Please

A/N: Sorry for the long delay but here it is, another chapter. Warning this chapter has not been preread by anyone other then me, and as most of you should be aware my spelling and grammar are not great. If you notice any errors please feel free to point them out in review.

- chapter 4-

Groaning Nabiki unwillingly opened her eyes to the morning light that filtered in through her window. Her sleepy eyes squinting from overexposure to such pure light and did her best to glare. The beams of light where intent on mocking her, dancing playfully over her face, she didn’t like that. With a soft whimper she rolled over bearing herself into the warm dark embrace of her sheet, safe from the taunting beams, and smiled. The beams had lost; their full frontal assault on her senses had failed. Even now her mind was drifting once again into the world of dreams, but as it did it paused to ask itself ‘what’s missing?’

“Mmmmm Whys it so quiet?” Nabiki yawned and opened her eyes some time later realizing what had been missing. She sat up, the covers pooling in her lap and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, yawning again uncontrollably. Her image of morning cuteness was suddenly ruined as her drowsy eyes turned and rested on her wall clock, whereupon she screamed and fell flailing to the floor with her legs entangled in her sheets.

“Why didn’t anyone wake me?” She cried, her cloths finding themselves flying free in random directions, stripping in record time. Before her pair of panties even hit the window she was already hopping one footed out her door, final sock halfway up and her uniform ribbon between her teeth. It was luck alone she managed to tie her ribbon and carry her bag while skipping down the stairs without tripping.

“Nabiki?” Came Kasumi’s startled gasp as she rounded the corner, suddenly blocking Nabiki’s path. Determined to keep her perfect attendance Nabiki Instinctually pivoted on one foot and spun around her sister only to grieve her downfall as her bag caught the wall off balancing her, sending her spiraling to the floor with a soft thump.

“Oh my Nabiki, are you all right?” Kasumi worried and knelt beside her sister who was rubbing her bottom with a pained expression.

“I’m late, why didn’t anyone wake me?” Nabiki panicked about to hop to her feet, only to be stopped by Kasumi’s hand.

“We thought it would be best to let you sleep in after last night.” Kasumi explained softly, gentler then normal which caused Nabiki to blink.

‘Last night? What happened last night all I remember is… oh…’ Nabiki seemed to slump in her spot, school bag forgotten. The fight returning to her mind in crystal clarity, how could she have forgotten?

“What…?” Nabiki started but was instantly cut off by Kasumi’s hug. A strong warm embrace, more motherly then sisterly. It lasted longer then she had expected, longer then she had ever been hugged before. “Kasu…?”

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry I didn’t take better care of us.” Kasumi cut her off again with her painful apology. “I was the oldest…”

“Stop it.” The strength in Nabiki’s voice started both of them causing Kasumi to pull away.

“Nabiki?” Kasumi frowned confused, hurt.

“Stop it.” Nabiki continued softly. “It wasn’t any of our faults, it was ‘his’, I don’t want to hear any apologies or I’m sorry’s. What’s done is done, let’s just move on.”

Kasumi’s soft smile returned as she nodded, she wanted to apologize so badly but her sister was right. They had to move on and get past this, it was for the best. When Akane and Ranma return home she would tell them the same, hopefully it will help avoid another incident like the night before.

“I have lunch prepared.” Kasumi said as she stood helping her sister along with her. “I’m sure you’re hungry.”

“What about father?” Nabiki frowned being guided to her feet, a cold icy hate welling inside her.

“You don’t have to worry about father. It seems Mr. Saotome thought it best to have an extended training trip, father went with him.” Kasumi explained as she and Nabiki entered dinning room, and waited for them to sit before continuing. “Mr. Saotome didn’t give much detail on where they where going but he said it would be for several months.”

“Did father say anything?” The bite of Nabiki’s hate for her father chilled the words.

“No,” Kasumi replied gently as she poured tea “father didn’t take it well. I don’t believe he knew Genma and him where going on a trip, even as he packed his things”

“With any luck there will be a training accident.” Nabiki hissed causing Kasumi to start, having had her own suspicions about that very possibility.

“Nabiki you can’t possible mean that.” Kasumi gasped setting the tea down and staring at her sister in shock. Nabiki’s answer was long in coming as she sipped slowly at her tea.

“Your right,” Nabiki finally resigned “I just want him to know the pain he caused us all, know at least that…”

Kasumi nodded somewhat relived, it was only fair that their father realized that much and observed her sister as they began to eat. Nabiki at the moment looked as she did any other day, as if nothing at all had happened. If it weren’t for the small frown Kasumi could almost make herself believe it had all been a nightmare.

“Nabiki, are you all right?” Kasumi asked gently after several quiet minutes. She felt it was too early to ask but her love for her sister couldn’t hold it at bay any longer. After last night, no matter how collected her sister looked, she refused to believe her sister came out of it scar free.

“I’m fine.” Nabiki replied immediately, her stiff body language as she sipped her tea betraying her calm exterior and sent pangs of hurt threw her sister.

“I’m glad.” Kasumi smiled as she felt the tingle behind her eyes that so desperately wanted flow free as tears. Her sister wasn’t all right at all. She would be strong for her, she had no choice. Things will take time to heal.

“Thanks to Ranma.’ Nabiki added casually as she nibbling on a tea biscuit, losing none of the stiffness.

“Ranma?” Kasumi questioned curiously.

“Yeah.” Nabiki replied simply, showing no intention on explaining. Kasumi didn’t know what to make of it but decided not to pressure her sister and allowed them to finish their meal in silence. When they had finished Nabiki excused herself to the bath leaving Kasumi alone with her thoughts.

“Ranma? I wonder…”

--

In the furo Nabiki lay fully submerged, watching as tiny bubbles drifted up free from her lips; the warm water clouding her vision giving the sight a dream-like quality. It was with regret that she surfaced for air, allowing it to cascade over her heated face like an icy sheet. Rarely did she have time to enjoy such a long and relaxing bath, it was rather enjoyable and made a memo to take them more often. Crossing her arms over the side of furo, she rested her chin atop them and sighed,

Ranma… He refused to leave her mind. Last night he had comforted her more then he could ever know. The things he had said and his caress… A small unashamed blush came to her cheeks as she shifted her lips behind her arms. His caress had been so confident and strong; with each stroke polishing out her ragged feelings, taming them and providing her stability. She remembered thinking at the time how easy it would be to fall asleep to that caress, almost ignoring Ranma’s words in favor of it.

Luckily she hadn’t ignored them and was rewarded with the greatest gift of all. Ranma… not only did he worry about her but he was always watching… always… It had never accrued to her before. Of course she had caught his glances from time to time and never put thought to it, if she had would she have realized their meaning?

There was also the other thing, perhaps the most important. He had thought her cute, if only for a moment. Hearing him say it so casually, so naturally, had stunned her. Despite her state it had excited her, forcing a flush to her cheeks. It wasn’t the first time she had been called cute, but those times where few and far between. As Ranma had said, she wasn’t the cute sort and it was the truth. The cute ones where Akane and Kasumi, compared to them, she might as well be a wrinkled old troll.

It had always vexed her, looks where never her niche, Despite Ranma’s complaints, there was an entire school of boys who vowed Akane was the image of perfection. Her arts training keeping her trim and fit, as well as accenting her curves with well defined muscle. Kasumi too, when she still maintained her looks for school, was breathtaking beautiful. With make-up in all the proper places and her pristine long hair, she had easily entranced everyone around her, Nabiki remember feeling so jealous of it when she was younger. Herself though…

She pulled away from the side of the bath and stood, apprising her body. She had to thank puberty profusely for her chest. Though it was average at best they had a perfect shape making them one of her favorite features. Her most favorite body part was her small hands. No one noticed, or perhaps it was her imagination but she always thought them to be slightly smaller then normal, an oddity she often thought about. As for the rest of her body, it was curvy and firm but to her great annoyance desperately held onto her preteen baby fat. She wished her body would give up its silly stubbiness. As it was, her daily aerobics did little to change its mind.

Average was the word to describe her, she thought as she climbed still dripping from to furo. Even her face she believed to be average, lacking charm and beauty as well as cuteness. How did she expect Ranma to like her with such plain looks?

She stopped dead, mid-step.

“Where did that come from?” she questioned aloud, shocked at the alien concern. Since when did Ranma matter? ‘Oh no… no, no, no…’ Nabiki suddenly put fists to her temples and shook her head in denial. ‘This isn’t what I think it is, it sure as hell better not be.’ She dreaded as she timidly reviewed the new position her mind insisted on giving Ranma. To her horror, her mind, completely against her will, had re-filed Ranma directly under ‘want’.

Strength left her legs, wanting to collapse. Of everything thing that had happened recently, this was by far the worst. How dare her mind betray her, it was committing treason while she could only watch helpless. It wasn’t possible for her to spontaneously develop feelings for her little sisters fiancée, it wasn’t. The ramifications it could bring where unacceptable. ‘It must be a lie.’ she decided to forgo her better judgment and test just how real this discovery was.

Using all her concentration she envisioned Ranma standing half nude outside the bathroom door. Satisfied with the bare defined chest she imagined him entering, eyes closed shaking water from his hair. Walking past the dressing room directly into the bathing area where she stood completely nude. He opened his eyes staring strong and confidently at her vulnerable flesh unhampered by his boyish innocence.

‘Oh god…’ she had to stop, the uncomfortable tingle of sensations running throughout her body of fear and excitement where declarations of war. Her mind had revealed national secrets and raised an army. Its allies the sensations where undoubtedly careering nuclear warheads and knew exactly where to strike. In defense all her denial had to offer were stubborn pouts and comically flimsy protester picket signs. She hung her head and bit her lip. She was doomed.

Declaring marshal law over her mind she rallied her defensive troops, she may be doomed but to hell if she was going down without a fight. Troops in place she dried and dressed. Handing out capital punishment to any thoughts that remotely related to Ranma, there would be no negotiating. For now she would take a page out of Akane’s book and visit the dojo. Her mental war had caught her unawares, she wasn’t going to let a physical one do the same.

--

“Ranma if you did anything to Nabiki” Yuriko began, her eyes boring into Ranma’s startled and nervous ones.

“We will find out.” Hitomi finished mirroring her friend as they stood over a cowering Ranma. The two of them had cornered Ranma shortly into the lunch period near the P.E. shed, away from spectators. With Nabiki’s recent increase in harassment towards the pig tailed martial artist and now her sudden and unannounced absence, it was all to clear what had happened. Ranma had kidnapped Nabiki!

“I didn’t do anything!” Ranma protested as he sweat, caught off guard but the sudden assault. “Nabiki’s just having a sick that’s all!”

“That’s just what you want us to believe,” Hitomi stood tall looking down her nose at Ranma as she crossed her arms. “And we don’t believe you.

“Not one bit.’ Yuriko added, before stealing a quick glancing at Hitomi to mimic her pose.

“Look, ask Akane she’ll tell you the same.” Ranma pressed painfully into the fence, Nabiki’s lackeys moving every closer, step by step. They stopped.

“He may be telling the truth.” Yuriko pondered to her partner who hung her head in thought.

“It’s worth checking out.” Hitomi finely relented before taking a sudden step closer to Ranma, Yuriko following suit cheek to cheek with her partner, inches from Ranma’s face and added. “But if you are lying to us, it will make us angry.”

“And you wouldn’t like us when we’re angry.” The pair spoke in perfect unison, shearing hooded eyes of ill intent. Ranma only nodded and gulped as the pair continued their glare for several moments before skipping off with bright happy smiles.

--

Akane felt it had been a long school day, unlike her average day. This one had been uneventful, almost frighteningly so. Not even Kunou had attempted a challenge of love or justice, as if the world had stopped because Nabiki was absent. Her classes also had seemed far longer then normal, instead of concentrating on her lessons her mind had been wholly focused on her sister. The more she thought about her the more she wanted to hurry home and see if everything was all right, stretching each minute to painful lengths.

Nabiki had been asleep when she had checked back in on her, shortly after Ranma had left. She wondered what Ranma had said to her sister, just 10 minutes earlier she had been crying in anguish. Did what Ranma say have to do with his odd behavior now?

Akane glanced once again over at Ranma who was walking beside her, on their way home. There it was again, Ranma suddenly turned around and scratched the back of his head puzzled before continuing as if nothing had happened. It was beginning to irritate her.

“Ranma what are you doing?” She asked.

“Uh nothing.” Ranma replied before his pig-tail twitched and he spun again.

“Then what do you call that?” Akane growled throwing her arms down in frustration as Ranma was whipping is head back and forth with narrowed eyes.

“I just got this feeling that I’m being watched.” Ranma loosening up from his sudden tense posture and sighed. Akane rolled her eyes with a huff.

“You’re just being paranoid baka.”

“Maybe your right.” Ranma grudgingly agreed, after all, his fiancée’s and rivals wouldn’t be so easy to detect. Nah, he was just being paranoid.

“Hey.” Akane spoke softly after several quiet minutes between them.

“Mmm?”

Akane began to speak but stopped, why should she ask Ranma if Nabiki was going to be ok… Instead she franticly searched for another question to fill the void. “Did Yuriko and Hitomi talk to you today?”

“Yea, they thought I did something to Nabiki.” Ranma shivered involuntarily. “Man, their scary.” And added. “Why?”

“Oh nothing.” Akane deflected rubbing her hair and looking away. Ranma gave her an odd look and shrugged, folding his hands behind his head. Akane remembered the not to subtle probing Nabiki’s ‘associates’ had done with her over lunch. It had surprised her when they had dragged her into an empty classroom to interrogate her about Nabiki’s whereabouts. More then a few of the questions involved Ranma as well.

Ranma’s pig-tail gave a sudden twitch again followed by Akane’s eye. As he spun to once more check his surroundings he came face to face with Akane’s menacing school bag. “Baka! Will you stop that?”

“Ow! What was that for!?”

Behind a lamppost further down the street, two figures dressed fully in black panted heavily. Their bodies intertwined comically so that they remained hidden from view.

“I don’t think this was a good idea.” The shorter of the two whispered hoarsely, twitching their nose to keep the tied ends of a handkerchief in place, wearing it like a hat.

“Ranma’s good.” The taller admitted, doing their best to keep their own handkerchief in place. “But not good enough. We will defiantly figure out what he has done with Nabiki.”

“Mm, Mm!” The smaller nodded enthusiastically then a thought popped into their head. “Why are we wearing theses outfits?”

“Because it’s the proper thing to ware when following someone.” The taller explained in a well educated demeanor, receiving awed praise from their companion.

“You’re so smart Hitomi!”

“shhh! Their moving again!” The taller exclaimed before the pair sneaked across the street to an overturned trash can. “You forgot Su.” The taller continued causing the smaller to bop their forehead in negligence. “Ok now.” The two continued on keeping their mark in sight.

“su, su, su, su, su”

--

“We’er home.” Ranma and Akane called into the oppressively quite house. Ranma’s ear twitched after hearing no reply.

“That’s strange, think Kasumi and Nabiki went out or something?” Ranma questioned kicking off his soft soled shoes and peaked into the deserted dining room and living room as Akane followed suit by checking the kitchen.

“Kasumi left a note.” Akane called and quieted as Ranma started her with his entrance to the kitchen.

“What’s it say?”

“Going out to buy groceries, be backs soon.

P.S. Nabiki is in the dojo, be gentle on her.

Kasumi”

“The dojo?” Akane and Ranma blinked in unison and decided to go investigate.

--

Nabiki swore as she once more tripped over her own feet finding herself crumpled to the floor. It was hard to believe she had once done theses simple katas so easily when she was younger. Right now she could barely finish half of the most basic without meeting the floor and as her lack of breath and soar body told her. Her aerobics where not a viable substitute for martial arts fitness.

With a groan of determination she climbed once more to her feet and took several deep breaths. Feeling a hidden que she began the kata once more. Sweeping her hands out in slow controlled arcs followed by intricate leg movements she began to perform her dance. Every muscle in her body burring in protest as the hours of exertion where catching up to them. Her brow knitted as she made another mistake while spinning, keeping her balance but running the purpose of the complex action. Her eyes where closed as she let her body remember what she was taught so long ago.

‘Just one more step…’ she thought as her excitement got away with her ruining her chances as she over balanced on the last spin. Her feet slide out from below her as she fell backwards and closed her eyes tightly waiting for the floor to reach up and meet her but instead it was a pair of arms. She blinked and tilted her head back looking up, there only inches from her face was Ranma’s… She screamed.

“Nabiki!” Another scream was heard, or a pair of them as two ninjas appeared threw the dojo door only to trip over themselves and fall entangled together.

“Yuriko? Hitomi? What are you doing here?” Nabiki asked stunned after a moment as she panted profusely attempting to recover from the startled shock Ranma had given her. Poor Ranma had bolted away the moment she screamed and was now looking at her wearily as if she had just bitten him.

“We’re here to rescue you!” Yuriko spoke up cheerfully, entangled with Hitomi as they tried to separate themselves.

“Rescue me?” Nabiki blinked before Hitomi cried out.

“We new you where up to no good Ranma! Now let Nabiki go or else!”

‘Yea or else!” Yuriko added, the pair still struggling to free themselves but only making things worse.

“What’s going on here?” Akane demanded growing irritated.

“That’s what we would like to know!” The ninjas replied.

“No that’s what I’d like to know!” Nabiki growled causing everyone to turn to her. “What is everyone doing here, and Yuriko, Hitomi! Why are you two dressed like that?” She demanded still sitting on the floor with her legs crumpled below her.

“When you didn’t show for school we knew something was wrong!” Yuriko explained, Hitomi continuing. “And when Ranma said you where sick we knew! Ranma had kidnapped you!”

“Hey! I haven’t kidnapped nobody!’ Ranma protested.

“Kidnap me?” Nabiki frowned “Why on earth would Ranma kidnap me.”

“Because!” Hitomi added, with Yuriko making hand gestures to indicate the activities of the last few weeks, mainly the ones involving bring Misfortune to Ranma. Nabiki sighed and hung her head.

“Look, I don know what you two are thinking but as you can see Nabiki hasn’t been kidnapped.” Akane stomped and gestured a hand at Nabiki, her worry for her sister showing through as irritation.

“We hard her scream just now!” Hitomi frowned.

“We did!” Yuriko added.

“Wait… do you think Akane is in league with Ranma?” Hitomi asked timidly as her and Yuriko shared shocked and frightened looks.

“Oh my, and we fell right into their trap!”

“Enough!” Nabiki’s sighed. “I wasn’t feeling well so I took a sick day.” Before the pair could start up again she continued. “No I haven’t been brainwashed!” The two assistance slumped with pouts as if that where their next accusation. “I’m happy that you two where concerned but I’m fine.”

“But!” The pair tried to protest once more before Akane helped them up and began leading them out of the dojo. As they where dragged away Nabiki could make out Akane telling them to come back tomorrow when she was feeling better.

“Hey Nabiki you all right?” Ranma’s concerned voice filtered over her suddenly causing her to star in alarm. She was alone with Ranma. “You gotta be more careful, could have hurt yourself on that fall you know.”

“And I nearly had the thing complete…” She groaned and rubbed her aching calves’ deciding to take control of the situation before her mind ran array with itself.

“Yea, you where looking pretty good there.” Nabiki’s cheeks reddened as her mind made unrelated assumptions about the comment. “Made a few mistakes here and there but to tell you the truth I was surprised. Your a lot better then I thought you where.”

“Don’t try and flatter me Saotome, it won’t work. That’s the most basic thing I knew and I can’t even do it right.” Nabiki smiled despite herself, it felt good to be complimented even if it was a lie. It made the last few hours seem worth it.

“Huh? Really?” Ranma replied confused. “Man if that was the most basic thing you knew back when your pops was training you, you must have been as good as Akane is now.”

“Sorry to disappoint you Ranma but I’ve never been as good as Akane.” Nabiki smirked and stood, she had to hand it to Ranma. He almost sounded Believable but it was clear to her he had to be making it up, probably still worried about last night. “Is only a basic kata, you make it sound like I just did something advanced.”

“You did.” Ranma replied simply.

“Huh?” Nabiki blinked and turned toward Ranma fully. “No I didn’t. That’s the first thing I remember dad teaching me.”

“Just because it’s the first thing your old man decided to teach you doesn’t mean it’s basic. Some of thoughts moves are very complex requiring a lot of control and concentration. If your old man taught you that first he probably had high expectations of you.” Ranma explained forcing Nabiki to review the past, her happy childhood memories tarnished somewhat by her new found hatred for her father.

She remembered it had taken her quite some time to perfect that kata and assumed she was just untalented in the arts. Her father would spend days on end coaching and guiding her as she danced about awkwardly until she had completed it flawlessly. Her happiness at victory over the kata had died out quickly though once their father had begun to train Akane as well. He would spend less time explaining and guiding her letting her to discover it on her own as he assisted her little sister. Even as Kasumi began to aid her, the happy excitement she had held towards the arts began to sour and become unappealing as time went on, eventually losing interest and giving it up once their mother had passed away.

The more she thought about it the more an unsettling weight began to pull at her stomach. She had become jealous of her younger sister at the time and worked as hard as she could… to regain their fathers’ attention by perfecting the katas and techniques she was shone as quickly as possible. She had always been able to do them alone and unaided where as Akane would throw fits and tantrums in frustration at the difficulty of learning the arts. The feeling thickened as in her minds eye she could make a connection she really didn’t want to make, one that could have been real or one she was just creating now to comfort herself. It wasn’t possible she had been talented enough to train herself… it wasn’t. Their father always trained Akane because she was the more promising student right… It had to be the reason. To even suggest or pretend she had talent in the arts was a laugh… but her memories… they didn’t lie.

“Nabiki?” Ranma spoke softly; she ignored him as her fists clamped. This was some sort of sick joke her mind was playing on her. Akane had always been the best; always… there was no reason or her continue the arts. Akane would do that for her… continue the family’s legacy… the rightful hair to the school… the most talented… the best…

Tears welled-up in Nabiki’s eyes as she closed them tightly… body shaking at this profound revelation she had never wanted to make. All her joy and happiness at performing the arts swirling inside her fighting a desperate battle against the dark and sour feeling of jealousy and neglect. She had quite the arts not our of lack of interest or talent… but out of her feelings of neglect and jealousy for her father and sister.

With a cry of anguished frustrations she collapsed to her knees falling once more into a torrent of raging emotions she had no more defenses to restrain. Her hand covered her eyes as tears cascaded down her cheeks in angry rivers. Strangely the maelstrom of anguished emotions assaulting her senses felt warm and inviting. Letting herself brake and fell to her side with the storm raging till the last glimmer of light faded from her mind leaving only the safety of darkness and the embrace of sleep. One word formed on her lips as the storm receded.

‘Ranma…’

- end -