Ranma New Half - Chapter 2

"You know Ranma-Chan," Akane said, tapping her chin. "If we're going to be staying home today, maybe we should go shopping?"

Kasumi clapped her hands, "That's a wonderful idea, Nabiki-Chan only has one Bandeaus after all and maybe we can get you some other necessities."

The redhead swallowed her mouthful with a hum, "Hmm, yeah I probably should get some stuff. I really wanna get another shirt like the one Pops wrecked too." She tilted her head to the side, "I don't have much money though."

"That won't be a problem," Kasumi insisted.

"Yeah," Akane added, "You're our guest after all."

Ranma shook her head, ponytail flicking wildly, "Thanks, but I can't just let ya spoil me like that. Lemme at least check my and the old man's packs for some cash."

As it looked like Kasumi was going to argue, Ranma raised a hand as if in prayer, "Please, I insist," She offered with a cheeky grin at returning the elder Tendo's words to her.

"Very well, but if you need the money we will be helping, I insist," She added with a touch of mischievousness of her own.

"Thanks, Kasumi Nee-Chan," Ranma said, feeling her face flush a touch, before the sound of thumping feet drew their attention as Nabiki moved trough the room in a blue and white touched dress.

"Leaving already sis?" Akane asked, glancing at the clock.

Nabiki smirked, "I have some business to take care off before class, bye~" she sang, disappearing out of the room.

"Business?" Ranma asked with a tilted head.

Akane shook her head, "Trust me, you don't wanna know."

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Nabiki knew she could be ruthless and honestly took pride in that, but she also liked to think she was also a realist.

'And the reality of today is different to the reality of yesterday,' she mused with an ugly frown.

Genma Saotome, far from an ideal father in law or easily ignorable oaf, was a problem, and one she did not have a solution for. No extortion was available, her father had more money than her so bribery was out and anything she could think of to manipulate a man like that was not on the table.

'Worst came to worst, I always had the option of Akane or daddy, but he's on Genma's side and Akane's not strong enough to help if things take a turn for the worst.'

It was a scary thought, not one she'd ever really had to conceive of before, not at this level at least, and for the first time she had no one to turn to. Dr Tofu had his uses of course, but he was a pacifist at the end of the day and not someone Nabiki had any real influence over either.

To say these facts alone had kept her up at night would be accurate, but not the whole truth. The image of Ranma desperately thrashing for life in her fathers grasp, the reminder of terror she felt not just for herself but Kasumi, Akane and Ranma when Akane's fist crashed against Genma to no effect...

'No, I didn't like any of that,' she thought coldly.

Nabiki shook her head to clear the thought and closing in on the school. Her steps slowed ever so slightly, any hints of her inner turmoil or concern, let alone that she hadn't slept well, neatly brushed aside with practiced ease.

Weakness had its uses, or the image of it at least, but only at the right times and with the right people and right now, this was not the right time and these were not the right people.

Nabiki Tendo took a breath and prepared to do something she usually hated, namely, helping out.

Stepping into the courtyard where Akane's gang of suitors was already marshalled, while other students took the long way around to avoid them Nabaiki cast her gaze across the crowd.

'Good, the people I called are in place, then we can begin act one,' Placing her fingers other lips Nabiki whistled, so loud and so sharply it drew all eyes to her. Then, with her usual smirk, she called, "Where's Kuno-Chan I have a message from my little sister!"

There was a stirring and then several boys were sent into the air or to the ground as Tatewaki Kuno burst through the crowd and raced to stand before her.

"My beloved goddess has a message for me!?"

Nabiki snorted, "No, I just didn't want to bother looking for you."

Kuno clutched his head and howled, "Nabiki-San, your vile manipulations have cost me my dramatic entrance!"

Waving him off she strode by him, as though marching to school, "Yes, yes, I just wanted to tell you and your gaggle of stooges that my sister won't be coming today."

"What!?" Kuno howled while the crowd began to murmur.

Nabiki shrugged, "She came down with a head cold and Kasumi Nee-Chan insisted she stay home for the day."

Now Kuno was crying, typical, "Oh what a cruel twist of fate, for the mighty tigress to be laid so low by sickness. I must go to her side and offer her my strength!"

'Perfect,'

Nabiki turned sharply, murder in her eyes, "You're going to go and force yourself on my little sister when she can't even fight back?"

"I - I would-"

Nabiki turned away, "Of course you would, why am I even surprised. Its not as though you ever fight my sister fairly."

"You dare-"

"After all, isn't that why you wait for Akane-Chan to tire herself out fighting through this rabble you raised? So scared of her strength you need a order of meat shields to wear her down."

The crowd of boys was murmuring now and a few choice players she had called on and a few she didn't raised their voices in ire

"Yeah, how come Kuno-Senpai is always last to fight!?"

"That's why he did that speech, the rat bastard!"

"The captain's been using us? Say it isn't so!"

"You lowly peons question my bravery, my strength!?" Kuno howled, drawing his practice sword.

Nabaiki slowly shuffled away from the enraged swordsman, "I don't know about you all, but if I were in your shoes and I'd bene turned into someone's punching bag just so another guy could try and fail to get a date.... Well, I'd be pretty angry."

"Nabiki-San, if you think to-OW!" Someone had lobbed a music box at Kuno's head, "Which one of you uncultured swine did that!?"

"He's betrayed us!"

"Let's kill Kuno!"

"Get him!"

And thus the hundred boy army boy of Furinkan Highschool descended upon Tatewaki Kuno with all their fury and fighting prowess.

Of course, given Tatewaki was a good match for Akane, their fury and fighting prowess didn't even last let them last a minute. But it did let Nabiki get into school without trouble and addressed the first of several problems.

'Next up,' she thought, looking at her watch, 'The registration office, Ranma-Chan's paper work still needs to be sorted out.'

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Genma's return to the waking world was filled with an eerie numbness and burning frustration, humiliation even!

'At least the boy's combat skills didn't completely vanish with his manhood!' A part of him whispered, even as he trembled in fear and terror at the memories of the night before.

'Nodoka will never let this slide, nor will I, we cannot!' he thought, eyes finally opening to a dimly lit medical lounge.

Soun sat up from the chair he'd been resting in, "Genma, my friend, so glad to see you back with us."

"I as well old friend, though I wish the circumstances were better," he grumbled through an all too numb jaw. "Where am I?"

Soun passed him some ice chips, "This is the office of Dr Tofu, an expert in chiropractic's and esoteric, chi healing techniques.

'That explains the numbness, but it seems the fools more invested in lessening my pain than hastening my healing, such weakness!' Genma had been raised on pain, he could stomach this.

Swallowing the icy water, Genma looked to Soun who was frowning intently, compelling Genma to speak, "Where did the fool boy run off too?"

"Ranma-Kun is staying with my daughters, but he is still insisting on this girl nonsense and my daughters seem quite taken with it," Soun shook his head. "What happened old friend?"

'That's what I want to know,' Genma thought bitterly. He'd spent over a decade honing Ranma into an icon of masculinity, leaving no room for weakness or vulnerability. Any thought even tangentially feminine were trained out of him with blood and sweat and broken bones.

'This cannot be my fault and so, there is only one explanation!' He was reaching, some part of him knew, but this needed to be his reality, it had to be.

"This curse, Tendo, I believe it is to blame for the madness afflicting my son," He intoned gravely.

Soun gasped, "Whatever do you mean, Saotome?" 

Genma's hazy mind danced from one explanation to the next before hitting on the right memory. "The guide, when we sought a cure, he told us the curses could mix or mutate, but he also told us... He told us of the Spring of Drowned Pious Man."

Soun, smart man that he was put the pieces together for Genma, "A Spring that changes not just the body but the mind too?"

Genma tried to nod but failed thanks to the neck brace, "I believe they all do to some extent. But I am a master martial artist, Ranma, for all his skill and strength is still a boy, not yet wise enough to notice such subtle manipulations."

"I see, I see. Then Saotome, we must find a cure and a means of shocking your son back to his senses!" Soun said with a sharp clap of fist against palm.

"Agreed, we'll need to utilize our every contact in the community and beyond to seek a cure, but as to shocking Ranma back to his senses... There's a small chest hidden in my travel pack, contained within it are pictures of our journey before we were cursed. Find them Tendo, show your daughters and my son the truth and force them to confront reality."

Soun rested a hand on his shoulder, "You can count on me old friend, always."

In the next room over, Dr Tofu listened intently.

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Ranma spent a solid hour in the practice hall, rummaging through her fathers pack, finding everything from old contracts, to scrolls and of course several money clips worth of yen. Some were in hidden compartment, others just carelessly strewn about in a sort of vaguely ordered chaos.

But she also found the true target of her exploration, the photo box.

It was a humble thing really, redwood that was perhaps a little rough but well made, lined with dark, thin metal strips that made it look sturdy and a touch fancy, with a simple padlock now broken.

Inside were a handful of pictures of another person, another life, dark hair and too broad shoulders, a chest that never sat right and a smile that rarely reached the eyes.

Ranma knelt before the dustbin, pictures in hand and for a moment she struggled to let them go.

'Its not that I don't want to, or even that I can't, but...' But there was something missing from the moment, the moment that would ensure Ranma's new life could go uninterrupted by memories of another...

'That's what it is,' she thought with a silent sigh of relief as she began shuffling through the pictures again.

'I want to say thank you, for who we were, for being able to find some times and people to smile with and... For being able to get us to where I am now.' A tear glistened in her eye as she closed her fist around the pictures, Chi bursting from her palm and reducing them to ash.

Ranma then let the ash fall and clapped her hands before bowing, 'A prayer for an old life that's no longer here and the new life that it helped create... Thank you.'

There was a moment of silence and Ranma could finally breath again, truly free, and with that in mind... She picked up her fathers photo box and with a careless flex of her fingers crushed it into shrapnel, letting it fall into the dustbin.

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Normally Akane would enjoy the chance to be alone with her crush, but given the injury and the fact she knew her father had come home to claim his 'Dear friends' effects her mood was silently soured.

"OK Akane-Chan, try and flex your fingers against mine," the good doctor said gently from his position at the table side with her.

Akane blushed but nodded, letting her fingers interlock with his and she began to close her hand, fingers shaking the further she went.

"That's good, Akane-Chan, you're recovering very quickly!" Dr Tofu encouraged, loosening his grip.

"I am? That's such a relief, thank you doctor!" She said.

The taller man bowed his head, "I only played a role, Akane-Chan, your body and Chi are quite resilient. Still," he added, taking some notes, "I don't want you practicing any martial arts or doing heavy lifting with that hand for another two days. It could impact your recovery."

"Are you sure?" She asked, a nervous tremor at the thought of that horde of boys and only one available hand.

Tofu nodded slowly, "I know it seems harsh but a misplaced punch or too heavy bag could undo all the good work and possibly prove detrimental long term. At times like this, don't be afraid to ask others for help."

As if summoned, Ranma slipped into the room, still in a loose fitting tank top but at least wearing pants now.

"Ah Ranma-Chan, just in time for your appointment," Dr Tofu cheered, turning to face the redhead.

"Thanks doc, need me to take my ah... What did Nabiki call this?" Ranma asked, using her good sides arm to slide the tank top off.

"Ranma! You can't just strip down in front of a guy!!!" Akane screeched, her face burning as she searched for something to throw atop the girl.

"Its quite all right, Akane-Chan, as a doctor I am quite inured to matters like this though if Ranma-Chan would like more privacy?" Dr Tofu asked lightly, eying the open door to the back garden.

"Eh, not much privacy on the road with the old man, and if guys do perv on me I just beat-em up!" Ranma's words had a laughing quality to them.

Not sure what to feel about any of that, Akane found herself shuffling nervously and refusing to look up as her face burned. Meanwhile Dr Tofu continued to professionally and calmly assess Ranma's injury, the two drifting into a conversation about Chi and recovery times she could only half follow.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Dr Tofu declared, "You're healing very well, I think we can forgo the bandages in favor of a patch and some Shiatsu Point techniques."

"Sounds awesome, you really know your stuff, Tofu-Sensei," Ranma's sift from Doc to Sensei was something Akane had picked up on but not known what to think about.

Ranma's entire top half was also now completely naked, a fact which she showed no concern over, as Dr Tofu prepped her with a water proof Band-Aid.

'She's half wild, but I almost wish I could be so carefree,' Akane though, only to stiffen at a set of familiar footfalls.

"Excuse me, is Ranma-Kun here?" her father called, and Ranma's face flickered from carefree to ashen in an instant, her shoulders hunching as she stared at the floor.

"Ranma-Chan is in the middle of a medical check-up," Dr Tofu intoned gravely, but her father waved him off and strode into the room , a travelling pack dangling from his hand.

"I'm practically his father in law" He said, "And I have a rather important question for you, Ranma-Kun?"

"Dad, stop being rude-"

"Its fine, Akane-Chan," Ranma said with forced jocularity and turning to face Soun Tendo, top still off, causing her father to nearly spasm, as she continued. "Though if ya talk about me like that with people around they might start to think you're going senile, Tendo-San."

"Regardless of your current body, you are a boy in spirit and mind lad," Soun insisted, leading Ranma to mutter something to herself, while Akane massaged her head.

Before she could yell at her father for this mad behavior, he pressed on, "Anyway son, your father asked me to collect his effect. He also mentioned a box of some sentimental value to you both, housing pictures I believe?"

Ranma was letting Dr Tofu rebind her chest with the Bandeaus as she hummed thoughtfully, "Dark brown, darker metal, with a tough looking lock?"

Soun smiled eagerly, "Yes, that's it!"

"Pops pawned it in China."

The sudden choking noise Soun Tendo made seemed to have almost torn itself from his throat.

Regaining his composure, such as it was her father insisted, "Given the importance of those photos I doubt he would do such a thing, Ranma-Kun."

Ranma shrugged, "I think he forgot the pictures were in there. He does stuff like that all the time, like pawning my friends Yattai two towns over after we got it as a going away present."

'Who gives someone a yattai as a going away present?' Akane wondered.

Pulling a handful of pictures from her pocket, Ranma slapped them on the table. "If you wanna seem some old pictures I have a few though, take a gander."

Soun shot down ,only to start weeping, while Akane brightened as she and Dr Tofu joined Ranma in looking over them.

"Oh this Qipao is gorgeous Ranma, when did you get it?" She asked.

"Ah that was from a waitressing job I had when the old man and I got separated for a week.

Dr Tofu picked up another, "This looks like it was from a very old camera."

"Got that right, one of those one's that prints the picture, I got a nice lady to take it when I saw her doing nature photography near Jusenkyo."

Ranma snatched up another photo of herself in an arcade booth, wearing little more than an oversized sparring Gi. "I got these right after we got back to the first big city, it was so bright there it looked like daytime even in the middle of the night!"

"Why are you a girl in all of them!?" Soun sobbed.

"Uh, cos I am a girl?" Ranma said, causing the man to cry harder.

Akane just tuned him out while Dr Tofu started ferrying her father out the door, where Kasumi was already waiting with a bag packed for several days worth of travel.

Ranma was grinning as she finished recounting her first day as a waitress before stilling, "Hey uh,... Not for nothing, but should I thank your pa for me using his room?"

Akane waved her off, "You're injured and we don't exactly had a dedicated guest room, though if you're going to be studying here... I think there's a storage room we could reorganize maybe?"

"Ah, well... Guess we'll see... Thanks, Akane-Chan," Ranma said with another of her shy smiles.

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"The curse has its claws in him deep, Saotome," Soun sighed as he finished recounting the harrowing tale from his bed side chair.

"Clearly, yet we cannot lose hope, Tendo," Genma intoned gravely, strength coming back to his voice.

"I know old friend," Soun leaned back in his chair, "If we are still seeking pictures, maybe we can ask your wife?"

Genma's entire body stiffened and twitched violently, "Ther- There's no need for such hasty action, Tendo! Let's try and resolve this ourselves before getting 'her' involved."

"Ah  yes, I had almost forgotten 'that' agreement, though it might have its worth in forcing the matter," He mused.

Genma tried and failed to shake his head, "Too risky, remember its not just one life you're gambling with here, it is mine as well."

"True, true, I suppose then we focus on our other idea?"

"Indeed," Genma said, a twinkle in his eye, "We must get the word out across the entire community, martial arts, Shinobi, Samurai and mystic alike."

Sound nodded, "I have already begun old friend, by sending messages to all our old contacts while I was at home. Soon, all shall hear of Genma' Saotome's quest."

The solemn tone was cut short as Genma froze in his bed, "You didn't tell anyone-"

"About the curse? Assuredly not," He said, scandalized, "I was very careful about how I phrased things while ensuring we would still get what we needed."

"That's not... That's not all, I mean... Did you use my name?" The beefy man quivered.

He blinked owlishly, "Well yes, why wouldn't I?"

Genma Saotome, promptly passed out.

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Shopping with Akane and Kasumi had turned out to be a fairly smooth and happy affair, the ice cream they had for lunch only made it better.

That wasn't to say it had all been smooth sailing.

Akane & Kasumi clearly had very cutesy, ladylike tastes and while Ranma wasn't unhappy o finally explore those outfits. The facts are, Ranma Saotome was and always would be a fighter and that meant she preferred her clothes to be good for moving, kicking and flipping.

Plus, she just liked a lot of her usual ware, and with some back and forth, they had been able to make the right purchases, but with Ranma's wardrobe definitely having spiced up some.

Though not all losses went to the dress duo as Ranma had mentally called the sister, as could be seen by the the fact she was currently in a changing room wearing an elegant, white sundress.

It hugged to her torso but wasn't too tight, leaving her shoulders nearly bare save and her sun kissed arms laid bare. It emphasized her curves but remained firmly in place, while the flowing skirt let her well toned legs lie free and when Ranma looked in the mirror...

'This is... Me,' she thought, hand pressed to the glass.

"Ranma-Chan, what do you think?" Kasumi called gently.

"Yeah, let us see!" Akane added excitedly.

Ranma sucked in a breath and stepped out, to the oohs and aahs of the sisters while her heart tremored in her chest.

"Ranma-Chan, are you all right?" Kasumi asked gently, a hand resting on her arm, "If you don't like-"

Ranma shook her head frantically, "I love it... Can we get one?" She whispered.

The Tendo sisters smiles were radiant, as Kasumi answered, "Of course, Ranma-Chan."

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When Nabiki got home the evening sun was setting and she could smell dinner cooking, Ranma and Kasumi's voices echoing from the kitchen.

"I'm home," she called with a tired sigh.

"You were out late," Akane observed from her comfortable spot at the table, an essay due on Friday laid out before her.

"Indeed, I hope you didn't spoil your appetite?" Kasumi added, she and Ranma stepping from the steam filled kitchen.

"My appetite? Never," she scoffed, before flopping down next to Akane, "I just had some things to take care of, Wala!"

She threw down transfer papers, documents and more, all labelled with Ranma Saotome. She saw the redhead tensing and smiled in that soft way Kasumi did that Nabiki could only fake.

"I talked to the school about Ranma-Chan's transfer, that idiot father of her tried to register her as a boy and caused no end of confusion, but I straightened it all out with them."

Ranma's breathing slowed and she grinned, "You did that for me, thanks so much, Nabiki Nee-Chan!"

Nabiki waved her hand lazily, "Figured if my sisters were helping you shop I should help too, and speaking of helping..." she gave Akane a significant look and said. "I couldn't get rid of Kuno, but that morning routine with the hundred boys? That's over."

Akane stared at her, pleased smile fading to something suspicious, "That's not funny, Nabiki Nee-Chan."

"No joke," Nabiki said gravely, matching her sisters glare, "I broke it down for those morons that Kuno was just using them as punching bags to tire you out. Then with a few people in the crowd who owed me favors egging everyone on, they turned on him like rabid dogs. Its over little siste-"

"Nabiki Nee-Chan!" Akane wailed, or cheered, scooping the taller girl up in her arms and spinning her like a doll. The strength of her grasp near suffocating, but it was hard to tell with Akane shivering as they came to a stop and she whispered, "You... You really-"

"I mean it, I can't get rid of Kuno, but-"

"No one could deal with that brick wall, but the boys, that morning attack, its finally over?"

"It is," Nabiki said with carefully measured gentleness, "I made sure of it through the rest of the day... If I'd know it was getting you this much I'd have done it sooner, sorry, Akane-Chan. You always seemed to handle it so easily but after last nights scare... Well, that made it all more real."

Akane gave her another squeeze, "Thank you, Nee-sama."

Awkwardly, Nabiki patted the smaller girls head, as Akane's grip slackened and she faced them all with a bright smile, "I've gotta go call my friends and tell them the good news!" Before bouncing off.

Kasumi was giving her a very fond, warm look of... Pride... Nabiki did not now how to deal with that.

Thankfully, Ranma broke the silence, "Um, what happened?"

"I'll explain as we finish cooking, Ranma-Chan, I don't want to sour Akane-Chan's mood over dinner by telling of it. Nabiki-Chan go upstairs and enjoy the furo."

"Can do Nee-chan!"

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Dinner ended up passing by in a flurry of anecdotes and displaying newly bought clothes, along with Akane's excited chatter about school and her friends.

But when every plate was dusted off, Nabiki somehow matching Ranma's own appetite with ease, Akane had to go and finish her essay and Ranma was politely shooed away from helping with the dishes.

"You had a long day, Ranma-Chan and I want you to rest," Kasumi insisted, hands on her shoulders.

Nabiki was picking up her clothes and said, "Come on, Ranma-Chan, I'll help you put this stuff away."

"Ah, thanks, Nabiki Nee-Chan!" Ranma offered, silently grateful for the offers as her side was still aching.

Kasumi was returning to the kitchen but almost as an aside Ranma likely wasn't meant to hear said, "Thank you for being so helpful today, Nabiki-Chan."

"Enjoy it while it lasts~" Was Nabiki's sing song retort, before the brunette helped return Ranma's clothes to her fathers room. Ranma watched from the bed as the older girl began tossing aside her dads clothes to make room for Ranma's with careless ease.

Rubbing her side, and hoping to whatever gods were out there that the Band-Aid didn't come off and stain her new dress, Ranma smiled at the older girl.

"Thanks again for your help, Nabiki Nee-Chan, with everything today."

"Its fine," Nabiki said, idly toying with a a piece of fabric, "Though if you don't mind I had something I wanted to discuss with you."

Ranma swallowed, stomach dropping but she nodded, "Uh sure, what is it?"

"Well," the girl started slowly, "I got them to update your student profile in the database, you'll need to go in for a proper photo tomorrow just so you know but..." she trailed off and slowly revealed something from her pocket, "I heard about dads visit and found this in the dustbin."

It was a few chunks of redwood, with dark metal embedded onto it and a broken lock.

"I... Uh... I..." She couldn't think, she couldn't move, her heart was racing, her whole body shook as she staggered to her feet, exits, exits, she needed-

"Hey pretty girl," Nabiki's voice cut through the frantic terror and Ranma froze, gaze snapping to the taller woman.

Nabiki's sharp, elegant fingers cradled her cheek as she met Ranma's eyes, "Ranma-Chan, I am not telling you this to scare you or hold something over you. I am telling you this because as sneaky as you had to be to get around that man you call father, you got blind spots. Just like we all do," she added, like a dirty little confession on her part.

"Then you... I mean..." Ranma didn't have the words, she didn't even know if the words existed.

"Its a secret between us girls, K?" Nabiki said, with mischievous smirk.

Ranma didn't even think before throwing her arms around the girl in a weak but intense hug, shaking as she whispered, "Thank you, Nabiki Nee-sama."

Sharp nails ran through her hair in soothing strokes that made Ranma want to purr, "Don't worry about it, us girls have to stick together."

"Yeah," Ranma whispered, with a smile so strong she just knew it reached her eyes.

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NOTES:

And that's chapter 2, I hope people enjoyed it as much as the first one!

I only have vague ideas for a third chapter, involving a possibly four way fight with Ranma, Ryoga, Xian Pu and Ukyo that becomes two on one's or ends with possible engagement chaos.

I think if I did open it the next chapter would involve Nabiki or Kasumi handing off a 'feminine needs' care package from Dr Tofu. As well as Ranma revealing the Dragon Whisker to Nabiki who thinks they can make big bucks by selling it. Besides that, less sure besides maybe a school photo and hints of the rivals arrivals.