Disclaimer:      The characters and situations of Ranma 1/2 are owned by
Rumiko Takahashi and are used in this fanfic without permission.
------------------------------------------------------------------------





7:00 PM Monday night



Swish. Swish.


Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful.


Swish. Back. Block.


I must remain true to my ideals.


Swish. Forward. Swish. Hold. Stab.


It is the trial of my ancestors.


Swish. Back. Swish.

And I will not be found wanting

Back. Bow.

No matter what the Tendo girl says.

With sweat framing his brow and bokken tightly in hand, Kunou sighed.
For the eleventh time Kuno had practiced this same form and for the
eleventh time he couldn�t escape thoughts of the mercenary girl.

Tendo Nabiki.

She looked so happy before.
Maybe he was too hard on her.
Maybe she didn�t deserve that.

He growled.

Why should she inhabit his thoughts so!
She was not the type of person who warranted thoughts of regret or
remorse. It�s obvious that she did not harbor any such feelings within
herself, why should he for her?

Yet there is some soul of goodness in things evil.
Of course he did not think of the Tendo girl as evil, just� misguided.
Not everyone could be blessed with the gift of clarity as he had been.

What to do?

He was about to continue another exercise when he was interrupted by the
sounds of laughter.

�Hohohohohoohohoho!�

�Sister!�

She entered the family training hall. Her face was pale and her limbs
trembled. Her expression was glazed and her voice unsteady. Perhaps her
most notable feature however, was her leotard, wrinkled in several
places, it looked as if it had been hastily donned.

�Sister! Are you well?� he asked.

�Why everything�s fine brother dear! How could it not be! Hohohohohoho�

�From whence have you come!�

�Why from my dear Ranma�s room of course!� she answered simply.

Kunou became furious. �That cursed Saotome. How dare he play with the
affections of my sister!�

Kodachi merely continued laughing maniacally.

�Sister please! What is this hold he has on you?�

�He�s fun! And he�s handsome! And he�s sweet! And he�s nice to me, even
when I play him!�

�The devil hath power to assume a pleasing shape. Please take hold of
thyself sister. You are a Kunou! You must have strength otherwise you
risk embarrassing us with your actions.�

She suddenly hissed at him. �Don�t you dare judge me brother! You don�t
know what it is like! You have your school, and lots of friends! And you
even get to see father! I�m always alone! And you never listen��

�Sister please!�

��to me!�

�See! That�s exactly what I mean! If I want to go and have fun brother
dear there is nothing you can do to stop me!�

�Do not test me sister!�

�And do not tell me what to do dear brother. You are not my mother!�

�But sister, please!�

�Speak to me no longer brother! I am tired. I must rest.� And with that,
she stormed out of the training hall.

Kunou sighed and stared sadly after his sister.

�Dearest sister.� He whispered. �I know your pain, and yet there is o
real medicine for the miserable, only hope.�

Kodachi reached her room and slammed the door.

How dare he try and judge her!

Had he himself not embarrassed the family in his pursuit of Akane and
the �pig-tailed� girl!

She removed her leotard and sat in her chair in front of her dresser.

She looked at her half naked form in the mirror.

�Oh my dearest Ranma! I had such a wonderful time. If only these nights
could last forever!�

She pulled open the drawer.

�Such a lovely time!�

She twirled her ribbon expertly around her exposed arm and pulled a
syringe from the drawer.

�Yes�such a lovely time.�



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

Kodachi�s half naked entrance into Ranma�s room had been classic.

The problem was. What was she going to do with the pictures?

Despite being Tatewake�s sister, not that many people at Furinkan High
knew who she was. And Kodachi attended an all-girls school which made
the market for her pictures there accordingly low.

Maybe she would just spread them around town, including Tatewake�s
mailbox so he could see what a slut his sister really is.

Nabiki sat at her dresser and looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes
shone an angry red.

Tatewake.
That son-of-a-bitch!
How had he done that to her?
She hadn�t cried like that in years.
It couldn�t have been the things he said.

No.

Of course not.

It would take more than the misguided words of a raving lunatic to get
_her_ going.

Nevertheless, whatever it was, Nabiki was going to get even.

He�s gonna pay for that! Whatever it is he did, that jerk�s gonna pay!

But how though?

She briefly fantasized about somehow bringing the Kunou family to
financial ruin and a tired, haggard Tatewake forced to work his way
through school.

She quickly let the fantasy go though. She did not have the means or
resources to accomplish any such thing, that and she didn�t really want
to destroy him.

No.

She wanted him to squirm.

She wanted him to see him humiliated and disgraced. Him and his stupid
delusions.

His delusions.

Yes! That�s it!

Slowly, tantalizingly, a very delicious, yummy idea came to her.

She picked up the phone as a malicious smile slowly spread over her
face.

He would pay.
Oh yes he would.

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

Tendo.
Nabiki.

It was well past 2 AM yet for some reason he could not escape thoughts
of his victory over the mercenary girl.

She deserved it.

Almost hidden behind the various framed pictures of Akane and the
pig-tailed girl which he had procured from Tendo Nabiki, lay a much
smaller, much older picture. He gingerly pushed the pictures of his two
great loves aside and picked up the frame. He sat back down on his bed
and held the picture up to the light. After contemplating it few several
moments he spoke softly to himself.

�'They think not but that every eye can see, the same disgrace which
they themselves behold, and therefore would they still in darkness be,
to have their unseen sin remain untold, for they their guilt with
weeping will unfold. O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!�

He thought back to his sister�s words.
�It�s not fair�you have lots of friends!�

�It is decided.� He said out loud to himself.

�I will make amends.�


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

Tuesday Morning 7:47 AM
Furinkan High Room 304


�Kunou�s rather late isn�t he?� said a male student.

�Oh yeah huh? Shouldn�t he be preparing for his battle for the
�pig-tailed� girl and the �fair� Akane Tendo?� said another.

�You know, I don�t know what the big deal about Akane is when we�ve got
another Tendo girl right here!� said a non-descript boy with glasses.

Several of the boys in the group looked at each other.

�What? I think she�s absolutely gorgeous!� he affirmed

�You�re nuts, man!�

�Just what the hell are you thinking?�

�What? I�m serious! She�s a total babe! Look at her!� he said.

The boys turned surreptitiously to look at Nabiki who was sitting across
the room amongst her own little group.

�Her face,� he whispered ��like an arrogant angel, her body, a Greek
statue couldn�t do it justice, and that voice! That impudent but
oh-so-sexy voice! Oh God!�

�The boy�s gone and lost it.� said one boy.

�That he has.� said another.

�Say Mori, didn�t you ask her out once?�

�Don�t remind me.� Mori said.

�What happened?�

�Nothing.�

�C�mon! Tell us!�

�I just did.� He said morosely. �I don�t know, man. It�s the way she
looks at you when you talk to her. She�s either sizing you up for your
money or looking at you like there�s just no way that the two of you are
on the same level. Yeesh.� he shuddered.

�But that�s exactly what makes her just so totally sexy!� said the boy
with glasses.

The other just boys stared at him.

�Looks like we�re gonna have to beat some sense into this poor boy.�
said one as he cracked his knuckles.

�Oh yeah.� said a second.

�Gym class?� asked the first.

�Gym class.� affirmed another.

Across the room Nabiki was sitting amongst her own group of girlfriends,
chatting casually and trying to catch up on the local gossip.

�I think they�re talking about you, Nabiki.� said one.

�So what else is new?�

�Stupid idiots. They think they�re just sooo slick.�

�I don�t know. Makoto�s kinda cute. What do you think Nabiki.�

She looked back at the group of boys and met directly with Makoto�s
eyes.

�Eep!� he cried and quickly turned away.

Nabiki smiled mischievously and turned back to her group of friends.
�Yeah, I guess he�s all right. But I wouldn�t dream of taking him away
from Kyoko.�

�Wh-what?� said a suddenly red-faced Kyoko. �Be quiet! I-I don�t know
what you�re talking about!�

�Uh-huh.� said Nabiki. �Now, now Kyoko,� she said with intrigue �He
still doesn�t have a clue about your �secret affections� does he? Or
should I slip him a note in class?�

Kyoko turned even redder. �Stop it!� she half-whispered/ half-screamed.
�You wouldn�t dare Nabiki!�

�Wanna bet?� she smirked, as she and the other girls started to giggle
as a group.

It was then that Kunou entered the room.

He strode into the classroom and caught sight of Nabiki sitting amongst
her friends. He saw her look up but then she quickly glanced down and
continued talking to her friends as if pretending not to notice.

�Just you wait Tatewake Kunou!� Nabiki mused inwardly. �After today
you�ll wish you were never born! Ha! No one messes with Tendo Nabiki! No
one!�

He approached her purposely

She stood in the middle of her group, continuing to talk as if not
sensing his approach until he was almost upon them.

�Is there something I can do for you Tatewake Kunou?� she stated simply.
She looked at him straight in the eye. She would not back down from him
again, not from him, not from anybody.

He noticed her eyes were red and puffy.

�Greetings, Tendo Nabiki. I see that this good morning finds you
productive.�

�Yes. And as you can see I�m fairly busy at the moment so unless there�s
something you want you can leave now, Kunou.� Her tone was neutral, if
not hostile.

He looked down and paused, as if briefly contemplating a course of
action.

He looked directly at her. �I fear I may have made a grave error in
judgement this afternoon past and I�I would like to�ahem�I wish to make
amends to you Tendo Nabiki.�

By now everyone who happened to be present was held in rapt attention.
They had all noticed that Nabiki�s eyes were red but she had casually
passed it off as allergies. But now everyone could sense the tension
between Nabiki and Kunou. In addition, for Kunou to apologize for
anything was one thing, for him to apologize to Tendo Nabiki - something
interesting was definitely afoot.

�Even I myself am not immune to a casual mistake of protocol. Although
my past words may have portrayed me as indelicate, hopefully my present
actions prove otherwise.�

>From his monogrammed leather book bag he brought forth a small, flat,
gift-wrapped box, about ten centimeters square, complete with bow.

�I trust we can put the past behind us and I sincerely hope that this
meager token may find with your approval.�

He presented the gift to the Tendo girl who, in abject shock, extended
her outstretched hand by instinct. After carefully placing the package
in her palm he quickly stepped back and gave a deep formal bow.

�I trust the rest of your day shall be equally productive.� and with
that, after placing his belongings in his cabinet, Kunou quickly took
his leave � leaving behind a stunned classroom.

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

�There.� he thought to himself. �It is done.� He let out an relieved
sigh. �Now on to my task.� With his bokken against his shoulder he made
his way to the school�s entrance.

Several blocks away two girls were running towards Furinkan high. One
was, amazingly enough, running across a fence while the other was
traversing the sidewalk. The girl running the fence was wearing a red
Chinese shirt and black pants. Both appeared entirely too big too big
for her. The other girl wore a simple blue, Furinkan High school
uniform.

They were apparently having an argument.

�You haven�t told me yet. Why are you purposely coming to school in girl
form!�

�It�s nothing!� said the girl running the fence.

�Ranmaaaaa!�

�Will you relax you kawaikun��

A mallet appeared out of nowhere, but before it could be used to justify
its existence, Ranma spoke.

�It�s Nabiki, she asked me to.�

The mallet promptly disappeared from whence it came.

�You�re coming to school as a girl because Nabiki asked you to? I don�t
believe it! Ranma! If this is something perverted��

�Shhhh! Quiet!� Ranma stopped and jumped down to Akane�s position. She
stopped and looked around to make sure no one was listening. �Look,
she�s paying me ok? And it�s not like I have to wear a dress or
anything!� Ranma started running the sidewalk towards the school again.

Akane stood still for a while. �What?� and started running again. �Ranma
wait!�

Ranma waited until Akane was running alongside her. �All right! She�s
not _paying_ me, she�s clearing me of fifty percent of my debt.� They
were nearing the school. �Fifty percent! And all I have to do is show up
as a girl for a while and say a few stupid things to Kunou.�

�Kunou? Ranma what�s going��

Shhh! Shut up! There he is!

They approached Kunou who, as usual, was keeping vigil at the school
gate.

In as sugary a voice as Ranma could muster, she greeted Kunou. �Good
Morning Kunou-Sempai!�

�Akane Tendo! Pig-tailed girl!�

He reached forward to grab Ranma but she easily sidestepped him and ran
past the gates into the courtyard. Although he had never glomped Akane,
he was about to speak to her when Ranma called out to him.  �Oh Sempai!
Kunou-Sempai! Please follow me, there�s important something I have to
tell you!�

Kunou quickly turned around. �Yes! Yes my love! I will do as you ask!�
He followed her, practically skipping out into the courtyard.

Ranma ran midway into the courtyard and turned around. Behind her, in
the windows of the main building were the faces of hundreds of students
eagerly awaiting their daily �morning entertainment.�

�Stop!� she commanded him.

Kunou stopped several meters away from Ranma. �Yes my love! What is it
you would have me hear?�

In a voice that sounded as contrived as it was badly rehearsed, Ranma
spoke. �Long have I been enslaved by evil circumstances, yet as of late
my dreams have sent me vision of a warrior true. They tell of one who
would rescue me from my heinous predicament. Please, tell me
Tatewake-san, are you that brave warrior?�

By the Gods! All this time! He knew he was right!

�Yes! Yes my love! I am that warrior! For so long have I fought but now
by your words I know my cause to be true!�

�Wow.� Thought Ranma. �He said exactly what Nabiki said he would.� He
looked at Kunou who looked ready to burst into tears. ��Ahem�yeah, but
you must tell me first��

�Yes. Anything my love!�

�Have your thoughts been pure?�

Kunou suddenly became very nervous �I-I�m not sure I understand��

Ranma continued, her voice still sounding badly fabricated. �Have you
remained pure in your thoughts of me or have you defiled your body in
thought as well as action? A true warrior must be honest in his words.
Above all, to thine own self be true.� He said.

Kunou�s cheeks were burning red. �Pig-tailed girl, I-I, FROGIVE ME!� he
cried.

A collective gasp was heard from all present, including Akane.

�Oh God how gross!� Ranma thought. She cracked her knuckles. �All right,
I�m gonna enjoy this!�

She called out to Kunou who was in tears.  � Your honestly shall be
rewarded. Come my brave one�� yuck, did she really just say that?
��close your eyes and walk towards me.�

�Yes my love!� Arms outstretched, his head held high and his eyes
closed, Kunou walked slowly towards Ranma.

�Here we go.� thought Ranma. From out of his backpack he pulled out a
thermos filled with hot water. He quickly unscrewed the lid and dumped
the contents over himself.

Oblivious to the transformation, Kunou, his eyes still closed, walked
forward and proceeded to glomp a now very male, a very wet, and a very
angry, Ranma Saotome.

Kunou opened his eyes.

�You sick pervert!� Ranma said. And he kicked Kunou in the chin causing
him to fly back several feet and land on his back.

>From the main building Nabiki and the other students crowded the windows
as they looked on at Kunou�s fall. �Ha!� she thought to herself. �Take
that you jerk!� This was perfect. Maybe she would take an additional 10
percent of Ranma�s debt. Then again�

�Hey, Nabiki! Doesn�t it bother you that your �boyfriend� is doing
�that� while thinking of other girls?� Kyoko asked.

Nabiki was not amused. �Kunou is definitely _not_ my boyfriend. He�s
just some poor deluded freak.�

�Uh, huh. So what�s with that whole dramatic production between the two
of you this morning?� she smirked.

Nabiki laughed it off. �Oh, that? I got him to think that he hurt my
feelings somehow. All that honor crap forced him to �make amends.� Best
way I know to get free gifts from a guy!�

�Oooh. You _are_ a bad girl!�

Nabiki looked back down to watch the fight. �Yeah�bad.�

Behind them Kunou�s gift lay untouched on Nabiki�s desk, apparently
forgotten.


Back in the courtyard Kunou promptly picked himself up. �Saotome! You
evil villain! What have you done to the pig-tailed maiden!�

�You have to be the most disgusting creep I have ever met. Did you know
that Kunou.� Ranma shuddered. The thought of Kunou touching himself
while thinking if him made him incredibly angry.

Kunou charged. �Die you!�

�This is it.� Ranma thought to himself.

�Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken - revised!� he called out and delivered the
coup de grace. Nabiki had asked for this specifically. At first even he
thought this was somewhat cruel but then decided that it was Kunou and
that he did deserve it. Besides, it�s not everyday that Nabiki offered
50 percent of anything.

Kunou struggled to make his way around Ranma�s fists in vain. His hands
moved faster than the eyes could see. He couldn�t feel any actual blows
but kept hearing the strange sounds of cloth tearing.

When Ranma was finished Kunou stood there
�Pig-tailed girl, please!� He called out to her �Fight whatever power is
influencing you.�

Ranma stood looking at him completely expressionless. Suddenly however,
he chuckled. That chuckle soon became open laughter and that laughter
became huge, guffaws as his eyes teared, his mouth flared and her
flushed face red.

Soon the air was full of the sounds of laughter coming from all around
him.

To the side Kunou could see the fair Tendo Akane, covering her eyes with
her hands.

�What�s going on?� Kunou thought to himself.

Feeling a sudden breeze, Kunou looked down.

He was completely naked.

He promptly dropped his bokken in order to cover his more delicate
areas. Unfortunately it was not before the entire school body had
already taken a good look as they watched the events through the
building windows.

He ran across the courtyard in full view of everyone.

�Hey Kunou-Sempai!� someone jeered through the windows.

�Must be cold out there huh!� yelled another.

The sounds of hundreds of laughs continued to fill the air as Kunou ran,
searching for salvation.

>From the corner of his eyes Kunou could even see the fair Tendo Akane
laughing at him through hands which were held to her face.

He made his way to the school gym where he kept extra clothes. Upon
reaching his locker he hastily undid the lock and opened the door, only
to be stunned stiff by what he saw inside.

His clothes were gone, replaced by apparel which could have only come
from one source. A note was stuck to the inside of his locker door.
�Someone called and told me that you were planning a trip to the
islands. These are for you. Love, Dad.�

Stepping back, he slumped down on the bench behind him.

Tired, naked, incredibly embarrassed and defeated, Kunou began to cry.

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

12:04
Furinkan High Rm. 304
Lunch hour.



It was time.

She had worked very hard to plan out Kunou�s humiliation. Now it was
time to cash in.

She spied Kunou sitting at his desk. He sat silently eating his meal of
assorted sushi. He was wearing purple Bermuda shorts and a short sleeved
Hawaiian shirt with various red-hued depictions of the Hawaiian tropical
flora. She laughed inwardly. �Ha. You poor pathetic little boy! Yes, I�m
going to enjoy this very, very much. It�s my turn now little man!�

She strode over to the sitting Kunou and stood in front of him, making a
point to look down on him in front of everyone.

�Hello, Kunou-baby.�

�Hello, Tendo Nabiki.�

She noticed his eyes were red. She thought to herself silently �I hope
you�ve been crying you son of a bitch!�

�I see you�re looking well.� She said sweetly. �I like your outfit by
the way. It makes you look very�festive.�

He looked at her, a momentary wince wrinkled his features, and then was
gone.

Nabiki however, reveled in it.

�So what do you think, huh?� She came close and gestured to his shirt. �
Maybe this is the real Kunou, the one that�s secretly struggling to get
out.�

�You're much deceived, in nothing am I changed
but in my garments.�

Now.

She looked at him with a sudden predatory grin. �So how does it feel,
huh Kunou?�

�I know not of what you speak.�

�This! You! Look at you! You look like an idiot! No, scratch that, you
ARE and idiot! You know, Kunou-baby, you could have avoided all of this
if you had come to me first.�

�As I have already told you Tendo Nabiki, I will no longer tender your
services in that manner. I have found a better way.�

�Did you hear that?� someone whispered.
�I wonder what those �services� are?� whispered another.

Nabiki continued, ignoring the whispers. �Admit it already! You�re a
loser! You think that you�re fighting in the name of your ancestors and
your honor but all you�re really doing is making you and your whole
family look stupid, especially when all you do is lose!�

�Ouch, talk about harsh!� whispered one boy.
�He must have really screwed her over somehow.� Said another.

By this time Kunou was rapidly becoming incensed. How dare she relish in
his misfortunes! After he had spent so much in time and energy to make
amends with her! After he had fought and faced certain humiliation for
her, for them, for all of them!

Nabiki smiled as she saw Kunou�s reactions. His gaze was held downwards,
no doubt contemplating her words. His face was turning red and the sides
of his desk were held in a death grip.

Now for the kill.

She continued. �You know, I think the worst part of this, are all the
things that you�ve lost. You worked so hard to maintain a level of
respect, people used to actually look up to you! But now look at you.
You�re just a joke! Akane my love! Pig-tailed girl! Pig-tailed girl!�
she mimicked. �Someday I hope you find out who the �pig-tailed� girl
really is, Kunou. Who knows? Maybe when you find out who �she� really is
you�ll touch yourself even more!�

Several of the boys in the class laughed openly while the girls cringed.

Nabiki was grinning openly now. Kunou�s face, though still held
downwards, was now deep red. His teeth were clenched and his knuckles
white.

She had won.

But just as she was about to glory in her victory something remarkable
happened.

Kunou, who looked as if her were about to burst several blood vessels in
his head, suddenly straightened and calmed. His chin rose higher, his
grip loosened, and in front of a shocked Nabiki, he sighed and gave her
a relaxed and easy smile.

He spoke softly, almost reverently. �The painful warrior, famoused for
fight, after a thousand victories, once foiled, is from the books of
honor razed quite, and all the rest forgot for which he toiled. And yet
despite this, the better part of valor is discretion, and I will not be
found wanting.� He nodded to himself in seeming affirmation and in a
completely casual gesture, picked up his chopsticks, apparently intent
on continuing with his meal. �This is quite delicious Nabiki, would you
care to try some.� He gestured to the bento box in front of him.

Nabiki was aghast. What had just happened? And why was he using her
first name! She was not about to be cheated out of her victory however.
She bent over him. �Haven�t you heard a word I said you idiot!�

�Yes, and your opinions are duly noted. But I must stand firm in my
quest.�

�Give me a break! Open your eyes Kunou! Even you must know that your
�great quest� is a crock already!�

He smiled at her. �Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we
oft might win by fearing to attempt.�

Smiling? Why is he still smiling?

She practically screamed at him. �Oh please! Spare me!�

Without warning he reached out and ever so gently, stroked her left
cheek. �There are just some things that I have to do.� He pulled back.
�I don�t expect you to understand Nabiki, but please believe me when I
say that it was never my intention for you to become victim to my
ill-chosen words. They say, the best men are molded out of faults, and,
for the most, become much more the better. Please take it as such.� His
voice was almost a whisper.

Nabiki stood flabbergasted. She could still feel the lingering trace of
his fingers on her cheek which was already burning. She couldn�t decide
whether or not the feeling what sensuous or sickening. And from around
the room she could hear the continued whispers of her classmates.

�Did you see what he just did!�

�He touched her cheek!�

�Weren�t they fighting just a minute ago?�

��like lovers.�

��damn martial artists, stealing all the girls!�

He continued to look directly at her, still seated and smiling softly.
>From Nabiki�s point of view however, it was a smile of condescension, as
if Kunou knew of some grand secret that Nabiki could never fathom.

And without thinking or realizing how her classmates might interpret her
words, she pointed at Kunou and said �Tatewake, don�t you dare ever
touch me again!� and made a hasty retreat.

Kunou, who still managed to look dignified whilst wearing his Hawaiian
regalia, continued with his meal.

He was still smiling softly.


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


�Composed of 54 chapters, the Tale of Genji is broadly divided into
three sections. The first part of thirty-three chapters concerns itself
with the first half of Genji's life starting with chapter Kiritsubo and
ending with chapter Fuji-no-uraba. The second portion represents��

It was the last class of the day and despite the day�s events, Kunou sat
content.

Things were looking up. Now that he knew that his trials were tests, his
patience and discretion had reached new heights. It seemed however that
the trials were becoming more pronounced as of late. Perhaps this was a
sign that his cause was soon to reach its climax.

Yes.
Of course.
It is always darkest before the dawn.

He had already undergone so much. Things must only now be coming to a
zenith. But he was ready. And he would win.

He would win it all!

�Ms. Tendo, are you paying attention?� the teacher suddenly called out.

The entire class, including Kunou, turned to a bewildered Nabiki.

�Y-Yes sir!�

�I�m disappointed Ms. Tendo. You are usually one of my more�attentive
students.�

�Yes sir.�

�Please keep your mind focused on the task at hand Ms. Tendo. If not I�d
say the odds detention are not in your favor. Would you care to make a
bet?�

The entire class laughed as Nabiki�s eyes suddenly found the floor
incredibly interesting.

The teacher continued with his lecture �Now where was I? Yes, as I was
saying�.�

Kunou smiled slightly. He hoped that his gift to Nabiki would serve as
proper reparation.  Perhaps one day, after he found a way to achieve his
goals, he would find a way to make her see, but for now, he would stay
resolute.

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


It had been in the family for six generations.
Once the centerpiece of a much larger estate it was now the focal point
of more good-natured frenzied mayhem that had ever been seen in the
area.

The Tendo dojo.

�Tadaima!� Nabiki called out as she entered the house.

Of to the side of on an exposed porch a man and a panda were sitting
across each other apparently engaged in a game of shogi.

�Nabiki.� her father commented.
�Growf.� The panda affirmed.
And both quickly returned to their game.

A beautiful young woman in domestic dress and long hair came from out of
the kitchen. �Anything interesting happen at school today, Nabiki?�

�Not really oneechan. If you don�t mind I�ll just go to my room now. I�m
really tired.�

�All right. Dinner will be in an hour though.�

�Ok.�

�Nabiki slowly shuffled up to her room. She undressed, and changed into
a simple black tank-top and powder blue shorts.

She lay on her bed with a sigh and stared at the ceiling.

Kunou.
Tatewake.

In the space of two days he had gone from an irrepressible moron to an
indefinable quantity, an unpredictable variable. If there was anything
Nabiki didn�t like, it was the unpredictable.

How dare he embarrass her like that! And in front of the whole class
too!

Throughout the day she had her informants watch his every move. When
that turned up nothing she carefully examined his demeanor during class,
hoping to glean some insight into his odd behavior. At one point, having
caught her unawares, the teacher scolded and made fun of her in front of
the whole class. Her! Even Kunou smiled!

Perhaps the greatest indignity of all was the fact that the entire
campus was now rife with rumors of a secret love affair between the two
of them.

Needless to say, she was infuriated.

�I�ll have to think of a better plan.� She thought to herself.

Suddenly remembering something, she turned around to face the end of the
bed and lay on her stomach. Reaching down to the side of her bed she
opened her backpack and amidst the ledgers, notebooks, and various
texts, gingerly pulled out Kunou�s gift and set it down in font of her
on the foot of the bed. She contemplated it for a while.

It was a traditional origami wrapping job, red and blue with decorative
folds framing each side. In deference to the traditional however, a
silver ribbon, now slightly crushed, accentuated the package.

�Maybe it�s something I can sell.� She thought to herself.

She carefully unwrapped the box. Even under the circumstances any
present was a good present, but she decided to be careful. After all,
Tatewake Kunou _was_ the brother of Kodachi. Who knows what could be in
the box? And it did feel rather heavy.

As she took apart the wrapping the box revealed itself to be lined with
black velvet.

A jewelry box?

She opened it slowly.

A small envelope fell out but escaped her attention as she quickly sat
up, stunned at the more substantial contents within.

It was a bracelet.

12 cultured pearls, strung together and held with a gold clasp.

Afraid to even take it out of its case, she carefully examined it in the
light of her room.

It was a crescent design. Thicker pearls made up the middle while
consecutively smaller ones tapered down to the clasp. The pearls must
have been picked with the utmost care as the bracelet was perfect in its
symmetry. It was beautiful.

She was almost lost in it�s beauty and value before she remembered its
source and quickly put it down.

�That�that jerk!� she almost screamed out loud. �How dare he use his
money like�like this!�

She spotted the envelope.

Not knowing any more what to expect she opened it. There was no note,
only a small picture.

Two children, a boy and a girl, sat side by side on two adjacent swings.
She recognized the playground. What�s more she recognized the two
children. The boy was wearing a little blue gi, his mouth hidden by the
ice cream cone he held to his face. The girl, dressed in a little yellow
gi, sat with her own cone held haphazardly in her left hand as she waved
to the camera with her right.

It was her and him, Tatewake, back when her father was still teaching,
back when her mother was still alive. After class her mother used to
take all the children to the playground. That was before she died.
Before everything changed. Before she changed herself.

�Oh mom.� She whispered to herself.

All of a sudden Nabiki felt tired, angry, and for some reason, more
ashamed than she had ever been in her entire life.

And for the second time in as many days, Tendo Nabiki shed tears.

This time however, she wasn�t sure why.