Subject: [FFML] [FFML][Ranma] Poisoned Honor ch10, finished version.
From: "Nuki_mouse" <Nuki_mouse@hotmail.com>
Date: 6/9/2002, 11:47 AM
To:
CC: "Nuki_mouse" <nuki_mouse@hotmail.com>


This, finally is the finished version of  Poisoned Honor, chapter ten.
The rest of the story is on www.fanfiction.net  Just do a search for the name Nuki Mouse to find it.
It is also on my website at http://www.nukimouse.homestead.com/MyStories.html

Chapter Ten: Night Time Nightmares and Realizations

 

[Author's note.  Shampoo's thoughts are in her native language, and as such are not broken or in the third person, but are quite coherent. Plus she "thinks" of  herself as XIAN PU, not Shampoo, Cologne as Kohl Lon and Mousse as Mu Tse.] 

 

The sleeper awoke.  Just as the last echoes of Ranma's scream faded away, Akane's eyes fluttered open. The memory of a memory seemed to haunt her thoughts, like that dream you can vividly remember at the instant of waking, but a moment later you had all but forgotten. Disorientation hit Akane hard, she felt as if she been pole-axed.  She fought to bring order to the incoherent thoughts and sundry emotions that washed over her. Even her room looked strange and different, and whirled around her.  She squeezed her eyes shut, to stop the room from spinning, as she tried to concentrated on that elusive thread of memory, and bring order to the bedlam. 

 

<A scream? A cry of anguish...> was all she could recall. <Or cry for help?>  Like a hot knife through butter, it sparked a sudden need, a desire that cut through all the chaos in her mind and Akane felt a almost overwhelming compulsion to rush to rescue and comfort the unknown victim. Deep down Akane felt as if she recognized the voice, that it was someone she knew.  <...A friend?  But who...? Or was it really just a dream after all?>  Still woozy from the sedative Dr Toufu had given her, her first recollections of the morning events had a dream like quality to them as well, and that is what she first thought them to be. 

 

<Not another "Ranma the bastard" dream...> Akane groggily thought. Dreams of that sort had plagued her ever since she first started falling for the irrepressible martial artist.  The most common of these nightmares usually centered around Ranma leaving her for another girl. <Or sometimes even... a boy...,> she thought with a shudder as tears began to wet her cheeks.  Her Ranma "dreams" were always vivid, bewildering whirlwinds that sucked her into their vortex and left her as emotional wreckage in their wake.   

 

Another common theme in her "bad dreams" were of Ranma turning even more arrogant and chauvinistic, a regular little stuck up PIG!  He would taunt her over and over again with the mantra "Dumb as a brick, thighs are too thick...!" criticizing and belittling everything she did, and NEVER a kind word or comment to her.  <But that IS how he normally treats you!> Akane's self-doubting, disparaging inner self would remind her.  But then Akane's TRUE self or spirit would rise up and dispel her self doubts, re-assuring her <NO, he never really MEANT it, he was just teasing you....>  But still it HURT Akane every time she heard him say such, even if it was just in a dream.  

 

Akane had other types of  "bad dreams" about Ranma. Ones where he wasn't always the bastard, but at the same time these were actually worse.  These usually centered around Ranma fighting another unbeatable foe, a monster, some evil demon and losing..., um... dying!  Or that some cruel quirk of fate would separate them forever, that one day Ranma just won't be there, gone without a trace.  Basically Akane's most horrible nightmares were of her having to live her life without Ranma in it.

 

Further thoughts and memories started to surface as her mind tried to clear out all the cobwebs. The "dream" seemed so real, she could still feel his hands groping her, siding up under her clothes, his nude body pressed against her, trying to enter her....  <I felt dirty, like a whore! He never asked, just tried to take, ...to use, ...to dominate me!>  Akane fumed, her bent up anger and rage over coming the shame and humiliation of Ranma's attack.

 

<But why?, I never dreamt about Ranma RAPING me before or him screwing that gaijin hussy in my own home, in front of ME!  ...Wait, I have had THAT one before...> Akane realized, as anger and jealousy clouded her thoughts.  She tried to recall what Sayuri, Yuka, and the rest of her friends had told her about dreams.  <That they mean something, reflect some need in your life, or some fear.... Was my subconscious trying to tell me that if I don't become intimate with Ranma, he'll either rape me or screw Shampoo?>

 

<But I want to be more intimate with Ranma!  I want him to tell me he loves me, or at least I DID!> Akane was so totally confused, part of her loved Ranma, but a NEW part of her now hated him, all due to a dream <at least I ...I hope it was a dream...>  

 

She recalled their  tryst at the bridge, just the night before. <I... I thought he was going to finally say it, that he loved me...> she recalled. <Then I stormed off, in a huff, even though I knew he was trying to..., to...,> more tears leaked from her still closed eyes, as remorse for the lost opportunity of the previous night replaced some her anger.  It wasn't Ranma's chauvinistic comment about the movie that had so pissed her off, it was that Ranma couldn't, wouldn't admit his feelings to her. <Maybe he really doesn't lo..., like me....>

 

  Akane finally reopened her eyes, and again the feeling of disorientation hit her. There was still something wrong, something abnormal about her room.  She stared at the ceiling focusing her eyes on the wood beams above her head, trying to mentally steady herself.  <Wood  beams... WOOD BEAMS?  But my room has a plaster ceiling...>  Akane's eyes roved around the rest of the room. A table lamp illuminated the room, lighting up its brightly painted walls. <Pink... I see pink, and beanie babies...?  I... I'm in Kasumi's room?>

 

<Then it wasn't a dream?> Akane slowly sat up in her oneechan's bed. The wooziness in her head made the room rock as she gingerly stood and staggered like a drunken sailor over to the door. The hall was dark, night had come.  Leaking out from under the guestroom door a glowing swathe of light, illuminating the floor, merging with a similar one from Nabiki's room.

 

 <Is someone in there?  Is HE in there?> Akane wondered, hearing a thump and a muffled, feminine, cry come from the guestroom.  <Its got to be Ranma...,> she thought, but this belied her growing conviction that the 'dream' was real. <Kasumi or Nabiki wouldn't let him stay after THAT!> Akane was sure.  She was suddenly scared, scared of the truth, but she had to know.  <If..., if Ranma is in there, then it WAS just a weird dream...> as she reached for the doorknob. 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

On the other side of the door, in that same guestroom, a second girl was also struggling back into the conscious world. A dreadful noise, a terrifying cry in the night seem to galvanize her mind back to wakefulness.  When she finally opened her eyes, she too was staring up at a ceiling she didn't recognize.  <Ooogg...My head...!> Xian Pu thought, as it felt as if someone was using her eardrums to play the 1812 overture.  She tried to move and a cold sweat broke out all over her body as she fought back a wave of nausea that swelled up from her rebellious stomach. Xian Pu felt sick, head to toe, worse than she could ever recall before, too ill to even move. 

 

Xian Pu finally managed to twist her head aside and look around, shadows filled the corners and the black of night filled the window <I was out hours?  Maybe days?>  Someone had left a light on in the room, illuminating her surroundings. Slowly her eyes began to focus  <This isn't my room> she realized as she spied a second futon, in a room far too large to be in the small apartment above the Neko Hatten.  <Is it my husband's room, at the gorilla girl's house?> she asked herself, rhetorically. <I'm still here? But how... why...? > 

 

Unlike Akane, she could clearly remember the morning's events and knew them to be real, at least up till the moment of being drenched and becoming a cat. After that, it all became confused and foggy.  She had was some vague recollections of pain, illness, and ...imprisonment?  A sudden sharp ache in her hand drew her gaze to her wounded fingers and saw the clean white sterile dressing covering the bite. She stared at the bandages, trying to understand what had happen. 

 

<I was a cat and trapped, as well as sick...> she knew.  <Then...?> she vaguely  recalled someone picking her up and an angry face glaring at her. <Not the kitchen wrecker, her... her... sister, the yakusa. She... she... helped me?, freed me?> Xian Pu wondered.   

 

<I'm not restrained? Are they really that stupid?  ...I must get away while I can...> Xian Pu thought as she tried to roll over. All she managed to do was to roll right off the futon, falling to the hard wooden floor below with a jarring thud, accented by a squeal of pain she could not restrain as she hit the floor.  Xian Pu tried to rise, but was too weak and too ill. She was forced to realize escape was not an option, at least not right now. 

 

<I failed, got caught. ...I should be a prisoner or dead...> Xian Pu assessed her status.  <Those weak, sentimental fools, they'll never be true warriors, to give aid to an enemy, when you had them at your mercy...> she thought.  

 

To Xian Pu the word "mercy" had an entirely different meaning; not to be overly brutal or cruel to a vanquished foe but nothing more.  It was the same "mercy" shown by a Hitler or a Stalin to the conquered; 'To the victors goes the spoils', and contempt for the 'weak.'  Xian Pu didn't know if it wasn't for that "weakness," she really would be dead, and it never even entered her mind that "they" might not really consider her to be an enemy. [Well, maybe Akane...] 

 

The conniving warrior strategist in her instantly analyzed her current situation. She was sick, too ill to fight or escape, trapped in the home her chief rival, and her location was unknown to Mu Tse or her grandmother. But she was not without assets, the foremost being that warped sense of  "mercy" her captors all seem to be corrupted with, even her husband.  Time was also on her side, time to heal and regain strength, time for grandmother to find her, time to plan.  She would play on their weakness, act like the helpless, defeated captive (that thought left a vile taste in her mouth) and bide her time. 

 

<At least things can't get much worst> Xian Pu told herself as she wondered how she going to get back up into bed, not noticing the door to the room slowly start to open....

 

* * * * * * * * *

"Meerroollww," Neko-ran voiced her rage at her mother's foe, the female/not-mate. "Hiiiisss," she spat as she crouched low and readied her pounce, prepared to defend her pride leader. No one attacked her mother, her family! She leaped, chi claws extended from all four paws, <Kill, Kill, Kill!> her only thoughts.

 

Ukyou's sudden euphoria was rudely interrupted by the reality of the moment.  She heard the warning cry from Ran-chan's mother, snapping her out of her confused, elated state and back to the real world. The sinister growls that came from behind her weren't human, they couldn't be.  She recalled that dreadful scream and her earlier suspicion an evil monster roving the night.  <A demon... an oni?  Some Kobe-shimi come to life, attacking, raping...!>

 

Ukyou spun around to face her fate, expecting a demon straight from a "girls and tentacles" doujinshi, but instead found a very naked Ran-chan leaping at her. <What the hell...> she started to think, before noticing the angry gleam in Ranma's eyes and that her whole body seem to give off a glowing aura shaped like some kind of predatory animal. Ukyou stood frozen, like a deer in the headlights, unable to move as she saw four sets of glowing claws reaching towards her...   

 

All Nodoka and Ryouga could do was watch in horror, both too far away to do anything. Neko-Ran was in mid-leap, claws slashing forward when a blur of bright colored silk launched itself from the dark canopy surrounding the clearing. A slender leg emerged and struck Neko-Ran in the side, forcing her to miss her intended prey. The blur continued on, landing in a roll on the ground and a slightly disheveled Konatsu rose in a fighting stance, ready to protect his 'mistress.'

 

Neko-Ran caught the blur of bright colors in the edge of her vision, only moments before its hind leg struck her already damaged shoulder. Pain lanced though her right flank and the impact drove her wide of female/not-mate. As she landed, her right front leg collapsed, unable to take the strain.  Neko-ran tumbled head over tail, towards the shadows at the clearing edge, belying her natural feline grace. She stopped just short of the shadows' edge, her heart thumped wildly, waiting for the hidden Males to attack. She could feel them all around her, in the dark, waiting, wanting, hungry to taste her blood and ...hurt... her again.  

 

She forced herself to slowly regain her feet, and her shoulder shrieked in agony, but her fighting spirit and abilities helped her overcome and block out the pain.  Limping noticeably, she retreated from the insidious darkness that almost caught her.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * 

"Konatsu NO!  Don't do it!" Ukyou, now freed from her state of shock, yelled at the Ninja. She saw him rise to his feet, a black shuriken in each hand, ready to be thrown. <The black ones..., those he coats with poison!> Ukyou remembered with dread. "Put them away!" she pleaded of her friend.

 

 Ukyou watched as Konatsu slid over to her side, ready to protect her, her "knight" in shining drag. <Why do I seem attract cross-dressers, when I want a hunk like Ranma> Ukyo pondered, not realizing the irony that her 'hunk' was, in essence, a cross-dresser as well.  <He thinks he loves me> Ukyou thought as she saw the grim determination on Konatsu's face, but Ukyou didn't want to be 'stalked' or secretly desired by another. <Other than my Ran-chan of course,> Ukyou admitted to herself,  <Especially after Tsubaba!>   

 

* * * * * * * * * * * 

 Konatsu could see the look on Ukyou face when she saw the black shurikens, but 'her Ran-chan' had tried to kill her and for that crime Konatsu was not at all obliged to show Ranma any mercy whatsoever. 

 

<But she'll never forgive me, never ...love... me, if I kill Ranma.>  The shurikens disappeared and instead Konatsu palmed a small bag of powder, not a poison but a strong irritant none the less.  He loosen his robes, allowing them to billow out, helping to mask his form as he seemed to float rather than run to Ukyou's side, ready to protect her. 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * 

Nodoka edge forward, towards Neko-ran, ready to confront the transformed girl. <Ranko... is she possessed? a Bakeneko, like in the legends?>  If true, it was now doubly her duty to help the poor girl, as a martial artist sworn to help the innocent, and as a servant of the Silent Dragon Kami.  Years ago, while learning her skills from her mom and aunt, she didn't believed in the supernatural, but as she mastered her family's art, she couldn't deny the divine power she felt or the authenticity of the secret moves.  

 

Although Nodoka had spent her youth immersed in training to battle the supernatural, the need for such skills had apparently lessen in modern times.  In fact she had never fought a Bakemono, Oni or any other type of demon before. This did not lessen her determination to face the one she believed possessed Ranko.

 

"Silent Dragon Soul Protect" Nodoka yelled out, and a blue aura sprang from her sword and briefly danced all over her like St Elmo's fire. Now protected herself against demonic possession, she slowly approached Ranko as she limped her way to the clearing's center, circling and  watching the two other girls.  Nodoka planned her course of action. <If I can evoke a cleansing while the sword is touching Ranko, it should drive the evil spirit from her soul.> 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Neko-Ran snarled at the Female/not-mate and scrutinized its protector(?), the new arrival.  It seemed wraithlike and was shrouded in bright colors and it's air was scented like flowers.  The bright star(?) that hung above shined down behind it, into her eyes, making it hard to see it clearly.  It looked female but something about it terrified her, something about its stance, its demeanor seem set off her sixth sense.  Neko-Ran hissed as she reached the center of the pool of light and circled until IT had the star(?) in its eyes. 

 

A vision?, a stray remembrance? evaded Neko-Ran's thoughts, from where she did not know, that seem to tell her IT was a not-female.  "Yooowwwlll" she cried in fear, slinking down and baring her fangs, watching it. Suddenly she knew, to her core, that it was one of THEM, a Male... pretending, posturing itself as a female....  Terror and rage warred in Neko-Ran's mind. It had attacked her, like the other Males, and it was now hunting her, wanting to ...HURT her... like the others did before.

 

Neko-Ran cringed in fear, ready to run, to hide before it attacked.  She wanted to hurt it, like they hurt her, to KILL it, but she couldn't... its evil aura too strong, it repelled her.  If she got close, it would do things, hurt her... they were all evil, hated females, HURT females. Neko-Ran arched her back and hisssed a warning to the Male/Fake, she would defend herself and die before she let it ...hurt... her again.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

Cologne reached the park's edge and the end of the rooftop highway. With a bounding leap that would make any deer or antelope proud, she launched herself from the rooftops to the road below with out breaking stride.  Someone in the park was using their chi, she could feel it, though its "signature" was one she had never felt before. <Ranma will be there,> Cologne thought. 'Where there's chi (or fighting) in Nerima, you'll find Ranma' was almost an axiom, a tenet in Nerima wrecking crew bylaws.

 

Cologne reached the bridge overlooking the clearing and scanned the area, accessing the dangers before joining the fray.  <Only fools rush in were angels fear to tread> she thought. <Ya don't live to be almost 300 by being foolhardy or rash!>  The street lamp at the foot of the bridge made a oval patch of light from the bridge outwards covering most of the open area of the clearing, casting the edges in deep black shadows. 

 

She just in time to witness Konatsu's colorful, graceful arrival. <Is that Ranma...? My gods, I'm too late! She has been attacked, raped...> Cologne exclaimed to herself when she saw the battered form of Ranma.  Cologne realized that her worst fears since discovering the "Succubus Blood" had indeed come true. <Shampoo, I hope you'll like being a cat permanently, that'll be the MILDEST punishment the council might give you>

 

<Damn! She's in Neko-ken!> Cologne could 'see' the intense hate and fear feeding 'cat' aura that shrouded Ranma's body.  Besides poor Ranma, three others were also visible.  Ukyou and the effeminate ninja were of course well known to Cologne, but the woman..., she was an enigma, a chi master and the chi user that Cologne had sensed.  <Best to watch for now, until I can separate Ranma from the others and try to calm her.>

 

*******

Dr Ono Toufu could not sense chi use as readily as his current sensei, so he had to rely on more mundane means to track down the source of Ranma's cry.  He took a bearing on the direction of the sound, estimated the distance and correlated it with Ranma's known hideouts to determine the probable location. Then he just followed the streaking form of  Cologne as she passed over him on the rooftop highway.  

   

<The park...> Ono thought, <that MUST be where Cologne was going, that is where Ranma is.>    

    

* * * * * * * * * 

Ryouga might be compulsive, he might transfer all his guilt and troubles on Ranma and he was pig headed, but he wasn't stupid.  He was also growing up.  He had seen how Ranma handled his other troubles, the way he always helped the weak, attacked bullies, fought his battles and defended those he loved.  All the time Ryouga spent alone, lost in the world had given him time to think.  It came as quite a shock when he realized one rainy night, hiding out in a (dry) cave, that Ranma wasn't honorless nor his enemy, but someone he wished was actually his ...friend. He just had trouble remembering that. 

 

Ryouga's instincts and fighting style was always the direct approach, just to wade in and try to overpower and outlast his opponents.  His "honor", and Ryouga had believed himself to be very honorable, un-like Ranma, <Damn!, there I go again..., blaming him!> did not normally include stealth or attacking unannounced.  Sure , he might wait in hiding for Ranma, otherwise the honor less cur <damn, damn, damn!> would duck out of  the fight, but Ryouga kept his 'honor' by always announcing his pending attacks with a loud "Die Ranma" and a list of Ranma's latest offensives, as he leapt out and attacked.

 

<But that won't work right now> Ryouga acknowledged. Ranma had transferred his fear of cats to include men.  Ryouga always claimed he seen hell due to Ranma but looking at the hell Ranma must have just lived though made that all that pale in comparison. 

 

<I can't beat him...um HER.., not now>  Ryouga knew.  <Hell I couldn't beat him before, how can I beat her while Neko?>  Also, he didn't want to beat her, but to help her!  Ryouga had spent much time researching Neko-ken during his "travels" and how to counter it, knowing one day he might have to face Neko-Ranma. Ryouga believed he knew more about Neko-ken even Cologne, definitely more than Ranma.  It's power came from the Neko's ability to channel their chi back into themselves, a kind of super bio feed-back, and not from its parody of a cat's movements.  The stronger the victim's chi, the more powerful was their Neko, and Ranma's chi was nearly inexhaustible. In all of Ryouga's research, he found only three ways to defeat the Neko-ken. 

 

One, and the most obvious way, kill or defeat the person inflicted. <Easier said than done!>  Two, put them or let them fall asleep <No time!> or knock them unconscious.  <Huh!, with Ranma's skills and chi levels, both those will be damn near impossible...> Ryouga thought.  Three, they can be calmed down by someone they loved and/or trusted whole heartedly, and then the madness would leave them. It was that last way to defeat Neko-ken that helped him realized Ranma really did love Akane. 

 

But in Ranma's case there was also a fourth way, trigger the curse. <If I can just get her wet, but she's a CAT, there's no way she'll willingly go into the water,> Ryouga pondered the problem. <If she sees me, a male, she'll attack, she'll kill....> He eyed the nearby canal, there was all that water but he had no container to hold it and no time to get one. <Damn!  But if I sneak around...?> 

 

* * * * * * * * * *  

<He attacked me, my Ran-chan?> Ukyou asked herself in confusion. She looked across the clearing at Nodoka, just in time to witness her next chi spell, and watched as she stalked Ran-chan again.  Ukyou swallowed, clearing the spit and bile from her mouth.  <She going to kill Ran-chan!  I should have ka... ka... killed her, but I ...I can't..., not even for Ran-chan> Ukyou now knew, <but I bet AKANE could!> she seethed in jealousy.  Ukyou suddenly shuddered, as her heart skipped a beat and she finally had to face the truth that she had long hid from, that Akane deeply loved Ran-chan, more than she ever did.

 

 "Yeeooowwlrrr... hhhiiiiisssss...."  The fearsome sound drew Ukyou's attention back to Ran-chan. 

 

<She's NEKO!> Ukyou finally realized, watching Ran-chan as she circled them, getting ready to attack again. <He attacked me?> she repeated to herself again.  <No SHE tried to kill me!> Ukyou remembered the look in Ran-chan's eyes and the claws. <BUT WHY?  I thought he loved me!> was the gut wrenching thought that permeated her mind. Like Ryouga, Ukyou also knew why Ranma didn't attack Akane while under Neko-ken. 

 

It was one of Ukyou's favorite daydreams, that one day she'll find Ran-chan while he was in Neko-ken and he'll jump into her lap and kiss her, proving his devout love for her!  <He did that with Akane!> Ukyou mentally cried in anguish, <but he tried to kill me....>

 

* * * * * * * *

Neko-Ran felt her hair stand on end, as Male/fake slide closer to Female/Not-mate.  It was stalking new prey.  "Rraaooowlll...." Neko-ran tried to warn Female/Not-mate. Though it attacked her Pride/Mother, but something about Female/Not-mate told her, what?  Neko-Ran shook her head in confusion. Female/Not-mate was... sister?, friend?   Neko-ran could not let Male/Fake get Female/Not-mate, no..., was Female/Friend. If it tried to ...hurt... friend, she'll defend Female/Friend, even if killed/die.

 

<Friend, beware! It Male! Help... protect!>  Neko-Ran crouched, ready to pounce at Male/Fake as it stalked Female/Friend , but still the terror of men evoked by her ordeal under the overpass held her in check. <Other?  Where? ...Shadows! > Neko-Ran eyes darted along the clearing's edge.  The other, Male/Foe, was still near! She could smell its stench upon the air, hear its hot breath at her back, she could feel its foul presence, waiting... wanting.... hungry... stalking its victims....

 

<Victims?  MOTHER!  Endangered?  Male/Foe stalk?...Where?> Neko-Ran franticly searched for its pride leader. <Behind!  Safe! No Males... defends/guard back...> as she twisted her head around and spied her mother behind her.  Nodoka quickly froze, instinctively knowing to keep the katana from Neko-Ran's view.  She looked with longing at her mother, waiting to greet her, rub her body, smell her scent, but... The Males! <Stop first! Drive off, protect!> and Neko-Ran returned her glaze to the enemy she COULD see. 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * 

Ryouga had remained hidden in the shadows as he slowly crept around the clearing's edge to place Ranma between him and the canal's edge. <If I can just knock her in..., trigger the curse..., but if she sees me, I'm dead pork. um MEAT> Ryouga thought. <But if I hide, attack her from behind, knock us BOTH in?  I'll be P-chan then and as just a harmless little pig, I shouldn't set off his Neko-ken again.> 

 

The plan seemed sound, but somehow Ryouga felt he was missing something, some basic flaw so general and obvious it should smack him right between the eyes. <If I only had more time!>  That left just one last glitch in his plan that he did see, or so Ryouga thought, <but what about Konatsu?  He might re-trigger Ranma's Neko-ken!  But maybe since he looks like a girl...?>

 

Ryouga could only watch in horror, as Ranma readied herself to leap at Konatsu. <No! She knows Konastu's a boy!> Suddenly Ranma turned away, frantically looking all around her, searching.... <She looking for ME! She knows I'm still out her, hiding.>  Ryouga saw Ranma darting eyes stop and stare intensely at her mother, almost making him think Ranma was going to strike at her instead, but then she returned her attention back to the ninja.

 

* * * * * * * * * 

Some premonition made Nodoka twist her body sideways and lower her katana, hiding it from view just as Ranko turned to stare straight at her.  Nodoka gasped, finally seeing the grotesque injuries up close, the immense bruising and contusions that covered one side of her face and swelled her right eye almost shut.  Nodoka's eyes left the face and traveled down the poor girls naked body, fighting down a bout of nausea <How can she move? Those bruises, the cuts! The blood, on her face, her legs> Nodoka blanched white as sudden realization hit her. <Kami, I think...! I think she was raped!>

 

The madness in Ranko seem to soften as she looked at Nodoka and a strange look of longing and loneness filled her eyes <Or eye.> Tears welled up in Nodoka's own eyes, she had seen that look before! It was the same one Ranko gave her just this afternoon, at her house. Guilt and remorse racked Nodoka <If I had known., if I'd stopped you from running off!>  Nodoka wanted to rush to her, to "mother" her, <She needs a mother, she looks like a daughter (or half sister / cousin!) of me, would she let me be her.?> She wondered. <Ranma, would you like a sister?  One that might already be your "aunt" or "cousin"? > 

 

Then Nodoka saw it was back, the Bakeneko, the demon that possessed Ranko's soul took control again and the madness returned. Ranko spun back around, facing the two "girls" once more.

 

* * * * * * * * * * 

The mental strain of the last few minutes had taken its toll on Ukyou. First seeing Ran-chan after her rape, followed by the almost divine-like way she survived Nodoka's chi attacks. Then realizing her "love" of Ranma wasn't the all sacrificing love that Akane seemed to have.  Then lastly, knowing that Ran-chan's actions while in Neko-ken proved his true love for Akane, while his attack on her while Neko proved...!  This was too much for Ukyou, it shattered every dream and plan she had for Ranma and their future together. Ukyou's eyes rolled up to the back of head, and her body swayed from side to side then collapsed like a sack of potatoes.

 

* * * * * * * * * 

Konatsu saw her shaking and didn't miss the look Ukyou gave him as he stood by her side.  <She scared to death, she can't understand what's happening!> Well nether did he. Konatsu watched with a lovelorn heart as Ukyou silently stared at Ranma again.

 

<She doesn't love me..., she still loves HIM, even after he attacked her!> Konatsu thought with venom.  <HE only loves..., likes Ukyou as a friend, or sister!  She should had realize that long ago!> Konatsu mentally ranted. <Even if he didn't love Akane, Ranma would never marry her.>  Konatsu sighed, <just like I had to realize Ukyou likes me as a friend only.  At least I can be near her...>    

 

Next thing Konatsu knew, Ukyou was swaying like a flagpole in the wind, before falling flat on her face in a dead faint.  

 

"Ukyou,  NO!" Konatsu feminine voice shrieked out, falling to his knees next to her, tears streaming down his face. <Is she hurt? please Kami-sama, let her be OK> he silently prayed. Konatsu rolled Ukyou over and cradled her head in his lap. Hot tears dripped down on Ukyou's face, causing her cheek to twitch.

 

"Ukyou..., Ukyou..., please wake up, for me?" Konatsu quietly begged her, while gently, lovingly, stroking the side of her face. Ukyou's eyes fluttered open just as he added one last line to his plea. "I love you, Ukyou..." and leaned down and lightly kissed her wet cheek, then pressed his lips to hers. 

 

Konatsu was oblivious to all but Ukyou, nothing else mattered to him right now. He could hear Ryouga yelling something, but he ignored the words. He also forgot about Ranma and that was a most un-healthy thing to do.  

 

End of Chapter Ten. 



"This is just my opinion, I maybe wrong"  D. Miller
"Defend free speech! Read a banned book today!" unknown.
"I may not like what you say, but I will defend your right to say it with 
my Life"  Voltaire

Nuki_Mouse



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