All characters TM & copyright 1996 by Rumiko Takahashi
Author's Note: Back in mid-September I hit a creative brick wall with U-Jin's Ranma Diaries. Then I stumbled across Jim Bader's fiction "Fifth Fiancee." Very few "Ranma+Nabiki" fics take a look at what an evolving, adult relationship between the two would be like. Most, in fact, end simply with Ranma and "The Ice Queen" declaring their love for each other.
So, with Mr. Bader's permission, it is time once again for W*ING Higley to present:
W*ING Higley Presents:
Melted Hearts
(Based upon characters created by Rumiko Takahashi and events created by Jim Robert Bader)
Previously: In "Fifth Fiancee," Ranma and Nabiki are caught in a collapsed building. While the rest of the Nerima Wrecking Crew labors to dig them out, Ranma and Nabiki (who has twisted her ankle) spend the time talking. Slowly, the two peel away the layers between them and come to realize that they have been secretly attracted to each other since the day Ranma arrived. Unfortunately, the Wrecking Crew arrives just in time to witness Nabiki and Ranma sharing a passionate kiss. The story ends with Ranma and Nabiki being chased into the sunset by Akane, Ukyo, Shampoo, Ryoga, Mousse, Kodachi and Tatewaki.
Chapter 1: Planning and Passion
Ranma Saotome huffed as he carried his newly declared girlfriend, Nabiki �The Ice Queen� Tendo, across the rooftops of Tokyo in a desperate bid to outrace the gaggle of fianc�es and family members who had given chase after discovering Ranma and Nabiki necking amidst the rubble of a collapsed building.
Nabiki looked over Ranma�s shoulder. �I think you can slow down, Ranma-kun. I can�t see any sign of them. We�ve probably outrun them�
Ranma heaved a sigh of relief as he slowed to a halt. �Where are we, anyways?�
Nabiki looked around. �Well, that�s the Tokyo Dome over there, so I guess we�re in the Korakuen Mall.�
�Geez, they really chased us a long way.�
Nabiki nodded. �I don�t think I�ve ever seen them that angry before.�
�Yeah, especially your sister.�
�Mmm, even Ukyo was angry at you,� Nabiki said.
�Yeah.� Ranma sighed. �Man, this is gonna be a big mess.�
�Tell me about it. With one kiss Ukyo, Shampoo, and even my own sister want to kill me now. And Dad and Kasumi want to kill you.�
Ranma chuckled. �Man, I never thought I�d see Kasumi get angry like that.� They both laughed.
Nabiki sobered. �Seriously though, a lot of people are upset at us right now. Things will be.....difficult from now on.� She hesitated. �And about that kiss.....�
�You regret it?�
�No, no, nothing like that. I was just going to say,� she wrapped her arms tight around his neck and brought her face only inches away from his, �it was incredible.�
Ranma stiffened as Nabiki brought her lips to his. But like their first kiss, he soon found himself returning the kiss with a fervor that rivaled Nabiki�s. As he felt Nabiki open her lips, he parted his own to begin a passionate duel in their mouths.
Ranma gently lowered himself into a sitting position and leaned against the wall of the building they were on. He shifted his arms from Nabiki�s legs and torso and wrapped them around her shoulders. They stayed that way for a long time, enjoying the relative privacy of the rooftop.
Finally, they came up for air. �You know,� Ranma said, �we really should get you to Dr. Tofu so he can look at your ankle.�
�Mmm-hmm.� Nabiki ran her finger along Ranma�s chest, tracing the outline of his pectoral muscles. �Later, though. We were so rudely interrupted the last time we did
this.�
She began kissing him again, and Ranma found no reason to argue.
*****
The next day saw Ranma, Nabiki (her foot in bandages), Nodoka, and Genma gather in the living room of the Saotome home.
�So my dear,� Nodoka said as she set down a tea tray, �how did your family react when you came home last night?�
Nabiki grimaced. �Not well. Kasumi was furious, she actually yelled at me. And Dad wasn�t too happy either.�
�And how did Akane react?�
�She never came home last night. Kasumi says she�s staying with her friend, Yuka.�
Genma interrupted. �Why was Kasumi angry at you?�
�She, and Daddy, think I�m blackmailing Ranma or something, and that I�m betraying Akane. Which I guess I am, technically.�
�So, you do care about my son,� Nodoka said.
Nabiki hesitated. She had been so sure yesterday, in the cave and on the rooftop. She couldn�t deny the intensity she felt when they kissed, but was that enough? Yes it was, she decided as she looked into Ranma�s eyes. He was so sincere, the love plain in his eyes.
Love? Did she love Ranma? No it was too soon for that, but she did like him.
�Yes, I care for your son very much, Auntie.�
�Do you care enough about him to be engaged to him?�
�Engaged?� Nabiki paled.
�Yes, become his fianc�e. It would be the only way I would allow you to date my son. It would be the only honorable way, at least.�
Nabiki thought to herself: Fianc�e. That word�s meaning was enormous when associated with Ranma Saotome. Being his fianc�e entailed kidnappings, attempts on your life, and more insanity than most people could ever imagine.
She wanted to be with him, but how could she willingly enter that chaos?
�I...I need to talk to your son for a moment, Auntie. Could we be alone?�
�Certainly dear.� Motioning to Genma, Nodoka got up and left.
They sat in silence for a few moments. Finally Nabiki said, �Ranma, I want to hear what you think about this.�
�Huh?�
�Do you want to be with me? I mean, do you want to be engaged to me?�
Ranma frowned slightly. �Nabiki, I thought I made it clear yesterday. I was attracted to you the day we first met. I like you.�
She smiled, trying hard to fight back the tears that had started to run down her face. �Thank you, Ranma. I needed to hear that.�
Ranma started to panic. He was completely lost when it came to crying women. But just as he was about to ask Nabiki what was wrong, Ranma realized that Nabiki was crying because she was happy. Happy at something he had said.
Smiling, Ranma reached across to Nabiki and started to wipe away her tears. �I don�t suppose now would be a bad time to kiss you?�
�No, it wouldn�t,� she said as she melted into his embrace.
Sometimes, Ranma decided, it paid to be open with your feelings.
*****
They spent the afternoon together, Ranma using the opportunity to take Nabiki on a tour of the district he spent his formative years in. Nabiki used the fact that her left foot was in bandages as an excuse to get Ranma to carry her. It felt very nice.
During dinner Nodoka observed, �I must say, it is nice to see my son getting along well with at least one of his fianc�es.�
�I�d say we�ve been getting along very well,� Nabiki said as she squeezed Ranma�s hand. Ranma blushed.
�As such, unfortunately, I must now address some business that I know even my son does not like to discuss. The sad fact is, my son now has five fianc�es. Granted, that is primarily the fault of his father.....�
Genma paled slightly.
�But nevertheless, Ranma, you will be graduating from high school next year, and it�s high time you choose one fianc�e.�
Ranma nodded. �That won�t be much of a problem after yesterday. Ucchan an� Akane want to kill me now.�
�Still, my son, that does not address the problems you continue to face with Shampoo and Kodachi.�
�Hey, it ain�t-�
Nabiki put her hand over his mouth before he could finish his mantra. �Ranma-kun, I think what your mother means is that we�re going to have to figure some way to get all of your other fianc�es off your back. And I agree with her.�
�You do?� This took Ranma by surprise, as Nabiki was basically saying she wanted to get rid of three of her prime sources of income.
�Yes. Remember what I said yesterday, I�d only become your fianc�e if I could have you in a way where the other girls would leave us alone. And I meant it.�
Ranma was silent for a moment, before nodding. �All right. But, I�m gonna need some help. I dunno if I can think of ways to get all the girls off my back.�
Nabiki smiled. �Ranma, I think you�ve come to the right place.�
Nodoka smiled. They really did make a lovely couple. �Now that that is out of the way, there is another matter to discuss. Nabiki dear, I take it that Soun and your sisters are quite angry with Ranma right now.�
Nabiki nodded. �Yes. Daddy thinks Ranma�s betraying Akane, and Kasumi doesn�t think it�s proper for two people to....kiss....like we did....yesterday.� Now it was the Ice Queen�s turn to go beet red. That had been quite a kiss, however. �At least, not until they�re married.�
�Yes, I was afraid of that.� Nodoka turned to her son. �I�m sorry, my son, but I think it might be best if you and your father moved out of the Tendo home.�
�WHAT??!!?� Ranma and Nabiki both said in shocked unison.
�Obviously, from what Nabiki has described, there is now a lot of animosity towards you, Ranma. Heaven only knows what Akane will do the next time she sees you, that poor girl has such a violent temper.�
Ranma paled at the thought of Akane pounding him into a bloody smear on the Dojo floor. What was frightening was the fact that he could actually picture her doing it.
�As such, I think it might be best for you to finally return home.�
�But,� Ranma said, �Nabiki and I wouldn�t be in the same school district anymore. And where would I train?�
�As I remember, Mr. Saito down the street said you were free to use his gym at night, justlike you and your father did years ago, before the training trip. As for going to a different school, have you ever heard the saying, �absence makes the heart grow fonder?��
�Yeah...�
�My son, I think you will find that your feelings for Nabiki will grow even stronger if you�re not around her all the time. Besides, it�s not like that will stop you two from dating, now would it?�
*****
Nabiki thrilled to the feeling of Ranma�s arms around her. It was especially exciting considering they were bounding over the rooftops of Tokyo.
�Mmm, my sister was really a fool. All she had to do was admit she liked you and she could be enjoying this!�
Ranma grinned as they landed in front of the Tendo Dojo. Looking up, he noted a familiar silhouette in the upstairs bedroom window.
�Looks like Akane�s back home.�
Nabiki grimaced as Ranma lowered her to her feet. �I doubt she�ll be happy to see you, Ranma-kun.�
Ranma was silent for a moment. Finally, he said, �Uhhh, look Nabiki. I know ya got yer meeting with your henchmen....er...business associates on Friday night. But, I was wonderin�, if you weren�t busy after that, maybe you�d like to go to a movie or somethin�.�
Nabiki smiled, Ranma was asking her out. �I�d like that very much, Ranma-kun. Thank you.�
�Yeah well, hey, you�re my fianc�e. It�s only appropriate that I ask you out.�
�It�s also appropriate to kiss your fianc�e goodnight.�
Ranma froze as Nabiki slinked her arms around him. But he was getting used to her advances and felt no embarrassment as he parted his lips to begin a deep, passionate kiss. As their tongues writhed around, Ranma noted absentmindedly that �Ice Queen� was probably an inappropriate nickname for his beloved girlfriend.
*****
Inside the Tendo home, four people watched Nabiki and Ranma, none of them happy.
Soun: *How dare he do that! He toys with the affections of my youngest daughter, then betrays her for my middle daughter!*
Akane: *That idiot! First he goes and gets a building dumped on him, then he allows my mercenary sister to blackmail him into kissing her! And.....IS SHE GIVING HIM TONGUE!!??*
Kasumi: *Oh my, it isn�t very proper for Ranma and Nabiki to be doing that! I�ll just have to correct my sister�s behavior when she gets home. And make sure that Ranma never does anything to hurt Akane again.*
P-Chan: �BWEEEEE!� (Translation: Ranma! How dare you hurt Akane! This time I swear I will kill you!)
All four of them: �Ranma! This is all your fault!�
To be continued........
Author's Notes: Those of you wishing to read the original "Fifth Fiancee," it is archived at Jim Bader's website (though for the life of me I can't remember the URL, maybe D.B. Sommer would be kind enough to post it).
After "U-Jin's Ranma Diaries" got ripped apart by Red Death on his/her review page, I took Death's advice and went through four drafts before posting this. Thanks Red.
________________________________________________________________
Get Email, News, Links and The Best Selection at http://AnimeNation.com