A Lesson in Love Chapter XV: Obsessions
By Marisa Price
This story is copyright to Marisa Price, 1997, all rights reserved. Based
on characters created by and copyright to Rumiko Takahashi.


Chapter XV: Obsessions
Part II: An Invitation to the Dance (Continued)

        The week passed slowly for those who were excited about the dance.
For Nabiki, the week went by far too quickly.
	"Nabiki-chan, your guests are here!" Kasumi called up the stairs.
	"Coming, Oneechan!" she yelled back.
	Nabiki gave one last look at herself in the mirror. She looked svelte and
chic in her black velvet form-fitting dress. It was short, two or three
inches above
the knees, and it had an open back and shoulders, fastening around her neck with
a white silk choker. There was a heart-shaped cut in the front, revealing
her cleavage
in a way that was daring, yet still within the bounds of morality. She had
pinned a
faux-diamond brooch to the choker, and small strands of the rhinestones
glittered 
on her chest. There wasn't much she could do with her hair, as short as it
was, so she
had just washed and brushed it until it shone. She wore makeup, something she 
avoided usually, and the dark brown eyeliner made her eyes look large and as
brilliant as her brooch, and her lips were a red that made them look pouty and
seductive.
	"Perfect," Nabiki thought to herself.
	Memories hit her then again.
* * * * *

	"You look. . . Beautiful. But, of course, you know that don't you?" He
said to her, staring at her in open admiration.
	She laughed back at him. "Of course I know I look beautiful, it's one
of my best weapons."
	"Why do you always have to be on guard, Nabiki?"
	"Because it's a dangerous world; everyone wants something from you.
You have to take from them before they take everything from you," she said
gravely, not looking at him, but staring out over the ocean outside.
	"Nabiki, I don't want anything from you. I promise I won't take, I 
only want to give," he said soothingly, and took her hand, bringing her into
a room where candles of every size, shape and form burned like small suns,
giving the room a magical warm glow.
	"Oh," she gasped, staring at the tiny fires. He was always like this.
Giving her gifts that cost nothing: a book to read as she sat relaxing,
sunflowers
to brighten her room, a handful of seashells, or a secret cave on the beach
where
seals slept in the heat of the midday. Gifts that cost nothing, but meant
everything.
	A tear slid down Nabiki's cheek as she stared at the beauty before her.
	"Nabiki? I wanted to make you happy, not to make you cry!" he was 
saying, shocked. "What did I do?"
	"You say you don't want to take anything from me, but every time you
do something like this, you take pieces of the most important thing to me. . ." 
Nabiki whispered.
	He reached down to gently stroke her cheek. "Is that so wrong, Nabiki?
Would it be so bad for you to fall in love?"

* * * * *

	"Nabiki!" Akane's voice broke into her  thoughts and jarred Nabiki back
to the present. "Nabiki, didn't you hear Kasumi? Nakoto and your other
friends are
waiting downstairs, and Kuno's limo just pulled up to take you all over to the 
mansion."
	Nabiki shook the memories away and let her eyes focus on her sister as
she said, "Oh, sorry. I was just making sure I looked all right."
	"You look beautiful, Oneechan!" Akane smiled.
	Akane looked spectacular herself, in a pretty rose-colored chiffon dress
that had once been Kasumi's. Akane had decided on the dress because it was 
finer than anything that she could find in the stores, and Kasumi had hand-made
it out of a dress that used to be their Mother's. The long pale gloves and
the pink
silk choker were Akane's addition to the ensemble. Silk rosebuds clustered in 
gatherings on the skirt and on the front of the sleeveless bodice, and fresh
rosebuds
were gathered on a barrette and fastened to her hair. Overall the effect was
sweet 
and soft, much like Akane. At least, when she was in a good mood.
	"You look really nice yourself, Akane-chan," Nabiki offered back, and
she meant it.
	Akane blushed.
	Ranma blundered in the room behind Akane and said, "Akannnn-ne. I
can't get this darn tie to fasten. Can you help me? Hey, Nabiki," He looked her
over, "You look great! Did you know your friends are here?"
	"Yes, yes, I know. I'm going down. I keep getting interrupted. You 
look good too, Ranma. Are you sure you don't want to borrow a dress for the
Dance, just in case?"
	He stuck his tongue out at her. "Very funny."
	"I thought so," Nabiki said, laughing, as she breezed through the door
and down the stairs.

* * * * *

	"There. I got it. You look great, sweetheart." Akane stood on her 
tiptoes and pressed a kiss to Ranma's cheek. "You know, I think you are
growing. I didn't used to have to stand on my tip-toes to kiss you."
	Ranma smiled. "And you are even wearing your high heels. This
is great! Maybe I will pass up Ryouga in height. Hmm, I wonder how the
added inches will affect my. . ."
	Ranma started to mumble to himself and do some sort of kata. Akane
watched him for a moment, loving the way his muscled form filled out his 
traditional black tux. A blue-grey bow-tie, exactly matching his eyes, was tied
perfectly (by herself) at his throat. He was handsome, and he was hers.
	"Ranma, you are going to mess up, or worse rip, your tux. Stop doing
those moves," she said finally, noticing that he was getting too involved with
what he was doing.
	He stopped, straightening his outfit, and stared at his love. She was 
so soft and sweet looking. Ranma stroked his hand on her soft hair and 
lowered his lips to hers for a short, sweet kiss.
	"I'm going to have the cutest date there," he said softly, looking 
into her deep brown eyes.
	"I love you, Ranma. . ."
	"Jeeze, will you two quit all that mushy stuff already!" Ryouga said
as he was pushed into Nabiki's room by Ukyou.
	Ryouga and Ukyou had decided to get dressed at the Tendos, as 
neither of them were quite sure what they were supposed to wear.
	"Akane, HOW do you tie these things?" Ukyou asked, pointing at
Ryouga's yellow bow-tie.
	Akane laughed and went to help a flustered Ryouga, and Ranma
went over to calm Ukyou.
	He straightened the white bow in her hair, and complimented her dress.
It was a plum-purple with a flared short skirt and a white satin brace, which
covered her breasts and her lower shoulders, and tied in the back with a white
bow. Ukyou had fastened an antique-looking gold and amethyst brooch in the
front, and Ranma vaguely remembered her showing it to him in their childhood
and telling him that it was her mother's. Ukyou looked very pretty and very
feminine, but Ranma hesitated to tell her so, not sure what her reaction would
be. So he finally just said, "Ryouga must be really proud to be going to the 
dance with you."
	Ukyou blushed and gave Ranma a small shy smile, and looked over at
the newly bow-tied and black-tuxed Ryouga to give him a meaningful look.
He returned it, smiling back at her with his fangy smile.
	"Doesn't Ukyou look nice, Akane?" Ryouga asked.
	"She looks really pretty," Akane smiled. "And you look very handsome.
You two make a great couple."
	Ryouga turned red and started to twiddle his thumbs. "I... I...."
	"He wants to say thanks," Ukyou translated.
	Ranma took Akane's small hand in his and said, "Well, guys, I think
it's time to go. Mom and Pop and Kasumi want to take some photos of us and
stuff. Besides, we have to make those dinner reservations."

* * * * *

Several hours later.

	"Nabiki-chan, would you care to step outside for a breath of fresh air?"
Kuno asked her, approaching the chatting circle of girls where she stood.
	Nabiki was not having a good time. She didn't want to be at this function
in the first place, and now that she was here she found it even more undesirable
than she could have possible imagined. The room was heavy with oppressive
warmth,
the smells of sweat and too much perfume reeked and her head clattered with the 
voices of gossiping girls and sullen young men. Kuno hadn't commented once on
her outfit, and everyone was asking about the fact that she had arrived
separately
from Kuno. Then Kuno had only danced two dances with her, excusing himself
after to gone off to do his "hosting". It was partially a relief in that she
didn't have
to spend too much time with Kuno, but it also fueled the gossip. Maybe he had 
noticed himself, and that was why he was suddenly offering to take her outside. 
Nabiki decided without hesitation she could use a breath of fresh air.
	"That sounds wonderful, Kuno," Nabiki sighed in relief, and pushed
away from the confining circle, making her excuses as she passed, and then
found herself chagrined at the winks and nudges she received in reply.
	"God, can't they give it a rest," she thought angrily, and flinched as she
finally made her way outside the circle and Kuno took her arm in his, validating
her friends' unspoken words and knowing glances.
	Nakoto called after her, "Don't do anything -I- WOULD do, Boss!"
	Nabiki didn't bother to turn around and acknowledge the comment or
the giggles that soon followed after Nakoto's outrageous remark.
	Kuno didn't say a word, thankfully, probably ignorant of the implications.
At least, she hoped that was the reason. He escorted her to the door, and then 
outside into the fragrant gardens surrounding the house. The gardens were a 
mixture of traditional Japanese flora and various imported flowers. Stooping
down a bit, difficult in her tight dress, she bent to touch a delicate white
flower
gently, inhaling its fragrance.
	"These are really beautiful flowers, Kuno. Do you know what they are?"
	"I do not know. We have gardeners for that sort of thing."
	"Oh, I see," Nabiki mused, wondering once again what had persuaded
her that becoming a "couple" with Kuno was an advantageous decision. She 
finally looked up at him and tried a different tact.
	"Kuno, I was think....."
	She never got to finish her sentence as Kuno reached down to tug her
up from the ground and pull her to his chest. Startled, Nabiki broke off
and looked up into Kuno's eyes, which were filled with an emotion that she 
didn't want to acknowledge.
	"Enough about flowers," he said sternly, "These flowers are not as
fair as thou art fair, Nabiki my love. Your beauty makes such frail things
fade into obscurity." His eyes bored into hers, and she suddenly saw his 
lips descending toward hers. She could feel his body pressed against her, and
there was no way to escape the fact that he was aroused by her.
	"Kuno, I!..." She tried to pull back, but his lips caught hers and 
suddenly his tongue invaded her mouth. She gagged at the taste and at
the violation. Her mind was screaming for her to get away. He suddenly
broke off, loosening his hold on her and grinning like a tiger at it's meal.
	"You liked that, didn't you, my fair Nabiki. That is only a small
taste of all that I can give you, all that I can make you feel."
	What Nabiki felt was nauseous, but she tried to hide it by 
laughing nervously and heading a bit further down the path, realizing
that they were now quite far away from the Dance, and she felt a
sudden desperation to once again be surrounded by people; protected.
	"Um. You flatter me Kuno. These flowers are much prettier
than I am, see? Don't you think that we have had enough fresh air? We
should. . ."
	He was suddenly behind her, holding her around the waist, 
breathing on her neck in hot, stifling, bursts. She knew he was eyeing
her cleavage from his advantageous height. Nabiki tried to keep walking
forward, but he pulled her back.
	"Kuno. . ." she tried again, and then stiffened as his hands slid
up to cup her breasts.
	"The only flowers I want are these rosebuds here, Nabiki."
She felt his lips descend to her neck, and then the slimy wet trail of his
tongue.
	Chills broke out all over Nabiki's body and she began to shake,
her stomach roiling. That was it. She pushed his hands off of her
forcefully and then turned to face Kuno. She was completely disconcerted
for the first time in years, her face red and angry. 
	"What the HELL do you think you are DOING, Kuno?!"
	Looking at her with half-lidded eyes, he replied, "Come, come,
Nabiki. It is well-acknowledged by all that we are a couple, and I 
think I have waited more than long enough for you to overcome any
maidenly hesitations."
	"Maidenly hesitations?!" Nabiki spat in disbelief, her fury growing.
"What makes you think that I don't want to be mauled by you because of
maidenly hesitations?! Did you ever stop to think that maybe I wasn't
interested in you that way?"
	Kuno smiled a knowing grin.
	"Ah, Nabiki. I see that you are embarrassed of your passion. Just
give over to it, my love. After all, it is not as if I have not paid well for 
your affections."
	All color drained from Nabiki's face and she stood there, frozen,
realizing that he had just branded her a whore, saying that she was 
selling her love to the highest bidder.
	"HOW DARE YOU INSINUATE THAT I AM SOME SORT
OF PROSTITUTE!!" She screamed.
	Kuno shrugged. "A rose is a rose is a rose. . ."
	Calling on skills which she had forgotten that she still possessed,
Nabiki struck out, striking Kuno simultaneously in the windpipe and the
groin, and he fell to the ground gasping with shock and pain.
	"You BASTARD. You stupid, horny, malicious, BOY-LOVING
bastard!! How DARE you!!"
	"Foul woman, you wound and insult me! I will have vengeance for
this," Kuno ground out between clenched teeth, his body hunched.
	She continued to rail at his pain-wracked form, "You, the one who
was obsessed with another man to the point of insanity, presume to judge
ME? I saved you! I salvaged your pitiful honor! That's the ONLY
reimbursement you are EVER going to get from me."
	"Bitch." He said it quietly, trying to stand.
	She froze.
	"That's right Kuno. I'm a bitch. But this bitch owes you NOTHING."
	Nabiki turned, summoning her dignity, and strode out toward the 
gate to the outside of the mansion, waiting until she reached the street before
she dared to break into a run.

* * * * *

	"Did you see Ryouga?" Ukyou asked, handing a cup of punch to 
Akane as she walked up to their table in the corner of the crowded room.
	"Nope, not him OR Ranma." Akane answered, taking a sip of the
bright red punch and grimacing slightly.
	Ukyou shook her head. "I was hoping that they might have come
back or at least stopped to check in by now. I mean, how long does it 
take for two GUYS to go to the bathroom? Guys usually are so quick, you
know?"
	"Hmm..." Akane mused and swirled her punch around to try to mix
it a bit more before taking another sip. "I wouldn't be surprised if they were
off fighting somewhere."
	"The sad thing is, you're probably right. Those two just aren't cut
out for getting dressed up and acting like gentlemen," Ukyou sighed, 
absentmindedly rubbing her calves, commenting, "Jeesh, these heels are
gonna do me in."
	Akane chuckled to herself, noting that Ukyou wasn't exactly used
to getting all dressed up and acting like a lady herself.
	"You know, Ukyou, I really thought this would be a romantic 
evening. I guess I was hoping for too much. Those two WOULD feel that
it was unmanly to dance. A couple of slow dances and they were already
itching to leave."
	"No kidding," Ukyou grumbled, fiddling with her corsage and
scowling at the wilting flowers, suffering in the heat of the room. "Not
to MENTION that if I hadn't been leading, Ryouga would have waltzed
us all the way to Kyoto."
	At that comment Akane couldn't help but laughing aloud.
	Ukyou gave her a dark look and said, "Go ahead, laugh it up.
It IS pretty funny I guess. But at least MY boyfriend didn't get turned
into a girl in the middle of the Lambada."
	"Oh, you know that was just Daisuke playing a joke."
	"Well, we wouldn't be sitting her waiting for him to go change
back if it hadn't happened."
	"Yeah, well, you're right about that. At least Ryouga didn't get
turned into a pig too."
	"It was a close thing," Ukyou grumbled.
	Ukyou stared out at the dance floor, eyeing the various couples.
	"Hey Akane," she asked suddenly, "Why is Nabiki's friend... what's
her name? Oh yeah. Nakoto. Why is Nakoto dancing with Kuno?!"
	"What?" Akane asked, not bothering to look. "He's probably
dancing with her because Nabiki asked him to. I think she came without
a date. He's probably just trying to be nice."
	"I think making out with her in public like that might be taking
it a LITTLE too far though, don't you?" Ukyou asked dryly.
	Akane started and turned to look among the couples until her
eyes fell on the two plastered to each other on the dance floor.
	"Why that. . .!!" Akane blustered, standing up so suddenly that
her chair toppled to the ground.
	Just as rapidly, Akane and Ukyou were suddenly surrounded by
a cluster of chattering girls.
	"Akane! There you are! We've been looking EVERYWHERE for
you!"
	"Did you SEE, Akane?!"
	"I heard that Kuno took Nabiki out into the garden and dumped her!"
	"Yeah, I guess she took it so hard that she ran off."
	"Well, she WAS stringing him along. . ."
	"What are you talking about, HE'S the JERK!"
	"He is not!"
	"He liked Nakoto anyway I hear."
	"He is too!"
	Akane's voice finally broke through. "ENOUGH!!!! Where is my
sister?!"
	The girls, surprised by Akane's outburst, tittered to a stop. Maia,
one of Akane's friends, said, "I heard she went home and that she was really
upset. I guess Kuno chewed her out for manipulating him."
	Naomi added, "And he went to Nakoto afterward and told her that
he'd really liked her all along."
	"I see," Akane said quietly. "That bastard. And she wasn't manipulating
him. She loved him."
	Naomi shrugged. "Well, if you say so, Akane. It's sure always seemed
to me like the only thing Nabiki loves is herself. And money, of course."
	"Why you. . !" Akane snarled, and Ukyou tried to restrain her from
scratching Naomi's eyes out.
	Fortunately, Ranma and Ryouga chose this time to reappear. Or 
perhaps not so fortunately, as they were both a bit ruffled, and it was 
pretty obvious that the both had been off tackling somewhere.
	Akane, already not in the best mood, screamed, "RANMA!!!!"
	Ryouga looked in askance at Ukyou as Ranma disappeared, 
Akane and a mallet hot on his trail.
	"I think, for us, the Dance is over," Ukyou said softly, looking 
after the retreating pair before taking Ryouga's arm and heading to the
door to leave the Kuno mansion.

End of Chapter XV