Here's part 2. Many thanks to my prereaders who helped a lot. Many thanks to 
any one reading as well. All feedback welcome. C&C, flames, MSTs and even 
incoherent babble. Enjoy.

		<---Whatever standard Ranma � Disclaimer you prefer goes here.
Alt. Universe warning here.---> You don't like that type story? Well, this is 
one of'em.


	Every nerve in Ranma's body screamed at him in a twisted symphony of 
pain. His every thought was the same.

	*Gotta protect Nabiki! Gotta protect Nabiki! Gotta protect Nabiki!*

	Nabiki was cowering under Ranma, who was physically shielding her 
with his body. He could feel her body shaking with the same fear that 
threatened to take him. He could just make out the horrid sound of her 
muffled sobs of pain and fear over the rising din of starving, viscous cats.

	*Gotta protect Nabiki! Gotta protect Nabiki! Gotta protect Nabiki!*

	The claws ripped at his flesh and the teeth sank into it. The 
darkness blinded him. It made it seem as if there was no hope for him. But he 
knew no matter what he had to keep Nabiki safe. So, he couldn't give in to 
the silent urge he felt. He had no idea what it was.

	*Gotta protect Nabiki! Gotta protect Nabiki! Gotta protect Nabiki!*

	Suddenly he received clarity. He knew, he _knew_ that this urge 
whatever it may be would protect Nabiki if he gave into it. That's all he had 
to do and his objective would be complete. He could then and only then give 
in to his utter horror of the situation.

	As Ranma gave up his silent battle, Nabiki barely felt his stance 
changing. So subtle was it that if she were not a martial artist she knew 
that she wouldn't have recognized it. Especially not in her current situation.

	As suddenly as the waking nightmare had begun, it ended.  Ranma, who 
was carrying Nabiki haphazardly with his teeth, leapt up and out of their 
mock prison, which was (in actuality) nothing more than a simple pit dug into 
the ground with a wooden board for a roof placed on top of it.  As Ranma 
landed and set Nabiki down, his father, Genma, looked at him proudly.  "I 
knew you could do it, Ranma!  You've learned the Neko-ken!"

	Ranma watched but felt as if he weren't really there. Like he was 
more of a spectator watching a movie through the eyes of the of lead actor. 
But this was no movie and so he quickly became panicked. His panic turned 
into complete terror as Nabiki patted him on a head and said, "Yes, Ranma, 
you're such a good kitty. You learned the Neko-ken and freed me at the same 
time."

	*No! No! I'm not a cat! I'm just acting like one! I'm still human! 
Please!*

	 Nabiki and Ranma � Part 2 
		By: Mike Malaspina

	"Ranma! Ranma! Wake up!" Nabiki exclaimed, shaking her fiance with 
vigor knowing full well the horror he was going through. She too had 
nightmares about much of the training Genma had put them through, but nothing 
as bad as Ranma who had them almost nightly.

	"..no.... no.. 'm not a c..... ust ac...... 'm sti.... hum.... 
ple..." Muttered Ranma in his slumber. "NO!" He screamed as he shot up, fear 
in his eyes and sweat drenching his entire body. When he saw Nabiki next to 
him, concern etched in her deep brown eyes, he fell into her embrace and 
cried upon her shoulder. Nabiki gently rocked him and murmured him assurances 
that everything was all right.

						--------------------

	The door suddenly flew open, a light came on and Soun Tendo and two 
of his daughters, the youngest and oldest, burst into the room. "What's 
wrong? Is everything all right?" Asked Soun carefully eyeing every detail of 
the room searching for any sign of something wrong.

	"We heard a shout.. What's going on?" Akane asked next also looking 
around the room for any sing of perhaps an intruder.

	"Oh, my! You really shouldn't be sleeping together before you're 
married Nabiki." Said Kasumi.

	"We already are Kasumi." Replied Nabiki quickly returning her 
attentions to Ranma who too out of it still hadn't noticed the intrusion.

	"Oh, well then... Oh, my!" She exclaimed noticing the crying Ranma, 
"Is Ranma all right?"

	"Yes, he'll be fine," she started before turning back to Ranma. 
"Shhh.. It's Okay, Ranma, I'm right here. It's Okay.." She turned back to her 
gathered family. "Ranma, has nightmares about some very bad things that have 
happened to us on out training journey. Sometimes they're very.." She again 
had to turn back to Ranma, "its Okay, Ranma. It's Okay. Shhh.. I've got you. 
It's all right," she once again turned back. "Sometimes they're very bad and 
this is what happens. Why don't you all go back to bed? I can handle this 
fine by myself."

	Soun, who had started crying and whining about "My poor little girl!" 
when Nabiki had said us after bad things and that have happened to, suddenly 
stopped and looked sternly at his middle daughter.

	"Are you sure you're both all right and you can handle this?"

	"Yes, I'm sure, Daddy."

	"Okay then. Girls, let's go back to bed and let Nabiki take care of 
her fiance." Soun said, turning to his other daughters and ushering them out 
of the room Nabiki and Ranma shared. He shot one last glance of concern 
towards Nabiki and left also.

	*At least Ranma won't remember them being here. I don't think he 
would notice a train going by when he wakes up from those damned nightmares.* 
Nabiki sighed and thought back over the days events, after she had explained 
Jusenkyo to her father, that had led up till now.

						--------------------

	"Now that we've got that figured out, Daddy, what about sleeping 
arrangements?" Questioned Nabiki.

	"Well, that's easy, you can have your old room and Ranma and Genma 
can sleep in the guest room." Replied Soun.

	Nabiki sighed. *This should still be easy but I have a bad feeling.*

	She had just finished explaining Jusenkyo after her father's 
faintings and her own had subsided and she was already going to have to deal 
with another mess Genma had gotten them in. "Uh, Father, what would you say 
to.. uh, well, Ranma and... I sharing a room?"

	"WHAT?!" Screamed Soun in full Demon head mode. "If Ranma's taken 
advantage of my little girl so help me I'll..! I'll...!"

	As Soun searched his mind for something suitable Nabiki interrupted 
him, "Daddy, Ranma did no such thing! We... sorta got married already."

	"What? How could you Nabiki? Why, oh why, has my little girl denied 
her father the pleasure of being at her wedding!" Shouted Soun as he began to 
wail.

	*I knew I should have had a bad feeling about this.*

	"Daddy! Get a hold of yourself. We _had_ to and it was a ceremony 
just to make it official. We plan on having another wedding right here." 
Nabiki quickly said, trying to cut down one the water damage bills.

	"Oh. Why did you _have_ to get married?"

	Nabiki sighed as she launched into her story, "The reason is that 
shortly after Jusenkyo we sort of ran Mr. Saotome off. Well, Ranma did 
anyway. And when Ranma finally cooled down we went looking for him and found 
him in an Amazon village."

	"Why was Genma running from Ranma?" Asked Soun, looking bewildered.

	"Mr. Saotome, who already insulted Ranma way too much about him being 
soft, had just turned him into a girl."

	"Ah, the life of a true martial artist _is_ fraught with many perils."

	"Yes, as I was saying though, we found him in a remote village of 
Chinese Amazons where he was caged in panda form."

	"How did you recognize him?"

	"If it weren't for his glasses we wouldn't have. But we did and were 
able to save him from a grisly fate as a main course for an upcoming feast." 
As Nabiki said this Soun's eyes bulged. "We did so by telling the villagers 
that he was a human who was Jusenkyo cursed. We ended up becoming guests of 
the Amazons when Ranma, female at the time, and I were able to defeat the 
village's two best martial artists in a duel for Genma's life."

	"Nabiki, why was his life at stake?"

	"He ate the village champion's victory feast."

	"Genma hasn't changed much has he?" Soun asked rhetorically.

	"Yes, I think Ranma and I were very lucky that day though."

	"Why is that, my daughter?"

	"Well, I already explained the Neko-ken to you in a letter so I won't 
waste time retelling that. But what I will say is that the only reason we 
weren't killed after the fight I believe is that Ranma went into the Neko-ken 
when the my fight started to turn ugly and against me."

	"That's right. You said two things activate the Cat Fist. Cats and 
you being in serious, immediate danger. Correct?" Stated Soun.

	"Yeah, and when the Elder Cologne," Soun looked at Nabiki strangely 
at the mention of the Amazon elder's name, "saw and recognized what it was 
she halted the fight immediately and welcomed us to her village. After I 
calmed Ranma down the Elder, Ranma and myself had a very interesting 
conversation. As a result of that we ended up guests of the tribe and she 
also offered to train us. Ranma accepted right away and I'm glad he did even 
though there were some strings attached."

	"Uh, Nabiki if you don't mind me interrupting, this is all very 
fascinating but what does it have to do with why you _had_ to get married?" 
Asked Soun sounding perfectly calm, even though most would be getting 
impatient by now.

	"I'm just getting to that part, Daddy." Said Nabiki getting a little 
impatient. "The strings that were attached to the training were that Ranma 
and I become members of the tribe. Unfortunately since Ranma was really a man 
only I could join the tribe but Cologne offered to train him anyway as long 
as he was married to an Amazon. So, I became an Amazon, Ranma married me and 
we got extensive training for 6 months."

	"Ah, I see. In that case you were just doing it to further yourselves 
in the art. I see nothing wrong with that then." Said Soun, looking very wise 
as he nodded to himself.

	"Thank you, Daddy," said Nabiki. "Does this mean Ranma and I can 
share a room?"

	"I don't see why not as long as I get to start planning your _real_ 
wedding right away."

	"Fine by me. But could you make it something sort of short? The 
Amazon wedding may have been just a formality but it was a very long one." 
Stated Nabiki sounding as if she was still tired from said wedding.

	"Well, I've heard that Western style weddings aren't too long."

	"Sounds good. I always liked their wedding gowns."

	"Then it's all decided?"

	"Mm hmm. You can plan the wedding but nothing too extravagant or 
long, Daddy"

	"Of course nothing _too_ extravagant. I'm not rich after all."

	"Yes, perhaps I should pay for my own dress then. I'm sure I could 
get enough money for something very nice together in a week or so."

	Soun big sweated as a predatory grin rolled across Nabiki's face.

						--------------------

	When Nabiki had finished talking with Soun she joined Akane in the 
dojo. Said Tendo sister was busy destroying bricks. Nabiki silently watched 
from the door as Akane slowly breathed in and out, concentrated and finally 
lashed out with extreme prejudice at the brick. It shattered into tiny chunks 
that joined many other of their brethren on the floor. Akane let out her 
breath and picked up a towel. As she dabbed at her forehead she turned to 
find Nabiki clapping and smiling in the doorway.

	"Bravo Akane. Very nice form." Said Nabiki who was truly impressed 
with her little sister. She was great for the amount of training she had 
gotten. She only knew an estimate but even if she had more than what Nabiki 
understood she did, she was very good.


	"Thanks. Would you like to do a little sparring?" Asked Akane, hoping 
that her sister would. She still didn't know whether or not her sister was 
better than she was and she really wanted her to not be. So, she figured she 
should find out and get over it that much quicker if Nabiki did turn out 
better than her.

	"Sure."

	Akane smiled and as she cleared away he bricks Nabiki entered to the 
center of the dojo. Akane stood across from her in a ready stance. Nabiki 
held a half-ready stance but looked very relaxed. Akane looked worried as she 
thought, *What's she doing? She's not even in a proper stance!* Akane 
shouted, "Ready, set, go," and began with a rapid punch combo. She was 
stupefied to find Nabiki blocking each one half way to its target. She must 
have been in shock because next thing she knew Nabiki was standing over her 
with worry clear on her face.

	"Akane! Akane, are you all right? Did I hurt you? Speak to me!" Said 
Nabiki who was holding Akane up and shaking her shoulder.

	"Oohhh... What happened?" Croaked Akane.

	"You suddenly stopped after your combo and I landed a kick in your 
right side. You really should have been able to block that."

	"I.. I know. I was just.. surprised that you were able to block my 
punches."

	"Why?"

	"Well, the way you were standing I didn't think you'd be able to 
block my punches so effectively."

	"Oh, that's a little something I picked up from Ranma. If you don't 
look ready when your opponent attacks he won't think you're ready. It 
surprises them and you have a quick advantage. You should work on doing that 
yourself. Its very effective."

	Akane rubbed her right side as she said, "I can tell. But I think I 
will try that. You know Nabiki you're really good."

	"So are you."

	"I know I am but, you.. You're amazing. No one has ever beaten me 
before. And I have to say I'm really glad that it was you and not Ranma."

	"You have something against Ranma?" Asked Nabiki taking a defensive 
tone.

	"No, I don't know him well enough yet. I'm just glad that my first 
loss was to a girl."

	"There something wrong with guys?"

	"Nothing really. It's just that they're always so snotty when they 
fight me. They act like just because I'm a girl I can't fight!"

	"Oh, well, maybe it was a good thing I fought you first. Ranma tries 
his best not to hit girls when he can avoid it and I'm sure that would have 
caused quite the scene."

	As Akane thought about it for a moment she had to agree. "Yeah."

	After almost a minute of silence Nabiki cleared her throat. "You know 
Akane if you want you could train with me and Ranma. I'm sure we could help 
you improve tremendously."

	"Really? You'd help train me?"

	"Not just me but Ranma too."

	"Wow, I'd love that, Sis."

	"Well, then how about we start tomorrow?"

	"Okay."

	"But now I'm going to go take a bath."

	"Okay, enjoy yourself. I'll be in here if you want me."

						--------------------

	"Who thought a simple furo could feel so good?" Said Ranma aloud. He 
leaned back and remembered a few of the times he really could have used one 
out on the road with Pops and his Fiancee. *I wish Nab-chan were here to 
share this with me.*

	As the door to the bathroom from the changing room slid open Ranma 
looked over to see Nabiki entering. "Well, ask and you shall receive."

	"What's that, Ranma?"

	"Just before you came in I was wishing that you were here to share 
the furo with me."

	"Well, then you're lucky that it _was_ me Ranma. You forgot the 
sign." Said Nabiki, smirking and holding up the forgotten sign.

	"Whoops.."

	"Yeah, whoops. Imagine the scene if Akane or Kasumi had walking on 
you." Said Nabiki as she hung the sign and closed the door.

	"I'd much rather that I didn't." Said Ranma, wincing.

	Nabiki sat down on her stool and began to soap up as Ranma once again 
leaned back and closed his eyes. Nabiki dumped a bucket of cold water over 
her head to rinse off, shivering at the temperature. He hurriedly walked over 
to the furo and slid in next to his fiance. She put an arm around him and 
Ranma returned the favor. They began to snuggle up to each other when the 
door suddenly opened. They both shot looks at the door, Nabiki covering her 
upper extremities with her free arm.

	"I'm sorry, I thought you were done Nabi.. Eep!" Akane blanched as 
she saw Ranma in the furo with her sister. "I'm sooo sorry! I'll be going 
now!" Exclaimed Akane quickly turning, sliding the door shut a little hard 
and thanking the kami she had been wearing that towel.

	"Nabiki, you wanna get out?"

	"Well, I would enjoy a nice long soak with you but we should let 
Akane have the bath. She's been working out, dinner's almost ready and I'm 
sure she'd like to wash up beforehand." Said Nabiki disappointed she wouldn't 
be spending much private time with Ranma until later that night.

	As Ranma stood up he offered Nabiki his hand. "May I?" He asked in a 
very formal tone.

	"Of course you can my darling." Said Nabiki, playing along. As he 
pulled her up they shared a laugh and began to dry off.

						--------------------

	At the dinner table Ranma sat close to Nabiki while Genma sat, at a 
farther distance, on his other side. Soun sat at the head of the table and 
Akane and Kasumi were across from Ranma, Nabiki and Genma. As they ate 
quietly Soun decided to start up a conversation. "Nabiki, why don't you tell 
us more about the Amazons?" He asked.

	"All right, Daddy," she started, "first, there's Cologne. She's the 
village elder who trained us and accepted me into the tribe. I had to pass a 
series of tests usually reserved for Amazons wanting to be warriors of the 
tribe to prove my worth first. She said I did better than most Amazons who 
took the test and so she adopted me as her great granddaughter."

	"What!? Oh, no! My little girl only came home to tell me that she's 
no longer my little girl! She's not..WAAAAHHH!" Before Soun could continue he 
broke into incomprehensible crying. Nabiki big sweated while Ranma and even 
Genma stopped eating to do the same.

	"Daddy, don't be absurd! I'll always be your little girl. I just have 
two families now." Said Nabiki.

	Soun suddenly stopped and looked at Nabiki, "Oh." Soun didn't say 
anything else but the smile spread across his face and shining eyes screamed 
'JOY!'

	"Now as I was saying Cologne adopted me into her family and to make 
Ranma an Amazon, he as an outsider male defeated me in combat." Said Nabiki 
before Akane interrupted.

	"What? You mean he had to beat you up to marry you?" Asked Akane, a 
puzzled look on her face.

	"Not exactly. By Amazon law any outsider male that defeats an Amazon 
must marry her. An outsider female is another case though. The Amazon has two 
choices. One marry her or two kill her." Said Nabiki casually. Akane looked 
faint.

	Kasumi's brow furrowed. "It's quite rude to kill someone just because 
they defeated you."

	Akane looked at her oldest sister and somehow her eyes got wider. She 
mouthed 'kill' as if just hearing that part.

	Nabiki nodded. "I know, Kasumi. But the law is standard stuff for 
tribes that still live as primitive as the Amazons do. It's very rare though 
that, that particular law ever comes into play so it's not as bad as it 
sounds."

	Kasumi was smiling again, "Oh, that's good. Why don't you continue 
your story now."

	"All right Kasumi. I already told you all that Ranma and I beat the 
village's best martial artists, Mousse and Shampoo, to prove we worth not 
just killing, what I didn't mention is that Shampoo is also Cologne's great 
granddaughter. At first she was very mean to Ranma and me but as she got to 
know us she and I became great friends. She's more like a real sister 
actually. She and Ranma became friends too but Ranma spent more time with 
Mousse or hanging out around Cologne trying to pick up some extra lessons. 
Ranma?" Asked Nabiki interrupting herself. Ranma was too busy eating, and not 
listening, to hear her.

	She asked again, "Ranma?" Still he didn't stop eating.

	"Ranma!" Yelled Nabiki as she waved a hand in front of his face. He 
looked up and around startled.

	"Huh? Oh, um, what is it Nabiki?" He asked.

	"Ranma, I was telling them a little about Shampoo and Mousse and 
wanted to know if you'd mastered the Weaponspace technique Mousse showed you 
yet?" She said, asking her question.

	"Oh, almost." Going back to eating Ranma noticed that his portions 
had gotten smaller. His head quickly snapped over to look at his father's 
plate where he saw a large amount of food that hadn't been there before. He 
began to glare at Genma when he grabbed a glass of water and doused himself. 
He rolled on his back and began playing with a beach ball. Wondering where 
that had come from was the farthest thing from Ranma's mind when Genma-panda 
held up a sign with barely legible writing on it.

	#Why are you looking at me like that? I'm just an innocent little 
panda.#

	Soun and Akane big sweated as Ranma stood up and punted the panda and 
ball into the backyard. A splash and 'growf' later a sopping wet Genma-panda 
was at the door. He started to come in but Kasumi interjected.

	"Ah ah, Mr. Saotome. I just cleaned the floors earlier today. You'll 
have to wait out side until you dry off." Said Kasumi, apologetic but firm.

	Genma looked as disappointed as a panda could when Ranma shrugged and 
dumped the contents of Genma's plate onto his own and smirked. "Can't let it 
go to waste no can we, Pops?"

	As Ranma began to eat Nabiki started again. "Where was I?"

	"Shampoo." Supplied Kasumi helpfully.

	"Ah, yes. Shampoo, is a little fast with the bonbori but once you get 
to know her she's very nice. Mousse thought Ranma was after Shampoo and was 
very hostile to Ranma at first. Once we were married he saw that Ranma and I 
were both very much in love with each other and he and Ranma became good 
friends. Mousse is an all right guy but a little too obsessive in his 
pursuits. He's absolutely infatuated with Shampoo. I've never seen anything 
like it. She acts like she couldn't care less and beats him up more than she 
doesn't. Though I'm sure she'll never admit it to even herself I can tell 
that Shampoo really does care for Mousse." Nabiki said. Ranma now actively 
listening looked up at this.

	"You sure 'bout that Nabiki?" He asked, his face a mask of skepticism.

	"Oh, I'm one-hundred percent sure Ranma." Said Nabiki. Ranma nodded 
and knew it was true when her 'I'd bet on it' face made an appearance.

	"As for their martial arts ability they are both great. They gave us 
each a run for our money when we fought them. Shampoo is very good with or 
without weapons while Mousse almost relies in them." Nabiki continued.

	"Yeah, but luckily for Mousse it's almost impossible to disarm him." 
Said Ranma, obviously with some first hand knowledge.

	"Why is that, Ranma?" Asked Soun.

	"He can store weapons in and pull them from thin air. He showed me 
how but I still can't get it right yet." Answered Ranma. The tone of his 
voice complied that the yet was just a mere formality.

	"Besides that," Nabiki began, "the only other thing to tell about the 
Amazons is the special circumstances surrounding us. Normally when outsider's 
become part of the tribe they have to stay in the village. Because we both 
had families outside of China they decided to let us live here in Japan but 
if there's ever a treat to the village we'll be summoned back to help."

	"Well, that sounds like a fair deal." Said Soun. "And I'd like to 
hear more about your training trip but I am very tired all of a sudden. I'm 
going to retire to my room."

	"All right, Daddy, later then?" Suggested Nabiki.

	"All right." Said Soun as he got up and headed for his room.

	Ranma finished up his meal and went out to the dojo for a quick 
workout. Akane, Kasumi and Nabiki did a little chit chatting. Mostly about 
Ranma but a little more about the Amazons. Akane kept asking if girl Amazons 
really married other girls. Nabiki kept saying yes. Kasumi kept frowning 
about the other half of the law about female outsiders defeating an Amazon.

						--------------------

	Ranma and Nabiki were in their room, one in night gown the other in a 
pair of boxers and tank top, in bed. They silently watched each other in the 
dark. Neither said a thing but just looked into the other's eyes. They 
drifted off to sleep in warm, peaceful embrace that unfortunately wouldn't 
last through the night. The embrace yes, just not the peaceful part.



Author's Note : Hoping to get part three started tonight. Especially since 
part three marks the upswing on the plot elements with the arrival of the 
first rival.. But just who is the rival and _who's_ rival is this person? 
Stay tuned and find out.

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* If I had a good quote or some nifty tag line I'd put it here *
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