{These characters are not property of me. I would never attempt to claim them as my own. This story may not be used without my permission, and may not be used to make money in any way, shape or form. Characters and certain situations were created by Rumiko Takahashi, so don't try any funny stuff!}
They had finally released her from the hospital with the baby: Takuma. She had accepted no input from her family as to the child's name. She would name him, and only her. After all she had been through, with the condition of both his parents, Takuma was the only name that could ever be. It was as much for her, as it was the baby; she would take his name to heart.
She hadn't told her family of Tatewaki's (her mind had adjusted fairly well from Kuno-chan to Tatewaki) visit in the hospital. She knew they wouldn't have taken it too well. Tatewaki has said some pretty unbelievable things at that time; things that she had hoped were true, if only so she would have someone to talk to.
His proposal had frightened her. Why would he want to marry her? She was... damaged goods and not worth anyone's attention. But he didn't care about any of that; he wasn't afraid to see her, he wasn't ashamed to be seen with her. What she always thought was ignorance before, she began to see as a strength. He wasn't ignorant of the things people said, he just knew them to be inconsequential.
He had turned out to be a better friend than any she had before. Maintaining that relationship with him, however, would be close to impossible with her family around. Even going to the bathroom, they would ask her if everything was OK, and if they could do anything for her. In the bathroom. She could barely go to the bathroom alone, let alone see Tatewaki.
"Here. I want you to have this." He handed her a small box.
"What is it?" she asked, taking the box.
"Open it and see."
Somehow she had managed an hour away from home, away from her smothering family, and was at the Kuno estate. She opened the box and took out a tiny cellular phone. "What's this for?" A cel phone was a nice luxury, but one she could not afford.
"For you. Whenever you need to talk but can't get away."
"But I can't..."
He held up his hand; he would brook no argument. "I insist. And the bills are mine so you have nothing to worry about. I want you to know that you can talk to me any time, no matter what's wrong." He smiled and put his hand over hers.
"I know. But I still wish..."
"Your family?"
She nodded.
There was complete silence in the house. A creaking floorboard indicated Sasuke's arrival. Two cups of tea were set on the table, then Sasuke disappeared.
"Any time," he said. "If only to hear your voice."
She looked at the phone. It represented salvation and damnation at the same time. The question was could she she live without it in the present? Or could she live with the dependency in the future?
If she couldn't live without it in the present, what difference did the future make? "OK." She took the phone out of the box and put it in her jacket pocket.
"I'm glad. So how's Takuma?"
"He's good. He's doing just fine. Kasumi's been a lot of help."
"That's good. How are Ranma and Akane?" He didn't know Ranma, but he knew about the forced engagement.
"Not too great. They're not happy about being engaged. I don't know if they'll actually ever go through with it."
"That's too bad. I hope they turn out OK."
"So do I. They really like each other but just won't admit it."
He nodded, and there was silence once again. He stood up and went to sit next to her. "I missed you."
"Tatewaki, it was only two days."
"But it was nine months before that. I wish you'd understand that. I wanted to see you the entire time."
She understood, but she couldn't believe. "Why? Why would you want me when you could have any girl..."
"But not any girl is you. You're more than any girl, any woman I could ever want. Please don't turn me away. Let me take care of you."
His offer was so tempting. It would be very nice to have someone take care of her the way she wanted, to not have any worries. Sorry, though. The world didn't work that way. No one would be able to get rid of all her worries; it just wasn't possible. She shook her head. "You can't, Tatewaki. You can't take care of me the way you want to. It's not possible."
"Don't say that. Just... just consider it. You don't know how much I want this. How much I want to do it for you."
"Please don't do this to me. Don't make me choose, don't make me feel guilty."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I just want..."
"I know what you want, but I told you. You're... you're my only friend and I can't throw that away. For anything. You're the only person that understands, the only one that cares how I feel. Please don't take that away from me."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get carried away."
"Don't be sorry. I understand, really I do. But it's just... It's me. It's not not you, it's not my family, it's me. Right now, I need someone to talk to more than I need someone to take care of me."
"Alright. But you know I won't give up."
She smiled. "I know. You never do."
He leaned down, turning her head towards his and kissed her. She made soft sighing noise as his arm went around her. He broke the kiss. "You know that I love you."
She nodded and leaned against him. "I should probably go. I said I'd only be gone about an hour." But if only she could stay and shut out the rest of the world.
"Hey, Nabiki! What are you doing out here?"
"Am I not allowed to go shopping, Akane?" It was like they were following her.
"No. I was just here to get a new swim suit and saw you."
"Oh, like you'll ever need one. Akane, when are you going to realize you can't swim?"
Akane's face grew angry. "You're worse than Ranma! At least he's not family when he insults me!"
"Oh shit, Akane. Don't try and pull that sob story on me. You know it won't work. All I wanted was some time to myself and yet, here you are. What a coincidence."
"What? Are you saying I was following you?"
"Why not? Daddy does it. I wouldn't be surprised if he sent you."
"No! Why would I want to follow you? What were you doing, anyway? You don't have any bags... Kind of strange if you were shopping."
Nabiki looked nervous and glanced back in the direction she had come. Thankfully, the Kuno estate was well out of sight. "Well, I was just window shopping."
Akane stared critically. Nabiki, window shop? Sounded very suspicious and not like Nabiki at all.
"Miss Nabiki! Miss Nabiki!" a voice called down the street.
Nabiki recognized the voice immediately and cringed. He would end up giving her secret away.
"Miss Nabiki," Sasuke said, finally catching up with her. "You forgot this, and Tatewaki-sama wanted me to return it to you before you reached home." He handed her a small box.
Nabiki could feel Akane's stare as she took the box from the small ninja. "But I didn't..."
"Tatewaki-sama's instructions were explicit. This was to be returned to you before you reached home." He bowed deeply. "And I must pick up ice cream." He zipped away, leaving Nabiki alone with Akane.
"Tatewaki? Kuno's been bothering you? He's out? When Dad hears this, he'll go ballistic! Come on, Nabiki. We have to tell Dad." She pulled on Nabiki's arm.
"No, Akane. I'm not telling Daddy," she said, resisting.
"What? But if Kuno's been bothering you..."
"Tatewaki's not bothering me!"
Akane's eyes grew wide. "Oh, Nabiki. Don't you know that's battered woman syndrome? You'll need some help, but you'll get over it. If we call the police, they'll stop him from harassing you."
"No! Akane stop! He's not harassing me. I don't want to call the police and I don't want to tell Daddy. And I don't need help!" She jerked her arm away from Akane.
Akane look at her sister, very surprised. "That's where you were. You were at his house. You... you need some help. He raped you! How can you be at his house?"
"I don't expect you to understand. You, Kasumi and Daddy never understood. You all think it's so simple. It's simple for you, but not for me. It wasn't his fault, you know that. He's the only person who cares how I feel."
"But we..."
"No. You don't really care how I feel. You just care that you believe I'm OK. You don't care what I really feel. He does. He knows."
"How can he..."
"I didn't mention this before, but he came to see me in the hospital, after Takuma was born."
Akane let out a horrified gasp.
"It was just after he got out of the hospital. He asked me to marry him."
"Oh no... You didn't, you couldn't..."
"I said no, but I wanted him as a friend. I want to keep him as a friend. And your reaction proves that I have to sneak around to keep him that way." Nabiki's eyes narrowed and she leaned close to Akane. "Akane, so help me, if you tell anyone, I will take Takuma and move out. I will NOT have you run my life!"
She stepped back, her voice normal. "I mean it, Akane. Just stay out of my life." She walked down the street and in to the closest restaurant.
Akane was speechless. Nabiki was in a lot of trouble. More trouble than it looked like she could handle.
Nabiki sat at the table, hoping Akane wouldn't follow her. The waiter had returned with her soda and fries, then left her to herself.
She set the box on the table and looked at it. It was too large to be a ring box, which made her feel better, but it was most definitely jewelry. She opened it and looked at the gold inside; it was beautiful.
She pulled out the thin, golden chain and held it up to the light. It was very delicate looking, the links so fragile in appearance. What really grabbed the eye was the stone. It was a large black opal, lacking the discoloration of most black opals. It was in a triangular setting that seemed to clutch at the stone.
She unhooked the lobster claw and put the chain around her neck, refastening it in the back. The stone hung just below the hollow of her throat. She smiled warmly, then tucked it into her shirt.
It was probably Tatewaki's way of apologizing. He didn't seem as good with words any more; he was always trying to tell her how sorry he was. She didn't like to take gifts from him, they almost felt like bribes. But she knew it was the only thing he knew to do if she wouldn't let him take care of her, making sure she knew how much he cared.
It nearly broke her heart every time she saw him to have to turn him away. There was so much hurt in his eyes, but she just couldn't do anything like that. She wanted to believe he understood, and she was fairly sure he did since he never stopped trying.
Akane glared at her when she walked in the door. She returned the favor.
"Hey Nabiki," Ranma said, walking into the room and towelling himself off. "Have fun?" He didn't notice the glare Akane gave him.
"Not too bad. What was it this time?" she asked regarding his dampness.
"That woman again. She gets me every time. I mean, how many times a day do ya have to wet your sidewalk?"
Nabiki grinned. "Why, Ranma, I believe it's as many times as you walk by."
"I think you're right."
It was the dream again. Darkness all around her, clinging to her soul. A red light came on revealing that she was in Kuno's room. She tried to move, but found she was suddenly on the bed, strapped down. She struggled and tried to call for help, but she had no voice.
A soft voice came out of the darkness. "There's no help for anyone... No help..."
She looked into the darkness, trying to see the speaker. "T... Tatewaki."
He stepped out of the darkness and stared down at her blankly. He was bound in a strait jacket. He looked completely lost.
"Tatewaki, you've got to help me. You've got to get me out of here. I can't get away unless you help me." She pulled at whatever had her arms pinned.
There was a peal of laughter and Tatewaki cringed visibly. Nabiki increased her struggles, one thought running through her head: 'Not again'.
Kodachi bounded out of the darkness, laughing, her voice fading in and out. She was bathed in the red light, like she was covered in blood. She seemed to be dancing around, lost in her madness.
Finally, she approached the bedside, something in her hands. "Shall we have some fun?" she asked, her voice hauntingly calm. She lifted her hands.
What Nabiki saw made her want to scream, but the only thing she could say was, "Not again."
Kodachi raised the policeman's nightstick and smiled. "You'll learn to like it, just as dearest brother has." She ran the nightstick up Nabiki's leg and raised her other hand. The flash from the camera blinded Nabiki.
"Come, brother. I know you'll enjoy this one." Kodachi laughed again.
Eyes still blinded, Nabiki heard the shuffling footsteps, the clink of metal and the soft thump on the floor. The strait jacket had just been removed. "Here, brother. Take this and do what I do to you that you like so much."
"No help for anyone... So much pain..."
A soft thudding noise, followed by Tatewaki's howl of pain. "It only gets worse, brother. Now do as I say."
"No, Tatewaki. Don't do it. Don't do this again..."
Her words were powerless as his weight settled on her. And then it started all over again, but instead of him, it was the nightstick...
"No! No, Tatewaki, no!" she screamed over and over again.
Her cries made him sick. If there was anything he could do to take her horrible dreams away... He sat her up and put his arms around her, speaking quietly. "You must wake up. It's only a dream. Wake, now," he said soothingly.
Nabiki's eyes opened, and though there were tears, she knew she had escaped from the dream. She put her arms around him and tried to forget the awful feelings from the dream. "I hate falling asleep," she said against his shoulder.
"Drink some of this," he said, holding up a cup of tea.
She took it and drank it down, barely removing herself from his arms.
"I will have Sasuke prepare something to soothe you." Just this once, he was hoping she would let him do something for her.
"No. I don't want anything. Just..." Kodachi's haunting laughter hung in the back of her mind. "Just..." She felt so weak and helpless. "Just hold me." She didn't care.
He took her in his arms and held her tightly to him, feeling guilty and ashamed. The doctor had never mentioned how horribly he would feel. "You need to rest in a real bed," he said standing and escorting her to his new room. "I think it's time that you got some sleep."
"No, Tatewaki. I can't. And I don't want you to..." She yawned. "You did it already, didn't you?" she asked, yawning again.
He nodded. "You told me before about your nightmares. I thought it would be better for you..." He gave her a reassuring smile. "So why don't you get ready for bed?"
Nabiki glared at him then gave it up. Too late to get angry, and if it really worked, then that wouldn't be too bad. "OK," she said, pulling away from him. "I'm going to change." She left the room.
He waited, in his room, on his bed, for her return. He was glad she hadn't been too upset over what he had done. He only did it to try and help her; she seemed like she needed it. He sighed. If she would only stay more often, if she could only make her family understand.
She came back in an oversized shirt and a pair of slippers. Tatewaki pulled back the covers. She walked over, removed the slippers and, without hesitation, got into his bed. He covered her.
"So would you like to talk about something before you go to sleep?" he asked.
"No," she responded, yawning again. "I think I'll just sleep now." She pulled the blanket to her chin and was soon asleep.
He watched her doze off and stroked her cheek. "Why doesn't anyone understand," he said quietly.
"So how was your sleepover, Nabiki?" Kasumi asked.
"It was nice. I had a good time." She saw Akane give her a dirty look and returned it. Akane was smart enough to know that her threats weren't delivered idly.
"That's good to hear. Maybe you can invite your friend over sometime."
"Uh, I don't think so. It's pretty crowded here, and uh... We were kind of loud and I wouldn't want to disturb anyone."
"Hey, nice necklace, Nabiki. When'd you get that?" Ranma asked, always showing up at the wrong time.
"When I went out the other day. I got it down by the market." It was 90% true.
"It's pretty cool. What's that? Black opal?" Ranma said, peering at the stone.
"Yeah. How'd you know?"
He laughed. "I'm not a total chowderhead, ya know?"
That set Nabiki to giggling. "I'm starting to believe it."