A/N: I have forgotten to explain, but Ranma’s dialogue is purposely misspelled or slang and full of poor grammar. Being on the road for 10 years with no formal education and constant switching between locations would have a negative effect on how Ranma speaks. This chapter was shorter due to wanting to move the story along; next chapter should be bursting with new exciting content. Also please review; I enjoy your feedback, also looking for another prereader to help me with further corrections.

Please

- chapter 3 -

Kasumi stared into her lap, the room so quiet that the muffled sounds of Nabiki’s crying and Akane’s attempts to calm her could be heard from upstairs. Everything Nabiki had said needed to be said and it hurt so much, it should never have come out this way. Kasumi glanced at their father who was shell shocked and spared him no sympathy. The Saotome’s on the other hand she favored with a mournful frown, it was never proper to subject others to family ghosts.

It surprised her as Genma suddenly stood with a seriousness expression. She was almost worried that he would harm her father, but frowned in sad thanks as Genma gently lifted Soun to his feet and helped him walk from the home, most likely heading towards the local pub. Thank you Genma, she spoke internally, knowing their father had taken it perhaps as hard as he had their mother’s death. This time however, he had his closest friend for support. This time there was hope, at least for her father.

Kasumi looked up towards the ceiling, in the direction of Nabiki’s room. Nabiki, on the other hand, worried her greatly. It was no secret the feelings Nabiki hid, several years after their mother’s death it had finely dawned on Kasumi the true scope of what Nabiki had sacrificed for them. It had made her feel so useless; a failure to the family when she realized just like her father, she had given up the responsibilities and let them disappear, to fall onto someone else’s shoulders.

Unlike herself Nabiki had the determination and will power to do whatever was needed to support the family. Keeping her pain and frustration hidden, accepting the responsibilities without complaint or protest’s sacrificing her own value over that of theirs. It was such a mortifying discovery; after that moment, she took it upon herself to ease Nabiki’s burden with all of her ability. It was only small things like preparing her favorite meals or collecting coupons to lower their spending costs, all of them small and insignificant, the only thing she could do.

Just then she noticed Ranma had not moved from his spot beside the table. The lack of any expression worried her.

“Ranma-kun, are you alright?” She probed gently, family matters should remain within the family, poor Ranma.

“Yeah,” Ranma said softly. “I didn’t cause this did I?”

Kasumi felt a pang of hurt for Ranma, ‘of course not Baka’.

“No Ranma you didn’t, this has been waiting a long time to come out.” Ranma nodded, and looked up towards Nabiki’s room, the sobbing now under control, but still heard.

“You think…” Ranma started losing confidence then began again. “You think I can go apologies?”

“You have done nothing wrong Ranma.” Kasumi reassured him.

“We, had a fight at lunch.” Ranma admitted softly, Kasumi could easily see the guilt in his eyes. It was clear Ranma, regardless of her reassurance, felt responsible for this crisis. Ranma was too innocent for his own good.

“Ranma-kun, I’m sure it would cheer Nabiki up to hear your apology.” Kasumi smiles warmly, not knowing if it was the best choice or not. Ranma needed no more encouragement as he slowly stood and left the room. Right now her sister was in a fragile state and the smallest action could break her. In the morning would it still be Nabiki they find or would it be the broken shattered pieces of someone they wouldn’t even recognize.

--

Akane sat beside her sister who was contorted painfully on the bed in racking sobs, and rubbed her back soothingly. The very sight of her sister brought so much pain, images of her screaming and yelling at there father unhindered by her own tears flashed through Akane’s mind.

Kasumi had told her once years ago about Nabiki’s sacrifices for the family, a mild version and she had hardly cared at the time. Over the years it had settled in, but this was the first time she actually felt the sacrifices her sister had made, truly felt them.

She knew as angry at their faster as she could be, she could never have yelled or screamed like Nabiki had. The things Nabiki had to endure to feel so strongly, so much pain and anger. I’m so sorry Nabiki.

“It’s ok, sis,” Akane whispered. What was she to say? There was no words, no thoughts, nothing.

A sudden soft knock at the door caused her to frown. Leaving Nabiki’s side a moment Akane answered it. Cracking the door open she was surprised to see Ranma standing nervously in the middle of the hall. It made her angry, this was a family matter. He had no right to be here now.

“What?” Akane hissed softly, barely heard over Nabiki’s sobbing.

“Is she ok?” Ranma’s asked, the concern in Ranma’s voice caused Akane to soften slightly.

“No baka,” Akane glanced over her shoulder, seeing Nabiki wrap her blanket around herself.

“What do you want?” She turned back.

“To apologize.” Akane felt her already present anger bubbling over. Her sister was there crying her eyes out and Ranma was here to apologies for earlier?

“Apologize?” Akane hissed “Can’t you see there’s more important things right now baka? Do you even care what Nabiki just went through?” Ranma blinked until he realized Akane thought he meant to apologies to her.

“I came to apologize to Nabiki.” Ranma clarified scuffing a bit, he wasn’t that insensitive.

“For what?” Akane demanded.

“Uh… Well, we got into a fight over lunch and I wanted to apologize.” Ranma offered, he wanted to explain but telling Akane the full story right now wouldn’t be a smart idea. Akane, on her part, was stunned. Nabiki and Ranma fighting? It didn’t matter. This wasn’t the time for this.

“Apologize later.” Akane began shutting only to be prevented by Ranma as he placed a hand on the door.

“Look, it will only take a minute, please Akane?” The concern and distress in Ranma’s eyes made Akane melt, he was truly concerned for her sister. Ranma was always such a baka, anytime someone was upset or cried he’d have to act like it was his own fault. In her case it always was, but in the end he always cheered her up... she sighed.

“Make it quick.” Akane opened and stood away from the door, allowing Ranma in. After a few moments she realized Ranma wanted to apologize in private, sparring nervous glances her way. She favored him with a warning glare before leaving the room to quickly gather some things to help Nabiki; no doubt se would be thirsty soon.

“You better not do anything perverted!” She called quietly in warning as she gently shut the door behind her, heading downstairs. She didn’t want to leave her sister alone, especially not now. But Ranma sometimes had a charm about him, a charm that would cheer you up, even against your will and make everything seem all right again. If Ranma’s apology could help her sister, even a little bit, it was reason enough to give him a chance.

It wasn’t right though, this fight. Nabiki was always cool and collected. Even with their father’s selfish decision she had not expected Nabiki to be so emotional. Right from the beginning she could feel the tension and strain from her sister, it was alien. Those emotions shouldn’t have been there no matter the argument or conversation, Nabiki would never have allowed it. In the back of her mind, Akane knew there was something else. The real reason behind this.

Perhaps it was Ranma? Akane frowned and shook her head; her sister has had Ranma wrapped around her finger since day one. She couldn’t see any reason for Ranma to be the cause. In the slim chance he was, she was sure Nabiki would have handled it quickly and without fuss. If it came down to it, she would be more worried for Ranma then her sister, If they where to somehow become enemy’s or at least on one another’s bad side.

“Akane, how is Nabiki?” Kasumi spoke up, pulling her out of thought.

“I don’t know” She looked down and worriedly rubbed her hair. “Ranma’s with her now. I came down to get Nabiki some water.” Looking up she added “Where’s father?”

“Mr. Saotome took father with him; I believe they will go to the pub.” Kasumi explained and inwardly hoped her intuiting was right. Akane nodded in reply and sat down, losing herself in thought, momentarily forgetting about her task.

“Is everything going to be okay?” Akane asked weakly. There was no pretending this had never happened, no quick fixes. Whatever happened tomorrow, or the following week, or the month after that; it would all be affected by tonight and for better or worse, it was too late to take it back. Kasumi shifted her position to pull Akane into a sisterly embrace. There was no answer she could give, not to this question. Only time would tell.

--

‘This was a bad idea’ was all Ranma could think as he stared helplessly at the quivering bundle of blankets that protectively shrouded Nabiki. She was still sobbing along with an occasional hiccup, blind to the world. He was sure she wasn’t aware of his presence, or that Akane had ever been here. As each moment he stood silent passed, he felt a sense of wrongness growing within, The act of witnessing Nabiki now, in her sorrow, somehow betraying her… raping her.

The sensation of that thought was so great that he recoiled. Yes that is what it felt like, watching Nabiki lay there broken, shattered; he was raping her with his very presence, taking something from her, violating her with each tear she shed. Never in his life had he felt so wrong about anything, he had to make his presence known; He couldn’t bare another moment of this sensation.

Filled with purpose, Ranma sat down and began rubbing what he assumed to be Nabiki’s back, soothingly. Seeing Nabiki’s sudden outburst at dinner had made him choke mid-bite into a fishcake, and the things she had said... He felt somewhat ashamed for always thinking they had it easy. He knew what Nabiki did, he learned that early. But he had never suspected their situation had been so bad. His feelings of concern and shame began seeping into his arm as his gentle soothing became firmer, full of strength and reassurance.

“Come on Nabiki, stop crying will ya?” Ranma asked pathetically and had the feeling he wasn’t heard so he continued his actions. There below the blankets Nabiki was lost and torn, full of pain; the best he could do was telling her to stop?

“You know me, i ain’t good at this sorta thing.” He continued, looking away out the window. At least he could pay her the respect of not staring.

“I just wanted to say I’m sorry,” it surprised him at how easily it came out. He was no stranger to apologizing but by no means was he good at it. Especially with Akane; with her, he would have to apologize for everything, even if he wasn’t responsible. Apologizing for something he didn’t understand, or felt was his fault had always made them awkward and difficult.

“I let my guard down. Sometimes I forget you’re not like me and the rest, martial artist you know? You’re always there when I’m fighting; I’ve seen you and you’re never afraid. I mean the students, they enjoy watching and all but when something unexpected happens they run, not you though. You always stay till the end, makes it hard to remember you’re the same as them and how easily you can be hurt. I wasn’t thinking, man, I shoulda been more careful. I really coulda hurt you.

Akane, when things get outta hand I look out for her, but I’m not afraid. Akane’s tough, she can take a hit or two. I ain’t saying it’s ok; I’m just saying she’s good enough not to get herself hurt. I don’t need to worry about her… Unlike you. I never told nobody, but when I’m fighting sometimes, I keep an eye on you. When a fights getting outta control, you don’t know what’s gonna happen so I keep watch, making sure you’re safe and won’t get caught up in it. Only takes one mistake.”

Ranma trailed off so lost in his words and the soothing caress of Nabiki’s back that he failed to notice the silence of the room. Even a noisy cricket failed to alert him allowing him to fall deeper into thought. ‘Man i wish I could cheer Nabiki up’, thinking about it he had another reason to apologize he had forgotten about and continued.

“It’s a bit late, but I wanna apologize for before, when I asked you to tutor me. I shouldn’t have done that, grabbing you. Just I wasn’t thinking, guess I do a lot of that huh? … Truth is seeing you there; at your desk, I thought you looked kinda cute. Hey! Don’t get the wrong idea or nothing, just that you know, you’re not the cute sort.” Ranma was suddenly interrupted by a giggle that became a light laugh, it was Nabiki.

“Really Saotome, you need to learn to stop when you’re ahead.” Nabiki’s amusement filtered threw the blankets, words heavy with recent sorrow. Ranma boggled as he realized what he had said, but the relief of Nabiki’s apparent recovery swayed him from further sticking his foot in mouth and remained silent. It was only after several minuets that Ranma realized he was still rubbing Nabiki’s back, and as if hit by scolding water he retreated.

“Glad your feeling better.” Ranma laughed nervously hanging at the last few words, unable to find more and decided it was time he left. He was halfway out the door when Nabiki stopped him.

“Ranma.”

“Yeah?”

“… Thank you…”

Ranma smiled, at watched Nabiki a moment longer before softly and silently closeting her door. Man, he thought taking a deep breath, that mutsa cost me 10 years.

--

Nabiki, despite herself, couldn’t repress the fond smile that insisted on playing across her lips. Damn Ranma, there couldn’t be anyone else able to cheer someone up with an insult. She sighed softly as a small girlish laugh escaped her, nuzzling into her warm safe blankets. She felt giddy, whether due to Ranma’s words or her long cry she didn’t know. For the first time she felt free, weightless and... happy. She was happy and it brought fresh tears to her eyes.

Happiness, it was something she thought she knew but ‘her’ happiness never felt this strong… this… real. Her happiness was a lie, another illusion. She could always smile and laugh, enjoy and appreciate humor but did she only believe that to be happiness. Right now she was flying, soaring so far, so high in the heavens. Forever safe from the dark swirling emotions empoisoned out of sight, lost below the clouds.

She felt a sudden drop in her altitude when her thoughts crossed her father, but quickly regained control, even soaring higher then before. He disserved everything that had been said, every single word hammered straight and painfully into his little world of delusions. Maybe now he would open his eyes and see reality, or crawl deeper into his world to hide. She didn’t care; no matter how deep he crawled she was sure her words would forever haunt him and he would always know the pain he caused.

A large gentle yawn was the only warning she had before her eyes began to droop, growing quickly numb with acceptance. Idly, as she drifted off into an exhausted sleep, she wished Ranma had stayed. She missed the feeling of his soothing touch.

- end -