs staring right into Nabiki's brown eyes from but scant inches away.

	Nabiki froze trying to work out what was going on, her mouth working but no words coming out. To make matters worse, the red haired attachment was a girl, and though she was short, the bust pushing into her own was not what one would call small.

	"Come on cutie, wanna have some fun?" Between the huskiness in the red haired girl's voice, her warm breath on her face, the binding grip pressing their bodies together, and the handful of pedestrians looking at the pair, a scarlet blush bloomed on the face of the woman who worked hard to maintain her icy countenance.

	Just as she began to push out of the python grip the girl had around her, she heard the familiar click of a camera and the beginnings of laughter. The red haired girl quickly unwound herself and tried to stay standing as she swayed with laughter, while now Nabiki could see her sister Akane laughing hard, yet still taking more photos of her with one of those small, throw away one use cameras. She noted the small shop behind Akane at the entrance to the railway station that had supplied the camera for this impromptu ambush.

	"Busted Sis! Busted big time! I've never seen anyone blush that red, especially not you." Akane laughed, but kept taking shots of her sister.

	Getting herself under control, Nabiki levelled a glare at her sister, pointing to the camera. "Give me that camera, Akane." Silently, she was rather impressed that her sister had got her one like this, but she wasn't about to let her know that or let it lie as is.
 
	Teasingly holding up the camera, Akane just shook her head. 

	Nabiki stepped forward and crossed her arms, trying to project her power in the situation. "Akane, either you can give me that camera or I can give Ranma the photo's from last ni..."

	"I'll trade the camera for that film," Akane offered, quick to interrupt her sister.

	With a smirk, Nabiki shook her head. "No chance, those shots are far worse than any of me just blushing, can you imagine how Ranma would react if he saw them? Or Kuno? Tell you what, you give me the camera and I'll bury them in my private collection. Otherwise, I may just have to put them up for sale?"

	The blushing Akane was sorely tempted by the offer, her desire to have something over her sister the only thing holding her back. But just as she was about to relent, the camera was snatched from her grasp.
 
	"I'll give ya the camera for a look at those photos." Ranma-chan cried. She had no clue what these photos were, but the way Akane was blushing at the mention of them, she really wanted to see them.
 
	Akane lunged for the camera, calling the red head an idiot and a jerk, while demanding she to give it back, but the girl danced around her, still offering it to Nabiki.

	Watching the pair tussle, Nabiki wasn't sure who this girl was but she couldn't just let anyone have those shots... well not till Akane and Ranma were engaged anyway.  "Who are you anyway? Are you one of Ranma's other girls? The chef maybe?"

	The two girls stopped fighting over the camera to look at Nabiki. Both blinked twice before looking at each other and burst out laughing again.

	Nabiki finally recognised the blue eyes that were laughing up at her from the shorter of the two girls, "Ranma?!" Her eyes bugged out, looking over the shorter girl. She was amazed at the difference to the boy form she knew, but was now able to see the resemblance there too, to his male form and especially to Aunty. 

	With a nod, Ranma-chan slowed her laughing. Seeing the girl looking her over with wide eyes, she posed, stretching her back to push her chest out and show off her form. 

	Nabiki blushed again that that body had been pressed against her, and was again caught by the camera's shutters in Ranma's hands.

	"Gimme that damn camera!"

*****

	The next morning, Nabiki entered the dining room of the Saotome household surprisingly refreshed and awake after her bath. Not normally a morning person, even she was being caught up in the excitement of the tournament starting today and the vital energy that seemed to permeate the martial arts family household. 

	Looking at the room she saw the table had been set for five, but two were set slightly down from the other three. Kneeling before those two empty bowls were Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo. 

	Raised in a dojo, Nabiki had been around enough challenge fights to know the two were trying to psych each other out, both palpably radiating confidence. This must be for that breakfast battle they talked about yesterday...

	"What's going on you two?"

	Both glanced up at her before looking back at each other.  Ranma began to explain without his gaze leaving Akane's.

	"It's a breakfast battle," he explained. "For the title of Champion of Breakfast for the month. Akane won the last one, but today it's mine."

	"You and what army, Ranma? I haven't begun to show you my full skill at this."

	"Oh, I got ya number this time Akane, you're gonna lose today."

	The one-upmanship was stopped by Nodoka and Kasumi entering with plates of food, "Ranma, watch your grammar please."

	"Yes, Mom." He replied, losing some of his confidence in the staring match.

	As Kasumi and Nodoka began to place out the dishes, a quarter between each of the competitors and the rest at their end of the table. Nabiki eyed the arrogant pair. 

	"So you're only vying for this title, huh? That's it? No side bets involved?"

	Ranma glanced at Nabiki unsure what she meant, "Huh?"

	"You are confident you'll win, aren't you?"

	"I don't lose." His eyes flicked back to challenge Akane's.

	Nabiki grinned at his overconfidence. "Okay, if you win, I'll give you a copy of those photos Akane doesn't want you or anyone else to see..."

	"Nabiki, no! No way!"

	Nabiki looked slyly at her sister's outburst. "Wow, I guess Ranma has you beat then. Good thing you stopped me from betting on you."

	The younger girl fumed for a second, glaring at her sister. "Fine, bet away. I won't lose."

	Grinning, Nabiki looked back at Ranma. "With a reaction like that Ranma, you know she doesn't want you to see those photos. So you up for a bet?"

	"And what do you get if I lose? And that's a big if,” he asked, over a suspicious look.

	Her brown eyes sparkled in amusement, both at Ranma's attitude and at her control over the situation, "Well if it's so unlikely that I'll win, I better ask for something that I won't be too disappointed missing out on, ne?"

	Letting let the silence hang for a moment to build up some suspense, Nabiki let a wide grin break out on her face. "You know, Akane was saying she *really* likes your massages... So how about that then? One massage for each of us Tendo sisters?"

	The martial artists both blushed at their own experiences with Ranma giving Akane a massage, but Kasumi had a brighter blush at just being volunteered for one from the handsome young man. Nabiki ignored her older sister's reaction and watched the other two, her mind alternating between how cute and how sickening the two of them blushing together was.

	Finnaly, Ranma shook himself and agreed, summoning his confidence that he was going to win today. "Deal!" he said loudly and reached for his chopsticks, wrapped carefully in a napkin.

	Akane shook herself out of her blush at his movements and grabbed her on sticks and laying the napkin down again. 

	Ranma’s mother looked between the pair, amused by the antics. Lifting her napkin she held it aloft, "For the title of Champion of Breakfast for the month of November, are the competitors ready?"

	Ranma and Akane both nodded their readiness and watched the napkin from the corner of their eyes as they still focused on each other. Both missed Nabiki's subtle signal to Kasumi because of it. 

	The napkin dropped and the chopsticks danced.

	Back and forth arms flared and blurred. Ranma carefully guarded his mouth and plates while darting attacks into Akane's territory to block her eating, sometimes moving his food to her plates. 

	As the seconds passed he saw Akane's smile in between mouthfuls and realised he was going to lose again. 

	'NO!'

	Reaching into her territory, he duelled viciously with her chopsticks, the last of her food, a pickle, dancing between them as he secretly shovelled half his rice into his mouth with his left hand. He almost missed it as he swallowed, Akane flicked the pickle up and darted her body forward to bite it out of the air. 

	The picture of smugness, Akane sat back and wiped her mouth demurely with her napkin as Ranma looked down at the last of his rice and a fish sausage still on his plates. "How? Dammit, I know you didn't feed me that time!" He cried with disbelief, he knew he had had her this time. 

	"Ranma, language," Nodoka interrupted with a terse tone.

	"Ack, sorry Mom."

	Ranma almost missed it, the low sound of a suppressed belch. He looked in surprise at Kasumi who blushed realising she had been heard. Ranma ignored the blush as he saw Kasumi hadn't even touched her food yet. 

	"Hmmm, thanks for breakfast Akane." Nabiki said confirming his fear. 

	"A-a... Ohhhhh, no way!" he cried in disbelief before hanging his head. Looking up he glared at Akane. "That's it, next month, no one else is allowed in the room." 

	Akane's eyes sparkled as she looked back at him. "But for now...?"

	"All hail Akane Tendo, the champion of breakfast, rah rah." He grumbled out.

	Getting up smiling, Akane moved for the doorway, "Oh, don't worry Ranma. I'm sure some of the boys at the tournament will let you beat them." 

	Watching her retreating form, Ranma’s mouth worked silently, desperately trying to find the right insult before he gave chase to say it to her face. 

	Nabiki, Kasumi, and Nodoka were left sitting at the table. All looked at each other before giggling and beginning to eat their food. As they finished the food off, they were forced to listen to cross-fired insults between two bedrooms up-stairs as Akane and Ranma got into their outfits for the tournament.
 
*****

	The short figure in black stepped silently along the wooden floor to the door, his keen hearing picking up the sounds of the man beyond preparing himself for battle. 

	Sliding open the thin door, he stepped into the huge training hall. He knelt and bowed to the occupant.

	The brown haired man turned to the intruder, and snapped the last knot tight, binding his sheathed blade by his side. "Why does thou disturb me? Canst thou not feel the charge of glorious battle today? It may not be my steel that strikes today, but I must seek out a challenge for my greatness. For though it has been long without my love, the pure white tigress that she is, I must find those to whom I can prove my greatness too."

	When Kuno paused for breath, Sasuke, his ninja manservant, quickly interrupted. It was a gamble he normally wouldn't take because of the threat of bodily harm, but information on his Master's love would override any anger at him. "I'm sorry Master Kuno, but Miss Nabiki Tendo is on the telephone. She wishes to discuss her sister's location."

	"What?!" Tatewaki Kuno's face smiled like a brilliant sunrise as he hurriedly crossed the distance to the diminutive ninja and snatched the cordless phone that was offered to him. Calming himself, he spoke loudly into the phone trying to mask his excitement.

	"Greetings Nabiki Tendo. I'm told you have come to your senses about disclosing the location in which your sister has been no doubt forcibly held away from my embrace."

	The voice on the other end of the phone dripped with sweetness. "Of course Kuno-baby, I'll even personally bring you to see her."

	Kuno flushed with anger at being referred to as 'Kuno-baby' but it vanished at the hope of seeing his love so soon. "Where? Wherefore can I see my destined bride?"

	"Now now, Kuno-baby, I'll call you tonight and tell you where to meet me tomorrow morning. Bye bye."

	"I shall prepare myself to free my love from her confinement, so that she may have her dreams come true in another date, with me!" Kuno ranted before he realised Nabiki had already hung up. He brushed over his anger at her again. The woman constantly vexed him and disrespected his station. Her as a sister in law would most certainly be no end of suffering. The serpent in the Garden of Eden that his marriage would be.  

	"Sasuke!" he cried swinging back to face the Ninja who was only a few feet away. "I do not wish to be disturbed. I must meditate, and prepare for the coming morn. The joyful reunion of my love with my greatness!"

	The short man turned to leave the Dojo, grumblingly thinking of all the preparations he had done to the Master's room, setting up the large screen television, various refreshments, and comfortable lounge, while leaving enough room for a few practice dummies for the master to practice his blade strikes and show himself how he would win the fights he watched. 

	"Sasuke!"

	The diminutive ninja jump, fearing that he may have been caught mumbling by the master and turned to face him. Master Kuno was still standing the door way to the 'Meditation chamber', large pictures of Akane Tendo visible behind him on the walls, while he held a blue/black braided cord in his hand, a bit over a foot long. 

	"Sasuke, make sure you record today's tournament. I should like to watch it next weekend. " 

	"Yes Master Kuno."

	The door slid shut and the ninja turned quickly, moving to leave the room before his master had some other request. Ever since the Wishbringer had made his master as powerful as his ego thought he was, he had found a distinct lack of joy in his job. 

*****

	The back stage area of the athletics hall was abuzz with activity as the first day of the tournament prepared to get under way.

	The heirs to the Schools of Anything Goes Martial Arts stepped up to the near crowd of other competitors. Neither showed fear or concern in front of the others, just a quiet confidence to put the others off. Both knew they could take most of the crowd at once let alone the best of them in one on one matches. Akane blushed, realising some of the men here weren't looking at Ranma but at her, and the way their eyes were looking at her tight crimson silk shirt and black skirt, and the areas between suddenly reminded her what she was wearing and what it did and didn't cover. 

	Ref Eruu Hebner was a short balding man in a referee’s black and white striped shirt. An American Japanese, he was the head official for the tournament, and it was said he came from a large family of referees, judges, and umpires. Standing over the crowd of about a third of the competitors, he was reciting the rules of the tournament before moving onto the instructions for the competitors while not fighting. 

	"When not fighting, all competitors are to make themselves available to the production crew, otherwise you are to remain here in the back stage area or in the change rooms. Any fighting back here and you are out of the tournament, no exceptions. Go and get ready, the producers will be making rounds to get everyone to walk through the arena as part of the opening for the cameras. Any questions?"

	"Have the fights been set yet?" called one voice.

	"Not yet, once you have all registered the computer will randomly allocate your opponents and the order of the fights. Today there will be three fights running at a time, while if you make it to tomorrow, it will be one at a time. Any other questions? Okay, good luck to you all."

	Ranma and Akane stepped away from the main group, looking around the back stage area, noting the many cables running around and the monitors set up currently showing the three rings in the main hall and many banks of bleacher style seating filling with a strong crowd. 

	"What a cute outfit, Akane-san. The Anything Goes School deciding to advertise itself with a uniform now?" came a voice straining with anger.

	The two turned to see Ukyo glaring at them. She was not happy that they were wearing matching outfits of crimson silk shirts and black pants/skirt. The matching stylised stallions on the back really got under her skin, like Akane was claiming Ranma's name.

	Ukyo was wearing her black tights but her normal cooking kimono jacket was now a tight blue shirt, glittering with sequins. Her bandolier was filled with her throwing spatulas, and her huge spatula was slung over her back, a coiling dragon emblazed on one side in red. Her hair was tied back in a tight braid, and her make-up, while light, included war markings on her cheeks in blue. 

	Behind her stood Konatsu and Junko, both looking fairly sheepish at their boss's anger. Konatsu's feminine face was exposed from his black ninja hood, the cloth covering that would conceal the Kunoichi's face hanging limp on his shoulder. Over a fairly gender neutral black ninja outfit, he wore one of Ukyo's deep blue tunics, a bit too large for his frame, and the arms were cut free of the body to make it more of a heavy vest.  Beside him, the black haired Junko wore a tight black body suit with a green sash around her waist. Her black hair was tied up in an intricate loop behind her, and her blue eyes showed her obvious excitement at the day.

	"Hey, Ucchan. That what ya fighting in? Looks good." Ranma smiled as he glanced over Ukyo's outfit and then looked at the other two. "You guys look good too. You guys ready to show 'em how good you are?"

	"Apparently we're all vying for second place. People all seem to think you two have the number one slots already wrapped up." Ukyo snapped, her anger was fading but she wasn't about to forgive Akane, or Nodoka no doubt, for this little costume stunt. 

	Ranma, of course, missed the point. "You giving up already Ucchan? Damn, I figured at least you'd be able to give Akane some challenge?" he taunted. 

	Ukyo flushed, 'Did Ranchan just tell me he thinks I can beat Akane?' When she spoke, her voice showed her boosted confidence, "Oh no, Sugar. I think I'll make it difficult for Akane, I've still got my eye on being with *my* fiance on that ski trip." She eyed the girl in question, "But you better make sure Shampoo or Sakura don't win, no way do I want them alone with Ranchan."

	"I have no intention of Ranma being trapped in the mountains with them either, Ukyo. But I'm not going to miss out on that trip for myself if it comes between the two of us. How about we just do our best and hopefully we'll be facing off for that resort in the final." Akane said with a challenging smile. 

	Before Ukyo could decide to be angry at Akane's words, Junko stepped in with her own. "That's assuming either of you can top me for it, I'm not going to roll over an play dead for either of you two, you know."

	The three girls grinning at each other's bravado for their upcoming matches boosted Ranma's mood immensely. He was always worried about days were more than one of his fiancée’s got together because it would take little to set them off to infighting, and Akane seemed to be a big catalyst for fireworks between them. He didn't really mind the fighting, but it did get tiresome, and he especially hated seeing Ucchan so mad. But if she was going into this with a clear head, she'd have much better chances in the tournament and dealing with Sakura or Shampoo.  

	As if summoned by thinking her name, the group turned as Sakura's melodic voice interrupted them. "It is so wonderful that you are all so ready and eager for the tournament. Allow me to wish you all the very best of luck, and everyone remember to have fun." She was wearing the same tight leather bodice and skirt fighting outfit in the black and gold corporate colours that she wore when advertising her father's Sushi restaurant chain on TV. She had her hair done up in two long golden plats running down her back, and her ever tanned skin was gleaming with some kind of special make-up treatment.

	Ukyo, Akane, and Junko all returned the same sweet as saccharine smile Sakura was giving them. "And the same to you Sakura, let us all do our best and no hard feelings afterwards, ne?" Ukyo replied with Junko and Akane nodding along.

	Konatsu and Ranma just tried to stay invisible and out of the way as Sakura glared over her forced smile at the girls. Just as the silence became oppressive, Sakura changed tacts. Stepping over to Ranma she grabbed onto his arm, pulling it against her chest. "Ranma dear, it's been so long since our last chat. And alas, we haven't the time to now either."

	Turning, she gleefully absorbed the glares of her rival Ukyo and the tart Akane, and let it show in her smile. "Come girls, we have to line up to march through the arena as the opening to the tourney. As the highest-ranking competitors returning from last year, Ranma and I will be at the head of the line."

	She looked at Akane, her smile like that of a shark. "Akane dear, since you are *such* a favourite today, the producers thought it would be best if you were right behind me in the second place of the women's column. Is that all right with you?"

	Akane absorbed that with a bit of concern, not helped by Ranma and the others exchanging worried glances. Sakura must think that Akane would be an easy victory. If so, she'd better think again... "That's fine with me, Sakura. It's a wonderful opportunity for the Anything Goes School to be shown off like that." She replied with a bright smile. 

	Sakura's smile fell a little but she covered quickly by dragging at Ranma's arm to keep the group moving over to the forming lines of competitors. 

*****

	Leading the elder Tendo girls, Nodoka made her way through the entering throng, gracefully stepping through and down to the ground floor of the hall. The front row seats where much closer to the action here and had been given freely to many of the top competitors for their family and friends. 

	Nodoka looked around as she sat down. The three six sided rings were set up in a triangle formation, with a few meters to spare between them and sturdy barricades that marked the beginning of the seating areas closest to the rings. Several monitors had been hung from the ceiling and walls so it was easy to see all the action on any of the rings. The judges had several tables arranged inside the area, facing the rings, and a large ramp ran down from a back stage area, the only access to the rings without climbing a barricade. She knew that today they would run up to three matches at a time, but only one at a time for the live telecast competition of the finalists starting tomorrow.

	"This is nice enough, though I think we might be a bit too close. Some of last year's competitors were thrown quite far from the ring at times... Though my son threw one over to hit that far wall so I guess this is as safe as any."

	Both Nabiki and Kasumi nodded with the woman, a little nervous at the prospect, but not enough to dampen their enthusiasm for seeing their sister in this competition. 

	"I wonder how Akane will do? She's very good but she hasn't been in a competition in such a long time, and none of those where anywhere near this scale." Kasumi asked. 

	Nabiki spoke while looking up towards the top of the ramp the competitors would enter back stage from. "I asked Ranma and he thinks she'll make the finals tomorrow, but he's more nervous about her being taken out by dirty tricks. From what I've heard, many people are betting in her favour." 

	"She's been training a lot with my son, she'll give all the girls very stiff competition." 

	"In these fights or in the other 'competition'?" Nabiki asked the older woman in a teasing tone, referring to the future engagement. Before Nodoka could reply she saw what she was looking for. "Hey Sis, who's that at the top of the ramp?"

	Kasumi and Nodoka looked up at the top of the ramp, just outside the curtains blocked off the back stage, where a tall man with dark hair stood in white shirt and pants, a set of glasses on his relatively young looking face, waving stiffly down at her. EMT was printed in bold letters on white armbands he wore. 

	Both Nabiki and Nodoka smiled and immediately looked towards Kasumi, both interested to see her reaction to seeing Doctor Tofu Ono again after so many months. 

	Kasumi had already stood and was waving back to the man, her eyes bright. She was blushing slightly at acting like this, but Sena's words of him really wanting to see her again, and her own desire to see him, had her very excited. She was starting to believe there maybe hope for a future with the good Doctor...

*****

	"You are so hopeless, big brother." Sena said as she struggled with Tofu's weight. 

	She was hiding herself as best as possible in the curtain while holding her brother up by his neck with one hand, the other waving his arm towards where she knew Kasumi, her sister, and Aunty Saotome were sitting.  

	"'Ready for this' my butt, brother." She complained to no one in particular. After working with him for the last few weeks, then for hours today, of course he faints at the first sight of the woman he was supposedly in love with. 

	Figuring that keeping on waving was getting inane, and her arms where really burning from the stress, she nodded his head and retreated back into the back stage area. Ignoring the looks from some of the stagehands, cameramen, and competitors, she dropped him like a sack, and broke a smelling salt packet, waving it under his nose. 

	Tofu flinched from the smell, but then his eyes focused out again, filled with the vision of Kasumi out there. 

	"Is that embarrassment going to happen every time, Brother? If so, this isn't going to work."

	Tofu flinched again, this time at the grilling from his little sister. "Uh... was it bad?"

	Sena glared at him. "Almost, but you already owe me too much over this though, so we'll let this one pass. Come on, get up and dust yourself off. We are here to work, remember? But you better get yourself ready brother, because you *are* asking Kasumi out today!"

	*Gulp*

*****

	The lights dimmed and the nearly full auditorium quietened for the start of the tournament. A fanfare of music, heavy on the guitar, was accompanied by multiple pyrotechnics and swaying spot lights, the effects impressing the crowd and being taped for the television audience.  Two men sat in the centre of referees' tables, announcing for the televised event.

	"Hello folks, I'm Jimmu Rassu, and welcome to the second annual Juban Open Martial Arts Tournament, with me is Juri 'The Shogun' Laluru."

	"Thanks Jimmu. Wow, what an event this is turning out to be, and all of it brought to us by 'Shishimi Takeout, fighting the biggest hungers Japan wide'. And here we go, the sixty four competitors are coming out."

	The spotlights centred on the top of the ramp, where the two columns of competitors made there way down to the ring floor. 

	"There at the front, we can see highest ranking champions of last year, Ranma Saotome, who came first, accompanied by his fiancée and last years second place winner for the woman's division, Ms Sakura Shishimi. The winner of last years women's title, Ranma's own sister Ranko Saotome, is apparently not returning to defend her title."

	"That's right Jimmu, and what a shame, I know I was among many hopeful to see how much that young girl had grown since then, though there are certainly a lot of beautiful young women in this years event."

	"I know a lot of the girls today are breathing a sigh of relief at not having to compete against Miss Saotome, but the Anything Goes Martial Arts School has sent in Miss Akane Tendo, there behind Miss Shishimi, and rumours are flying about her own victories over the male champion Ranma Saotome, and so we can expect to see a lot from that young woman over the next two days." 

	"With that outfit she's showing off a fair bit right now, I'm not sure we can televise it if she shows off any more." Juri's voice rose enthusiastically at the prospect. 

	The two quickly degenerated into talking about the other competitors, or mainly the girl’s outfits from Juri, as the camera's focused on each of them, the two lines of competitors weaving around the rings before heading back up the ramp. 

*****

	Nabiki watched in amusement as Nodoka smiled brightly, returning her son’s wave, the smile stiffening as Sakura waved, relaxing and brightening for Akane, then stiff again for Ukyo and Shampoo, relaxing again for other competitors like Konatsu and Junko. 

	At the back of the line, the male competitor was a heavy built man, wearing a black cowl to hide his face. He obviously focused on Nodoka for a moment but didn't move to wave or the like. 

	"Do you know that one, Aunty? The one in black?" Nabiki asked, a bit worried about that one. 

	Nodoka shook her head. "No, I don't think so..." Her voice trailed off as the boy began to walk the wrong way around the rings, a cord running from his wrist to the hand of the boy in front of him went taunt, tugging him on behind the line. "Oh, sorry, I do know that boy." 

	Both Nabiki and Kasumi heard the tightness in Auntie's voice as she glared at the boy's back. 

	"That's one of Ranma's childhood friends, Ryoga Hibiki. Though the boy has done all he could to keep them from being friends again."

	The sisters could tell that there was a lot more story there, but neither wanted to anger the woman by digging. "So what's with his 'man in black' routine?" Nabiki finally asked. 

	"He's probably hiding from Sakura and Ukyo. Neither girl has forgiven him, not that I think they should mind you."

	"Oh, what did he do to them?" Kasumi asked.

	"Well, with Sakura, he was fighting with Ranma and challenged my son about his manliness, especially regarding treating women right. My son finds anything about his manliness a touchy subject, which is understandable with his curse, and so accepted. Sakura had overheard the challenge and quickly twisted it to her favour. She set this challenge, as each boy would go on a date with her, a proper romantic date, and she would judge the manliest. She went on this date with Ryoga first, hoping to be able to force Ranma on certain issues by claiming Ryoga at least tried for such things."

	She noted Kasumi's blush and Nabiki's nod before continuing. "But Ryoga has an unnaturally bad sense for directions, and failed to show up for two whole days, then when they finally began the date, he got her lost in the wilderness for another two days. So intent was Sakura on getting her way with Ranma, when Ryoga finally managed to lead her back to civilisation, she dragged him to her home so she could clean up and continue the date from the 'safety' of her home. But unfortunately for Sakura, Ryoga got lost again in her house, this time ending up in the furo as she was using it. He claims it was an accident, but I'm only inclined to believe him because I doubt he could find the bathroom to peep on her if he actually wanted too."

	"Oh my," Kasumi murmured at the thought.

	Nodoka nodded, her eyes hard, "And lets just say the situation with Ukyo is one that he is lucky to have survived."

	Kasumi's eyes widened in surprise, wondering how much worse he could have been. She quickly let her imaginings go, her eyes were drawn to the large electronic signboard that would be showing the results of fights and the competitors involved. Akane Tendo was listed for the next fight in ring number three. "Oh look, Akane is up in one of the first fights. Nabiki, Akane's opponent, doesn't that name sound familiar?"

	"It should be, remember what happened with Akane's first kiss?"

*****

	Akane had little time once she got back stage, a headset wearing stage hand grabbing her arm and directing her over behind two guys, queued over to one side of the curtained off ramp. "You're the first for ring three, we're just trying to find your opponent." 

	Across the other side of the ramp top, still on this side of the curtain, stood another boy, and she quickly noted the glares passing between him and the boy in front of her. 'They must be in ring two.' 

	She glanced back into the main area of back stage and saw Ranma and several of the others. Ranma gave her a 'thumbs up' from there. 

	Smiling, she waved back, before turning back and focusing herself for what was ahead. It unnerved her that looking at or even thinking about Ranma was disrupting her focus more and more since she met him. Shaking her head, she calmed herself down. If she was going out in front of the crowd to show off her fighting skills, she needed to be centred. No way was she going to disgrace her school by losing on the first round. 

	The man in the head phones came rushing back dragging another boy over to the other side. He yelled into the headset microphone as he did, "I don't care if she flew away from you, find her, or lose your job."

	His attention turned back to the competitors assembled here, "All right, you lot are up first, when I tap you on shoulder head out into the ramp, stop at the top and wave to the crowd, then proceed down the ramp to your ring. Then wait for the ref to start you, if you trip or fall, just keep going, the show must go on. Any questions?"

	One of the boys raised his hand but a heavy guitar rift began and the producer looked towards the curtain ignoring him. "Okay GO!"

	Akane saw his panicked face before he passed through the curtain, and quickly stilled her own shaking at this. She had to get a handle on herself. 

	A few moments later a different riff began to play, slightly lighter in feeling, and the other competitor for ring one was sent through. All too soon, all the boys had been sent through, though her opposition hadn't shown up yet. The man in charge of sending them out was all but screaming into his mike when he suddenly brightened. "Well tell her to put it back and get out here or she's out of the competition!" he cried. He reached over and pushed Akane towards the curtain. 

	Akane wasn't really sure what to expect as she stepped through the curtain, the spotlights where almost a given but she almost faltered as the speakers blared a dark, ominous music, very different and distinct compared with the minor variations of the tournament music.

	It suddenly occurred to her that it was the type and feel of the music used for villains in movies. 'Sakura's making me out to be the villain!' she thought suddenly, wondering how all these people would take it. 

	'... the show must go on...'

	The words came back to her, and she grinned darkly, standing tall and waving to the crowd as she moved down the ramp. 'Okay Sakura, you want a villain, I'll give you one!'

*****

	"Miss Akane Tendo, age eighteen and currently a student of Bokuto High School. The heir to the Tendo School of Anything Goes Martial Arts, she only recently came to the Juban ward of Tokyo, and is listed here to enjoy drama and sports." Jimmu said, describing Akane as she walked down the ramp. 

	"And the best part is Jimmu, she's single! Woohoo!"

	"I think you're a little to old for her Shogun," Jimmu said in a near tired voice. 

	A new and lighter version of the generic music began to play and at the top of the ramp a beautiful blonde girl appeared, her short height overlooked by the roller blades she wore. She wore a body suit of gold, trimmed in pink, as she spun around posing like a model for the crowd and cameras. As she turned around the crowd to could how her back was completely exposed, getting a rise in cheers from many of the males in the audience. 

	"And Miss Tendo's opponent in round one is Miss Azusa Shiratori, former member of the famous Golden Pair of Martial Arts Ice Skating, this is Miss Shiratori's first year in the Juban Tournament."

	"But Jimmu, I have it on good authority that it isn't her first fight with Akane Tendo." 

	"What's that Shogun?"

	"Apparently these two faced off over a year ago on the ice in pairs Martial Arts Ice Skating. Akane Tendo and her partner were declared the winner, but it's said there is doubts on who would win out of these two, because it was Mikado Sanzenin, the other half of the Golden Pair, who took out his partner Azusa. That fight was rumoured to be the event that broke the Golden Pair up, with Mikado moving on with a new skating partner in the very successful team of 'Black Gold'. This is certainly shaping up to be the fight to watch straight off the mark!"

*****

	Akane resisted the urge to rub her eyes, surprised at seeing Azusa here. The two of them had failed to get on from the first moment they met, and it wasn't like she'd forget what had happened the last time they had fought, over a year ago.

	She had been out shopping with her sisters when she had first met Azusa, trying to take a toy from a child. The sight of the little boy holding desperately onto the stuffed rabbit, as the girl cried out about it being 'Charlotte', had really angered her and she immediately forced her way in to break them up. 

	Azusa had been screaming at her about stealing her 'Charlotte' while she kept trying to get around her to the little boy and his mother. Suddenly this handsome boy, Mikado Sanzenin, had shown up and calmed Azusa down. Akane had turned to see if the little boy was okay, and when she turned back, Mikado hugged her and tried to kiss her. Akane had just reacted and kneed the boy in the crotch. 

	Then suddenly Kuno had shown up and broke in, acting like he was her boyfriend and challenging Mikado to a fight. It degenerated from there becoming a pairs martial arts ice skating fight. Kuno had of course used it as an excuse to hang around her more to 'train', though dodging his hands while on the ice had given her excellent balance on the skates. 

	It wasn't till the fight had started that she found out Kuno and Mikado had made a bet that the winner would kiss her on the lips. It certainly didn't help her side when she punched Kuno for it. The fight had actually lasted a while before Akane had nearly taken a fall and Mikado caught her. She was caught off this time as he claimed the prize early. It was her first true kiss. 

	Kuno had gone ballistic, skating like a mad man and hacking away with his bokken. He had even started carving up chunks of the ice rink, before Mikado locked him in his dreaded Dance of Death Technique. Akane had been distracted from beating Mikado herself by Azusa when the dance had started, and in a move she didn't regret she had managed to grab the annoying smaller girl, flinging her into the men, causing Mikado to knock his partner out as well as hers. The moment Mikado had came out of the dance, letting Azusa and Kuno slump to the floor, she had pummelled him into unconsciousness, clinching the victory.  And of course, Mikado hadn't been willing to leave it at that afterwards...

	Focusing back on the now, Akane frowned as her opponent skated down the ramp and flipped into the ring with accomplished ease. Her eyes flowed over that blonde girl as she skated around her in the ring like a circling shark. Azusa had certainly matured over the last year, but by the look of that outfit she was still a ditz.

	"Azusa has been waiting for a long time to get back at you for what you did," the blond girl said, cute despite the angry glare at Akane. 

	Akane looked right back into her eyes coldly. "You'd better have gotten a lot better if you want any revenge, Azusa. You didn't even make me break a sweat back on the ice."

	Both girls glanced towards Ref Hebner standing in the bank of judge's tables in the middle. They acknowledge when he called out if they were ready, Akane taking a ready stance, and waited for his whistle. 

	The shrill sound echoed around the hall and all three fights commenced. 

	Azusa shot to the right, quickly building speed around the edge of the ring and spoiling Akane's stance as she turned to watch her. It took six revolutions around Akane before Azusa made her move. 

	The widening of the blonde girl's grin was all the warning Akane had as the girl charged her, but it was enough to duck under a spinning heel kick and block two follow up punches before the skater moved on and bounced off the ropes to go back into her circling pattern. This marked the same pattern of the first few engagements between the pair.  

	As Azusa came in again, Akane lashed out with quick punches to her chest, but caught only empty air as Azusa reversed momentum, swinging around and down very low, a knifing kick hooking behind Akane's knees, dropping her on her back. A cheer rose from the crowd. 

	Azusa scooted across into the ropes, springing back fiercely and jumping to double kick the downed girl before Akane could rise, but was caught as Akane grabbed her feet and flicked the shorter girl up. 

	Rolling to her feet, Akane gulped air trying to regain her breath as she saw her flick had sent the blonde girl into the ropes, but she rebounded to the side and again circled her in the ring, gaining speed. 

	Akane set herself for the next charge from the girl, and didn't have to wait long before she rolled within arms reach again. Her attack quickly became defence as Azusa cried out "Shiryou no Bon Odori!" The girl shifted all her speed into a spin, lashing out with lightning quick kicks, knees, elbows, and punches. It wasn't quite the same or as powerful as Mikado's true 'Dance of Death' but Akane quickly back peddled while blocking to prevent from being drawn into the spinning move. 

	Azusa grinned when she failed to draw Akane in, shifting all the momentum back from the spin she shot out of the dance, fist first at Akane. "Jinsoku na uchi!" 

	Many would have laughed at Azusa's 'Speedy Punch', but for the resounding *Crack!* as it connected with Akane's jaw quickly silenced them. The dark haired girl was flung back against a ring juncture, but the ropes kept her inside the ring. 

	Akane's head swam and she shook it violently trying to clear the ringing, before forced to leap away from another attack. She rolled again to her feet and focused on the girl, rubbing her jaw. That had hurt! 

	"That was pretty fast Azusa, but how about I show you some speed!" she cried, charging the blonde while cocking her arm back.

*****

	The shrill sound echoed around the hall and all three fights commenced. 

	Back stage, Ranma was intently watching only one of the monitors in various banks around the area. He had been quite surprised by the announcer talking about Akane and this Azusa chick having fought before. He'd have to ask Akane about it later. He watched intently as the skater circled Akane before charging her.

	"I'd expect you'd be watching your division for your opponents Son-in-law, or will 'Ranko' be making an appearance today?" 

	Ranma glanced to the side to look at the withered old crone balancing on a stick. His reply was cut off by a chuckle. The old woman was wearing what amounted to a tiny nurse’s outfit with an EMT armband on. 

	"What's with the outfit old ghoul? You trying to sneak in undercover?" He ducked a half-hearted swing of her stick. 

	"Show some respect, Son in law. Young Tofu wanted some extra expertise on hand since he's in charge of the EMTs today." She waved at the monitor. "This the young husband stealer staying with you?" She grinned as he bristled. 

	"Akane ain't no husband stealer, and I ain't no husband to be stolen." He said hotly, but quickly calmed as people looked over at them. "She's just my student and I want to see how she's doin'."

	Cologne didn't look at him but watched the monitor to compare this girl's and Ranma's styles. The two watched as Azusa tried the 'Dance of death' and then followed up with the 'Turbo punch'.  "Your student could use some more lessons, if that's all she's got." She said with a toothy grin.

	Ranma's focus was on the fight, willing her back to her feet. He relaxed some as she got up and grinned back at Cologne. "Not too many more, she's a fast learner." 

	The old woman eyed the boy but her attention shot back to the monitor with Akane's attack.

	"KACHUU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN!"

	The pair watched as Akane's hand blurred with speed, pummelling the blonde girl back and down. 

	Cologne turned and glared at Ranma, she obviously wasn't happy about this, and that wasn't helped by the smug grin on Ranma's face. 

	A second later, Ranma's face cracked up with laughter. "I knew I had to see your face when she brought that out. Caught me right off guard when she used it on me in sparring, I still got some of the bruises." He idly gestured down at the left side of his chest as the two watched Akane pin and hold the girl down while the judges outside counted her out for the first fall. 

	"Apparently the old letch likes Akane and has been training her. I know he was bugging Pops for techniques a while back, but I thought he was teaching them to Ryoga to beat me up. I figure Pops told him how you trained me, and then taught her."

	Cologne nodded for a moment then looked at the girl on the monitor, as Akane got ready for another round with the skater. "So this is Happi's student."

	"Huh? Did the old perv tell you 'bout her?"

	"Happi once told me he had a student who could take my Shampoo 'without breaking a sweat'. I always figured it was some of his usual bluster, but now... Be careful you don't show her your full strength Ranma. I doubt Happi would only train her to beat my great grand daughter."

	"I haven't even shown *you* my best, old ghoul."

	Cologne didn't need to swing at him for his cocky reply. She could tell by his tone he wasn't brushing off her warning without thought. She eyed him carefully, imagining she could hear the cogs working in his head.

	Ranma eyed the screen as Akane pressed against her opponent, not letting the blonde get away to gather any speed. He very much doubted Akane was out to defeat him... but he certainly wouldn't put it past the old letch to twist anything he could to use against him.

*****

	Opening the small fridge in the girls change rooms, Sena picked out an icepack. Wrapping the pack in a cloth towel, she placed it in Akane's hand, re-positioning her arm to hold it against her jaw. 

	"I'm surprised she didn't break your jaw Akane, we heard that connect all the way out here. It's going to bruise still, but a bit of make-up should cover it up."

	Akane's eyes flicked from the monitor to Sena, as she gave a shrug. "I've had worse. If I can't take it, I shouldn't be here. In a way, this is good, with the way Ranma goes easy on me in sparing, I was beginning to go soft again."

	"That's not surprising. The few times I've heard of Ranma having to fight a girl, things have gotten worse for him for it. Such as with Shampoo and her tribal laws." 

	"Maybe..." 

	"In a way it's kind of cute." Sena's voice dropped to a conspiratory whisper. "Maybe not as cute as that tush of his..."

	Sena smiled as the girl giggled, her face reddening slightly. The smile grew as Akane's eyes locked back to on monitor, where Ranma fought one of the instructors from a local dojo. 'Looks like Aunty Nodoka had these too coming together nicely, if only her brother and Kasumi would be so easy.' Her smile faded as Akane frowned. 

	"What is it?"

	"Huh? Oh, nothing. Just Ranma. He's leading the fight but not going for the win, he's making the other guy look good."

	"Is there something wrong with that?"

	"Nothing wrong... but it's like's he showing off. It's wasting time and making the school not look as strong. It's like when we're sparring and he holds back. He's not respecting us."

	Sena looked at the screen. "I'm sure he's not meaning it as disrespect. It's just Ranma's way, like with the not hitting girls with full strength. Maybe you should talk to him about it later. Ask him why he does it?"

	The shorter girl nodded slowly, the ice bag still held against her face.

	"Actually Akane, while I've got you here, can I ask a favour?"

	“Sure," she replied, turning from the screen.

	"Do you think you can go give my brother some support, he's working himself up over asking Kasumi out today. He's very pathetic like that."

	"Sure I will. Thought it's not like she's going to say no to him." Akane returned with a grin.

	"Thanks Akane." she replied, patting the younger woman on the shoulder. "Any other aches and pains? I better make it look like I'm working."

	"No, that was it. Thanks for this."

	Akane watched the monitor as Sena left, Ranma rolled up his opponent to pin him for the first fall. 

	"How face Husband Thief? You not claim too hurt to fight? You no run away?"

	Akane turned slowly towards the annoying Chinese voice. 

	"I'll be here till the finals Shampoo, you can bet on it." 

	"Shampoo hope meet Akane in final fight. TV men want Shampoo there. Shampoo very popular. Much more popular than flat-chested purple face girl." 

	Akane was up like a shot, in Shampoo's face, though she was still standing a little shorter than the Amazon. The gasp from one of the other girls in the locker room made her remember the rule about no fighting just in time. She took a deep breath as she got herself to calm down. A dark grin spread over her face, made all the more evil by the growing bruise on her jaw. 

	"Well, while the producers sell tapes of you fighting in next to nothing," she gestured idly with her hand at Shampoo's 'outfit', "I'll have to consol myself with a nice long massage from your Airen."

	Shampoo's face showed how her mood was plummeting. 

	"Airen no give husband thief no more massages. Airen massages for Shampoo only!" 

	"Unfortunately, 'Airen' lost a challenge, and now he *owes* me a massage. It's a matter of honour. But I'll tell you what, I won't have it after the fights tomorrow...  I'll save it for this ski trip I'm winning tomorrow. Imagine it, a day of skiing, a soak in the hot springs, and then a nice, *long*, massage before bed. Now that is a prize worth fighting for, ne?"

	Shampoo was almost shaking with fury now. "Husband thief warned, no touch Airen. Airen belong to Shampoo!"

	"The hell he does bimbo. I have more rights to Ranchan than you'll ever have." 

	The pair turned towards Ukyo as she stormed into the change room, but before either could comment, the giant spatula was out and pointed at Akane. "And exactly how does Ranma owe you a massage?!"

	"Hey, it's not like it was my idea. Ranma bet with my sister that he could beat me in a challenge. His mistake."

	Ukyo seemed to subdue slightly, but was still brandishing her weapon.  "And why exactly did your sister bet to win a massage for you?"

	"Well, not just for me, for all the Tendo sisters." 

	Ukyo and Shampoo began to fume again. "And how many damned sisters do you have?!" Ukyo shouted. 

	"Only two!" 

	"Three too many," Shampoo spat. "Shampoo talk with Mother-in-Law, no massage!"

	Akane suppressed a laugh. "Like she's gonna change things for you."

	"Then Shampoo challenge, Shampoo beat Akane, Shampoo get massage."

	Akane eyed the Amazon. "And what do I get when I win?"

	"Ha! Shampoo no lose!"

	Akane grinned darkly, recalling what Ranma had said about that Chinese guy with the nice hair. Many years with Nabiki for a sister had imprinted on her to see an opportunity and to take it. "Then if you lose, you have to go on a date with that Mousse guy!"

	"Excuse me!" Ukyo cried, "The only person who should be getting a massage is Ranchan's true fiance, me!"

	"Fine, Shampoo beat you both and have nice massage from Airen, then both you date stupid duck boy."

	Akane looked confused at the term 'duck boy' but wasn't about to back down. "Deal." 

	Her brow creased with a mix of anger and uncertainty, Ukyo looked between the two girls. "Fine, but..."

	"Wait!" Sakura was almost out of breath as she rushed into the girls change room. She'd make sure whoever had parked her private trailer so far from the building would pay dearly for it. If one of her boys hadn't been listening in on her rivals she might have not been able to stop this. She was the only one who deserved Ranma's warm hands on her body...  "I'm sorry ladies, but I cannot allow my fiancé to..."

	"Shut up Sakura!"     "Shhh Stupid Girl!"     "Go away Sakura!"

	Sakura's face showed her shock at the girls united rebuttal but the right words failed to come out of her mouth as the three girls stormed past her and out of the change room. 

*****

	"Are you sure about this, Sensei?"

	Desaku Misu's voice showed her nervousness as she looked for support from the master of the Asiko Dojo, as she stood on the opposite side of the door way to a back room, keeping a lookout for witnesses. If things went right there would be little sound to attract attention. 

	The grey haired master, Shinji Asiko, grunted. "Korai might be my number one student, but he lacks the confidence in himself to beat the Chinese boy. The blind foreigner should not even be considered a local, the producers only want him because he is a tough fighter. Korai has chosen this as the best way to eliminate his opponent."

	"But if he is caught, it will reflect on the Dojo. Any fighting back here or taking advantage of an opponents Jusenkyo curse will disqualify Korai and dishon..."

	Desaku's voice failed as she heard a splash of water followed by the quacking. The two waited as the duck squawked suddenly, but several sudden thumps against the wall urged them both to look inside the doorway. 

	A loud quacking from the duck standing in the doorway between them got both their attention, but before they could react the bird's wings spread, displaying an array of sharp knives.

	The sight was more than intimidating enough to hold the two off and Mousse's continued loud quacking attracted the attention of some of the other competitors and officials including Ranma. 

	"Hey Mousse, what's up? Have an accident?" The pigtailed boy asked as he jogged closer to the situation. He doubted it was that with the threatening pose the duck had had, the wings going down, the blades sliding between the feathers, the duck apparently calmed by the arrival of friends.

	Ranma glanced at Master Asiko and his student for a moment before striding between them into the back room. The Asiko Dojo would have considered the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts its greatest enemy, had any of its members actually been even close to Ranma or Genma's league. After his arrival in Juban, Ranma had clashed several times with members of the Asiko Dojo, mainly with the, at the time, top student, Jiro Ohata. Master Asiko wasn't to likely to forgive Ranma for challenging and defeating his top students on multiple occasions, especially after Ohata and several other of his best students renounced the art. 

	Stepping through the doorway into the back room, he ignored the pile of Mousses robes, pants, and weapons left in a sodden pile on the floor, his eyes locking with amusement on the pale faced form of one of Asiko's students. His gi was cut open in a dozen places, yet still strong enough to hold his weight on the eight perfect knife shots pinning him to the wall. A metal bucket had rolled into the corner, a little water still left inside, the weapon of the failed surprise attack. 

	"Nice shots Mousse. You know, if ya had just done this to Shampoo before, you could 'ave been her Airen instead of me." He joked down at the duck who quacked back at him angrily. 

	He called to one of the stagehands as he picked up Mousse's damp and weapon filled robes, careful not to get any drops on himself, and began to exit with the duck waddling behind him.

	From the doorway he saw Master Asiko talking with one of the producers in hushed tones, the men nodding together in agreement.

	Breaking off from his chat with Asiko, the producer pulled up a handheld radio. "The situation is under control here. Just a little accident with the plumbing. Another issue, due to inappropriate behaviour, the Asiko Dojo is pulling its student Korai Bosabosa out of the tournament. Make the announcement and give his opponent, Mouse, the bye."

	A muffled reply came back. 

	"Yes the Chinese boy, I don't care how you say his name."

	Ranma eyed Asiko coldly. It was all about saving face to the Dojo Master. Pulling his student out before he could be kicked out for fighting back stage and using an opponents curse against them would have dishonoured the Asiko Dojo.

	Asiko eyed him back, before turning and walking away. 

	Shaking his head in disgust, Ranma did the same, hoping he'd get at least one of Asiko's students in a fight. 

*****

	"And there she goes, Sakura's lightning style of chopsticks has secured an easy victory, her first for this tournament." Jimmu said into his mike over the cheering crowd. 

	Jiru's voice reflected as much enthusiasm as the crowd cheer, "Who would have thought such a beautiful young woman would have such talent with the martial arts? She can use chopsticks to grab someone's arm and just flip them from the ring. I mean, who else could do that? And she's so graceful. Boy, that Ranma Saotome is one lucky lucky young man to be engaged to a girl like Sakura."

	Sakura finally finished bowing to her fans in the stands, before gracefully flipping down to the floor and starting up the ramp. Her fight was the last of the first round, halving the competition to sixteen competitors in each division. She was just reaching the top of the ramp, when the dark music she had arranged for Akane Tendo began to blare out for the first competitor of the second round. 

	"And there we have it people, the two favourite girls for this whole tournament, Sakura Shishimi and Akane Tendo. And though you can see on the monitor they're smiles of support for each other, their eyes show how much both wanted to be the victor. If these two do make it to the final, it will be one hellacious battle for the final prize."

	"That's right Jimmu. And if that wasn't bad enough, the first prize is a ski trip up at the beautiful Koibito no Tansai Ski Lodge and Hot Springs, on Mitsupurezentou Mountain. No one in their right mind would want to miss out on that! But the same prize is for the male division, and with Ranma Saotome by far and away the favourite for the male division, both these girls, his Fiancée against his Student, are going to give their all for the victory and the prize."

	The girls finally broke off their gazes and continued, Sakura out the back while Akane came down to the ring. The next music blared over the speakers was a simple guitar instrumental, but then worked in with an odd shifting tone, reminiscent of a police siren, as an attractive short haired brunet stepped through the curtain wearing a blue dyed martial arts gi. 

	"And Akane's opponent is Officer Natsumi Tsujimoto of the Tokyo Police force, Bokuto precinct. Miss Tsujimoto only came to the Bokuto precinct in the last few months, but is considered a rising star of the police force, as well as the Bokuto Station's best female jujitsu practitioner."

	Shogun's voice was as cheerful as that. "Well of course she is doing well for the community Jimmu, what kind of criminal could resist her? If someone as beautiful as that asked me to get in the back of her car, I wouldn't care that it was a police car!"

	"You better watch what you say there Shogun. I'm not driving you home tonight if your cars been impounded."

*****

	Akane's shoulders slumped a bit at having to fight a police officer. It felt wrong for starters, and she had a bad feeling this could come back to haunt her. She recalled Nabiki once talking about her dealings with the law. 'Don't cross the police unless you have to.'

	The brown eyed brunette climbed through the ropes into the ring and smiled to the shorter girl, stepping lightly towards the centre of the ring and bowing to her. 

	Akane returned the bow, her eyes appraising her opponent for strengths and weakness. The woman had more power than her frame showed, but that wasn't unusual for many of the women in this tournament. 

	The two had to wait for several minutes while the fighters for the other two rings filed down and in, before the whistle shrilled and the fights commenced.

	The two traded basic blows for several moments, slowly circling each other as they went. Moving in, Natsumi tried for a grab on the other girl's wrist, but it vanished quickly as Akane swung a swift spinning heel kick that glanced the brunet's side, strong enough to force her back.

	Natsumi frowned. This girl was good. 

	Akane grinned. She had this woman's measure. 

	But as she moved in, Akane's foot came down on the mat and suddenly her momentum vanished. Any tension and support under her heel felt like it had vanished, and though it had only dropped an inch, it threw her clean off for several moments. Which was more than enough time for her opponent. 

	Before she knew it Akane was knocked down, and held seated to the floor, her wrists gripped, pulling her arms straight out and back by her opponent behind her.

	Her body screaming with pain, Akane's feet slid on the mat trying to find purchase as she was held stretched out with a knee in her back. She recalled Ranma using this lock on her in sparing, but he hadn't stretched it this much.

	Suppressing the pain, she tried to force her arms forward from the lock, knowing to fail was to have to tap out. And with her arms out to the sides, that would be hard. 

*****

	Ranma watched back stage as Akane and Natsumi fought, hoping that Akane wouldn't embarrass the older woman. He had met Officer Tsujimoto and her partner many months before, when she had started investigating the identity of his 'sister', Ranko Saotome. He had spent nearly a month with her snooping around, often having to swap identities because he didn't want his curse revealed. She even convinced him to take her on as a student for a time, trying to figure out the true origin of the mysterious red head.

	And after she did find out the truth... he gave a shudder at the recollections. He had no intention of riling her up again...

	As long as Akane didn't humiliate her, things should be okay.

	His thoughts came back into the now when he saw Akane's foot buckle on the screen, throwing her off and leaving her open to Natsumi. In just over a second, the older woman had her down and locked up. 

	The briefest smiled flashed over his face as he recalled teaching Natsumi that lock, though his smile faded and his eyes went wide as he recalled what Akane had done to break out of the same hold during sparring.

	"Gently Akane," he whispered in vain as Akane folded at her hips, her bare legs seeming very long as they reached over her own head and locked around the police woman's neck. 

	He winced as he watched Natsumi pulled with the leverage of her own knee over Akane to be planted face first in the ring. 

	The exclamations from the announcers said it all as Akane rolled her over and up on her shoulders to let the referees count out the three for Akane's first pin on the woman. The repeated replays of the brutal looking manoeuvre went on despite there being two other fights going on. 

	Ranma watched as Natsumi stood shakily. Her face was okay, if obviously going to bruise a little, but she was no match for Akane like this. 

	The wafting fragrance he knew too well interrupted Ranma's thoughts from the monitor. It was Sakura's personal perfume brand, a scent of Sakura flowers with a light musk backing. Unfortunately for Sakura, now whenever he got a whiff of it, it just reminded him of just after they were officially engaged she brought out a matching scent for him. He had to admit he didn't mind the scent itself, but when it was even near anyone wearing Sakura's scent if brought him out in a hideous rash and fits of sneezing. He had almost lost a fight to Taro because of the damn sneezing...

	"Ranma darling, I am most displeased with you."

	Turning to look at her, he was pleasantly surprise that she hadn’t moved to touch him immediately. "Oh? What's up Sakura?"

	She immediately crossed the distance and took his hand in hers, holding it to her cleavage. She ignored his sigh of resignation as she looked into his eyes.

	"You know perfectly well what's up. Why is it those other harpies you allow to hang around you are gambling around your favours like money, and here I am, your true fiancée, completely ignored when I refuse to allow it." She stamped her foot to make her point.

	Pulling his hand free of her grip, Ranma's mind tried to make sense of what Sakura was saying, "What are you talking about Sakura?"

	"I'm upset that you owe anybody massages Ranma, you know how jealous I am of every one of those old biddies Doctor Tofu has you massaging every week, but to be betting massages to that tramp Akane and her sisters... It hurts." Her eyes watered, right on cue. "And then to..."

	"Hey, don't call Akane a tramp. And how did you hear about this anyway? You been listening in on my home again?" Ranma snapped back at her. 

	"Of course not," she denied a little too quickly, her eyes averting from his while she did. "That *Tramp* just bet your massage away to those other two harpies, using your honour like a game."

	Ranma shook his head, his anger shifting gears from Sakura to other targets. "Wait a minute. Akane has made a bet with Shampoo and Ukyo over the massage I owe her?" he asked with disbelief.

	"That is exactly what I'm saying Ranma dear. Now you can see why I simply must insist you put an end to this at once and inform them that that massage is only for me."

	Ranma would have groaned but was too annoyed... and maybe even a little hurt. His eyes looked over to the screen watching as Akane held Natsumi down and was counted for a second fall to win her entrance to tomorrow's finals. 

        "Look Sakura, I'll talk to Akane, okay. No promises." With that he walked off leaving her there with a smug look, though he had no intention of facing Akane right now. 

*****

	Doctor Tofu looked out the curtain again at one particular face in the crowd. He softly sighed out her name wondering if she could possibly ever come to like him as much as he liked her. 

	His attention was drawn back by the heavy clunk of an over full sports bag on a table nearby. 

	The Doctor glanced around and saw his sister Sena removing a multitude of blunt weapons from the bag.

	"Um... Sena... What are they for?"

	Smiling sweetly at her brother, Sena’s eyes promised pain if he defied her. "These are in case you forget to ask Kasumi-chan out tomorrow night Brother dear. She *will* be coming back stage with Aunty Saotome after the final fight of the day. You *will* be asking her then, ne?"

	Tofu looked at the weapons, knowing that Sena really would hurt him if he failed again. But it was the fear of being rejected because of the fool he became that was filling his heart.

*****

	"Where are you idiot?" Akane grumbled as she stalked around back stage. She couldn't find him anywhere and she had to talk to him about his next fight. 

	Her eyes brightened immediately as she saw him ahead, exiting the boys change room. Even if he didn't have the rearing black stallion on his back, or even the pigtail, she'd know those shoulders. Her eyes dipped lower and she grinned, 'and other aspects of him...'

	"Ranma! How long have you been in there? I've been looking for you everywhere?" she demanded.

	His blue eyes narrowed and he shifted to stand just slightly defensively to Akane as he turned around.

	Her eyes widening, Akane stopped a few paces back from him. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

	With the brown eyes across from him so full of concern, Ranma pulled back. He glanced away from her. He wanted to be angry with her. "Nothin, I'm fine."

	Akane was having nothing of it. "Ranma, don't lie to me, what's wrong?"

	Once again, he wouldn't look at her. "I said I'm fine."

	"Ranma..."

	"Saotome, your up in ring two. Move it." Called a stagehand rushing up with a clipboard and wearing a mike and headphone set. 

	"Gotta go Akane." Ranma said quickly, he moved to get straight past her. If he wasn't around her, he wouldn't have to answer her. 

	She fumed for a moment the remembered what she wanted to tell him. She rushed after him. "Ranma, this guy you're fighting, he's big but not too tough. Go for his kidneys, and look out for the signs, he uses them like a whip!"

*****

	Ranma exited the curtain onto the ramp with his own fanfare of music, obviously one the producers put more time into before hand to keep Sakura happy. The trumpet heavy piece was distinctly close to Sakura's, though hers was more feminine, and certainly showed again how Sakura was using the show to declare him as hers to the rest of the world. 

	Waving to the crowd and even played it up some as he came down, Ranma’s smile became forced at the sight of his opponent. 

	The guy was huge, more than twice his height. His head was completely hairless except for a thin moustache under his large eyes. He had a pudgy face and heavy hands, and wore a heavy off white martial arts gi with a simple black belt. At a glance he might be considered obese though Ranma could see his bulk hid massive natural power. Strung on ropes around his body were various Dojo signs, the mark of his lifestyle, a Dojo Destroyer, a martial artist who challenged Dojo's for their signs, taking the sign with its honour after smashing its best fighters. It was also his chosen weapon, if Akane's words of warning were to be believed.

	Reaching the bottom of the ramp, he turned and bowed to his mother in the crowd, but in standing back up flipped himself high up over the ropes and into the ring. 

	The young man faced up at his huge opponent for several moments, appraising the monster while the competitors for ring three entered and assembled in the last ring. 

	He considered what Akane had said to tip him about beating this guy, but the moment his mind thought of Akane he lost his focus. 

	With a shake of his head, he put thoughts of her completely aside and prepared to fight. 

*****

	Akane paced outside of the boy's change-room, waiting for Ranma to come out. She didn't know what was going on, but he was definitely avoiding her for some reason. 

	The moment he had come back from his fight with the Dojo Destroyer, he had avoided her and went into the change room. She only knew he was in there because Doctor Tofu had gone in to look at his hand.

	Her anger mellowed somewhat with that, knowing that she had given him the bad suggestion on attacking the Dojo Destroyer's kidneys. But it had worked for her when he had challenged them for the Tendo Dojo sign. How was she supposed to have known that he had replaced all his signs with metal replicas and even had a couple inside his gi as body armour.

	She winced as she recalled how the brief burst of Ranma's high speed punching into the sign had looked like he had broken his hand, especially with the way he held back with that arm after. Though the crowd had gone quiet when the big fighter had pulled the sign out from his clothes, a dirty great dent pushing into his side from Ranma's attack...

	She let out a sigh, knowing she'd have to apologise for that bad tip... but that could wait till he apologised and explained about him avoiding her. 

	"Akane, is my brother in there?" Sena asked as she walked up. She was smiling, despite the effort of a hard days work showing in small ways on her face and uniform. 

	"Yes he is, he went to help Ranma."

	Sena nodded as she came to a stop beside the short girl. "Congratulations on getting through to tomorrows finals."

	"Thanks, hopefully I'll have it just as easy there too," she replied with a grin. "When is Kasumi coming back here?"

	"That's why I'm looking for my Brother. The last fights on now and the moment it's over I'll go get Aunty and your sisters. Can I get you to watch Tofu till I bring them in? I'd rather he didn't dance off with his skeleton before we can have him ask her out."

	Nodding, Akane smiled in reply. "Happy to. To tell you a secret, I once had a major crush on him myself. I'm more than happy to have him end up as part of the family." A small blush crossed her face at admitting it. 

	With a grin, Sena touched the younger girls shoulder. "I certainly have no reservations about a marriage their either, though lets not be getting too far ahead of ourselves."

	The pair looked up as the future groom himself walked out of the change room. "Oh hello there, everything alright?"

	"We're fine, how's Ranma?" 

	The Doctor smiled reassuringly. "His hand will be fine in a couple hours, he really wasn't prepared to be hitting something so hard. Other than that he seems perfectly fine. Are you two waiting for him?"

	"Not him big brother..." Sena grinned at her brother, "We were just talking about Akane's sister."

	Tofu paled slightly and gulped once. "S-so, how is Nabiki."

	Shaking her head, Sena didn't lose her smile. "You can ask her yourself, she's coming out here with Kasumi just after the final fight."

	Tofu's glasses fogged up for an instant before he physically straightened and controlled himself. 

	"Okay, I'm ready." 

	The words didn't come out nearly as strong as he hoped. 

	"How about you and Akane-chan wait in here while I get them, okay?"

	Tofu nodded several times as he followed his sister into the first aid room set up for the weekend's events. 

	Two hospital beds, a small desk, and a large cabinet of medical supplies were the main furniture of the room, and Sena led the nervous doctor by the hand over to a chair beside one of the beds. Sitting him down, she brought his arm up to the bed. 

	Two mechanical *thunks* sounded in the room, the second far more metallic than the first, and Tofu stared with undisclosed horror at his arm handcuffed to the lowered side railing on the bed. 

	"What do you think your doing Sena?!" he demanded as his sister darted back out of reach to the doorway. 

	"This way there is no walking off big brother. No being called away, no running in fear, and no dancing off with Betty Bones. I had to work on Kasumi for hours to give you another chance, so get ready to be polite and *sane* because you are asking her out, got it?"

	Sena kept her angry voice on, knowing she was lying about having to work on Kasumi to give him another chance, but Tofu should be too preoccupied to spot the lie. 

	She tossed him a small towel from near the door. "Put this over the handcuffs. The last thing we need is for her to think you're any more weird." Turning, she left the room, shutting the door behind her. She didn't need to tell him where she was going. 

*****

	Akane smiled in amusement from her seat on the second bed. Tofu had sat down and started taking deep purposeful breaths, building himself up the control for the ordeal ahead of him. That had lasted all of ten seconds, then he had been pacing on the very short leash that were the cuffs, raising the beds side rail vainly hoping that that would get him free. 

	Her amusement came out as a snort and a giggle when he subtly tried to undo the breaks on the wheels on his side of the hospital bed without her seeing, his brow sweating worse with every second. 

	Finally, he looked at her, his panic obvious, his eyes pleading. "Akane-chan, you have to help me. I know Sena thinks this is right but... it isn't the right time. Tomorrow! Tomorrow is much better."

	Shaking her head, her eyes held his, "What's the problem, Doctor Tofu? You like her. She likes you. You just have to ask her out."

	Tofu looked at the young woman, his mind suddenly flitting through memories of treating her injuries over the years as she grew up. The same memories flowed back through of how he had consistently embarrassed himself in front of her eldest sister, washing away his desire to believe her words. "I can't. I can't even say two decent sentences to her."

	Moving around the bed, Akane came a little closer. "Then do it in one. The moment she walks in, say 'Hi Kasumi, you look beautiful today, would you like to go out with me tomorrow night?' You try?"

	Breathing deeply and closing his eyes, he tried, "H-hi K-ka-ka-kasumi, you look beautiful today, would you like to go to out with m-m-m-m-m..."

	Akane's voice sounded exasperated. "Okay, too long, try it without the beautiful bit."

	"H-hi Ka-ka-kasumi, would you like to go ou-out with me tom-m-morrow nnnnight?"

	"Again, without stuttering."

	"Hi Kasumi, would you like to go ou-out... Hi Kasumi, you look beautiful today, would you like to go out with me tomorrow night?"

	"Again."

	"Hi Kasumi, would you like to go out with me tomorrow night?"

	"Again."

	"H-Hi Kasumi, would you like to go out with me tomorrow night?"

	"Why Doctor Tofu, I'd love to."

	Tofu's eyes opened to the size of dinner plates as Kasumi's melodious voice answered. She was standing in the doorway Sena had reopened. Behind her Nabiki and Nodoka stood with large smiles.

	Tofu stared at the eldest Tendo sister, his brain trying to process this new information but failing badly. His voice returned quickly, "Hi Kasumi, would you like to..."

	Akane smiled to her sister trying to be nonchalant about clamping shut the doctor’s mouth with her hand, "Congratulations, Sis." she said happily. Hopefully he would snap out of it soon.

	Her hand released his jaw as he stood up straight. "I-i-i-i I better make sure all my work is done so I can go on a d-d-d-ate with Ka-ka-ka-ka..." 

	The girls backed away quickly as he strode out of the room, the bed dragging behind him but not slowing him in the slightest.

	Nabiki and Akane were fast, moving in front of Kasumi and holding her hands talking in low voices filled with their happiness for their sisters coming date. 

	Nodoka and Sena looked down at the two tracks made by the solid rubber wheels, dragged with their brakes still on by the doctor in his quest to clear his schedule for tomorrows date. 

	"All in all, it could have gone worse Sena-chan."

	Sena nodded but didn't look at the older woman. "I know Aunty, but if the date goes like that..."

	"Don't go imagining troubles yet. If the date fails, we'll think of something. They like each other too much to just give up on each other."

*****

	Dinner at the Saotome table was a rather mixed affair. 

	Ranma had breezed by them wanting to get some extra practice in for tomorrow and had left on ahead of them. When Akane had gone out to practice herself he said he was done there and had to take something over to Mousse.  

	He returned just as they sat to dinner. 

	The mood was high with the prospects of them both getting through to the finals and Kasumi's invite from the good Doctor, but was brought down by something between Ranma and Akane. Nodoka and the elder Tendo girls watched on oddly as Ranma intently kept his head down, refusing to look at Akane, quickly gobbling his food, while Akane was refusing to look at anything but Ranma with a quickly growing look of displeasure on her face.

	Akane's voice when she did speak, was strained. "So Ranma, what did you have to take to Mousse?" she asked between bites.

	"Just one of his chains he left here and wanted back." he replied over chewing with his head still down.

	Akane opened her mouth again but he beat her to it. "Hey Kasumi, you going out with the Doc huh? He's a good guy."

	Nodding and blushing despite the fact it had been brought up several times in the hours since she had been asked out, Kasumi smiled, “That’s right Ranma.” Her mouth opened to ask him a question but a glare from Akane cut her off, letting the younger sister try, but Ranma suddenly pushed his bowl back and stood up. 

	"That was great Mom. I'm gonna grab a quick bath."

	He managed to get out of the room before anyone could reply, which shifted all attention to the youngest girl there who huffed loudly starring at the door way he had left through. 

	"What is that about Akane?"

	Akane looked at Nabiki, noting that Nodoka and Kasumi were just as interested in the answer. She shrugged, "I don't know. I gave him some bad tips on beating that Dojo Destroyer but even before that he had been avoiding me. But the moment I try to get an answer from him he comes up with some excuse to get away from me."

	"Did you do or say anything to him, Akane-chan? It normally takes something big to work my son up." 

	"No Aunty, aside from that bad tip, I can't think of anything."

	"Well Sis, you better go find out what it is or else you're going to just work yourself up, and while I'm sharing a room with you, I don't want you tossing and turning all night," Nabiki said as picked into her dinner for another morsel.

	Akane eyed her sister for a moment before nodding and wolfing down the last of her food. She just needed a way to keep him in place for a while. 

	Carefully watching the girl Nodoka planned would be her future daughter-in-law eating her food and dash off, hoping Akane could fix whatever her son was upset about.

*****

	Ranma sighed as he sat back in the steaming hot bath water. Closing his eyes, he let himself completely relax as the heat seeped through his body. 

	He kept his mind focused on the opponents he might face tomorrow, knowing that if he ignored it long enough, this problem with Akane would either go away or escalate into something he could fight. Most of his problems were like that. 

	His eyes sprung open as the outer door of the change room was yanked open. He had just gotten to sit up when the inner door to the furo was nearly pulled off its tracks and Akane stomped angrily in with a twisted towel in one hand. 

	"Hey, what the hell are you doing Aka..."

	*Crack*

	"OW! Hey!" Ranma cried as Akane flicked him with the wet towel, snapping right on his bare pectoral.

	"Sit down!" she demanded.

	But Ranma was in no mood to obey. He moved to stand and get out of the tub. "What's your problem?"

	Akane tensed the towel between her hands, standing side on, ready to flick down towards the waterline. "Keep rising Ranma, just a little higher."

	Ranma gulped and sat back down in the tub.

	Watching him angrily, Akane suddenly worked out the fact that he was sitting bare in the furo. With a blush, she grabbed his towel and tossed it to him, her focus complete on re-tensing her towel as he covered himself.

	She hid her own embarrassment with and angry tone, "Now, do you want to tell me why you've been avoiding me all afternoon?" 

	Ranma looked down and away not sure what to say. 

	Her voice showed her deflate as her shoulders slumped and she relaxed her towel. "I'm sorry, whatever I did to upset you I'm sorry. Just tell me what it is and I'll fix it."

	He looked up at her, wanting to take the pain in her voice away. "Why'd you bet me to Shampoo? The massage I mean."

	Akane winced as she recalled the incident with Shampoo and Ukyo in the change room at the tournament. "I didn't mean to, it just kind of got out of hand. Shampoo was being her obnoxious self and I guess I brought up the massage to one up her. Then she challenged me on it, winner of the tournament gets the massage, out of me, Shampoo, and Ukyo."

	Nodding, Ranma thought about it for a moment. He recalled how often things like that got out of hand in his life. He looked up suddenly, "Is that it? What happens to the losers?"

	"The losers have to date that Mousse guy." Akane grinned. 

	Ranma laughed. "If you or Ukyo win, Mousse is gonna owe you guys big time."

	He looked in her eyes, keeping his grin but his voice was more serious. "You sound pretty confident you can take her?"

	Akane shrugged, and did a good imitation of his voice. "Akane Tendo don't lose."

	"You better be right student, cause ya gonna spark off world war three with me in the middle if you're wrong." He said back to her, before holding one hand out of the water to her. "Promise not to lose?"

	Akane took it with a confident smile. "You got it, sensei."

	Her smile faded when he didn't let go. 

	"An opening!" Was all she heard as she was dragged into the hot water of the furo. 

	Ranma scrambled to get clear of the bath, but his tread on the bottom failed and gave Akane enough time to lunge after him, her hands grabbing over his shoulders to pull herself up his back and keep him in the tub.

	"Oh my!"

	When Ranma went still Akane managed to get to her knees behind him and look over his shoulder.

	Nabiki was leaning against the door jam watching the pair with an amused grin and a raised eyebrow. Kasumi and Nodoka were behind her looking in with surprised faces. 

	All they could see was Ranma's torso above the water level and Akane's head and hands behind him over his shoulders.

	"Hey Sis, I thought it was a no no for any athlete to go do the 'naughty' the night before a major event?"

	Both of the pair blushed a scarlet red that peaked just when Nabiki brought her camera to bear. 

	"And you guys thought I was blushing a lot. Amateurs."

	(To be continued) 
	
	Natsumi Tsujimoto is the property Kosuke Fujishima of the series 'Your Under Arrest' (Dark Horse Comics and Animeigo). She was just showing up as an opponent with her returning in a later chapter to cause more discomfort for our hero and heroine. 

	Special thanks to MwhaleK, Michael Ahlf, Paul Henkel and Sakurabana for proof reading and plot advising.

	Reviews, emails, ideas and recommendations are all very welcome.  As are fan art, and special thanks got to Arianna Vesle who sent me a fantastic piece of Akane and Ranma in their fighting outfits for the tournament, which now adorns my Meeting Later home page.

	Thank you for reading. 

	Trent O'Donoghue 
	trentodonoghue@msn.com
	http://www.geocities.com/odonoghuet/index.html