Disclaimer:

The characters in this story aren't mine, they belong to Rumiko Takahashi and other publications… I'm only here so I can practice my writing…lol… I do not own any of the characters and gains no profit from writing this story… so again please don't sue!… I already have enough problems managing bill payments…..

I do not intend on making any profit from making this story but only a writer writing about one of her favourite character, namely Nabiki.

Italics Means Thoughts

Ranma tossed and turned as he slept. But he couldn't sleep. His mind was occupied with so many questions he cannot answer. He sat up from his futon. Sleep was now the last thing on his mind. He turned his attention to his snoring father.

"Nope no answer here." He said to himself. He was contemplating about asking his father about the questions that bothered him, then realised that he was the wrong person to talk to. That and the growing desire to kick his father while he slept didn't help matters.

There was only one person he could think of, that would be able to help him answer the questions which he seeked. Problem is, she was also the reason why the questions emerged. Ranma could feel a headache on it's way. He wasn't used to thinking a lot. And lately he has been doing them a lot.

He smiled to himself. All of this because he had been hanging around her. She might have been the reason why he acted like he does now. He was picking up stuff from her.

He lied back down and tried to go back to sleep, but found that he still couldn't. His mind won't let him rest. Finally he gave up.

"Fine! I'll ask her. But if she's not awake then tough!" Ranma said to himself. Unaware that he was now arguing with himself.

And with that he got up from his bed and went out the window. Determined to talk to Nabiki.

"I can't believe I'm actually doing this." Ranma told himself as he found himself hanging around in front of Nabiki's window.

Funnily enough, the night light by Nabiki's table was still on. Nabiki was still awake. He figured. He was now feeling a bit uncomfortable. He should be use to it by now. Talking to Nabiki. He doesn't want to admit it, but he found that talking to her was therapeutic. She was a very good listener and would never judge him. Of course she also makes side comments, but if she didn't do that then it wasn't Nabiki.

He watched her from outside. She was reading one of her manga comics. Ranma smiled to himself. Who would have thought the Ice queen of Furikan was a Romantic?

Ranma sighed. He might as well get this over and done with. He began to gently tap on her window. Startling her.

Nabiki was lying on her stomach as she read "El Hazard". She couldn't help but feel sorry for Nanami, one of the heroines. Ironically enough, she saw herself in that character. She was shrewd, smart and was all business. And then Matoko came and turned her world upside down. Rather like Ranma did to hers.

Matoko Mizuhara was also an enigma. He had women fall over him. Which amused Nabiki a great deal. But at least Matoko realised who he wanted. And chose. Even if it was Ifurita, a supposedly nemesis.

Nabiki smiled as she read the manga. Nanami was all business. Just like herself. When Nanami's character was transported to El Hazard, she took an opportunity of creating a successful business rather than mope about. Though there are similarities between her and Nanami, she found that Nanami was a more likeable character than herself. Nanami has not stooped to blackmail. But then again she doesn't have her family depending on her to bring in the income.

Nabiki frowned at some of the things she had done. Blackmail and extorsion. Underhandedness and ruthlessness she had developed. Most of all, the thrill it gives her and the feeling of satisfaction when she's in control. Power became a drug to her. Her vice. The power to manipulate and use. She sometimes get carried away with the overwhelming sense of power that sometimes she looses her self. That alone terrifies her.

"I'm not evil." She repeated to herself. It was a self mantra she used to keep her asleep at night. Her older sister Kasumi also does her best to keep her in line. Nabiki sometimes wonders how far can she go until she crosses that line of no return. Is her soul going to be damned? Or was it damned from the start?

Nabiki's musings were interrupted by the gentle rapping by her window. She was caught in surprise to see Ranma outside. She shook her head in amusement. To think she was just thinking of him just mere minutes ago.

"Ask and you shall receive." She muttered to herself as she made her way towards her window to let Ranma in.

Nabiki opened her window and stepped aside to let Ranma in. But Ranma lingered outside. Nabiki sighed. There was something wrong.

"What's up Ranma-kun?" Nabiki asked him.

Ranma began to visibly blushed.

"Sorry Nabiki for disturbing you." Ranma apologised. He didn't really mean to disturb her. He only wanted to talk to her after all.

"Your not disturbing me Ranma. Now if you wouldn't mind coming inside. While I'm sure you would like to talk like this, I sincerely don't. It's absolutely freezing." Nabiki pointed out to him as Goosebumps began to appear on her arms for standing in front of the open window. The night air cooling her warm skin.

"I'm sorry." Ranma replied back before climbing in and closing the window behind him.

Nabiki just shook her head. He always apologises over trivial things. Even if it's not his fault. It was one of his most endearing qualities that made women flock to him like a moth to a flame. It wasn't really his fault that women tend to throw themselves at him.

"You should really stop apologising. It gets kind of annoying after a while." Nabiki replied back as she sat on her bed. Waiting for him to follow.

"I'm so…." Ranma caught himself as he saw the impish glint in Nabiki's eyes. He shook his head in wry amusement. He never thought that by keeping a close eye on Nabiki that she will be his great friend. Though he is not ready to admit to that yet.

Ranma was a bit insecure of declaring her his friend.

Why?

Just look at what happened to Ryoga and Ukyo. While he viewed them as his best friends, they viewed him as an enemy and hates him for something he had no control over.

Still he was still unsure in trusting Nabiki. This is the only girl in Nerima who commanded respect from most of the powerful martial artist in Nerima. Just look at how the old ghoul and perverted freak. Its obvious Cologne respected her because of her dubious mind.

While Happosai….

Well no one really knows why Happosai stays clear of Nabiki. Its quite obvious why he stays clear of Kasumi. Kasumi was the epitome of everything that is good. Not to say that Nabiki was evil but sometimes one can wonder. Especially with the things she gets involved in.

"So what brings you here at this time of night? Your not here to ravish me are you?" Nabiki asked him with full of mischief in her voice.

"Nani!" Ranma replied back as he accidentally swallowed his tongue and was now choking due to shock.

"You don't have to act so surprised… You don't find me attractive?" Nabiki replied back as if hurt by his reaction. She then began to pose seductively.

"What? No I mean yes! I mean… Damn it Nabiki!" Ranma replied back, thoroughly confused.

Nabiki couldn't hold it any longer and began to laugh at him.

Ranma just glared at Nabiki.

Nabiki recomposed herself, then turned her attention towards Ranma. She inwardly smirked seeing the great martial artist actually pouted at her. She found this amusing. Ranma was probably unaware he was actually pouting. Fighting another urge to laugh, she decided to distract herself by asking him why he came to see her.

"Don't be like that Ranma." She tried to console him.

"I was only joking you know, but you should have seen your face!" She replied again and fought another urge to giggle at his expense.

Ranma took Nabiki's almost apology knowing that, that is the closest apology he will ever get from the middle Tendo.

"I know but still, you always make fun of me." He replied back.

"I can't help it. You make it easy for me to make fun at you." Nabiki replied back earning her another pout from Ranma.

Nabiki just shook her head, amused. He was really cute when he was clueless.

"So what brings you here tonight Ranma? I get the feeling this has been becoming a common occurrence lately." Nabiki replied back seriously this time.

Nabiki had noticed that Ranma and her had gone considerably close lately. His night time talks and their little study sessions at the library being one of them. While she had gotten over her paranoia of him trying to kill her, they had been spending way too much time with each other lately. While she was grateful of his company, she couldn't help but feel suspicious. Especially when he causes such great distress in her normally stoic system.

Ranma just scratched the back of his head and grinned in front of her. Obviously sheepish.

Inwardly Ranma had to admit that she was right. He has been visiting her more often than the norm. But he found that he couldn't help himself. She was the only person he could think of that was rational enough to talk to. She got easier to get along with as the days passed on by. He had discovered so many things about her and learned that like many others, she was human. Capable of feeling loneliness and hurt, though she would portray indifference and ice.

She never showed anyone her weakness. She always looked so indifferent. But when he had held her in his arms when she got those nightmares, she was more human to him that he had thought possible. Like himself, he knew she fought so hard to display any type of frail emotions such as tears. He knew She hated them as much as he had because of the way she had wiped them away. Like she was ashamed of being caught crying. He saw a lot of himself in her and it scares him. But he was grateful. Because in this chaotic world, there was at least someone who knew or at least understands the crap that he goes through. That he was not alone.

"Well?" Nabiki spoke up impatiently. His presence was disturbing her. She felt giddy and her stomach felt like there was butterflies in them. She squashed this feeling down. She just reasoned that it was late already and her mind or emotions were playing tricks on her or she was probably hungry and felt peckish.

"Uhm… Ano… Nabiki why did you step between me and sister today?" Ranma asked. It was a thing that had disturbed him. Nabiki was not known for her selflessness. She certainly wouldn't put her life on the line for someone like him. She was known to look after number one: herself.

Well Nabiki was certainly shocked with his question. She never thought he would be asking about what had transpired earlier and certainly didn't think he would have the guts to ask her about it but he did. Know she was faced with a dilemma. She didn't know why, she herself did what she did. All she knew was that Ranma didn't deserve to be punted to LEO just because of her little sister's insecurities and trust issues. But it made her wonder why she did though.

Normally she wouldn't even give a damn what happened to him. She never cared when her sister used him as her personal stress ball or practice dummy or her guinea pig for her cooking. So why now?

You know exactly why… He had gotten under your skin… Had bypassed that wall of ice that you erected around yourself that you only allow Kasumi to pass…

Her mind answered for her.

She bit her lower lip. She knew it was true. Due to their recent closeness, he had gotten under her skin. While she found it highly disturbing that something like this is happening and that her mind was warning her to keep her emotions in a more tighter control. Her mind telling her that she is now more susceptible to fall prey to his charms that affected his other would be suitors and fiancées. But there was also something else that told her that it wasn't as bad as she was contemplating.

"Nabiki?" Ranma called out to her to get her attention. He had no reply. She looked like she was in deep thought.

Determined to get an answer from her. Ranma moved in closer. It seemed Nabiki was too preoccupied to her own thoughts that she didn't notice him watch her closely. Invading her personal space.

Ranma had a sudden urge to shake Nabiki. She sat there. Her head slightly bent while she bit her lower lip. She looked like she really was in deep thought. Ranma was curious as to what was going on inside her head. Perhaps her eyes will show a little bit of what she thinking.

Ranma decided to search her eyes. He moved in closer until their heads were merely inches within each other. He tilted his head to the side to see her face.

Nabiki was snapped out of her thoughts when she felt someone was watching her. She abruptly looked up only to see Ranma peering intimately closer to her than was deemed proper. Nabiki was surprised that she didn't even notice him move closer to her. His sudden closeness caused her pulse to beat erratically as her breath quickened. It was somehow harder to breathe.

"Nabiki are you ok?" Ranma asked her. She looked like she had seen a ghost.

"I… I'm ok…" She managed to say.

"Ok then…" Ranma replied back. But kept an eye on her. She was acting weird again. He drew his head back to give her sone space.

Nabiki couldn't understand the feeling of bereavement that came over her when he drew away and found herself more annoyed than ever.

What is wrong with me?

I'm acting like a love struck teenager!

"Uhm.. Ano… You still haven't answered my question Nabiki.." Ranma asked her again.

What is going on with me?

Nabiki looked at Ranma. And for the first time, really looked at him. Not just a means to get profit or her toy for her amusement, but really looked at him as a person.

He was Ranma Saotome. Engaged to her younger sister. He was brash, arrogant and cocky. He was also loud, a jock and have no goals in life other than become the Heir of Anything Goes Martial Arts. He doesn't think before he acts or say anything and eats like a hurricane.

But he was handsome, noble and honourable. He's considerate of other people's feelings and despite his massive ego, he can really be sensitive to others. He protects the weak and had saved her family from harm many times.

He's a jock.

He's handsome.

He has a loud mouth and causes more trouble when he opens them.

He's strong.

He's narcissistic but Only in martial arts. At least he's not as bad as Kuno.

He's poor.

But he has a heart of gold.

Countless things ran through her mind. Every time Nabiki saw something negative about him, there was something that redeems them. It was like something was defending him. Looking at him once again, an onslaught of thoughts washed over her mind. But she knew the answer already. She wanted to deny it but there was just no use.

"Nabiki?" Ranma asked her once again.

"I like him." She said in a barely audible whisper.

"Nani?" Ranma asked again. He barely heard what she said.

Nabiki just sucked in her breathe.

"It's… because…" Nabiki couldn't believe how hard it was for her to say it. She can't believe she was even stuttering!

"Yeah…." Ranma waited. He was excited. Anticipating her next words with excitement. What ever it was must be big since she had trouble answering him.

"It's… it's… because…" Nabiki once again tried.

"because…" Ranma tried to help speed things along. Licking his lips that suddenly went dry from anticipation.

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"I…"

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"You…"

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"I like you…" Nabiki finally said it.

Her hands clenched at her lap until they were white. She felt herself reddened as she bowed her head.

There I said it… It wasn't that hard was it?

Nabiki thought to herself as she looked at Ranma. Trying to gauge out his reaction.

She didn't have to try much to see his reaction.

Ranma was as stiff as a board. His back straight and his face filled with utter and complete shock!

Author Notes:

Finally updated!

Sorry about this, I've been sick lately plus busy organising my party bash next month…

Also been distracted by watching Naruto! Lol

Well what do you guys think?

Nabiki told Ranma how she felt.

How will Ranma take this little revelation?

Please Review

Ja Ne