Long delayed, but hopefully still welcome, Nabiki's War Chapter 5a is here at last. As always, C&C is sought after and much appreciated. Tell me what you think. Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan in Japan, and Viz Communications in the US. I'm just borrowing the characters for profit-free entertainment purposes and hopefully no one will - wait, what's this envelope? From Nabiki Tendo? You are hearby summoned to ... NABIKI'S WAR Part 5a: The Advancement of Pawns! Akane Ascendant! By Kagami "That idiot," Akane muttered, half in anger and half in despair. Just when she actually needed his help, he'd had to go and say something like that. Fool. Shouting out that he would kiss Nabiki when it should have been her that he wanted to kiss. Wait ... that hadn't come out right. Angrily, Akane focused her thoughts on the other problem in her mind. Who else could she approach about learning ki-blasts? Now that Ranma was obviously out of the equation. Dad? Uncle Saotome? Happosai? Ick, no. Cologne? No, there was a much better choice available. Ryoga. *** He was battered, aching, and his head felt like a smashed pumpkin. But Ranma Saotome wasn't deterred. Nope, when he locked his teeth upon the bit, no one on Earth was more tenacious. Ranma was determined not to suffer another defeat in the kissing rematch with Nabiki. The second time around, he'd be completely prepared. Soon, he promised. The question was who to practice with - the fiancees were too dangerous, each would likely see kisses as a commitment on his part. Kasumi? He cringed internally. Yuka? Sayuri? Akane would squash him like a bug. Azusa? Shudder. Why, oh why did he know so few girls? Perhaps he was going about it the wrong way. After all, no technique was without flaw. A seed of an idea germinated in his mind. He didn't have to win the contest - all he had to do was make Nabiki lose. And there was a way to do that ... Excitement brightened his soul. It was the right solution. Ranma was sure of it. It still left him with the dilemma of a kissing partner, but his solution brought to mind the perfect choice - even though he was repulsed at the very thought. A brief sigh escaped him as he leapt to his feet. The things he did in order to win. Nevertheless, his feet never hesitated toward his destination. Ucchan's was still open. *** Finding Ryoga was relatively easy. Nabiki had tethered him to her doorknob. All Akane had to do was follow the trail of rope and she'd locate him somewhere within the Tendo household. Eventually, she found him in the dojo, looking for food. "I need your help, Ryoga," she began in earnest. *** Ukyo was clearing up the last of the dinner tables when Ranma walked in. She perked up immediately upon seeing him. "Ranchan! Take a seat and I'll fix you a Special." "Thanks, Ucchan." Never one to refuse free food, Ranma tackled the Special - a triple-decker okonomiyaki - before getting to the point. "I'm after some advice and I was wondering if I could ..." "You know you can ask me anything, Ranchan." Ukyo's smile was wide. "Ah, heh-heh," Ranma rubbed the back of his head in embarassment. "Actually, I was looking to talk to Konatsu." "Konatsu?!" *** "I can't do it," Akane said, sounding glum. "I can get angry, but I can't use it at all." "Don't be discouraged, Akane-san. Feel the flow of ki energy within your body. Focus on your anger, your rage. Let it build. Grow. Then, direct it and release it." Ryoga thought for a moment, then added, "Focus on Ranma if that'll help." "All right, Ryoga. I'll try." "Do or do not. There is no try." Those words of wisdom sent chills down Akane's spine and she spun around looking for their source - just in time to receive the small bundle of perversion that was Happosai. Glomp. "Oh, Akane-chan. You're so good to comfort an old man in his decline." Nuzzle. "Why, you ..." Ryoga felt his anger explode at the sight of Happosai groping Akane. He reached forward to rip the old pervert off. "Stop!" Akane's voice held a note of command he had never heard before and he hesitated, confused. Then, he noticed that she was glowing, radiating ki energy, a certain sign of her intense anger. "So, you think you can just grab me like that, Happosai?" Akane fairly dripped menace. "Why not? After all, Ranma isn't here to protect you, Akane-chan." Stab. "Oh, your bosom is so snug and warm. Not as good as Shampoo's but it'll do." Stab. "How dare you grope and then insult me?! Die, you old pervert!" Akane attempted to pummel him but he slipped off and skipped aside. By now, her anger was colossal, she could feel it flow within her body and she directed it thru her outstretched arms at the ancient master of lechery. Focusing. Then, she unleashed it. "DRAGU SLAVE!" The ki attack wasn't what she had expected at all. It emerged as a small sphere of reddish energy that flickered weakly. The concentrated ki energy struck Happosai but he was easily able to withstand the small blast. He smirked with confidence. "Hah! Call that a ki-blast? It didn't even warm me up." Dismayed, Akane collapsed in exhaustion, feeling completely drained of all ki. However, another voice snarled angrily in reply. "How about this then, you old lech? SHISHI HOKODAN!" Ryoga's beam of energy smashed into Happosai, sending him flying. As he disappeared from view, his voice cried out, "There are otherrrrrsss....." Akane was left to sink onto her knees, staring at her hands in wonder and puzzlement. "I don't understand it, Ryoga. I've never been more angry in my life but the ki attack was so small." "That's because you let most of it escape through your aura. You'll just have to build it up and focus better next time." Ryoga's voice betrayed his satisfaction and triumph at Akane's achievement. "But, you're missing the point. You did it, Akane-san. Your first ki blast." "I did, didn't I?" A huge smile plastered itself upon her features. She rose and hugged a shocked Ryoga with all her might. "And I owe it all to you!" Ryoga passed out happily. "Ryoga?!" ***