All Ranma characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, first published
by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by Viz
Communications.
The Bet- Addiction by Gregg Sharp (and expanded by Christopher Olsen)
Yet another story in the story arc of "The Bet" All char tm their
respective creators, etc. LIME WARNING- nothing is actually described,
but there are implications.
Addicted to Love: Chapter 1
Happosai had been punted all the way to the Nekohanten via Akane.
Mousse had just had the usual run-in with Cologne and Shampoo, and
neither was in a terribly good mood when they met. A chance phrase by
Mousse regarding how much trouble women were causing him struck a chord
in Happosai, and the two went off to gripe to each other.
Mousse wasn't used to drinking, but, after three scotches "neat",
had become considerably looser. Mousse confessed that, deep down, he
thought he probably would NEVER get the girl of his dreams. He had to
try, though, didn't he? Wasn't it the mark of a man that he would rather
perish than give up his dreams?
Happosai wasn't even nearly beginning to be drunk after a single
bottle of sake, but WAS surprised to learn that Mousse was one of those
people who got more philosophical when lightly inebriated. This got him
thinking, something that always boded ominously for anyone nearby.
"Akane, it was sweet lil' Akane. Ranma causes me no end of problems,
but Akane has lately been catching up."
"Shampoo, Cologne, maybe I've just learned out here in the outside
world that not all women have to be bitches. Maybe that's it and I just
want something more than to be ordered around and beaten on all the
time."
"You know, Mousse," Happosai turned slitted eyes towards his
drinking partner. "There is something we could try that'd make us feel
a LOT better."
"What's that?" Mousse stared at his drink.
Happosai filled Mousse in on his plan. Mousse didn't even notice the
Reversal Jewel on his robes as he found himself agreeing. "Humiliate
'em," Mousse muttered. It had a certain ring to it.
------------------------------
It was a nice little party. Shampoo had no idea about this
"spaghetti" stuff, but it seemed okay. So Mousse was leaving forever,
and for a sendoff he'd ordered a huge dish of this Italian food and
arranged for a sendoff at the Tendo dojo. Shampoo kept trying to glomp
Ranma, Akane kept trying to hit Ranma, and Ukyo trying to break up
either the Amazon Glomp or Akane Pummeling from moment to moment, and
Kasumi and Nabiki quietly eating. The two fathers had left quickly, when
Happosai announced a training mission he had in mind, and Happi was
still looking for both Genma and Soun.
Mousse smiled. Phase One complete. Each of the victims had eaten
enough of the Special Mushrooms. He'd found this song several weeks ago,
and had thought it described something of his relationship with
Shampoo. The original was some Westerner, the current version by some
Japanese group that occasionally did this sort of thing.
< SNAP! >
The six people in the dining room stiffened as the post-hypnotic
mushrooms went into effect. The tape had been queued up so that the
words began immediately. Nabiki's camcorder was turned on, as Happosai
wanted to see the events when he got back.
"Your lights are on, but you're not home. Your mind is not your
own. Your heart sweats, your body shakes Another kiss is what it
takes..."
A little incense burner was carefully inserted into the room. Mousse
knew better than to sniff some of it himself. The general effect would
be similar to that Viagra stuff the news agencies kept talking about.
"You can't sleep, you can't eat There's no doubt, you're in deep.
Your throat is tight, you can't breathe. Another kiss is all you
need..."
Mousse made sure the camcorder caught most of the room on a
wide-angle shot. When Happosai came back, he'd get the tape, and he
could make copies of it. The humiliation value would be priceless.
"Whoa, you like to think that you're immune to the stuff, oh yeah"
Akane and Nabiki both seemed to nod at that. Mousse made sure that
he had adequate ventilation and prowled the area. Nothing must
interfere. Nothing. For the years of suffering that Shampoo had put
him through, this was a mere drop in the bucket. Mousse was counting on
Happi to make sure that Cologne saw Shampoo's humiliation, as Mousse had
no intention of being anywhere near them when the tapes began to
circulate.
"It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough, You know
you're Gonna have to face it, you're addicted to love."
Only a few more minutes now, Mousse glanced into the room.
Everything was still going on as planned. The signs outside proclaiming
"Dojo closed, Back in three hours" and the low-level thugs he'd bribed
with some odd Chinese artifacts would help discourage casual visitors.
"You see the signs, but you can't read. You're runnin' at a
different speed. Your heart beats in double time. Another kiss and
you'll be mine,
"A one track mind, You can't be saved. Oblivion is all you crave.
If there's some left for you. You don't mind if you do."
Mousse checked. Yes, everyone was eating some more of the drugged
spaghetti.
The tape editing, done that very morning, cut the overall time of
the tape by removing the choruses and the guitar solo. Time was of the
essence here, Mousse knew. The longer it went on, the better the chance
for an interruption.
"Your lights are on, but you're not home. Your will is not your
own. Your heart sweats and teeth grind. Another kiss and you'll be
mine."
Mousse gritted his teeth. Ryoga was wandering up to the front
gate. The thugs wouldn't be able to handle him. Mousse jumped down
from his perch and began a tale of how Akane and Ranma were out on a
date at the park. Ryoga left, swearing to break up the couple.
Mousse hoped that he had never been that easy to manipulate. He
listened as the additional commands were quickly given with the music
continuing to play as a background. Oh yes, this was going to be nasty.
< SNAP! >
The tape ended. With a grin, and some lingering regrets, Mousse
walked to the door of the room and snapped his fingers. He checked the
camcorder on the way out, making sure it was running. It was time to
go, but he'd left a forwarding address with Happosai so that he could
get a copy. This would be SO amusing.
-----------------------
Akane awoke; hearing Happosai's distinctive chuckle as the little
letch ran, from outside the room off to something. Whatever, as long as
he was going away. It was kind of chilly, though.
Akane's eyes snapped open as she realized that: a) She was sore and
tired, in an unusual way, b) She was chilly because she was naked, c)
She was NOT alone.
It was night outside, but there was sufficient light that Akane
could see what a mess the room was in. The table with the remains of
the spaghetti had been thrown over to the side, and there were naked
bodies everywhere.
"Uhmmmmmm." Kasumi was beginning to stir.
Akane looked at the trashed room and made a mistake. She screamed.
This not only woke everyone up, but caused a throbbing sensation about
one inch behind her right eye.
"Aiyaaa."
"Oh my."
"I... didn't. Did I?" Nabiki blushed.
"It's not my fault! Oh man, did we? Uh oh."
"Ranma, you PERVERT!"
"Now, now, Akane! I don't really think this was Ranchan's idea."
"Maybe you're right, Ukyo." Akane related that she had heard
Happosai upon waking up.
"Anyone see my clothes?"
"Sorry, Kasumi, I think these used to be them."
Nabiki thought for a moment. "Where's Mousse?"
"He not here," Shampoo looked around.
"That's it!" Nabiki snapped her fingers.
------------------
"Urrrrghhhh." Kasumi was the first to wake up this time. She was
QUITE sore.
Pushing Shampoo off of her (and waking the amazon up at the same
time) Kasumi made an idle comment about having to replace the tatami
mats in this room a bit earlier than she'd planned.
The morning sun was shining in through the doorway. Somehow Kasumi
doubted anyone would make it to school today. Still, some hot tea would
be lovely right now. The caffeine would be necessary.
"Ungh," Ranma went to the furo. He wanted an ice pack, but knew
he'd have to settle for a cold rinse for now.
Akane started coming in, saw Ranma and began to close the door.
"Akane leave? Then Shampoo go in."
"Ranma's already in there."
"Akane? What difference does it make at this point if Ranchan's in
there? I think we've pretty much cut through a lot of that right now.
Besides, I REALLY need to scrub after that."
"Shampoo agree with Spatula Girl. Shampoo see entirely too much of
everyone here, but think Shampoo really need to get clean."
Nabiki shouldered past all three blocking the doorway and sat next
to Ranma.
"Personally, I think I could scrub all day long and still not feel
clean."
"Aiyaa. Mercenary girl right. Shampoo have odd taste in mouth too."
"Uhm. Got any mouthwash around here, guys?"
"Sure, Ukyo. I think we ALL know how we got such things and we
really DON'T need to linger on the details, now do we?" Nabiki began
scrubbing with a vengeance.
Ranma just tried to ignore everyone around him. This was very
difficult for him, a test of his self-control beyond anything he'd had
before. He knew that if he just glanced once, he'd end up
staring.
"Shampoo." Nabiki hesitated.
"Yes?"
"You remember that Formula 110 you used on Akane back when you first
came to Japan?"
"Of course, Shampoo remember."
"I REALLY want to forget about this."
"Shampoo really not happy about way first night with airen go,
either. Shampoo know Amazon Law though, and Shampoo know two
solutions. One, give kiss of death to all other women involved
then kill everyone. If Shampoo no kill everyone, then others from
Village do."
"Your society doesn't believe in halfway measures, does it, sugar?"
Shampoo nodded. "Is so. Two, have ceremony. Everyone inducted
into Amazon Tribe. Then members of Amazon Tribe no have to hunt down
and kill."
Nabiki hung her head. She was sore, she was tired, and she felt
like she'd be walking a bit funny for the next several days at least.
Right now, she knew she and the others were still in shock and
emotionally numbed from their shared experience. "What kind of
ceremony?"
--------------------
Cologne was NOT a happy camper. One doesn't get to be her age
without learning to control one's temper, and this was one of those
occasions where something had to be done NOW and recriminations and
blame could be assessed after damage control had been done.
Besides, she'd seen the videotape delivered and the note in
Happosai's handwriting. She suspected what was on the tape, and figured
that it would eventually get back to the homeland. THAT would be bad if
she hadn't found a way to deal with it before then.
"Induction into the tribe of amazons will make you sisters of
Shampoo, you understand this? She is your elder sister and you will
defer to her in all matters concerning the tribe. You will be bound by
the laws of the tribe and our customs. Are there any objections?"
Everyone was silent, though there were any number of glares
exchanged.
Cologne was rushing the ceremony. Not because of amazon kill
squads, but because once the little group got over their shock they'd
probably not be able to deal with each other for months. That meant
doing this NOW.
Then, Cologne promised herself, she was going to lock herself in her
room, watch the tape and either laugh or cry for the next several
hours. Probably both as well as get roaring drunk.
-----------------------
Soun and Genma had come back late that night, having finally gotten
drunk enough to be up to facing "the evil master." With Happosai's
absence, the two fathers were too happy (and too drunk) to notice the
high levels of tension in the house, not to mention the new tatami mats
on the floor.
Kasumi, Akane, and Nabiki were in the living room when they arrived,
sipping tea and trying to come to grips with everything that had
happened the previous night, not to mention the ceremony they had gone
through that afternoon. Ranma had exiled himself to the Dojo since
Cologne and the other girls had left, too uncomfortable to stay in the
same room with the three sisters at the moment. Not that they were
feeling much better.
Ever the proper hostess, Kasumi managed to overcome her shock long
enough to rise to help the two inebriated men. "Father, Mr. Saotome!
Come now, you two should be in bed!" Kasumi went over to her father and
helped Genma walk him to his room. The part time panda had managed to
retain a larger percentage of his brain cells, thanks to his greater
mass, and managed to get Soun into the hall with some help from Kasumi.
Genma chuckled drunkenly as he carted his drinking companion down
the hall. "Heh. Didn't I tell you, Soun old friend? The master would
never look to find us in that bar!"
Soun nodded vaguely, half asleep. "Yes... absolutely,
Saotome-kun...."
Genma nodded triumphantly. "It was so simple!" He gloated,
snapping his fingers. "All we had to do was find a bar with no women in
it!" He grunted, dragging his friend down toward his bedroom. "Didn't
I tell you?"
Soun nodded, barely retaining consciousness. "Yes... no...
women...." He blinked half awake as he reached his own door. "It's it
funny, though... how everyone was so friendly...?" Genma managed to
pull open his door he and Kasumi helped him inside. Soun blinked
blearily at his eldest daughter who was tugging helpfully at his Gi.
"Thank you... dear... but I can... undress myself."
Genma kept gloating while he helped Kasumi put Soun into bed. "Ha!
I wish I had tried this sooner!" He snapped his fingers again in
regret, then blinked. Kasumi had apparently stumbled while trying to
help her father into bed, and was laying half across him, her hands on
his chest as if she was....
Kasumi quickly pushed herself up and stepped away from the bed in
shock. "Oh my."
Genma blinked blearily at her than shook his head. < I must be
drunker than I thought!> He staggered out of the room and headed slowly
down the hall toward the stairs. "Time for some sleep." He muttered
quietly.
Kasumi followed after Genma, trying not to blush. < What in the
world happened? One moment I was helping father to bed, the next
I'm....> She glanced past the staggering Genma into the living room and
gasped loudly. Akane and Nabiki were making out behind the table, doing
their best to remove each other's clothing while staying attached to
each other in a passionate kiss. Genma started to glance in that
direction and Kasumi grabbed his arm. "Let me help you, Mr. Saotome!"
She gently pulled him away from the living room and around to the
stairs. "Come now, your bed is waiting!" She said in her cheeriest
tone of voice, hoping that Genma wouldn't hear the increasingly
interesting sounds coming from behind him.
Kasumi managed to get Genma to the stairs and left him to make the
rest of the way on his own. < Oh my, oh my... something must have
triggered the hypnosis again!> She hurried back to the living room. <
What should I do?> She came to a halt in embarrassment at the sight of
her two sisters, both half naked and working on pulling off the rest of
each other's clothing in a frenzy. < Now how did it start?> Kasumi
blinked. < Oh yes... Mr. Saotome snapped his fingers! That must be the
trigger!> She blinked. < But why did I snap out of it, while Nabiki
and Akane obviously didn't?>
Kasumi's eyes widened, then she nodded. < Of course, Mr. Saotome
must have snapped his fingers again in fathers bedroom, and since Akane
and Nabiki couldn't hear it....> She blushed bright red as Akane
started pulling down the zipper to Nabiki's shorts. < Oh my... I really
should snap them out of it.> She held up her fingers and snapped them.
Akane blinked twice and gave out a yelp of dismay and jerked her
hands out of her sisters shorts. "Oh no! Not again!"
Nabiki jerked away from her with a wince. "Please try not to yell
in my ear, Sis." She blushed and slowly took her hands away from her
sisters chest. "Oh yeah, this is just great." Nabiki rolled her eyes.
"Is this going to keep happening constantly?" She noticed Akane's eyes
going wide just as a pair of arms wrapped gently around her from behind
and started playing with her breasts. "Ah...!" Nabiki grabbed the
offending appendage and pulled, bringing her face to face with her elder
sister, who immediately tried to kiss her on the lips. "Whoa!" Nabiki
ducked the kiss and did her best to fend Kasumi off.
Akane took hold of Kasumi's shoulders from behind. "Kasumi? Big
sister? Snap out of it?" Kasumi kept trying to get at Nabiki until
Akane gave up trying to talk and gently pinned her arms to her sides and
forced her back. "Kasumi? Kasumi... er... could you stop that?"
Kasumi was running her hands up and down Akane's legs, which was the
only part of her younger sister's body she could reach with her arms
pinned.
Nabiki whistled. "Looks like she's still under the influence. I
wonder why?"
Akane growled in embarrassment. "Would you give me a hand here?
She's trying to pull my skirt off!"
Nabiki giggled in amusement as Akane's skirt dropped to the floor.
"She's doing a pretty good job."
Akane stood on her tiptoes and pulled Kasumi in tighter, pinning her
to herself. "Don't stand there and watch, help me!"
Nabiki glanced at the floor and reached down to pick up her bra and
tee-shirt. "One second, Akane, just hold on to her." Nabiki quickly
started getting dressed. "Daddy and Mr. Saotome came in, right?" She
finished hooking her bra and pulled her shirt over her head. "We don't
want them to see us like this, do we?"
Akane sighed and held on to Kasumi, who was affectionately rubbing
herself up and down Akane's mostly naked body. "Fine... just hurry,
OK?" She swallowed and tried to ignore what her eldest sister was
trying to do with her hands. "Kasumi is... er... getting more
inventive...."
Nabiki stepped over and took a look. "I see that! Oh my... I've
got to remember that...."
Akane grimaced. "Just grab a hold of her so I can get my clothes."
Nabiki looked thoughtful. "I'm not so sure I could... you're the
martial artist, and Kasumi's a bit bigger than me."
Akane blushed. "Nabiki! Come on! Don't tell me I've got to stand
here in my panties until she calms down!"
Nabiki shrugged. "What do you suggest?"
Akane sighed. "Lets... try and get her to her room. And lets
hurry! If daddy or Mr. Saotome catches us like this...."
Nabiki mused thoughtfully. "But how are we supposed to get her up
the stairs?" She blinked. "Oh yeah... I've got an idea."
Akane adjusted her grip on her eldest sister, losing hold of one of
her hands for a second. "Yipe! Ahhh.... Whoa! Kasumi, stop that!"
She pulled her panties back up and recaptured Kasumi's hand. "Quick!
Tell me!"
Nabiki smiled. "Let her go."
Akane looked incredulous. "Let her go? Kasumi is acting like a sex
kitten on steroids and you want me to let her go?"
Nabiki nodded. "Let her go, and go up to her room. She's obviously
going to try and follow you to... continue what she's doing... so just
lead her up to her room."
Akane nodded. "That actually makes sense." She tensed, then jumped
back, releasing the eldest of the three Tendo sisters. "Alright,
Kasumi, follow me." Kasumi nodded, the lust on her face evident, and
went after Akane, reaching playfully for her underwear. Akane jumped
back again and started for the stairs. "No you don't... just come this
way...." Kasumi followed her youngest sister eagerly, pulling off her
own clothing as she came. Akane blanched. "Nabiki, she's...."
Nabiki shook her head. "Just keep going. I'll grab your clothes,
and any Kasumi drops. Go ahead and take Kasumi to her room."
Akane dodged her older sister again and nodded, then started quickly
for the stairs, Kasumi chasing playfully after. Nabiki started picking
up loose clothing, a piece at a time, then followed the trail of
clothing to the stairs and up. She had found every stitch that Kasumi
had been wearing by the time she reached her room, and went inside,
carrying the bundle. Akane was blushing furiously, fending off a naked
and amorous Kasumi while only in her panties. Nabiki closed the door
behind her and dropped the pile to one side.
Akane finally managed to pin Kasumi's arms again and held her to her
body, blushing bright red. "Now what? We got her here?"
Nabiki looked thoughtful. "Well... lets get her into bed."
Akane looked incredulous. "I get the feeling that's exactly what
she's trying to do!"
Nabiki tried not to laugh. "I can see that. Just put her in her
bed and I'll help you hold her down so she doesn't hurt herself."
Akane sighed. "This is going to be a long night...." She stepped
backwards and let herself fall onto Kasumi's mattress, pulling her older
sister down with her. After wrestling around for a few seconds, Akane
olled on top and pinned her down. "OK, I got her!" Akane announced
triumphantly. "Now, could you get me my clothes?"
It took half an hour for Kasumi to finally tire out and go to sleep,
and Akane was almost as tired as she finally rolled off her eldest
sister in relief. "Finally. I thought she was never going to give up."
Nabiki frowned in concern. "Do you think she'll be alright?"
Akane pulled the covers up over Kasumi and nodded slowly. "I think
so. She should be back to normal when she wakes up."
Nabiki nodded. "You're probably right. You know, I think I've
figured out what happened. Someone must have snapped their fingers...
probably daddy or Mr. Saotome. How long can this hypnosis stuff last?"
Akane shook her head. "I don't know for sure. When Shampoo used
hypnosis mushrooms on Ranma, she said they last up to twenty four
hours...."
Nabiki sighed in relief. "Not too much longer then, hopefully."
Akane looked worried. "But how will we know when it has worn off?"
Nabiki held up her fingers as if to snap. "We could test it."
Akane waved her hands frantically. "Nononono!" She jumped forward
and put her hands over Nabiki's. "Don't even joke about it!"
Nabiki snickered. "Had you going there for a second. You sure you
don't want to test it? Maybe with just you and Ranma in the room?"
Akane flushed crimson. "You've got to be joking! I would
never...!"
Nabiki looked thoughtful. "OK, if you don't want to try it, I could
go out to the Dojo and...."
Akane looked ready to explode. "NO!!! Wait! You can't!"
Nabiki laughed. "You should see the look on your face! You're
blushing all the way to your waist!" Akane glanced down, blushed, and
rushed over to the pile of clothing on the floor. Nabiki yawned.
"Never mind, Akane. I'm exhausted. I'm going to bed."
Akane glared at Nabiki while pulling on her blouse. "Hey! I was
the one holding Kasumi down all night!"
Nabiki hesitated. "Yeah, well... speaking of that... lets not
bother telling Kasumi about it, alright? She's got enough to deal with
from last night."
Akane nodded quickly. "Sure." She quickly finished dressing and
left to go to her own room. "At least nothing else can happen!"
Sure enough, by the next morning the effects of the hypnosis
appeared to have worn off. Nabiki experimentally tried snapping her
fingers while alone in her room, and while she felt a sudden strong urge
to go find Ranma or one of the other girls, she could found she could
control it.
At school during the lunch period, Nabiki gathered Ranma, Akane and
Ukyo from their class room for a meeting up on the rooftop to discuss
things. No one else at school had noticed anything unusual yet, but she
didn't want to take any chances.
Ukyo glanced at Ranma and Akane before looking at Nabiki in
concern. "What's up? Why all the secrecy, Nabiki?"
Nabiki made sure the door to the roof was secure before answering.
"I just wanted to make sure that what happened that night never gets
out." She looked warningly at the others. "You all know what would
happen if the events of the night before last became public knowledge."
Everyone nodded automatically. Nabiki frowned. "I also wanted to check
something. Has anyone noticed any side effects from that night?" Ranma
shook his head immediately, but Akane and Ukyo hesitated.
Nabiki glanced at Ukyo questioningly. "Akane, Kasumi and I found
out last night that hypnosis has some lingering effects, although from
what I can tell they're going away." She held up a hand, putting her
middle finger and thumb together. "A snap of the fingers is the
trigger. I wanted to be sure that it's fully worn off." Everyone
backed away as if she was holding a weapon. "Nabiki smirked. "I tried
it on myself this morning, and I didn't loose control. I just wanted to
see if it's stronger when we're not alone."
Akane shook her head, her eyes wide. "Don't do it, Nabiki! We can
wait a couple more days and...."
Nabiki wrinkled her nose, then shook her head. "No, I want to be
sure now. Just in case, I want you three to pug your ears. That way if
I am affected you can restrain me until it wears off." She smirked.
"Unless one of you would rather volunteer?" There was a united shaking
of heads, and Nabiki shrugged. "I thought so. You're going to owe me
one for this. Now plug your ears."
Ranma, Akane and Ukyo quickly did so, and Nabiki held up her hand
again, and snapped her fingers. For several seconds nothing seemed to
happen, and the three martial artists took their fingers out of their
ears and watched worriedly as Nabiki shook slightly as her eyes started
to get a bit glassy. Sweat beaded on her brow, and she shook her head
as if too clear it, then straightened up, forcing a smile.
Nabiki let her mask slip back into place. "L-like I thought.
Definitely weaker." She frowned at the stutter and cleared her throat.
"I figure it won't be much longer until this is all just a bad memory."
Ukyo looked visibly relieved. "Thank god. That's it then? It's
all over?"
Nabiki nodded thoughtfully. "Looks like it. If we just go back to
business as usual, we'll be back to normal in no time. If we're all
careful this will remain our secret, right?" Everyone nodded.
Ukyo cleared her throat. "Well, good." She nodded firmly. "I
think that we should just forget everything that happened that night.
None of it counted, right?"
Ranma was quick to agree. "Right! It don't count when you're
drugged or nothing! Right, Akane?"
Akane nodded quietly and Nabiki spoke up. "That's correct, nothing
you do or say under coercion can be counted as legal. We're all in the
clear here."
Ukyo hesitated. "In a way I'm almost sorry...." The others looked
at her in surprise and she was quick to defend herself. "At least that
way I could be with Ranma." Ranma flushed and Akane glared at her, even
as she sighed. "Even if I had to share him."
Akane growled. "Well forget it! It didn't count! We were all
drugged, and you aren't getting Ranma!"
Ranma held up his hands. "Whoa... wait just a minute here."
Ukyo raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Are you trying to say that you're
going to get him?"
Akane blinked in shock. "What? No way! Why would I want a pervert
like that!"
Ranma protested. "Hey, it was Happosai and Mousse that were the
perverts, not me!" The two girls ignored him as they started bickering
in earnest.
Nabiki rolled her eyes and headed for the roof's door. < Well, I
guess things really are getting back to normal. At least it's all over
now, and we don't have to worry about any other side effects.> Nabiki
frowned in mild concern. < At least, I hope not.>
---------------------------
It was one month later, when Nabiki made a morning announcement to
the world, when the real problems began. "Bleeararrraargghghhhhhhh."
She rolled her eyes in exasperation as the probable explanation for her
current condition came to her. "Why did I have to be right?"
"Oh my." Kasumi had recognized the signs just as quickly, and
offered what aid she could. "I suppose I had better make some ginger
tea."
Akane, holding her stomach and turning slightly green, held up two
fingers.
-----------------
Mousse, feeling really depressed, wondered why he had done all
this. He LOVED Shampoo. OK, she was mean, petty, violent, and disliked
him, but that was just the surface. Now, if he so much as showed his
head around her or Cologne he was pretty sure he'd be the "duck special"
on the menu before he could get the first syllable of an apology out.
Mousse wrote a letter. He didn't think anyone would read it, but it
made him feel better. He listed the various drugs he'd used, the
Chinese Fertility Incense mixed with two sticks of the "Male Endurance
Enhancer" that had been breathed. The Stabilizer leaves, Post-Hypnotic
Mushrooms, and powdered Phoenix shell in the spaghetti sauce. As far as
he knew, there wasn't a cure.
Up until five weeks ago, he'd toyed with the idea of using the
Phoenix shell to bind Shampoo to him. He'd rejected it then because he
wanted Shampoo to choose him of her own free will. Now Shampoo, like
the others, were addicted, addicted to each other. Addicted to love.
Though he was thoroughly miserable, Mousse watched the tape again
anyway.
End Addicted: Chapter 1
You can find previous chapters at this page:
http://home.datawest.net/firethorn/