Disclaimer:

I do not own these characters nor do I claim too, this is a simple fan based homage. Their creators and the companies they work for and with own the characters and all that pertains to them. (I.E. Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, Shougakukan). 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.

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Previously:

Ranma and Akane had another fight, this time about Ranma's meeting with Nabiki. Angry of being accused of being unfaithful, Ranma left Akane to try to cool off, only to end up at the Kuno mansion, where he had a short chat with Nabiki. Unbeknownst to them that someone had been calling Kinnusuke. Apparently trying to help him seduce Nabiki.

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Ranma had began walking home. A his mood was a little lighter than before. He guessed having to talk to someone really relieves his stresses. He felt more relax. He began to think yet again about his relationship with Akane. Perhaps its time they had spent some time apart. Every time they were together, there was always tension. They can't even stay in a room together for more than a couple of minutes before they began to argue. He sighed his head in defeat. He still cared for her. That he was sure of, but it was no longer with deep affection. He was so engrossed with his thoughts that he wasn't paying attention to where he was walking and bumped into someone.

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Tatewaki sighed. He was now in his large office. Looking at some files and business proposals. On his shoulder was his business partner and associate, Konjo Mariko. Mariko was leaning against his left shoulder, her breasts pressed against him. He didn't know if she was doing it on purpose or not, still it was a little distracting. He looked up from the papers he was trying so hard to read and gazed at her. She looked down at him and smiled seductively.

"This is a very bad idea" He thought to himself.

"Well what do you think Tachi?" She asked him huskily.

Tatewaki frowned. Was it him or was her question sounded like a double edge sword? Implying more than what he though about the papers but containing some hidden innuendo?

"I will have to read through it again, just to be sure." He told her nonchalantly.

Mariko left his side to his relief. But his relief was short lived when she perched herself, on the table. Her short skirt became a lot shorter as she crossed her long legs. He tried to pry his eyes away from her legs and instead tried to focus his eyes on her face. An action not missed by her.

"We will need to decide by the end of the day, since you already took a day off yesterday. They are expecting a decision today." She told him while examining her nails.

"Very well then. I will need a copy of their previous financial statement and business transactions before making the final decision." He told her crisply.

"You do know that we're not the only firm interested in their account right? They have set up a dinner meeting tonight with all the firms, including ours. I suppose they're trying to see who will make a higher bid for them." She informed him.

"Tonight?" He repeated frowning.

"Yes Tachi. Tonight. We can let them know personally our decision by then." She told him. She noticed him frowning.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Nabiki will understand. After all, It's business." She reassured him. As she walked behind him and placed her hands on his shoulder.

"Very well." He told her.

"I'll come by later this afternoon, to check everything else with you and review our proposal." she told him as she looked at him seductively. Tatewaki just ignored her and went back to reading the business proposal. Mariko frowned at being dismissed at such a manner but let it go and walked out of his office towards her own.

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Her office was just adjacent to his. When she reached her office, she couldn't help but smile. He was affected by her. He may hide it but she knew. Working in such close proximity with him was finally paying off. Pretty soon he will succumb to her. She smiled as she remembered the way he looked at her. He wanted her. She knew Tatewaki well. His appetite for the opposite sex hasn't changed. A little more coaxing in her part and then he will be hers.

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Nabiki entered her office. She frowned as she saw what awaited her. There were a stack of files on her table. She groaned. This is what happens when she gets distracted. She placed her briefcase down and began to rifle through the folders. Sorting them out. Her back turned away from the door. She was so engrossed at what she was doing that she didn't realise someone had come in until she heard the door close. She turned around and what she saw surprised her.

Kinnusuke was standing there against the door. His back leaning against the door, his arms crossed against his broad chest, his long legs crossed as well giving him a cool relax look. The only thing that betrayed his image was the way he looked at her. His gaze scrutinized her from head to toe. An appreciating smile crossed his lips. His eyes unashamedly roamed her body, as if committing them in his memory.

His gaze disgusted and excited her at the same time. She admits she did find him attractive, especially now that he has started working out. You can clearly see his well defined physique even if he was wearing a suit.

Well there was nothing wrong with looking right?

As long as there was no touching. Besides he was an old acquaintance.

Besides there was nothing wrong with having a little fun right?

"Have you ever heard of knocking first Kinnusuke?" She asked him sarcastically as she crossed her arms, showing her annoyance.

"Yes, I have Nabiki. Unfortunately the view of seeing your greatly shaped posterior, made me forget about my manners." He answered her with a grin. Still devouring her with his eyes.

Nabiki simply shook her head. She had become used to his consistent flirting. She would sometimes flirt back with him, just to see Kuno's jealous face. Well Mariko shamelessly flirts with her husband, so why can't she? It was in a way a dangerous game they were playing. But she made sure there was nothing else. Besides, her ego needed some reassurance once in while. She needed assurance that she is still attractive enough to make heads turn. It was every woman's weakness.

She doesn't know why but there is a feeling of sudden thrill that goes inside her every time she would flirt with Kinnusuke. Maybe it's because she needed more excitement in her life or perhaps she was getting bored of simply being a house wife, who knows? All she knows is this is dangerous. Yet very tantalising. Her carefree nature is definitely to blame. That and her mischievousness.

She turned to the table once again to resume her work. She can still feel his heated gaze on her but she ignored it. She didnt want anymore uneeded distractions right now. She felt him move closer to her. Close enough that she can feel his breath against her ear.

"Do you need any help?" He asked her huskily. Tempted to nibble on her ear.

She turned around to face him only to realise that his face was merely inches apart from her.

Ok this is officially dangerous, she told herself.

She nervously gulped.

"Yeah you can start by sorting the files in order, by great importance to the least." She told him nervously. As she pointed at the opposite stack at the other side of the table.

"Why Nabiki, I do believe your nervous?" He asked her. Amusement danced in his eyes.

"No I'm not." She told him. Her voice quivered. She subconsciously took a step back away from him.

"I'm not convince" He told her huskily as he took a step closer to her. Trapping her between the table and himself. He placed his arms in either side of her body, all the while placing them on the table. There was nowhere to escape from. There was no longer amusement in his eyes.

"Kinnusuke please." She pleaded. Her hands where now against his strong chest. She can feel his rapid heart beat. Smell his expensive cologne. He was too close.

"Please what?" He asked her huskily. Leaning his head forward. His gaze on her quivering lips.

Nabiki involuntarily closed her eyes. Big mistake! His lips where now mere centimetres from hers. She could feel the warmth of his breath.

"You have no Idea how long I wanted this, How long I've wanted you, Tendo Nabiki." He said huskily. He raised his hand and caressed her cheek. Then placed his hand on her nape.

He was about to finally claim her lips, when the phone began to ring.

He cursed.

The ringing of the phone, broke whatever hold he had on her and snapped Nabiki back to reality. Nabiki snapped her eyes open and hastily pushed him away. She was breathing heavily. She didn't look at him, instead she picked up the phone and tried to catch her breath before answering.

"Moshi-moshi? Tendo Nabiki speaking." She said a little breathless still.

"Hello Na-chan?" The voice in the other line asked.

"Tachi?" She said. She was aware that Kinnusuke was still watching her and listening to her.

"Yes anata, it's me. Listen, I'm sorry to do this but I'm afraid I'll be coming home later tonight. We have a business meeting later tonight and I'm afraid I can't cancel it." He said apologetically.

"That's ok Anata. I understand." She told him. She wanted to say more but Kinnusuke's presence was disconcerting her.

"Are you ok Na-chan? You don't sound very well?" he asked concerned.

"I'm fine Tachi. Thanks for calling." She told him with whole honesty.

"Ok. I'll see you later tonight. I love you." He said.

"I love you too." She replied before he hanged up. She stared at the phone for a while before placing it back.

Kinnusuke was still there but he had resentment and displeasure written on his face. It took Nabiki a while before she could face him.

"Get out Kinnusuke." She told him. Anger written on her face.

Kinnusuke looked like he was about to protest, but decided against it. He hesitantly began to walk out of the door. But before he left, he took one last look at her and smiled before he closed the door.

Nabiki sank on her chair. Her legs barely able to support her.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!" her mind screamed at her.

If the phone hadn't rung who knew what would have happened? If Tachi hadn't rung her… Guilt flooded through her. It was her fault. She unwittingly encouraged him. She should have seen this coming. She should have known better. She buried her head into her palms. Embarrassed and ashamed. Embarrassed because of what she was about to do and thinking of the consequence if anyone saw them; and ashamed, because deep down inside a tiny part of her wanted him too.

---

Kinnusuke couldn't wipe the smile in his face when he entered his office. He was close. So very close. His plan was working nicely. He doesn't need that anonymous person's help. He was succeeding all on his own. If he knows Nabiki, like he knew he did, then she wasn't really completely immune to him. One thing about Nabiki is that her weakness and strength coincide. Her curiosity.

By gaining her curiosity, her interest, he can easily use it to his advantage. He only needed to keep her interested long enough to leave her husband. His smile was replaced by a sinister one. There was nothing he couldn't get. He has never lost anything he had set his mind to. And that's what makes her so special. With Nabiki beating him all those years ago burned in his memory. She was his adversary. The short while they had met, she has already made a great impression on him. A woman after his own taste.

This simple fascination or infatuation, as some people may say, grew. It was a surprise to find out at first upon coming back to Nerima, that he will be working with her. He thought at first that these feelings he had all those years ago would have vanished, or at the very least subsided, yet they have intensified. It intensified so much to the point that it had occupied his mind and sanity. She occupied his mind, taunting him. Teasing him. Her eyes beckoned him but her body and heart refused him. He has to make her his. No matter what it takes.

---

Ranma was taken aback. He apologised quickly until he recognised the person he had bumped into. He couldn't believe out of all people he would bump into her. They were now sitting at a nearby park.

"How are you Ucchan?" He asked her. "I'm fine… Ranchan." She hesitated using her pet name for him.

They began to talk about what had happened with their lives the last time they saw each other. They both laugh and joked about Ryoga's directional problems and reminisce about the past.

Looking at Ukyou, Ranma began to wonder what would have happened if he had chosen her or Shampoo instead of Akane.

Would he had been happy?

Would she have been happy with him?

Looking at her now. Seeing how she was positively glowing and excited about her upcoming nuptials. She finally found happiness she deserved.

"I'm glad I bumped into Ranchan. There was something I've been meaning to ask you, actually Ryoga as well but as you can see it might take Ryoga slightly longer because of his directional problem." She told him.

"Sure Ucchan. What do you want me to do for you?" He asked her. His spirits was now positively lighter, being able to talk to one of his closest friends.

"Well, me and Ryoga would really like you and Akane to come and attend the wedding, and Ryoga wants you to be our best man." She told him.

"I'll be honoured to." He smiled at her.

"Arigatou Ranchan!" She said happily as she hugged him.

"I KNEW IT!" screamed a very familiar voice. "Akane?" Both cried in unison.

"RANMA YOU BASTARD!" She yelled at him, tears streaming down her face. Her fists clenched. Trying to hold her temper.

"Akane this isn't what it looks like…" Ukyou tried to explain.

Akane glared murderously at Ukyou and then at Ranma before she advance towards them. Aiming for Ukyou.

"YOU HUSSY!" She screamed at Ukyou.

Ranma quickly stepped between them and caught Akane. Holding her back.

"AKANE! PLEASE TRY TO CALM DOWN AND LISTEN!" Ranma tried to reason with her. Akane struggled from Ranma's grasp.

Finally she got away from his strong hold. Tears still blurring her vision and anger clouded her mind and heart.

She slapped Ranma hard on the face.

"YOU WANT HER! THEN FINE! YOU CAN BOTH ROT IN HELL!" She yelled at him before turning her back to him and running away.

Ukyou stood there.

Unable to utter a single word.

She didn't know what to say.

She looked at Ranma.

His face was unreadable, his hand holding his red cheek. Her heart was filled with pity. She wanted to comfort him but somehow she couldn't bring herself too. She felt kind of guilty. A little part of her enjoyed what she saw. She guessed her vindictive side had finally gotten its revenge. Seeing Ranma suffer like that, made her feel kind of satisfied. Too many times she was hurt by him and now he was hurting. Suffering the way she had. But it was still wrong. Ranma was her friend. Despite everything that happened between them.

"Ranma." She called to him tentatively.

"I'm sorry about all this Ukyou." He turned to her and apologised.

"You didn't deserve to be caught in the middle like that. Gomen Nasai" He told her before turning his back to her and began to walk away from her.

"Ranma" She whispered. Amazed at him. As she watched him walk away from her.

---

Akane ran. Her vision was blurred by the onslaught of tears. She didn't care as she pushed a number of people aside. All she wanted was to go home. To be left alone. In no time at all she had reached the Tendo Dojo. She quickly ran up the stairs and locked herself in their room.
To think she went to look for him to apologise! All the while he secretly met with one of his women! His mistress! Her rage, her anger kept building up. The pain was almost unbearable.

Why Ranma?

WHY?

Was it because she couldn't give him a child?

Is that it?

Wasn't she woman enough for him?

Questions began to assail her. Making her question her worth. Making her question everything. Finally bringing her to the most difficult question of all. Does she still love him? She cried in anguish. She cried till she thought her chest was about to burst. And her heart to break. She didn't even realised she had passed out because of the whole stress she was under. Tears still running down her eyes.

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Minutes passed and finally Ranma stood outside their home. It was eerily quiet. He entered the house. It felt empty. Cold. He looked up the stairs. He knew she was still here. He began to walk up the stairs, towards their room. Her room. It hasn't been their room for a sometime now. He turned the doorknob. It was locked. He didn't bother knocking. He didn't even realised he had generated a very strong Ki energy, burning the door knob, and caused the door to unlock.

He opened the door. He felt so cold inside. It was as if he was working on auto pilot. His actions weren't really registering to him. All he knew was he had to see her. To talk to her. He couldn't feel anything. He felt as though his whole body was numb. He saw her sprawled on top of the bed. He can see the tear streaks on her cheeks. He sat down next to her and began to caress her hair. He looked down at her. His eyes unreadable.

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Akane woke up. She was surprised to see him there. Looking down at her. His eyes were unreadable and yet she felt the pain radiating from him… or was it hers? She saw him still looking down at her. Still caressing her hair. She sat up and met his gaze. It felt like hours. His eyes reflected a dark abyss, dark pools of unreadable questions. They gazed at each other's eyes in silence. No words were spoken between them. Its as if one word can tear everything apart.

"We need to talk Akane." He softly told her.

Akane was surprised that her anger had dissipated. She could only continue to gaze in his eyes mesmerized. Unable to utter a single word. She was suppose to yell and scream at him. Tell him how much she had been suffering but there was something in his eyes that prevented her to do so. Fear encircled her heart. A thousand questions raced inside her head. As she continued to hold his gaze. Unable to speak she hesitantly nodded. Unsure what will happen next...

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Author's notes:

Well that's all for now… I know this is a bit fast but I figured it's time to have a more interesting turn of events… besides I figured the story was lagging a bit and its time to speed it up before I loose interest in the plots and believe me it happens. I mean look at the other stories I haven't updated for a while… well maybe its just writer's block but in any case I would like to finish at least one story by this year… well let me know what you think…

By the way, I will not be posting any new chapters for a couple of weeks because I have my exams coming up wish me luck!

Please review and as always read my other stories, feel free to express your opinion so I'm motivated to write….

Would Ranma and Akane be able to fix things between them? What is happening between Nabiki and Tatewaki? Ja Ne,

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