Ranma 1/2: Siblings
Episode 8

All Ranma 1/2 characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi.  Viz owns the US
rights, and I'm using them without permission.  Don't sue me, I have no
money.

***

Kuno sat in front of the family altar, praying.  *What have I done? he
asked himself.  *How could I have been so blind as to my sister's true
madness?*  He looked out the window to Kodachi's wing of the house.  *I
never believed her obsession would bring her to this.*  He remembered
Andrew's broken body at the restaurant, and Ryoga's horror filled cry. 
*Saotome, I wished to to pay for your theivery, but you did not deserve
such a death.   And that other warrior, Hibiki.  I only hope he will be
able to survive what my sister has done to him.*  Kuno heard footsteps
behind him, too heavy to be his sisters and far too light to be his
fathers.  "Saotome."

"Kuno."  Ranma's voice was like steel.

"I would offer my condolences for your brother's death, but I expect they
would not be welcome.  Rest assured my sister shall never trouble you or
your family again."  Kuno stood and turned to Ranma.  "For now, I shall set
our feud aside, Saotome."

"What the hell are you talking about, Kuno?" Ranma demanded.  "Andrew isn't
dead.  I want to know what happened.  Talk."

Kuno blinked in relief, and a small smile appeared on his face.  "So he
lives.  The stain on my honor and soul is lessened."  The smile faded.  "I
shall tell you of the events that transpired."  Kuno stared at the ground,
and began to speak.

"My sister and I purchased information of your date tonight from Nabiki
Tendo.  We reached the scene of the restaurant, to discover Hibiki battling
with your brother.  Your brother was playing with Hibiki, taunting him and
laughing as he fought.  We joined the fray, but it soon became clear that
the battle would go on for quite some time.  My sister, realizing this,
proceeded to apply one of her vile brews to Hibiki.  He began to rage, and
froth at the mouth like a rabid dog.  He battled like a madman, and all
your brother's impressive skills could not stop him."  

"It was then that the maiden Shampoo and the sorceror Mousse arrived, and
discovered what my sister had wrought.  The maiden attacked my sister,
while the sorceror attacked me.  However, like all sorcerors, I knew of his
weakness to water, and doused him well, revealing his true avian form.  I
attacked him then, and the fair Shampoo came to his rescue.  She was
knocked unconscious by my sister, and fell, her body covering the sorceror.
 We turned our attention to your brother, and saw him wounded, frantically
trying to keep away from the mad Hibiki.  His arm was shattered, and he
seemed to be extremely injured."  

"My sister laughed, telling me that thanks to her potion, Hibiki would kill
your brother.  I could not allow such a dishonorable thing to occur, so
leapt to your brother's defense.  I was not quick enough to stop Hibiki's
final attack, which seemed to crush the life out of your brother.  At that,
Hibiki seemed to come out of his rage.  He stared at your brother's body,
and his bloodstained hands, and cried out in horror."  He wiped a tear from
his face.  "You must find him, Saotome.  That proud warrior believes
himself a killer thanks to my sister's machinations.  He howled like an
injured beast and ran into the night.  Thinking your brother dead, I
knocked out my sister and brought her home."

Kuno was silent for a moment.  "I have given my sister the choice of
seppuku or an asylum, Saotome."  He looked up at Ranma, and Ranma could see
how distraut the older boy was.  "I beg your forgiveness.  I underestimated
my sisters true madness, and it has almost cost one man his life, and
another his sanity."  He turned, and returned to kneeling in front of his
family's altar.  "I would ask you to leave, Saotome.  I have much to
consider tonight.  I will free Akane Tendo and the pig-tailed girl another
day."

Ranma stared at Kuno in disbelief, then spun on his heel and silently left
the room.  Sasuke led him to the door of the mansion.  "Ranma Saotome, you
say your brother is alive, and in the hospital?" Sasuke asked.  Ranma
nodded at the little ninja.  "Rest assured, Master Kuno will ensure he is
well taken care of."  As Ranma left the mansion, the little ninja called
out to him.  "I do hope your brother recovers, Ranma Saotome, if only for
my master's sake."  Ranma watched as the door closed.

Ranma bounded from roof to roof, heading back to the dojo.  *I can't
believe it.*  He entered the dojo, and found a note from Akane saying they
had gone to the hospital.  He left the house to follow.

From the shadows a dark figure watched.  *You better live, Andrew, you
swore you'd help me.*

***

Ranma entered the hospital, and found his family and the Tendos in the
waiting room.  Soun wailed while Kasumi held him, her own eyes moist. 
Genma held Nodoka, who sobbed into his chest, his down face dark with
anger.  Akane still held a weeping Nabiki, but her face was a mixture of
anger and worry.  Tarou entered a few moments later and leaned against the
wall, well away from the others.

"How...how is he?"  Ranma asked.

"He's still in surgery," Genma said.  "I called Dr. Tofu, and he explained
Andrew's curse to the doctors."  He glared at Ranma.  "How did this happen,
boy?"

Ranma quickly told them the story Kuno related.  "I think he was telling
the truth."

"He was, son-in-law."  Cologne hopped into the waiting room, followed by a
bandaged Mousse and Shampoo.  "From what my great-grandaughter tells me,
lost boy was drugged with a most dangerous potion.  Andrew-son-in-law is
lucky to be alive."

Ranma looked up at Shampoo and Mousse.  "Thanks, you two," he said softly.

"No let crazy flower girl hurt Shampoo's fiancee," Shampoo sniffed. 
"Andrew no be hurt if Shampoo not have to save stupid Mousse."

Mousse's reply was pre-empted by the arrival of a doctor.  "He'll be in ICU
for a few hours."  The doctor looked down at his chart.  "Mr. Saotome, your
son is in excellent physical health.  He had incredible internal injuries,
a broken arm and several broken ribs, a punctured lung which had collapsed,
not to mention several other severe lacerations.  All that would kill a
normal person, yet your son survived like that for hours."

"Will he be OK?" Ranma asked.

The doctor looked at him sadly.  "You are his brother, correct?"  Ranma
nodded.  "I will not lie to you.  He is in severe condition, but hasn't
fallen into a coma.  However, he will be incapactiated for quite a while. 
It may be weeks before he's well enough to regain consciousness."  Several
members of the group sighed in relief, and Nabiki began to sob again. 
"Please, there is nothing more you can do.  Go home and rest.  You will be
able to see him tomorrow morning."

***

Nabiki moped around the schoolgrounds.  Andrew had been in the hospital for
almost three weeks, but she couldn't bring herself to see him.  She still
blamed herself for what had happened to him.  She knew Akane was hurt by
what she had done as well, and that only made it the harder.

*You always have to go for the quick yen, don't you?* she berated herself
again.  *So you made a few thousand yen that night, and what did it cost
you?  Your brother-in-law in a hospital bed.*  She walked on for a while,
and wiped the tears that came to her eyes away.  *How can you live with
yourself?*  She felt a voice in her rising up to argue.  THAT voice, the
one that felt that all that matters was the yen she made.  She fought it
back.  *You don't NEED the money anymore!  We have enough!  Why can't you
let it go?*  She looked at the accounts book she held in her hand, and
angrily threw it away.  She found a tree and sat under it, holding her head
in her hands.

"Excuse me."  Nabiki looked up and saw Kaori Hidaka standing in front of
her, holding her accounts book.  "Isn't this yours?"  Nabiki smiled
bitterly and took the book from Kaori.  "You're Nabiki Tendo, Akane's
sister right?"  Nabiki nodded.  "You live with Andrew then?"  At Nabiki's
second nod, the girl reached into her bag and pulled out a bundle of
clothing, which she handed to Nabiki.  "Could you give these to Andrew?  He
hasn't been in school lately, so I couldn't return them to him.  I'll have
to thank him when I see him again."

"Andrew's in the hospital,"  Nabiki told her.  "He won't be out for a
while."  Kaori looked at her in shock.

"Is he going to be OK?" she asked worriedly.  Nabiki wordlessly nodded. 
"Thank heavens.  I hope he gets better soon."  She turned to walk away.

"Kaori,"  the girl turned and looked at Nabiki.  "Would you like to come
with me and visit him?"

"Yes, I would," Kaori replied anxiously.  "But...I couldn't impose."

Nabiki smiled lightly.  "I happen to know he'd be glad to see you.  Don't
tell him I said this, but I think he was going to ask you out."

Kaori seemed to be happily suprised by that.  "Really?"  She pondered that
for a while, and smiled at Nabiki.  "I'll be happy to!  Meet you after
school here, OK?"

Nabiki watched the attractive young woman run off, feeling her own sadness
lighten a little.  *Maybe I can make it up to him.*

***

Andrew lay on the bed, tubes running from his nose and left arm.  His right
arm was in a large cast, and his chest was wrapped up tightly.  On various
other areas, large bandages were taped to his body.  His chest rose and
fell slowly as he slept.  A doctor came in and examined him closely.  He
left, pleased with his patient's excellent progress.

Ranma and Akane sat beside the bed, talking quietly.  It was their turn to
watch over the comatose Andrew and keep him company.  "I dunno why I even
try," Ranma said to Akane bitterly.  "It's like every time I try to get
closer to you, someone gets hurt.  First the wedding," she sighed.  "And
now Andrew."

"Ranma, don't say that," Akane told him, taking his hand in hers.  "It's
not your fault.  It's nobody's fault but Kodachi's.  You heard what Kuno
said, if it wasn't for her drugging Ryoga, Andrew would have been fine."

"But he ISN'T fine!" Ranma retorted, his voice harsh.  "He's in this damn
hospital!  Maybe I should just give up," he sighed, "and stop trying to
change things."

"Don't you dare."

Ranma and Akane looked up, to see Andrew's eyes open.  "Don't you dare," he
repeated, his voice a whisper.  "I nearly died for that date, you're not
giving up now."  He coughed a bit, and his voice returned, stronger.  "Can
someone take this damn tube out of my nose?"

Akane got up and yelled for the nurse while Ranma whooped for joy.  The
nurse rushed in, followed by a doctor.  They fussed over Andrew for a few
minutes, while Ranma and Akane went to call their parents.  When they
returned, Andrew was sitting up a little, sipping some water a nurse had
given him.  Another nurse was removing the apparatus that accompanied the
nose-tube from the room.  She gave the two teens a stern warning to not
tire him out, and left them alone.

"So," Andrew asked.  "Aside from my getting my butt kicked by RYOGA, of all
people," he grimaced in distaste, "how'd the date go?"  Ranma and Akane
exchanged a look and blushed.  "Well, I take it."

"None of your business," Akane told him, but she soon broke out into a
bright, if sad smile.  "Thank you Andrew, I'm sorry this had to happen to
you."

"Bah," Andrew scoffed lightly.  "What's a little hospital time between
friends."  He yawned.  "I'm tired."  With that, he fell back to sleep.

***

Nabiki peered through the door into the hospital room.  No one was around,
so she indicated for Kaori to follow her in.  The two girls entered, and
looked down at the sleeping Andrew.  He stirred, his eyes openning.  "Hey
Nabs."  He smiled wearily at her.

"Oh, god, Andrew," Nabiki whispered, "I'm so sorry."

"Don't worry about it Nabs."  He reached up and patted her hand.  "You
didn't know Kodachi would go that far."  He looked at the other girl, and
his eyes widenning in suprise.  "Kaori?"

"Nabiki brought me," she said smiling down at him.  "How do you feel?"

"Like the entire sumo team used me as a practice dummy," he joked, "but
other than that, I feel great."  He smiled up at her. "It's nice to see you
again.  What happened to you at the beach?"

Kaori looked a little sheepish.  "I didn't brace myself properly and I got
blasted the other way."  Andrew looked up at her amazed, and he began to
laugh a little.  "I forgot that sand doesn't give you much traction."

Andrew continued to snicker.  "Bravo," he looked up at Nabiki.  "Thanks,
Nabs.  Umm...can I talk to Kaori alone for a minute?"  Nabiki nodded, a sly
smile on her face, and left the room.  Andrew looked up at Kaori. 
"Uhh...Kaori, would you go out with me?  Like, on a date?"

"Tell you what," Kaori told him.  "You get better, and ask me then." 
Nodoka and Genma entered, followed by Nabiki.  Kaori smiled at them and
whispered down in Andrew's ear.  "And the quicker you do, the more likely
I'll say yes."  She introduced herself to Andrew's parents, and excused
herself.  Nabiki followed her into the hall.

"What was that about?" Nabiki demanded.

"Just a little incentive," Kaori said mysteriously.  She remembered what
everyone told her about Nabiki.  "Nabiki, what would it cost me for a
little info on Andrew?"

Nabiki gave her a predatory look that soon faded into embarrassment.  "I'll
tell you what, it's on the house."  The two girls walked down the hall
chatting.

Inside the room, Genma and Nodoka teased their eldest son.  "Andrew, you
shouldn't be chasing girls in your condition," she scolded.  "Even if she
is a cute girl."

"He's a Saotome, Nodoka,"  Genma said proudly.  "He doesn't chase, he's
chased."

"Quiet."

"Yes dear."

***

Weeks passed, and Andrew quickly recuperated.  Nabiki and Kaori brought him
his homework (much to his great dismay) and Akane and Ranma showed up every
day or three to visit.  Even Tarou showed up a few times, once with Ukyo in
tow.  All in all, however, the most constant visitors were Shampoo and
Mousse. 

"Nihao Andrew!" Shampoo cried, bouncing into the room.  Andrew grinned at
the buxom amazon.  He considered her a great friend, even if he didn't want
to marry her.  Besides, she brought him real food.

"Hey, Shampoo,"  Andrew said, he showed her his arm, now out of the cast. 
"Check it out, no cast.  They even started me on the physiotherapy. 
Another week and I'll be out of here."

"What is physiotherapy?"  Shampoo asked.

"Training, Shampoo."  Mousse said as he walked through the door.  "Andrew
has been in bed a long time, so many of his muscles have become weak,
especially his arm and legs."  Shampoo nodded in comprehension.

"So Andrew train so he be good fighter again!"  Shampoo said happily as she
handed him his food.  "Good.  You getting fat."

"I am not!" Andrew protested.

"Yes, you are," Shampoo insisted, poking him in the side.  "Very fat."

"Stop that," he said, swatting her away.  Shampoo giggled, and Andrew
couldn't help but join in the laughter.

"Mousse, you go away.  Shampoo want talk to Andrew alone," she ordered the
myopic boy, and went to close the door after him.  She returned to the side
of the bed, and sat down.

"Andrew, you tell Shampoo truth," she said seriously.  "You no love
Shampoo, right?"

Andrew looked at her, suprised.  "Uhh...Shampoo, I do love you."  The
amazon jumped a little, shocked.  "You're one of my best friends, but...I
don't want to marry you," he quickly finished.  Shampoo nodded, satisfied.

"Good.  Shampoo know Ranma no love her.  Mousse say he love Shampoo.  So
Andrew tell Shampoo why Mousse no beat her like Ranma and Andrew."

Andrew was confused.  "You WANT him to beat you up?"

Shampoo sighed, exasperated.  "Shampoo challenge Mousse many times, but he
always lose.  Shampoo first think he weak, but see Mousse fight Ranma many
times.  Mousse very skilled against Ranma, but very weak against Shampoo. 
So Shampoo think Mousse no love her.  But Shampoo see how Mousse try
protect her like Ranma try protect violent pervert girl.  So Shampoo all
confused."

"Umm...well, every time I asked Ranma, he said something about Mousse being
afraid to hurt you."

"Mousse no can hurt Shampoo, Shampoo great fighter," she declared.

It was Andrew's turn to be exasperated.  "Shampoo, most of Mousse's arsenal
is deadly.  Far more so than your bonbori.  One wrong hit from any of those
could kill you.  Do you really think Mousse is going to risk killing the
girl he wants to marry?"  Shampoo's eyes widened in comprehension.

"Aiyah," she breathed.  "Shampoo never think about that."  She looked
Andrew with a serious mein.  "You and Ranma train Mousse, OK?"

"Huh?"

"You train Mousse so he no afraid of hurting Shampoo, so he can beat, OK?" 
She gave him a powerful cute-girl stare, that melted any resistance he
might have had. "Shampoo like Mousse, but great-grandmother's tricks no
work.  Shampoo stop trying ancient Amazon Matchmaking Techniques."

"Amazon Matchmaking Techniques?"

"Aiyah," Shampoo said.  "Ancient technique passed down three thousand years
Amazon history.  Playing Hard to Get."

Andrew looked at the purple-haired beauty in dismay, and began to laugh
weakly.  "Sure thing, Shampoo."  Shampoo smiled brightly and gave him a
quick peck on the cheek.

"You no tell Mousse, OK?" She openned the door.  "Mousse!  We go home now!"

*I'd call it Playing Hard to WANT,* Andrew thought to himself, and
chuckled.