Ranma 1/2
	Altered Destinies:  A scary thought

	What's happened so far:  Kasumi Tendo and Ranma 
Saotome were switched at an early age and raised by the other's 
parents.  Now Kasumi is cursed to change to a man and has just 
recently returned to Nerima with Genma after a training trip in 
China.  She is now engaged to Ranma, who isn't pleased, has 
attracted Kuno's attention, and has to deal with a very upset 
Ukyo who turns into a wolf (which is often mistaken for a dog) 
and guess who's fault that is.  Then there's the matter of Ranma 
taking Ukyo-wolf as a pet.  Oh yes, there's also C-chan, a certain 
pink furred cat presently on death row... I mean at the animal 
shelter, who can't remember who she is.  With her is a certain 
talking cat by the name of Artemis.

%Chapter 6

	Nabiki pinched the front of her nightdress between two 
fingers and fluttered it in an attempt to cool her overheated body, 
pulling it away from her sweat soaked breasts and allowing the 
marginally cooler night air to wash over them.  The weather was 
hot and humid, and after two hours of tossing and turning Nabiki 
had given up on sleep.  Now she sat beside her bedroom window 
looking out over the rear garden.  She was outlined by the bright 
moonlight that flooded in through the window, dividing her room 
into areas of silvery light and black shadows.  Her mind 
wondering idly from subject to subject.
	She kept coming back to one particular subject, one 
particular aggravation that had caused her to loose her normally 
detached attitude time after time, and had thrown her  tightly 
controlled emotions into a constant state of turmoil. Suddenly the 
sound of her bedroom door opening broke her train of thought. 
Turning she faced the door as it opened, revealing a figure that 
meshed so thoroughly with the thoughts she had just been having 
that it took her a minute to separate the present reality from her 
thoughts of seconds before.
	She ran her eyes over the figure standing in the shadows, 
not needing to see him clearly.  Every one of his features was 
indelibly etched into her mind, and she had no need of light to 
picture the strong jaw, the soft brown eyes that she had found 
herself lost in far too often recently, the broad shoulders tapering 
to a narrow waist, the small hips, the tight...  Nabiki gave herself 
a shake and brought her mind back to the present, something she 
found herself having to do far too often lately.  She forced herself 
to push all emotions out of her mind and addressed her late night 
visitor.
	"What can I do for you...sister?"
	"It's time to stop the lies Nabiki."
	Nabiki sat up straight.  This was not a statement she 
would have expected to hear from her normally deferential 
sibling.  "What ever could you be talking about?"
	"Don't play coy Nabiki, I've seen those looks you throw 
my way when you don't think anyone is watching.  And, then of 
course, there are these little bits of artwork."
	Lifting a folder in his hand he pulled out several 
photographs then, dropping the folder to the floor, he fanned the 
pictures in his hand.  As soon as Nabiki had seen the folder she 
had known, and she now found herself in the unusual and 
uncomfortable position of being intensely embarrassed.  The 
embarrassment rapidly changed to anger.  "Those are mine.  They 
were in my room. You had no right to go through my things."  
All the while a little voice in her head was saying in a panicked 
tone, she knows, she knows.
	Kasumi face, still lost in the shadows, twisted into what 
would no doubt have been a sardonic expression if Nabiki had 
been able to see it.  There was no need to see his face, however.  
His voice carried more than enough clues as to his attitude.  
"Yours?  I suppose they are, but then the subject matter does, you 
must admit, justify at least a little vested interest on my part."  He 
held up the pictures in his hand and looked them over before 
turning them over so that they faced Nabiki.
	The pictures were too far away, and too lost in the 
shadows to be seen clearly.  Nabiki had no need, however, to see 
them clearly.  The slight details visible from where she was were 
all that was necessary.  Her mind supplied all the details that 
were not visible to her unaided eyes.  Various pictures of Kasumi 
in a selection of candid shots, all in his male form, all somewhat 
more revealing then what you would find in a family album.  
Plus, just as the images were ingrained in her mind, her own 
person was ingrained in them in the form of much handling.  The 
edges were wrinkled and stained from contact with a sweaty grip 
that was not always as careful as it should have been while 
handling photos. 
	Ignoring or denying to herself most of Kasumi's words 
she focused on the matter of the pictures.  "Okay sis, you've 
caught me, but you can't blame a girl for trying to make a little 
money can you.  You are a very popular item among the girls at 
school after all.  It would be very bad for business not to have a 
product when there is such a good market available."  The words 
tripped off of Nabiki's tongue with no need to think.  She had 
been justifying her little collection to herself for so long after all.  
She only hoped Kasumi was more gullible than she was.  
Somehow she could not seem to fool herself in this matter, but 
she kept trying.
	"Really?  These are for sale?  I'm surprised to see 
someone of your reputation... selling such shoddy merchandise."
	Kasumi stepped into the moonlight that flooded in 
through the bedroom window and Nabiki found her heartbeat 
increasing as the silver light washed over Kasumi's form, casting 
all his features into highlight, the plains of his face, his broad... 
Nabiki drew in her breath as she saw that Kasumi's shirt was 
open and his chest glistened in the moonlight that refracted from 
the sweat beaded across it.  For what seemed a timeless eternity, 
Nabiki found herself unable to tear her gaze from that broad well 
muscled torso.  Then Kasumi's voice cut through the fog that had 
surrounded Nabiki's mind.
	"Lets stop the games Nabiki!"  Kasumi said as she let the 
pictures in her hand drop.  They fluttered and swayed each one 
taking a different route to the floor.  Nabiki found herself unable 
to pull her eyes away from them as they slowly fell to the ground.
	There a picture of Kasumi facing down a group of bullies 
taken just the other day, another slightly older taken shortly after 
his arrival, of him practicing a kata, lost in his own private world, 
and totally isolated from the mundane surroundings of the dojo.
	Nabiki, once again lost in her own thoughts, was startled 
to suddenly find Kasumi mere inches from her.  Surprised, she 
found herself backing up, trying to get to a distance where she 
would not be overwhelmed by the large masculine presence that 
had suddenly been thrust into her space.  She managed a few 
steps backward and then found herself pressed against the outer 
wall of her room.  Kasumi had moved with her and Nabiki found 
herself still inches away from the body that had been seriously 
disturbing her emotional equilibrium ever since Kasumi had 
shown up after a ten year absence.
	"You're such a pretty girl Nabiki."  Kasumi almost purred 
as he reached forward and ran a finger slowly down the side of 
Nabiki's face.  "Do you think I haven't noticed the glances?  
Every time I'm in this body you can't pull your eyes off of me.  
Time after time I feel the pressure of your gaze burning into my 
back.  The heat in your eyes could kindle a flame in a far more 
fire resistance object than myself."
	Nabiki had been shocked by first the touch that seemed to 
sear her skin and then the words.  The tone of Kasumi's voice 
sent shudders through Nabiki's body but, when the content of 
those words impinged on her consciousness, she broke free of the 
paralysis that had frozen her in place. She tried to escape by 
ducking around her...sister.  This is not happening, this can't be 
happening, she thought.  The little voice in the back of her mind 
laughed at her silent protestation.
	She found her escape rout cut off as Kasumi pressed a 
hand to the wall on either side of her.  Swallowing the fear that 
was rising in her she turned her head to face the person that had 
trapped her, only to find Kasumi's face almost within touching 
distance. Twisting her head to the side she whispered with as 
much intensity as she could muster without raising her voice and 
attracting unwanted attention to the predicament she found 
herself in.  "For god's sake Kasumi, you're my sister."  Nabiki 
shoved both hands against Kasumi and tried to push him away.
	"Sister...does this feel like a sister Nabiki?"  Kasumi 
purred as he placed his own hand over one of Nabiki's and forced 
it to stroke across his bare chest, slick with sweat from the heat of 
the night.  Nabiki shuddered as she felt the silky smooth skin 
overlaying muscles as hard as the wood wall she was backed 
against, but at the same time unmistakable so very, very human.  
She felt heat spread through her body, and for a second she 
wanted with all her being to give into the overwhelming 
sensations that were flooding through her body.  She let herself 
go limp and she started to sway towards Kasumi.  Her arms 
folded up and she felt herself pressed against her sister....sister!  
Suddenly, panic stricken, she pushed away with all the strength 
she could muster.  Tossing her head to the side, she whimpered 
in denial.  "Please."  Just that one word, all she could seem to 
squeeze out from a body that seemed not to have enough breath 
for any other protestation.
	"Please...please what little one?"  Kasumi asked, his 
voice hoarse with restrained passion.  Catching her chin between 
the thumb and fore finger of one massive hand he halted Nabiki's 
thrashing and forced her head back so she was looking into his 
eyes. "Please what little one?"  He repeated.  "Maybe this?"  
Holding her firmly he oh so very slowly lowered his head, 
slightly parting his lips.  Nabiki found herself frozen, caught in 
the warm depths of his eyes, and, not until his lips gently, so very 
gently pressed against hers, and the tip of his tongue caressed her 
own slightly parted lips, did she come to her senses.
	"NOOOOOO!"  Nabiki screamed, her arms thrusting out 
as she wildly twisted her head to the side, her cheek brushing 
against her drool coated pillow...  Nabiki blinked her eyes and 
rolled over in her bed.  Sitting up, her eyes darted to every corner 
of her darkened room.  After a moment she flopped back down 
on her bed, her breath whooshing out of her in a long firm 
exhalation.  "God Nabiki, you are turning into a truly perverted 
and strange person... Perhaps I should give Kuno-baby a second 
look.  I'm starting to think we might not be so incompatible after 
all."
	At least in the real world I don't have to worry about 
Kasumi threatening my virtue,  Nabiki thought with just the 
slightest bit of wistfulness underlying her words.  Thank god for 
small miracles.  Nabiki composed herself and tried to get some 
sleep.  It was a very long time in coming, and shortly after she 
fell asleep her face flushed and her breath started to come in 
quick short gasps as her body twisted in her bedding.  She did 
not reawaken.

	C-chan stared down at the floor of her prison.  I'm going 
to die, I'm going to die, she repeatedly thought to herself with a 
growing sense of hopelessness.  She'd never felt so helpless.  
Well, actually her memories were still highly elusive so maybe 
she had but she doubted it.
	Despite her best efforts over the last few days she could 
recall little of who she was.  She knew she was in fact a human.  
How she became a cat and how or even if she could change back 
were still questions left unanswered.  She couldn't even 
remember her real name, just the name the girl had used for her.  
Where she came from and why she was here were yet more 
questions without answers.
	It was aggravating.  She was locked in a pound, just a 
few short days from being executed.  Oh yeah, sure, they had this 
nice euphemism of being put to sleep but that didn't change the 
fact that she'd never wake up.  She could feel panic well inside 
her and she fought to keep it under control.
	"Just stay calm."  Artemis whispered to her and she shot 
him a look showing just what she thought of his advice.  He 
stumbled backwards in his cage as if the look was a physical 
blow.  "Okay, okay, maybe my escape plans haven't been so 
hot."  She maintained her angry glare.  "All right, lousy, but I'm 
trying.  Tonight for sure."
	C-chan relented and turned her look back to the ground, 
her anger being quickly replaced with her fear.  He was trying, 
she had to give him that, and she was grateful but she was still 
here.  She couldn't die, not like this, but in this body she had no 
means of defense.  Despair assaulted her as she renewed her 
mental chant, I'm going to die, I'm going to die...

	"Where are we going Akane?"  Nabiki asked as she tried 
to rub the sleepiness out of her eyes while following Akane down 
a street.
	"I just want to check on C-chan."  Akane responded then 
looked back at her sister who was falling behind.  "Didn't you 
get any sleep last night?"
	Nabiki gave Akane a brief glance then looked off to the 
side.  "No, I had a totally gross nightmare."
	"Oh?"  Akane looked at Nabiki questioning but got no 
response.  She shrugged and returned her attention to the road 
ahead.
	Nabiki looked off at nothing, trying desperately to banish 
the dream from her memory.  Unfortunately, her attempts served 
only to strengthen the images.  "Where is Kasumi?"  Nabiki 
suddenly asked.  She need to blow off some steam or she was 
going to go crazy.
	"She had to go see the vice-principle this morning so she 
left early.  I think he's impressed with her work."  Akane replied 
then looked back at Nabiki.  "Why?"
	"It's nothing, nothing."  Nabiki answered defensively.  
That last thing she needed was for someone to figure out what 
was going through her head.  She wasn't so sure she could live 
down that kind of embarrassment.
	Akane continued to examine Nabiki for some hint of an 
answer.  She knew something weird was going on between those 
two.  Maybe Nabiki was jealous that she wasn't the oldest 
anymore.  Maybe she hated that fact that Kasumi had a job 
already.  After all, Nabiki didn't like to be shown up, especially 
when it came to money.
	Akane dismissed her questions and looked ahead.  They 
walked on for a few more minutes until they arrived at the animal 
shelter.  "I'll just be a minute."  Akane said as she entered, 
leaving Nabiki standing outside to think.

	Even before the door finished closing behind her, the girl 
at the reception desk was shaking her head.  "I'm sorry Akane, 
no one has taken her yet."  Akane's shoulders slumped and she 
turned to go back outside.  "Akane?"
	Turning Akane looked back at the girl.  "Why?" She 
asked.  "C-chan is such a pretty cat.  Why won't anyone adopt 
her?"
	"There just haven't been any people in this week that are 
looking for cats, I'm afraid."  The girl replied.  She hesitated for a 
second and then continued.  "Akane, I need to clean her cage.  
Would you like to come back and hold her while I do that?"
	Akane's face lit up at this but then she frowned.  "I 
thought your boss had a rule not to let non-staff back there."
	The girl gave her a wink.  "Old Cruella's not here at the 
moment.  If you promise not to tell I will too."
	"Thank you, I would love to see C-chan."  Akane replied 
politely.  Then she smiled and said, "I take it you don't have a 
very high opinion of your boss."
	"Let's just say she's a little too much a pencil pusher and 
not enough of an animal lover.  I took this job because I love 
animals.  She took it because it meant a weekly pay check." 
	Gathering up some cleaning supplies from a nearby closet 
the girl who introduced herself as Mai to Akane led them into the 
kennel area of the shelter.  As soon as she spotted C-chan Akane 
hurried over to her cage.  C-chan stood on her hind legs and 
braced her front legs against the door of her prison, she let out a 
loud Meow of entreaty.  "Well," Mai exclaimed as she watched 
this, "if she would show that much emotion when other people 
visited she might have been gone by now.  She sure seems to be 
fond of you." 
	"I know," Akane replied, "and I don't know why.  After 
all if it was not for me she would never have been injured or 
ended up in here."  Akane wiped a tear away from her eye.  "She 
should hate me, instead she seems to love me."  Her voice firmed 
and she continued.  "I'm not going to let her die!!  I don't care 
what it takes.  I Am Not Going To Let Her Die!!"
	"No need to shout dear, I believe you."  Mai said.
	"Sorry, I just feel so bad about this."
	"It wasn't your fault dear.  From what you told me when 
you brought her in I don't see how you had much choice.  You 
were startled when you hit her, and then your sister's allergy 
made it impossible to keep her.  Life sometimes just does not 
play fair."
	Mai had put the cleaning supplies down and  reached up 
to an upper shelf where she recovered the master key for the 
cages.  "Why do you have a key lock on the cages."  Akane 
asked.  "I would have thought a simple lift latch would have been 
all you needed."
	"For the animals, yes."  Mai replied.  "Unfortunately, 
there is a certain brown haired nutcase in this neighborhood who 
would be delighted to take all of the animals home with her, and 
is not to good at filling out forms."
	"I don't understand.  I thought you wanted people to 
adopt.  Why can't you just help her fill out the forms?  Maybe she 
would give C-chan a good home."  Akane said with rising hope.
	"A home, yes.  Good, no."  Mai replied.  "Pheasant under 
glass might be good, cat or puppy on the other hand most 
definitely is not."
	Akane looked shocked.  "You mean she cooks them!?"
	"No, no!"  Mai exclaimed.  "I mean she treats all her cute 
things the same.  It might be all right to put a bow tie or a doll 
under a glass dome, but it is not good for living animals.  Just 
trust me on this, you do not want Azusa anywhere near an animal 
you love.  Now, if she were to take a fancy to the boss...  Anyway 
lets get your little friend out of her cage before she passes out 
from the smell."  C-chan looked so offended at this last comment 
Akane could almost believe she understood what was being said 
instead of merely being impatient to be let out of her cage.
	"Whoops!"  Mai exclaimed.  "Almost forgot."  She 
picked up a long pole with a hook on the end and pulled shut the 
window that was supplying fresh air to the room.
	"What do you need to do that for?"  Akane asked.  "You 
afraid she's going to make a run for it?"
	"You'd be surprised.  Two days ago that white Tom next 
to your friend almost made his escape through there.  If he hadn't 
tripped on a turned over bottle he would have gotten clean away."  
Akane and Mai missed the dirty look C-chan turned on Artemis.  
He, however, did not and his white fur became slightly red 
tinged.
	Unlocking the cage Mai reached in and extracted C-chan 
who she handed to Akane.  "You two get reacquainted while I do 
a little house cleaning here."
	Akane carried C-chan over to a nearby stool and sat 
down.  Softly stoking her Akane murmured into her ear.  "I don't 
care what it takes, I'm going to get you out of this.  Those walls 
are made of the same bricks I break every day.  If I can't get you 
out the front door I'll just make a back one."  Akane was a bit 
surprised at the loud purr C-chan made as she said this.  "I guess 
even Ranma can be right once in a while. Animals might not 
know what the words mean but they can understand what you 
mean by your tone."  She sat there stroking C-chan for another 
few minutes and then all too soon it was time for her to go back 
into her cage.  "Thank you Mai."  Akane said.  "I'll be back 
tomorrow to take her out of here."  At Mai's look of surprise she 
continued.  "I don't care how, and I don't know either but some 
way, somehow C-chan is out of here tomorrow...  Mai?"  When 
Akane saw she had Mai's full attention she looked her straight in 
the eye.  "Don't let anything happen to her until after tomorrow, 
please...  I will be back."  Then, back straight and with a 
measured stride Akane left the kennel.  As soon as she was out of 
sight of Mai, however, her stride faltered and she ran a hand 
through her hair.  "Now all I have to do is figure out just how I'm 
going to convince Aunt Nodoka."

	Nabiki leaned against the wall and collected her thoughts.  
You're sick Nabiki, sicksicksick, Nabiki thought to herself.  Why 
couldn't she dream about someone more reasonable, like Ranma?  
No, she had to dream about... Kasumi!  She knew it was wrong 
but apparently her sub-conscious didn't give a damn.  It didn't 
care that Kasumi was her sister.  Oh no, it just cared that he was 
the most gorgeous hunk of a guy she had ever...  Nabiki cut off 
the thought as it started to form a mental image of the person in 
question.  She needed a distraction, now!
	She hunted through her school bag, coming up with her 
math text.  That would do.  Nothing more dry and unexciting 
than math.  She began leafing through the pages, rereading the 
section they just covered in class.  Her mind had almost reached a 
relaxed state when she turned a page and something fell to the 
ground.  She looked down at it, trying to place it in her still 
sleepy mind.
	At that moment Akane walked out of the animal shelter, a 
look of extreme guilt and sadness of her face.  She walked over to 
Nabiki who looked up at her in surprise.  "Drop something?"  
Akane asked as she looked down and spotted what looked like a 
photo.  "What's this?"  She asked and began to pick it up.
	Nabiki's mind final clicked with a panic.  Before Akane 
managed to touch the photograph Nabiki snatched it up.  
"Nothing important!"  She blurted out as she hid it inside her 
uniform.  Akane gave her a questioning, confused look.  "Ahh, 
so, how's the cat?"  Nabiki asked, frantic to change the subject.
	"She's still there."  Akane replied with sorrow and began 
to walk off.  Nabiki breathed a sigh of relief and chased after her 
sister.  "She's only got one day left Nabiki!"
	"So, what do you want me to do about it?"
	"I don't know!  Suggest something!  I don't want to let 
them put her to sleep."  Akane exclaimed in frustration.
	Now this is something Nabiki needed, a challenge.  She 
set her mind to work on the problem as they walked to school.  
"Do any of your friends want a cat?"
	"A few but they can't have one, I already asked.  Think of 
something else."  Nabiki pressed her mind for ideas as Akane 
waited.  "Well?"  Akane asked impatiently.
	"Look, give me a minute would ya!  I'm running on about 
2 hours of sleep.  I'm a little slow today."
	"Anything!"
	"Okay, okay...  You could always break her out."
	"If I did that Aunt Nodoka would never let me keep her."
	Nabiki noticed Akane didn't rule out the break out idea, 
just that she would not be able to keep C-chan if she did that.  So, 
something that would get the cat out and let Akane keep her.  
"Hmmm.  Not much point in talking to Aunt Nodoka about it..."  
Nabiki mumbled as she tried to come up with a solution.
	Suddenly Akane's eyes brightened with an idea.  "Wait!  
If I get Kasumi to let the cat stay I'm sure Aunt Nodoka will let 
me have her."
	"That won't-"
	"Sure it will.  I'm sure I can talk Kasumi into it."  Akane 
said, feeling a sense of hope.
	Nabiki just shook her head.  "We won't have much of a 
home left."

	"Hello Kasumi.  Sit down."  The vice-principle greeted 
Kasumi as she walked into his office.
	"Hello Sir.  You wanted to see me?"  Kasumi replied 
pleasantly as she took a seat.
	"Yes.  You've been doing some fine work here.  Half the 
district is talking about the way you've handled the situation."  
The vice-principle said with a proud smile as he examined some 
papers.  "Over just the last week incident reports have dropped 
by more than 80%.  Even Kuno has gone relatively quiet.  That is 
absolutely amazing."
	"Thank you Sir."
	"No, thank you.  You wouldn't believe the headaches this 
place once caused me."  He said as he looked at her.  "What 
would you say to a slight increase in duties, and pay of course?"
	"Why, that's very kind of you but I've haven't been here 
that long-"
	"Oh nonsense.  I judge people on ability, not seniority.  
Besides, to be honest, I don't think anyone else would want the 
position I'm offering you.  You see, some of the other schools 
around have some rather problematic kids of their own.  After 
hearing about what you did here they were hoping that maybe 
you could help them out.  What we planned to do is get these 
students together, here at Furinken.  You'd be their home room 
supervisor.  I know it sounds a bit daunting but-"
	"Oh no, I would be glad to be of assistance."  Kasumi 
responded a bit to quickly for her own liking.
	"Wonderful, wonderful.  Now, don't worry too much.  
We're also bringing in an assistant for you.  She's shown some 
real promise herself in dealing with problem students.  She'll be 
here in a few weeks.  So, everything sound okay to you?'
	Kasumi took some time to think this time.  This new job 
would certainly give her something new and constructive to do, 
and with an assistant it shouldn't be that much more difficult.  
"Yes, I think this sounds acceptable."
	"Great.  Oh, I guess we should also discuss a new student 
we have here.  She just signed in a couple days ago."  The vice-
principle said as he handed Kasumi a folder.  "I hear you already 
know her."
	Kasumi opened the folder and looked at the name, Ukyo 
Kuonji.  "Yes."  Kasumi replied simply.
	"Yes, well, I've heard she's been a slight problem and her 
file says she has been having some difficulty in school."  
	Kasumi nodded as looked down at the reports.  
Inattentive, moody, prone to violent outbursts...  So this is what 
had become of Ukyo, and this was before the curse.  Kasumi 
consoled herself with the few good points also noted: fairly good 
grades, does volunteer work and generally helpful to lower level 
students.  At least she hadn't completely deteriorated.
	"She won't be a problem?"  The vice-principle asked.
	"I'll do my best Sir."  Kasumi replied.  It was all she 
could promise.
	"Okay then.  We're still getting things together so I'll 
send a list of your students along as soon as we compile it.  Good 
luck to you."
	"Thank you Sir."  Kasumi replied with a friendly smile as 
she got up to leave.

	Kasumi stood outside Ukyo's classroom, waiting for her 
to arrive.  Ukyo was still out to get her revenge, she had made 
that abundantly clear.  However, over the last several days Ukyo 
had gone quiet and that had been worrying Kasumi.  Finding out 
she was coming here to Furinken only added to her worry.
	Kasumi really didn't know why she was here.  Talking 
seemed to be utterly useless.  However, her other options were 
very unappealing.  If only she could make Ukyo see that what 
happened at Juzenkyo was an accident, but that wasn't likely.  
Unfortunately, when Kasumi put herself in Ukyo's position she 
came to the uncomfortable conclusion that Ukyo had every right 
to be incensed.
	"Hello... teach."  Ukyo said as she walked up.  She 
smiled but her expression made it clear she was not glad to see 
Kasumi.  "Something I can do for you?"
	"Hello."  Kasumi replied as pleasantly as she could 
manage being the object of Ukyo's anger.  "I was hoping to avoid 
a confrontation."
	"Hey, does it look like I'm trying to rip of your face off at 
the moment?"  Ukyo replied with a patently false friendly smile 
but dropped her act and went to an angry frown.  "Let's just 
dispense with the garbage."  Ukyo said, her voice low so only 
Kasumi could hear.  "Make no mistake, I don't like you, I hate 
you, and I'm going to make sure you're revealed for what you 
really are.  However, I'm not here to fight you.  I have wasted a 
great deal of my time and money chasing you down.  I figured I 
better get my act together and try to rebuild something of what 
you took from me.  Going back to school seemed like a logical 
place to start, I just get the added bonus of keeping an eye on 
you."
	"I see."  Kasumi replied soberly.  "So, you plan on 
staying with Ranma?"
	"For now, but don't worry your little head.  I plan on 
telling him about my curse.  I just needed to think of the proper 
way."
	Kasumi nodded and, having nothing else she could think 
to say, turned and left.  Ukyo watched her walk away then 
entered her classroom.  She took her seat and let the seething 
anger that had built up inside her drain off as she drummed her 
fingers on the desktop.  The urge to punch Kasumi's lights out, or 
at the very least just launch into a verbal assault had been great 
but she had managed to keep it in control.  Fights were getting 
her nowhere and to tear at someone verbally was just low class, 
something Kasumi might try but not her.  Still, Ukyo was 
damned mad.
	Besides getting enrolled here she had spent the last few 
days doing several things.  One was recovering from her visit 
with the vet.  How humiliating!  Even today sitting down without 
wincing was difficult.  Ukyo consoled herself with the knowledge 
that she changed to a wolf and not a dog.  Learning that 
information had more than made up for the pain of her shots.  
Two, she had been thinking of a way to talk to Ranma.  Lastly, 
she had been making plans on how to deal with Kasumi.
	Thinking of Ranma made Ukyo smile and formed a sense 
of peace inside her.  He was so kind to her, so loving, she felt 
better than she had in years in his company.  She couldn't 
remember the last time she had such a close relationship.  She 
wasn't even sure she ever had one.  Ever since Kasumi had left 
her life in ruins Ukyo had been unwilling to let anyone get close 
to her.  It probably was a mistake but she feared a repeat of 
Kasumi, letting someone get close to her and then having that 
person steal away her life.  With Ranma she had realized all that 
she had missed.  Sure, he thought of her as a pet but was that 
love so different from a human relationship.  Once she told him 
she was sure she could build something.
	This train of thought lead to Kasumi and Ranma's 
engagement.  How unfair! Kasumi would use him, chew him up 
and spit out the leftovers.  Ranma deserved so much more than 
that.  Ukyo would see to it he got it.  Unfortunately, her plans 
were still in the preliminaries.  She needed some more time to 
properly set them up.
	Ukyo was brought out of her intense thoughts by the class 
leaving for lunch.  She scolded herself for missing half the day 
but Kasumi remained on her mind.  She headed off to eat her 
own lunch, all the time considering this situation. Once outside 
she spotted Ranma sitting alone by the soccer field and started to 
walk over.  Unluckily, Akane and Kasumi joined him before she 
arrived.  Ukyo frowned then sat down on the grass so she could 
watch the group from a distance and think.
	By the time she finished her lunch she had abandoned any 
hope of doing any serious damage today.  Her plans simply 
weren't ready.  However, she still felt like making Kasumi's life 
a least more complicated.  One possible avenue for this type of 
attack was Kasumi's fear of cats, but what to do with that 
knowledge.  She had already dismissed an up front attack, it 
would reflect badly on her.  No, what she needed was a middle 
man, someone she could drop this tidbit of information with that 
would use it well.
	Suddenly, as Ukyo was pondering this, she felt a presence 
behind her.  She turned her head to see a small male figure 
dressed in ninja garbs using her as cover.  He looked up at her 
and put his finger to his lips, signaling for her to be quiet.  Ukyo 
complied, more out of confusion than real courtesy, and watched 
him as he peaked around her.  She followed his gaze back to the 
same group she had been so intent on the last half hour or so.
	Ukyo scowled when she realized this little man was 
spying on the group Ranma was in, and turned to speak with 
him, using a forceful but quiet whisper.  "All right, just what do 
you think you're doing?"
	The little man looked at Ukyo with a slight bit of surprise 
then resumed watching the others.  "Keeping a look out for a 
man."  He whispered back.
	"And what man would that be!?"
	"A foul sorcerer who kidnapped the lady Kasumi about a 
week ago.  Master Kuno wishes for me to inform him the 
moment this man reappears."
	Ukyo took a second to process the data and came to one 
conclusion;  The man he was searching for must actually be 
Kasumi herself, just in her alternate form.  Ukyo let out a small 
laugh but managed to contain her amusement to just that.
	"What's so funny?"  The little man asked.
	Ukyo opened her mouth to tell him then stopped.  This 
was an opportunity.  She remembered this Kuno fellow, one of 
the older students who seemed to have an interest in Kasumi.  It 
seems he also had a dislike of Kasumi's male side and didn't 
know about the curse.  She had needed a middle man and it 
looked like she just found him.
	"Nothing."  Ukyo responded as she considered how best 
to pitch her story.  "So, you're looking for that guy huh?  Yeah, I 
hear he's really dangerous."
	"No, Master Kuno says he is a foul sorcerer and a 
coward, but if he could merely bring him to bay he would smite 
him.  Master Kuno merely seeks some means of separating the 
fiend from his cowardly magic's."
	R_i_g_h_t, Ukyo thought and then after a second of 
thinking replied.  "I'm sure you'd love to take him down 
yourself, wouldn't you?"
	"Oh, that would please master Kuno greatly..."  The little 
man answered as he went off into a brief daydream but then 
shook himself back to reality.  "Unfortunately, I am but a humble 
ninja and only the master could defeat a man like this one."
	"Oh, I don't know about that."  Ukyo replied and noticed 
she had the ninja's undivided attention.  "I hear he has a little 
weakness."
	"Weakness?"  The ninja asked anxiously, almost shaking 
with excitement.  "What kind of weakness?"
	This is too easy, Ukyo thought to herself then started to 
explain.

	Akane had bided her time and worked up her courage the 
whole day.  Despite her earlier enthusiasm about asking Kasumi 
to let C-chan stay Akane knew that Kasumi wouldn't be pleased 
with the idea.  Even the mere mention of `cat' sent her into a 
frantic search to ensure none were close by.  For her to live in the 
same house as one might be just too much to ask.  Akane dearly 
hoped not because it was her only option at the moment and she 
didn't have time to think up another one.  She had tried to ask her 
at lunch but the presence of Ranma there had prevented her.  She 
knew she would have to plead and she wanted to avoid doing 
that in front of witnesses if at all possible.
	The day's classes came to end forcing Akane to finally 
hunt Kasumi down and ask.  She found her sister inside the main 
school office.  "Kasumi, can I talk to you?"  Akane asked from 
the doorway.
	Kasumi finished up with some last minute paper work 
and joined Akane.  "Of course, I'm done.  What did you want?"  
Kasumi asked as they started heading down the hall.
	"Well, ummm, you remember that... C...A...T we found-"
	"C...Cat?!"  Kasumi exclaimed, suddenly shivering and 
looking around in fear.
	"Nono, it's not here."  Akane quickly added causing 
Kasumi to calm just slightly.  "I just... you see, I took it to the 
animal shelter, but it... hasn't been adopted yet and-"
	Kasumi saw where this was heading immediately and 
gave Akane a look pleading her not to ask. "Akane... please..."
	Unfortunately, Akane's pleading look was equally 
powerful.  "Oh please Kasumi.  I'll keep her away from you, I 
promise.  You won't even know she's there."
	"I'll know, trust me."
	"They're going to put her to sleep Kasumi.  I've tried 
everything else I can think of, and I really liked her and... and..."  
Akane fought desperately for more points to her argument.
	Kasumi looked at Akane and found her will crack.  "All 
right, all right."  She relented.  "But, this a great deal to ask of 
me Akane."
	"I know, I know.  Thank you Kasumi, you won't regret it.  
I promise."  Akane said as she began to race off.  "Could you tell 
Ranma I'm going to the animal shelter?"  Akane called out over 
her shoulder.
	"Okay."  Kasumi replied and watched Akane leave, a 
happy smile on her face that somewhat comforted Kasumi.  At 
least someone was happy about this.  Kasumi headed off to meet 
Ranma at his locker.

	Ukyo looked around the corner at Ranma.  She felt an 
intense nervousness about what she was about to do, tell Ranma.  
It was a dangerous step.  He could react so badly yet she had 
hopes for the best.
	She closed her eyes and gathered her inner strength and 
prepared to move.  However, just as she opened her eyes she let 
out a low growl upon noticing Kasumi walk up to Ranma.
	"Hi Kasumi.  Where's Akane?"  Ranma asked as he 
dumped some books in his locker.
	"She went to the animal shelter to get that c...c...ca...ca..."
	"Cat?"  Ranma said as he looked at Kasumi in surprise.  
"Why's she doing that?  She's not allowed."
	"I let her keep it."  Kasumi replied then sighed.
	"Oh great, this will be fun."  Ranma said as he imagined 
the state of the house after a week, junked, half burned and only 
standing because of some unstable looking repairs.
	Ukyo watched this with growing anger.  Here she goes 
again, Ukyo thought to herself in frustration, playing at being the 
nice giving soul again, trying to get close to Ranma no doubt.  
Ukyo looked off to the side angrily and notice a bucket of water 
left from some student's hall punishment, and smiled.
	"I'm hoping to avoid the trouble that happened-"  Kasumi 
started to explain then suddenly got hit with cold water.  Kasumi, 
now a man, turned to notice Ukyo who  dropped the bucket and 
marched up, glaring at Kasumi all the while.
	Kasumi looked at Ukyo tensely, Ukyo looked at Kasumi 
angrily and Ranma looked confused, surprised that Ukyo had not 
started a fight immediately.  "Ukyo, haven't seen you in a while.  
Where you been?"  Ranma asked, hoping to diffuse the situation 
before he got caught in the middle of an all out war.
	Ukyo started, and glanced over at the source of the voice, 
suddenly remembering Ranma was there.  "Ah Ranma... Well, I 
... ah... um, I was kind of... ah..."  Ukyo paused and tried to 
collect her thoughts.  Come on Ukyo, damn it, get a hold of 
yourself, Ukyo thought to herself, this is no time to panic.
	Ranma stared at Ukyo in confusion.  Why was she so 
nervous all of a sudden?  "You okay?"
	"Fine, fine."  Ukyo quickly responded but she couldn't 
seem to calm her nerves.
	Ranma looked between Ukyo and Kasumi and seeing that 
Ukyo seemed temporarily distracted returned to his locker with 
hopes of gathering his stuff and getting clear of any impending 
clashes.  As he grabbed up some books he found a folded piece of 
paper.  He looked it over, opened it and read the message written 
inside.
	Ukyo finally controlled herself enough to give Kasumi 
another angry glare but before anything happened Ranma started 
laughing.  "What is it Ranma?"  Kasumi asked.
	Ranma stifled his laughter and smiled at Kasumi.  "Oh 
nothing, it just seems you left me a note saying you've been 
kidnapped by villains and I should get you to come rescue you."
	"It must be some kind of joke."  Kasumi finally said as he 
took the letter and started reading it.
	"Yeah, a joke called Sasuke Sarugakure.  The guy is a 
real moron who works for Kuno.  No doubt he's trying to set 
some trap for your male side."
	"Oh, well, I guess I should go talk with him."  Kasumi 
replied and started to walk off while Ukyo bowed  her head and 
shook it in complete disbelief.  Ranma shook his own head and 
chased after Kasumi and after a second Ukyo followed as well.

	"You should just ignore it Kasumi."  Ranma said as they 
entered the gymnasium.  All three looked around the darkened 
room and soon noticed the small ninja, disguised poorly in a 
Kasumi costume and supposedly tied up, sitting on the stage.
	"Help me!  Help me!  Oh please save me!  I'm going to 
die!"  Sasuke called out in a falsetto voice from the stage, 
supposedly struggling in his bonds.
	Ukyo had a look of disbelief on her face while Ranma just 
shook his head.  "That's just plain pathetic, even for him."  
Ranma said as he moved ahead of the others and jumped up on 
the stage.  "Give it up Sasuke.  None of us are in the least 
fooled."
	"Nono, I'm Kasumi, not Sasuke."  Sasuke said as the 
others joined them on the stage.
	"Yeah, right, suuurrre you are."
	Sasuke threw aside his disguise, ropes and all, and stood 
up.  "Indeed, you have discovered my deception, but too late!  I 
have you, you villainous magician!"  Sasuke pronounce then 
jumped up and pulled a cord opening a trap door directly below 
Ukyo and Ranma.
	"IDIOT!!"  Ukyo yelled out angrily as she and Ranma 
fell.
	Sasuke scratched his head as Kasumi walked up next to 
him.  "That's funny, I thought that was more to the front."
	"Are you two all right down there?"  Kasumi asked.
	"I'm fine."  Ranma answered.
	"I'll be fine as soon as I ring that little twit's neck!"  
Ukyo answered furiously.
	"Were you trying to trap me down there?"  Kasumi asked 
Sasuke.
	"Ah, well..."  Sasuke began to respond then jumped up 
and pulled another cord.   "Hehehe-"  SMASH!!!
	Kasumi blinked in surprise as a giant statue of a bear 
slammed into Sasuke and knocked him into the room below.  He 
then jumped down to join the others, the trapdoor closing a few 
seconds later.
	"You moron!  Were you born this stupid or did you suffer 
recent brain damage?!"  Ukyo yelled out as she throttled the 
unconscious Sasuke.
	"Born I believe."  Ranma said as he attempted to examine 
their surroundings through the darkness.  "Why the hell did he 
trap us in here?"
	Frustrated, Ukyo dropped Sasuke to the floor and began 
looking around herself.  "How should I know?!"  She replied.
	Kasumi leaned down to examine Sasuke.  "We should 
find a way out and take him to the nurse's office."
	"A nurse can't cure what ails him Kasumi."  Ranma 
replied as he started to make his way to what appeared to be a 
door.  He managed about two steps then noticed that the floor 
seemed to move.  "What the...  The floor's moving!"
	"What?"  Kasumi and Ukyo asked.  They got there 
answer in the form of several low `meows' and a variety of other 
cat sounds.  Kasumi's reaction was immediate, he jumped into 
Ukyo's arms, holding her with teeth chattering in fear.
	"Kasumi, if you want to live through the day, let... me... 
go!"
	"Don't panic Kasumi."  Ranma said as he walked back 
over to Ukyo.  "We'll get you out of here."
	"Panic?!  Panic?!  I'm not panicking!!"  Kasumi 
responded unconvincingly as he continued to hold Ukyo.
	"We better get him out of here before he totally freaks."
	Ukyo opened her mouth to respond but then thought 
about it and remembered the incident back at the house.  Not 
wanting to be run down by the Kasumi express train again Ukyo 
nodded in agreement.  Ranma waded his way through the cats to 
the door.
	"I think this door leads back stage."  Ranma said as he 
opened the door.  To his surprise he got a face full of fur.  "Now 
what?!"  Ranma asked as he pulled back and looked at what he 
had run into.  Despite every effort to keep his calm a shuddering 
"yipe" escaped from his lips as he looked into the eyes of an 
uncomfortably large tiger.  He stumbled backwards and ended up 
next to Ukyo and Kasumi as the Tiger slowly approached.  "So 
much for that.  Any ideas?"  Ranma asked desperately as he tried 
to keep up a brave face.
	"I'm a cook, not a lion tamer."  Ukyo answered then 
threw Kasumi off and hid behind Ranma.  Kasumi quickly did 
likewise.  "You're the one that got us into this mess, you get us 
out."  Ukyo said as she pushed Kasumi in front, right into the 
tiger.
	"Nice kitty.  Nice Kitty!"  Kasumi sputtered but got only 
a threatening growl in response.  He tried desperately to back up 
but tripped over some the tiger's smaller cousins that were trying 
to hide behind him, and fell to the floor.  The tiger closed the gap 
even more, now hovering over Kasumi with a hungry look in its 
eyes.
	His every muscle was seized with fear, paralyzing him.  
All he could do is look into the eyes of his death.  He had only 
one possible escape, become one with his fears.  "Reoowwwrr!"
	"That don't sound good."  Ranma said as Kasumi rolled 
backwards, landed on all fours and faced off with the tiger.
	
%End Chapter 6

	Finished, finished, yaah!  Isn't life just lovely for this 
bunch?  C&C is very welcome.  Chapter 7 is on its way. 
	Special thanks to T. H. Tiger for his creative assistance 
which has been and continues to be extraordinarily helpful.  If 
you think we've been cruel so far, wait till you see what is to 
come.
	For you heathens who don't know who Artemis is check 
out Sailor Moon.
	If you wish to check out my other works look at:
	http://www.mala.bc.ca/~tritscwa
	I'm presently off for the summer so don't expect my 
webpage to be too recent, I have no home ftp service (sympatico 
is pitiful but it's free so...).
	Bye for now.