Melting
Chapter Two: Softening Hearts and Fighting Spirits
The next morning the Tendo's rose as per usual. Kasumi was up with the dawn to prepare breakfast for her family. Soun came downstairs early to drink his morning tea and read the paper, and Akane joined them soon after. Ranma was woken up by his father throwing him out the window and into the koi pond as a "sparring" match, and when he emerged in his cursed-self, streaming water, red hair glistening in the morning light, shirt clinging to his breasts, he threw himself vindictively at his father, trying to work out exactly what to do with this new fiancee situation by beating up his pops.
Leaving Genma Saotome as a panda pretzel, he walked inside. "Here, Ranma," Kasumi absently offered him a teakettle of warm water, which he gratefully poured over his head, triggering the change back to his male self. "Would you be so kind as to go and wake up Nabiki? She hates to eat breakfast cold."
"Sure thing, Kasumi," he started upstairs to his new fiancee's room. Cool facade aside, he had no idea how to handle Nabiki. His whole perception of the so-called Ice Queen had been shattered when she kissed him so passionately last night. "No Ice Queen kisses like that," he muttered to himself. He was feeling woefully unprepared to handle this new situation but gamely knocked at her door. When there was no response he felt a new fear surge up inside him. Could Shampoo have attacked her in the middle of the night? He thought, and in a panic burst through the door and into the middle Tendo sister's room. "Nabiki! Are you okay?" he darted to the unmoving lump under the covers and flipped them back, only to uncover . . .
His new fiancee, naked breasts exposed to the cool morning air, her eyes widening in surprise as her mouth dropped open and he knew he should turn away but damn, those looked good, and then she was yanking the covers out of his grip and covering herself up, and he blurted "Sorry!" and bolted from her room.
He slammed the door shut and leaned against it, panting, expecting to hear her start screaming about what a pervert he was like Akane always did, when the unexpected sound of hysterical muffled laughter reached his ears.
He listened in disbelief. She was laughing? Not bellowing and trying to kill him? The door opened and he threw himself across the hall, trying to plaster himself against the wall. "S-s-sorry!"
"Honestly, Ranma," she said, wiping tears from her eyes, body thankfully clad in a silky green robe. "I have half a mind to charge you for that." And with a mischievous smile, she sauntered down the hall to the furo, leaving Ranma an incoherent stuttering mess.
Breakfast that morning was strained. Akane was silent but took every opportunity to glare at her ex-fiance, while completely ignoring his new fiancee. Said new fiancee was smirking at Ranma whenever possible. Whenever Ranma met Nabiki's eyes, he would turn bright red. Akane wasn't sure what happened, but she was pretty damn sure it was Ranma's fault. She simmered quietly, knowing that if she pushed her luck today she would get shut down faster than you could sneeze.
"I do believe we need to celebrate the engagement of Ranma to my dear daughter Nabiki," Soun Tendo announced suddenly, uncharacteristically taking his eyes off his morning paper to smile benevolently on his family. "Perhaps an engagement party tonight?" He turned to his eldest daughter. "Kasumi, would you take care of it?"
"Of course, Father," Kasumi nodded. "It's a wonderful idea! Ranma, if it's not too much trouble, would you please deliver the invitations? I'll make them right after breakfast."
Ranma looked stricken. "O-of course I'll help ya out, Kasumi, but do you guys think that's the best idea? Sounds kinda like an invitation for a fight, knowing the other girls."
Nabiki nodded decisively. "Which is why we are going to be paying them visits, Ranma," she said, doing her best to calculate possible scenarios. "It could end very badly if we just ignore the situation."
He face-faulted into the table before looking up at her, eye twitching. "Yeah. No kidding."
Nabiki thought for a moment and then stood up abruptly. "Excuse me," she said, and went upstairs to her room. She closed the door, and took a few steps before falling backwards, collapsing on the bed, ready for some serious thinking that the downstairs conversation had inspired.
Okay. First. Am I going through with this? What are my options?
Nabiki rolled ideas around in her head. If I switch the engagement to Kasumi she may be hurt by that crazed Amazon. Akane is no longer an option due to Auntie's decree . . . though Auntie may change her mind if Akane actually changes her temper. . . and I . . . am actually attracted to Ranma. That kiss blew my socks off.
So logically, I am the soundest choice. Unless the agreement between the schools can actually be renounced . . . mulling over that idea for a split second, Nabiki shook her head. There was no way to cancel out an agreement of honor without staining their name.
So I am engaged to marry Ranma. And for much longer than I was originally planning. So much for some quick profits before dumping him back on Akane. Reluctantly though, Nabiki acknowledged that "dumping" Ranma wouldn't have been easy as previously thought. While she'd been gone, Ranma had apparently grown a spine and gotten a working brain. It was actually kind of sexy, in an overbearing macho sort of way.
She crossed her ankles and worried her lower lip, starting in on the problem of getting rid of the dangerous elements that were Shampoo, Ukyo, and Kodachi.
"You're gonna bite a hole in your lip doin' that," Ranma drawled from his perch on her windowsill. Nabiki bolted upright in surprise as he dropped down and sauntered over to her.
"What are you doing in my room?" she demanded, cursing herself for losing her cool yet again. There was something about him that rattled her. Sex appeal, a tiny portion of her brain said, and she ruthlessly shut that idea down. He may be hot, but there's no way I'm getting involved with him. That would be dangerous and stupid, and completely ruin my plans for my life. He's off limits, Nabiki.
Of course, it was one thing to think that in her head and another for her body to realize it. Her breathing sped up when he slouched down into her desk chair and fixed his dark eyes on her.
He raised an eyebrow. "I want to know what you're planning. Maybe I can help."
Intrigued, Nabiki leaned forwards. The idea of having assistance in one of her ventures that wasn't bought was very interesting. "First tell me if you have any ideas. Fair trade."
His lips twitched. "Fair enough." He was silent a moment, apparently gathering his thoughts. "For Shampoo, I ain't got nothing short of wrapping her in chains and sending her back to China. And she's the one I'm most worried about. Shampoo won't blink at the thought of taking off your head," he told her, completely serious, and her mouth went dry. "I don't know if she'd actually go through with it, an' I don't plan on giving her that chance, but I can't be with you all the time."
"I like my head," Nabiki said foolishly, feeling kind of faint. It was one thing to think someone might kill you, another to be told it in tones of absolute truth.
His lips curved. "Funny, so do I." He then continued, ignoring her look of absolute shock. "Ukyo now, I do feel kind of responsible for. She was my best friend, even if I thought she was a guy, and we're friends now— when she ain't trying to marry me or attack one of you."
"Considering your mother doesn't recognize Ukyo's claim on you, I suspect she'd have a hard time actually marrying you," Nabiki mused. "Not that that would stop her, but it is something of a starting point. I'll have to think on that more."
"I could pay off the okonomiyaki cart-"
Nabiki shook her head. "By all means, but that wouldn't mean a thing. Look at it from her point of view, Ranma. She pretty much gave up her childhood for revenge. I don't think she'll be satisfied until you are married to her." She sighed in disappointment. "It would have been so much simpler if she was still trying to kill you. If only you hadn't told her she was cute."
Ranma frowned. "Like I was supposed to know she'd change her mind so quick?"
"Ooh, did I strike a nerve Saotome?"
Interest flickered over his face. "So I'm Saotome again, huh Nabs?"
"Don't call me that," she said sharply, and his lips curved. Nabiki caught her breath as he leaned in close.
"I was Ranma last night."
"Last night was a mistake," she managed. "I didn't— it shouldn't have happened." He smirked, and she frowned. He looked too damn satisfied. "And it's not going to happen again. Back off, Saotome."
"Sure thing, Nabs."
Her eye twitched.
Ranma leaned back in her chair, lacing his fingers behind his head, for all appearances completely at ease. "Back to business?"
Nabiki took a deep, calming breath. "Right." One more breath, let it out slow. "Kodachi and Kuno are minor inconveniences."
He snorted. "Unless you're 'inconvenienced' by one of Kodachi's paralyzing powders."
"Yes, well, just don't breath then," she snapped, losing her temper, conveniently forgetting she had inhaled some sleeping powder just the night before. "I'd rather deal with the murderous Amazon first than a delusional gymnast."
He held up his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine." Ranma cracked his knuckles absently and then stood up. "I gotta go deliver those invites for Kasumi."
"Wait a sec, Ranma," she stood up as well, then wished she hadn't. Her room really seemed smaller with him in it— his presence was overwhelming. But she had something she wanted to know, something that had been bothering her ever since the multiple fiancee's had shown up. "Doesn't this bother you?"
"What?"
She gave him a you're so dumb look. "Having other people decide your life. People trying to kill you. People trying to marry you. Having no say."
An uncharacteristically dark look flashed over his features. "Hell yeah it bothers me! But what can I do? Any time I try to do something I get shut down faster than being malleted."
She started to say that's not true, and stopped. It was. Every time Ranma tried to take a step forward he was somehow pushed five steps back, either by the fiancee's, the parents, or his friends. She swallowed guiltily. Or her schemes.
He was staring at her.
"I'm . . . sorry, about that," she said awkwardly. "All the times I manipulated you to get money. Well, I'm not sorry about the getting money part, but for the stuff that really bothered you."
Like selling pictures of you to Kuno. For the wedding. For spurring on Shampoo and Ukyo and Kodachi by selling information and spying on you.
And it's ironic, that what I have created is now going to turn on me. She swallowed hard, feeling cold. Holy crap. They are gonna kill me.
Her eyes were closed as she came to this revelation, and so she missed Ranma stepping close.
She didn't miss the soft brush of lips over hers.
Her eyes shot open, protest dying in her throat. He was already gone.
Nabiki spent a restless day at home. Ranma was out on Kasumi's request, delivering invitations for the engagement party that night. Her engagement party, her mind corrected. If she survived the night, Nabiki vowed to make things very unpleasant for her dear father for daring to suggest the celebration.
She found her older sister decorating the dojo with streamers and banners. Unable to deal with the stress of thinking about what might happen that night, Nabiki fled back to the house, where she encountered a very subdued Akane walking through the front door.
"What were you out doing?" Nabiki asked.
Akane slid on the house slippers. "I was out at Doctor Tofu's office," she replied quietly, walking straight to the kitchen. Nabiki noticed the dark haired girl was clutching a packet in one white-knuckled hand. She followed her little sister into the kitchen, watching interestedly as Akane set on the kettle, even remembering to add water to boil instead of just smoking the kettle. Her little sister was a notoriously awful cook.
"Did your visit have anything to do with our little talk?" Nabiki asked straightforwardly. "Did he have any ideas to control your temper?"
Akane held up the packet. "Calming herbs to drink twice a day." She managed a small smile. "He suggested some tai chi as a form of meditation, since he knows how active I like to be."
"And?" Nabiki prompted, suspecting that there was more to this. Her sister looked too rattled. "Anything else?"
Akane looked like she might burst into tears. "He— he said I should consider therapy."
Nabiki felt relief. Go, Doctor Tofu. She'll listen to you. Thank you. "What do you think about that?" she asked carefully.
"I don't know!" Akane wailed. "Therapy is for sick people, people-"
"People with problems," Nabiki finished, "And don't you think an uncontrollable temper is a problem?"
Akane just cried harder. Nabiki crossed the room and drew her sister into a careful hug. Obviously this visit to Doctor Tofu had upset the girl in an unexpected way. She was probably expecting Doctor Tofu to brush off her temper problems and instead she got a referral to a shrink. Nabiki would have to handle her very carefully. She silently thanked her college experience for giving her a vague idea of how to handle an upset girl.
"I—I'm not c-crazy," Akane hiccuped, voice muffled from being buried in Nabiki's shoulder.
Nabiki drew her back and resisted the urge to shake her. "Don't be stupid!" she said, "Therapy doesn't mean that you're crazy! It just means you need some extra help to deal with something. It's nothing to be ashamed of, Akane. This whole family would probably benefit from therapy."
Akane stared up at her, looking shell-shocked. "R-really?" she breathed, making Nabiki feel very old.
"Really, Akane," she said firmly. "I'd be very proud of you for going to therapy."
Akane burst into tears again, hugged Nabiki hard and ran up the stairs, then Nabiki heard her door shut.
"Jeez," she said to herself. "That was intense."
"You handled it well."
"Eep!" Nabiki whirled around to see Ranma leaning against the door frame, arms crossed. "Don't do that!" she shrieked, heart pounding a mile a minute. Nothing like believing you were alone and then being proven wrong to get your blood moving.
Ranma pushed off the doorway and started walking towards her. Nabiki watched him warily; it was really more of a stalk, like a panther might track a helpless deer before pouncing.
"Ranma—" her voice held a clear warning, to which he ignored, reaching out for her and pulling her close. "Ranma, knock it off!" she pushed ineffectually against his rock-hard chest, and he watched her with a half-smile on his lips. "I told I'm not going to kiss you again!"
What the hell happened while I was gone? She thought frantically, Ranma would never have acted like this— the old Ranma would be blushing and stammering right now, while this one . . .
Her thought process died in her head as he slid one hand up her back to settle on the nape of her neck, his mouth tantalizingly close to her own. This Ranma takes what he wants . . .
"That's too bad, Nabiki," he said, smiling slightly against her lips, and she opened her eyes, unaware when they had slid shut. "I like kissing you." He sighed, making a show of pulling away reluctantly. "Well, if you're sure . . ."
Open-mouthed, Nabiki stared as he quirked a grin and stepped back with his hands held up, eyes flickering up and down her body as she gripped the back of the counter to stay upright on her traitorous knees.
He winked at her and left the room, leaving Nabiki alone with her thoughts and very nearly swamped with desire.
She snapped back to herself after a few more seconds, feeling very deprived. "Dammit Saotome!" she yelled after him, and felt even more righteously angry when the sound of his amused laughter drifted into the kitchen. Fizzing anger, she stomped upstairs to her room, muttering to herself about martial artists who thought too highly of themselves.
Nabiki dressed carefully for the party that night, with the sole intent of torturing a certain pig-tailed man. She pushed aside some of her more conservative outfits and pulled out an old favorite; a cream-colored dress with a more daring neckline that clung to her curves. A bit of eyeliner and some lip gloss and I'm all set to destroy a man. She thought with satisfaction. She'd tease the martial artist into submission.
Shaking her head slightly, Nabiki reassessed her goals. Tonight's plan is to simply survive, she thought pessimistically. If I live through Shampoo, Ukyo, and Kodachi, I'll be a lucky girl.
She slipped into the dress and finished getting ready, stepping into her favorite delicate strapped heels and stepped out into the hallway, straight into her fiance. Ranma laughed a little while steadying her with his hands on her shoulders. She licked her lips. He was still wearing the same Chinese style outfit, but now the top was black and with silver edging. He looked . . . delicious.
He smiled down at her. "Hey," he said, and she smiled back. He offered her his arm and she took it automatically before realizing he'd actually done a gentlemanly thing without prompting, unlike whenever he had taken Akane out before.
Maybe he's just grown up, Nabiki thought as they started down the stairs and walked out to the dojo. She drew in a breath of the cooler night air, looked up at the starry evening sky, made a quick wish for the party to go well.
"Hey, Nabiki," Ranma stopped right outside the dojo and drew her off to a shadowed corner, his hand on her arm to guide her over the soft ground.
"Yes?" she looked up at him, barely able to see his sapphire eyes in the dark.
"I never asked you how you felt about all this. I still don't believe that ya really wanna marry me. And now it's looking like you might actually end up stuck with me— so I just wanted to check on you, I guess."
Nabiki felt something warm uncurl in her stomach. He actually cares how I feel about all this? It had been such a long time since somebody actually cared for her well-being.
"I don't know," she replied truthfully, and sighed. "I may have had . . . different plans, but the way things have worked out I don't think it can happen any other way. At least for now."
He seemed to reach some kind of conclusion from her speech. He looked down. "So ya don't wanna marry me after all."
Nabiki quirked a smile. "Come on, Ranma. I know you don't actually want to marry me."
For some reason saying those words made her chest ache. She rubbed it absently.
Ranma tilted his head and ran his hand down her arm, before saying, "What gave you that idea?"
Nabiki narrowed her eyes at him. He wasn't going to charm his way out of this one. "I don't know, maybe it was all those times you called me the 'Ice Queen' or the 'mercenary', or maybe it was the way you went out of your way to avoid me. Or it could have been the obvious disdain you felt for the way I kept our finances afloat."
"That was a long time ago, Nabiki. We've both grown up since then."
The frown stayed on her face. No way did he mean it. Nobody changed that quickly.
Noticing her obvious disbelief, Ranma simply sighed before steering her up the stairs and into the dojo, and quite possibly to her doom.
"Congratulations!" The whole group cheered and popped crackers as soon as the couple stepped inside the packed room.
Nabiki surveyed the dojo, impressed despite herself. "Wow, great job," she remarked to no one in particular.
"Thanks," Ranma was saying the crowd, and slowly the attention on them dispersed as the groups started chatting with their neighbors once more.
She hung onto his arm. "There's a ton of people here!" she hissed into Ranma's ear. "How did they get this many on such short notice?"
"Haven't you noticed we're like a soap opera over here?" he murmured back, "Everyone in Nerima goes out of their way to be involved in our lives just so they can catch up on what's happening."
Eyes wide, Nabiki saw an irate Shampoo waving her arms at Mousse in the corner and decided to go to the other side of the dojo. Just in case.
"I'll go get us drinks," Ranma said, and gently pried her fingers off his forearm, leaving her with her sisters, before making his way through the crowd.
Kasumi touched her arm and Nabiki nearly jumped out of her skin. "Are you alright, Nabiki? You look like you just saw a ghost!"
Taking deep breaths, Nabiki ordered herself to remain calm. If she was going to be attacked tonight she would worry about it if and when it happened, and not let it ruin her party. An idea occurred to her and she brightened. Engagement parties equaled gifts! Gifts equaled money! Money equaled money! Excellent.
"Yes, Kasumi, I'm fine, thank you," she responded, smiling much more cheerfully up at her older sister. "You look lovely!"
Kasumi touched her hair demurely. "Thank you," she said, smiling back. "I—" Kasumi cut herself off and blushed lightly, and Nabiki followed her suddenly intent gaze to see Doctor Tofu on the receiving end.
Ah-ha! Love is in the air, she thought ironically, and gently pushed Kasumi towards her beau. "I'll see you later," she said, and Kasumi went willingly.
. . . leaving Nabiki alone with her volatile younger sister who had been staring quietly at the floor, hands clasped. Alone with Akane at the party that celebrated the switching of engagements from said sometimes violent sister to her.
Eep.
Akane lifted her eyes to meet Nabiki's gaze. "Nabiki."
Gulp. "Yes, Akane?" Note the exits. Fastest route . . . probably via her mallet. Crap.
"I . . . I just wanted to say that I'm happy for you," Akane said in a rush, looking so painfully earnest that it made Nabiki uncomfortable.
"You . . . are?"
"Yes!" Akane clenched her fists and looked up, eyes blazing with determination. "I may have thought this was a stupid idea to begin with, but he obviously makes you happy. And I've . . ." Akane's eyes teared up but she continued doggedly. "I've never seen Ranma act like this before. He must really like you."
Fortunately, Nabiki was too flabbergasted to blurt "What!" like she wanted to, as it would have been a different reaction than a supposedly in-love fiancee would make at hearing that her fiance actually liked her. Her mind caught up to her mouth and further suppressed a likewise unhelpful "You're out of your mind."
"Th-thanks, Akane," she finally managed, patting her sister's shoulder awkwardly. "That means a lot."
Need air! Her mind screamed, and blindly Nabiki turned to leave, pushing her way through the crowd to the dojo doors, smiling and nodding her thanks as many "Congratulations!" floated her way.
She practically burst out of the doors, gulped in the sweet night air. The solitude was like a balm on her shocked mind.
Nabiki wandered towards the koi pond, admiring the little lanterns strung up above her that sparkled like imitation stars.
Deciding to wait a few more minute before heading back inside, she settled down on one of the larger rocks by the pond and closed her eyes.
Could it be? Could Ranma really like me?
Abruptly she remembered the feel of his lips on hers, the heat of his body pressing her against a cold concrete wall, his tongue in her mouth as her hands streaked over his back.
Well he certainly likes kissing me, she thought cynically, but that doesn't mean anything. For all I know this is a game to him. Manipulating the manipulator.
Nabiki blew out an impatient breath. This is ridiculous. There's no way to prove to myself that he means or doesn't mean it.
She opened her eyes. I should go back inside. Sliding off the rock she stood, then turned to start the short walk back inside. The light and noise inside the dojo seemed like another world right now. Nabiki gave one last glance back to the solitude of the koi pond.
And swallowed her tongue, gave a strangled shriek. Shampoo stood mere inches away from her.
Deciding to pretend that undignified sound hadn't just come from her throat, Nabiki gave Shampoo a cool glance. "Shampoo."
Shampoo returned the gaze haughtily. "Husband-thief."
Nabiki nodded pleasantly. "Well, now that we've got that out of the way, I think I should be getting back to my party."
She made to pass the Amazon girl, but Shampoo's slender arm shot out to block her, pushing her backwards. "Not so fast," Shampoo cooed, sinking down into a crouch. "Stay a while."
Nabiki stumbled back a few steps and caught herself on a rock. Man, she pushes hard! "What, you're gonna attack me right outside my engagement party? People will hear you!" she warned, heart beating wildly.
Shampoo slid in close, violet eyes flashing, and put her lips right by Nabiki's ear. "Listen close, Husband-thief. Ranma belong to Shampoo."
Suddenly angry, Nabiki gave the busty girl a shove back. To her surprise— and probably Shampoo's surprise as well— the Amazon actually fell back a step. "Back off," Nabiki threatened, inching towards the dojo. "All I have to do is scream and everyone will be a witness!"
Shampoo laughed. It was not a pleasant laugh. "Shampoo just give warning tonight. Shampoo not dishonor too nice Kasumi Tendo by killing you when Shampoo invited onto property." Shampoo leaned in close again, and Nabiki shied back from the promised violence in her eyes. "This only warning. You marry Ranma, you obstacle. Obstacles is for killing. Shampoo sick of stupid Japan, want return to China. If Ranma no decide come with Shampoo, maybe something bad happen to you." Shampoo leaned back, sporting a nasty grin. "That be too too bad."
Dimly, Nabiki heard sappy calls of "Shampoo? Shampoo!" from inside the dojo. Furious beyond belief at being threatened, Nabiki got up in Shampoo's face, stepping into her space. "Listen here," she spat, thrusting a finger in Shampoo's surprised face. "Leave me and mine alone or I will send you back to China faster than you can say 'Working Visa'."
Fear flickered across Shampoo's face. "You offer Shampoo challenge?" she cracked her knuckles. "You want enemy? Now fine for Shampoo! Hiya!"
Nabiki screamed as Shampoo's fist flashed towards her. She barely had time to prepare her body for the unknown shock of being hit when she heard a desperate cry of "Nabiki!" and her eyes caught a blur behind them, and with a smack Shampoo's fist was halted by Ranma, looking more furious than she had ever seen him.
Nabiki did the only sensible thing she could think of in the situation, though she felt pretty disgusted with herself for doing so. She fainted.
When she opened her eyes the first thing Nabiki saw was Ranma's anxious face hovering above hers.
"Are you okay?" he demanded, patting her down. "Did she do anything to you? Any pressure points? Did she use that amnesia potion on you?"
She shook her head and started to sit up. Ranma helped her up, supporting her back firmly, before he was unexpectedly knocked aside and hit the stone wall by an oversized sharp spatula.
"Ow!" He pushed off the now cracked wall and Nabiki half expected to see little birdies flying around his head. He slanted an icy blue glare at his old best friend. "Ucchan, what the hell?"
Ukyo Kuonji spread her feet out wider and hefted her spatula again. "Don't call me that, you two-timing ass! Explain yourself!"
"Ukyo!" Akane raced out with the rest of the Tendo's and stood protectively next to Nabiki, helping hold her up. "Honestly! Is this really the best time?"
Nabiki followed Ukyo's gaze a few feet away and suppressed a hysterical laugh. Shampoo was trussed up tighter than a Christmas goose, laying on the ground and shouting wordlessly through a gag of some sort. Mousse was actually in his cursed duck form at the moment and was tied up as well. She deduced that Mousse had attacked Ranma for stopping Shampoo— stupid blind duck always claimed Ranma was hurting the Chinese warrior— and had gotten his ass handed to him.
Ukyo faltered for a second, and after a breathless moment her spatula dropped. Ranma dusted his arms off and came back over. "Ukyo," he said, voice kind of constricted, reaching a hand out. "Can we talk about this?"
Nabiki felt badly for him; Ukyo had been his childhood friend, back when Ranma thought she was actually a boy. It wasn't Ranma's fault that Genma Saotome had stupidly taken Ukyo's dowry— the family's okonomiyaki cart— and then run off without taking Ukyo along as promised, leaving the heartbroken Ukyo swearing revenge. And it certainly wasn't Ranma's fault that when Ukyo had finally caught up with Ranma, instead of continuing her planned attack, she had fallen in love with him.
"Ukyo," she said, drawing the injured gaze of Ukyo down upon her. "I know I'm not your favorite person right now-" Ukyo snorted. Nabiki continued doggedly. "But none of this is Ranma's fault. Please," — the word felt foreign on her tongue, and made Ranma look at her strangely, and now she felt vaguely hot and uncomfortable— "listen to him."
Akane was gaping at her. Nabiki scowled, feeling inordinately grumpy. "What? I know how to say please."
Akane's mouth twitched but she remained silent. Ukyo nodded brusquely. "Fine. I'll give you five minutes of my time, Ranma," she said, as if granting some great favor, "But first I think you should deal with Shampoo."
As if just remembering she was there the growing crowd looked again at the ground where Shampoo . . . had been.
"She's gone!"
Nabiki wasn't sure who said it but they were right; Shampoo had disappeared, leaving only the duck trussed up. With a sigh she untied the ropes around Mousse. He quacked angrily at her and flew off.
Ranma ran a hand through his hair, looking very frustrated. "All right, party's over!" he yelled, and the murmuring crowd dispersed, leaving Ranma and Nabiki surrounded by the Tendo and Saotome families. Ranma unexpectedly turned and glared at Soun Tendo. "Why the hell weren't you watching her?" he snarled, and Nabiki's dad actually took a step back at the ferocity of the attack.
"I—I—I was busy!" he stammered. "Come now, Ranma, you know I wouldn't want anything to happen—"
"All I know is that you couldn't do one simple thing," Ranma said, advancing on the Tendo patriarch. Nabiki was watching with a growing fascination. What thing?
"All I asked was for you to keep an eye on Nabiki," Ranma continued, and Nabiki started. What? "I told ya Shampoo might be crazy enough to try somethin', and you went off to get drunk with Pops instead of keeping your daughter safe!"
Soun Tendo dissolved into tears. "Don't be mad at me!" he wailed, "I didn't know it would happen!"
Genma Saotome held up his sign. At some point during the party he had been turned into a panda. Or maybe he went to the party as one, he sure seemed to like being furry enough. "Respect your elders, boy!" it read.
Ranma stepped back, looking disgusted. "Whatever." He turned and looked at Nabiki, and she caught her breath at the intensity in his gaze. His eyes burned like blue fire. "Wanna get outta here?"
"Yes," Nabiki said faintly, and he scooped her up in his arms and she turned to look at her family which was growing smaller and smaller as Ranma leaped into the air, and then they sailed over the Tendo wall and she could see them no more.
Ranma ran for so long Nabiki was starting to worry they would actually run out of the Nerima ward. That fear was negated when he abruptly turned right and jumped over a fence, how can he see so well it's dark and he's running so quickly, and then they were stopped. He set her down and took a step back, chest heaving.
"Ranma?" She touched his hard arm and he turned away. Nabiki circled around him. "Ranma, look at me."
He faced her but she could see in his eyes that his mind wasn't present. He was probably still preoccupied with what had just happened, when all she wanted to do was forget about it and pretend, if just for a few moments, that her life wasn't quite so crazy. So she went up on tiptoe and kissed him lightly.
His arms closed around her in reflex and he kept his eyes shut when she pulled away, hands on his chest. "Why did you do that?" he asked, voice slightly monotone.
Nabiki winced. Whatever happened to the happy-go-lucky Ranma? She tightened her grip on his shirt and kept her voice as even as possible when she answered, "For saving my life. Thank you, Ranma."
He pushed her away and paced, and she watched, not knowing what to say to make this better. Stupid girl.
"Why did you do that?" He demanded again.
"Because I'm grateful—"
"The hell with that, Nabiki," he closed in on her. "Grateful people just say thank you. They don't do it with a kiss."
Her throat felt tight. "What do you want from me?"
"The truth!"
Her eyelashes felt odd. "I don't know!" Nabiki reached up to rub her eyes and was shocked when her fingertips pulled away damp. She stared at her fingers, tears glistening on her skin. For some reason this angered her.
"Nabiki . . ." Ranma's voice softened as he saw her tears and he reached out to grasp her hand.
She pulled away violently.
He persisted, and caught her up in his arms, pressing her close. Nabiki relented and buried her face in his shoulder, hating the way her emotions had taken over.
Ranma turned his head towards hers. "It's okay, Nabiki," he said softly. "It's okay."
"It's not!" Nabiki cried, wishing yet again that she had the strength— both physically and emotionally— to pull away. But Ranma seemed to bring out feelings in her that she had buried so well years ago in order to become the girl who could easily manipulate others in order to support her family.
"Why don't you want to like me?" his voice was so quiet she could have easily pretended she didn't hear him. But that would have been the cowards way out. Nabiki Tendo was many things, but coward she was not.
And so the words fell out of her mouth.
"It's not that I don't want to like you, Ranma, because I already do. But I can't be in a relationship with you."
He was smiling now. "Why not?"
She rolled her eyes. He just didn't get it. "Because I can't! First off, it's too weird because you used to be engaged to my little sister."
"Yeah, we both know that wouldn't have ever worked out," Ranma interrupted, and she pushed away so she could glare at him before barreling on.
"Second, and this is the most important part so pay attention Saotome— I don't have time in my life right now for a boyfriend. I'm in the middle of getting my degree, and I have big plans for my life, and a boyfriend would just derail all of them. I can't afford to let that happen." Nabiki stopped, feeling out of breath. Whew. I should vent more often. Feels good to get that off my chest.
Ranma was studying her face. She could see in his eyes that he was contemplating pulling her into his arms again, but he ended up letting her stay an arms length away, breath puffing in the cool air.
"Why would having a boyfriend derail all of your plans?" he asked quietly.
Nabiki lifted her shoulders helplessly and let them fall. "It always happens," she said, feeling miserable. "Instead of having a career I'd end up getting married and having babies."
"You don't want to get married ever? Have a family?" he persisted.
"Well, I do someday, but—"
"And for some stupid reason you think that once you get a boyfriend you'll what, forget everything you've ever wanted? And that your boyfriend would want you to give up your dreams to be some housewife?"
Nabiki closed her mouth, unaware of when it had dropped open. It did sound kind of like a stupid argument when he put it like that. "Er . . ."
Ranma took a step forward. "If you were in a relationship where the man didn't want you to be happy then he's obviously stupid. I can't see you ever falling for a stupid man."
"Um . . ."
Ranma tilted his head. "Do you really think I want you to change who you are?" he asked her quietly, blue eyes serious.
Nabiki bit her lip. In the span of a few moments Ranma had blown away her defenses. "I'm being kind of stupid, aren't I?" she asked, feeling her lips start to curve despite herself.
"Kinda, yeah." Ranma tucked her hair behind her ear, fingers lingering on her skin. He drew his hand down her neck and left it there, settled and warm. "But I wasn't gonna put it that way."
Laughing with relief, Nabiki gave him a push. "That was a rhetorical question!"
Ranma grinned and used the momentum of her push to drag her closer. Nabiki inhaled his scent, feeling happier than she had in a long time. How was it they had only been engaged for two days and already she felt at home in his arms?
"So what now?" Nabiki asked.
Ranma raised an eyebrow. "You kiss me."
She was already anticipating his answer, raising herself up to claim his lips with hers.
This kiss wasn't as desperate as their first had been. Nabiki felt exhausted by the emotions that had just coursed through her, so her lips were softer as she moved them under his own. Ranma in turn was kissing her gently, so sweetly, like she was something precious to him.
Though it wasn't as heated as that night on the roof, this kiss was no less passionate. For the first time in her life Nabiki knew she kissed someone who cared about her, who wanted to be with her— and for the first time in her life she wanted to be with him as well.
This time it was Ranma who broke the kiss. He rested his forehead on hers and stared into her eyes. "All good?"
Nabiki was aware that she as sporting a goofy grin but couldn't seem to do anything about it. "Hell yeah, boyfriend kisses are the best," she said before realizing what she had just admitted.
The most amazing smile broke out over Ranma's face before settling back into the cocky smirk she knew so well. "Is that so?" he asked, and she poked him in response before resting her head against his chest, completely worn out.
"Time to go home," Ranma said, hoisting her into his arms again. Nabiki mumbled sleepily against his shoulder and closed her eyes. She felt safe, warm, and happy. She felt the steady rhythm of Ranma running, heard his heartbeat thundering beneath her ear, and the sensation of the breeze blowing across her face and ruffling her hair, and then slumber claimed her.