Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ or any of the manga's characters. I write these stories only for my own personal pleasure.

First Aid

Nabiki hurried to the training place as quickly as she could. She had heard through her associates that Ranma was seen talking with Ukyo during lunch. From what she gathered, Ranma and Ukyo had gotten in some kind of fight. Nabiki looked down the canal and saw Ranma sitting under the bridge as before only this time, Ranma was in his female form. She climbed down to the embankment and walked towards her sensei. As she got closer she sensed that something wasn't right. Ranma was hunched over and looked depressed. When she got right up next to her she was sure of it. She bent down and placed her arm around Ranma's shoulder and said, "Hey, what's wrong?"

Ranma turned and looked at her. Nabiki could clearly see that she had been crying over something. "Kami Ranma, what happened?"

Ranma lowered her eyes and said, "I know we talked about it earlier, Nabiki. But it still hurts…"

"What hurts? Do you mean what happened with Ukyo?"

"Yeah, I told her during lunch. I told her that I wasn't going to marry her."

"I thought it was something like that. What did she say?"

Ranma wiped her eyes, "She took it…badly."

Nabiki tried to comfort Ranma, "You had to do what you had to do, Ranma."

"I know Nabiki, but that doesn't make it any easier. She was my oldest friend and I think that I may have lost her."

To Nabiki's surprise, Ranma leaned on her shoulder and started to cry. Without thinking, Nabiki hugged her close while her friend quietly let the tears fall. After she was done, she quickly wiped her eyes with her hands and said, "Thanks, Nabiki. I-I needed that."

"Are you going to be ok?"

"Yeah, I guess I'll be ok for now."

"Ranma, when you told me that you were going to clear up the fiancé business, this was part of it. You can't make all those girls happy if you're going to marry Akane. No matter what you do, they're not going to like it. I think that Ukyo took it pretty good if she didn't hit you with her battle spatula before she left."

Ranma smiled a bit. "For a second there, I thought for sure she was gonna belt me with that thing. But instead of clobbering me, she just got up and left."

"If she really is your friend, I think that she'll come back to talk with you. I think that if I was in her position, I'd want to."

Ranma looked at Nabiki and said, "I sure hope so. Thanks Nabiki. It still hurts, but I feel better now."

The two of them sat there and watched the water in the canal flow by. After a few minutes, Ranma said, "When I feel depressed, martial arts usually makes me feel better. I'd like to try a bit of ki practice with you if you don't mind."

"Are your sure you're up to it?"

"Yeah, it'll help me get my mind off Ukyo. Go ahead and start the relaxation exercise you did yesterday. Don't try anything yet, just get relaxed into a meditation state."

While Nabiki started to relax, Ranma moved around so that she was sitting right in front of her. After a couple of minutes he said, "Good work Nabiki. Now, I want you to place your hands in front of you like you did before."

Nabiki got her hands in place and Ranma continued. " Okay, now start to bring up the ki into your hands. Easy this time. We just want a small amount of ki."

Nabiki worked on what Ranma instructed until she felt the familiar cool air washing over herself. When she started to feel her fingers getting chilly Ranma said, "Okay…Real good. Now, take your hands, and slowly rotate them until your fingers touch. That's good. Pull your hands down until they are against your belly. Keep your fingers together, and do not stop until your hands are touching your belly."

Nabiki was just following Ranma's instructions. She had no real idea what to expect from what she was doing. It was no wonder then that she gasped and cried out in shock when she pressed the small ki ball into herself.

Ranma grabbed both of her shoulders and held her still. "That's ok, Nabiki. You did it perfectly. Now relax. Do you feel it now?"

Nabiki was feeling very good right now. The initial feeling of the ki ball when it was pressed into her was like getting splashed with icy cold water. She was a bit scared for a few seconds, but now she was feeling the effects of the ki and it felt like she was getting high on some kind of energy drug. She opened her eyes and said, "What the hell just happened?

"Have you ever wondered how I have been able to heal so fast? What you did is called ki healing. The energy you gathered into your hands, you then pressed into yourself. If you had been injured, you would have started healing very quickly. Because you had no injuries, it just made you a bit drunk for a couple of minutes."

Nabiki couldn't resist, "Are you trying to get me drunk, Ranma? Hmmmmm?"

Ranma was a bit flustered at Nabiki's kidding. "What? You know I wouldn't…I mean…I'm not that kind…."

Nabiki giggled.

Ranma stared at Nabiki for a few seconds and laughed, "I should have known. Alright student, I have a homework assignment for you."

Her eyes widened, "Homework?"

"Yep. I want you to practice your technique. The next time we meet here, I want you to be able to smoothly complete your meditation without my help. I also want you to be able to produce the low powered ki ball on your own. Try it each night before you go to bed, the meditation will help you sleep better and because the ki is your own, it can't hurt you."

"Alright Ranma." Nabiki said as she got up from the ground, "You've gotten me curious about this ki stuff so I'll follow your instructions and give it a try."

As Nabiki climbed up the stairs and out of the canal, Ranma smiled to himself, "I'm really starting to like this teaching stuff. Nabiki's a great student too…."

Later that afternoon, Ranma was going through his katas when he felt a presence in the dojo. Curious that he couldn't quite make the person out, he stopped and turned towards the door to find Kasumi quietly watching him.

Ranma grinned, "Hey Kasumi. What's up?"

The oldest Tendo daughter smiled warmly, "I just wanted to let you know that dinner will be ready soon, and to say thank you."

Ranma looked puzzled, "Huh?"

Kasumi smiled for a moment, "After our mother died, Nabiki had a lot of difficulty adjusting. I was able to help take care of the family duties, and Akane had her martial arts. But Nabiki had nothing. When I asked her if she could help balance the check book, she was very eager to help and has been taking care of the family's finances ever since."

Ranma smiled, "Yeah she does have a talent with money."

Kasumi lowered her eyes a bit, "Unfortunately, instead of helping her cope, she has used her skill of earning money to become cold hearted to her friends, and even her family. I was beginning to worry that we might need some professional help for my little sister. But then you and your father came to live with us. Although it has taken a lot of time, I have seen the positive effect you have had on Nabiki and I am very thankful to you for that."

Ranma blushed, "Ah…no problem, Kasumi."

"Don't forget. Dinner will be ready soon." She turned and headed towards the door, "We're having one of your favorites."

During dinner, Ranma was feeling pretty good. Not only had he gotten out from under the engagement with Ukyo, but Kasumi was pleased with his newfound friendship with Nabiki. He chuckled to himself a bit as he finished the last of his dinner.

Akane noticed this and was quick to question, "What are you so happy about, Ranma."

He smiled, "Nothing much. It was a good day today, that's all."

Akane darkened a bit, "Oh really. What was that bit at school with you and Ukyo? You two seemed to be having a pretty intense conversation during lunch."

Ranma took a quick breath, "It wasn't anything important. We just had to iron some things out, that's all."

"Is that why you weren't able to walk with me home again today? Because you were 'ironing some things out' with your cute fiancé?"

From outside on the garden steps a voice called out, "Actually Akane, Ranma-honey was telling me how he wasn't going to marry me. I assumed he made the choice to marry you."

Genma slapped Ranma on the back, "Way to go, boy. I knew you would do what's right and clear up your fiancé mess."

Ranma glared at his father as Akane folded her arms across her chest, "What makes you think I'm going to marry a pervert like him?"

Ukyo leaned against the door frame, "Well Ranma, if she doesn't want to marry you, who's it going to be?"

Ranma walked out into the garden, "Come with me and let's talk a bit, Ukyo."

She ran and caught up with her former fiancé, "So what's up, Sugar? I come over here expecting to see you and her all cozy on each other but instead I see the same old hostile Akane. Why would you break the engagement off with me when she doesn't want you?"

Ranma took a deep breath, "It's a bit complicated. I really care for her a lot, as I do you. But I'm bound to marry a Tendo daughter by honor. If it isn't going to be Kasumi or Nabiki, it has to be Akane."

Ukyo frowned, "What about my father's agreement? Are you saying that means nothing?"

Ranma shook his head, "No, I'm not saying it means nothing. What it does mean is my father is a lying cheat and has no honor. The only way out of this is to marry a Tendo."

"How do you mean?"

"Look at it this way. What were to happen if I married you? Oh sure you'd be happy for a little bit, that is until you found me dead."

She gasped, "Dead? What the hell are you talking about?"

Ranma sighed, "Because of the Tendo-Saotome agreement. It was made before I was born and I'm bound by honor to marry one of the daughters. My lying father violated that agreement when he promised me to your father. If I marry Akane, my father has to answer to you and your father for his dishonor. However, if I marry you, I and my father will be bound by his primary agreement with Mr. Tendo. Such a dishonor may well demand our lives in payment."

Ukyo placed her hand over her mouth, "No…"

Ranma nodded, "Yeah. Not something I'd be looking forward to."

Ukyo gritted her teeth, "That dirty bastard!"

Ranma turned towards her and placed both his hands on her shoulders, "Listen Ukyo, I'll never forgive him for what he did to you. As far as I'm concerned, you and your father can deal out any kind of punishment you wish to the panda and I won't shed a tear. What will bother me is to lose you as a friend. If the Tendo agreement kills our friendship, it'll tear me up inside. I'd like to think that we can still be the friends we always were."

Ukyo smiled, "That's quite a speech coming from a jock like you. I'm impressed. The truth is, Ranma, I gave it a bit of thought after school and for now, I'll agree to drop the engagement."

Ranma took a deep breath, "Thanks Ukyo."

She reached out and gave him a hug, "It's what friends are for. But if I catch her pounding you with that hammer again, I'm going to be sore."

He released her and stepped back, "I wish the other two were going to be this understanding. Kodachi and Shampoo are going to be a lot of trouble."

Ukyo smiled, "You knew that when you took the job, Ranma. Just let me know if things get out of hand and I'll be there to help you."

She waved bye and took off down the street. As she disappeared into the night, Ranma smiled to himself as he remembered he not only got rid of a fiancé but he still had his best friend. He was still smiling to himself when he entered the Tendo home.

Akane was waiting at the doorway, "So did you and your cute fiancé have a nice walk together?"

Ranma sighed, "Look Akane. You heard her yourself. She is no longer my fiancé."

Akane spat, "So? That doesn't mean you won't be seeing her after school."

Ranma began to lose it, "What the heck are you talking about, you crazy tomboy?"

Before Ranma could get into any more trouble, Nabiki interrupted, "Listen Akane, I've told you before that Ranma and I have been doing some tutoring together. You need to get used to the fact he will be with me after school for two or three times a week."

Akane glared at her older sister for a few seconds before standing up from the table, "Well, I need to get my school work done as well. Unlike some people I know, I don't need a tutor."

As she walked out of the room and headed up to the stairs, Ranma gave Nabiki a smile of relief. Nabiki's response was short and sweet as she responded with her own little smile before heading up the stairs to study, an action that didn't go unnoticed by the oldest Tendo daughter.

Later that evening, Nabiki had just finished going over her books and placing them in her school bag. She walked over to her bed and sat down with her legs crossed. With her eyes closed, she concentrated until she achieved the same mental state she had with Ranma earlier that day. When her mind was free of all interference, she concentrated on drawing energy from her surroundings and into her hand. After a few minutes, she shook her head.

"Darn. It's not working."

She tried again and still she could not get that familiar feeling to form between her hands. Slightly frustrated, she tried to think of what might be different. Suddenly, a vision of Ranma flashed into her mind and she chuckled to herself.

"Well, well. You've been distracting me, Saotome."

Once again she tried, but this time making sure there was nothing of Ranma in her mind as she meditated. As she cupped her hands, she was rewarded with the familiar cool feeling she had experienced earlier that day. Slowly pressing her hands against her belly, she gasped as the healing ki washed over her.

Smiling to herself over the accomplishment, Nabiki got up and crawled into bed, unaware of the pair of blue eyes observing from just outside her window, nor the nod of approval that followed.