I don't own Ranma and co. and I don't make money
from writing any associated fanfics. I just use
them for my own pleasure. I'll return them when
I don't need them anymore.



TrueBlue Part Three
**********
by: Felipe
**********

She was quite beside herself in shock and fear
as I stepped off the little dinghy and safely
into her awaiting arms.

"Gods above, Tatewaki! I thought you'd drowned!"
She sobbed into my hair, almost crushing me with
the sheer force of her embrace. "Don't DO that
again! Do you understand me? Gods, I was so
worried!"

She was hugging me so tightly that I had trouble
getting air into my lungs.

"What's wrong mama?" I gasped weakly. "I was
only looking at the pretty clouds."

Mama was always worried. She was always fussing
over me. I loved her so much.

"It's okay mama, it's okay..." She still held me
with a grip of iron.

"Shhhhhhh, quiet baby. Mama's here now.
Shhhhhhhhh." My throat was along her shoulder in
the embrace. She then added a bit more pressure
until my airway was completely blocked.

My vision went dim before I choked out a last
breath.

She allowed a few moments to passed before
deciding to notice that I was limp in her arms.

"Tatewaki? TATEWAKI!" Horrified that I had
another blackout, she had immediately set
towards Nerima General Hospital, with me cradled
safely in her arms.

"Tatewaki! Please don't die! It's these fainting
spells you have all the time! PLEASE DON'T DIE!
I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITHOUT YOU! PLEASE
DON'T DIE!"


It's okay mama.


*****************************************



I watched, entranced, as she carefully licked
the spoon clean of chocolate sundae. Her tongue
glided around its metallic contours, leaving a
glistening trail as I stared at it in wonder.

She took immeasureable delight and had an almost
child-like exuberance in dealing with her
favourite confectionery that I found positively
mesmerizing.

"Do we have a deal, Kuno-baby?"

I shifted my gaze to her eyes. She had her full
interest on the ice cream and was unaware of my
concentrated attention.

I continued staring at her face, taking careful
note of the classic high cheek bones, the long
eye lashes, the large brown eyes that almost
never allowed any emotion to escape, except in
the most brief of instances.

When ever I found myself covertly looking into
them I had always seen a reflection of myself
staring back...

But never Nabiki.

People say the eyes are the windows to a
person's soul.

Nabiki's however, merely reflects and reminds
you of all the sins you that have committed...

She had erected thick walls around herself,
protection from all the hurt and pain that the
world could ever offer. Layer upon layer, ever
since the tragic death of Mother Tendo.

She thought herself impenetrable.

But, given time, I'll open her up one day.

She had stopped her ministrations and realized
that I was staring. Giving me an odd look, she
absently gestured to the photographs that were
carelessly scattered on the tabletop.

I decided to humor her as I looked over the
photographs with feigned interest. Indeed, they
were quite pleasing to the eye. The several
shots of her little sister in various stages of
her work-out never failed to stir my very blood.
And the numerous pictures of a half naked Ranma
never failed to awaken the dark violence that
lay dormant within me.

And also the burning, burning desire.

No matter how much I hated and despised that
genderless wretch, I was still overpowered by
the need to make him mine. To take him and brake
him inch by inch. To seize his will in my mighty
fist and crush it into the finest dust.

When he lies broken at my feet, begging me to
send him to the next plane of existence, only
then would I set him free.

"What is the matter with you today, Kuno-baby?"
Exasperation crept into the taunt as she smirked
at me.

I steadily held her gaze for several moments,
making sure to keep an unreadable, neutral
expression. I slowly put down the photos that I
still held in my hand while continuing to the
regard her unwaveringly.

Although Nabiki appeared to remain cool and
untouchable as always, I could sense her hands
clenching and unclenching as she held them
underneath the table.

"Five thousand yen for the whole set. Take it or
leave it."

I smiled unhurriedly, pleasantly, my teeth
showing.

"Nabiki Tendo, this may come as a shock to you,
but from today onwards I shall no longer be
requiring such photographs of your sister nor
the pig tailed girl."

If she was indeed surprised with this statement
she did not allow herself to show it in the
very least.

Raising an eyebrow questioningly, Nabiki smiled
condescendingly, thinking I was amidst one of my
self-dramas.

"And why not, Kuno-honey-bunny?"

Again the smug, superior tone of voice that she
saves only for me.

"I have decided to turn my attentions
elsewhere."

"And where, may I ask, would that be?"

Immediately my eyes, almost glowing with
intensity, locked onto her's. Nabiki sat there,
puzzled for a few moments.

Then my gaze told her in no uncertain terms
exactly what I wanted.

What I needed.

Eyes widening slightly, the teasing attitude
vanished suddenly as she shifted uncomfortably
on her seat.

"Somewhere... no, someone, in my honest opinion,
of vastly superior quality and refinement."

Her eyes flashed as she regained full control of
herself.

"Are you saying my sister is crude?" Nabiki
intoned coldly, once again the ice queen.

I smiled apologetically. "I did not mean to
offer any offence to your sibling Nabiki, but
you now fully well who I meant."

She sat back slowly, again surprised at what I
said, now fully aware of the meaning behind my
earlier subtle overtures and cursing herself for
not seeing it and making me spell it out for
her, like one does for a naive little child.

That was the first time I addressed her without
any manner of formality.

How sweet it sounded upon my lips.

"Kuno... I... don't know... I've got no idea
what your talking about."

Nabiki, obviously unsettled, hastily gathered
the scattered photographs. She shoved them into
her school bag as she stood up from the table,
her eyes once again reflective pieces of glass.

I was quite impressed with myself. I had
challenged Nabiki at her own game... and held my
own ground. It certainly looked like I had
surprisingly gained some of her's.

"I don't know what's gotten in you Kuno-baby,
but you've wasted my time for long enough
today." She said with her usual flippant tone,
but I could tell, by the gleam in her eyes that
she was quietly reassessing her whole view of
Tatewaki Kuno.

Before stepping out Nabiki turned one last time
to coldly regard my person yet again.

And again I steadily held her gaze, with eyes
that said...

With eyes that promised...


This was only the beginning.


End Part Three.
*****************************************

Please reply privately unless otherwise
necessary.

Encouragement, discouragement, C+C, flames,
death threats, I don't give a hoot... just keep
them coming.

Actually, C+C of any kind would be most
welcomed since this chapter is still unedited.

Send it all to:
Felipe <mygodamnself@hotmail.com>

Previous chapters at...
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