Hi!! people, is me again :) Here's the next chapter of this story, and I'm aware that there are still some problems here. (But hey give my prereaders a break will'ya you can't expect them to find all the errors in just one check do you :) By the way I'd like to thank them :Jason Liao, Angeline, Harper, doKuSHInsHA, Short Yes and Thomas Scroggs. I hope that you like this one too, feel free to C&C, MST, Flame, Dissect (Did you guy's saw what Ronny did last time?? Something like that would be good ^_^ ) Remember this is still a draft I will revise this again, in fact I wasn't going to send this until I had news from all my prereaders, but just like some people has pointed me out, this is a place for experimenting, the final draft goes to the RAAC. All Ranma characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, first published by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by Viz Communications. <>Indicates thoughts *********************************************************** First Date First Blood ^_^ *********************************************************** The snow was falling at a steady pace in the mountains, covering them like a blanket of the purest white. Ranma was feeling good, even if the weather was a little too cold for his liking. He was running at top speeds, feeling more free and relaxed that he had been in a long time. The feeling of the chilly winds hitting his face, just letting his body react by instinct to the race, jump a rock, evade a branch, jump over the cliff, the fall, using one tree as a springboard and keep running. The place didn't matter, he just let himself loose in the excitement of the speed. The people who saw him were amazed. He seemed to ride the wind, moving so fast that he barely seemed to touch the land. In the few towns he had passed, people were left looking in awe at the young martial artist with a big backpack, he seemed to be a blur of brown, black and blue, moving with the grace of a feline. Even those few who were paying attention, or were in cars barely saw the smile of sheer excitement, making him look even a little feral and wild, almost like a feline in hunting. After a few of hours of running at top speed he had to stop for a While. Even if he had the stamina of a horse he had to slow down, he was fast but he didn't had the stamina of Ryoga. Smiling he said for himself. Ranma smiled. His apparent stalkers had given up some time ago. Even they didn't have the speed or stamina to keep the pace, and the only one who could had gotten lost in the first ten minutes. Yet Ranma hadn't cared. he just ran for hours. When he slowed down he started to enjoy the view, and remembered the latest days in the dojo. Somehow his life had became both better and worse at the same time. The past week had been one of chaos, and just remembering it made him enjoy the feelings of peace and freedom the mountains gave him even more. * * * * * A week and half before The students in Furinkan were confused. Something was happening in the School, even if it just seemed to be the beginning of it, and the effects were starting to be noted. Akane was mad most of the time, whatever made her mad seemed to be eating her. Ranma was, for a change, silent most of the time, he seemed to be thinking about a lot of things lately and was treating Akane as if she were made of glass, this just seemed to anger her even more. Nabiki for a change was being nicer to her classmates. Lunch was one of the most expected moments in Furinkan. Not only the students had time to eat and relax, but also the local martial artists were a good entertainment most of the time. You could always expect to see a fight, discussion or even the newest problem of Ranma. Today wasn't an exception, even if it was subtler this time. Akane was ignoring Ranma. While this wasn't anything new, she was also ignoring Nabiki. Now this would have passed as something semi normal, if it weren't by the fact that the rest of the fiancees had been casting glares at Nabiki as well. One of the most popular games among the girls, was to gossip and try to guess was happening in Ranma's and his companion's life If they had any trouble they could always pa... ask Nabiki for assistance, but this time, they couldn't do that. For a change, Nabiki seemed to be the source of the problem, or at least part of it. To make things even stranger, Ranma was treating Nabiki with more familiarity, even if she was treating him with her usual cold demeanor. One just needed to watch the scene for a while to see that something was happening. Nabiki was making deals in her usual table, when Ranma approached her and commented. "Hey Nabs..." Ranma received for this, Nabiki's full glare, the kind of glare that would have made a weaker man faint. He just composed himself and continued, "hmmm... hello Nabiki can I talk with you for a second please?" "Yes... Ranma just give me a second." She answered in a cold and chilly tone. Walking her away from the rest of the students, he started talking to Nabiki. By the way he moved his hands, and his facial expressions, one could swear that he was explaining something to her. The strange thing was that after a while she seemed to relax a little and paid closer attention to everything he said, her features changing from. After a time, they finished their discussion and both went to their own tables. The whispering in the cafeteria started again. Akane seemed ready to jump on Ranma and beat him senseless, visibly restraining herself to not choke him. "So Ranma-honey what were you doing with the local Ice-queen of the school?" Unlike the rest, Ukyo didn't wait until Ranma came back to his seat to ask him. "Hmmm... who me? Er... I was just asking her for some advice. Why do you ask Uchan?" Ranma seemed taken back by this. Looking at him a little unbelievingly, she answered. "It's just that you seemed awfully interested in that conversation Ranchan." Unfortunately for her, Ranma was already on his way to the table, and didn't pay too much attention to her. Ranma seemed to be in a hurry to talk with one of the boys that was waiting for him there. Ukyo watched as Ranma went to his place in the table, then started to talk with a guy named Yuichiro, whatever he was saying, must have been very important to the aforementioned guy, because he looked really nervous. After a few minutes of this the boy got up and muttering what seemed to be a thanks to Ranma, he walked ever to Nabiki. Thought Ukyo, she just watched as the boy started talking at Nabiki, who in exchange gave a quick glare at Ranma, then smiling sweetly at the student, she nodded. Ukyo couldn't help but ask Akane. "What it's going on here Akane?" They both were looking at the boy who seemed to be walking over clouds at the moment. "Who knows what's in the mind of that pervert?" Akane muttered, then standing up and walking of to the classroom, she added with a scowl. "Besides who cares for that matter." * * * * * Later, outside of the school, Ranma and Nabiki talked briefly for a few seconds, "So Nabs how did it go?" Ranma asked in a candid tone. Raising her eyebrow Nabiki spoke in a calm and cold voice. "I would appreciate if you refrained from calling me Nabs Ranma." Shrugging his shoulders, he said. "Ok Nabiki I got the message... and .. well?" Rolling her eyes Nabiki continued "It went ok Ranma we have a date this afternoon. Why do you ask?" "Why? Well Nabiki, I have to go and watch how it goes." Said Ranma in the same candid voice. Looking at him more levelly, she said in a teasing tone. "My... Ranma I never knew that you were that kind of guy, a little curious maybe, but not that much." Ranma rolled his eyes. "Aww c'mon Nabiki it's not like that, it's just that I need to see you in action to see what are the problems in your form." "Form? You make it seem like a fight." Seeing that he actually seemed to take it like if, it was a fight she continued. "Ok Ranma you can go... but one thing, I don't want him to notice that you are there ok?" Ranma seemed really offended by this. "What? He note me? I'm a top martial artist I can be so stealthy that even you aren't going to notice me." "Sure Ranma whatever you say." Ranma seemed to get rigid for a second, then he answered "Fine then Nabiki. Anyway I have to run. See you later." Then running like hell, he jumped over the wall followed by Kodachi and Shampoo, and by the sounds and screams, Mouse had just joined the parade. Shaking her head Nabiki thought as she continued her way to the Dojo. When she was passing by the gate of the school someone approached her. Ukyo saw her opportunity to talk to Nabiki. Stepping in her way she started, "So Nabiki what's going on?" Looking at her coolly Nabiki answered, "What do you mean Ukyo?" Ukyo frowned, "You know what I mean Nabiki, since the other day when you and Ranchan got lost all afternoon, you two seem to be rather friendly." Smirking slightly Nabiki answered, "so? Ranma and I have been doing some business lately what's the problem with that?" "As long as you don't get too friendly that's ok with me Nabiki," added Ukyo in a threatening tone. Smirking even more Nabiki told her "C'mon Ukyo you of all should know well that I wouldn't do that, sure Ranma is nice enough, has a nice body, and he even has been getting some manners lately, but he's still too much of a trouble. Besides he's not my type you know." Ukyo seemed more relieved at this. "I believe you Nabiki. Just be careful; the other girls won't bother talking first. Remember the only thing that you have to defend yourself it's that brain of yours." "Thanks for your concern Ukyo but I can take care of myself fairly well." Said Nabiki as she walked past her. * * * * * Later that day Nabiki went out to the date with Yuichiro. The guy was nice enough, he seemed to be a little shy and intimidated, after all Nabiki looked stunning in the blue dress that she was wearing. It was elegant and yet it did a great showing her figure. Fortunately, Nabiki knew how to make a guy feel comfortable. It was a nice trick that She used too often in order to low the guard of many of her clients. After a little chat and a little show by Mr. Tendo and his famous cry #427, (WHAAA my little daughter it's going out ) they were on his way to a very exclusive restaurant, with sporadic appearances of the fiancees and one or two enemies who were looking for Ranma. Nabiki had to admit it she was enjoying the date, but not because Yuichiro was all that Fun. He was nice enough and when he finally relaxed, he had an interesting conversation. No the real reason where the crazy stunts of Ranma, so far he had appeared in three very corny disguises, both male and female and she was just halfway to the restaurant. By when they were in the restaurant, the number of disguises was up by five, the fights had been two. One by Kuno who tried to free her from the enslaving things that Saotome was forcing her to do, before any of them both could do anything they were saved by a mysterious brown haired girl with a red pigtail and thick glasses. The second was when Mousse confused Yuichiro with Ranma and attacked them, this time they only saw a blur of black and red before mousse disappeared in a corner. All of this had Yuichiro pretty nervous. "A... are all your dates like this Nabiki?" asked a paranoid looking Yuichiro. Smiling sweetly Nabiki answered. "Not really Yuichiro it's just that my father it's a little special, and he asked Ranma to keep an eye on me. It seems that the fool took the orders pretty literally, but don't worry he isn't going to interfere too much. When they entered to the restaurant, things seemed to calm down. The waiter guided them to their table, after they were sited, they had the menus. Yuichiro was feeling like he was in heaven, and hell here he was he in a date with Nabiki Tendo, the ice queen of Furinkan and not only, she was being nice to him, but he also hadn't said or did something stupid. She looked so hot with that blue dress of her but not only that she looked really elegant with it too. Now if only Saotome could leave them alone. He was grateful to him for helping him to get a date with Nabiki, but it seemed that all the crazy things that happened to Ranma were following him. Now so far it seemed like Saotome had taken the hint and disappeared with the rest of crazy martial artist that were following him. Nabiki was watching Yuichiro while they were waiting for the menus, he was good looking not like Ranma or some of his friends but he was presentable enough, a little too bland and spineless for her tastes, but he had a fairly good reputation among his friends, and he knew how to behave himself. If she treated him nicely, enough he would talk well of her in the school. Besides he has an interesting enough conversation. Then the waiter gave them their menus, seeing that Yuichiro had became livid when he saw the prices in the menu she used her formal way to deal with this. "Thanks for the invitation Yuichiro you really know how to treat a lady" spoke Nabiki in a low and sensual voice. The effect of this was that his thinking capacity was reduced to a babbling idiot for a few minutes. Nabiki was having fun teasing the poor boy was fun but still she didn't think he was that interesting. After a few more minutes of idle chat, they ordered their food. Yuichiro was of course too lost in his dream world to notice that he was going to pay a lot of money for the dinner. Nabiki for her part was getting a little bored. Sure the food was delicious and the ambience was great but she was getting tired of the boy who was just looking at her with the eyes glassed over and a silly grin in his face. They ate in silence, Yuichiro seemed to be in his own dream world, and Nabiki was looking for the next entrance of Ranma and his followers. She was starting to wonder where was Ranma when she noticed a beautiful waitress with black hair and a black dress that came with a white apron making her look like a classical French maid, even if the skirt was a little too short and the cleavage was a little too big showing her ample blossom rather nicely. Nabiki was wondering if she was Ranma or not, then they crossed looks and she knew that it was him. After all how many people had gray blue eyes. Smiling at him and with an expression that said gotcha, she decided to pay attention to her date. Calling him in a bored tone "Yuichiro, hey Yuichiro are you there?" Yuichiro had an expression that could mach Ryoga when he was daydreaming, "Yes I do." Nabiki looked amused at this. "Yes you do what?" He came out of the trance "Hmmm... nothing, nothing Just thinking how great it's to be with you." Nabiki raised an eyebrow, "Yes Yuichiro I to had a great time too." Yuichiro was so entranced by this that he completely lost the sarcastic tone that she was using. The day hadn't gone too well for Ranma, this idea to help Nabiki with her date was giving him a severe headache, so far he had two fights and three of his fiancees after his hide. Now he was there wearing a stupid maid dress that was too tight for his tastes, there were a pair of idiots who tried to grope him and the couple that he was serving was making him nervous. The guy was just drooling at him. (Just like the rest of the guys in the restaurant) and the girl was glaring at him. Thought Ranma, now if he had a normal amount of common sense, he wouldn't have thought this, but this is Ranma and common sense is not his strong point. Like a divine retribution one of the girls in the restaurant decided that she had enough, and decided to put her foot in the way of the next waitress causing her to trip and drop the tray with hot tea that she was carrying in the moment. Nabiki was just observing Ranma doing a good impression of a French waitress. he seemed to be really uncomfortable with the dress and the ogling men in the restaurant, then she saw it come the falling waitress, the hot tea, the face of Ranma after the change, and of course, the way the dress ripped after trying in vain to contain a bigger body. Ranma was feeling... rather ridiculized the stares in the place had changed from ogling to surprise, and from glares to more looks that made him feel like a piece of steak. He even heard a pair of, "What a pervert." "Yes but he has a nice tush." So, he did the only manly thing that he could do, he bolted to the kitchen were they still could hear a couple of surprised yells and even a laugh. Nabiki was laughing for almost two minutes before calming enough to be able to speak normally. Still smiling she called the waiter "Well Yuichiro I think that we should go back to or my father it's going to have a fit." Yuichiro seemed to be still a little shaken by this "Tell me Nabiki is he always like this?" Nabiki was smiling knowingly. "Believe me Yuichiro you don't know the half of it." * * * * * They walked back to the dojo talking more animatedly. Nabiki had been telling him about some of the crazier adventures of Ranma, for first time in all the date she was starting to just enjoy the company of the boy, even if she was doing most of the talking. "You must be kidding Nabiki, are you telling me that he entered in a fiancee contest just to get some strange water to cure his curse?" Yuichiro was surprised. He had heard a lot of stories about Nabiki how she was cold and heartless, and how she used to make the boys to get what she wanted and the she just dumped them, but the Nabiki Tendo that went with him in a date, was completely different that the one he knew from the school. She still was a little cold and distant, but once you got to know her she was a nice person. At the door of the Tendo dojo, they said their goodnights, "Thank you Yuichiro I had a lovely Time. Goodnight" then Nabiki walked in the house leaving a slightly disappointed Yuichiro. "Well I guess that you can win em all, you can't expect someone like her to kiss you in their first date." Said Yuichiro to himself. Walking inside the house Nabiki noted the heavy atmosphere that was in the house. Akane was mad (this wasn't really unusual lately), her father and Mr. Saotome were playing shogi trying to ignore Akane, Kasumi was humming a song in the kitchen when she was cleaning the rest of the dinner, but Ranma was nowhere to be seen. "Hey Akane were is Ranma?" Glaring at her Akane answered. "Why should I know where's that baka Nabiki, last time I saw him he was hanging around his friends like always." Walking out of the kitchen Kasumi added in a cheerfully tone. "Ranma was playing with his friends Ryoga, Kuno, and Mousse, I hope that they don't get hurt they seemed mad at Ranma for some reason. By the way Nabiki how was your date?" Nabiki looked at her older sister while she was walking upstairs. "It went well Kasumi a little different of what I was expecting but it was fun anyway." Kasumi was smiling a little vacuinly, "Well it's nice to know that you are having fun with the boys" Walking into her room, she changed her clothes for a more comfortable white short and a tee shirt, after that she looked at the garden she saw the lights of the dojo on, and the stomping of Akane as she went upstairs and went into her room. Taking her camera she exited the room. Walking down and ignoring the rest of the family Nabiki went to the garden and from there to the dojo, were she could see the lights on. Steeping in she could see Ranma, he seemed to just had changed back by the kettle that laid at his side, and he was muttering something when he saw her. "Stupid Jerks ganging on me..." Half growled, half muttered Ranma, then he noted that Nabiki was entering to the dojo. Putting his best nonchalant face he greeted her, "Hiya!! Nabs how was the date?" Looking annoyed, she said. "Like if you didn't knew it... Now tell me did you enjoyed your new job" Ranma shuddered. "Don't remind me Nabiki, I hadn't felt so stupid in a long time." Said Ranma while he was trying to apply disinfectant to his wounds. Nabiki took a picture of Ranma trying to clean his wounds, then taking the medical box from his hands Nabiki started tending his wounds. "Here let me do it. What happened to you this time?" "I really don't know, I was running out of the restaurant by the kitchen, trying to get back to the ally where I left my clothes. When I was about to get there Kuno appeared and started spouting some nonsense, something about how my evil ways didn't knew limits and how I was wearing the clothes of my latest victim of some junk like that." Nabiki laughed at the memory of Ranma in that skintight dress. "Well Ranma you have to admit that you were rather stunning in that dress." "Haha very funny, now are you going to listen to me or just make fun of this?" Nabiki calmed herself a little, "Ok, ok, you can continue, but first take of your shirt please." Ranma did as she told him, when he was dome Nabiki took a couple more of pictures, Ranma just looked at her strangely before continuing. "Now were I was... ah yes. After I whacked him a couple times, I decided to change clothes when the old pervert just came from the rooftop, telling me that I was a very good student, but if I wanted to play the damsel in distress for him I needed to be a damsel first. You can suppose what he tried to do then." Nabiki started cleaning his back from a couple of abrasions and noted that there was a large gash running all over his back. "And were did you got this Ranma? " Ranma arched his back at the touch of Nabiki in the sore spot. "Owww, wach out Nabiki that hurts. I got it from Kuno, after a few minutes of fighting with the old pervert I got a very good kick in and sent him to take a hike without being splashed. Then when I was getting my breath back, that moron of Kuno attacked me from behind, seems like he wasn't out cold as I thought at first so I made sure that he went to rest in a more painful way." "Honestly Ranma you are so careless sometimes." Then aiming her camera at him, she said. "Say cheese," and took another couple of pictures of his back wile he was looking at her. Ranma looked at her a little nervous. "Well after I changed clothes, I had to deal with an irate looking Shampoo, she started chasing me, because I was eating in some stupid restaurant, instead of going to eat at her place. Then Mousse came blaming me, for trying to take Shampoo from him." Nabiki was finishing cleaning his back, she couldn't help but note that Ranma was gaining mass lately, making his usual wiry complexion look more muscular and filled. He also was starting to lose some of the natural baby fat and being replaced by smooth and well toned muscles, making him look more like a gymnast that a martial artist. A couple of scratches cleaned and some more pictures Nabiki was done cleaning his back. "Turn around Ranma I need to clean the rest of the wounds," it seemed that his front was much lees damaged that his back, aside from a couple of blows in his stomach, and a few cuts in his face he didn't had any other wounds to be cleaned. Nabiki was thinking for a while, Ranma was becoming a very handsome and charismatic guy, even if he denied or tried to hide it. He could be really convincing with the women if he really wanted to, but his own code prevented him from doing that, now how could she turn that to her and her family advantage, he could become easily a model, an actor or even an idol singer. Suddenly Nabiki caught herself, She felt ashamed of herself. Ranma had got in a lot of troubles to help her, and there she was already planning how to take advantage of him. Ranma was observing Nabiki while she was attending at his wounds. For first time since he got to know her, and had to admit hat she was rather beautiful and she had a great body too, Ranma caught himself staring at Nabiki, normally this would have earned him a beating or the girl would be trowing at him, and she wasn't even noticing him. Then Ranma noted that she was frowning a little, and seemed to be lost in her thoughts. Waving a hand in front of her got her attention. "Hey Nabs are you there, you seem a little out of reality." Nabiki was shaken out of her thoughts in as rather rude form. "Yes I'm here Saotome, and please don't call me Nabs." Ranma looked apologetic. "Well... sorry but you seemed to be lost for a second." "It's not like that Ranma I just had something in my mind." Changing the conversation, she continued, "so Ranma, what do you think of the date?" Ranma looked troubled at this, "the date?... I suppose that you want an honest answer right?" Raising an eyebrow, she answered. "Of course I want an honest response Ranma." Taking a breath Ranma tried to say as nonchalantly as he could. "To be honest Nabiki, you really suck at dating boys." Nabiki's brow darkened, < grrr... sensitive as always Saotome,> "What do you mean Saotome? He said the he had a great time with me." "Yes Nabiki but you sucked him dry. You made him take you to one of the most expensive restaurants in the town, he must have spent his allowance for a month in just one night." Seeing that she seemed to falter a little he continued. "You are supposed to go to a date to have a nice time to make the poor guy spend all his money on you." Nabiki seemed to be troubled by this. "But... he had a nice time, he enjoyed being with me." Looking directly at her eyes Ranma answered. "And what about you? Did you enjoyed being with him? His company? When was the moment that you enjoyed most?" pausing for a second he looked away. "You seemed to take the whole thing like a business, making him comfortable, and getting him to low his guard, so you could get what you wanted from him." Nabiki was speechless. Sure she knew that Ranma wasn't dumb, but she never expected that he could be so analytic, to see that clearly what she was doing. She could only mutter. "How did you know?" Ranma smiled bitterly. "Well Nabiki, I had been in some dates too, mostly with Shampoo and Ukyo and most of these times were to get something from them." then lowering his look, he said. "You see the dates like a business to win, I see the dates like a fight to win, I had to learn in the hard way to relax a little so what about you?" Nabiki started to think about all this, She remembered the moment that she enjoyed most in the date, and aside from all the crazy stunts of Ranma, the best moment was when she and Yuichiro walked back home just talking about her life and all the crazy things that happened around Ranma. Nabiki felt that she had a lot of things to think for tonight, so she decided to finish this for today applying the last touch to Ranma's wounds she put a Band-Aid in his nose, "well Ranma seems like after all you are good for something." Ranma frowned at this, but it seemed like it was the reaction that Nabiki was expecting because as soon as he frowned, she took another couple of pictures. "Hey what's with all those pictures?" said Ranma in a half jocking tone. "These? they are just for a school project." Answered Nabiki with her most innocent looking expression. Ranma didn't seemed to believe this. "I believe you just don't overdo it ok?" After patching all the medicines in the medical box, she extended the hand at him. "There Ranma it's done and you only owe me 500 yen." Ranma just stared at her before sighing. "Che Nabs you never change." Nabiki looked at him "Why should I change?" Nabiki commented in a half mocking time. Ranma just shrugged his shoulders and handed her the money "Well Nabiki I have to go see'ya later." Using only his hands for leverage, he lifted all his body with his hands, then he did a backflip just using his hands to propel himself, doing a ten point landing that would made a gymnast green of envy. He turned to see Nabiki who seemed to be bored by all this display. "Showoff." A bored sounding Nabiki commented. Ranma seemed downcast by this for a second after looking at her with his usual cocky smile. "Envious?" walking out of the dojo, he was stopped near the door by her voice. Nabiki saw him walk out of the dojo he seemed to be a little annoyed by the fact that she wasn't really surprised by his display of strength and dexterity. After all, she had seen him do more hard stunts. Taking the shirt that he ha left in the floor. "Ranma?" when he turned to see her, she threw him the shirt. Then she seemed to hesitate for a second before continuing. "...Thanks Ranma" Ranma looked surprised at this. "Thanks for what?" Then he seemed to take the hint and continued. "Ah you meant that... don't worry it wasn't nothing" Then he exited the building, towards his room. After a few minutes, Nabiki exited the dojo walking towards the living room. Neither her nor Ranma had noticed Nodoka observing the both from the garden. Tony