Michael Gutin

Disclaimer: I how I loathe to write these (A/N: This is a blatant lie, I love writing these, attempting to write something witty, and then fooling myself into thinking that everyone finds these hilarious, when in fact, NOBODY READS THIS!) as I was saying, I really hate writing that these characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, but I did anyway, I hope you're grateful.

Walking a Thin Line

Chapter 3

Bracing

School let out without anything eventful happening. I had been spending too much time with Nabiki recently, even if we had made up excuses. So I was walking home with Akane on my usual spot at the top of the fence. We hadn't spoken. Was she still mad at me, or did she just have nothing to say? All I know is when Akane is quiet; it's never a good thing.

"So how was your day?" I heard myself ask. What in the seven hells possessed me to say that?

She stared at me. "It was fine, Ranma" she said slowly.

This isn't how old Ranma is supposed to act! I can't screw up when I'm so close…

"It's just that when you frown, you're even more uncute than usual!"

"RAAAANMAAA!" she screamed and malleted me into orbit. As I flew through the air, the only thought that entered my head was 'Whew! Nice Save!'

As luck would have it, I managed to land in the Tendo house, more specifically, into Nabiki's room. Now, since it is me, I of course crashed through her window as she was in there, changing out of her school uniform.

"Ah! Nabiki! I'm so sorry!" I closed my eyes and scuttled back as fast as I could. It was pretty pathetic, but hey, I've lived with Akane for two years, so my reaction is pure reflex at this point.

Nabiki laughed at my antics. "It's okay Saotome; I know it's not your fault."

I relaxed and opened eyes. Mistake. She wasn't done changing yet. Now, Nabiki was definitely no Akane when it came to these kinds of things, but apparently even she had her limits.

"Raaanmaaa…" she said I much quieter than Akane ever did. And yet it was much scarier than Akane on her worst day.

"Sorry! So sorry!" I once again began my scuttling motion. Problem is, I was already backed up against the window.

So of course I topple over and fall, two stories, head first. That hurts, even for me. By then, Nabiki had finished changing. She popped her head out the window to laugh at me.

"And Akane's always calling you a pervert, you're actually kind of a prude Saotome."

"Am not." I called back. What? I'm not…

"Oh please, you've got three women throwing themselves at you, and there's absolutely no reaction from you. You didn't enjoy it at all."

"Well yeah, but that's because…"

"You don't enjoy looking at woman naked, do you Ranma?"

"That's not true! I enjoyed looking at you…" I blurted out.

Fuck! What the hell am I saying? Looks like both me and Old Ranma like to talk before we think. I waited for Nabiki to make a jab at me. But she was silent. I mustered up the courage to look up, and I saw her blushing. Definitely wasn't imagining it this time.

It was true…I mean, I didn't really see that much…but what I did see…Oh! There's Akane. Whew, she saved us from a very awkward situation. Apparently, the sight of me on the ground staring up at Nabiki was enough to arouse her curiosity, and of course her suspicion.

"Ranma…" she narrowed her eyes. "What were you doing with my sister?"

Oh shit. Oh shit. This is bad. If Nabiki tells…she wouldn't tell would she? I looked up into her eyes. She would. Shit.

"I could tell you exactly what happened, for two thousand yen…"

"NO!" I said, all too quickly. "Nothing happened I just…and then she…" Oh yeah, I was real smooth…

I had to distract her. "Ah…Akane, um…I'd like too…too apologize, yeah, that's it!"

I started to lead Akane away from Nabiki as I talked. "Yeah, I've…you know, I've said some mean things to you and…and I'm sorry."

Akane was silent for a moment before saying "You've been acting strange lately."

She was right, I was. Why? I'd been doing this so well for two year, why was I slipping now?

"Yeah well, I've been thinking…"

"About?"

"You know…stuff…"

"About the wedding?" All the warning bells in my head were going off at this point. This was a dangerous topic. I wanted, needed to stay away from this topic as much as possible. Damn, where was Nabiki when you needed her? Should I tell her the truth? No. I could…no, not that, definitely not that. I noticed Akane staring at me intently. I realized I hadn't spoken for almost a full minute.

"Er…a little, and about other stuff…" That was a good answer. I think.

"Ranma…there's something I need to…" Emergency! Evacuate immediately! My brain was screaming at me at this point.

"Is it cold out here Akane? Or is just me? Is it? Are you cold? I think you're cold, lets go inside." I managed to say this all in less than three seconds.

Akane stood firm. "Ranma it's the middle of spring. Look we have to…"

"Eat? Yeah, we should eat, I'm starving" I said, before running back inside like a bat out of hell. Tragedy averted, for now.

I wasn't really hungry, but it is me, and I always had room for at least some rice. As I ate, I pondered my situation. I was in worse shape then I thought. Nabiki would have handled that without breaking a sweat, and I nearly screwed it up. Nabiki was clever enough to wing that kind of thing. But I needed a plan. This would not be the last time I would have to get out of these kinds of talks. One of the times I won't be able to think of an excuse, I'll have to actually talk about it. I could ask Nabiki…but, for some reason, I didn't want to. I know I had asked her for help, but I didn't ask her to get me out of this mess for me. I couldn't depend on her like some sick puppy. I should to figure what to do for at least this. Just have to think…I can't marry them…why…I can't tell them the truth.

That I don't love them…that I love…I love…Nabiki

Huh? Where'd that come from? I don't love Nabiki, do I? Sure I prefer her company over any of my fiancés, and we have been getting along quiet well lately. But that, that's not love, and besides…it wouldn't work…just too many people would be against it. Wouldn't it be nice though…

Concentrate. Ok. What to tell them? Tell them…I still have a lot of thinking to do. No, that wouldn't work. Would it? Maybe it would…It's the best idea that I can come up with. I really hope it's good enough…because if I screw this up…I…I don't even want to think about what will happen. I have to believe in myself. That's half the battle. One way or another I will fix this mess. I just hope it won't end up my final victory…

Authors Notes: So…how'd I do? After I reread this, I noticed it wasn't quite as heavy as the other two chapters. This chapter even bordered on comical. Meh. I don't really mind, I just wanted a chapter to show more of the growing relationship between Nabiki and Ranma. It's one of the two things I hope will make this fic stand out. You see, the vast majority of alternate pairing fics have one or both of these problems: First, a lot of fics have Ranma loving someone else with no explanation for why, I'm sorry people, but as much as you may hate Akane, in the end of the final manga, Ranma does shout "I love you" referring to Akane, if you want him to love someone else, I'm for that, but only if you dedicate at least a part of your story to showing Ranma falling out of love with Akane, and in love with whoever you choose for him. The second, is people portraying Akane as a complete psycho-bitch. Now, she is mostly a psycho bitch, but, she is perfectly normal and even kind at times. She does not explode every time Ranma blinks. Not all the time, but most of the time she is provoked at least slightly before she hits Ranma. I'm not saying how she treats Ranma is right, but she's like all the other Takahashi characters, she has good points and bad, and I'm just tired of people giving her such a one-dimensional personality.

Wow that was a long author's note. Ah well. You know you love it. And you should voice your love! With C&C! And I still don't have my donut people…