One Night in Tokyo-3 (v1.02, 8/12/2001)
One-Shot
By AllWhacked
Send C&C to allwhacked@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/allwhacked/
--- Disclaimer ---
The characters of Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko Takakashi. The
characters of Neon Genesis Evangelion belong to Gainax. For
all other characters and trademarks that appear, they are
the property of their respective owners. So in other words,
I DO NOT own any of them unless otherwise noted, so please
don't sue me because I have Zero money. Thank You.
--- Warning!!! ---
Anyway this is an Alterverse fanfic that may or may not have
severe x-over tendencies. If you don't like X-Overs or
don't like the idea of anything but a Ranma + Akane pairing
then don't read this. Consider yourself warned.
--- End Warning ---
--- Start ---
*** December 31, 2015 ***
The moon hung at full brilliance on that starless night; its
glow blanketing the glass and steel of Tokyo-3 in its soft
and warm embrace. From the west, there came a slight breeze
that by late evening gave the city a slight taste of winter
on that otherwise warm December night. To the assembled
citizens of the fortified city, all were in high spirits as
those gathered in groups took part in their pre-New Years
celebration--drinking and dancing, singing or laughing--all
in wait for the start of the new year.
Everyone was happy, everyone was merry; everyone was like
this except for two lone individuals in a glitzy penthouse
apartment, high above the city streets.
++++++++++
"Would you please put that out," he began as he sat in a
large black leather chair. The speaker was seated across
from a beautiful woman in her early thirties, her lips
puckered around a lit cigarette with a look of annoyance on
her face. As the women took another long drag from her
cigarette, the man looked up at her with a leveled gaze; his
hands clasped together in contemplation as the women steeled
her eyes at him.
"This is my place you know. If you don't like it the
balcony is that way," came her cool reply.
He took a quick glance towards the balcony and then to his
hostess. "I don't think so," he replied. "I'm in no mood
to freeze my ass off just because you got an addiction
problem. Put that shit out now or I'm leaving." He further
stressed his point by eyeing the door to his left, turning
back again only after hearing the sound of the cigarette
butt being grinded against the ashtray.
"Fine, it's out. Are you happy?" A lipstick-stained
cigarette butt now lay smothered in a nearby ceramic dish
with wisps of smoke dancing in a spiral pattern towards the
ceiling.
He gave her a snort in response as he breathed in deeply.
The smell of smoke was still prevalent in the surrounding
air, but it was less so now that the cigarette was out.
"Nabiki, you should quit that shit. Don't you know that
smoking is bad for you?" There was a faint line of a smile
on his lips as he said this.
Nabiki for her part simply raised an eyebrow as she brushed
a few stray hairs over her ear with a long nailed finger.
"Was that some sort of joke, Saotome? Or are you actually
concerned about my health?" There was no hint of venom or
anger in her voice, neither was there sarcasm, only a deep
sense of fatigue that belied her otherwise emotionless
exterior.
"No joke," came his reply. "I care for you and I don't want
to see you die." He shook his head at the thought.
"Especially from smoking," he added. "So why don't you make
that your last one and call it quits; you can make it one of
your New Years resolutions if you like." His eyes now held
a softness to them that otherwise detracted from his hard
and stern looking face; a face that no longer belonged to
the same naïve boy he used to be. That boy instead had
grown up while the rest of the world had died--forever
changed by personal pain and turmoil that had forged and
tempered his now outlying appearance and character.
"Perhaps you're right," mused Nabiki, her hardened chin
softening as her thin lips arched into a faint smile.
"Smoking is a terrible way to go... maybe I will try to quit
this year."
Ranma held a speculative look when he saw her smile. "Don't
try, just do. This is your life we're talking about here."
There was a mild level of sternness to his voice as he said
this, conveying to Nabiki that he wouldn't let the matter
drop until she consented.
"Okay Ranma, I get the point. I'll make a serious effort to
quit, all right? So can we talk about something else
already?"
He nodded. "What would you like to talk about?"
"How about why you're here rather than at Misato's New Years
Eve Party? I thought you liked her, or was it that Doctor
friend of hers... Ritsuko Akagi wasn't it?"
Ranma rolled his eyes as he caught on to Nabiki's ruse.
"I'm not interested in either of them if that's what you're
getting at. So get it out of your head about trying to set
me up with either one of them... besides the two are already
seeing someone."
Undaunted, Nabiki looked un-phased by Ranma's statement.
"Really?" she replied. "From the impression I got, Misato
really likes you, Ritsuko too though she's less open about
it."
When she saw Ranma give her another one of his speculative
looks she continued with: "Did you know that Misato called
here earlier asking about you?"
"So?" he replied coolly.
"So?" she stressed. "She called asking here about you-
-trying to sound all nonchalant about it too when she tried
to pump me for information. Face it, Ranma, Misato likes
you or is at least interested; she wouldn't have called here
if she wasn't and she wouldn't have dared asked if we were
secretly dating either."
Ranma's brow arched at that last part. "I see," he began.
He sounded as if he wanted to add to that but stopped
abruptly.
Nabiki took this as a sign that he was going to be
difficult. Sighing in frustration she began to rub her neck
as she took a long sip of her scotch before replying in an
irritated tone: "'I see?' Is that all you've got to say?"
she inquired.
He gave her a slightly surprised look then took a deep
swallow of his drink as it burned his throat. "Misato,
she's nice enough," he began. "Good looking, smart when she
isn't shit faced[1]. Rumored to be a real wild one in bed
though this coming from Kagi. But aside from that, you know
I don't like mixing business with pleasure. She's the head
of tactical operations. I'm the head of security. When
that bastard Gendo isn't around, she's technically my boss.
I don't like that idea."
"So?" replied Nabiki. "You were never one to complain when
I ordered you around. What's the difference here?"
"The difference is that I'm not fucking you. Also you're
not my boss, you're my friend. There's a big difference and
that's a line that shouldn't be crossed. People who have
romantic relationships with their bosses are only asking for
trouble in the long run."
Nabiki reached out towards him and put a hand on his
shoulder. "I think you're making things out worst than they
really are. I doubt that Misato will make you do anything
that you wouldn't want to and I know you're not so
egotistical that you can't take orders from a woman. So
stop bullshitting me and tell me what the hell is your real
problem?"
Ranma laughed at Nabiki's ability to see right through him.
"I should have guessed I couldn't fool you." He took
another gulp of his rum as it no longer burned his throat.
"I guess you could say that Misato doesn't tickle my pickle
so to speak and neither does Ritsuko."
Nabiki was about to interrupt when Ranma added: "And NO! I'm
not gay. I'm attracted to women and only women but the
problem is that most of them that I've met don't really
interest me."
Nabiki nodded. "Okay, then what about the women who do
interest you? How come you aren't going out with them?"
"I don't know," he replied. "I guess the ones I do like are
either unavailable or off limits. And the women who are
available I don't like. Do you see the problem?"
"Yeah, I can relate to that I suppose."
Ranma turned to face her. "Relate?"
She closed her eyes and nodded. "Yeah relate. I have the
same problem which is why you don't see me dating all that
much."
"Really?" he said in an amused tone. "And here I thought it
was cause guys were just too intimidated by a smart,
attractive, and successful woman." He grinned from ear to
ear as he garnered a response that broke through Nabiki's
cool façade.
"I guess it's that too," she laughed. "But seriously, I
just don't seem to find men out there all that interesting
and before you begin, no, I'm not a lesbian so you can put
that sick thought out of your head."
The grin on Ranma's face widened as he closed his eyes and
imagined. "Oh god, the thought of you with another woman.
That's going to be hard to forget."
Nabiki replied: "Then how about imagining your female half
sprawled out naked with Gendo and his gloved hands on your
ass fucking you from behind." Nabiki let out a snorted
laugh as she saw Ranma immediately blanch.
"God that was sick Nabiki."
"And it wasn't sick of you thinking about me having sex with
another woman?"
Ranma nodded. "That's right. Two naked women is a
beautiful thing. A naked Gendo..." He shivered at the
thought.
Nabiki laughed again and put on a thoughtful stance. "I
suppose you're right, but lets stop talking about me and
lesbians and I'll stop talking about you and Gendo.
Agreed?"
"Agreed," he said.
"Okay then, well what was it that we were talking about
before?"
"We were talking about how you can't find a man because
you're too damn picky," snorted Ranma.
Nabiki frowned. "I'm not being picky, you jerk. I'm just
selective in the men I date."
"Yeah, that's another word for being too damn picky," he
replied offhandedly. "Maybe you should loosen up on those
standards of yours or something; otherwise you'll never find
a man at this rate."
"But that's where you're wrong. I already have," she
replied coolly. There was a faint smile on her lips as she
watched Ranma's reaction.
"Really?" he replied in an incredulous tone, his earlier
lack of seriousness now gone. He waited in silence when he
saw her nod.
"You're not joking are you?" he asked with apprehension in
his voice. "So who is the lucky guy? Do I know him?" he
continued.
Nabiki cocked her head slightly. "You could say that you
know him. He's a lot like you in fact: a nice guy,
handsome, strong, noble... He'd be perfect if he wasn't so
blinded by his sense of honor and commitment to duty."
Ranma frowned as she continued. "Yeah, he's not rich
either; he's a military man like yourself." She sighed.
"It would be nice if he was wealthy, but I suppose you can't
really choose the person you love."
Ranma froze at the mention of the last word, but didn't say
anything about it when he replied in a dry tone of voice:
"I guess he must be a real charmer then, if you're willing
to ignore that one flaw."
Nabiki nodded brightly. "Yeah, he's real charming, though
in his own sort way." Her eyes seemed to twinkle as she
looked straight at him, though Ranma failed to notice.
"Okay. So, how do I know this guy exactly?" he asked
gruffly.
Nabiki took pause before she answered him; she wanted to
make sure what she said next would come out just right.
"You know him because... it's you, Ranma." She smiled
wantonly at him as she watched the twist of emotions play
out across his face.
"You're joking with me, right? Because if you are that's
not funny." He looked more shocked than angry as he said
that.
"But I'm not joking," she replied innocently. "I love you
Ranma, I have for some time now." She got up towards him as
she held him down with her gaze.
"I think you've been drinking too much," he said in an
agitated tone. "How many of those have you had? You're
obviously not thinking straight." He tried to get up but
Nabiki pushed him back down before sitting herself on the
footrest in front of him.
"I'm not drunk and you're not listening," she told him.
"I've only had one of these and I'm thinking with a clearer
head than you are. So believe me when I say that I'm
telling you is the truth. Ranma, I'm in love with you and
I've been wanting to tell you that for the longest time."
Ranma blinked twice as he processed Nabiki's words. "You
really do love me don't you?" he finally managed.
She nodded, the smile on her face never wavering.
"So what do you expect to happen now?" he began. He looked
at her with a lost gaze as he awaited her answer.
"Well I expect you to say that you love me too and then we'd
kiss and make out for a little while before... well you
know."
"And what if I say that I don't love you," he replied
somewhat harshly. "What then? I don't want to say that to
you."
"Then don't," she said simply.
"But what if I do," he answered back.
"Then I would know that you were lying to me," came her
reply.
He looked shocked as she said this.
Seeing this she let out a small laugh before adding: "Don't
kid yourself Ranma; I'm a lot more observant than you are.
I've known that you've had feelings for me as well, so don't
go on trying to deny it. I'm not so oblivious as you that I
couldn't pick up on all those subtle little hints and
references that you've been making all these years."
Ranma's face nearly turned white from shock. "You've always
known haven't you?" he whispered.
She nodded as she got up and sat herself in his lap, the
chair being large enough for her to dangle her legs off the
side. "I've known for a while, but I wasn't absolutely
sure."
"Wasn't sure?" he replied.
"Yeah, I wasn't sure if you were talking about me or someone
else; you've could have been secretly hinting at Ritsuko for
all I knew."
"And what if I was?" he queried. "What then?"
"Honestly, I didn't really think of that," she said as her
arms came around his neck. He in turn wrapped his arms
around hers, though awkwardly as he got used to the idea
that Nabiki--whom he loved--also loving him back.
"You were willing to risk telling me, even without knowing
how I truly felt?" he asked incredulously as the two stared
at each other in silence.
"It was a tough gamble," she finally admitted. "But it was
worth it. Plus, I don't think I could have stood the idea
of one day Misato or one of the other's getting lucky."
"I don't think you would have had much to worry about. I
don't think I could have fallen for anyone else but you."
"I knew that," she replied confidently but blushed under his
skeptical look. "Well," she added. "Maybe I didn't know
that for sure, but I fancied the idea." By now some of the
tension had lessoned somewhat as Nabiki tried to make
herself comfortable in Ranma's embrace.
"So, how long have you felt this way?" asked Ranma, he was
gazing down towards Nabiki as she began to stroke his hair
and face.
"Like I said, I've felt this way for you for a long time.
But if you want an exact date I have to say it was when you
left for basic training. When you were gone, it was then
that I first realized how deeply I felt for you--I missed
you so much that it hurt." She felt him give her a
comforting squeeze that set her heart racing even faster.
"God, I wish I had known," came his reply. "If I knew that,
I would have said something to you sooner."
"Really?" she asked. "I've waited nearly 13 years for you
to say something and all I got were subtle signs that you
might also like me. However, whenever I tried to confront
you about it you either threw me a curveball that made me
rethink my entire stance with you or I would chicken out."
Ranma nodded at that. "I guess you weren't the only one to
experience that--being chicken that is. Man, I feel like
such a coward; if I wasn't so afraid that you'd reject me I
wouldn't have wasted all these years not knowing, of us not
being together." His faced looked pained at the thought of
it; he immediately turned his face away in shame.
Nabiki eyes softened as she made Ranma look her in the eyes.
"Ranma, don't blame yourself. I should have said something
as well but like you I was too scared that I had misread
your signs and that you'd reject me. You know if it wasn't
for Misato calling and for you acting so blatantly
transparent tonight when I began to talk about finding
someone I wouldn't have told you how I felt." She sighed as
she watched him look shamed face at her statement.
"Don't be that way," she continued. "Lets not waste another
13 years dwelling on this. Like you once told me, we can't
be ruled by our past, we can only live in the present."
Ranma looked on blankly. "I never said that."
Nabiki smiled. "I know so just shut up and kiss me." She
watched as Ranma's lost face turn into a grin as his arms
began to pull her in forward--their heads nearing each other
with each passing second.
In the background, those in the street were merrily counting
3..2..1..
Ranma and Nabiki broke their first kiss together as the dim
moonlight shone through the open bay window--the thunder of
fireworks blasting against the moon's backdrop. As the two
turned to look at the fireworks display, they turned again
to each other and smiled.
"Wow!" remarked Ranma.
Nabiki grinned as she leaned back and pulled his head down
with hers. She then felt his right hand shift towards her
out stretched leg as he stroke the length of her silken
smooth thigh. She in turn probed her tongue into his mouth
as her own hands meshed through his hair and danced across
his chest and back.
*** At Misato's Apartment ***
A German girl screamed in anger at the sight of a heavily
drunken Kagi in a lip lock with... PenPen?
To be continued maybe...
--- End ---
Please send C&C to allwhacked@hotmail.com and if you're
going to criticize, please give reasons why. Thanks.
Notes:
[1] Shit Faced - Slang for being very drunk.
One-Shot
By AllWhacked
Send C&C to allwhacked@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/allwhacked/
--- Disclaimer ---
The characters of Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko Takakashi. The
characters of Neon Genesis Evangelion belong to Gainax. For
all other characters and trademarks that appear, they are
the property of their respective owners. So in other words,
I DO NOT own any of them unless otherwise noted, so please
don't sue me because I have Zero money. Thank You.
--- Warning!!! ---
Anyway this is an Alterverse fanfic that may or may not have
severe x-over tendencies. If you don't like X-Overs or
don't like the idea of anything but a Ranma + Akane pairing
then don't read this. Consider yourself warned.
--- End Warning ---
--- Start ---
*** December 31, 2015 ***
The moon hung at full brilliance on that starless night; its
glow blanketing the glass and steel of Tokyo-3 in its soft
and warm embrace. From the west, there came a slight breeze
that by late evening gave the city a slight taste of winter
on that otherwise warm December night. To the assembled
citizens of the fortified city, all were in high spirits as
those gathered in groups took part in their pre-New Years
celebration--drinking and dancing, singing or laughing--all
in wait for the start of the new year.
Everyone was happy, everyone was merry; everyone was like
this except for two lone individuals in a glitzy penthouse
apartment, high above the city streets.
++++++++++
"Would you please put that out," he began as he sat in a
large black leather chair. The speaker was seated across
from a beautiful woman in her early thirties, her lips
puckered around a lit cigarette with a look of annoyance on
her face. As the women took another long drag from her
cigarette, the man looked up at her with a leveled gaze; his
hands clasped together in contemplation as the women steeled
her eyes at him.
"This is my place you know. If you don't like it the
balcony is that way," came her cool reply.
He took a quick glance towards the balcony and then to his
hostess. "I don't think so," he replied. "I'm in no mood
to freeze my ass off just because you got an addiction
problem. Put that shit out now or I'm leaving." He further
stressed his point by eyeing the door to his left, turning
back again only after hearing the sound of the cigarette
butt being grinded against the ashtray.
"Fine, it's out. Are you happy?" A lipstick-stained
cigarette butt now lay smothered in a nearby ceramic dish
with wisps of smoke dancing in a spiral pattern towards the
ceiling.
He gave her a snort in response as he breathed in deeply.
The smell of smoke was still prevalent in the surrounding
air, but it was less so now that the cigarette was out.
"Nabiki, you should quit that shit. Don't you know that
smoking is bad for you?" There was a faint line of a smile
on his lips as he said this.
Nabiki for her part simply raised an eyebrow as she brushed
a few stray hairs over her ear with a long nailed finger.
"Was that some sort of joke, Saotome? Or are you actually
concerned about my health?" There was no hint of venom or
anger in her voice, neither was there sarcasm, only a deep
sense of fatigue that belied her otherwise emotionless
exterior.
"No joke," came his reply. "I care for you and I don't want
to see you die." He shook his head at the thought.
"Especially from smoking," he added. "So why don't you make
that your last one and call it quits; you can make it one of
your New Years resolutions if you like." His eyes now held
a softness to them that otherwise detracted from his hard
and stern looking face; a face that no longer belonged to
the same naïve boy he used to be. That boy instead had
grown up while the rest of the world had died--forever
changed by personal pain and turmoil that had forged and
tempered his now outlying appearance and character.
"Perhaps you're right," mused Nabiki, her hardened chin
softening as her thin lips arched into a faint smile.
"Smoking is a terrible way to go... maybe I will try to quit
this year."
Ranma held a speculative look when he saw her smile. "Don't
try, just do. This is your life we're talking about here."
There was a mild level of sternness to his voice as he said
this, conveying to Nabiki that he wouldn't let the matter
drop until she consented.
"Okay Ranma, I get the point. I'll make a serious effort to
quit, all right? So can we talk about something else
already?"
He nodded. "What would you like to talk about?"
"How about why you're here rather than at Misato's New Years
Eve Party? I thought you liked her, or was it that Doctor
friend of hers... Ritsuko Akagi wasn't it?"
Ranma rolled his eyes as he caught on to Nabiki's ruse.
"I'm not interested in either of them if that's what you're
getting at. So get it out of your head about trying to set
me up with either one of them... besides the two are already
seeing someone."
Undaunted, Nabiki looked un-phased by Ranma's statement.
"Really?" she replied. "From the impression I got, Misato
really likes you, Ritsuko too though she's less open about
it."
When she saw Ranma give her another one of his speculative
looks she continued with: "Did you know that Misato called
here earlier asking about you?"
"So?" he replied coolly.
"So?" she stressed. "She called asking here about you-
-trying to sound all nonchalant about it too when she tried
to pump me for information. Face it, Ranma, Misato likes
you or is at least interested; she wouldn't have called here
if she wasn't and she wouldn't have dared asked if we were
secretly dating either."
Ranma's brow arched at that last part. "I see," he began.
He sounded as if he wanted to add to that but stopped
abruptly.
Nabiki took this as a sign that he was going to be
difficult. Sighing in frustration she began to rub her neck
as she took a long sip of her scotch before replying in an
irritated tone: "'I see?' Is that all you've got to say?"
she inquired.
He gave her a slightly surprised look then took a deep
swallow of his drink as it burned his throat. "Misato,
she's nice enough," he began. "Good looking, smart when she
isn't shit faced[1]. Rumored to be a real wild one in bed
though this coming from Kagi. But aside from that, you know
I don't like mixing business with pleasure. She's the head
of tactical operations. I'm the head of security. When
that bastard Gendo isn't around, she's technically my boss.
I don't like that idea."
"So?" replied Nabiki. "You were never one to complain when
I ordered you around. What's the difference here?"
"The difference is that I'm not fucking you. Also you're
not my boss, you're my friend. There's a big difference and
that's a line that shouldn't be crossed. People who have
romantic relationships with their bosses are only asking for
trouble in the long run."
Nabiki reached out towards him and put a hand on his
shoulder. "I think you're making things out worst than they
really are. I doubt that Misato will make you do anything
that you wouldn't want to and I know you're not so
egotistical that you can't take orders from a woman. So
stop bullshitting me and tell me what the hell is your real
problem?"
Ranma laughed at Nabiki's ability to see right through him.
"I should have guessed I couldn't fool you." He took
another gulp of his rum as it no longer burned his throat.
"I guess you could say that Misato doesn't tickle my pickle
so to speak and neither does Ritsuko."
Nabiki was about to interrupt when Ranma added: "And NO! I'm
not gay. I'm attracted to women and only women but the
problem is that most of them that I've met don't really
interest me."
Nabiki nodded. "Okay, then what about the women who do
interest you? How come you aren't going out with them?"
"I don't know," he replied. "I guess the ones I do like are
either unavailable or off limits. And the women who are
available I don't like. Do you see the problem?"
"Yeah, I can relate to that I suppose."
Ranma turned to face her. "Relate?"
She closed her eyes and nodded. "Yeah relate. I have the
same problem which is why you don't see me dating all that
much."
"Really?" he said in an amused tone. "And here I thought it
was cause guys were just too intimidated by a smart,
attractive, and successful woman." He grinned from ear to
ear as he garnered a response that broke through Nabiki's
cool façade.
"I guess it's that too," she laughed. "But seriously, I
just don't seem to find men out there all that interesting
and before you begin, no, I'm not a lesbian so you can put
that sick thought out of your head."
The grin on Ranma's face widened as he closed his eyes and
imagined. "Oh god, the thought of you with another woman.
That's going to be hard to forget."
Nabiki replied: "Then how about imagining your female half
sprawled out naked with Gendo and his gloved hands on your
ass fucking you from behind." Nabiki let out a snorted
laugh as she saw Ranma immediately blanch.
"God that was sick Nabiki."
"And it wasn't sick of you thinking about me having sex with
another woman?"
Ranma nodded. "That's right. Two naked women is a
beautiful thing. A naked Gendo..." He shivered at the
thought.
Nabiki laughed again and put on a thoughtful stance. "I
suppose you're right, but lets stop talking about me and
lesbians and I'll stop talking about you and Gendo.
Agreed?"
"Agreed," he said.
"Okay then, well what was it that we were talking about
before?"
"We were talking about how you can't find a man because
you're too damn picky," snorted Ranma.
Nabiki frowned. "I'm not being picky, you jerk. I'm just
selective in the men I date."
"Yeah, that's another word for being too damn picky," he
replied offhandedly. "Maybe you should loosen up on those
standards of yours or something; otherwise you'll never find
a man at this rate."
"But that's where you're wrong. I already have," she
replied coolly. There was a faint smile on her lips as she
watched Ranma's reaction.
"Really?" he replied in an incredulous tone, his earlier
lack of seriousness now gone. He waited in silence when he
saw her nod.
"You're not joking are you?" he asked with apprehension in
his voice. "So who is the lucky guy? Do I know him?" he
continued.
Nabiki cocked her head slightly. "You could say that you
know him. He's a lot like you in fact: a nice guy,
handsome, strong, noble... He'd be perfect if he wasn't so
blinded by his sense of honor and commitment to duty."
Ranma frowned as she continued. "Yeah, he's not rich
either; he's a military man like yourself." She sighed.
"It would be nice if he was wealthy, but I suppose you can't
really choose the person you love."
Ranma froze at the mention of the last word, but didn't say
anything about it when he replied in a dry tone of voice:
"I guess he must be a real charmer then, if you're willing
to ignore that one flaw."
Nabiki nodded brightly. "Yeah, he's real charming, though
in his own sort way." Her eyes seemed to twinkle as she
looked straight at him, though Ranma failed to notice.
"Okay. So, how do I know this guy exactly?" he asked
gruffly.
Nabiki took pause before she answered him; she wanted to
make sure what she said next would come out just right.
"You know him because... it's you, Ranma." She smiled
wantonly at him as she watched the twist of emotions play
out across his face.
"You're joking with me, right? Because if you are that's
not funny." He looked more shocked than angry as he said
that.
"But I'm not joking," she replied innocently. "I love you
Ranma, I have for some time now." She got up towards him as
she held him down with her gaze.
"I think you've been drinking too much," he said in an
agitated tone. "How many of those have you had? You're
obviously not thinking straight." He tried to get up but
Nabiki pushed him back down before sitting herself on the
footrest in front of him.
"I'm not drunk and you're not listening," she told him.
"I've only had one of these and I'm thinking with a clearer
head than you are. So believe me when I say that I'm
telling you is the truth. Ranma, I'm in love with you and
I've been wanting to tell you that for the longest time."
Ranma blinked twice as he processed Nabiki's words. "You
really do love me don't you?" he finally managed.
She nodded, the smile on her face never wavering.
"So what do you expect to happen now?" he began. He looked
at her with a lost gaze as he awaited her answer.
"Well I expect you to say that you love me too and then we'd
kiss and make out for a little while before... well you
know."
"And what if I say that I don't love you," he replied
somewhat harshly. "What then? I don't want to say that to
you."
"Then don't," she said simply.
"But what if I do," he answered back.
"Then I would know that you were lying to me," came her
reply.
He looked shocked as she said this.
Seeing this she let out a small laugh before adding: "Don't
kid yourself Ranma; I'm a lot more observant than you are.
I've known that you've had feelings for me as well, so don't
go on trying to deny it. I'm not so oblivious as you that I
couldn't pick up on all those subtle little hints and
references that you've been making all these years."
Ranma's face nearly turned white from shock. "You've always
known haven't you?" he whispered.
She nodded as she got up and sat herself in his lap, the
chair being large enough for her to dangle her legs off the
side. "I've known for a while, but I wasn't absolutely
sure."
"Wasn't sure?" he replied.
"Yeah, I wasn't sure if you were talking about me or someone
else; you've could have been secretly hinting at Ritsuko for
all I knew."
"And what if I was?" he queried. "What then?"
"Honestly, I didn't really think of that," she said as her
arms came around his neck. He in turn wrapped his arms
around hers, though awkwardly as he got used to the idea
that Nabiki--whom he loved--also loving him back.
"You were willing to risk telling me, even without knowing
how I truly felt?" he asked incredulously as the two stared
at each other in silence.
"It was a tough gamble," she finally admitted. "But it was
worth it. Plus, I don't think I could have stood the idea
of one day Misato or one of the other's getting lucky."
"I don't think you would have had much to worry about. I
don't think I could have fallen for anyone else but you."
"I knew that," she replied confidently but blushed under his
skeptical look. "Well," she added. "Maybe I didn't know
that for sure, but I fancied the idea." By now some of the
tension had lessoned somewhat as Nabiki tried to make
herself comfortable in Ranma's embrace.
"So, how long have you felt this way?" asked Ranma, he was
gazing down towards Nabiki as she began to stroke his hair
and face.
"Like I said, I've felt this way for you for a long time.
But if you want an exact date I have to say it was when you
left for basic training. When you were gone, it was then
that I first realized how deeply I felt for you--I missed
you so much that it hurt." She felt him give her a
comforting squeeze that set her heart racing even faster.
"God, I wish I had known," came his reply. "If I knew that,
I would have said something to you sooner."
"Really?" she asked. "I've waited nearly 13 years for you
to say something and all I got were subtle signs that you
might also like me. However, whenever I tried to confront
you about it you either threw me a curveball that made me
rethink my entire stance with you or I would chicken out."
Ranma nodded at that. "I guess you weren't the only one to
experience that--being chicken that is. Man, I feel like
such a coward; if I wasn't so afraid that you'd reject me I
wouldn't have wasted all these years not knowing, of us not
being together." His faced looked pained at the thought of
it; he immediately turned his face away in shame.
Nabiki eyes softened as she made Ranma look her in the eyes.
"Ranma, don't blame yourself. I should have said something
as well but like you I was too scared that I had misread
your signs and that you'd reject me. You know if it wasn't
for Misato calling and for you acting so blatantly
transparent tonight when I began to talk about finding
someone I wouldn't have told you how I felt." She sighed as
she watched him look shamed face at her statement.
"Don't be that way," she continued. "Lets not waste another
13 years dwelling on this. Like you once told me, we can't
be ruled by our past, we can only live in the present."
Ranma looked on blankly. "I never said that."
Nabiki smiled. "I know so just shut up and kiss me." She
watched as Ranma's lost face turn into a grin as his arms
began to pull her in forward--their heads nearing each other
with each passing second.
In the background, those in the street were merrily counting
3..2..1..
Ranma and Nabiki broke their first kiss together as the dim
moonlight shone through the open bay window--the thunder of
fireworks blasting against the moon's backdrop. As the two
turned to look at the fireworks display, they turned again
to each other and smiled.
"Wow!" remarked Ranma.
Nabiki grinned as she leaned back and pulled his head down
with hers. She then felt his right hand shift towards her
out stretched leg as he stroke the length of her silken
smooth thigh. She in turn probed her tongue into his mouth
as her own hands meshed through his hair and danced across
his chest and back.
*** At Misato's Apartment ***
A German girl screamed in anger at the sight of a heavily
drunken Kagi in a lip lock with... PenPen?
To be continued maybe...
--- End ---
Please send C&C to allwhacked@hotmail.com and if you're
going to criticize, please give reasons why. Thanks.
Notes:
[1] Shit Faced - Slang for being very drunk.