Akane was apparently giving serious consideration to sharing her husband with the chef as well as Shampoo, but Nabiki believed the smoothest way that could be handled would be to hand each an ultimatum once Ranma and Akane were firmly committed (possibly even after the wedding, though definitely after they had sex for the first time). It would be a far better negotiating position to say: "Akane already won Ranma for herself, game over. However, if you still love him, she has agreed to allow you to be a mistress. Think about it for a while and decide which you would prefer: making love to Ranma whenever you like, possibly even bearing his children out of wedlock... or jack squat. It's up to you." Nabiki had found it was a lot easier to steer people where she wanted if she could narrow down their options to just two, where one was very obviously, if not their perfect ideal, then at least the clear lesser of two evils.
What exactly were Ukyou's intentions for tonight's meeting? If she were only going to re-press the validity of her engagement, that might not be too big a problem, depending on how Nodoka reacted. It seemed she was aiming to discuss things in a civil and polite manner, since she was bringing food as a gift and even made a point of letting Kasumi know in advance so that the extra food could be factored into the older girl's plans for dinner. Another point was that Ukyou considered her discussion to be important, but not vitally urgent, or she wouldn't even bother opening her restaurant for tonight's customers and come immediately to the dojo to await Ranma's mother. The chef was far from stupid. She now knew that Akane was very eager to talk to Nodoka in a hurry about something, most likely related to the Tendou engagement, which probably would lead her to conclude that Nodoka's visit was more than a mere social dropping by. Even still, Ukyou was opting to wait until after dinner, which might allow a lot of important things to be discussed at the Tendou home without Ukyou being there to put her two cents in, or press the validity of her own engagement. Possibly the chef was simply having a bad business month, and desperately needed to be open during her peak hours tonight to keep out of the red. Possibly she had just determined that the best way to approach Ranma's traditionalist mother was formally and with her best manners put forward... which would preclude barging in on a family dinner, or coming earlier and expecting to be fed when she hadn't been invited. Or (and this was the possibility that worried Nabiki a bit) Ukyou had some sort of brilliant plan, or a bomb to drop, that she believed would be so effective it wouldn't matter what things got discussed prior to her arrival in the later evening; that even if Nodoka was coming to set a date for another wedding attempt, what Ukyou had to say would easily blow those plans out of the water?
Nabiki really wished she had a better bead on Ukyou's intentions for tonight, if only so she could circumvent any words or actions that would throw Akane's plans into complete disarray. Not only did Nabiki love her little sister and want her to be happy (now that the brat had finally started growing up, anyway) but if things worked out the way Akane wanted, Nabiki would be seeing the fulfillment of quite a few of her most secret fantasies. Ranma... Akane... Kasumi... Ranma and Akane at the same time... Ranma, Akane and Kasumi at the same time! Heck, maybe even a huge orgy with the four of them plus a Chinese hottie and cute okonomiyaki chef thrown in! They'd probably have to lay out blankets on the floor of the dojo so there'd be enough room for everyone... though the image of all six of them as one tight mass of flesh crammed into one of their bedrooms wasn't so awful, like a naked, somewhat sticky game of Twister...
Nabiki shook her head to snap herself out of her fantasies, wiping a bit of drool from her lip (and rubbing her thighs together to try and stop the other place she had begun drooling). This was no time to be lost in hot (really really hot) daydreams. She had serious thinking to do if she was going to make anything even remotely similar happen in reality.
Okay focus. Ukyou: wild card. Insufficient information to plan countermeasures... or even determine if countermeasures are necessary. She hated that, but until the chef played her hand tonight, there didn't seem much she could do about it.
Ranma: primary stumbling block. Akane wanted him, both in bed and in the wedding hall. The problem was getting Ranma to cooperate. More than that, to initiate things, since Akane didn't seem very able to take preemptive action with him. Shame that. It would make things easier... or would it? Shampoo, Ukyou and Kodachi had all pressed their suits, and even occasionally their bodies, with Ranma, and it had gotten them nowhere. Ranma was not very receptive to forward invitations, generally panicking and bolting for the hills. Rather strange for a guy who was so bold whenever a girl wasn't involved... or was that it? Did Ranma instinctively feel he should be the one initiating things, the aggressor... and yet had no experience or concept of how to start the ball rolling? That would explain a lot... and it would also make him an excellent match for her submissive younger sister, presuming he could be taught how to make a move in the first place.
Hmm... teaching Ranma, huh?
Nabiki ran her plan through her head one more time, ironing out the details, then turned and headed back into the school. Though classes were over, it would still be an hour before everything was locked up, due to various clubs and such that met after school, and she needed a computer.
It was nearly 5pm when Nabiki got home. Ranma and Akane had already returned, though they weren't talking just now. Ranma looked pensive and confused. Akane looked worried and anxious. Probably both were thinking about Nodoka's pending arrival.
Keeping that in mind, Nabiki decided she had better hurry with her plan. Depending on how things went tonight, Akane's goals might be given a shove forward or backward. Probably best to get Ranma thinking in the right direction before anything got started.
"Ranma, letter for you." She said as she handed him an envelope.
Ranma blinked, noticing the absence of a stamp that would indicate it had come through the mail. "Who from?"
"She asked me not to say. More to the point, she paid me not to say." Nabiki smirked.
Akane bristled. "A love letter?" Ranma flinched back. He hadn't even opened the letter yet and already he was going to get hit for it.
Nabiki quickly closed the distance and put a hand on her sister's shoulder. "No Akane, I'm pretty sure it's not that. After all, this girl isn't one of Ranma's fiancées. In fact, I'm pretty sure she's rooting for you. The letter is probably something to help the both of you... or at least that's the impression I got from her attitude. I didn't read it myself."
Akane blinked in confusion at her older sister, who winked in return. Comprehension slowly filled Akane's face, and she cleared her throat. "Well, I guess if it's not a love letter. What's it say, Ranma?"
Nabiki patted her sister's shoulder. "Now now, don't be nosy, Akane. The letter's addressed to Ranma, not you."
Akane pouted. "Fine."
Nabiki smirked at the sulking girl. "Ranma, before your mother gets here, why don't you go somewhere private and read that. So that Akane isn't tempted to peak over your shoulder."
"I wouldn't do that!" Akane spat.
Nabiki raised an eyebrow, smirking. "No? Letter from a girl, not a fiancée, trying to help you, and you don't feel any desire to read it?"
Akane folded her arms and turned her head away in a huff. "Nope. Not at all."
Nabiki snickered. "Good for you. Reading other people's mail isn't very nice, in fact I believe it's technically illegal."
Ranma looked back and forth between the two, feeling like he'd just missed being hit by a car by dumb luck alone. "Oookay. Guess I'll go read this in my room then." He said and left quickly, not wanting to push his luck with his volatile fiancée.
When he was gone, Akane turned to her sister. "Okay Nabiki, who's it really from?"
Nabiki made a show of looking offended. "Why Akane, are you insinuating that I lied to poor Ranma just now? The idea! I was entirely truthful." She smiled affectionately and moved closer to her sister (and now lover) leaning close to gently touch their foreheads together. "A girl who is not Ranma's fiancée... who wants to help you two... Gee, who could she be?" She said teasingly.
Akane blinked, even as her cheeks turned slightly pink at the intimate closeness. "Oh! Duh... Um... should I say thank you, or is it too soon for that?"
Nabiki giggled and pecked her little sister on the cheek. "Oh I think you can definitely thank me later, though I'm hoping the actual conversation will be minimal."
Akane grinned back, her cheeks flushed. "Heh... pervert." She said without heat.
"Maybe, but I've got nothing on you, little sis." Nabiki whispered.
Akane stuck out her tongue. Nabiki gently took her face in both hands, leaned in, and... pushed it back inside.
"Goodness, what are you two doing?"
Both girls jumped apart, blushing furiously. "K-K-Kasumi! I... I was just... er..." Nabiki babbled.
Akane regained her composure faster. "It's nothing, Kasumi-oneechan. I had something caught in my teeth. Nabiki was just working it loose for me since I couldn't seem to get it out with my own tongue."
Kasumi smiled. "How nice of you, Nabiki. But you know, we do have toothpicks in the kitchen cupboard that work better for that. You also might want to take Akane into the bathroom to clean her teeth next time, if only so that other's don't get the wrong impression."
Nabiki chuckled nervously. "Ahaha... um, yeah. Can't have that. We'll do it in there in the future, Oneechan." She almost bit her tongue as she realised what she'd just said, and how it could be interpreted, but despite Akane's choked off snicker, Kasumi didn't appear to react to the unintentional double entendre.
Kasumi smiled gently and nodded. "Now then, Auntie Saotome will be here in about 20 minutes, assuming she's not help up by anything. Would one of you like to help me by setting the table?"
"Sure Oneechan. I'll do it!" Nabiki nervously agreed.
Kasumi nodded her thanks and returned to the kitchen.
Nabiki let out a sigh of relief. "I can't believe she bought that."
Akane gave her a sidelong glance. "I can't believe you believe she bought that."
Nabiki blinked and stared at her younger sister.
Akane smirked. "Don't you remember my saying the other day that I was fairly certain Kasumi would accept any advances you made on her?"
"...So you did. Mind telling me exactly how you feel so confident of that? What exactly happened that you know so?"
Akane grinned wickedly. Then she leaned forward with one finger upraised, and winked. "That is... a secret!"
Nabiki's eyes narrowed. "I am the mistress of secrets. I shall probe, prod, entice, and manipulate until you tell me every sordid detail, I promise you."
Akane shivered pleasantly. "Oooh... I may just tell you then, if you can 'convince' me as thoroughly as you imply... but in the meantime, didn't you promise to set the table for Kasumi-oneechan? You've kept her waiting a bit."
Nabiki stuck out her tongue, turned and headed for the kitchen.
Akane giggled after her. She had to admit, she liked how her relationship with her immediate older sister was changing since they'd made love. It was like they were finally on the same team, instead of playing against each other half the time. Not to mention she suspected Nabiki was considering alternative means of charging her sibling for favours that wouldn't require Akane pulling out her wallet. She was going to have to come up with a lot of extra favours Nabiki could do for her, so that she could 'pay' more often.
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(Posted Mon, 16 Jul 2007 01:24)
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