A/N: Thanks everyone for the reviews, here is another chapter I hope I corrected properly. The ooc-ness of Nabiki and Ranma was intentional, being able to write a story like this is impossible without diverting them from the strait comedy path the manga or anime gave them. This will become Nabiki/Ranma, and iv developed a few plans for the pair so far. There is now a guiding light. Please let me know of any mistakes I may have made, thank you. I have responded to a few reviews directly, and don’t currently plan to post responses in my story.

Please

-chapter 1-

Ranma stood stunned watching Nabiki exit the room, the slight almost unnoticed tingle in her cheek the only sign that Nabiki had indeed slapped him. After several minutes he huffed and touched his cheek, it could hardly have been called a slap even Akane’s love taps where far more formidable.

“What her problem?” he grumbled and left the room the shock worn off, to think Nabiki could be as violent as her sister was an eye opener. All he was doing was asking for her help and she slaps him but admittedly he felt a bit guilty. She had asked him to let her go, still she didn’t need to go and slap him just for that. Not like he was going hurt her or anything.

“Boy what’s with that look?” Genma glared suddenly materializing before him as he entered the guest room. “Have you been fighting with Akane again? Tell the truth boy!”

“Course not!” Ranma replied out of habit and punting his father across the room, who recovered instantly.

“Your lying boy, Akane’s been in her room ever since school what have you done?” Genma glared down at him glasses reflecting the light giving the impression of ominous power.

“What? Hey why do you assume it’s always my fault? It aint like I go round looking for trouble!” Ranma glared back moments before the two broke into a wrestling free for all, grappling trying to subdue the other.

“Boy you will apologies to Akane this instant!” Genma barked his bulk and center of gravity giving him little advantage over Ranma.

“I aint apologizing to nobody old man!” Ranma glared missing an opening as they continued circling each other arms locked. “That uncute tomboy misunderstand everything!”

“Boy!” Genma hissed showing an instant of monsterus strength lifting Ranma clear off the floor and flinging him out the ever open window “That’s no way to talk about your Fiancée!”

Ranma having expected as much managed to snag the frame and throw himself back delivering both feet into his father’s unprotected abdomen, crumpling him to the floor.

“Ha take that old man.” Ranma gloated missing the glint in his father’s eyes and left the room, dusting his hands he made for the stairs.

“Don’t think this is over boy!” Genma cried suddenly delivering a kick to Ranma’s back and flinging him head first down the stairs.

“Will you knock it off already!” Ranma growled having landed perfectly after midair flip, looking up just in time to see the mass that was his father descending with another kick aimed for his head.

“Not till you apologies to Akane!” Genma demanded as Ranma effortlessly sidestepped the attack before taking advantage of the opening. Gripping his father by the front of his gi he used his forward momentum, spun and tossed him clear threw the dinning room and out the open screens to land with a great splash in the koi pond.

“Ranma Kasumi said to wash up before dinner.” Nabiki tossed stiffly as she passed him form the living room and ascended the stairs, causing him to blink at the odd tone.

“She’s probably still mad.” Ranma reasoned and carelessly tossed it aside, going to wash. The old man wouldn’t be bugging him any time soon, but there was still the matter of the test. Maybe he could ask Akane, no way was he going to apologize but maybe she would help like Nabiki said after all it was Akane making such a big deal over it. Not like he really cared if he passed or not, but he figured he owed Akane for all the help she had been giving him recently for school and wanted to show her it was worth it. Besides thoughts where the only times they could share any real conversation without fighting.

It wasn’t like he liked her or nothing, defiantly not! Just he didn’t like to leave debts unpaid. If he passed the test he was sure Akane would be happy, and probably lighten things up between them.

--

‘What!?” Akane barked at the knocking at her door, probably Ranma and she had no intention on talking to him right now.

“It’s me sis, Kasumi says Dinners ready.” Nabiki replied causing Akane to steam and sigh.

“K, I’ll be down in a minute.” If she went to dinner she would have to see the baka, but she didn’t see much choice.

“Mind if I come in a minute?” Nabiki asked softly almost muffled by the door.

“Sure.” Confused and curious Akane sat up in bed still hugging her comfort pillow and watched Nabiki enter to sit beside her. “What’s up?”

Nabiki sat back causally arms supporting her head hung back and looking up at the ceiling. Silence reigned for several moments as Akane brushed the corner of her comfort pillow back and forth over her lips waiting for her sister to speak.

“Have you thought about mom recently?”

Akane was somewhat stunned by the question then felt shame looking down as she thought about it. The truth was she hadn’t, not in awhile, or at least since Ranma’s arrival. There mother was the centre of their world when she was alive, their father always teaching in the dojo and spearing only enough time to teach discipline and the arts to the three of them. But their mother was always there caring for and nurturing them, smothering them in love. When she had died so much was lost, only now was the family starting to find equilibrium again.

“No?” Akane admitted sadly turning to her sister who made no further comment. “Are you ok sis?”

“Yea.” Nabiki leaned forward “its just I was wondering what it would have been like if she was still here.” Akane frowned at the thought turning away and continued to hug her pillow, what would it have been like?

“You know” Nabiki continued lost in though “maybe father would have continued teaching us, and Kasumi could have continued her schooling.”

“Nabiki…” Akane turned back a pang thumping in her heart, seeing regret in Nabiki’s eyes. Not once since their mothers death had they every spoken about it, they would often talk about things she or they had done together but never anything like this. Somehow looking at her sister she felt out of reach and lost, did her sister always feel this way? Had she often thought about things like this, hidden away in her room long into the night thinking about the past?

“Akane Nabiki, dinners ready” Kasumi’s soft distant voice filtered up the stairs and through the open door effectively placating the heavy atmosphere.

“Who knows maybe I wouldn’t have given up the arts.” Nabiki added with sigh of effort as she stood and unnecessarily brushed wrinkles from her shorts, seeming to instantly recover from her state. Akane stood as well abandoning her pillow in favor of hugging her sister, pulling away after only a moment.

“What was that for sis?” Nabiki blinked taken aback by the sudden action.

“We used to talk like this together, when mom was still around. I’ve missed it.” Akane admitted honestly feeling a small piece of the bond they had once shared mending and in the process remembering just how much the loss of their mother had taken away from them.

“We always talk with each other.” Nabiki deadpanned as she turned away adding with a smile. “baaaka.” Akane smiled as well as she threw a pillow at her sister in retaliation before they both left the room.

--

Sitting down at dinner Nabiki felt refreshed. When she entered Akane’s room it hadn’t been to talk about their mother, in fact she had intended to ask about Ranma except when she spoke the wrong words came out. They where always there lingering at the back of her mind, words she had never intend to share but as they slipped out she felt somehow relieved, lightened. But in truth it wasn’t the revealing of her thoughts that where reason for her mood, it was the hug her little sister had springed on her.

She couldn’t remember the last time she had been hugged out of affection as apposed to greeting. Sure people consider her to be the ice queen, a cruel cynical mercenary whose only goal is too turn a profit, but that doesn’t mean she has no interest in friendship or affection. It was true her place in school and the methods she used to make money was a permanent buffer for both, she did not shun them as people she was sure believed, they where simply not accessible.

“Oh Ranma dose your father need a kettle?” Kasumi spoke up as Ranma took a seat followed by his father who was still in panda form having had no time o chance back.

“Na, he can have bamboo tonight.” Ranma exchanged glares with his father but won out as Kasumi seemingly materialized a large platter of shoots from nowhere allowing Genma to dig in.

Nabiki glanced over at Ranma as the family began to eat, frowning and retuning to her meal as a small flutter of distress made its self known. She pushed her rice about in her bowl mixing it with the vegetables and meat as her thoughts turned inward again. Was this it? Was the simple act of being subject to Ranma’s strength enough to turn her into a whimpering coward? Ranma’s fights had always amazed her, his power was undeniable. Even when the situations got out of hand somehow they felt safe and distance almost unreal even right from the sidelines she had never felt a single moment of hesitation or fright. But now, she glanced at Ranma once more as even without fear of his father continued to train at speed eating rearranging his food and devouring what he considered unsecured portions, Ranma intimidated her.

“Nabiki are you alright?” Kasumi asked worriedly as Nabiki’s chopsticks snapped, the sudden pressure she had applied against the bowl proving too much for the fragile wood.

“Yea must have been a bad pair.” Nabiki played it off causally as she picked the broken ends from her food, inside she was shaken at the truth of her own admission. It was true Ranma intimidated her, he always had but never before had he given her reason to realize that. Ranma was like your favorite scary movie, a guilty pleasure that you loved to watch over and over witnessing things that terrify and amaze you but indulge anyway because safely cuddled in your blankest from behind the TV screen.

“Here pops wont need um.” Ranma reached out offering his father’s pair of chopsticks to her.

When Ranma reached out and grabbed her it was no longer just a movie; no longer the guilty and exciting pleasure she secretly indulged. His hand had shattered the fragile glass that kept her fears and concerns at bay; there was no more safety or disillusion to hide them. At any time or anywhere she could become part of the movie drawn into the danger and chaos, it was perhaps only luck she had avoided it for so long.

“Thanks for dinner.” Nabiki said calmly and stood, leaving Ranma’s offering untouched as she left the table.

“Nabiki?” Kasumi called after her full of concern along with Akane and her father.

“I’m not very hungry and I think I will turn in early.” Nabiki added as she passed the door hoping they would accept the explanation, it was the truth after all. Her thoughts this evening had slaughtered her appetite without mercy and she was growing tired by each passing moment she dwelled on them.

Climbing the stairs she decided she would go to bed at least that was free of Ranma. She suddenly blushed and nearly tripped over the lip of the stairs as images of Ranma filled her head, in her bed and not always alone. Growling to herself she forced them out of her mind with an imaginary flamethrower making sure there would be no incriminating trace left for her to stumble upon later.

--

Akane frowned deeply as Nabiki left the room, she was sure it was result of the small conversation they had shared in her room and looked on worriedly, it was the first time in her memory that she felt something was really bothering her sister. Nabiki was always able to handle everything with a cool often cynical approach and never let it affect her, but this was different. Akane silently hoped her sister was ok.

“Oh my I wonder if she’s coming down with something.” Kasumi worried as the others seemed to accept Nabiki’s explanation, or at least the two fathers. Ranma on the other hand seemed agitated and forwent the rest of his training and emptied his plates in a blur.

“Thanks for dinner.” Ranma stood and quickly left the room hoping off into the backyard and out of site. Akane’s frown deepened in worry and wondered if something happened between the two of them.

--

Nabiki filed away her homework after entering her room, and dropped her pack by the door satisfied she was ready for the morning. She began to pull off her loose t-shirt only to turn towards the sudden tap at her window. There sitting upside-down from the eve was Ranma bug-eyed and quickly growing pale. Nabiki blinked and looked down at herself, bare chest fully and clearly exposed. It was with the greatest of effort and control that she slowly lowered her top and calmly walked to the window, opening it casually and held out her hand expectedly.

“500 Yen.”

Ranma responded instantly and without hesitation as he mechanically abstracted the sum from his pockets and placing it in her hand after which he was rewarded with the window and blinds being shut in his face.

Turning away from the window Nabiki blushed furiously, it was the first time to her knowledge that Ranma had seen her nude or partly. After the first day of Ranma’s arrival she had expected as much and made it an active priority to safeguard herself from such accidents. Her blush didn’t last long as she realized how many of theses accidents Akane had been subject to in the past, each and every time she had retaliated against Ranma.

It went to show how confident her little sister was, able to fight even at her most vulnerable. Where she herself only had her pride for strength, had Ranma not looked so shell-shocked she was sure she would have screamed and cowered away vulnerable and weak. Self consciously she wrapped her arms around herself, it was the first time anyone outside her family had seen her so exposed. Not even at public baths where she would ware a bathing suit to fend off perverts had she exposed herself.

Why tonight of all nights did her world have to be turned upside down? Damn Ranma, for making her feel all theses things. The parts of her she kept hidden even from herself were beginning to surface, her weaknesses and flaws. She had always kept herself sound of mind, focused and eye on her target. It only took one unexpected event, a miscalculation to rend a fragile hole in her world. She wouldn’t accept this, damn Ranma. Tomorrow the school would begin, there was her element, and there she had the power. It will be from school she will defend herself and repair the hole before it grows. Nabiki growled softly as fiery determination flared to life. She was going to show Ranma just how powerless he was in her world. Damn him…

-end-