Disclaimer: I don't own KISS or Ranma. But the world would be a more magical place if I did.

"" Speaking

>>Thoughts

# Sound Effects

( ) Author want to make a joke and/or comment

Chapter 4: Don't Let Me Down

It was a peaceful day in Nerima as Ranma finished up his day at school. His good friend Nabiki had started tutoring him a few weeks ago and even he was impressed with how well he was doing. He was okay before, but now he was better. He was a D- student before, but the other students in the class thought it was a sign of the Apocolypse that he was now a straight A student. Ranma had to admit that Nabiki made learning fun.

Today they were going to go out for ice cream to celebrate his A+ on his history exam. She'd told him she was proud of him at lunch, and that one compliment made him happier then he had ever been.

>Funny? Where is she?> thought Ranma as he approached the front gate where they'd arranged to meet after school.

He looked all around as different students walked off for home, or whatever it is that high school students do after school. He saw several different girls, but no Nabiki. Where the heck was she? He hoped she didn't forget. Part of him really liked when he and Nabiki would hang out.

"RANMMA!" yelled a female voice.

Ranma looked in the voices direction and saw a girl with long black hair running up towards him. As she got closer he recognized her as one of the students who work for Nabiki. Her name was, Yuki he thought.

"What's up?" asked Ranma as the girl reached his side completely out of breath.

"You…gotta…hurry!" Yuki panted while gasping for air. "Nabiki's…in…trouble!"

"What?" Ranma said alarmed. "How? Where is she?"

"Koda…chi." Yuki said catching her breath. "She claimed, Nabiki was stealing you from her and ordered her to leave you alone. Nabiki said she'll hangout with whoever she chooses and she attacked her."

"Is she okay?" asked Ranma in a panic.

"She's okay so far." Yuki said. "She ran off with Kodachi chasing after her."

"Which way?"

"That way! Towards the soccer field!" said Yuki pointing towards the west as Ranma quickly ran off in that direction.

>Please god!> thought Ranma. >Let me be on time!>

Unfortunately, the gods weren't listening as the Blue Blunder, (Not a typo.), of Furikan High School, Tatewaki Kuno appeared. He was dressed in his usual robes and had his bokken ready.

"Halt scoundrel!" ordered Kuno. "I demand you release Akane Tendo and the spirited pig-tailed girl from the spells you have placed on their hearts! If not then I, the Blue Thunder, champion of the heavens, will smite thee!"

"Get the hell outta my way Kuno!" yelled Ranma.

"Never!" Kuno yelled as he attacked. "I STRIKE!"

Kuno quickly ran forward swinging his bokken at Ranma. The youngest Saotome dogged the shots trying to get past, however the Blue Blunder (Again, not a typo.) was persistant and would not let him pass.

"You asked for this Kuno!" said Ranma pissed off as he used his speed, grabbed the bokken out of Kuno's hand, and proceeded to break it over the Blue Blunder's head. (Personally I'd have shoved it up his butt and turned him into a Popsicle, but Ranma's in a hurry here.)

"I…fight…on!" announced Kuno as he collapsed out cold.

"Good riddance Kuno!" said Ranma with a snarl as he continued to go find Nabiki.

He arrived at the soccer field and quickly surveyed the scene. It looked like someone using gymnastic tools had chased someone towards the south. He quickly ran off in that direction. He listened and soon heard the distinct laughter of the Black Rose in the distance. He just might make it.

"Saotome! Prepare yourself!" yelled a voice above Ranma's head.

Ranma looked up and saw Mousse flying towards him as he threw some daggers. Ranma quickly dodged them and assumed an attack stance.

"Back off Mousse!" said Ranma. "I'm not in the mood!"

"Shampoo went out last night and didn't return until this morning!" said Mousse as he launched his chains and other weapons from his sleeves at Ranma. "What have you done to her? You've ruined her purity haven't you!"

"I…said…back…OFF!" yelled Ranma as he dodged the weapons and unleashed the full fury of the Chestnut Fist on Mousse.

Mousse quickly collapsed from the pain of being hit over five hundred times in a second. Ranma then quickly ran in the direction of the laugh he heard. When he got there he saw that they apparently headed northeast. However, he also saw something that scared him. There was fresh blood on the ground!

"I'll be there soon Nabs!" said Ranma as he hurried faster.

He ran faster and faster until finally he spotted them. Kodachi was throwing her clubs at Nabiki who was dodging and getting hit with the Black Roses ribbon, which felt like a whip. Ranma was about to speed up more when he felt danger.

"RANMA! PREPARE TO DIE!" yelled the voice of the eternally lost pig boy, Ryouga Hibiki.

Ranma leapt backwards as Ryouga left his usual crater in the ground. Just over Ryouga's shoulder he could see the attack on Nabiki continued. He had no time for this. He had to help her.

"Ryouga, I've no time for this!" yelled Ranma desperately.

"Because of you, I have seen hell!" said Ryouga not listening to Ranma's pleas. "Prepare to die!"

Ryouga attacked with his umbrella and bandanna's as Ranma was dodging attacks again. Normally they wouldn't touch him but they were today because his attention was on Nabiki. He had to get past Ryouga and help her. He tried in vain to get past Ryouga, but the lost boy held his ground and kept Ranma back.

>What the heck do I do?> thought Ranma as a loud roar was heard above them.

Both fighters looked up as a woman dressed in a black gi, with tiger striped boots, shoulder pads and shorts around the groin area, appeared. She had cat like eyes and her black hair had red stripes through the back. This was Ranma's new friend Lemon, honor guard to Prince Curry of the Musk Dynasty and Lime's twin sister. The very same Lime, that Ryouga defeated with the ShiShi Hokodan on Treasure Mountain in the battle for the water Pot of Liberation.

"Ranma! He's mine!" yelled Lemon. "Go help Ms. Tendo!"

"Thanks!" yelled Ranma as he leapt over Ryouga's head.

"Oh no you don't Ranma!" yelled Ryouga reaching for his leg, only to get hit in the stomach by the girl. >I haven't been hit like that since I fought Lime!>

"Leave him alone!" said Lemon. "Your fights with me!"

Ranma continued on his way. He could see the fear in Nabiki's eyes now. But once again fate worked against him as the annoying, Pantyhose Taro appeared in his way.

"Move it Pantyhose Taro!" yelled Ranma.

"Stop calling me that femboy!" yelled Taro pissed as he used his canteen to change into his cursed form of the drowned Yeti, while riding an ox, while carrying an eel and a crane, plus the drowned octopus so he could beat up Ranma.

>Oh great!> thought Ranma as he dodged Taro's tentacles and ink blasts.

Nabiki could see him now and looked like she thought things would be all right. Then she saw Taro and got worried again. Suddenly a huge man dressed like a barbarian in brown fur appeared. This was the other honor guard for Prince Curry, the human grizzly bear himself, Garlic.

"I'll hold him off Ranma!" yelled Garlic as he grabbed Taro in a bear hug and held on tight.

Ranma ran past them and was almost at Nabiki when he heard the call of the worst person in all of Nerima.

"WHAT A HAUL! WHAT A HAUL!" cried out Happosai as he ran down the road carrying his bag of stolen women's underwear with several women chasing him.

>Why me? Why today?>Ranma thought with a groan.

"Soaring Dragon!" yelled a voice as someone seemed to fly past Happosai, who collapsed like he had been punched in the back and stomach.

The person who did this wore a black gi with an armor covered in golden scales. He also had multi-colored hair. This was Prince Curry himself.

"Go Ranma!" he called out. "I'll deal with the pervert!"

"Thank you!" yelled Ranma as he hurried and finally reached Nabiki's side catching a club aimed for her head and crushing it like it was nothing.

"Ranma darling!" said Kodachi confused. "What are you doing here?"

"You so much as touch Nabiki one more time and you'll regret it!" yelled Ranma who sounded like he had literally went through hell to get here. Which in fact, he had.

"You wicked girl! What have you done to control my Ranma?" said Kodachi. "I'll dispose of this wretched girl and then we can go out my love!"

"I warned you!" yelled Ranma. "Arrogant Tiger Blast!"

Kodachi barely had time to look shocked as Ranma's powerful ki attack exploded in her face. The resulting explosion launched her all the way across Nerima.

"Nabiki!" said Ranma taking his friend in his arms and held her. "Are you okay?"

"Ye…yeah." Nabiki said as he noticed a huge cut on her arm.

"Thank god! I tried to get here sooner but ever single one of my idiotic enemies all attacked at once." said Ranma as he noticed Nabiki's sleeve was dark red. "You're bleeding!"

"Huh?" said Nabiki looking at her wound. "That? It's just a scratch."

"I'm still gonna get you to Dr. Tofu!" said Ranma standing up with her in his arms. "Hold on! We'll be there…"

"RANMA NO BAKA!" yelled the voice of Akane Tendo. "Put my sister down you pervert!"

"I really have no time for this." Ranma said as he ran off in the direction of Dr. Tofu's office.

"Get back here you pervert!" yelled Akane as she gave chase.

She made it two blocks before she spotted Ryouga lying unconscious on the ground. She quickly assumed the usual.

"Ranma! How dare you pick on Ryouga!" screamed Akane.

She continued to give chase she was watched from high above on the rooftops, by none other than Prince Curry and his honor guards.

"Excitable girl isn't she?" said Prince Curry.

"Indeed." Lemon and Garlic agreed.

"Doc! You got an incoming!" yelled Ranma as he used his leg to open the door to the office.

"Ranma! I told you I'm fine!" insisted Nabiki.

"Ranma?" said Dr. Tofu as he came in from the back and saw Nabiki. "What happened here?"

Ranma quickly explained as he carried her to the back and Dr. Tofu gave here a full examination. She luckily only had several cuts and bruises, but otherwise she was perfectly fine. While Dr. Tofu got some bandages and tread to tend to the cut on Nabiki's arm, Ranma broke down.

"I'm so sorry Nabiki!" said Ranma with tears in his eyes. "I failed to protect you."

"You look like you succeeded to me." Nabiki said. "If you hadn't arrived when you did, then it could have been worse."

"Still I…" said Ranma.

"Ranma! It wasn't your fault. It was those idiots fault!" said Nabiki. "You tried to get to me. I don't blame you, so don't blame yourself."

"You really don't blame me?" asked Ranma.

"I trust you Ranma. I told you so last night when we went out." Nabiki said. "So quit beating yourself up about it!"

"Okay." Ranma said calming down as Dr. Tofu returned.

He quickly bandaged the cut on her arm after stitching it. Then Ranma picked her up and headed for home.

"Ah, I can walk you know." Nabiki said when they were a block from Dr. Tofu's.

"Oh. Sorry." Ranma said as he set her down.

"That's okay." Nabiki said as they continued on their way.

"I really owe Curry one today." Ranma said.

"Why?" asked Nabiki.

"He helped me out." Ranma replied as he told her the story.

"Wow. I guess I owe them too." Nabiki said.

"No need." A voice behind them said. "We were glad to be of help."

The two friends turned around and saw that Curry, Lemon, and Garlic had joined them.

"Besides, I haven't had a fight like that in years." Garlic said. "To bad he has a glass jaw."

"Garlic, you can smash a boulder with your pinky." Lemon responded. "Anybody fighting you has a glass jaw."

"So, we still on for training?" asked Curry.

"Sure. Just let me get Nabiki home." Ranma said.

"Actually, can I come to?" asked Nabiki. "I'm suppose to meet Shampoo later and I don't trust that I've seen the last of Kodachi."

"Sure. Come on." Curry said as he led them to an open field and the training began.

"What a good training exercise needs is music!" proclaimed Curry as Lemon set a Boom Box on the ground and hit play. Moments later the sound of KISS filled the air. "I find listening to this really relaxes me as I train. Do you mind?"

"Nope." Ranma said as they began.

To test Ranma's skill, they had a little, all out sparring match. Which included ki blasts. Luckily Garlic, Lemon, Nabiki, and the Boom Box were at a safe distance.

"Your pretty good Ranma." Curry said respectfully as they took a break. "I can see how you defeated my brother."

"Your not so bad yourself." Ranma said respectfully. "You're even better then Herb."

"Well, unlike him, just because I can defeat most of my sparring partners and teachers, I still feel like I can improve even more." Curry said. "But I'd like to talk to you about that ki attack of yours."

"What about it?" asked Ranma.

"Well, are you aware that using an emotion such as confidence can be used in other ways?" asked Curry.

"It can?" said Ranma surprised. "I just made it up as I went along."

"Well, if used properly, then it can." Curry said as he snapped his fingers and Lemon approached with several different scrolls. "These will help you."

"What are they?"

"Confidence ki skills." Curry said. "Besides my style, I will teach you the full uses of your confidence ki."

"Cool!" said Ranma as he accepted the scrolls and began reading.

As Nabiki watched, she felt she had a long day ahead of her. When Ranma took off his shirt though, she quickly decided that there was no place she'd rather be right now.

Later that night, Ranma was sleeping soundly in bed. Curry had really put him through his paces today. He hadn't figured that it would be so hard to learn his style. But to do so, Ranma had to learn a way to double his own natural ki. That had really worn him completely out. But, in the long run it would make him better. He'd even got Curry to loan him other emotion ki attack scrolls. He figured that if he studied these, then he'd always be ready, no matter how he felt. He liked the confidence attacks though. There was one he really looked forward to using.

Suddenly a scream rang out that made Ranma's blood run cold. That scream, belonged to Nabiki. Seconds later he leapt to his feet and was outsideNabiki's room. He burst in and surveyed for danger. It was dark in the room, but light from the full moon outside lit the room enough to see Nabiki sitting up in bed in a cold sweat.

"Nabs, you okay?" asked Ranma as he hurried to her side.

"Yeah. Just a nightmare." Nabiki said.

"I know all about those." Ranma said as he held her in his arms. "Shhh! It's all okay now."

"Thanks Ranma." Nabiki said relaxing. "I hope I never dream that again."

"Wanna talk about it?" asked Ranma.

"I dreamed that Kodachi finished me off, before you could get there." Nabiki said worried.

"It's alright Nabs." Ranma said as he held here head against his chest. "It'll never happen again. Even if I have too protect you twenty-four seven."

"Really?" asked Nabiki sitting up and looking into his eyes. "Would you really do that for me?"

"Of course I would Nabiki." Ranma said reassuringly. "I care about you."

Neither knew who started it. Neither really cared. But it happened. Ranma kneeled closer to Nabiki, while Nabiki leaned closer to Ranma. Two sets of eyes closed as two sets of lips touched. They wrapped their arms around each other and just sat there kissing each other. Neither cared if the entire world burst into that room. All they cared about was that moment in time.

Neither also didn't notice they were being watched.

"Oh my!" said Kasumi as she gotten up to check on Nabiki when she'd heard her scream.

Nodoka had joined her and both were annoyed to see that no one else had woken up to see what was wrong. Then they had seen the scene in Nabiki's room and were shocked.

"I had no idea Nabiki liked Ranma." Kasumi said.

"I could tell." Nodoka said. "They have been getting closer over the last couple of months. It's only natural."

"I guess." Kasumi agreed. "Are you sure that this is proper though?"

"My son is nothing, if not a gentleman." Nodoka said proudly. "I have only gotten to really know him for a couple of months now, but I know that for a fact."

"I see. I guess your right." Kasumi said as she quietly pulled the door shut. "Let's leave them alone."

"Let's." agreed Nodoka as the two headed downstairs to get some tea. "I only hope those idiotic excuses for my husband and your father don't ruin this like they did his engagement to Akane."

"Auntie! I'm surprised at you!" scolded Kasumi. "Father and Uncle Saotome are not idiots!"

"Your right." Nodoka said embarrassed she had said that out loud.

"Of course I am." Kasumi said with a sarcastic smirk. "Father and Uncle are lazy, stupid, emotional, single minded, …(Insert every single insult to man, woman or thing here.)…but they are not idiots!"

"I stand corrected." Nodoka said as the two shared a quiet yet hearty laugh.

To Be Continued…

Author's Notes: Chapter Four is done. Be here for Chapter Five, where Ranma and Nabiki discuss their newfound feelings for each other. They secretly date and one day one of them is seriously hurt trying to protect the other from a threat to their life. It's Chapter Five: Calling Dr. Love. See-ya then. Ciao.