Author notes:
	Okay, I finished off chapter 2.  No changes to the first half.
I'll be finishing off a third ANK sketch soon (hopefully).  It needs some
shading work first but when it's done it'll go with the others at
http://www.imua.com/mousse/work/
	When Xian.GIF is ready for upload I'll upload this chapter as well.
Until then you're still welcome to read the original ANK, Shades of ANK, or
look at Spice.GIF or Kune.GIF



Chapter 2 - Kiss and Makeup

[...]

	Kune was about to take a seat next to Megumi as the old fashioned
door chime went off.  "I guess I'll get it."

	Ranma rubbed his stomache in anticipation.  "If it's the pizza, the
money's by the door."

	Kune walked into the hall and picked up the money by the phone.
The door chime rang a second time as Kune opened the door.  Midori grinned
in recognition.  "Well we meet again."

	Caught offguard, Kune found himself at a loss for words.  He nodded
dumbly as she handed him the pizzas and plucked the bills from his free
hand.  "You know.. if you wanted to see me again, you could have just
asked."

	He felt like he was in vocal limbo, or perhaps his own special
hell.  Fortunately Ranma took this moment to walk in.  "Did you find the
money okay Kune?"

	"Um yeah!  Yes.  Uh, Mr. Saotome.. this is.."

	Midori took the oppertunity to bow deeply.  "Midori.  Sanzenin
Midori.  It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Saotome, my old master used to
speak very highly of you.  Strange though, he never mentioned your boyish
good looks."

	Ranma took a deep breath, sticking his chest out slightly.  "Well I
suppose the training keeps me young."

	The trio could hear Megumi's irritation from the other room.  "Hey,
what's taking so long?"

	Midori made an attempt to look over Kune's shoulder.  "Oh, is that
lovely girlfriend of yours here too?"

	Kune brought the pizzas up, forcing Midori back a step.  "Yes.  No.
I mean, you have to go.  You're very busy and all."

	"Humph," Midori placed her hands behind her back and bowed again.
"Well it was very nice seeing you again 'Kune,' and it was an honor meeting
you Mr. Saotome."

	Ranma nodded and took the pizzas from Kune.  "Nice meeting you too
Midori, we'll have to order pizza more often."

	Kune closed his eyes and began rubbing his head as Ranma walked
back to the dining area.  Midori leaned in close to Kune before leaving.
"Why don't we eat at my place next time.  The pizza's free."

	The door closed as Kune slid to the ground, still rubbing his
forehead.  He was developing a massive headache.

[...]

	Spice snuck up on her brother as the last customer left the
Nekohanten.  He hated it when she did that.  He nearly jumped out of his
chair as she called his name.  "Xian, you know those two girls who came in
this afternoon?"

	He took a couple of breaths to calm himself.  "Um, yeah I think so.
Sakura and what's her name's sister right?"

	"Hai," Spice surpressed a shudder.  "Anyway, they were going to see
a movie this weekend so I thought maybe you go with them.  Make them feel
safer."

	"No thanks.  I have other plans," Xian smiled and turned his
attention to the door.  "Why don't you ask Seki?  He could use a date."

	Spice was noticably irritated when her brother didn't jump at the
chance.  "Seki?  I not think he very interested in girls, and he work
weekends.  Good worker, big help around here not like some people."

	Xian ignored the barb and continued.  "Well I suppose.  He's a nice
guy though, I'd hate to see him burn out.  All work and no play.  He'll
probably snap by the end of summer."

	"I'll find him date after.. I mean later," Spice corrected herself.

	"Why don't you take him to a movie some time," Xian absentmindedly
began tapping out a tune on the table.  "You both have thursdays off."

	"Huh?  What?"  Spice shook her head briskly to shake the cobwebs
away.  "Nevermind Seki, we talk about you now!"

	"Oh, I forgot.  Anyway, like I said.  I have other plans this weekend."

	Xian could see his sister's knuckles turning white.  "What plans?!?
All you do is eat, sleep, and watch kung fu theatre."

	"Very busy this weekend.  Maybe some other time."

	Spice fought back to urge to do bodily harm and stormed off to the
kitchen in a huff.  "Grrrrr."

[...]

	Ukyou walked along in silence.  Occasionally she would look over to
her brother who just stared out into space.  Eventually the still in the
air got the better of her.  "Are you feeling okay Seki?"

	He blinked involuntarily and looked to his older sister.  "Wha?"

	"You barely said two words the whole evening."

	He took a few moments to collect his thoughts.  "Sorry sis.  I
guess I have alot on my mind."

	She could read his face easily.  "Still hung up on her?"

	"It's not her.  Well it is her, but it's not her."

	"Someone else?"  She responded, her curiosity peaked.

	"Yes.. No.. I don't know," Seki rubbed his hands together to help
him think.  "I'm really confused."

	Ukyou put her hands behind her back and got into big sister mode.
"Ah."

	His thoughts turned a few more circles until he found the right
words.  "Okay, it's sort of like I was set on this one person even though I
knew I didn't have a chance with them and now I might, but now there's
another possibility.  So I don't know if I should just keep going the way
I'm going or what.  Do you get what I'm trying to say?"

	"I can imagine," Ukyou gave a wry smile.

	"What do you think I should do?"

	She shook her head and put her hand on his shoulder.  "I really
think you're got the wrong person Seki."

	He looked over to his big sister.  "So you think I should look to
other possibilities?"

	She cocked her head to one side.  "I didn't say that."

	The confusion returned to Seki's face.  "So you think I should keep
trying?"

	Ukyou cocked her head to the other side.  "I didn't say that either."

	Seki sighed and gave up.  "You're a big help sis."

	She grinned and gave him a friendly shake.  "That's what I'm here for."

[...]

	Ukyou threw her towel to the table.  It was the fourth time she'd
wiped it off, not because it got dirty but because she didn't have anything
else to do.  "Damnit, business this week has been lousy!"

	Xian sat back and watched Ukyou's frustration.  He put his feet on
a table and took a bite out of his apple.  "Must be the new pizza place
down by Ucchan's."

	Seki continued to fold napkins for the dining area next to Spice.
The mention of pizza caught his attention.  "Mama Mishima's?"

	Xian lazily took another bite.  "Yeah, that's the one.  I heard
some of the customers talking about it."

	Ukyou could feel the worry lines forming on her brow.  She wasn't
about to face Mousse and tell him she ran his restaurant into the ground.
She hook her head.  "It shouldn't be affecting business like this."

	Seki shrugged and scratched at a stain on one of the napkins.
"I've heard the line down there goes down the block."

	"I've had their pizza, it's okay and all," Ukyou shrugged.  "You
remember that night, don't you Seki?"

	He froze for a second and put down the napkin.  "Umm yeah, sorta."

	Ukyou turned her attention back to Xian who wasfinishing off his
apple.  "Xian, can you do me a favor and check it out for me?  In fact, why
don't you take Seki with you."

	Seki winced at the idea.  "Maybe I should stay here."

	Spice who had ignored most of the conversation perked up at the
oppertunity to speak.  "Not worry, I handle here.  You and Xian go."

	Seki rubbed his palms together which he noticed were starting to
sweat.  "I don't know if that's a good idea."

	Spice leaned over a bit so only Seki could hear her.  "Very good
idea, that way you can talk to Xian about dating."

	Xian smiled to himself, he was 12 when his father taught him to
read lips.  Xian decided the afternoon might not be a total waste afterall.
"Okay Seki, let's go."

[...]

	Kune was starting to worry.  It had been a good five minutes since
he'd seen Megumi last.  It was more than enough time to completely lose his
bearings and his financee.  They had been walking to the dojo, that much he
knew.

	As far as he could surmise, he was somewhere in the business
district.  He originally planned to have dinner with the Saotomes but it
wasn't the first time something like this had happened.  He hoped they
understood.

	He took another turn and was suddenly hit by the smell of fresh
baked pizza.  It drew him forward like a moth to a flame.  He went on a
morning jog with Megumi, and for some reason they didn't make it back in
time for breakfast.

	Midori spotted him immediately.  Sometimes it just seemed too easy
for her.  The moment he got in range, she skated a quick circle around him.

	The moment Kune spotted her he knew he was doomed, but it was
already too late.  His stomache had already led him into the lion's den.
He sighed quietly and hoped that he could at least get a last meal.

[...]

	Seki's line of thought ran askew as they saw the crowd around the
pizzaria.  It was to round to be a line, it was too big to be nothing.
>From the sound, Seki could guess it was a fight.  Seki and Xian exchanged
glances before rushing over into the mass of people.

	After a bit of pushing and shoving, they got ringside of the fray.
Kune waved them over as he ate his pizza.  "Hey Seki, have a seat.  They're
just getting started."

	Seki took up a seat at Kune's table, just a few feet from the
combatants.  Xian simply hovered nearby and looked over the situation.
"Doesn't this bother you?"

	Kune sighed and picked up another slice.  "A little, but it's not
like they would listen to reason."

	Megumi was getting upset, and when she got upset her ability to
fight was questionable.  It was something she'd been meaning to work on, at
the moment that meant trying to win the fight.  "I know what you're trying
to do you slut."

	"Slut?  Well perhaps it would take one to know one."

	Megumi responded with an overhead kick which shattered the table,
Kune and Seki were sitting at.  Kune, who saw it coming, picked up the
pizza pan before the table gave way.  "Oww oww oww, hot!  Hey Seki, hold
this for a second will ya?"

	Seki caught the pan and fumbled it from hand to hand.  Xian watched
as Kune grabbed another chair for Seki to drop it on.  When he turned his
attention back to the fighting, he realized he was standing right in the
middle of it.

	Midori was making it a point to use him as a human shield.  Xian
dodged every one of Megumi's blows, forcing Midori to do likewise.  Midori
placed her hands on Xian's shoulders and peered over when she could.  "My
what strong shoulders you have."

	The annoyance was plain on Xian's face as she continued.  "Save me
kind sir.  I can make it worth your while."

	Megumi was getting annoyed as well.  "You're Spice's brother right?
Why don't you get out of my way so I can finish this."

	"What's all this about?"

	"My fiance and that slut were kissing," her punches getting more
erratic.

	Xian casually dodged.  "Is that it?"

	"I need to settle the score!"

	"Well if that's all you want," with that Xian parried one of
Megumi's punches and threw an open handed strike to her extended shoulder.
At the same time, he produced a throwing knife which knocked the chair out
from under Seki.

	Caught offguard by the sudden attack, Megumi flew forward into a
rather surprised Seki.  Their lips met as Megumi ended up pinning him to
the ground.  She froze for a second and both their eyes went wide.

	Kune couldn't help himself and started laughing which broke her
from her trance.  She jumped up like she was on fire and gave Kune a knock
over the head.  "What the hell are you laughing at?!?"

	"Ow.  It's just that he's got a point.  We're all even now."

	Megumi was practically red, either from anger or embarresment.  She
let out a brief scream and grabbed Kune by the arm.  "That's it, we're
going!"

	She dragged Kune along a couple steps and turned back to face Xian.
She let out another muffled scream and walked off in a huff.  Kune waved
and gave the thumbs up sign as Megumi dragged him into the distance.

	The crowd dissapated as quickly as it had formed.  Midori skated
around to face Xian.  "How can I ever thank you sir."

	"I didn't do it because of you," he said still rather annoyed.  She
began to lean towards Xian, who began to lean backwards.  He shook his head
curtly.  "No thank you."

	"But I insist."

	Xian studied her for a second, and then stopped her forward
momentum by placing a finger on her forehead.  "No means no."

	Thankfully a voice from inside called out.  "Large ham and
pineapple for the Kuno estate!"

	"Your order's up."

	It was Midori's turn to be annoyed.  Through clenched teeth she
skated back.  "Another time perhaps."

	Xian watched her go.  "I doubt it."

	With everything back to normal he looked to the spot Seki was
frozen to in a comatose state.  Xian sighed and picked him up.  "I'm sorry
about that Seki, I should have asked you first."

	Seki wiped his face a couple of times and looked over to Xian, who
was completely holding him up.  "Wha?"

[...]