Chapter 5

Grimly Tendou Akane surveyed the field of battle. Tightening her belt she readied her weapons; prepared in mind, body and spirit by a lifetime of training and centuries of warrior breeding. She would fight . . .she would win . . .She was SAMURAI!!!! Hefting a bag of tools and a basket of roofing tiles she started up the ladder. How hard could it be?

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". . . lan. The plan. The plantheplantheplan . . ." Muttering under her breath Kuonji Ukyou stalked . . .well, squelched . . .toward the Tendou compound through the storm soaked streets. Each soggy, cold step fueling her rage at that . . .that . . .that Akane!! Not being able to find a metaphor vile, revolting and despicable enough to describe Akane served to heap coals on the fire of her anger. Akane had humiliated her . . .taken away her pride. Worse, by helping her Akane had placed a dept of honor on Ukyou that she might not be able to pay back for years, or ever. Often such a debt could only be repaid in blood.

"No . . .don't do that. STOP. Oh pleasepleaseplease. Ahhhhhhhh! Nononononono!" The frantic voice jerked Ukyou out of her introspection to discover she had made her way from the Nekohaten to the gates of the Tendou Doujou with absolutely no memory of the intervening steps.

"AAAAAAAA!"

WHAAAAAM

"Get IN there! Nonononono. NOT THERE. . . OVER THERE!" Reflexively Ukyou snapped her spatula into guard position and edged her way into the compound.

"Haaiiiiiiiii"

WHAAAAAAM!!! Three paces. That was as far as she got. Forty two kilograms of unglazed roofing tile smashed down; a spray of stone chips slicing her face like tiny stone wasps. Four paces and her skull would have been crushed like a rotten plum. Two paces and she would have been too far away . . . A small dark figure whizzed through the air like a broken winged sparrow. Without conscious thought Ukuyou's spatula dropped to the ground and her arms snapped out to catch . . .

"Ukuyo!!! HI!"

"What . . ." Ukuyo gasped from her position underneath Akane. "are you DOING??"

"Fixing the roof." Akane looked around at the Dojo grounds, littered with broken tools and smashed tiles. "Ummm, but I think I may be doing something wrong." Brow wrinkling in thought Akane looked the yard. "Do you think I should put up a sign telling people to use the other gate?" Fuck the plan. She was going to kill Akane . . .just as soon as she got some feeling back into her legs.

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"All right . . .now try it."

"Ummmph. IT . . .WONT . . .ummmph . . .FIT!!"

"Dammit . . .it's got to fit."

"Alright . . .YOU try . . ."

"What do?"

"AAAAAAAAAA!" Ukyou levitated straight up as the unexpected voice spoke in her ear.

"Do . .do . .don't DO that!" Ukyou clutched her chest. First her roof had fallen in . . then Akane had fallen on . . .and now . . .Ukyou was feeling very stressed.

"Sorry." Shan Pu did not sound in the least sorry. An uncharitable soul might even have suspected a glint of laughter in those beautiful Chinese eyes. "What do?" She repeated.

"We're fixing the roof." Akane explained, waving a hand at what resembled ground zero of an A-bomb test in a rock quarry. "But I think these tiles are defective. Look." Akane picked a tile at random from a basket. Ukyou watched as, in a pattern that had recently become familiar Akane replaced a damaged roof tile. Or attempted to replace . . .for, as had also become familiar the tile would . . .almost fit . . .almost, but not quite. Leaving a slight gap, a gap that spread and became more pronounced as more tiles were laid. Akane grunted and shoved her chosen tile slid into place . . .and two more moved out of position. Gritting her teeth Akane planted a foot on the two maverick tiles holding them in place, grabbed a third and SHOVED! For a brief instant it seemed she would succeed . . .the instant passed as all three tiles vanished in an explosion of stone chips and dust. Coughing and spitting stone dust Shan Pu stumbled from the cloud to find Ukuyo cowering behind an eve of the roof and Akane . .Akane . . .

"Akane? Where go, Akane?"

"Righ . . .ummmph . . .right here . . ." Rapidly Shan Pu scanned the empty roof top, searching for . . ."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Something grabbed her ankle. Spitting and snarling like a scalded . . .cat . . .Shan Pu levitated(beating Ukyou's personal best by a good 300 cm.) Gasping and clutching her chest Shan Pu fell back beside the recovering Ukyou.

"Can we kill her now?" Ukyou hissed. Shan Pu shot Ukyou a quelling look, then moved over to the edge of the roof. There, dangling by the strap of her cover-all Akane swung gently in the breeze. Giving a small mew of disgust Shan Pu reached down and dragged Akane back onto the roof.

"Oh, HI Shan Pu."

"You stupid girl." Shan Pu included Ukyou in her assessment. "All Japanese stupid. Not smart like Chinese . " Shan Pu produced a 50kg iron war-hammer. ". . .not subtle like Amazon." Ukyou had a moment to see the kanji for 'sweet dreams' embossed on the front. "No use force. . . ." Shan Pu placed a tile in position. "Get bigger hammer . . ."

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" . . .not working you stupid . . .'

"Who you call stupid?"

"YOU that's who. Any moron could see . . ."

"Ukyou need glasses because she not see . . ."

"I know where grandfather Happossai keeps his . . ."

"NO!!" Two voices sounded as one.

"Well . . .I was just trying to help." Akane looked miffed.

"Akane help more . . .we all end up dead."

"HEY!" Akane stomped up to Shan Pu and stood nose to . . .errr . . .nose with the big Amazon. "Greasing the tiles to make them fit was a GOOD idea. It's not my fault . . .the package didn't say anything about . . .it was just a LITTLE fire." Shan Pu glared silently.

"Besides . . .it won't take any time for your eyebrows to grow back." Akane finished righteously. "I'm going to go get some more tiles. We've used all these up already."

"Can we kill her NOW?" Ukyou edged from behind Shan Pu, sourly fingering the scorched ends of her pony tail.

"NO! We wait."

"Wait . . .for her to kill US?"

"Stupid spatula girl need learn . . ." Ukyou's education was interrupted as Akane reappeared at the top of the ladder with a look of grim determination and a large roll of . . .

"Ayiiii." Shan Pu's soft, frightened cry brought Ukyou spinning sharply around. Her eyes widened as she saw Akane and . . .

"Be afraid . . .be very afraid." Ukyou whispered.

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Ahhhhh, It was a glorious day. Of course any day with Kuno Kodachi was perforce glorious and blessed. The Black Rose glided through the streets of Nerimia with a song in her heart and a knife in her hands. The song was for her beloved Ranmasama (written and composed by the incomparable Black Rose to celebrate his triumphant homecoming); the knife was from breakfast. She'd been having toast and jam when thoughts of her magnificent, darling Ranma (broad chest, muscled thighs . . .sighhhh)sama had driven mundane matters from her brain. The sheer beauty of the moment had driven her to the streets to share some small measure of her delight with the poor bleak peasantry.

If only it hadn't been . . .strawberry jam . . .RED . . .RED jam that dripped from the knife like . . .well like what most people expected to drip from any sharp instrument in the hands of Kuno Kodachi.

The peasantry were keeping a respectful distance . . .for once. However at such a remove they could not appreciate the full subtlety of the lyrics the mastery of each note, the dulcet tones of her highly trained voice. Briefly Kodachi contemplated chasing one or two of the wretches down . . As she absently licked the knife clean of jam she noticed the streets were strangely deserted (some quaint peasant holiday?) save for one elderly peasant who seemed transfixed. Removing the last dollop of sweetness from the knife with the delicate tip of her tongue the Black Rose took a single leisurely pace toward the man . . .who dropped bonelessly to the ground before she could take a second. Doubtless overcome at the thought of actually meeting the goddess of Nerima , Kodachi thought charitably. However, the wretch should have fallen FACE DOWN (to show proper respect.) She made a mental note to have him flogged and his family deported to some wasteland . . .perhaps Shikoku . . .as warning.

Huffing in annoyance Kodachi bent her considerable mental skill to the task of finding someone with whom to share her joyous composition. Her magnificent paean to the magnificence that was Ranma(deep chest . . .warm hands . . .large . . .) "Wheeeeeeeeee." Twirling in huge tumbling leaps and rolls Kodachi sped, laughing, down the street toward the person who (little though she deserved it) Kodachi decided to share this wonderful treat. It was only just. After all, each condemned was entitled to a last wish. And certainly Ak . . .that person could have no greater last wish than Kodachi's song.

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"Snow capped Fuji , cherry blossoms in winter ;how heavy is my heart without the sun of my darling Ranm . . ." Kodachi's joyful tune ended with a thud on the roof of the Tendou dojo. At a glance she saw Shan Pu, using a fragment of broken glass as a mirror as she tried to draw new eyebrows with a piece of charcoal; Ukyou muttering what sounded like incantations to some pagan god as she mixed concrete and okonomyaki batter; Akane wrestling with a large roll of duct tape. The duct tape was winning.

"My dear Akanechan . . .whatever are you doing?"

"Mrphhh. Mfxngrllggg nnt llsl nnt ittt. Nnn ryyynnn t . . .EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!" Kodachi removed the tape with one smooth pull.

"Why do that?" Shan Pu asked sadly. "Was nice and quiet. Now get all noisy again." Shaking her head at human folly she squinted into the improvised mirror and made a minor adjustment to her new left eyebrow. Ukyou grunted sourly but didn't look up from her savage mixing.

"We were trying to fix the roof, but these tiles are defective." Akane glared at the overturned basket that still held a few intact pieces left from her last assault on the roof. "Shan Pu and Ukyou were trying to help . . ."Akane's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper "but I don't think they know much about . . ."

"Shan Pu Amazon warrior . . .want help around house should get man." Ukyou only grunted something that might have been a reply or simply gas.

"I don't understand it. How could they have sent us a whole truckload of defective . . .I've got a good mind to call those people up and . . ." Akane's outraged voice ended with a squeak as Kodachi calmly toed a tile out of the basket and flipped it into position. In rapid fire six more tiles sped from the basket to land on the roof . . .forming a perfectly seamless mosaic.

"How DO that?"

"That . . .that's amazing." Ukyou stalked over from her mixing . . .looked at the perfectly laid tiles . . .looked at Kodachi . . .looked at the tiles . . .looked at her torn spattered clothes . . .looked at Kodachi . . .looked at a glob of cement drip form the end of her pony tail . . .

"I hate you."

"It's perfectly simple . . ." Ukyou looked at Kodachi with the madness of the tool- impaired trapped in a hardware store.

"How about I simply . . ." Akane snatched the cement crusted spatula from Ukyou and turned to Kodachi.

"Ummm . . .you were saying?"

"It's perfectly simple . . .your problem is that these . . ." She indicated the tiles. "Are LEFT gable tiles, while this is the right gable." All three girls stared at Kodachi.

"Tiles got right and LEFT sides . . .A roof has a right side and a LEFT . . ." Ukyou was trembling from some great emotion. "So . . .all this . . .all this . . ." She waved a hand at the shattered tiles . . .the cement and okonomyaki spattered roof (and girls) the burnt wood and stone, the . . the . . .

"All . . .for nothing?" Kodachi looked Ukyou straight in the eye.

"Yes."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

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". . . this is a ???"

"Oh . .I know, I Know . . .It's a ridge!"

"Almost . . .it's a ridge END. See the cap?"

"Oh yeah." Akane grinned sheepishly.

"How ribbon girl know so much about fix roof?"

"A true Samurai." Kodachi explained grandly "must understand all the duties of the lower orders. How else may one know when to punish them for their failure?"

"That . . .that almost makes sense." Ukyou pressed a hand to her aching temples. "I think I've been working too hard."

"I'll go make some snacks!" A snowflake slamming into a bag of marshmallows would have thundered in the silence that followed Akane's innocent announcement.

"That . . .would be nice."

"Indeed, some refreshment would be quite welcome."

"Shan Pu so hungry she could eat . . ."

"Stop it."

"What?"

"You don't have to pretend anymore . . ." Ukyou felt the bottom drop out of her stomach."

" . . . pretend to be my friend . . .to like me. I know . . ."

"What Akane know?"

"Ranma . . ." Time slowed to a crawl for Ukyou. . .even as her thoughts sped up . . .plunging through her brain like mad, blind rats racing through a burning maze. Akane knew . . .she knew . . .what? That they were pretending to be her friend? Planning murder? Ukyou fixed on Akane, so calm, assured . . .how could she be so calm? Standing surrounded by three girls who wanted to kill her, standing all alone . . . ALONE? What if she wasn't alone. Ukyou's throat closed up . . .it was hard to breath. A cold sweat covered her body. This big old house could hide a squad . . .a company of police . . .or one martial artist. She could see Ranma now . . .eyes glaring with . . .hate? Contempt? . . .Pity? Ukyou shuddered . . .no . .no . . no. She could run . . .run where? She couldn't go home . . .doubly disgraced she could never . . .mother, father, Ranma, . . .all gone. Fight . . .fight Ranma? Ridiculous . . .impossible. Better to slit her belly . . .or jump from the roof with a dagger in her mouth. That was traditional. No dagger . . .but her spatula's were keen and bright. The roof high. Fight . . .Kodachi . . . Fight Shan Pu . . .Fight . . See Ranchan . . .see . . .how brave . . .how strong I am. It was an act Ranchan . . .all an act . . .

" . . .on't know where Ranma is." Ukyou took a deep shuddering breath that washed away the black spots that had been forming in front of her eyes.

" You think we pretend friend . . .find out where is husband?" She . . .she didn't know. A giddy bubble of relief well up inside Ukyou. Akane didn't know . . .Ukyou wanted to jump, dance . . .laugh. Distantly came the thought that perhaps Kodachi felt like this . . . laughing so she didn't scream.

"See . . .Ukyou laugh out loud at this. We no need to find husband. He come home soon. Why get tired, dirty looking. Better we stay home, make things nice for him coming back."

"It is sad indeed that you think so little of . . .us. Perhaps you would feel more comfortable if we were to cease our calligraphy lessons and . . ."

"Heheheheheheh." Ukuyou couldn't stop giggling. She could only point, gasping, at Akane. It was this laughter that seemed to convince Akane.

"I . . I'm sorry. I shouldn't be so suspicious. Please forgive me." Akane looked down at her toes, embarressed.

"I'll go make those snacks now."

"Better should clean up first.

"Yes . . .by all means. A bath would be most refreshing after this dusty work."

"OH . . .I'm sorry." Akane was genuinely dismayed. "I'll start the furo heating right away." Akane scampered down the ladder leaving the three girls alone.

"What are you doing here, Kodachi?"

"Doing? Why visiting my good friend Tendou Akanechan."

"Save manure for roses, ribbon girl . . .tell why really here. Are among friends." Shan Pu's smile could only have been described as friendly among certain tribes of head hunters or at a gathering composed of lawyers or preachers wives.

"Are you calling me a liar?"

"Yes." Ukyou was amazed at the first genuine smile she'd ever seen on the Black Rose's face.

"As long as we understand each other." Kodachi murmured. "I thought it prudent to discover what the . . voice' is really up to. And for a moment . . ."

" . . .look like trap shut on us . . . or maybe just testing trap . . .see if catch all rat."

"Would somebody" Ukyou looked back and forth between the Amazon and the Black Rose. "Mind telling me WHAT you are talking about?" Kodachi gave Ukyou a look that made her feel about five years old. Shan Pu curled her lip but decided to answer.

"We here deciding . . .Is safe to talk?" Shan Pu directed this to Kodachi.

"Of course. There are no camera's or microphones any where."

"Maybe you miss some?" Shan Pu held up a hand from which dangled a fist full of tiny wires and printed circuits.

"None except for my own, I meant to say." Kodachi looked disgruntled. "Prudence dictates that one should espy the enemy to discern their intentions and capabilities."

"Should also find out what they want." Kodachi shot Shan Pu a darkling look, but the bland face of the big Amazon gave no hint if she were jesting or not.

"As you say . . .still I think we know no more now than we did before."

"In about a minute I'm gonna' get really mad if someone doesn't tell me what . . ."

"Don't curdle liver spatula girl." Ukyou ground her teeth but held her temper with an effort. Despite her words she knew she would fare poorly in a fight with Shan Pu.

"Shan Pu have many questions." Ukyou was startled, then realized she was getting an answer to HER question.

"Why creepy voice want kill Akane? Why want help? Why want US to help? Many possible answer. Maybe no want kill Akane . . .maybe trap. Get us try kill Akane . . .then surprise!! Find big trouble . . police . . .camera . . .Ranma!" Ukyou gulped , remembering that terrifying time just minutes ago.

"Or maybe want Akane dead . . .us too. More better get us all one place kill all at one time. No have to run after. Or maybe trap after Akane dead. Police, Ranma find out who kill Akane. Then all gone, Shan Pu, Ukyou, Kodachi all gone."

"What do you mean 'all gone'?" Shan Pu smiled grimly.

"Great Grand-mother I-Ching master. Ask book of changes many question . . .always get answer. Always. When Shan Pu arrive, she say 'Obstacles are for killing.' Akane obstacle, keep husband away from wife." Ukyou thought she could hear Kodachi's teeth grinding at that statement. It was hard to hear over the sound of her rear molars interpenetrating.

"Great-grandmother ask book what do? How, when best kill Akane." Shan Pu snorted in remembrance. "Book say better Shan Pu throw self naked in pit starving rat, angry scorpion." Ukou shuddered at the image.

"But . . .who would want to kill us and why?"

"Shan Pu liking answer to that question also. Akane say we no pretend anymore . . .Shan Pu think heart stop. At first also think have answer. This trap, get rid of Shan Pu, all others. But nothing happen."

"Then . . .it's NOT a trap?"

"Maybe yes, maybe no." Shan Pu's answers were making Ukyou dizzy. "Maybe trap but waiting for something . . .maybe waiting for actually try kill . . .then . . ." Shan Pu drew a finger across her throat in a slashing motion.

"But, there's no death penalty . . . I mean if it was just an attempt the police wouldn't . . .we could say it was just a joke!" Ukou's voice rose a little at the last.

"Husband maybe not think so funny. And lost boy HAVE no sense humor. Anyway . . .not good find out who no can take joke until after village become large hole in ground. Also, Amazon know many technique peel skin, muscle, bone . . .leave person alive long time . . .not WANT live but still live long time. Husband best martial artist in world. Learn very quick. Not wanting him learn these technique. Not wanting find out how long Shan Pu live no skin."

"The water's hottttt!"

The cry from below startled Shan Pu out of her reverie.

"Good to take bath. Get clean."

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"Ohhhh . . .this feels greaaaat!" Ukyou sighed in pleasure as the hot water sluiced the grime and muck of the days work off her skin and hair. She tried to use the sensuous feel of the warm soapy water to distract herself from being naked in front of the others. Ukou was no more body conscious that most modern Japanese . . .it just seemed . . .wrong somehow to share a bath with someone you were planning to kill. There ought to be rules about this sort of thing; always wear navy blue to a winter murder; Sallade forks and arsenic on the left; never take a bath with someone you're going to kill, stuff like that.

"Here , you want me to get your hair?" Ukyou jumped at the voice in her ear and tried not to cringe as Akane's strong fingers gently worked shampoo into her scalp.

"Ohhh.You get special treament." Shan Pu teased. "Shan Pu have to fight get such number one service." Akane grinned and playfully threw a blob of suds at Shan Pu. Ukyou felt her gorge rise. This wasn't right. You weren't supposed to crack jokes or throw bubbles or . . .a groan of near orgasmic pleasure forced itself from her throat as Akane's fingers worked a particularly sensitive spot on her scalp.

"Is good? Akane best at washing hair." With a guilty groan Ukyou tried to jerk away.. She shouldn't be ENJOYING this. Not when . . .not when . . . Mistaking Ukyou's groan for one of pain Akane gently pulled Ukyou back onto her lap and began massaging her shoulders.

"Boy . . .your shoulders are like iron . . .I bet you did too much." Ukyou wanted to protest, but Akane's nimble fingers magically stole her strength reducing her to a warm puddle of whimpering goo.

"You do good work. Can tell Ukyou feel much better now. You let Shan Pu wash Akane hair. OK?"

"That's not neces . . ."

"No problem for Shan Pu do Akane hair." As she spoke Shan Pu's fingers tangled in Akane's hair.

"Thank's Shan . . ." Akane stiffened then toppled back into Shan Pu's lap like a broken doll.

"Did you kill her?" Kodachi seemed mildly curious. Ukyou whipped around and stared at the limp body in horror.

"No panic spatula girl. No dead . . .yet. Beside . . .you want kill, why upset now?"

"I . . .I . . .it's just . . ."

"That you would prefer that someone else do the deed." Kodachi twisted her lip in a faint, patrician sneer. "You would be glad of her death . . .as long as you don't get your own hands dirty." Ukyou shook off her sudden panic.

"NO! It's just . . .it was so sudden . . .and we're all here . . .it's too soon , it's . . ." Shan Pu looked up from where she had been massaging Akane's scalp.

"OK . . .she ready now." Shan Pu held up her hands and waggled her fingers. "Use pressure point. She answer question . All question you ask . . .she answer. But only for short while. No use drugs, just pressure point. She stay like this five minute, maybe ten . . .no more." Taking a deep breath Shan Pu shifted Akane until she was snuggled tightly against Shan Pu's shoulder.

"Who want dead? Who want dead Akane?" Akane's relaxed features tightened into a frown and she moved restlessly in Shan Pu's embrace.

"Who hate Akane? Who hate enough to kill?" Shan Pu's voice was more insistent.

"Kill? No . . .no one. No one hates me. No . . ."

"Tell . . .tell who hate. . . who want dead!" Shan Pu's voice was sharp, her fingers moving along the pressure points on Akane's head and spine.

"No . . no nononoooo." Akane's voice was a low moan like an animal in pain.

"Akanechan . . .Akanechan . . ."Ukyou couldn't believe what she was hearing. Kodachi sounded . . .normal. Holding up a preemptive hand Kodachi silenced Shan Pu.

"Akanechan . . .what did you do today? Did you practice your caligraphy?"

"Yes . . .yes." Her face relaxed in a slight smile. "I like practicing . . . like to . . .beautiful . . .'dachi." Akane's voice trailed off in a disjointed mumble. Ukyou had an amazed moment to notice a faint pink tinge to Kodachi's cheeks. Suddenly shivering in the cool air Ukyou got up from the low wash bench and walked to the furo.

"An excellent idea." Kodachi opined . Shan Pu nodded in agreement. Hefting Akane lightly in her arms stood up and walked to the furo. As soon as they were settled comfortably in the steaming water Kodachi resumed her gentle interrogation.

"Akanechan . . .you're very good at washing hair . . .very gentle. How did you get so good?"

"'Neesama. I used to wash her hair. When I was little, after mama . . .after mama. . ." Akane's face screwed up as if in pain.

"That's all right Akanechan. You're safe now. You're with 'neesama. Do you like washing her hair?"

"Oh yes . . .she's so busy . . .now. We never have time to play together any more. I would help but I'm no good . . .'nechan says I'm clumsy." Ukyou noticed a slight tick beside Kodachi's right eye.

"Is . . .'neechan right? Are you clumsy?" Akane stiffened in Shan Pu's arms, her face tightening into a mask.

"Yes . . .yes . . .I'm clumsy. Me . .me, not 'neechan. Me. . .not 'neechan , not . . ." Kodachi put a hand on the struggling girls shoulder.

"That's right, not 'neechan. I believe you . . .not 'neechan." As she repeated this litany Akane's struggles slowed, but the tightness remained in her features.

"You like to wash Oneesama's hair. Do you ever wash 'neechan's hair?"

"Yes . . .no . . .not since . . .since . . ."

"It's all right Akanechan. Just relax." Kodachi placed her hands on Akane's shoulders and to Ukyou's surprise Akane calmed under her touch. Then Kodachi began a low soothing monologue that seemed nonsensical to Ukyou but utterly captivated the somnambulant Akane.

"How old are you Akanechan?"

"This many . . ." Akane lisped in a little girl voice and held up six fingers.

"You're very clever Akanechan. . .Is your mother home?" A sad look passed over features that had softened to those of a very young child.

"Mama . . .mama went to the hostip . . .hop . . .hopsittle." Akane stumbled over the word. "She's never been gone this long before . . .what's an angel?" Ukyou started at the question and even Kodachi seemed taken aback.

"An Angel." Kodachi questioned cautiously. "Why do you want to know?"

"'Cause Miaykasan, she babysits sometimes but I don't need a babysitter, says mama's gone to be with the angels. Can I go to?" Ukyou blinked away sudden tears that stung her eyes. Soap . . .that was it. She splashed her face with water.

"If your mama is gone to be with . . . if she's gone, who takes care of you? Your father?"

"Papa . . .papa isn't feeling well. He's lying down. He always lies down after he takes his medicine."

"Medicine?" Shan Pu questioned sharply. "What kind medicine?"

"You talk funny." Akane giggled and Ukyou stifled a laugh at the look on Shan Pu's face.

"Not nice laugh at my talking." Shan Pu said in a mock severe voice that set Akane off on another round of giggles.

"What kind medicine papa take, pill, or needle or . . ."

"Stinky medicine . . .in a big glass bottle. It makes him cry, then it makes him sleepy. He sleeps a lot. I wish he'd play with me. Kasumi oneesama says I shouldn't bother him while he's sick."

"Do you play with oneesama?"

"'neesama is busy . . .she's the lady of the house." Akane said proudly. "Miaykasan said so . . .I don't think 'neesama likes being lady of the house. Sometimes . . .sometimes I hear her . . .late at night I hear her crying. When I'm big I can be lady of the house too, then 'neesama won't cry." Ukyou fixed her eyes on a spot on the wall and concentrated on breathing . . .in . . out . . .in . . out . . .deep, smooth breaths.

"How about . . .'neechan? Do you play with 'neechan?" Akane stiffened in Shan Pu's arms. For a moment Ukyou thought she wasn't going to speak . . .for a moment Ukyou hoped she wouldn't speak.

"No . . .no . . .I'm too clumsy to play with 'neechan. I break things. I always break things. Not 'neechan. Not 'neechan. ME . .ME I BREAK . . ." Akane's voice started to rise in volume. Quickly Shan Pu manipulate pressure points. It seemed to Ukyou that it was more of a struggle before Akane settled down.

"Be quick." Shan Pu was tense and a little breathless. "She not stay under much longer . . .she fight, hard."

"Just a little longer." Kodachi was intent, focused. "Just a . . .little . . .longer." Kodachi took a deep calming breath and started again.

"Before your mama . . .before 'neesama was too busy to play . . .did you and 'neechan play together?"

"Oh yes." Akane's voice was light and happy. "We would play house and 'neechan would be the mama and I would be the baby and she'd tell me what to do . . ."

'No change much as get older." Shan Pu muttered under her breath.

" . . .tell stories. 'Neechan tell WONDERFUL stories. And she would sing. She and mama used to sing together all the time. And they'd play the princess game and sometime we go to the park and feed the ducks and . . ."

"Princess game? What's that?"

"J . . .just a game . . .a game." Akane seemed to shrink in on herself. "I . . .I don't play . . .I don't . . ." Kodachi's voice was low, soothing.

"Tell me please. Please Akanechan. Your mother was asking, just the other day, if you were a good girl."

"Mama! Where? Can I go see . . ."

"You have to be a good girl first . . ." Ukyou shuddered. She couldn't believe what Kodachi was doing. . .but it was working. Akane was talking, telling her . . .

" . . .en what happened. 'Neesama is taking a nap. Papa has gone out for more medicine. 'Neechan is at school. Tell me what happened. Your mama wants to know."

************************************************** Akane looked around the room with satisfaction. She'd had a little trouble reaching the top shelves, but by balancing some boxes on the chair she'd managed. Every thing looked just like she remembered watching mama and 'neechan play the princess game. She made sure the incense was lit. She felt a little guilty about that . . .she wasn't supposed to play with matches. But the incense was 'portant. And the music. The picked up the music box and gave the little key an experimental turn. All set. Tugging the too long kimono into place Akane had a momentary doubt. She wasn't sure she could remember EVERYTHING; about the princess game. She just remembered that mama dressed up in the most BEAUTIFUL old clothes, and dressed 'neechan up too. And decorated the room, and they'd sing funny old songs while mama played music. And they'd paint and tell stories. Mama said it was just like . . .like . . .Akane couldn't remember the word. But mama said it was just like a princess would act hundreds and hundreds of years ago. Akane knew that was a long time. Maybe even older than Miaykasan. And she was the oldest person Akane had ever seen, maybe the oldest person in the world. Akane heard the front door open. She started the music box and took her position, nervously running over her speech in her head. There was the thump of a book bag hitting the floor and a clattering of shoes on the wooden stairs. Akane frowned slightly. 'Neechan had forgotten to take off her shoes. Suddenly, 'neechan was in the doorway, face flushed from running eyes bright and shinning. Akane smiled. "Neechan was happy. She started her speech.

"Greeting great lady and welcome to the court . . ." Akane was an unsually strong little girl with almost two years of martial arts training. Still, it was sheer luck that the first blow struck her shoulder, breaking it instead of her neck. The second and third broke several ribs. The forth knocked her down the stairs . . .and saved her life. By the time she stopped rolling Miaykasan had come running from next door . . .and 'neesam from her room. The last thing she saw, before blackness claimed her was 'neechan standing slightly behind the grandmotherly bulk of Miaykasan, staring with a look of hatred that made Akane's heart crumble like a butterfly in a flame.

When Akane awoke she was in a strange room, all white with funny smells. Her body ached all over and she wondered what had happened. Then she remembered and the hurts of the body were nothing. 'Neechan hated her. She'd been bad and now 'neechan hated her. Papa and 'neesama too probably.

" . . .can't believe a little girl could DO so much damage."

"Well, the sister is lucky to be alive. It this one hadn't slipped and fallen down the stairs while chasing her . . ."

"A violent maniac . . .that's what she is. It's terrible. And that little Nabiki is so sweet. It's a shame she has such an awful sister . . ." Akane turned her face to the wall and buried her face in her pillow to muffle her tears.

**************************************************

"We stop now." Shan Pu manipulated pressure points and Akane relaxed with a boneless sigh. "She sleeping. Remember nothing when wake up." Ukyuo tuned out Shan Pu and Kodachi's murmured conversation and tried not to think of what she'd heard. That first savage, inexplicable attack. Followed by systematic torture . . mental and physical. Convincing everyone that AKANE was a violent, clumsy . . .

"Shan Pu agree, Nabiki crazy girl. Maybe make Kodachi look like miko or nun." Kodachi ignored the gibe and continued.

"The question at hand is what do we do? Collaborating with a murderer is one thing . . .an INSANE murderer is quite another."

"Then you think it's Nabiki now?" Shan Pu nodded slowly at Ukyou. "Think good chance. Have inside information. Know things . . .things about martial arts so can throw cards like shuriken. Know about Amazon treasure. And hate Akane. Maybe long time . . maybe can't stand see Akane marry . . .be happy."

"What do we do now?"

"What do? Do what plan . . .kill Akane. Nothing change . . .except now need kill Akane, for own sake."

"WHAT?"

"Sister crazy. WE no kill, then maybe Nabiki kill own self. Maybe kill others . . .kill Kasumi . . .RANMA . . ."

"But we could tell . . ."

"What tell . . .WHO tell. Tell Ranma . . .we going kill Akane but change mind because Nabiki to crazy to work with?" Ukyou could see where they might have a credability gap.

"But can we trust Na . . ." Ukyou paused suddenly afraid that saying her name would summon 'her', just like a demon. "Can we . . .TRUST . . .her?"

"No, but never trust even before know Nabiki, know crazy. Only trust own self. All others suspect."

"WE no kill Akane, Nabiki maybe kill, blame us anyway. WE no kill, maybe many other people die." Shan Pu paused for a moment, then continued. "Better for Akane to die. Ranma go away from crazy Nabiki. He too . . .too . . .he not understand craziness. He get hurt. Better Akane die quick, quiet . . .not know sister hate enough to kill. Great- grandmother say Akane have good soul, clean. Like child. She no go to ten thousand hells. Akane be reborn in Pure Lands. Or maybe she come back . . different place. No Nabiki, no hurt." Shan Pu looked over at Kodachi.

"You want say something?" Kodachi shrugged and stood abruptly, water sleeting from her body. "The water is cooling." Stepping from the furo Kodachi wrapped a towel around herself. Ukyou reached out and grabbed the edge of Kodachi's towel.

"But what do YOU think, Kodachi?" Bending slightly Kodachi lightly traced the sleeping Akane's cheek with the back of her hand.

"If it were done, when it were done, t'were best done quickly."

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