The Phoenix Saga

Kasumi hummed contently to herself as she cleared the dinner table. Everything had been so peaceful at home lately, and she was glad for it, wrong though it felt sometimes. She felt terrible every time she allowed herself to associate the dramatic reduction in yelling, fighting, destroyed furniture, and general chaos permeating her home with the day that Ranma left. Of course, she missed Ranma, and still prayed often for his safety, wherever he might be. She hoped he had found somewhere safe to spend the holidays, especially with the forecasts predicting winter storms next week.
"Oh, Father? I forgot to ask you. What would you like me to make for dinner Saturday? I'll need to go to the store tomorrow to make sure I have time to get everything ready."
Soun smiled up at his eldest daughter. She was becoming more and more the image of her mother every day. "Whatever you think is best, Kasumi. I have every confidence in you."
Akane looked up from the television. "What's so special about Saturday?"
The Tendo patriarch chuckled. "Well, Akane, as you know, the city council elections are early next year, and the mayor wants me to run again. More than that, though, he thinks I'd be well-suited to run for mayor myself, since he's retiring after the election. He asked if he could come by for dinner and talk about it with me soon."
Akane grinned. "Wow, really, Dad? Mayor? That's great! I'm so proud of you!" Soun chuckled. "Now, now, Akane, I haven't even decided if I'm going to run, let alone gotten any votes. But I have to admit, it's interesting, and we could use the city salary since the dojo has been so quiet of late." He smiled happily at his girls. "I was actually hoping the three of you would all be here. I'd love to introduce the whole family to Mayor Dato."
Akane smiled. "That would be…"
Nabiki glared at her behind Soun's back, making a throat-slitting gesture at her sister.
Akane blinked in surprise, but caught the hint. "I… I don't know, Dad. Maybe?"
Nabiki sat on the table surface, crossing her legs with her typical brash expression. "I'm sorry, Daddy, but Akane and I already have plans. The sorority I'm joining is going to have a lot of girls graduate this year, and they're hoping to recruit my little sister to replenish the ranks."
Akane shook her head in surprise, making a confused gesture to Nabiki out of her father's view. "Uh, yeah, Dad. Sorry, was that Saturday? It slipped my mind. Could we maybe do dinner with the mayor Sunday instead?"
Soun stammered. "Well, I suppose I could ask him, I mean, if you're too busy for the mayor…" How was it that his youngest daughters had vibrant social calendars and he did not?
Nabiki nodded. "You know how it is, Daddy. Availability is the price of popularity. That advice is free, but if you want me to help you manage your campaign, we'll have to come to some other arrangement." She smirked confidently, winking to her sister. She hopped off the table to her feet and made her way to the stairway, climbing and lingering in the hallway between her room and Akane's.
Akane joined a moment later, eyeing Nabiki suspiciously. "Okay, Nabiki. Mind explaining why you just made me lie to our father and blow off the freaking mayor? We don't have plans on Saturday night!"
Nabiki grinned. "Sure we do."
Akane growled. "What are you talking about!? I'm not going to some stupid sorority party!"
Nabiki cackled in amusement. "Oh, Akane. I didn't say we have the same plans." She reached into the pocket of the green puffy vest she wore over her sweater, pulling out a photograph. "But you do, in fact, have somewhere to be."
Akane groaned in frustration. "Stop with the games! I'm not going to pay you for your stupid picture, okay, Nabiki?! Just tell me what this is all about!"
Nabiki smirked in self-satisfaction. "Oh, my dear little sister, there's no charge. Let's call this one an early Christmas present." She handed Akane the photo. "I'll let Daddy know you'll be at the sorority house with me until morning."
Nabiki winked with a mischievous smile and ducked into her room, closing the door. Akane turned over the Polaroid photo in her hand, her facial expression changing from exasperation, to confusion, and then to warmth. The picture depicted a chaotic jumble of colored papers on a bulletin board – people giving away old furniture, offering calculus tutoring, looking for people to play something called Dungeons and Dragons, recruiting tryout candidates for the kendo team. At the dead center of the photo was a hand-drawn advertisement for a special Christmas party Saturday night at the Phoenix.
Akane's heart leapt with excitement. She'd get to spend Christmas, or at least a little of it, with Ran… her! She grinned up at the little duck dangling from a nail on Nabiki's closed bedroom door. Mercenary though she could be, when Akane least expected it, her sister could always find a way to surprise her with her kindness.