A/N: Long overdue but an update. More coming soon. P.S. this chapter is dedicated too everyone who continued to message me in hopes I would continue.

- Chapter 5-

Nabiki awoke with a sluggish mind. She was confused and felt out of place. Where was she and why was she so hot? Whimpering in discomfort she kicked her legs which felt entangled with cloth and damp with sweat. The more she moved her limbs and body to find a more comfortable position the more discomfort she found. Her body was soar and sweaty and felt as if she had barely enough strength to move.

Panting from even the small amount of exertion it took her to roll from her back to her side she cracked her eyes open. What greeted her was the orange and red bream of the setting sun that flowed in though her window and framed her in a spotlight, no doubt the reasons she felt so hot. How long had she been laying here?

“ahhh!” Nabiki cried and grit her teeth using all her strength too push herself up to a sitting position with her legs sliding of the edge of the bed to rest on the floor. She closed her eyes tightly as she caught her breath from her heavy panting. She felt so slow and sluggish and even her thoughts became mixed and mingled with each other as if they where ghosts.

Opening her eyes she was staring down at both her arms that trembled beside her and weakly supporting her weight. Why was she in a gi? Why was? She interrupted her own thoughts by shaking her head quickly to try and clear it. Her head hurt and she felt hot and sticky, the discomfort was so great she almost began too cry. The dizzy spell that followed from shaking her head dazed her and she lost her balance falling forward from her bed too land painfully on the floor.

“Nnnn what?” Nabiki blinked the sudden impact clearing her mind somewhat. Recognition making itself clear she frowned deeply as her memories returned. She had been in the dojo practicing until Ranma… and then her childhood… she shook her head again not wanting to think about it at the moment.

She managed once more to sit herself upright and leaned against the edge of her bed with her legs folded under her. Gritting her teeth and whimpered at realizing just how much she overdid her training in the dojo. Her arms and legs felt like jelly and she was quite sure she couldn’t stand to save her life at the moment. As well the rest of her wasn’t doing much better as the slightest moment sent aches and pains through soar muscles she never knew existed.

“I really over did, didn’t I? Baaaka!” Nabiki complained to herself softly as her head fell back on her bed. Opening her eyes with a deep intake of breath she stared at the ceiling solemnly with emotionless eyes.

“Is this how it’s going to be you and me?” She asked herself.

“Making me cry over everything? We have been together a long time, all our lives and now you decide to betray me? Why? We have been good to each other in the past, why now do you leave me so open only now?” Her mind didn’t answer her so she continued.

“Can’t we be friends again? Put the last few weeks behind us and start fresh? Go back to the way it was before? Its not too late, I can forgive you.” She frowned deeply after a few minutes; her mind once more ignored her.

“Well fine!” She huffed. “If you want too play it that way then go right ahead! We are enemies now you and I so go ahead and make me cry. We will see where that gets us; it will be your fault, not mine, when we lose everything. We will only have you to blame for betraying me.”

Nabiki smiles and began to laugh a bit. What was she doing? It was so silly but for some reason it felt refreshing to do something so unlike her normal self. But what was normal now… she didn’t know and she wasn’t particularly in the mood to think about it as her nose twitched and notified her just how much she needed a bath.

She lifted her head and looked around her room. The sun still shown into it with a warm strong glow, it was close too sunset but she guessed it would still be light out for a little while longer. Looking towards her door she suddenly realized it was open, probably left that way so her sisters could check up on her easier.

Taking a deep determined breath she climbed to her feet. Regardless of their jelly like condition she was determined to at least make it out of her room before calling for assistance like some damsel in distress. It took her a few tries but she finely managed too stand and once on her feet she felt a bit more stable and confident.

Carefully she walked out of her room using the wall as a safeguard incase her legs decided to mutiny on her. The furo was downstairs which she knew would be a problem but she shuffled towards it anyways and came to rest at the top of the stairs.

“Ranma you did something to Nabiki didn’t you?” Nabiki blinked as Akane’s voice filtered up from the first floor, she guess it was coming from the dinning room and from the aromas she guessed they where having or just finishing dinner.

“Look I told you already I did nothing! We where talking and she just, well you know!’ Ranma defended himself in a stubborn manner. Nabiki smiled a bit as Ranma was too shy to say she cried.

“Well then what where you talking about?” Akane demanded not letting up.

“Now Akane I am sure Ranma is telling the truth.” Kasumi tried to mediate but Nabiki could tell by the tone she wanted to know specifics as well.

“Look I was just telling her how good she was at the arts is all!” Ranma whined.

“Oh really? You mean how you tell me how good I am?” Akane growled threateningly. “That she was too clumsy and uncoordinated? No wonder she cried! She hasn’t practiced the arts in years!”

“What? No! I just told her I was surprised she was better then I thought is all!” Nabiki smirked as she could easily see Ranma waving his hands in front of his face cowering from Akane’s glare thinking he was about to be malleted.

“You’re lying baka! Why Would Nabiki cry over that?” Akane wasn’t believing him.

“Akane right now Nabiki is in a very delicate place…” Kasumi spoke up; it was so soft Nabiki had only just made it out from the top of the stairs. “I don’t believe it was Ranma’s fault. Nabiki is very fragile right now and the arts have always meant a lot to her.“

“What do you mean?” Akane sounded confused and interrupted Kasumi before she could continue. “I know she has been thinking about them recently but they never meant much to her…”

“You where to young to remember.” Kasumi paused probably sipping from her tea. Nabiki frowned and slid to the floor with her leg below her leaning against the wall and listening in. She felt a heavy weight in her chest a desperate need to know what Kasumi had to say. She, herself, just realize a few hours ago crying her eyes out on the dojo floor how much the arts had meant to her. Was it possible Kasumi always knew even while she tricked herself into denial? She had to know the truth.

“Nabiki loved the arts. I think even she was too young too remember it but when Father was first teaching me she would always watch sitting in mothers lap and ask when it was her turn. Father and mother would always laugh and tell her when she grew a little taller which she would always pout at and complain at how unfair it was she was so short.” Kasumi giggled a bit, and it surprised Nabiki it was such rare sound to hear from Kasumi. Also the story, she remembered none of it pained her.

“Nabiki was always very smart. One day she even stole my shoes and stuffed them full of socks and wore them to the dojo to try and trick father into teaching her. Of course father played a trick on her in return and pretended he didn’t know who she was because his little Nabiki wasn’t so tall so she couldn’t be his Nabiki she had to be someone else’s. Nabiki was so frightened father couldn’t recognize her that she kicked the shoes off right there and ran up to him in tears saying she was his Nabiki and she was only pretending to be taller.

It wasn’t long after that father had finely given into training her; she refused to give him a moment’s peace till he taught her. He began by teaching her the basics but she refused to listen. She kept telling father she had already learned them by watching me, she wanted to learn what her big sister was doing. Father trying to pull another trick on her played along and began to teach her one of the kata’s I had just learned but too everyone’s surprise Nabiki had almost preformed it perfectly the first time.”

“Nabiki wasn’t ever good at the arts, she said so herself.” Akane sounded even more confused by now. “How could she perform something so advanced father started teaching you years before us.”

“Apparently she didn’t just watch my trainings sessions with father she memorized them and would sneak off after too train herself. Father had caught her several times but had never thought a lot of it not until he actually began to train her. Nabiki was so gifted.” Kasumi’s voice was tight with pride and happiness, even from the top of the stairs Nabiki could hear it clearly and her own eyes teared up a bit. How could she have forgotten something like this.

“Mother and father where so surprised and proud of her. When they praised her for it I never seen Nabiki so happy. She became so dedicated to the arts; each time father taught her something new she would spend days on end practicing just to get it right. She was also very stubborn about it. She even yelled at father for peeking in on her super secret training time before she had the new technique perfect once.” Kasumi’s voice was tight and it was obvious she must have started crying. Nabiki bite her lower lip as her own tears overflowed.

“But!” Akane sounded both shocked and disbelieving. “But if she was so talented why did she stop the arts? Why didn’t father continue to train her?” There was a long pause before Kasumi began to speak and her voice sounded far more collected.

“Despite Nabiki’s talents and love for the arts she was still just a child. It started about the time father began teaching you Akane. Nabiki became frustrated and upset when father began to spend more time training you then he did her. Unlike her you hadn’t practiced in secret and it took a lot of father’s attention and time to help you learn them. Father still taught Nabiki new techniques but he believed she was mature and talented enough to perfect them on her own.

Nabiki began to miss the praise and attention from father and mother first becoming ill hadn’t had the energy to fill the gap. I think Nabiki began to hate the arts around then. No mater how hard she practiced or how quickly she learned a new technique she no longer felt rewarded for it. She began to ask father less and less for something new to learn and with mothers degenerating health he hadn’t noticed. When mother finely passed… I think Nabiki had already given up the arts completely.” Kasumi finished and all that followed was silence. Nabiki shook her head in denial. She could almost believe what she had realized earlier had been her imagination but hearing Kasumi depict it, it was clear it had been true.

“It can’t be true... it can’t…” Nabiki heard Akane growl lowly. “If it meant so much to her why didn’t she continue them? It a lie…”

“Akane, I don’t know if it’s true or not.” Ranma who had been lost outside the conversation finely spoke. “But you should have seen it too. That Kata Nabiki was performing wasn’t anything basic. Only way for her to have learned it was if your old man taught her and it isn’t one any kid can just learn she must have really practiced hard for it. And the way she preformed it after all this time, man she must have trained like me and pops back then.”

“It’s not true!” Akane yelled and a bang indicated she hit the table. “It’s too unfair to be true… You’re saying I’m the reason Nabiki gave up the arts and that she was so good… It’s too unfair to believe!”

“Akane.” Kasumi comforted her. “It wasn’t your fault, it wasn’t anyone’s. Nabiki decided to give them up on her own. Even back then though it upset her that father spent all his time with you; she never hated you for it. She never blamed you even once.”

“But… but….” Akane’s voice was tight but she didn’t continue.

“Hey! Can someone help me down the stairs?” Nabiki sighed after she called down the stairs loudly. She hoped her tone wouldn’t betray she had eavesdropped the entire time and she hoped it would head off her sisters feelings of guilt. She didn’t want her sister thinking she was responsible for what happened even when she couldn’t remember it herself.

As she climbed to her feet feeling just as weak as she had when she first left her room, she had enough time to whip away any trace of the tears she had before both her sisters and Ranma appeared at the foot of the stairs.

“Nabiki!” Akane called up and quickly ascended the stairs to aid her. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine sis… I think I really over did it in the dojo… I don’t think I’ve ever been so soar in my life…” Nabiki explained with a weak smile, she could tell her sister had hastily whipped away tars herself before coming to the foot of the stairs. She offered her arm to Akane who took it over her shoulder before she pushed off the wall to lean fully on her.

“Oh my, are you sure you’re ok Nabiki?” Kasumi called up watching with a worried expression as Akane helped Nabiki down the stair step by step. Each step Nabiki would wince and grid her teeth.

“Yea… ouch!” Nabiki panted as they finely reached the bottom step and her legs gave out. Before she had time to topple forward out of Akane’s grip Ranma had swooped forward and caught her under her free arm and helped her get her balance again.

“Oh my… maybe I should give dr. tofu a call.” Kasumi panicked.

“No no, I’m fine sis honest.” Nabiki breathed heavily. Both Akane and Ranma carried her into the dinning room and helped her down on her mat. Perhaps it was her current state of exhaustion but she found herself not wanting to pull away from Ranma and even felt a bit disappointed as he moved across the table to his regular seat. A moment later Kasumi appeared with a large glass of water.

“We just finished dinner but I set yours aside. Do you want me to heat it up for you.” Kasumi asked setting the glass down for Nabiki who took it and drank deeply only revealing just how thirsty she had been.

“No.” Nabiki replied as she gasped coming up for air. “I don’t think I have the energy to eat anything. I just want a bath before I go to bed.”

It took some convincing but she had finely gotten away with only a bath before bed, contrary to Kasumi’s pleading that she at least eat a little something for her heaths sake. Akane had helped her into the furo and even helped her wash her hair and back. Kasumi had arrived as she was being dried off with a clean set of pj’s and informed her that she had changed her bedding.

“Wow… what’s gotten into you two?” Nabiki teased sleepy as she was finely placed in her bed by Akane then tucked in by Kasumi. “You’re pampering me.”

“We are not pampering you!’ Akane denied it with a stubborn face while Kasumi smiled. Nabiki made to reach for her desk lamp which was out of reach only to have Akane hurry over and turn it on for her.

“Ha see sis. You’re pampering me.” Nabiki smirked triumphantly at her sister’s sudden angered face and in spite Akane turned the lamp right back off.

“If all it takes to get pampered is working my butt of in the dojo for a few hours I may have to do it more often…” Nabiki joked even sleepyer with a large yawn her eyes closing. Her two sisters smiles and silently left the room seeing her drifting off.

“Akane, Kasumi?” They stopped hearing Nabiki call at the last moment.

“Yes Nabiki?” Kasumi answered with maternal warmth.

“Love you…” The words where sighed as Nabiki finely slipped into sleep causing her to miss the startled looks it caused. Both Akane and Kasumi continued too watch Nabiki for a few moments before silently closing the door, both wiping away a few tears of happiness that has materialized at the corners of their eyes.

“I think… I think every things going to be okay.” Kasumi smiled with happiness answering Akane’s question she had left unanswered the night before.

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The next few days pasted painfully for Nabiki. She had had just enough strength to make it to school the next day and live though it with her body that had become even soared and stiffer. If her condition wasn’t enough she had to all but put leashes on Hitomi and Yuriko to keep them from chasseing after Ranma and accusing him of another one of their spontaneous delusions. Where they came up with them she hadn’t the faintest idea and she began to wonder if her assistances had always been like that or if it was another cause of Saotome-isum.

Saotome-isum, the name she finally gave to all the madness that surrounded Ranma. Sure she could call it madness or insanity but found Saotome-isum to be more pleasing on her tongue.

Ranma has become surprising distant as well she didn’t know weather to take this as a blessing or a curse. Sure she enjoyed not having to worry about him popping up and intimidating her with his Saotome-isum but the traitorous part of her mind that wanted to drown in it felt the opposite.

She was startled when in the middle of english class she had looked down at her notepad to find a doodle of Ranma! She in her boredom of listening to a lesion she had prepared for in advance had begun to scribble aimlessly on her blank paper only to somehow form the face of Ranma. Needless to say she crumpled it up and secured it in her bad before personally delivering it to the schools trash incinerator later that day to insure it remained completely deniable.

Despite everything else she found it easy or at least not difficult to return to what she had considered normal for so long. As fights broke out with Ranma she was quick to set up the betting circles, Hitomi and Yuriko doing most of the leg work spreading the figures. Then even seemed overjoyed at the new responsibilities as Nabiki usually reserved calling the bets to herself. Loan sharking, bet wrangling, and information gathering continued on like normal and Nabiki found even with the world shattering events of the past few weeks she could still be herself. The realization of that had almost made her cry.

What had she cried over? What had hurt her so bad that she thought her world was ending? It had not ended it had just changed. For the better she was not prepared to say. Sure it felt good to breath deeply and not feel hidden weight hiding somewhere inside her, but her world changing came with its own penalty’s and downfalls.

It was harder to maintain her passive indifference she had sculpted and shaped making interaction with some of her less desirable clients almost an ordeal. Hitomi and Yuriko still continued to whisper behind her back thinking she was brainwashed or was a clone. They the two people that where closer to her then perhaps her own family had been for the longest time, saw though her as if she where air. It warmed her how much they cared for her and at the same time it hurt.

In the past she had considered them to be only useful assistance, lackeys and on the long shot perhaps friends. She had never seen them for what they really where and how much they did for her. But it had become so painfully clear when she woke up time after time in the middle of lunch period still recovering from her workout in the dojo, to find Hitomi and Yuriko combing though her hair looking for any evidence of a alien implant and a reason to her sudden change. When out of the feelings she had begun to realize she told that she was glad to have them as best friends the pair screamed and ran from the room raving something about the invasion of the pod people. But she knew they knew something had happened. They where quite smart despite the comedy retune they had adopted recently and she knew it was for her sake that they insisted on continuing it.

“Kasumi I’m home!” Nabiki called into the house as she kicked off her shoes. It was evening and the sun was already setting. She had just returned from the ice cream parlor where Hitomi and Yuriko had dragged her insisting that aliens didn’t eat iced cream because they where meanies and had to verify her identity. It had been quite enjoyable as once they arrived they had begun to talk, not about business or school but about all the meaningless things they never talked about before and she found herself the happiest she had ever had In quite some time.

“Welcome home Nabiki, did you eat out?” Kasumi replied back, it sounded as if she was in the kitchen perhaps cleaning up after dinner.

“Yea, I went to a parlor with some friends.” Nabiki explained before skipping up the stairs to change into gi she had bought while out with Hitomi and Yuriko. She had decided this morning she would try practicing again now that her body had healed and wanted a gi of her own instead of barrowing on of Akane’s again.

By the time she reached the dojo the sun had set and she walked to the center of the floor and closed her eyes taking a deep breath as if trying to remember this place from her past. From the stories she overhead from Kasumi the few days before this place had meant the word to her for a time and she longed to remember that feeling. Letting out the breath she sighed dejected.

All though she longed to remember it and rediscover the arts if her first practice session was any indication she had a very long and painful ways to go. Centering herself she took on step back and crouched, the starting position to her kata, Eyes closed she moved forward stepping high and lifting her leg. She would perfect it this time even if it took her all night and she would hear no excuses from her body. If it didn’t decide to cooperate then she would just have to make it so soar that it would learn its lesson and listen next time.

To her amazement and surprise it came easier this time. Of course she made just as many mistakes but her body felt loser and more willing, each step and spin flowing into the next unlike before where she felt so clumsy. It was about an hour into her practice that she had felt she completed the kata to at least an acceptable standard and was rewarded with a chorus of loud claps from the dojo doorway.

“Ahh!” The surprise of the sudden sound made her drip over her own feet and fall backwards on her butt. “What?”

“Oh be careful!” Kasumi stopped clapping too adopt a worried look as Nabiki rubbed her bottom.

“I’m fine” Nabiki replied before looking you to find both her sisters and Ranma staring at her. Akane had a bright happy smile on her face while Ranma seemed to be in thought, both where still clapping.

“That was amazing Nabiki.” Akane beamed. “Are you sure you haven’t been practicing?”

“Yea it was pretty good. Still you made a lot of mistakes and your balance needs work. Your lead in also need to be sped up its throwing of your movements for the follow ups.” Ranma explained neutrally and was rewarded with Akane stomping on his foot.

“Ouch hey! What did I do?” Ranma complained.

“Baka! Can’t you say anything nice for once?” Akane glared causing Ranma pout defensively.

“Hey Akane how about it? Want to spar?” Nabiki smiled and climbed to her feet. It was clear she would be no match for her sister but at least she would be able to find out where she was at.

“Nabiki?” Akane blinked then smiles herself. “Ok! But don’t expect me to go easy on you because you’re my sis!”

“Are you sure you’re ready to spar Nabiki? It has been some time since you last did.” Kasumi asked as she took a seat by the dojo door.

“Don’t worry about her Kasumi. Nabiki may be rusty but I’m sure she will be fine.” Ranma explained and sat cross-legged on the other side of the door. Hearing the confidence in Ranma’s voice made Nabiki’s cheeks redden and she was more then grateful no one took notice.

Both her and Akane took up their positions in the center of the Dojo bowing to each other then taking a stance.

“Ready sis?” Akane asked and received a curt nod from Nabiki. In an instant Akane was advancing with weak attacks too test Nabiki’s defenses and was pleased to find them easily blocked or deflected. She gradually increased the speed and power till it was forcing Nabiki back. It was clear to everyone despite the talents Nabiki once had, she also lost her instincts for the arts as she hesitated on every action and movement. Finley Akane sprang forward with a kick to fast for Nabiki to block and caught her square in her midsection knocking her off balance to fall with a thump to the dojo mats.

“Good job Nabiki.” Akane praised Nabiki as she helped her back to her feet. Ranma snorted at the comment causing Nabiki to send a glare his way.

“She could have done better.” Ranma said off handedly.

“Ranma.” Akane growled and glared at him too. “You can’t expect her to remember the arts overnight.”

“Look!” Ranma defended herself. “I’m saying it was bad but she could have done a lot better! I mean that last kick there she should have had no problem dodging.” Nabiki’s cheeked reddened again, why did Ranma have such confidence in her. It sure as heck wasn’t easy keeping up with Akane even from the beginning and that kick. How did Ranma expect her to doge it? She narrowed her eyes at him.

“Ok Saotome I challenge you!” Nabiki crossed her arms staring him down.

“Sis?” Akane blinked.

“Nabiki?” Kasumi sounded worried.

“huh? Why?” Ranma seemed completely boggled and taken aback.

“Well if you think I’m so good then there is no reason for you to turn down my challenge. Or where you just making it up?” Nabiki smirked.

“I’m just saying your better then you think!” Ranma tried to play it off but Nabiki refused to give him any room. Secretly she really wanted to Spar with Ranma at least once. Too stand on equal ground and feel what it was like to truly be the object of his attention… Nabiki blinked at that thought. Ok ok that was defiantly the wrong though! Defiantly not right one she wanted right now! She giving a quick internal shake of her mind to banish it.

“Come on Saotome, your not afraid I’m going to land a hit o you are you?” Ranma scuffed at her goading and to her satisfaction stood.

“All right, fine.” Ranma walked lazy to the center of the dojo and stood indifferently before her like he had always done for Akane.

“Ranma if you hurt Nabiki.” Akane warned and joined Kasumi out of the way. Kasumi only watched on worriedly without comment.

Nabiki bowed and received one in return from Ranma. Knowing Ranma refused to fight back unless his opponent was worth the effort Nabiki knew she would be throwing all the punches and wasted no time in launching them. As with Akane Ranma leaned side to side and on the rare occasion jumped to avoid her attacks. Now she knew what Akane felt like when fighting Ranma. He didn’t just avoid them he avoided them at the very last second so she could almost believe she had landed the attack. Looking up at his face he was giving her a taunting smirk which she narrowed her eyes at and refused to acknowledge.

The spar continued one sided for some time and it allowed her to relax and take her time to plan her attacks. The look on Ranma’s face as she fainted with a swipe and converted the body movement into a spinning roundhouse was priceless even if he had avoided it just as easily as any other attack. But it was that smirk of his… it was infuriating too see it. She could almost see how each attack made it deepen and become more taunting, grrrr she hated that painful charming smirk.

“Baka! Stop dancing around and spar with her!” Akane called from the sidelines growing irritated herself at the one sided match. Ranma was about to reply until Kasumi surprised everyone by interrupting.

“Ranma please spar with Nabiki properly. This is a dojo and it is only proper that both combatants respect each other equally.” There was no difference in her tone but there was a strange vibe that everyone felt especially Ranma who seemed both taken aback and ashamed.

“Kasumi?” Nabiki said softly until Ranma leaped back a meter and settled into a light stance. The look in his eyes no longer taunted but focused and piercing, its gaze making her feel naked before him and she had to resist covering her body with her hands.

Almost before she could blink the atmosphere changed and Ranma sprang forward with a fist which she barely had time to sidestep. Before she could fully recover another one came and she was forced back a few steps as she blocked and deflected it with the back of her hand. Its impact stinging painfully, her eyes widened as a 3ed attack came this one for her face which was luck alone as the world moved in slow motion that she avoided by leaning to the side.

What is this… what was happening.. Ranma.. he is really attacking me.. Really fighting me! Nabiki stared wide eyed into Ranma’s as the world moved frame by frame. His knuckles lightly caressing her check as he withdrew his hand, eyes hard and piercing, terrifying. Her heart beat so loudly. This couldn’t be true… Ranma was attacking her. She was so scared… so scared… She didn’t want this... she didn’t want this at all!

As time resumed so did the attacks. Every fear she ever head about Ranma blazed into the forefront of her mind filling her with primeval terror. Her thoughts banished as all she knew was panic. Ranma… the avatar of death before her has come for her soul and all she could do was stand before his might.

A high kick arched towards her and she leaned back the material of Ranma’s leggings ticking her nose as the gust of air brought tears to her wide disbelieving eyes. He wasn’t pulling his punches that was to fast to have been restrained. He was going to hurt her.. he.. he wanted to hurt her! She had to protect herself but how? He was so much stronger so much faster she was lost…

Another punch came which she deflected with the same palm that deflected the first. If all she did was defend then she would be lost! No she had to attack, she had to attack now! As the fist was deflected she quickly captured Ranma’s wrist that had become exposed. Almost as if guided by a hidden force she turned her body inwards towards Ranma putting her back to his chest as her foot slide to brace against his supporting one. With all her might she stole Ranma’s forward motion and pulled his wrist down almost effortlessly flipping him over her shoulder in a throw. Panting heavily she watched in horror as Ranma easily flipped and corrected himself in mid air landing facing her in a ready stance. In her current state she missed the gasps from her sisters and the surprised look on Ranma’s face.

She couldn’t let him recover she had to press her advantage as long as she could. It was her only hope! She bound forward collapsing into a slide trying to knock Ranma’s feet out from under him but he easily side stepped it effortlessly and waited for her to recover before pressing his own attack.

It became instantly obvious to her she had lost as punch after punch came her way. Side stepping, deflecting, leaning out of the way it was too much far too much she couldn’t keep up anymore. Her tears finely began to flow freely just as she became paralyzed with fear unable to avoid the attack rocketing towards her body. Closing her eyes tightly she cringed waiting death to come… but it never did. She opened her eyes slowly to reveal Ranma’s bewildered face, his fist at his side no longer threatening.

“Sis, sis are you alright?” Akane was shaking her, when… When did she get to her side?

Nabiki began to tremble as the fear remained strong as ever, she had to escape… she had to get away from Ranma. Shaking her head violently her tears falling free like sparkles in the wind she pushed Akane away and ran with all her might to the safest place in her world, her room. She didn’t even remember entering it or crawling into bed all she remembered was holding her pillow so close cowering and praying Ranma would never find her there.

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End

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I know Nabiki cries a lot and I have been ended chapters with her fits but they seem the most suitable pause points.

Please R&R like always!