Subject: [FFML][Fanfic][Ranma][Slightly Dark] Kodachi's Chance
From: Adrian Tymes
Date: 5/13/1998, 1:10 AM
To: ffml@fanfic.com

I promised myself I would never write a Ranmafic...but you know how some
ideas won't let themselves go without being written.

[Insert standard use-of-Ranmaverse disclaimers here]

This is a draft version; C&C welcome, appreciated, begged for, and so
on. ;)  Please e-mail me first if you wish to repost this in any form,
including MSTs.

(I'm not sure whether this counts as a spamfic or not.  Total writing
time was just over three hours, including minor interruptions.)

******

Some call me insane.  They may be correct.  But, if I am, it is only
because I am crazy for one man.  Those who said I was crazy even before
I met him...well, let us just say that they no longer speak of it, at
least not to me.  Except for my father and brother, and, sometimes, HIM,
but I know they only do it out of affection.

What I am is wise.  I know how to get what I want.  That was why I did
not assist his other two fiancees when they disrupted his near-wedding.
I knew that they would prevent him from getting married to A...

Aka...

...I hate her so much, I can't even THINK her name sometimes.  How DARE
she contest my claim on Ranma's heart?  Ukyou and Shampoo, at least,
travelled to seek Ranma, even if their only claim on him was just as
forced as hers.  She just happened to live where he wound up staying.
True, I have not spent that much effort either, but then, my affections
for him come only from my heart.  I have no law, no Genma-bought
"engagements", nor any other excuse to ask my competition to leave.  I
simply love him.  Is that not enough?

Anyway, I knew they would stop his wedding, but I also knew they would
earn his mistrust.  And now, I know how to turn that to my advantage.

******

"Hello, Ukyou.  How's Ranma?"

Ukyou has never really trusted me, and I suppose she has her reasons.
If I were in her position, I might not trust me either.  But I have to
break through her silent treatment if my plan is to work.

"Is he as quiet to you as you are to me?"

That touched a nerve.  I hope I've hidden my smile well enough; the
anger on her face would mean a fight for sure if she saw it.  Not that I
would not enjoy a little sparring, but right now, I have other concerns.

"I see.  You have, of course, tried to apologize to him...right?"

"No."  This is a surprise.  "I...I don't know if I can apologize.  I
mean, the thought of him living in a marriage he doesn't want...surely,
he can see why I..."

"Are you sure he does not want it?"

She says nothing, but I can see that she has been wrestling with this
question.  Oh, Ukyou, your face is like a book to me!

"Ohohoho, I see.  And your pride won't let you..."  No need to conceal
my smile now; taking joy in slowly tossing pearls of wisdom to the swine
before me an innocent pleasure.  "...just...ask...him?"

She was not fully listening.  "What?"

"I said, are you going to ask him if he loves Akane?  I mean, if he
does, and she loves him, then there's no reason for you to stop him, now
is there?"

She knows, but it took my words for her to convince herself.  "I
suppose."  The resignation in her voice is sweet victory, but I can not
waste time.

"And, if that is the case, do you have anything left to live for?"

"Excuse me?"

"I said, if Ranma and Akane love each other, you have nothing left to
live for."  Here's hoping that the chemicals work, but just in case...
"Is that not right?"

"I...suppose..."

Yes!  The formula said whoever breathed it would be open to suggestions.
And only I would think to put it in my perfume...after taking liberal
quantites of the antidote myself, of course.

"...but I only have to ask Akane.  I know who Ranma prefers."

The poor, deluded girl.  She honestly thinks she no longer has a chance
after the wedding.  Oh, well...if one gives up on life, one becomes a
legitimate target for the rest of the world.  "So, why don't you ask
Ranma and Akane if they love each other?  If they do, then show Ranma
how much you still care."  Drag one finger across my throat to make my
point.  "Take yourself out of the running, and end your heartache
forever!"  Anyone who saw me now would assume my grin is just my
insanity...it does make a convenient excuse at times.

******

If Ukyou knows that I have shadowed her back to the Tendos', she shows
no sign of caring.  Certainly, I've hidden myself so well that no one
inside can see me.  Not that it would really matter, I suppose, but no
reason to give anyone a reason to suspect me.

Whatever spirits are watching, thank you!  Akane's answering the door,
and it looks like no one else can see them.

"Hello, Ukyou."  She has not forgiven the chef.  Nor will she get her
chance.  "Come to hit on Ranma again?"

"No, actually, I came to ask you something."

"What?"  She would listen if Ukyou were to apologize right now.  Too
bad.

"D...do you l-love Ranma?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"I mean, if Shampoo and I...hadn't interfered, would you have married
him?  And, would you have kept your vows?  Would you really have loved
him forever?"

"Of course."  Simple, short, to the point...

...and precisely the wrong thing to say.  Or the right one.  "Then I
really do have nothing left."

"Ukyou?"  You know, if Akane was just a bit sharper, she might have
realized what the chef was about to do in time to stop her.  But, as I
knew it would be, she does not.  Akane does see Ukyou pull a throwing
spatula, and, thinking that it is intended for her, puts up her arms to
block.

She does not see the spatula slice Ukyou a new smile until it is
halfway across her neck.

Oh, this is too perfect!  In her efforts to snatch Ukyou's spatula out
of her hand, Akane grabs the implement just after it leaves her throat,
leaving her to watch helplessly as Ukyou collapses.

One second, two seconds, three...

"Oh, my!"  "Growf?"  "My daughter, a murderer..."

Kasumi, Genma, Soun.  Not the ones I wanted to see her in this position,
but the more witnesses, the better, I suppose.

"Akane?"

THAT is the one I wanted to hear.

"UKYOU?"

"W...wait, Ranma, I can explain..."

There he is.  You know, I do not think I will ever forget the look on
his face as he kneels next to Ukyou, or when he stands up and snatches
the bloody spatula from Akane's hand.  He just looks too cute like that,
thinking that his true love has just murdered his best friend.

"Don't bother."  Correction.  His FORMER true love.  "I thought I knew
you, but obviously I was mistaken."

"It's not what it looks like..."

"Have you ever believed me when I said that?"

Yes, yes, YES!  Thank you, guardian spirits, this is my day!

Nothing more is said as he leaves, possibly for the last time.  Now, one
more part to play.  Wait for him to step off the Tendo grounds, and...

"Ran...ma...?"

He does not want to talk to me.  He would probably like to blame me for
what just happened, but he "knows" that I could not be responsible.

"I overheard Shampoo plotting to make Akane kill Ukyou."  Glance towards
the dead body.  "I just got here...oh, Ranma, I'm so sorry...if only I'd
been a bit faster..."  Bet he never learns a martial arts technique that
teaches control over the tear ducts.

"Shampoo...?"  I can not have him going after her right now, I just need
to cut him off.  "That...that..."

"Ranma..."  Hug him, and hold him tight.  Cry on his shoulder.  I know,
he should be crying on mine, but if it draws him into my clutches...
"I never wanted our fights over you to kill anyone.  Not for real."

"Kodachi..."  Even his fear of me crumbles before his urge to comfort
those who are hurt.

"I'd give you up if I thought it would bring her back.  I know what she
meant to you."  Just words; harmless unless someone really does find a
way to bring her back from the dead...and the only one around here who
is likely to be able to is Cologne.  Somehow, I do not think I have to
worry about her.

"Thanks."

Ok, enough is enough.  Cut the melodramatics, but not too fast...ease
off, just slow enough to make it look natural.  "But, where will you
stay now?  I mean, you can't stay at the Tendos, and I don't think you'd
like it at Ucchan's..."  A slight grin.  "With your luck, it'll be
haunted within a week if you try."

"I suppose Genma and I could go training again..."

If I act like I just thought of it, it will seem suspicious.  "I have
always dreamed of you living with us, Ranma.  Would you accept if I were
to offer you my family's hospitality?"

"Your family?  Your brother hates my guts."

"I will...have words with him.  Do not worry; if you come to us under my
protection, you and he will cease to fight."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that."  He probably thinks he knows
something that I do not.

"Could you at least try it, Ranma?  Please?"

"I suppose..."

Have I thanked you enough, spirits?  If not, thank you again!

******

Not even an hour alone with my Ranma, and already Nabiki has come up
with a way to profit.  Why else would she be at the door of my estate,
wanting to talk to me about her sister?

Whatever her plan is, I had better make sure no one else hears of it...
yet.  Only Ranma and I are here, and I have asked Ranma not to
eavesdrop.  Not that I could tell if he tried, but he is a man of honor,
and I did remind him that if Nabiki had wanted to speak with him, she
would not have specified that she wished to speak with me alone.

The direct approach is, on occasion, the best.  "What scheme have you
concocted this time, oh Mistress of Yen?"

I thought she would like that title.  Oh, well, perhaps she is too
distraught over recent events.  "I saw everything."

Oops.

"You are responsible, aren't you?  You set everything up.  You hurt
Akane.  Give me one good reason why I shouldn't tell Ranma everything
right now."

"I'd kill you where you stood before you could get two words out."

I am bluffing - she could tell Ranma when I was not nearby, and I could
not stop her - but she might assume that I intend to stay by Ranma's
side just to enforce that threat.  What she does not realize is that I
know that would poison Ranma against me, just as Shampoo's and Ukyou's
efforts harmed their own chances.

It took me a long time to learn that.  A very painful long time.  But,
learn it I did.  If Nabiki thinks I have not, then I will manipulate
her with that misinformation, just as she as done to so many others.

"I...don't deal...with terror..."  Yes, you do, Nabiki.  You are
terrified of me right now, but you are dealing with it.

"I will also give you my brother."

She has been after him for a long time, for the money of our estate.
Even this might not prove enough, though...

"And, one last thing, Nabiki."  Lean close, stare daggers.  "I.  Was.
Not.  Responsible."  Lean back.  "I pity the loss of Ukyou just as much
as you do.  More, probably, since I actually care about Ranma's
feelings, not just his impact on my bank account.  That is not just a
story."  Well, it is, but why let her know that?  "That is fact."

Good.  She believes me.  A little asking around and she might have found
out the truth, but my act was sufficiently convincing that she will not
ask.  "What do you mean, give me your brother?"

"Any assistance you want.  A kind word, a love potion..."  She is now on
my side, so offer her a predatorial smile.  "...anything I can.  Just so
long as you let me know what you want, of course."

"Deal."  She is still scared of me, but whenever I see her smile like
that, I must admit, she scares me, too.

******

Dinnertime, and my brother finally comes home.  I had expected him to
be upset.

I did not expect him to draw his blade against me.  Maybe that is why I
let him get it up to my throat.

"Sister mine, hast thou fallen to the vile Ranma's sorcery as well?  The
knave hast informed me that you invited him to befoul our noble estate."

"You've been reading too much Shakespeare, brother.  But, yes, you could
say I've fallen under his spell.  I did it for you."

"How can subjecting yourself to his ways be of assistance to me?"

"In so doing, I have freed Akane from his influence, and possibly your
pig-tailed girl as well.  It is better that only one fall victim to him
instead of two, is it not?"

"But...but sister mine..."

"Ahem."  Ranma!  "Actually, I've been meaning to speak to you about the
pig-tailed girl.  I've been trying to tell you two this for some time,
and you'll have to know it if I'm living here."

"Release your sorcery over my sister first, fiend!"

"I can not."  Is he playing along?  "My 'sorcery', as you call it, is
not entirely under my control.  But it has no direct effect on anyone
else."

"Do you honestly expect me to believe that my own flesh and blood would
willingly take you in?"

"Honestly?  I don't know what you believe.  But I do know that you
really should take your bokken away from her throat before she punches
you."

Oh, Ranma.  I would not have killed him.  Crotch strikes can be very
painful for males, yes, but they are hardly fatal.  Even so, Tatewaki's
blade does leave my neck when he sees the position of my fist.

"Very well.  Now tell us your lies, scourge."

"Tell?  It's much easier to show."  He should not have said that.
Tatewaki knows a threat when he hears one, and now he's attacking...

...why is Ranma reaching for a glass of water?

*SPLASH*

...

"Pig-tailed one?"

"Like I said, my 'sorcery' only affects me."

My mouth can barely work.  "R...Ranma?"

"Yes, Kodachi.  Cold water changes me to this form.  Hot water changes
me back.  That's the only 'sorcery' I have, other than martial arts."
Now it is his turn to stare daggers, at my brother.  "Don't say it.  I
can not release my hold over this body, any more than you could over
your own hands.  I wish I could be rid of this; of course, your
pig-tailed goddess would then be gone forever."

Tatewaki's impression of a goldfish is rather ill-timed.

"Brother, consider this.  I have always loved him.  Even if he is
'controlling' me, it makes no difference.  Akane is now free of his
influence.  Although I do not think she is the Tendo you should pursue."

"Why not, sister mine?"

"Because Nabiki loves you."  Well, she loves his money, but close
enough.  And I did promise to help her.  "I don't think Akane will
accept your advances, knowing how her sister feels, regardless of
Ranma."

He is not buying it.  "Ranma, I beg of you, stop putting words in her
mouth!"

"Don't believe her?  See for yourself.  Ask Nabiki out on a date."  Are
you still friends with Nabiki, even after what you think her sister did?
Oh, Ranma...

"Very well."  Good...putting a blade away always leads to more peaceful
situations.  "I will see.  But, be warned, if you lie..."

He never saw my ribbon until after it was around his throat.  "You will
fight with Ranma only over my dead body.  Clear, brother mine?"

"Oh, I don't know, Kodachi."  Why are you questioning me, Ranma?  "I
could use someone to spar with, and unless you're willing to invite Pa
over..."  That freeloader?  He can go back to his wife.

"Very well."  Release the ribbon.  "You two may...spar.  But that's it."
A slight smile.  "If anyone's going to injure Ranma, it will be me."

"Uhh...Kodachi..."

Wink.  "And I won't unless you let me.  I wish you could enjoy the pain,
Ranma...I only do it to pleasure you."

"Right..."

Great.  Looks like I will not get to use that rack after all.  Not until
I get him adjusted...and that could take a while.

But that is just another type of training, is it not?  And, Ranma, I do
so wish to train you.