This is a fan fic... that means that the author has no rights whatsoever
to the characters herein...BUT THAT'S OKAY because I ain't trying to
score any bucks.  SO PHHHPTPTP

  BETWEEN SISTERS by Makato7

  Nabiki awoke in the middle of the night.  She yawned and drew the
blanket around her.   Her dreams had been disturbing.  She watched as
her door closed slowly. (Someone was in my room.) She thought.  She
quickly grabbed the blanket tighter and peeked out the door.  She
glimpsed a shadow of a girl going down the stairs.  Carefully Nabiki
followed. Maybe one of her sisters had needed to talk and changed her
mind.  She arrived at the floor of the stairs to see the door to the
Dojo open.  From inside it shadows flickered.  Curious she walked out to
the adjacent building. 
  The night air was cold and she pulled the blanket tighter around
herself.   She tilted her head around the corner of the Dojo door.  A
"thwack attp thwask" sound came from inside.
  Ranma was practicing his strikes against a wooden man, a training
dummy.  His blows began to tap out in a staccato rhythm to his
chanting.    
  "Not a freak, not a freak. Not a freak, not a freak, not a freak..."
He was saying over and over.  On the word freak he would strike the
dummy.  The rhythm built and built like a snowball rolling downhill.
Soon the space between the blows could only be told by the shavings
falling from the dummy.  Then suddenly his face went blood red and it
looked like he was going to wretch.
  " I " a heavy punch sent a wooden arm flying out the door.   "Am" his
elbow strike snapped the second arm "Not" a crescent kick broke off the
wooden leg of the dummy sending it into the far corner   "A" he grabbed
the trunk of the dummy and ripped it up ward "FREAK!!!" and judo slammed
it into the floor of the Dojo.  The wooden floor gave way to the dummy
and Nabiki saw the earth beneath give way.
  She began wondering what could have upset Ranma so much.  He was
standing there, his shirt off and every muscle of his well-defined
stomach taunt.  He was panting with rage.  His hands over his mouth and
his face losing it's red hue.
  "I didn't...I didn't I didn't....I couldn't have..." he was
muttering.. "Not even I a dream...."
  He sank to his knees.  "Not a freak, not a freak, not a freak. not a
freak." he kept saying to himself. Each time his voice broke a little
more.
  Then the sobs started.  His hands covered his face and his shoulders
began moving up and down in a slow jiggle.  Nabiki saw the wet tears
slip past his hands and splatter on the floor.
  His sobs got louder.  Nabiki began to fear he'd wake the house.  
  From over his head, water splashed down.  Drenching him.  Ranma was
now Ranma-chan, a girl.  The red headed crying girl didn't even notice. 
But Nabiki's eyes shot up looking for the assailant.  She saw no one,
but a Dojo window was open.  
  "I'm...not...a...freak...not...a...pervert." Ranma chan said trying to
convince herself of its truth.
  Nabiki had watched all she could stand.  She had never seen Ranma cry
before, and she decided it was not something she liked seeing.
  With slow and quiet steps she snuck up behind the crying girl.  Nabiki
quietly sat behind Ranma and wrapped the blanket around them both as she
hugged the girl.
  "What's ...." Ranma began, trying to fight off the embrace.
  "Hush Ranma," Nabiki said softly, "You need to cry it out."
  "I...I don't, I..."
  "Ranma for heaven's sake just let me do something nice for you!"
Nabiki said sharply. "Come on, you need a shoulder to cry on."
  Ranma all but collapsed.  She felt red hot in Nabiki's arms, but not
like she was running a fever.   More like she was ashamed.  Nabiki
thought of what Kasumi would do at a time like this.  very slowly she
began rocking the smaller girl in her arms.  
  (I'm holding the most dangerous man alive in my arms right now, and I
can't help but feel how frail he is.)  Nabiki thought to herself.
  Finally, Ranma stopped crying.  For an intimate silence Nabiki held
her.  Then Ranma's hands rested over Nabiki's and Nabiki knew Ranma
wanted to be let go.  She sat back and opened her arms.  
   At first Ranma didn't move.
  "Feel better?" Nabiki asked.
  "yeah..." the red head said amazed, "I do." Ranma spun on her knee and
looked at Nabiki.
(Why's she looking at me like that?) Nabiki thought.  It was weird, like
Ranma was trying to see into her head.
  "What?" Nabiki asked.
  "Why?" Ranma asked, "Why did you comfort me.  I mean I'm not
ungrateful it's just that I always kind of thought of you as a cold
heartless bitch."  
  The second she said it Ranma cringed.  (me and my big mouth.) she
thought.
  Nabiki chuckled.  "I'm not Akane.  I'm not going to hit you for
speaking your mind.  So what caused you to break apart?"
  Ranma looked down.  The look of shame came over her again. "Some kids
at school called me a freak.  It didn't bother me until one of them
asked Akane about her freak fiancée, and she...Akane joked about me
being a freak."
  "Anything else?" Nabiki asked.
  Ranma hugged herself tighter.  She nodded slowly.  When it was clear
she wouldn't talk about it Nabiki changed the subject.
  "How many friends do you have Ranma?" 
  "Oh, I dunno...lot's I guess.  There's Hiroshi, Daisuke... there's...
um... Ryoga I guess...."
  Her voice trailed off.  
  Nabiki realized how alone Ranma must be.  (And part of that is my
fault.  Arrrghh I hate being partly to blame in this.  What did Ranma
ever really do to me?)
  "You better get your shirt on." Nabiki said.
  "Huh?" Ranma asked, then she looked down she went "EEP!!" and
scrambled for her shirt.
  "Don't tell me you didn't notice you'd changed sex?" Nabiki asked as
she stood up.
  "No...I didn't even know...It just hurt so bad."
  Nabiki didn't know what to say.  She really did want to help.  "Hey
Ranma, I know we haven't always been close but, " she held out her
hand,  "Pals?"
 Ranma looked at the extended hand. Then she smiled.  (she really does
have a cute smile.) Nabiki thought.
  "Sure." Ranma said as she took Nabiki's hand. "Hey, come with me a
second.  I want to show you something."
  Ranma led her up the stairs to the Dojo Attic.  The floor had an old
futon and some blankets.  Along the far wall were tarps and canvas.
  "Wow.  Do you sleep here Ranma?" Nabiki asked.
  "Sometimes."
  "Why?" 
  "I get nightmares sometimes, loud ones.  I can feel them coming on
before I go to bed at night, most of the time."  Ranma said unsure.
  She lit a candle and drew a tarp off a tall canvas.
  It took Nabiki's breath away.  On the canvas was a painting of Kasumi.
She was depicted with a bright face and soft colors.  In the background
of the painting, if you looked closely you could see the outline of
wings sprouting from Kasumi's back.  The wings where transparent, the
background color hiding all but the hint of them.
  "That's so...her." Nabiki said.  It was signed, Ranko Tendo.  The name
Ranma used to hide in his female body.
  "why not your own name?" Nabiki asked.
  "Are you kidding?  Genma thinks I'm training on some special Anything
goes technique up here.  If her found out I was doing something so..."
Ranma shuddered, " girlish he'd have my hide."
  "That's too bad.  You're very good."
  "You think so?" Ranma asked
  "Yeah.  I do."  Both girls suddenly shivered as a cold wind blew in.  
  "You want to share?" Nabiki asked.
  "Sure." Ranma agreed.  She sat down on the futon and Nabiki wrapped
them both up.  For a long while they just watched the stars out the
attic window.  Eventually Nabiki said.
  "I'd better get back to bed.  You coming back to the house?"
  "No...I better stay here." Ranma said sadly. Nabiki understood what
she meant.
  "Nabiki, I've never had a friend who was a girl.  Ukyo doesn't count
since she's...well she doesn't really count anymore.  I...I hope I don't
mess up our friendship." Ranma said.
  Nabiki put and arm around her new friend.  "Ranma friends just don't
mess up.  I'm scared a bit too, I've never had a friend who was a guy
before." she said with a smile.
  "Thanks." Ranma said, "I needed to hear that." she smiled in return.
  "I know.  And you should do that more often."
  "What? Paint?"
  "That too," Nabiki said as she left, "But I meant smiling.  Good night
Ranma."
   "'Night Nabiki."

  Nabiki was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.  She didn't see
the shadowy figure in her room slip out of the closet and lean by her
ear.  The figure whispered "Be kind to me Nachan."  and it kissed her on
the cheek.

  Nabiki dreamed.  In her dream she was getting ready to bathe.  Ranma
was coming out of the bath, male and embarrassed.  He tried to cover
himself up and get around her.  But Nabiki smiled and splashed him with
cold water making him a her.
  "Join me, we can talk." she said in her dream.
   In her sleep she smiled.  The figure smiled and wanted so much to
wake her, to tell her, to spare her the pain that would follow.  But
that would mean sparring her the joy.  The shadow left by her window,
giving Nabiki one last loving look before moving to a new part of the
house.

   Ranma on the other hand was not dreaming peacefully.  Her dream had
picked up where it hand ended.  Only now her male self and female self
were doing things that should have had a hentai-warning label.  She
tried to wake up but she couldn't.  Then she heard it.  Her father's
voice.  No Genma's voice , she'd never know her real father.
  "Son! How could you do this to me!  Oh the shame.  You can't be a man
among men and do this!"
  " I...It isn't what it looks like!" her female half tried to say, but
the embrace felt sooooo good.
  It came out of her mouth as "Aaaaaah"
  "YOU PERVERT!" Came Akane's dream voice.
  "Akane, wait...I can explain!!!" the male Ranma tried.
  "I don't want your explanations!!! I DONT WANT YOU!  The thought of
you doing this...it makes me sick!" the dream Akane cried.

  The shadow entered the attic.  It looked down at Ranma-chan.  After a
moment of De JA vu it slipped under the covers and whispered in her ear.
  "It's alright...it's alright.  You are forgiven.  You are
forgiven...."
  In her sleep Ranma calmed, and the two Ranma's in her dream cuddled
safely, clinging to each other as if they could not bear to be apart.

  The sunlight drifted across Ranma-chan's face.  She squinted and
raised her hand over her eyes.  She hadn't slept all that well.  Her
body ached.  She rose and suddenly doubled over in pain. (What's that
about?) she asked herself.  Slowly it faded.  Ranma rose again and
walked outside.  The sun felt warm and gentle on her face.  A breeze had
started to blow, and all over her arms the fine hairs goosebumped.
  (woah?) she asked herself, (that feels different somehow.)  She walked
out to the yard and let the wind blow over her.  Ranma undid her hair
and let it flow loosely in the weak breeze.  The air felt soothing as it
flowed over her body.  Her arms slowly lifted from her sides...
  And suddenly she was blocking punches and kicks from Genma.  She
quickly went threw the entire Nine Gates system of blocks three times
before she vaulted away.
  "Jeez Genma!" she called out in the air, "can't I even enjoy a Sunrise
without you trying to ambush me!?"
  "A martial artist must be prepared for attack at all times Boy.
Speaking of all times, where were you last night?"
Ranma-chan landed in the Koi pond's edge.  The water was just reaching
her knees.  "Well then come and get me why dontcha poppa bear?"
Ranma-chan taunted in a sexy purr.  She stood relaxed, blowing on her
nails. "You're always telling me I should plan my fights so I am, whatsa
matta? don't feel like a bath?"
   Soun Tendo and Nabiki were already downstairs.  They watched the
exchange from the dining room.  Soun decided to heckle his friend.  He
never got much of a chance to do that any more.
  "Well well Saotome old friend.  It seems she has you at a rare
disadvantage.  Personally I'd never let one of my daughters talk to me
like that."  Soun emphasized the word Daughter.
  It got Genma's goat all right.  He countered with," Well I supposed
that is what I should expect from a GIRL who's afraid to fight." Genma
sneered. (that will provoke Ranma.) Genma thought.
  It did.  But not in the way Genma thought.  Ranma's eyes narrowed. Her
battle aura shimmered hotly.  Genma thought the effect much like a
mirage.  He considered that perhaps he might have gone a wee bit too
far.
  The water of the pond began to boil.  Ranma stepped out of the pond
and very slowly walked into the house.  Genma tried to cut her of, but
then he saw her eyes.
  If he tried to spare her now, she would turn it into a fight.  She
would hurt him for the sake of hurting him.  He'd never seen Ranma that
mad before.  Wisely, Genma backed down.
  With a grunt Ranma-Chan stormed upstairs.  
  "You may have pushed her a bit too far there old friend." Soun said to
Genma.  Genma merely grunted in return and sat down.
  
  As Ranma walked up the stairs, Akane was coming down. 
  "Morning Ranma." she said.  Then she felt it. The anger.  Akane backed
up. Seeing Akane take a step back, Ranma stopped.  She softened.  Akane
felt the anger recede.  She sighed.
  "Are you alright Ranma?"
  "no." Ranma said, "I don't think I'll ever be alright." she muttered
as she slipped by Akane.  But before Akane could ask her another
question or if she could do anything for Ranma, the red head had closed
the bath room door.
 (She looks terrible.) Akane thought. (I wonder what happened.)

  Akane sat down at the table, she looked around to see if she could get
a clue as to what it was that had upset her fiancée so.  Ranma's father
wasn't smug so it couldn't have been the morning duel. 
  Moment's later Ranma arrived.  He was male and he was still sullen. 
For as long as she had known him his face had always been either somber
or sullen.  But today Akane could feel something worse.  He was slipping
into a depression.
  "How'd you sleep Ranma?" Kasumi asked as she finished serving
breakfast.
  He was picking at his food.  "Kinda rough." he muttered.
  "My aren't we talkative today?" Akane asked him.  She had meant it to
be a jest.
  (Ding Ding,) Nabiki thought, (round one underway.)
  Ranma's chopsticks fell to his plate, "Listen you! I get enough crap
from Genma every morning I don't what to have to start fighting you
every morning as well!"
  "Well I'm sorry!  But it was just a joke there's no need to bite my
head off!!" Akane yelled back.  ( at least he's not moping anymore)
  He was about to retort when Nabiki's hand placed itself on her knee.
Suddenly he was calm, his anger back under control.  He realized from
the way Akane was breathing that he must have hurt her feelings.
  "I...you're right Akane. That was uncalled for.  I apologize for
yelling at you."  he slumped.
  Everyone reacted in their own way to the event. Genma choked on his
rice.  Soun rubbed his ears, unsure that he did just hear Ranma
correctly.  Kasumi was up in a flash and had her hand to his forehead.
  "He hasn't got a fever." she said.
  "Ranma...did you just apologize to me?" Akane asked in shock.
  (Yeah I did. You deaf as well as uncute!?) he thought, but with
Nabiki's hand on his knee, all that came out was "Umm.. yeah I guess I
did."
  "Oh." Akane said.
  "Okay, we gotta go." Nabiki said, "We're going to be late for the
meeting."
  "What meeting...OW!" Ranma yelped.
  "You promised me you'd help me set up the business club meeting today
Ranma Saotome, don't tell me you forgot!"  Nabiki winked the eye that
was hidden from the view of everyone else but Ranma.
  "Oh,,...I almost forgot about that.  Yeah. okay.  Uh Bye all!" he
shouted as they ran out the door.
  Akane watched them go.  She hadn't seen her sister calm him down, but
she was sure that Nabiki had something to do with Ranma's apology.  (I
wonder what she has on him?)

Nabiki was walking on the ground parallel to Ranma who was walking along
a fence.  His hair swayed in the breeze, held back by a single hair
tie.  Nabiki watched him from the corner of her eye, wondering what it
would take to get him to talk.
  "Thanks for back there." Ranma said.
  "No problem, but you really should watch what you say to her you
know?" 
  "I'll try to be more careful." Ranma said neutrally. For a short time
they walked in silence.
  "What do you do for fun Ranma?" Nabiki asked.
  "Well, I paint mostly I guess.  I sneak off whenever Genma isn't
watching.  Right now I'm paintin Akane's portrait, as a fire breathing
Godzilla."
  "You've been calling your father that a lot lately, Genma.  I haven't
heard you call him pops all of today.  Did something happen."
  Ranma went stiff. 
  (Oh, something DID happen.) "If you don't want to tell me that's
al...."
  "No.  It's not that Nabiki.  I...I trust you." he was quiet for a
moment, then he hopped off the fence to walk beside her.  "I found out
yesterday that Genma isn't my father. Nor is Nodoka my mother. I'm....
I'm an orphan sort of."
  Nabiki's hand rested in his.  He smiled.  
  "Thanks, I needed that." He said softly and squeezed her hand
slightly.  
  "So...do you know where you come from?  Who you parents are?" Nabiki
asked.
  "No.  Nodoka didn't know either.  She thinks they were American.
That's all she knows."
  Ranma looked down at the ground.
  "Which made you feel even more alone yesterday, part of what led up to
your break down huh?"
  "When it rains...." Ranma said softly.
  "...It pours.  Well, I think you are pretty cool."
  "Really?" he asked.
  "For a gaijin." she teased.
  Ranma good naturally stuck his tongue out at her.
  They arrived near the school and didn't realize they were still
holding hands.  But several school photographers did.    Shortly the
school gossip-rag would have a headline reading " RANMA SAOTOME TWO
TIMES AKANE."
  "Nabiki, would you mind walking home with me?  I ...I think I need to
talk a little more." Ranma said.
  "Sure.  No problem.  I gotta go now."  She left him at the gate with a
wave.

  Ranma let his mind wander.  His thoughts
He watched the road looking for Akane.
    "Ranma." a voice said.
  He turned to see a really pretty girl in a red dress that brought out
her figure nicely.  She had a ponytail that fell down her back.
  "Uh...yeah. " Ranma said dumbly.
  "Well?  Do you like the dress Ranchan?"
  "U-Ukyo?" he asked amazed.  She looked completely different.
  "Of course it is silly."
  "Wow...that dress...wow..." he said.
  "Thank you.  I have to cater a faculty lunch today so I won't be in
school, but enough about that.  What were you doing schmoozing up to
Nabiki Tendo?"
  "WHAT!?" Ranma eeped, " Me... Nabiki...you got it all wrong Ukyo.
Nabiki and I are just friends."  (Me and Nabiki?  NO WAY! )
  "Just so long as it remains that way.  Be careful Ranma-honey, Nabiki
has a way of playing rough with her friends."
  Then Ukyo leaned in and kissed Ranma.  He tried to do something but
his brain cut off.
  Ukyo smiled smugly.   Then Ranma felt the wind begin to rise.  He
turned slowly, knowing what he would see.  Hurricane Akane.
  "Hussy." Akane hissed as Ukyo walked by.
  "Sexless Tomboy." Ukyo returned.
NIGHT
  Someone was whispering "Ranma."  He rubbed his eyes and sat up.  The
door was partially slid open and he could see Nabiki calling him.  With
a yawn he walked over to the door.
  "What is it?" he asked in a hushed voice.
  "Get dressed.  Put on a suit." she whispered.
  "Why?"
  "Trust me." Nabiki said.
  He shrugged.  (Why not?  What's she wearing a trench coat for anyway?)
He dressed and combed his hair.  Nabiki led him outside to a corner
where she all but shoved him into a cab. 
  "Driver, take us to the All Night Club." she said as she closed the
door.  As she was getting in Ranma saw her coat part to reveal a close
hugging black dress.  
  "Okay, I'll bite.  Where are you taking me?" Ranma asked her.
  "Dancing.  A few days from now Furinkan High has a dance social.  If
you are going to take Akane you'd better learn how to dance."
  "Who says I'm going with an uncute tomboy anyway?" Ranma muttered. 
  "Like anyone else would go with you?" Nabiki asked.
  "Ippon." Ranma commented.  First point, the Japanese equivalent of
Touché.
  "Thank you.  Now we are going to teach you how to dance tonight."
Nabiki continued.
  "We?" he asked nervously.
  "I and the other young ladies who you will be dancing with this
evening."  She chuckled, as he seemed to get a bit faint.
  "She'll kill me Nachan." he whispered.
  "Posh...She's not gonna find out Ranma-kun."

  The club was filled with people.  All of them dressed very well and
dancing well to western classical music.  Ranma looked very
uncomfortable.  
  "Will you relax." Nabiki commanded.  He tried to comply.
  The hall was set around a circular dance floor with tables around its
edge.  The only exception was that the far side from the entrance was
for the orchestra.  Ranma watched as the very wealthy couples glided by.
  "How did you get us in here?" He asked Nabiki.
  "It pays to know the evil that men do, particularly the Kuno family.
Now come on.  It's time."  
  She led him onto the dance floor.  She reached out and put his hand on
her hip.
He all but jumped.  "Nabiki!" he hissed.
  "It's dancing Ranma, you can't get out of dancing without touching
your partner." she teased.  She took his other hand in her free one.
"Now, follow my lead."
  She led him through the waltz.  He started off very klutzy, but little
by little he began to adapt his footwork.
  Finally when she felt him begin to lead she took her gaze from off his
feet to look at him.
"That's good. Just like that..." (hey, what's wrong with him now?  Why
does he look so confused?)  "Ranma, what's wrong?"
  He led her over to a table on the edge of the floor.  He got her chair
for her and sat down with that damned somber face of his.
  (If it's the last thing I do, I am going to kill that look.) Nabiki
told herself.
  "This is hard on Me." he began, "I've never had many friends.  Ryoga
used to be my best friend and now he tries to kill me.  Hirsohi and
Daisuke are good friends, but they never would have done something like
this."
  "Well personally I don't think they could fill out a dress Ranma."
Nabiki said trying to lighten his mood.
   "That's not what I mean.  I mean, they never would have sacrificed
their time like this.  Of their effort.  It's confusing because I don't
know how or if I can repay you for your kindness." 
  Nabiki took his hands, "Listen to me you silly boy, this isn't about
repaying kindness.  This is about being kind.  Hell, I'm winging this
whole thing.  It just seemed like what you needed.  Now, go out there
and practice sweeping some young lady off her feet."
  Ranma smiled.  He kissed her hand and left for the floor.  She watched
as he began to practice.  He was good, and with each young lady he was
getting better.  In the span of half and hour he had the dance almost
perfect.  He left the floor miming out an arm twirl he had just seen.
  Nabiki nodded.  Now it was time for the real challenge.  Getting him
to loosen up.  Before he could sit down she grabbed his hand and dragged
him to a dark corner.
  "Hey, what's going on?" he asked her.
  "More training Ranma.  Now that you can dance politely we are going to
teach you do dance dirty."
  "D-d-dirty?" he asked.
  She spun on him, her eyes looked like wild fires.  "Do you trust me?"
she asked.
  "Yes." he answered.
  "Good."  She ripped the lower part of her dress away.  The skirt was
now only an inch away from being dangerously revealing.  She then dowsed
him with someone's ice water.
  "What did you do that for?" Ranma-chan asked.
  "Trust me.  You have to be a girl for this." Nabiki said back.  She
opened a door in the shadows and pulled Ranma-chan through.

  It was a basement club below the sociable one.  Several layers of
soundproof walls padded the place.  It had a constant red lighting and
seemed to be all dance floor and a Bar.
  All over the floor young men and women danced.  The club was packed
and played fast angry music.  
  "Welcome to the Wild Side.  A place for getting with it!!!" Nabiki had
to shout in Ranma's ear.
  "What the heck are we doing here?" Ranma asked.  Nabiki was pulling
her towards the dance floor.  
  "We are going to loosen you up mister formal." Nabiki answered. 
  Ranma took a look at the dancers.  Some of them where constantly in
contact.
  "Formal is good." Ranma tried to quip, but suddenly Nabiki was dancing
against her body.  The older girl was rubbing against Ranma's thighs and
had her arms laced behind Ranma's neck.
  Ranma was about to run; this felt weird...and good at the same time.
(I have enough confusion in my life, I didn't need this.) She thought.
  But then Nabiki said then magic words.  The words that Ranma could
never turn down.
  "I challenge you to out dance me." Nabiki said.
  Despite herself, the beat of the music and Nabiki's warm body where
beginning to do things to her.  She fond herself moving along with her
friend.  Her movements becoming looser and more suggestive as the music
pounded and Nabiki came closer.
  "If you win?" Ranma asked.
  "You have to come back here with me until you beat me."
  "If I win?" Ranma asked.  Nabiki's breast was now against hers. She
should have felt revolted, but the music had her.
  "You pick the next adventure." Nabiki said.
  "You are on." Ranma said.  (No way am I ever coming back here.) 
   Nabiki grinned and her eyes flared with excitement.  She turned her
body away from Ranma.  At first Ranma-chan thought she'd done something
wrong until Nabiki began to grind her hips into Ranma's....
  "Nabiki!" Ranma yelps as she leapt back a foot.
  "Giving up Ranma?" Nabiki countered.
  "No way!"  (Anything to avoid having to come back here.  It's just
training she must have reason.  It must feel this good for a reason.
Trust her trust her.... Not a freak...not a freak)
  Ranma grabbed a hold of Nabiki's body and ground back.
  (Oh my!) Nabiki thought as the sensations flooded her; (This is going
to be fun.)  For a half-hour they dueled each other.  Most of that Time
Nabiki made it a point to be VERY close to Miss Saotome.  Even to the
point of embracing her and laying her head on Ranma's shoulder as their
bodies moved.  The dance became kind of a rhythmic haze lulling them
into its dream.
  Finally though, Nabiki gave out.  Ranma was in better shape and had to
help carry her off the floor.  They plopped down at the bar.  Nabiki was
giddy and laughing. 
  (Oh that felt really good. I haven't danced like that in a long time.)
She thought to herself.
  (Don't think about it don't think about it...it's only Nabiki.  She's
only teaching me how to dance...oh man oh man why am I so turned ON
right now? I'm a pervert. That's what it is, Akane is right I am a
pervert.  That is the only explanation.  Oh man I gotta know....)
"Uh.. Nabiki.  Why did I have to be a girl for this?" Ranma asked.
  "Well I wasn't going to dance like that with a boy Ranma, it'd become
sexual." Nabiki said as if it was obvious.
  (Right, sexual and right now it's not sexual okay. Sure...she's not
turned on; good it's just me.  Oh how can they stand being wet down
there?  It feels like at any moment I'm going to leak out onto the seat!
Oh man why'd I let her drag me down here?  As if I didn't have enough
nightmares....)
  Nabiki touched Ranma's arm.  The red head breathed out.  (That
shouldn't feel like that.) She thought to herself.
  "Look at the men.  Watch what they are doing when they talk to the
women here." Nabiki asked.  "This is why I also needed you to be a
girl.  Boys don't notice this kind of thing."
  "Oh come on!" Ranma said.
  "When did you notice the sunrise?"
  "Nippon." Ranma conceded.  Second point.
  Ranma watched as the men tried to pick up the women.  They had an ever
so slight lean in their stance.  It seems to bring them closer just a
tiny bit.  Then there was the voice they were using, open, friendly.
Then it would change to being flirty and deep.  Finally she noticed the
gaze.
  "Oh my god...do men really look at women like THAT?  Have I ever
looked at you like that?" Ranma asked Nabiki.
  "Yes, an yep.  It's a little scary at first, but after awhile all the
attention begins to flatter a woman.  You like to be watched sometimes.
It's hard to describe.  But I've never seen you look at Akane like that.
I know you love her, but I've never seen you WANT her." Nabiki pulled on
Ranma's arm. "Time to go Ranma.  We need to get back." 

  Outside the air was cold to them.  They were covered in sweat from
dancing.  Nabiki pulled Ranma into her trench coat as she hailed a cab. 
  Ranma couldn't help but notice how different it felt to be near her
now as opposed to the club.  The intense sexual wave was gone.  It was
just Nachan, her friend.  
  The cab pulled up and they dove inside.  Once inside Ranma's fears
began to disappear even more and she came alive.  She couldn't stop
talking about how she felt to Nabiki.  Nabiki just listened, smiling.
Knowing exactly what Ranma was feeling.
  "It's like my body has more energy than it can safely hold.  I...I
don't think I will be able to sleep tonight." Ranma said.
  "You'll be out like a light.  You are having a party high.  Adrenaline
in a semi constant flow.  When it fades you'll feel worn out." Nabiki
said.
  Suddenly a bit of fear gripped Ranma. "Did we really have to do this
tonight to teach me how to dance?" she asked Nabiki.
  "Ranma.  Think about how you were dancing during the waltz.  You went
through the motions well but you really weren't enjoying yourself
because you were near a woman.  You haven't been that close to many
women have you?"
  "Well, no but..."
 "And then later...well let me ask it this way.  Are you afraid to
dance with me now?"
   "No.  I'm comfortable dancing with you now."
   "Which means with Akane you won't have any reason to be nervous now
will you?" Nabiki asked.
  Ranma thought about it.  The idea of her having to dance with Akane
had been frightening. She would have to touch a girl ...to.... To
  It dawned on her what Nabiki meant.  Her smile was huge.  She
assaulted Nabiki with a fierce hug.
 "Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you" Ranma chanted.
  "You're welcome...I'd like to breathe."
  "Oops...sorry."

They snuck back into the house.  The house was quiet and a single light
made the whole building seem like a library.  
  "Holy Cow! It's four in the morning!  We've gotta be up in two hours!"
Ranma whispered.
  "Here, take these.  They'll get you through the day.  You'll hate
waking up though." Nabiki handed Ranma a pair of blue pills.
  "No wonder you're not a morning person." Ranma remarked
  "I only do this about once a month miss Saotome.  A girls gotta be
wild sometimes you know?" Nabiki grinned as she walked towards the
steps.
  "Nabiki." Ranma said softly.
  Nabiki stopped short and turned around.  Suddenly Ranma-chan was just
a bit inside Nabiki's circle of personal space.  Her stance said she
wanted permission to step just a bit further inside Nabiki's space.  Her
eyes smoldered with lust and Nabiki felt something inside her stomach
begin to tighten.  Nabiki gulped nervously, unsure what to do.  Then
Ranma was suddenly outside her circle.
  "Gotcha Nachan?" Ranma asked playfully.
  (Oh my.) Nabiki thought to herself. She felt herself blushing.  "Yeah,
I think you've got it down there Ranma."  (Oh my.)
  Ranma giggled. "And I have you to thank."  She took Nabiki's hand and
kissed it.  It sent a little jolt up Nabiki's arm to her heart.  She
gasped.  Ranma grinned, and Nabiki thought she saw her own smile on the
girls' face.
  "'Bye for the night." Ranma said softly, tenderly.  Something just a
bit more than friendly. 
"Yeah. Bye." Nabiki said.  She took several moments to calm herself.
Then she giggled. (Akane will never know what hit her.)  The lingering
tingle of the kiss stung her hand.  (I think I've created a monster.)

   That night Nabiki dreamed of dancing with Ranma-kun at the waltz. The
music was gentle and so was his touch.  They moved very well together
and she felt happy.  He knew where to be a little too close now, and she
didn't mind.

  Ranma dreamt of a forest.  In it where lare statues of Akane carved
from Ice.  The Ice had dark splotch inside it.  A person Banging on the
ice to get out.  Ranma tried to help them but couldn't get to them.  The
statues began to melt and take the form of someone Ranma felt she should
know.

  THE NEXT MORNING

  Nabiki yawned.  Her hair was a mess.  Her body ached from being used
so well last night dancing.  She swung her legs out of bed.... And she
stopped.  She was very wet 'down there'.  She couldn't remember why.
That hadn't happened to her dancing.  It must have happened.... Her eyes
went wide as some parts of her dream came back. The serenades of Ranma's
voice asking "Gotcha Nachan?"
  She ran to the bathroom chanting. "Cold shower cold shower cold
shower."  She blew by Akane, as her sister was about to enter the
bathroom and shut the door behind her.
  (Well there's something you don't see every day.) Akane thought to
herself.  She opened the door gently and saw Nabiki forcing herself to
remain under a jet of cold water. 
  "Uh, Nabiki...are you alright?" Akane asked.
  "What's that?" 
  "Are you alright?"
  " Course I'm alright Akane." Nabiki said sharply.
"Well then... why are you taking a shower with your clothes on?  EEP!"
Akane yelped as an ice cold pajama top that nearly struck her.  "I'll
just wait downstairs okay?" Akane asked.
  
  (What's gotten into her?) Akane thought to herself as she plodded
downstairs.  From outside she heard kiai's, martial arts yells.  She
looked out the dining room window/door and was amazed to see Ranma-chan
bouncing around the yard like a hyperactive rubber ball.  The red headed
girl was currently running around on her hands with her feet up in the
air.  She executed a flip and landed in front of Akane.  
  "Woah? What's with you?" Akane asked.
  "I feel GREAT!!!" Ranma said leaping into the air. She spun three
times before landing in the same spot and giving Akane a curtsey.
  "A-par-rent-ly!!!" Akane found herself smiling.
  "Careful, there you go again." Ranma warned.
  "Go doing what?" Akane asked defensively.
  "Being cute." Ranma said in light but something a bit more than
friendly voice.
  Akane locked eyes with her.  Ranma's eyes...
   (Oh my...) Akane thought.  She gulped hard and felt like hiding for
some reason.  Then it was gone.  Ranma began to fidget and throw air
punches.  "Hey you wanna spar Akane?"
  "Did I hear you right?" Akane asked.
  "I dunno, if you think I asked you to spar you heard me right."  Ranma
leaned forward a bit. "Unless of course you are afraid you might lose." 
  Akane just HAD to wipe that smug smile off of Ranma's face.  (Why is
she looking at me like THAT?)  "I'll get my GI." Akane said.
  
  When Akane came back from dressing, Nabiki was seated against the
doorframe of the dinning room.  In the yard Ranma bounced and umpped,
thwacking wooden dummies and yelling improvised insults.  Akane laid a
hand on Nabiki's should and heard her sister mutter.
  "I really hate morning people."
  Akane grinned, "She's certainly full of pep today isn't she?" Akane
asked.
  Nabiki nodded.  
  "You alright sis?" Akane asked her.
  "Just draggy, that's all."
  Akane nodded, her sister would be okay.
  
  They started the match about at the end of kicking distance.  Ranma
stood in her relaxed pose with her arms crossed under her breasts. Akane
in her front stance.   Soun and Genma watched from the dining room. 
This promised to be very entertaining.
  Akane threw the first punch.  It was a lunge punch.  She didn't expect
it to hit but it would give her an attack that would cross the distance.
Ranma would probably dodge. 
  She blocked.
  The movement took Akane so by surprise that she hesitated and Ranma
leaned forward, and kissed her on the cheek.  
  "What's gotten into you?" Akane asked.  Ranma merely grinned, that
ever so smug smile and doubled kicked.  Akane had to retreat.  She
managed to dodge the first kick but had to block the second one with her
raised knee.  This drew Ranma in and gave her a chance to punch her
again. Only Ranma did one of those damn annoying one-inch dodges and
Akane missed.
(Damn it!  That should have hit you!) Akane thought.  She kept going;
she couldn't afford to let Ranma get an opening when they were this
close together.  She threw a high punch low punch combo.  She knew it
wouldn't hit, but it would make Ranma dodge left or right, and when she
did Akane's feet would be ready for a kick to catch her.
   It came as an utter surprise when Ranma doubled over on the second
punch.   She let out a loud "Whoosh" of air and held her stomach.
  (I hit her.) Akane thought. (I Finally Hit Her!)
  Then she saw Ranma sink to her knees.  Akane dropped her guard and
placed her hands on Ranma's shoulders.  "Oh gods, Ranma I didn't mean to
hurt...yipes!!!" 
Suddenly Akane was flying I a tight circle in the air.  She landed on
her back and Ranma was straddling her stomach.  Her arms were pinned and
Ranma was smiling.
  "You cheater!" Akane cried out.
  "Nope, I didn't cheat.  I just used a Thespian throw on you."
  "There is NO such move." Akane tired to snarl.  But it came out
amused.  Ranma was getting crafty as well as quicker.
  "Is now.  I just made it up, it requires a bit of acting."  Then Ranma
was leaning over Akane, their faces a foot apart.  Her voice lost its
playful tone; it became a rich sensual purr.
  "Do you remember Kuno's challenge to the school?" Ranma asked.
  Akane's eyes locked into Ranma's gaze.  It was full of desire.  Akane
gulped, "Y-yes."
  "I'd say I just beat you." Ranma said.  Her face moved closer.  It
began to blur in Akane's vision. Akane felt Ranma's breath closing on
her lips.  
  (Oh god. right here? In front of my family?  What's gotten into you?)
Akane thought.  She had to stall, anything would do.  Her mind found a
tool.
  "But you're not a guy." Akane whispered just as Ranma's lips touched
hers.  The kiss stopped a millimeter short.  Akane's lips trembled and
she could feel Ranma's mouth over hers.  Then slowly Ranma's face came
back into view.  She was shedding tears.  Akane felt one land on her
neck.  She realized what she had just said. "Oh god Ranma, I...I didn't
mean it like that."  She whispered.  She'd have given the world to take
back the last ten seconds.
  Ranma leaned forward and kissed her forehead, which made Akane sigh.
Then she rolled off of Akane and walked toward the house.
  For a long moment Akane was unsure what she should do.  Finally she
rose and brushed herself off.  Here sister was gone from sight as well.
  "Where did they go?" Akane asked.
  "They went up to Nabiki's room." Genma's sign read.  Akane bolted up
the stairs.
  
  Nabiki's door was partly open; it hadn't closed all the way.  Akane
crept up and listened.
  She could see Nabiki lying on her stomach on her bed and Ranma's back
from where she was sitting on the floor.
  "You know she didn't mean it that way." Nabiki said as she raised
herself up on her elbows.
  "I know what she meant.  But I still feel like I was slapped.  How
petty does that make me Nabiki?  " Ranma asked.
  (Petty?  Since when did Ranma ever get introspective?) Akane wondered.
  "It makes you human Ranma.  You shouldn't feel so guilty.  Two days
ago you wouldn't have even known that she didn't really mean it." Nabiki
said.
  "I guess you're right.  I've been wondering lately..."
  "About what?" Nabiki asked.
  "What would I do without a friend like you Nachan?" Ranma asked.
  (Nachan?  When did you two get so close?) Akane wondered.
  "No sweat Ranma.  You make my sister happy and I'm glad to see you
smiling some more now.  You were starting to get as depressing as
Kuno-baby."  Nabiki teased. They giggled.
  Akane knocked on the door.  Ranma turned around.  "Uh...hiya Akane.
How long have you been there?"
  "Just a bit.  Listen, I'm really sorry about what I said.  I just
didn't want to lose." Akane said.
  "It's okay.  I'm just a little...sensitive when I'm a girl." Ranma
said cheerfully.  "But since you admit losing..."
  "Yeah you beat me, you don't have to rub it in." Akane said a bit
snappish.
  "So that means you owe me a date."
  "Looks that way." Akane said, careful not to betray any emotion she
was feeling... (Fear, excitement, relief...)
  "Well, there's this dance thing coming up at school." Ranma said.
  "Yeah, I know about it.  You want to go to that?" Akane asked.   Ranma
nodded, she was looking at Akane THAT way again. (Oh boy...) "Okay. 
It's a da...it's a da...a da..."
  "The word is Date, Akane." Nabiki said amused.
  "Date." Akane made herself say.
  "Well gee, don't sound so enthused." Ranma uttered as she headed for
the bathroom and a hot shower.

  Akane slid down the doorframe of Nabiki's room.  
  "Am I dreaming?" she asked Nabiki.
  Nabiki shuddered at the mention of dreams.
  "What?" Akane asked.
  "Nothing...No you are not dreaming.  Ranma just made a date with you."
Nabiki said rolling off her bed to help her sister to stand up.  "He's
been trying to ask you for a long time but he was afraid he'd mess it
up."
  "He told you all that?"
  "Not at first.  The night before last I found him in the Dojo turning
a wooden man into toothpicks.  The whole time he's yelling ' I'm not a
freak ' and crying his eyes out.  I...I had to do something.  He was in
such pain, so lonely..." a tear rolled down Nabiki's cheek.  (So like
me.) She wiped it away. "Isn't that funny?  Me the ice queen actually
finds out she has a heart."
  Akane didn't know what to say.  "You know his secrets then?  You're
his confidant?  That's why the two of you are so chummy lately?"
  "Yeah.  It's weird, we actually have a lot in common." Nabiki said.
  "Then you know if he...if he loves me." Akane said.
  Nabiki didn't know how to answer that.  Her gut feeling was (he
doesn't love you yet, but he's getting there.)  But that wouldn't
satisfy her sister.
  "He should tell you that.  It'd be better that way." Nabiki said,
hoping Akane would let it lie there.
  "I'm a little jealous of you." Akane said,
  "W-why?" 
  "He can tell you how he really feels, I have to guess.  It isn't fun."
  "Akane...that's because he has nothing to lose talking to me, he might
lose you if he said the wrong thing or if you did.  You matter to him."
Nabiki shuffled her feet.  (Why am I suddenly uncomfortable with this?)
  "I guess.  Thanks Nabiki.  I guess I owe you." Akane said, she gave
her sister a hug and walked into her own room.

Ranma arrived at breakfast last.  Akane noted that he was INSUFFERABLY
happy.  Her father however out did him.  Soun "The Fire hose" Tendo was
pouring to tears.  Ranma and Genma had to dodge down table to avoid
changing back into their cursed states.
"I'm just so (sob) happy to see my little girl (sob sob) getting along
with her fiancée finally (sob sob sob) THEY GROW UP SO FAST!!!" 
  "Honesty daddy, I don't think you should draw attention to the fact
that they seem to be doing better.  They might end up fighting again
just to avoid having to admit they MIGHT like each other."  Nabiki said
bitterly.  (Why am I feeling this way?  I couldn't be...)
  "You're right Nabiki (sob) I'm just so happy...(sob sob SOB SOB)  

  Ranma all but ran out of the house.
  "Hey Ranma wait up!" Akane called on his heels.
  "No way!  I've already had one bath today I do not need another from
your father." he yelled back as he leapt onto the fence.
  Akane sighed.  She fell into the standard walk beside him.  Nabiki was
behind them, she'd been walking close by a lot lately.  Akane grinned
(she's probably chaperoning him to make sure all her hard work doesn't
go to waste!)  Akane giggled.
  This of course drew a look from Ranma, "What's so funny?" 
  "Nothing, just thinking about something."
  "Something?" He asked.

  Nabiki was completely oblivious to the fight in front of her.  Her
thoughts were on her dreams of the past two days.  They disturbed her
greatly. (I'm just lonely, that's all it is.  I have never had a
boyfriend and I might be a bit jealous of Akane getting handed one. 
That's all it is. I'm just dealing with pent up hormones.  I am not,
repeat I AM NOT falling for Ranma Saotome.  He's okay, but he's still a
bit of a jerk sometimes plus he turns into a girl.  Loving him would
make me some kind of lesbian... Did I just say love?  No I didn't say
that, I didn't think that. It's nothing. I'm just lonely.)
  "Hey Nabiki?  Who are you going to go with to the dance?" Akane asked.
  "Huh?  Oh, no one I guess.  No one's uh,,... no one's asked me to go."
she admitted. (What the hell's gotten into me?  They didn't need to know
that!!)
  "What about Tatewaki?" Akane asked, "I know you two have known each
other a long time, and I kind of heard a rumor he might like you."
  "I don't like Tatewaki like THAT Akane." Nabiki said.
  "So, who says you have to go to the dance with someone you want
romance from.  You could go as friends, like me and Ranma are."
  (We are friends aren't we Ranma?  Or do you want more than that, it's
so hard to tell.)
  Ranma kept walking on the fence, but Nabiki felt it.  He had just been
hurt.  
  "First, whenever I find out who pointed me out to Kuno's sick sense of
romance I am going to drain his bank account dry.  Second, you should
really think about what you say before it comes out of your mouth Akane.
As I recall you've taken offence to some of the remarks important people
have made to you."
  "What are you talking about Nabiki?" Akane asked confused.
  "You just hurt Ranma's feelings you nitwit!" Nabiki almost shouted.
Akane blinked, she turned to look at Ranma, and saw that he was looking
away from her.
  "Ranma, what did I say?" Akane asked.
  "It's alright.  I know what you meant.  No harm done." he replied,
"Nothing to forgive."
  But he still wouldn't look at her.

  The gates of Furinkan High held a massive crowd today.  Rumors of
Ranma and Nabiki being a thing, plus what the speculation was that Akane
would do to them had the betting pools at an ALL time high.
  As the Tendo sisters and Ranma walked up the massive battle lines of
boys began to form up.  They'd brought padded staves today and were
intent on preventing Akane from entering the school undefeated.
  "You all might as well give up, Ranma beat me today in sparring.  So
shoo, go away."
  "NO!  NOT RANMA!!!" came an insane voice.  The boys parted for Kuno to
walk forward.
  His hair was dirty and matted his clothes unkempt, his eyes had bags
under them.
  "'Tis trial enough that the pig tailed girl eludes my romantic
advances, I will not have my bastion of care ripped from me as well.
Defend yourself vile Saotome!"  
  "Kuno-baby, you are so dense." Nabiki said softly, "And you wanted me
to dance with HIM Akane?"
  "Okay, so it wasn't one of my more stellar ideas." Akane admitted.
  "Saotome, release Akane Tendo from your clutches you foul cur.  Can't
you be happy with the Ice Queen in your cold embrace?"
  Ranma, Akane, and Nabiki all went bug eyed.
  "Now wait just a damn minute..." Ranma began...(What is with people
thinking I've got the hots for Nabiki?)
  "Ranma and my SISTER are just friends Kuno!"  (Boy he's really losing
it.) Thought Akane.
  (Oh god, maybe I'm sending of signals and everyone can see them.  Oh
boy I have to do something about this.) Went Nabiki's thoughts.
  "Deny it not, last night I saw the pig tailed girl for a moment.  She
dropped this as she fled." Kuno held up a piece of paper, it might have
had writing on it but the ink had run and was now a missed mesh of
lines. 
  "A wet homework assignment?" Ranma asked, (I don't get it, I didn't
see Kuno last night.)
  "No you cretin!  It is a love letter to Nabiki Tendo from you."
  "Right..." Akane said with disbelief. "Like Ranma would ever write
someone a love letter. I should know!"  (He's never written me one.)
  "I remember the words so clearly..." Kuno began, 
  "What's THAT supposed to mean?!" Ranma yelled at Akane.
  "Well you've never given me one idiot!" Akane retorted.
  "Uh...excuse me." Kuno tried to interject
  "Just because I never gave you one doesn't mean I never wrote one!"
  "Oh, so you gave them to Shampoo or Ukyo Huh?" Akane fired back.
  "Huh...excuse me." Kuno tried again.
  "NO I didn't give them to Shampoo or Ukyo, I wrote them to you but
could never get them to sound right so I never delivered one you uncute
Tomboy.  They have bad grammar and spelling mistakes in them and I was
scared spitless you'd hit me or be hurt because it might not sound like
what I meant!"
  "Hey!! How about paying some attention to the guy with the sword
HUH?!!" Kuno yelled.

  (He wrote me love letters....) Akane thought (...then that
means...he....)
  Ranma's eyes closed, "Oh damn." he whispered, and realizing what he'd
just said and what it might mean. 
  "Look, it's not like I was never going to give them to you...I just
wanted them to be right, you know?  I mean...we have a hard time just
talking so I didn't want to hurt you somehow...I guess." Ranma said. (Oh
damn, now I'm going to get teased all day long about being a poet.)
  As Akane was about to say, "That's so sweat, I ...I really would like
to read them."
  A Bokken came hurling at them.
  
  Akane reacted first, she leapt away to the side.  Ranma seeing her go
Ranma assumed some kind of an attack was coming so he rolled away.
  Kuno hit empty air. 
  But the air pressure hit Nabiki.  
  She was thrown back towards the traffic on the road in front of the
school.  A very large Mac truck was coming up the road.  With horror and
fascination Nabiki watched the truck coming nearer.  
  (This is it; I'm going to die.) She thought.  She was a Tendo.  She
would face it bravely. She was Nabiki Tendo. Nothing fazed her.
  She screamed like a schoolgirl.
  As the nameplate of the truck came an inch from her face she closed
her eyes.  She expected to be broken and bashed to a pile of bones.
Instead she suddenly felt strong hands around her.  They gathered her in
and whipped her around away from the truck.  She was not moving.  Nabiki
opened her eyes.  Ranma set her gently on the ground.
  "Are you alright Nachan?" he asked, his eyes where filled with fear.  
  (I'm alive.  Ranma just saved my life.  I'm Alive.)  Her arms rocketed
up around his neck and she clung to him
"Oh thank you thank you thank you." she cried, tears streaming and her
knees giving out, her body began to shake as the reality that she had
almost DIED caught up with her.
  Akane was beside them in a flash.
"Sis... Sis!  Are you all right??" Akane was asking.  Nabiki switched
hug targets and cried in her sister's arms.
  Ranma turned to look at Kuno.  His forearms shook, as he unknowing
became to channel ki into his fists.  
  A lot of ki.
  Kuno gulped.  "Now Saotome, I meant not to bring the harpy to harm..."
  "Harpy?" Ranma asked.  His battle aura, normally only visible to
martial artists, now burned a bright red and everyone saw it.  Flames of
ki fire leapt off his aura and into the heavens.
   
   The shadow, watching all this from a tree considered stopping it.
Then it remembered that Kuno had nearly Killed Nabiki.  It sat back.

  Ranma charged him.  Kuno tried to dodge him but Ranma was too quick.
He tackled the kendoka and brought him to the ground.  Ranma mounted him
and began punching.  It was all Kuno could do to block the punches being
launched at him with his bokken.  Ranma growled.  It was a deep
primordial kind of killing growl.  
  He wrenched the wooden sword out of Kuno's hands and threw it away.
  Then he threw one series of Chestnuts roasting on an Open fire after
another at Kuno's chest and face.   
  Kuno felt his body taking the blows, he had time to channel his own
considerable ki into negating the damage, but at this rate Saotome would
deplete him quickly.
  "IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!" Kuno screamed.
  "I DON'T CARE!!!  NO ONE HURTS A TENDO WITH IMPUNITY!!!" Ranma
screamed back.  He grabbed Kuno by the GI.
  "This is going to hurt." Kuno muttered.  
  Ranma rolled Kuno over him, then he slammed him into the concrete. 
The ground gave way and made a crater.  Then Ranma did it again, and
again, and again.

  "Ranma stop it!  You're killing him!" Nabiki shouted.  Ranma stopped.
He and Kuno lay in a crater about a foot deep.  Kuno was bloodied and
Ranma was sure he'd probably broken the better part of Kuno's ribs.
  With a grunt he dragged Kuno out of the pit and threw him casually on
the ground.   
  "Thank you for stopping me Nachan." Ranma said.  "I might have gone
over the edge there a bit."
  "What if he had hit me?" Akane asked, (I'm just curious, I'm not
jealous.)
  "No one would have been able to bring me back." Ranma said honestly.
It was teen age and immature, but it was how he felt.
  Then Akane and Ranma turned at the sounds of Kuno yelping in Pain.
  Nabiki was repeatedly kicking him in the broken ribs.
  "Be glad I'm getting this out now Kuno!" she was yelling, " If I
thought about it I'd have your house, your money and force you to work
for me doing shit jobs the rest of your life.!!!" She picked up his
bokken and was going to smash him over the head with it when Ranma and
Akane had to remove her.
LUNCH

  Nabiki sat alone at her table.  It was a common occurrence.  Her
personality caused most of the other students to regard her as a
monster.  A thing that made money off their honest desires for
information or scandals.  She was looking at the paper.  An article on
couples for the dance had been printed. 
  'How to pick the perfect date' the article read.
  She scanned it, not really reading it.  Her mind was still on the
sight of the truck, the sound of its wheels trying to stop. 
  Akane sat down across from her. "Sis..."


  Nabiki looked up. "Would anyone have missed me?" she asked Akane.


  "Of course we'd miss you.  Your family.  I know that I'd miss you, you
are closer to me than Kasumi is." Akane said.  She held her sister's
hand.  "You are loved Nabiki.  I know we don't always say it well
sometimes, but your family loves you."  
  "I hope your right.  Sometimes with the jokes about me around here I
feel like ...like I'm going to be alone all my life." Nabiki cut her
sister off, "I mean alone in THAT way.  And what happens when you and
Kasumi are married and I'm not, we'll drift away and then I'll really be
alone.  That would almost be like dying I guess..."
  "Don't let me ever hear you say that again." Ranma said as he sat next
to Nabiki and across from Nabiki. "You are not alone Nachan.  You were
there for me in my hour of need and no matter what I will be there in
yours.  Akane and I will always be your friends, your family.  You
aren't going to alone."
  "You only like me because I'm family." Nabiki said, her own fears and
need to be liked now coming to the surface.
  "That's not true." Akane said.
  "Nabiki you are a wonderful and beautiful woman, I can't believe fate
has dictated you remain alone." Ranma said.  He put his hand on her knee
under the table where Akane could not see.  It was the same kind of
touch she had used on him to keep him calm after that first night. 
  Nabiki nodded.  She felt a bit better.  She leaned against Ranma and
listened to Akane and Ranma talk.  They really talked.  No insults, no
jibes.  It was all small talk, things like musical bands they liked,
movies, hobbies etc.
   But they had never done this before.  Nabiki was beginning to dose
off.  Her eyes became half slits, she felt so safe.  Safe had become a
big issue with her now.  The tone in the voices was like a lullaby. 
(This is so right.) She thought, (I helped make this happen...I helped
to get them talking...)
  Nabiki felt warmth spread into her.  She'd done something good. Good,
her, the ice queen.
   The bell rang and it shocked Nabiki fully awake.  She heard Ranma ask
Akane
  "Hey, if you're free after school, would you help me cheer Nabiki up?"
  "What have you got in mind?"
  "I hear shopping is therapeutic." he said with a smile.
  "Oh I see, what's good for the goose..." Akane filled in.
  "You bet."
  "Alright, I'm in." Akane said as she walked off.
(That's so sweet of him.  Maybe he's developing some actual
sensitivity.)
   
  Nabiki rose from his shoulder and stretched.
  "I'm sorry I freaked out on you today Ranma, it wasn't very brave I
guess."
  "Nabiki, anyone would be scarred coming that close to...to..." his
voice choked up, " dying."
  Nabiki smiled.  (Why hadn't I'd seen this before. He is actually very
sensitive and sweet, he's just been trained not to show it.)  "Ranma, I
owe you my life." She said. "I...I don't know how to repay you."
  He stood, "this isn't about repaying kindness, it's about being kind."
he said.
  "Well that's twice you've stolen my lines today, got a reason?" 
  "Yes." he said sincerely, "I owe you my life.  Without your
intervention the past couple of days...I don't know what I'd have done.
Gone on feeling like a freak I suppose.  Thank you Nabiki, for helping
me to feel like a man."
 Her breath caught in her throat. (He did NOT just say that.) She
thought. 
  "You give me to much credit." she said.
  "No.  I see you giving yourself too little.  That's something I am
very familiar with.  Be yourself Nachan, not everyone will love you but
so what?  The people who count still will."  He smiled.  Her heart was
pounding.  Her mind was hearing two different messages at the same time,
one friendly and safe.  They other full of desire...and strangely it was
also safe.  It wasn't the 'danger' she normally felt from an interested
man.
  (I'm just lonely, my mind's playing tricks on me, he didn't mean it
like THAT, I hope he did, NO I hope he didn't...Oh for heavens sakes
what's wrong with me?) She thought. 
  She watched as he walked to class, unsure what she wanted the words to
mean.


  Nabiki walked to her class.  Lunch had left her with a warm feeling.
She was unsure what was happening to her, but her initial panic that it
was a crush on Ranma were largely gone.  She'd never had such a close
male friend before that was all it was.  
  Her classes went by in a blur.  She hardly paid any attention to the
lectures.  The thoughts of her being...gone kept running through her
head.
  By the afternoon she was idly wondering if maybe this had been some
kind of warning to start living her life differently.  She found upon
close inspection that she actually had regrets.
  That scared her.
  She waited by the doors to the school.  Akane came out of school and
stood beside her.  After a half-hour Nabiki was tapping her foot and
trying not to pace.  
  "Where is that boy now?" Nabiki asked the air.
  "I don't know...you don't think he'd do something else to Kuno do
you?" Akane asked.
  "No.  I don't think so." Nabiki said.
  "Are you sure you're all right Nabiki, I mean with everything that
happened."
  "Like almost dying you mean?"
  "Well yeah, that's what I meant." Akane shift uncomfortably.
  "I'm alright sis.  I didn't mean to snap at you.  I just can't help
but think about what would have happened if Ranma hadn't...hadn't..."
Nabiki began to choke up and Akane laid a hand on her shoulder.
  "Do you have any idea how lucky you are?" Nabiki asked her.
  "What do you mean?  Ranma?  Well, I guess he's not quite as bad as I
thought."
  Nabiki was about to get angry, how dare Akane accuse Ranma of being
'bad', the boy just had some problems he need help with that's all.
Nothing Akane could fix if she hadn't been so bull-headed.  (But instead
I have to fix him for her.  She'll get this wonderful guy and I'll be
lucky if anyone bothers to try and chip the Ice queen.  Oh life is
REALLY not fair.)
  Her thoughts were cut off however by the sound of Ranma's voice.
  "Hey, speak of the devil." Akane remarked.
  "And he will appear." Ranma finished with a grand bow.
  "What's gotten into you?" Akane asked.
  "I'm sorry I am late, but the audition ran long." Ranma apologized.
  "Audition?" Akane asked, "As in a play audition?"
  "Yes.  Ranma's not a bad actor." Nabiki said, "He also paints." She
said as the three began to walk.
  "You're kidding me!" Akane looked at Ranma and her sister
incredulously.  "What do you paint?"
  "It's...uh...its kind of private." He said.
  "He's painting the family." Nabiki answered.
  "Oh wow, like portraits?" Akane asked,
  "Na-bi-ki." Ranma said in his warning tone.
  "What?  You never said I couldn't tell anyone." Nabiki asked.
  "Can I see mine?" Akane asked Ranma as she walked over to his other
side.  Now he was sandwiched between the two girls.
"Um...it's not finished yet." He said weakly.
"Of course it's..." Nabiki caught herself.
The painted image of a Godzilla-Akane came back to mind. "...Not
finished yet.  You've only been working on it a couple of nights a week.
I forgot." Nabiki said with a bit more conviction.  (Sorry Ranma, I'll
keep my mouth shut from now on.)
  "Well, what play were you auditioning for?" Akane asked.
  "The Taming of the Shrew." he replied.
  "Wow.  Shakespeare.  What part of the play are you?"
  He squirmed a bit. "Just a small part really, no need to show up to
see the play because of me..."
  "What part Ranma?" Akane said insistently.
  "Katharine," he sighed, "The shrew."
  The sisters looked at each other, then at Ranma.
  "Uh...why are you playing a girl?" Akane asked, "Isn't that a
bit...well, perverted?"
  (Oh you dummy!) Nabiki thought, (Say anything but that.  Can't you see
he's doing this to help him get over his curse?  You can so dense
Akane.)
  "You should talk, you played Romeo." Ranma shot back.
  Akane was about to fire back when Nabiki stepped between them.
  "With as much as you two fight you'd think you were already married.
Now listen to me, both of you.  This is not worth a fight.  Not much
really is." Nabiki finished.
  Ranma realized she was right first.  (I never thought he'd be easier
to reason with than she would, but that seems to be the case.) Nabiki
thought.
  "She's right.  I'm sorry Akane."
  "Yeah, well...I guess I'm sorry too.  I, I just get afraid sometimes
for you.  Like maybe you might enjoy being a girl so much that you
might...leave me."  
   Ranma didn't know what to say.  
   "I'm sure you'll do fine." Nabiki said.
  "So who gets to tame you?" Akane asked, clearly the idea of Ranma
being courted by another man, even in a play, disturbed her.
  "I'm not sure.  They haven't cast the part yet."

  They entered Ukyo's restaurant and the smells of fresh, good food
filled the air.  Akane and Ranma sat down at the bar.  Nabiki had wanted
a booth, but when they sat down she sat on the other side of Ranma.  She
really did not want to talk to Ukyo, but she didn't know why.
  Ukyo was in the back when they had first entered.  She heard Ranma and
Akane talking, but as Nabiki hadn't said anything she had no clue that
the other Tendo sister was there.
  "Ranma-honey!  I'll be right there, just give me a minute and I'll
take..." Ukyo rounded the corner and dropped her plates.  All the
customers looked at her.  "What the hell is SHE doing here?" Ukyo
demanded.
  "Ucchan, don't be like that.  You know that Akane and I are engaged."
Ranma said.
  "Not Akane you idiot I mean HER." Ukyo said pointing at Nabiki. 
  "I'm Ranma's friend and Akane's sister, in case you'd forgotten."
Nabiki growled.  She had almost died today, she was NOT in a mood to put
up with petty shit.
  "Friend?  You are no one's friend Nabiki Tendo, unless they have money
to put in your pocket.  I beg you Ranchan, get rid of this friendship.
Nothing good is going to come of being friends with Nabiki.  She's
probably just stringing you along as a friend until she wants more from
you."
  "Ukyo, that's not fair.  Nabiki has been nothing but kind to Ranma."
Akane said. 
  "Oh god not you too Akane.  Has she pulled the wool over your eyes as
well?  Nabiki doesn't want to be friends with anyone." Ukyo stared at
Nabiki over the counter.  "Tell us the truth, how long until you're
going to try and steal him away from us?  You won't succeed."
  The wrongs hung in the air.
  "Ukyo.  You are jealous over nothing." Ranma began, anger clearly
making it's way into his voice.  
  "It isn't nothing Ranchan.  I saw the way she was talking to you
yesterday, that's when I got worried.  You want him don't you?"  Ukyo
asked.
  (I'm not sure.  But I'll be damned if I'll let you make a fool of me.)
  "I believe I have heard about enough of this.  I do hope that you will
understand if I leave."  Nabiki walked out.
  "Honestly Ukyo, this is going to far." Ranma began. "Beware the green
eyed monster." He said to her.
  "I was paying attention in literature class also Ranma.  Does this
sound familiar?  I am fortune's fool?"  Ranma left in a huff.


  Nabiki was outside, she leaned against the wall.  Her body shook and
she had to hug herself. (I am not falling for Ranma.  Everyone's wrong.
It's just me being lonely that's all.  I am not falling for Ranma.  I
would never betray my sister like that.  I am not...)
  Arms held her.  Strong-arms, familiar and safe arms.  Nabiki's hands
snaked up around them and for a moment she wondered (what if it was I
who was engaged to you...) but she quickly bit the thought down (No. I
had a shot and I volunteered Akane.  I made a choice and I am sticking
with it.  I will not betray my blood.)
  "Are you okay?" he asked.
  "I will be.  It's been an active day."
  He chuckled, "I can relate." 
 Nabiki turned in his hug. He let her go.  She looked into his eyes.
"You really can, can't you?" she asked.  "No one's ever been able to
relate to me.  No one was ever alike enough."
  "Maybe we are more alike than we knew Nachan."
  (Oh I do like the sound of that name...) "How do you think?" she
asked.

  Akane sat there for a moment considering what Ukyo had said.  She
wasn't sure what to say.
  "Please Akane...you have to stop this.  I have no problem competing
against you.  You and I are women.  But your sister is a monster and you
know it.  She'll use ANY means to get him, it'll be worse than fighting
one of Shampoo's schemes because it won't have a cure."
  "Ukyo, my sister would never betray me." Akane said as she began to
stand.

  "Well, for starters we both have a sarcastic edge." Ranma said with a
smile.
  "Granted." Nabiki said. (One thing's not enough)
  "We both can be manipulative, you are just many powers better at it
than I am.) He continued
  "Point two." She said. (It's just a couple of things, nothing to worry
about.)
  "We tend to have the same conclusions about how to deal with problems
like ...Happosia and his ilk."
  "Keep going." Nabiki said. (Okay, three things, so it might have been
good.)
  "You and I seem to like the same music and social gatherings."
  "Uh-huh." Nabiki gulped. (No no no no, we are different. WE ARE TOO
DIFFERENT,)
  "We are both misunderstood by almost everyone we know.  We feel alone
most of the time, like no one will ever want to really know us.  They
are content with the two-dimensional image they have at us, never
looking at why we do what we do...."
  "Uh  --- huh." She whispered. She was drifting towards him, ever so
slowly.  She caught herself and stopped.  (It's just the moment, I
almost died and it's effecting my emotions.)
  "We have problems telling people we love how we feel, but open to our
friends." he finished.  Then his eyes turned sort of half into* THAT
look.  It wasn't all the way there, he didn't even know he was doing it.
  But she saw it.  She knew what it might be.

  "Akane your sister would sell you out in a heart beat, it would just
cost a lot of money." Ukyo said. "She doesn't love anyone but herself
and what she wants.  Please Akane, you have to stop this.  We can't
compete with Nabiki."
  Akane stood, "Ukyo, They are just friends."
  "Really?"  Ukyo led her outside.  Ranma and Nabiki were talking. They
were standing close, but not too close.  "Do friends do that?" Ukyo
asked.
   "You are just trying to make me paranoid." Akane said as she walked
off.
   Ukyo was crestfallen, "Oh Akane, you don't want to see it do you?"

EVENING TENDO HOME.
    
  Nabiki just missed the shadow.  It had placed a letter on her bed.  As
it heard the door begin to open it leapt into her closet.  Nabiki saw
the letter and her eyebrow quirked.  She closed her door and opened it.
  It read.

   "Hello.  I know you are confused about how you feel, coming so close
to death.  Come to the Attic tonight and see what I've been painting. - 
Ranma."

  She closed the letter and put on her slippers.  The shadow swore.  It
would have to move quickly.  It bounded out Nabiki's window and across
the yard to the attic where it planted the second letter before a
painting.  Then it hid among it's kind.

  Nabiki came up the steps and noticed the second letter, hastily
scribbled on a piece of notebook paper.

  She picked it up.
 
  "Sorry Nachan, gotta bolt. Ryoga again.
  I'll make it up to you, I promise.  Listen, the painting in front of
you is yours, I want you to have it.  I'll explain it when I see you
next. -Ranma."

  With a sense of mild annoyance at having been drug out of bed Nabiki
grunted.  She folded the letter.  The painting in front of her had a
cloth over it.   It was small, about 8 by 17 inches.  She took off the
tarp and was spell bound.
 
  It was she.  Her hair was a bit longer and her face partially turned
away, but it was she.  She was nude, and a pair of black crow like wings
draped her back.  The painting was done loosely, with no defined lines,
you had to unfocused your eyes to see the figure.
  "It's beautiful." she whispered.  She took the painting in both hands
and walked back to her room.  The shadow breathed easier.  So far, so
good.  Now it just had to remember a few more little things to keep
things going.

  Nabiki hung the painting by her bed.  She looked at it for a long
time.  Then she felt herself drift off.  She managed to get covered up
before she fell asleep.

  Her dreams...they were alive with color. She was at a table in a
club.  The music was loud and angry.  Her drink was bitter but
comforting.  All around her people drank trying to forget.
  "Nabiki." a voice said softly.  It was Ranma.

  Beside her ear the shadow spoke.

  "Nabiki, you don't have to drink that."
  "Leave me alone.  I was just fine before you came along and confused
things.  I like this taste, it's familiar." she said to him. He was
taller for some reason.  
  "Don't lie to yourself."  He said, "You were miserable."
  "I was in control!"
  "Of being afraid?" he asked.

 "How much control is there if you are always afraid?" the shadow
whispered.
 
  "I NEED that control Ranma, I need it.  I am nothing without it.  I
will control my life NOT my urges."
  "And in doing so you will give up your dreams, your desires will be
fulfilled but will give no pleasure.  You cannot control everything in
your life Nabiki.  We are leaves and life will blow us where it
pleases."
  "I am the master of my destiny." Nabiki countered.
  "If you believe in destiny, you can't believe you can be its master.
An interesting choice of words." 

  "Let go, tell me what you feel you need to control." the shadow
whispered.

"Me Damn it, I must control me...I can't trust myself around you...I..." 
  He was closer.  He was too close.  His hands were holding hers.
  " I will always be there for you," he said.
  " You can't...you have to be there for Akane..."
  "I will always be the missing half of your soul."
  "Don't talk like that... it's not proper, you are my sister's..."
Nabiki was pleading, tears streamed down her cheeks.
  
"I am you Nachan, had you been born a man." the shadow whispered

 "That is what we are feeling.  That kinship.  You and I are the same in
more ways than anyone else we will ever meet.  We are also different in
those ways that will strengthen us."
 " Stop it stop it Ranma..."
 And then he was kissing her hand.  Her palm, his mouth slipped around
her thumb and began to suck, to tease, and to caress...
  "Oh GOD!!!" Nabiki woke gasping.

 Her room was dark.  Her breath was irregular.  She managed to calm down
after a moment.  She was covered in sweat and she felt VERY wet down
there.  
  "I will not betray my sister." she whispered to herself. "I am not
falling in love with him.  We are friends. That's all.  Cold shower. I
need a very cold shower.
  She made her way to the bathroom and was surprised to here the water
running.  The light was turned down low and she heard someone crying?
  Nabiki peeked into the room and saw Ranma chan forcing herself to
remain under a torrent of cold water.
  She was muttering something.  Nabiki closed the door behind her.  Now
she could make it out.
  "Oh gods forgive me, forgive me...this can't be, it can't be!!!  Oh
what am I going to do?"
  "Ranma?" Nabiki asked.
  The red head turned and looked at Nabiki over her shoulder.
  "You need the bathroom?" Ranma asked hopefully.
  "Sort of.  Uh...don't take this the wrong way but why are you taking a
shower?"
  Ranma plastered herself against the wall.  She made effort to hide her
nudity from Nabiki.  This struck Nabiki as odd.
  "I...I had a good dream." Ranma said, shame filled her voice.
  "A good dream?  Well that clears that up.  I always take freezing
showers after I have...Oh." Nabiki looked into Ranma's eyes.  "Was it
about Akane?" She asked hopefully.
  "Sort of."  Ranma stepped out of the shower, she took a step towards
Nabiki. 
 (I should back up...why aren't I?)
 "It started with statues carved of ice.  They looked like Akane. Inside
them was a girl."  Ranma was close now. "Banging on the ice, trying to
get out.  I couldn't do it.  I couldn't get her out.  The ice began to
melt and I waited, hoping she'd be okay. "  Ranma's body was cold, she
was now against Nabiki.  "It was you Nachan.  I held you and gave you
warmth.  You were so cold."  Ranma's arms entwined Nabiki, without
thinking Nabiki's arms embraced her friend.  "Your heart had frozen from
being in her icy shadow for so long.  You asked me to warm it. I asked
how...and you said...."
  Nabiki kissed her.  
  It lasted for the time of ten heartbeats.  Ranma knew because she was
counting.  
  "Oh gods...Ukyo's right.  You feel the attraction too." Nabiki said.
  "Oh yes.  I burn with it.  I am starting to think that maybe I never
loved Akane, maybe I was trying to because I had too when I should
have..."
  "Don't say it..." Nabiki said.
  "...Been loving you." Ranma whispered.
  "It's just lust, we are both very lonely..." Nabiki was reaching for
anything.
  "If I wanted a quick lay I could get it from Shampoo, and no offence
Nachan, but she has a better body than you.  This isn't lust for me. I
think you're lying to yourself that it's lust for you." Ranma whispered.
  "But Akane..." Nabiki said weakly.
  
   They held each other there, quietly listening to each other speak
without words.
  "I will obey your wishes Nachan." Ranma said, "I will have no regrets
whatever you decide.  It's your call now."
  
  (Why did you have to say regrets you idiot.  Now you've got me
thinking about if I don't get to find out about what I feel before I
die.  Oh damn you Ranma Saotome.  Why'd you have to confuse a simple
friendship by being the man of my dreams?)
  Nabiki poured some hot water into her hands and washed her face.  Then
she poured some more over Ranma.  She looked up into those bright blue
eyes.  Her heart began to melt the final bit of iciness she had.
  She was attracted to him, she wanted to bed him, she was almost
completely sure she loved him.
  She rose from the sink and took his hand.  She led him to her room.
When He saw her intentions he stopped, panic written on his face.
  "Are you sure?" he asked.
  "No regrets." she replied.  Then she led him inside.

  The Shadow stood in the closet, watching the new lovers bond.  It
cried that the most beautiful thing in the world was about to be the
cause of so much pain.



  Nabiki awoke.  Her body was a little sore, but that was all right.
Memories of the night before flooded her.  The brief pain followed by
the intense pleasure and the effort not to make too much noise.  She
rolled out of bed and stood up.
  (That was definitely more than just a one night stand.) She thought.
She ran her hands over her body...she could still FEEL his touch.  Hear
his breath, feel the.... She might as well say it. 
  "I love him." She whispered.  "He loves Me." she whispered. Excitement
flooded her.  She walked on clouds to the bathroom.
   
  She was drying her hair when the implications of last night hit her.
Ranma would feel like he needed to tell Akane.  He was just that kind of
guy, that simplicity was part of why she loved him.  It would be however
the worst thing he could do.  She toweled off considering how to hide
the event and getting Ranma to go along.
  She finished and looked in the mirror.
  The towel dropped and her mouth opened in a state of surprise.
   "Well, that is going to complicate matters." She said.
   Her eyes had turned blue.

  Ranma was working out in the Dojo.  She and Genma had already gone
four rounds and the last had knocked her into the koi pond.  She should
have torn into him for that.  But she felt so.... At one with
something.  
  (Maybe someone.) She thought as the smile spread slowly across her
face.  Her forms were nearly perfect today and she felt a 'looseness'
she hadn't had the day before.
  When she finished she suddenly felt the need to go into the house.
Something was wrong. Something was wrong with Nabiki.
  (Silly, what could be wrong with Nabiki?  Besides, she knows where
I'll be this time of morning.  If something's wrong she'll come here.)

  Kasumi and Akane were downstairs and finishing setting up for
breakfast.  Nabiki walked down the stairs, her mind lost in what the
strange metamorphosis meant.  
  "Whoa...you're bright eyed this morning." Akane said.  'You
look...almost like a morning person."
  (Guess it's true what they say about the glow afterward.)  "Yeah.  I
slept (snicker) really well.  Has anyone seen Ranma?"
  "She's in the Dojo with Mr. Saotome." Kasumi chimed.
  "Great...I gotta talk to her about somethin'"
 Nabiki said as she all but skipped out of the room.
  Akane was finishing setting the table.  Neither sister had noticed the
eye change, but Kasumi's ears pricked at Nabiki's grammar.
  She sounded like Ranma.  Curious, Kasumi watched as Nabiki walked out
to the Dojo.  She disappeared around the door to the building.
  "Oh you are just imagining things Kasumi-chan." she chided herself.

  Even though the arms were female, they were still strong and safe.
They wrapped around her the moment she was safely out of site.
  (I hope you're okay, I've been feeling concerned for you for some
reason.) Ranma thought.
  "I'm okay love." Nabiki replied.  
  "That's amazing, I just thought about asking you if you were.  What's
with the contacts?" Ranma-chan asked.
"Uh... they're real."
  (Whoa.)
  "Yeah that's what I thought." Nabiki said.
  For a moment they were silent.
  "Listen, we have to tell her Nachan." Ranma said.
  "No.  No we can't... It. it was really good Ranma and I don't regret
it...but you have to give my sister another chance."
  "Nabiki, it's not going to work between Akane and me and you know it.
All we ever do is fight."
  "Ranma you are not going to wimp out on me in this.  Please...I need
you to do this.  If we are going to ...if we are going to try to love
each other as more than friends then I HAVE to be sure it's the right
thing. Otherwise..."
  "You'll feel like you are betraying Akane."
  Nabiki nodded.
  "I came to you, you didn't steal me." Ranma tried.
"No. Ranma don't do this to me.  Please...I don't have the strength to
push my first love away...you are going to have to do this."
  (I'm you're first love?)
  (Yes...oh gods you see it now don't you.  Maybe all I'm feeling for
you aren't as deep as I think it is.)
  Ranma stroked Nabiki's hair, Nabiki tried not to let the pleasure over
power her, but this was Ranma...she closed her eyes and sighed.  
  "No matter what we do Nachan, someone's going to get their heart
broken.  I know you want to spare Akane that, but I would rather it be
Akane than you."
  "I can take it."
  "Liar." Ranma countered, "This will eat you up, even if I go back to
her you are going to feel guilty like all hell and you know it."
  "Ranma please...if you love me do this for me."
  Ranma pulled her a bit closer.  "Of course I love you.  But love is
doing what is best for the other person.  Nabiki...I'll do this but I'm
afraid for you.  I don't want to lose you."
  "You won't.... If Akane drops your heart...then we'll try it.  But
Ranma she deserves another chance."
  Emotion after emotion played between them.
  "Alright." Ranma said finally.  She leaned foreword and they kissed
lightly, but the tension and need were strong. 
  "But it really isn't fair to me you know?  I finally find someone who
loves me and she's turning me away."  Ranma said as she broke the hug.
  
  Unknown to both of them Akane had heard this last sentence. She had
come up to the Dojo to tell them that breakfast was ready to eat.
Hearing the words she crept along the wall.

  "You love her Ranma, I've seen it." Nabiki said.
  "And what has it gotten me Nachan?  It's a bitter and scorned love.
All my efforts at making it work go to pot.  She's never even thanked me
for that battle against the Golden pair.  I don't get it Nabiki.  If I'd
been engaged to you or Kasumi I'd have been married by now!"
  Ranma was starting to cry.
  "You don't know that." Nabiki said gently.
  "Don't I?  Every day with Akane is a lot like walking in a minefield.
I never know when one of us is going to blow up.  We've broken our
hearts Nabiki and I'm not sure I can let her keep doing it...." Ranma
stopped.
  "I never meant to." Akane said as she came around the corner of the
door.  She crossed the floor to right in front of Ranma. "I swear I
never meant too.  Can I fix it?" Akane asked as she placed a hand over
Ranma's heart.
  (I don't get this...I love Nabiki...so how come I feel THIS way at her
touch...I can't be doing a Kuno can I?  In love with two women at once?)
  "I'm Sorry Akane...it's too..."
  Before Ranma could finish Nabiki cut her off.
  "Ranma's very confused right now about what she's feeling Akane.  You
two should talk it out, spend some time together.  A date like thing.
Then you can sort to why you've both been so mean to each other.  You
owe the woman you love that much Ranma."  (You ARE going to do this, for
me PLEASE)
  Akane spoke next. "I'd like that."
  Ranma nodded, "Okay."  Then she looked at Nabiki (For you.  For you
I'll try this again.)

  Breakfast went better.  Akane and Ranma were planning were they were
going to go.  Nabiki noted that they seemed a bit happier.   She
wondered if she hadn't killed their chances last night.  (At least I'm
trying to fix it that should count for something.)
  But something was wrong with her.  Occasionally she would feel
something, like a dull ache and would look at Ranma, and they'd meet
eyes.
  It was weird, and yet it was not so weird.
  When Akane and Ranma had left Nabiki was relieved.  She gathered up
plates for Kasumi.  As she was dropping them in the sink Kasumi pulled
her into the laundry room and closed the door.
  "Ouch! Hey what's the big idea?" Nabiki asked.
   Kasumi held up Nabiki's bed sheet.  There were bloodstains on it. 
  (Oh shit.  I forgot.)
  Kasumi looked like she could kill her. "Who was it?"
  "I really don't think that's a family matter."
  "It became a family matter when you brought him into the house."
Kasumi said with venom in her voice. "Who is it?"
" A... a boy from school." Nabiki said.
  "Who little sister?"
  "Please Kasumi...don't make me."
  "I will have his name or I'll tell father what you just did."
  Nabiki thought about her options.  She could probably take whatever
punishment her father and older sister thought appropriate.  But Ranma
would blow it, he'd feel like he'd have to be noble and bare some of it.
Bye-bye chance at Akane.
  Things had just gotten about as bad as they could be.
  "Alright.  But you will promise me that you will not tell anyone
else."
  Kasumi thought about it.  
  "Alright.  That doesn't seem like so much of a compromise, So long as
you don't sleep with him in THIS house ever again."
  "Agreed."
  (Okay...I could lie and say it was.... Kuno?  Everyone assumes I have
a thing for him...)
  "It's Ranma-kun.  I...I love him Kasumi." it came out before she had
fully made up her mind.  
  Kasumi for her part reacted quite well, she caught herself on the
washer and gasped.
  Then she slapped her sister.

  They were walking to school when Ranma suddenly spun and grabbed his
cheek.  It stung.
  (Nachan?) He thought...
  "Ranma are you alright?" Akane asked.
  "Yeah, I think."

  The play cast had assembled.  Ranma-chan was reading over her lines.
She was sitting on the steps of the stage when she heard a voice.
  "Ah...my sweetest pig tailed girl.  The muses smile on us once more. I
have been cast as you're suitor."
  "W-w-w-what!" Ranma cried.
  "Yes it is true.  I understand that you are quite taken by this
fortunate twist of events.  They say life imitates art, yet here art
imitates life."
  Ranma was ready to kill him.  
  And then something inside her clicked.
   Killing him would be over too quickly.  Mental torture was more fun.
Power over his actions and feelings would reward her ever so much more
than just bashing his face in.
  "Pig tailed girl...why are you crying?" Kuno asked.
  "You have shamed me Tatewaki Kuno.  I once thought you were the
bravest and most noble of knightly men.  But yesterday you proved your
cowardice, when you struck at Nabiki Tendo and nearly killed her.  I...
I cannot love such a villain that would so carelessly strike."  She ran
off in tears "I NEVER want to see you again!!!" she cried.

   Later she had heard it took Kuno an hour to figure out he couldn't
commit seppuku with a wooden sword.

  It was a lazy afternoon.  Akane and Ranma were walking home.  Suddenly
he pulled her closer to him.
  "You are being awfully foreword aren't you?" Akane asked.
  "I'm making up for lost time.  For all the times I wanted to show the
world that I loved you but was afraid to."
  "Oh." she blushed a bit. "What has Nabiki done to you?"
  "What do you mean?" 
  "You're confident instead of cocky.  It's like she's changed you."  
  "Well, she has." (At least that is the truth) "I needed someone to
help me understand women.  Daisuke and Hiroshi couldn't do that.  Nabiki
can.  She also knows you, and that helped me realize what it was I was
doing that hurt you."  (I do care Akane, but I am so afraid that it is
too late.  Do you care for me at all?) "She helped me to stop being
afraid of you."
   "I made you fearful?"
   "Your rejection did."
 Akane stopped him.  (Alright.  Maybe he's not such an idiot.  Maybe he
is just scared.)
  "Ranma...I...I do care for you.  But I'm scared of it.  I don't want
it to go too fast."
  "I know."
  Akane nodded.  (Why couldn't I say I loved him?  I heard him say it
earlier today* why couldn't I just say it?)

  They reached the gates of the Tendo home and saw Kasumi sweeping the
porch.
  "Hey.  Kasumi's crying." Akane noticed.
   Ranma's gut tightened.
  "Kasumi, what's wrong?" Akane asked as they neared.
   Kasumi looked up, and then she stepped towards Ranma and slapped him.
She put every once of strength she had into it.  She didn't think she'd
hit him.  This was Ranma, who could dodge anyone's attack.
  Her palm connected with his cheek and made a loud smacking sound.
  "How could you?" She screamed.
  Ranma spat out blood and looked at her.
  "Akane.  Why don't you go inside?  Kasumi and I need to talk."
  "But..."
  "Go inside Akane." Kasumi hissed.
  (Whoa...what did you do this time Ranma?) Akane thought as she went
inside.
   When she was gone Kasumi asked him again.
  "How could you?  With her own sister?"
"Kasumi... I tried to fight the attraction, I really did, but it was too
strong.  We needed each other that night.  I love her."
   "What about Akane?"
   "I'm not sure.  It's a different feeling, and just as strong.  I'm
trying to figure it out.  I don't want to hurt anyone more than I have,
I want to be sure." He said.  (This isn't working... my words aren't
soothing her.)
  "Be sure?  How?  Are you going to fuck Akane as well to see if you
like her?"
  "No." he said.
  Kasumi calmed a bit.  "You mean that don't you?"
  "Yes.  I know I love Akane... but many times I wonder if it's that
kind of love that could make a marriage, or just a good friendship.  I
don't know which it is.  Until I do I'm not pressing any relationship
farther than I have."
  "Even Nabiki?"
  "Nabiki and I... I don't know.  I don't think we are going to make
love with each other again until I've got this sorted out, and I know
who's heart break I can live with better."
  Kasumi paused, she was much calmer now.
  "What do you mean?"
  "Well...the way I see it if I decide to make a go of it with Nabiki I
break Akane's heart, If I make ago of it with Akane I break Nabiki's.
Either way I have to hurt someone hurt them deeply. Which of your
sisters hearts would you have me hurt?"
"I... I didn't think of it that way.  It's a dangerous thing you are
doing."
   "I know.  What are you going to tell Akane?"
   Kasumi was thoughtful for a moment.
  "This once I will lie for you, I don't relish it Ranma.  You will
promise me that you will decide soon and that you will tell Akane about
your affair with Nabiki.  Secrets have a way of coming out and the
longer they lie the more pain they cause."
   "I promise." he replied.
   "Alright."

  He opened the door to Nabiki's room and closed it behind him.  She was
holding her cheek.
  "I felt It." she said.
  "I know.  I felt her hit you earlier this morning."
  He sat next to her and she nuzzled against him.  It felt so right, so
familiar.
  "What are we going to do?" Nabiki asked.
  "I'm not sure.  This morning I was sure it was over between Akane and
I."
   "And now you are not." Nabiki said sadly.
   "Yeah."
   "Well this is a fine mess we've gotten ourselves into isn't it?"
   They sat there for the rest of the afternoon.
   "Ranma.  Take care of her.  She couldn't stand it if she lost you to
me." Nabiki whispered.
   "And break your heart?  I do not relish that Idea."
   "Life has a cruel sense of humor." Nabiki said, "you are going to
take her to the dance.  You are going to honestly try this aren't you?"
   "Yes I am.  We have to know."
   (We.  Damn Ranma, I didn't mean to put you in this position.  I never
wanted to hurt you...)
    "I know you didn't." he said.
    "What?" Nabiki asked.
    "I know you didn't want to put me in this position."
    "Ranma, I didn't say that out loud."
    A chill went down their spines.  
    "Oh shit." they said in unison.

Nabiki was shaking.  
  (Don't be scared.) Ranma sent.
  (Who me?  I'm not scared... I'm terrified.)
  "There has to be a perfectly logical explanation as to why we...why we
can tell what the other is thinking and feeling." Ranma began.
  "Sure, just like there is one for my eyes."
  (Yeah* okay this isn't working for me, I'm still freaked. You?)  Ranma
thought.
  (I'm wondering what you can and can't tell about me.  What am I trying
to remember right now?)
  (Your seventh birth day.) He replied.
  (Shit.  What else can you...)?
  
   Nabiki suddenly sighed.  Feelings over whelmed her, memories of their
night from his body.  How he felt about her, about Akane, about
everything.  Secrets he told no one, not even her so far swept into her
mind.  
   And vice versa.
  (Oh gods what have we done?) They both thought.
  "Okay.  We can handle this." Ranma said.
  "Right.  We can handle this." She agreed. "We'll just keep up
appearances until we can get Happ...uh make that Cologne to help us."
  "Agreed." he said.
  "Which means you had probably better let go of me." Nabiki said.
  "Agreed."
  (I know you don't want to, I feel better also when we touch, but you
are going to the dance tonight with Akane and I don't want to distract
you.)  Nabiki sent.
  "I guess I'll see you there huh?" he asked.

    In her room Akane was starring at her reflection in a full-length
mirror.  She was pressing a long flowing blue dress.  She's made it
point to get more and more blue clothes since Ranma had teased her about
Blue not being her color.  
  (I wish I still had my long hair, it would make this look regal
instead of good.  I want to blow him off his feet.)
  That's when she heard the argument.  Akane peeked out her door to be
sure.
  "Yep, that's Nabiki and Ranma.  About time they had an argument!"
   
  Akane knocked on the door to her sister's room and was rewarded by the
sounds of 
  "Go away!" her sister, and "Come in!" Ranma at the same time.  Akane
opened the door and saw Nabiki sitting in a chair facing out her window.
Ranma was leaning against the wall near the door.  The air was thick
with anger.
  "It's about time you two had a fight.  I was starting to think you
were twins or something." Akane said.
  Neither of them spoke.
  (Get rid of her Ranma, I don't want her to see me like this.)
  (Not a chance.  You KNOW that this would be good for you.  If you want
me to give it a go with Akane then you have to give it a go with someone
else.  Otherwise....)
  "I know what I am like thank you." Nabiki said out loud.
  "Huh?" Akane asked.
   "Akane, help me convince your sister that she should go to the
dance." Ranma said with a sigh.
   "You're not going Nabiki?" Akane said as she sat on her sister's bed.
   (Damn you Ranma...)
   (Careful, you might get your wish.)
   (She shouldn't be here for this!)
   "Deal with it." He said.
   Nabiki laughed a short laugh.
   "Nabiki?" Akane asked.
   "No.  I'm not going.  I don't have anyone to go with." Nabiki said.
   "That can't be true.  You are a beautiful girl." Akane began.
   "I told you so." Ranma said.
   ". I'm sure you have a friend or an admirer who would take you."
Akane said softly.
   "I only have one friend (and admirer) and he's going with you Akane. 
Because of how I am no one really wants to get close to me.  I have no
one to go with."  Nabiki said sadly.
  "Well, then Ranma could take both of us." Akane said.
   Ranma turned pale as a sheet.  Nabiki tried to shut off the thoughts
of her in Ranma's arms dancing... but her dreams of late and their
memories began to do things to her.  
   And therefore to Ranma as well.
  "Whoa! Time out! " Ranma said, "I would feel extraordinarily
uncomfortable doing that Akane."
  "Why?" she asked.
  "Well, uh...I mean...(Why Nabiki?  Think quick girl.) "
   (I wouldn't have to think quick if you hadn't had let her into the
damn room!) "There is a rumor going on at school that Ranma and I are a
thing.  He's concerned that you might be hurt if more people started
talking about it."  Nabiki crossed her fingers. (Please let her believe
it.)
   Akane looked at her sister.  She seemed so lonely.  She wouldn't mind
Ranma taking them both, it wasn't like Nabiki was in love with him like
Shampoo or Ukyo was.
  "Listen.  I can't enjoy my night knowing that you are here feeling
lonely Nabiki.  I insist you let Ranma take us both.  Who knows, it
might just get some bravado there to dance with you when Ranma and I are
together?  At any rate I don't care what anyone else says.  I trust you
and I know Ranma does.  And it will be more fun that sitting here
looking out the window."
   Akane rose and laid her hands on her sister's shoulders.
   (Oh god Ranma, she is making this too easy.)
   (Refusing now will only arouse her suspicions Nachan.)
   (I know.  Do you think we can pull this off?)
  Ranma's mind was silent for a moment.  (Yes I think we might manage
it.)
   "Alright.  I'll go."  Nabiki said. 

  The Gym had been converted into a dance floor for the evening.  Ranma
walked in with Akane on his arm and Nabiki slightly behind them.
  Akane smiled as she and Ranma posed for a picture.  She tried to get
Nabiki into the frame but her sister wouldn't budge.
  "Why don't you and Nabiki Dance first?  She looks like she needs to
loosen up." Akane whispered.
   (Oh if only you knew.) Ranma thought. "No.  I've waited a long time
for this, and I would very much like it if you were my first partner
this evening.  There will be time enough for Nabiki, this time is for
us."
  Akane nodded.  (That was romantic.)
   (Thanks Nachan.)
   (Don't mention it.)
  
  Ranma led her onto the floor and they worked their way into the
dancers.  Akane was surprised to find that he danced very well. She
wondered if her sister had done that?  Well however had done it had
taught him very well because he not only kept off her toes. He was
quickly making it apparent that they were the best dancers there that
night.
   Akane looked deep into his bright blue eyes.  He was smiling.  It
forced her to smile.  
  "Are you happy?" she asked.
   "Yes." Ranma said.  And it was true.  He felt love for her.  It was
strong and deep, and very different from what he felt for Nabiki. Loving
Nabiki was like what you read about in romance novels.  A quick and
fearsome fall that turned into a glide of romance.  Loving Akane was
different.  It was like building a house.  You had to lay a firm
foundation and labor at it constantly.  
   But Akane was having an affect on him.  He was mildly aroused.  He
felt safe, a strange emotion as a male for him.  But it was lacking
something... something he couldn't quite put his finger on.  Maybe
because he didn't want to.
  (Keep your mind on her Ranma.) Nabiki chided.
  "Where were you just now?" Akane asked.
  "I was thinking that maybe you are too good for me."
   (Don't start feeling guilty Ranma.)
  "Well of course I am, but I love you anyway." Akane said as a joke.
  Then she realized she'd just used the L word.
  "I mean...I think I'd like too, that is..." she tried to recover.
   And Ranma knew what it was now.  Akane still wouldn't fully accept
him. It needed more time.  Maybe it was his curse; maybe it was his
personality.  Maybe it was just that Akane wasn't fully ready for a
lover just yet or couldn't admit she needed one.  Whatever it was Akane
had been putting up the block in their relationship.
  (You can't be sure of that!) Nabiki said to his mind.
  (Really?  It's the way I feel Nachan. )
  They danced for a little longer.
  (But you love her.) Nabiki sent.
  (I know.  I know.  I didn't say I didn't.)
  " Why don't you dance with Nabiki for awhile?" Akane asked.
  "Alright."  
  "I enjoyed it Ranma."  Akane said.  She meant it, but they could both
tell she had to force it.
  "I loved it, and no matter what happens Akane, I will treasure dancing
with you tonight."  He replied.  
   Akane nodded mutely.  She had felt like she had lost it when she
confessed how she felt.  Maybe she'd been wrong to do it.  That response
sounded more like Kuno than Ranma.
  
   Nabiki took his hands and the feeling of trust and warmth flowed into
her.  Peace.
  She and Ranma made it a point to remain at a safe distance from each
other.
  "You're not giving her enough time." Nabiki said.
  "I don't know that I want to wait until she grows up." Ranma said.
  "Pot calling the kettle black." Nabiki said.
  "Really?  Nabiki be honest.  Do you think that Akane will really open
up to me the way that you did?  She'll always hold things back.  I'll
never know for sure what she is and isn't thinking."
  "Welcome to love Ranma.  That's what lovers do, it's bad for them to
completely know one another." Nabiki said
  "Really?" Ranma asked. (You felt what I felt while I was with her. Am
I whimpping out?  Am I hiding some truth from myself that I am not man
enough to face?  If that's it let me know and give me the courage to
face it.  I do love her Nabiki, but it feels like she's my....)
  "Sister." Nabiki finished.  "Ever since that day in the Dojo you've
had two images of her.  One was the friend you needed the other as a
woman.  Can't you see what I am so afraid of Ranma? "  (I am scared that
you love me only because it's hard loving her.  You love me because we
fit together well and you don't have to work at it.)
  (Love shouldn't be something you work at.)
  (But it is.  Lust is easy Ranma.)
  (Nabiki, I did not make love with you just to get laid.  I love you.)  
  "I know." She whispered.  "You think its east for me to see you in her
arms?  But please Ranma, you have got to keep trying."
   Neither one of them had noticed that the nice safe distance they were
keeping had vanished a few moments ago.  It wasn't until the second song
started and Nabiki laid her cheek against his chest that they realized
just how close they were.
   (I...)
   (You won't lose me Ranma.  I promised.)  
   Nabiki sighed, (but we have to fix this.)
   "Nachan, we have done nothing more than what we felt was right at the
time.  I will stand by that forever."  He lifted her chin and she could
feel his intention.  She should stop him, but she didn't have the
strength.
  He was saying a goodbye.  He was going to do what she asked and try to
forget that he wanted her so much.  It scared her.  Suddenly Nabiki
needed to say Good-bye as well.

  In the darkness the Shadow watched.  This was it.  The moment of
truth.  She could stop it right here.  But doing so might branch the
timeline at the wrong place.

  Akane watched as they danced.  Her sister's behavior was disturbing
her.  Something was not quite right.

  Ranma's lips were so close she could feel his breath on her own.  Then
they were on her cheek, a seemingly chaste kiss to everyone else
around.  But Ranma wasn't letting go of her that easy.  Every moment of
their love he sent rolling through her mind.  Nabiki's grip tightened on
his hand and she moaned softly.  
  (Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, giving you to Akane...) she
thought.
  (Too late. The decision is made.)

  The shadow leaned foreword.  That was wrong.  He should have kissed
her on the mouth.  The timeline was changing on it's own.
   Which meant she could no longer predict movements.  She looked up and
saw why.  A smaller shadow raced back and forth in the girders above the
floor.  
  (A girls work is never done.) The shadow thought.  She leapt to the
attack.  No one below would see the fight in the shadows.

  Ranma led her off the floor, holding her arm.
   (That was really unfair.) Sent Nabiki.
   (Well in my opinion so's your request.  I don't see why I should have
to work harder at being happy than I have to.  Especially since it means
breaking your heart.)

   Akane watched them closely now.  She thought she had seen...it was
silly.  Ranma and Nabiki?  Never.
  Ranma sat next to Akane and smiled at her.
  (I'm imagining things.)
  And then a photograph fell on the table.
  Ranma looked up to see where it had come from.  He heard a high
pitched laugh.
  "That sounded like Happosia." He said.
  Nabiki and Akane were starring at the picture.
  It showed Ranma and Nabiki at the Dojo the morning after they'd slept
together.  It showed them kissing.
  Akane's hand trembled as she looked at the picture.  She dropped it
and looked at her sister.
  "I'm sorry."  Nabiki said, "But it's over.  Ranma and me I mean,
that's why."
   "That's why you didn't want him to bring you.  You were afraid that
the old flame might spark up again." Akane said.  Her voice was full of
pain.
  Under the table Ranma held Nabiki's hand.
  "How long?" Akane asked.
  "It was just a couple of days, a fling." Nabiki said.  "I...I never
meant to hurt you..."
  "Ranma, did you sleep with her?" Akane asked.
  (Your call Nabiki.)  
  (Cat's out of the bag, go ahead and tell her.)
  "Yes I did Akane." he said.
  Akane's eyes closed and on the back of her eyelids played the images
of Ranma and Nabiki doing things with an X rating.
  "And you have the nerve to tell me you love me?" Akane asked.  "On the
same day you were kissing my sister?"
  "Akane, I thought you didn't love me, and I wasn't sure how I felt
about you..." Ranma began
  "But you were sure enough with how you felt about Nabiki that you
slept with her!?" Akane asked.
  By now everyone was staring at them.
  "If Tofu Ono had made a pass at you on those first few days that you
knew me Akane, would you have turned him down?"
   "That's different."
   "No it isn't." Ranma said. "Kasumi and Tofu weren't a couple.  If he
had made a pass at you you'd have taken him up on it. It is exactly the
same thing.  One side of a relationship isn't communicating to the other
how they really feel and as such they aren't a couple.  They aren't
really together.  I got tired of not being together with you."
   "Then why did you come back?"
   "Don't you get it yet Akane.  There is a love there for you.  I would
like to see it work out.  How about you?" Ranma asked.
   Akane breathed for a few moments.
  "Alright.  I never said I loved you, so maybe you didn't know.  I can
accept that.  I can even accept that maybe I drove you away.  Gods know
that I wasn't the most encouraging woman.  I can even see how when
another woman was kinder to you how you could love her, that was why I
was always afraid of losing you to Ukyo or Shampoo.  But with my
sister?"
  "They don't mean anything to me.  Nabiki does." Ranma said.
  "Does?" Akane asked. 
  "Akane, I just can't shut off how I feel.  Nabiki and I just agreed to
break this off recently.  Yeah I still feel for her.  I won't lie to you
about it.  She has been a good friend, and more, and she will always be
so.  She is the only safety and acceptance I have ever known."  
   Akane shut her eyes, wondering if it was really over.  She wondered
is she could compete with her own sister...
  "And I gave up that safety, that sure thing, for a gamble with you.
Akane can't you see what that means?" Ranma asked.  He broke his hold on
Nabiki's hand and held it out to Akane.
  She wanted to kill him, she wanted to scream at him, and she even
wanted to cry and let him hold her.  This couldn't be happening with her
own sister.  Not with her own sister!!!
  "Please.  Please see that there in only one reason I'd give up that
kind of love Akane.  I gave it up because if we can make our
relationship work, if you decide you can love me, it will be more than
worth all the pain and suffering we've put on each other." Ranma
finished.  
  All eyes were on this moment.  The entire school knew now what had
happened.  Akane would hear about it the rest of her life.  How she
wasn't woman enough to Keep Ranma.
  Yet no one spoke.  They were all afraid that to speak might ruin any
chances of there being peace.
  Akane shook.  "Damn you Ranma Saotome."
  "Probably." he said.
  "I...I will need to think about this." Akane replied.
  "I understand."
  "I may decide that I don't want you." Akane said.
  "I understand, and will respect whatever decision you make.  I do hope
though that you decide to try and make our relationship work."
  "I...I won't lie about it, this harms our relationship.  It will never
be the same." Akane said.
  "I know.  And that is my fault.  I accept that."
  "So you are apologizing then Ranma?" Akane asked.
  "No.  I have done nothing wrong.  I only did what I thought would be
best for me. And she I loved.  Just as I am doing now for you." Ranma
said.
   (Good move.) Nabiki commented.
   (You're rubbing off on me.)
  "You really aren't making it easy to hate you."  Akane muttered.
  "I just want you to know we've done enough of that.  I'd like to love
you Akane, if you'll let me."
   Akane didn't know what else to say to him, so she turned to Nabiki.
  "This hurt Nabiki.  You should have known better." said Akane.
  "I know I hurt you Akane, I didn't mean to.  I didn't fall in love
with him on purpose.  It just happened.  He was my first love, not some
crush or fling, but love.  The kind of love you can wrap yourself up in
like a blanket when you feel like crap, or a failure.  And I gave him
up, for you.  I gave up my first love for you, my sister.  Please don't
let my sacrifice be in vain. Please try to love him, and forgive me if
you can."
  By now many of the girls were crying.  The boys were all trading jibes
about it.  But it was softly done; no one wanted to miss a word. 
  " I don't know that I can forgive you Nabiki." Akane said.  She looked
around her and saw the crowd for the first time.
  "I think we'd better go home now." Akane said.


  Needless to say, it was a very quiet and tension filled walk home.
They all went to bed silently.  The shadow followed them.  She'd managed
to avert most of the disturbances, now if she could just keep Nachan
alive long enough...

  Akane awoke to a presence in her room.  She sat up and
saw...Ranma-chan sitting at the floor of her bed.
  "What are you doing in my...." Akane stopped.
  Ranma was different.  Her hair was down past her waist.
  "We haven't much time and you need to trust me.  Do you trust me
Akane?" the shadow asked.
  "Ranma?  What Happened."
  "In about ten minutes Nabiki is going to kill herself unless you go in
there and stop her.  I'd do it, but she'll just kill herself later when
I'm not around.  So Akane, how much do you love your sister?"
  Akane bolted up and was out of the door.  
  P-chan glared at Ranma with menace.
  "Shut up pig boy, I just saved your life.  If Nabiki dies photos of
you and becoming a boy after being pig arrive on Akane's door step, it
was a blackmailing scheme of Nachan's.  Insurance against you for
whatever she needed.  Now you can growl at me or you can help me go
exact some revenge on Happosia for starting this whole mess and breaking
Akane's heart.  Which will it be?" Ranma-chan asked.
  "Squeal?"
  "Yeah I know I look different.  Pregnancy does that to a woman."
  "SQUEAL?"
     

  Nabiki had waited until he was asleep.  That way he couldn't catch
her.  By luck he hadn't tried to probe her thoughts.  She had enough of
those little blue pep pills that it would be quick.
  She sat there, trying to get the courage to do it.  She'd made a royal
mess of things.  She'd lost her only love, at her insistence.  Her
sisters hated her and her life was a wreck.  It was time to check out.
  The door smashed open.  Her sister stood there, pissed.
  "How dare you think we wouldn't miss you!" Akane said.
   Nabiki was stunned.  "How'd you..."
   Akane grabbed the pillbox, Nabiki held on to it.  Then she let go.
Akane threw it out the window and looked at her sister.
  "Don't ever do something that stupid again.  Promise me." Akane said.
  "Why...you hate me...and I deserve it..."
  "I don't hate you.  Ranma told me about what you were planning.  She
made me realize that I still need you.  You're my sister.  That's blood,
and it's not to be hated.  A lot of mean things have been done to
everyone, by everyone, and even though I feel hurt it would only hurt
more if you did this.  I forgive you Nabiki."
  Nabiki tried not to cry she was the ice queen.
  She melted.

  Ranma was working out in the Dojo.  He had his shirt off and his hair
unbound.  From the corner of the door Nabiki and Akane watched him.  One
movement led to another and another in an endless chain.
  "Wow." Akane said.
  "Yeah." Nabiki agreed. "Sexy isn't he?"
  "And how...when did he start wearing his hair like that?"
  "I'm not sure.  Sometime around that day I found her in here crying I
think."
  Akane nodded.
  "I meant what I said, you are one lucky girl you know that?" Nabiki
asked.
Akane thought about everything that could be meant by that question. All
the possible meanings were correct.  She nodded. 
  "Here he comes. Ready?" Akane asked her sister.
  Nabiki nodded.
   The two girls readied their buckets of cold water as Happosia neared
the Dojo. 

  END OF EPISODE TWO>

  So I am FINALLY done with episode two.
Oh it feels good and my fingers thank me...
  The story of course is far from over.  

-Why did Nabiki's eyes turn blue?
-Why is she and Ranma "linked"
-Why is there another Ranma running around talking about time travel?
-Why is that Ranma pregnant?

More questions than a Babylon 5 episode to a Star wars movie.

Stay tuned for episode three THE TAMING OF SHAMPOO

So until Rumiko Takahasi's Ninja dowse me in the springs.... See ya
Later.

Be kind