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.

"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!

Ranma was shocked. Did he just hear what he has just heard.

"I like you…"

Her words echoed in his ears.

Nabiki watched him. Various emotions washed over his features. She joked inwardly that Ranma would never be able to play poker. Not with a face like his anyways.

She read him like an open book. His features displayed a vast variety of emotions. It was hard to decipher them because they changed with a blink of an eye. She sat there nervously. She had said what was in her mind. It was up to him to decide what he thought of her reply.

"I don't believe you." was all Ranma could say.

"Nani?" came Nabiki's confused answer.

Ranma began to chuckle as he shook his head in disbelief.

"You nearly had me there Nabiki. But please no more games. No more making fun of me, for your expense." Ranma replied back.

"I was not joking this time Ranma." Nabiki said in full seriousness.

"Nabiki, that's enough. You had your fun now stop with the mind games." Ranma began to get angry.

Ranma didn't know why, but Nabiki's reply made him angry.

Was she serious? Or was this another one of her games?

Ranma had gotten close to Nabiki. Too close.

Was it all a big façade?

Does this mean that she was plotting something?

Is this another one of her schemes?

Her scams?

There must be a hidden angle somewhere?

ANYWHERE!

Nabiki was getting frustrated. It took much of her courage to admit that she likes him, and here he was denying what she felt for him. Was this the reason why all his other fiancées get irritated with him?

"Are you calling me a liar?" Nabiki asked trying to repressed the sudden ire in her voice. She fairly succeeded.

"Look Nabiki. It's late. Perhaps I should go now." Ranma began to make his retreat. He doesn't really feel like arguing at the moment.

Ranma began to stand up and walk towards her window.

"Oh no you don't!" Nabiki replied back as she stood up and grabbed his arm to stop him.

"Let go Nabiki." Ranma asked. Not really sure if he meant it as a threat or a request. All he knew was he needed to get out of there. He needed time to think. To breathe. He felt suddenly suffocated and didn't know why.

"That's it? That's all you have to say?" Nabiki replied back barely holding back her anger. She had to admit she never expected this type of reaction from him.

"What do you want me to say Nabiki? Tell me! Tell me what you want to hear?" Ranma replied back with much hostility to his voice just matching hers.

Nabiki didn't know what to say. To be honest she never really thought of what his reaction was to her little revelation. It was ill timed, she blurted it out before she even had time to process and gather her thoughts right. She had not thought of how things will go or at least predict of how he would react. If she had, she wouldn't be in this mess nor would she be loosing her much desired control.

"All I wanted was an answer as to why you saved from Akane? But what do I get? I get mocked by you." Ranma said snidely.

"But it's true!." Nabiki protested.

"You expect me to believe you after what you have done to me? The many times you used and manipulated me?" Ranma couldn't help it.

His foot in mouth disease was on a roll. He couldn't help but reveal the hurt he felt or the anger as he remembered the consequences that followed from her actions. Mainly being drugged, attacked, bashed and verbally abused by the Nerima Crew.

Nabiki stiffened. As if she was slapped on the face. It was true. Did she expect him to actually take her confession lightly and wholeheartedly? If she was in his shoes, she would have slapped herself or even worse for putting him through such an ordeal almost everyday of his life. She was worse than his father was.

Nabiki felt her eyes sting. As painful tears began to flow. She tried to stop them but she couldn't. She was too shock to respond.

Ranma was about to continue his tirade when he saw the tears. She wasn't crying nor did he think she was faking it. She just stood there wide-eyed. Her eyes showed full of pain and realisation. If she was faking it, she would have used her dramatics skills to make it look more melodramatic. But she just stood there. No elaborate sobbing. Just silent tears.

"Nabiki?" Ranma began. He wanted to apologise but somehow he couldn't.

"I'm sorry." was all Nabiki could say to him before she let go of his arm.

Ranma wanted nothing more but to give himself a good beating. He hated making other people upset or make them cry. Especially girls.

He was about to approach her to try and soothe her but she stepped away from him.

"Go Ranma. Just go." was all Nabiki could say as she turned her back on him.

Ranma reached out to her shoulder but stopped before he could even make contact with her. He closed his eyes and left.

Nabiki heard her window open. She felt the cold night air breeze. She knew she was now alone. With this knowledge she collapsed from where she was standing and cried silently. Muffling her sobs.

Ranma sat on the rooftop. Unsure of what to do or think. There were a lot of things that entered his mind. A lot of questions that needed answers. He looked up at the dark sky, thinking they have the answer. It was early hours in the morning when he found sleep.

Next Morning...

"WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU BOY! CONCENTRATE!" Genma yelled at his son.

Ranma's moves were slower and sloppier but he still manage to send his irate father to the abused koi pond.

Breakfast was interesting to say the least. Ranma had not said a word other than greeting everyone "Good morning."

Akane was energised from her morning run, Soun read his paper and Kasumi blissfully served breakfast. Nabiki on the other hand, remained quiet.

"I'm finished. Thanks for the breakfast Oneechan." Nabiki said gratefully, smiling at her sister before heading out towards the door.

"Wait Nabiki! Aren't you walking with me and Ranma today?" Asked Akane who was now used to walking with her sister and fiancé to school.

"I have business to take care of Akane. I'll just see you there." Nabiki replied back and headed out of the door.

Ranma watched her leave. Unaware that his father had swiped the rest of his meal.

"Oh well, it was too good to last anyways." Akane replied before turning towards Ranma. "Come on baka! We better hurry!" Akane said to Ranma as she hurriedly finished her meal.

School was normal.

Akane and Ranma were greeted by the hentai horde, which they breezed through. Followed by quickly sending Kuno to the infirmary. How he manages to avoid having a concussion was a mystery nobody knows.

Lunch was little bit peculiar; Ranma was almost unresponsive to anyone that talked to him. He was even oblivious to the fact of Shampoo's arrival or the fact that Ukyo, Shampoo and Akane were now brawling right behind him. He was more concerned by the fact that Nabiki was sitting in the opposite side of the field by herself. The groups of girls that surrounded her were dispersed. Leaving her alone.

Nabiki sighed.

Her lackeys had told her their report about the morning fight and how the bets are becoming stale. The pictures were still at stalemate and profits are slightly lower than the average mark.

Nabiki had just told them to leave her a moment to think. Which they all did without a fuss. Though she knew she should be concerned about the profit progress report, last night's event played over and over in her mind. She felt numb somehow. Unable to feel anything at the moment.

"Nabiki? A word with your person please?" asked a familiar voice.

Nabiki looked up and saw her biggest client/sucker. Kuno Tatewaki. She nodded her head and indicated a seat opposite to her.

"How may I be of service?" Nabiki replied back.

Kuno frowned.

"What is wrong?" She asked him.

"Are you not going to insist on calling me that infernal name?" Kuno asked suspiciously.

"I'm not really in the mood." Nabiki replied back. She just wants him to state whatever business he wants and leave her be.

"So what brings you here?" Nabiki asked.

"I am here to purchase pictures of your sister and pigtailed girl." Kuno replied.

He did not get any response.

"I know you said you no longer sell pictures of the pigtailed one but I am here to offer you at least twice the regular price." he replied back through gritted teeth. She had won. She had managed to swindle him out of his allowance yet again.

"The answer is no Kuno." Nabiki replied.

"Triple then…" Kuno began, in desperate hope that she will change her mind.

"No Kuno… No to both… As for this moment I will no longer be selling pictures of the pigtailed girl or my sister to you or anyone else." Nabiki replied back as she began to massage her temple.

"Surely you jest…" Kuno replied back aghast and purely shocked.

"I'm dead serious Tatewaki." Nabiki replied back with much stressed in her voice.

"I will pay double… NO! Triple of your asking price!" Kuno replied back desperate for his weekly fix of his beloveds' pictures.

"I said no Tatewaki. I'm sorry." Nabiki replied back solemnly. She had no idea why she suddenly decided to go straight.

"What is it you want?" Kuno asked suspiciously. There has to be some sort of catch.

"I want nothing…" Nabiki replied back. Surprised by the conviction in her voice.

"I see… I know what is going on, that fiend Saotome had gotten to you hasn't he?" Kuno replied back suspiciously.

"Tatewaki I do not know what you're talking about…" Nabiki replied back nervously. Has he figured out her feelings?

"SAOTOME HAD PUT YOU UNDER A SPELL! CUTTING OFF MY IMMEDIATE MEDIATOR TO MY BELOVEDS! FEAR NOT, MERCENARY ONE! I TATEWAKI KUNO, BLUE THUNDER WILL PROTECT YOU! I SHALL SMITE THAT VILE SORCEROR AND FREE MY BELOVEDS INCLUDING YOU! THE FIRES OF LOVE IS BURNING! THE FIRE OF JUSTICE IS BURNING! THE…." Kuno rambled on.

Nabiki fought hard to remain straight faced when her body wanted to do the face fault. Just when she thought, the blue thunder had finally gotten a clue. He surprises her by coming up with the most ridiculous response.

By this moment, the rest of the student was alerted by Kuno's rampant ramblings. Everyone was now looking at the two. The words "WILL PROTECT YOU" and "SMITE THAT VILE SORCEROR!" was not what intrigued them. The fact that Kuno was declaring the ramblings and swearing to protect Nabiki Tendo of all people caught their attention. One question was all on everybody's mind.

"WHAT THE HELL?"

"It looks like Ranma's day is about to get worst." Nabiki thought.

Through Kuno's ramblings, he noticed Ranma was now staring at him and Nabiki.

"That honourless cur! He's been watching me and Nabiki's negotiations this whole time! He's mocking me!" Kuno thought.

And with those last thoughts, he began to charge at Ranma. His bokken in his hand as a newfound animosity was unleashed within the Blue Blunder, I mean Blue Thunder.

"Nopes. I guess I was wrong." Nabiki said to herself as she watched the two guys battle it out finishing with Kuno being knocked unconcious. With all that excess vigour, one would wonder if there will ever be a different outcome.

"Oneechan what the hell did you say to that idiot?" Akane asked her older sister as they walked home.

"Nothing Akane." Nabiki replied back stiffly. She did not like what happened in the fight. Everybody in Furikan declared her as the reason.

"It must be something if it could set him off like that. I've never seen him fight like that before. He actually managed to land a hit on the baka!" Akane replied back in surprise.

Akane's emotions where all mixed. Angry at her sister for setting off the village idiot into fighting her fiancé and the fact that she was actually concerned when Ranma was hit by Kuno's attacks. She was also curious as to what her sister could have said to set Kuno off like that and Kuno declaring to everybody his interest on Nabiki. Well to what she thinks anyways.

"It was business Akane. That's all you need to know." Nabiki stressed out.

"I sometimes don't understand you Nabiki." Akane replied back. Peeved at her sister, she began to walk faster, leaving Nabiki behind. She didn't even hear Nabiki mutter the words:

"So do I Akane… So do I…."

When the Akane and Nabiki arrived home, they were surprised to find Ranma had already beaten them home. Arriving first before them. He was now sparring his father. His father practically shouting obscenities at Ranma. Mocking him about the welt, he had received from Kuno.

Ranma's left arm displayed a long horizontal purple mark. Showing where Kuno had made contact on his attacks. His bruise was like a neon sign. At Kuno's success. Even Kuno was caught surprised by his success that he got distracted long enough for Ranma to exact his revenge. It wasn't pretty.

Through the whole sparring session with his father, one name kept intruding his thoughts.

"Nabiki"

Ranma gritted his teeth. As unpleasant thoughts began to invade his psyche. Whatever she had said to Kuno sparked something in the disturbed warrior. Ranma was determined to find out just exactly what it is she had told him.

Later that Night…

Nabiki was about to sleep when she heard tapping noises against her window. Nabiki frowned. She had a long and trying day. She really didn't want to speak with him.

The tapping noises against her window began to get louder. Her left eye twitch. She covered herself with her blanket praying that he would just go away. She didn't want to talk with him. Not after what happened last night. But the tappings were getting louder. Pretty soon, everyone in the household will be awaken.

Nabiki gave out a frustrated sigh as she jumped out of her bed and begrudgingly opened her window. Glaring at him before making her way towards her bed. She laid back down and faced away from him. Fully intending to show him that she was going to sleep.

Ranma was annoyed. She was ignoring him again.

"How dare she!" He thought.

After the stunt, she pulled with Kuno today. If this was her revenge on him, she had another thing coming. He is sick of it.

He loomed over her.

She could feel him glaring daggers at her back.

Nabiki couldn't take it anymore. She sat up abruptly and glared at him.

"What do you want?" Nabiki hissed from under her breath.

"What did you tell Kuno?" Ranma hissed back.

"Nothing!" Nabiki barely controlled her voice. Why is everyone blaming her for? Is this what really happens when you try and turn over a new leaf? If it was, then she would take it back.

"Is this how you plan to get back at me?" Ranma replied back. Barely holding his temper.

"I didn't do anything!" Nabiki replied back.

"I saw you talking to him. What did you say to him? You sicked him at me didn't you!" Ranma accused.

"Of all the conceited, big headed, arrogant…" Nabiki's blood began to boil.

"Is this how you show someone you like them Nabiki?" Ranma replied back snidely.

Nabiki stopped cold as her blood ran cold. HOW DARE HIM!

In almost an instant, she was standing in front of him. Their bodies within inches against each other. Her anger rapidly rising.

"You want to know what I told Kuno? Do you?" Nabiki hissed at him.

Ranma defiantly glared back at her. Matching her ire.

"I told him I will no longer be selling pictures of Akane and you to him or anyone else in Nerima!" Nabiki replied back.

Ranma was shocked. He never suspected that to be her answer.

"That's right Ranma. You heard right. I refused to sell anymore photos of you and Akane and as you could see for yourself his reaction was unstable." Nabiki replied back staring directly into his eyes.

Ranma began to see how the idiot would have taken it. No wonder he was pissed.

"If that's all you wanted then you can leave." Nabiki replied back as she turned away from him. Eager to get back to her bed.

"Nabiki…" Ranma called back as he caught her arm.

"Just don't Ranma…" Nabiki replied back. Her voice almost defeated as she struggled against his hold on her. Refusing to turn back and look at him.

"Nabiki… I'm sorry ok?" Ranma pleaded to her. But Nabiki only broke away from his hold. Yanking her arm from his grip.

"Just leave Ranma…" Nabiki replied back as she continued to walk away from him.

Ranma had no choice but to explain himself to her. He didn't want her angry. She just needed to hear him out and why he was so upset. But she was ignoring him again. Tired of this he yanked her against him.

"What the…" Was all Nabiki could say before she was yanked towards him.

Nabiki found herself colliding against him her arms flailing at the lost of balance. Ranma caught her before she could fall. But that wasn't all he caught.

Ranma had caught her. His arms encircling her slender and feminine form. Things just happened too fast.

Her arms encircled around his neck to catch herself.

He held her waist.

Their faces were within inches against each other.

They can feel the warmth of each other's breath.

They didn't know who started or who moved first.

All Ranma knew was he saw her lick her lips and he was lost.

They faces began to descend one another.

Their lips touched.

It was soft and sweet.

Then their lips began to move, their mouths gave way to each other's sweet caress.

All was then lost.

Lost in a moment as they shared their first intimate kiss as the moonlight streamed from Nabiki's open window.

Author's Notes:

Finally update!

How do you guys like it?

The long awaited kiss has arrived!

I hope it met your expectations… Sorry about the late update. I'm still experiencing writer's block. But I'll gradually recover.

Please Review

Ja Ne