"�and strange things have been happening ever since." Ryoga said to Cologne
who was at a loss for words once in her life. She appeared to think for a
moment.
"If what you say is true, then we truly are in danger�" Cologne paused for a
moment. Everyone looked up at her expectantly. The group had come in while
Ranma was with Ran-ko. As usual Shampoo and Akane had their little spat
before both ran out on insults and settled for throwing icy glares at each
other. Ryoga, after a little prompting, related his recent experiences to
Cologne, who appeared shocked. In the meantime, Akane had noticed that the
table opposite them on their left sported a small patch of dried blood that
someone had failed to clean up and her suspicions were immediately aroused.
However she kept her suspicions in check for the moment in order to hear
Cologne�s thoughts on the current situation which was obviously more important.
"�I assume none of you know the legend of the demon Kasunama Seijiiku?"
Everyone shook their heads. Cologne then proceeded to tell the tale of the
feared demon warlord who�s armies threatened to destroy China over two
hundred years ago, when Cologne was younger. Everyone immediately found it
extremely difficult, if not impossible, to visualise Cologne when she was
younger. When everyone had stopped trying, Cologne continued her story. She
went on to relate about how the demon managed to ravage over half of China
before finally being defeated by a human who possessed a portion of the
demon�s essence. The soul of the demon was trapped within one of the
Jusenkyo pools when his physical body was killed and thrown into the pool.
After his defeat the pool was then covered with a spiritual seal. Visitors
to the training grounds were always warned never to stray near the pool with
the runic symbols around the rim. Mousse and Shampoo nodded, they had no
trouble remembering the guide insisting they keep away from the central
pool, at knife point. The pool was always covered with a sheet of corrugated
iron, so it was to Cologne�s bafflement how the hell anyone could have
fallen in. Needless to say, she was shocked upon hearing of the guide�s
death, but what was most interesting was that no one knew how he was killed.
The coroner�s report had stated that at the time of examination, the person
had been deceased for what appeared to be well over a month.
"�What I now fear, as all of you should, is that if the demon was indeed
released, that he would attempt once again to conquer China, if not the world�"
"But that�s ridiculous!" Akane interrupted "That was centuries ago! Times
are different now. What makes him think that he�d even stand a chance in
this day and age?" Everyone else nodded.
"Child, you musn�t make the mistake of underestimating the supernatural.
They are capable of far more than we could ever dream of accomplishing."
Cologne calmly replied.
"But�could this demon, if he WERE free, really be this powerful? I mean, he
was�" Ryoga was cut short by a grave nod from Cologne. Everyone shivered at
the thought. Genma(in panda form) held up signs proclaiming the end of the
world and was promptly bashed over the head by Akane.
"Sheesh! Really! Joking at a time like this!" She huffed and turned back to
Cologne, leaving a starry-eyed Panda lying on the ground holding up a sign
saying "That hurt!"
Cologne chuckled and turned to leave.
"Well we can�t really do much at this time, we don�t really know if the
demon really is free or not�So I suggest we all relax for now and have some
tea�Mousse!!" Cologne snapped at Mousse who grudgingly stood up and went
into the kitchen. 
"Shampoo make ramen for guests ok?" Cologne nodded and Shampoo ran into the
kitchen after Mousse. In the meantime, Akane�s suspicions were aroused the
more she thought about the bloodstain on the table that no one else had noticed.
"Umm, Cologne�where did this come from?" Cologne turned to see what Akane
was talking about and paled slightly when she spotted the bloodstain.
"Curse you Mousse! You were supposed to clean the tables yesterday!" Cologne
muttered under her breath, making a mental note to punish him later.
"Well�that must be from something that Shampoo accidentally spilled the
other day�" Akane didn�t buy it. "She was carrying too many bowls of ramen and�"
"Ranma�s here�isn�t he?" Akane looked directly at Cologne, who appeared to
flinch. Everyone perked up at the mention of Ranma�s name. Ryoga immediately
began yelling out challenges while Soun began crying over Ranma betraying
Akane for another woman etc etc. Genma, still flat on the floor, was waving
signs about echoing Soun�s words while trying to get up. Mousse, hearing the
commotion, runs out to spill the beans before Shampoo drags him back into
the kitchen. The general racket of kitchenware being broken over someone�s
head followed shortly afterward. Akane however, was focused on Cologne,
ignoring the general racket around her.
"Please�I know Ranma�s here�Please tell me where he is�" Akane turned an
almost-pleading look to Cologne. Cologne hesitated, for a long time now
she�d planned, conspired, blackmailed, kidnapped even, in the hopes of
getting Ranma and Shampoo together. But how could she refuse Akane? She
looked on the verge of tears, almost desperate to find Ranma.
<Would he want to see her?> Cologne asked herself. Shampoo however, taking
advantage of the fact that Ranma and Akane had had a falling out, decided to
rub a little salt into the wound.
"Ranma no want to see Akane�" Shampoo shot at Akane, who�s face immediately
began to redden. "�Why Ranma want to see uncute tomboy anyway?" Shampoo�s
words had their desired effect on Akane, who began to glow with a blue
battle aura.
"What did you say?! Would you mind repeating that you Amazon wench?!"
"Akane uncute, unsexy, built like brick, thigh too thick, violent as gorilla
and�" Shampoo stopped when Akane leapt at her, holding a mallet and
intending to use it. 
"That did it! DIE YOU!" Akane screamed as she swung her mallet at Shampoo
who promptly side-stepped, the mallet smashing into the ground, breaking a
few floorboards. Shampoo swung back at Akane�s head with her maces, missing
by a few centimeters as Akane crouched and attempted a Dragon Tail footstep.
Shampoo jumped over Akane�s extended leg, flipping in mid air to land nimbly
on a table. Akane quickly recovered from the missed Dragon Tail and ran
toward Shampoo with her mallet held above her head. Shampoo leapt aside at
the very last instant, Akane�s mallet turning the table into firewood, and
threw one of her maces at Akane who yelped and ducked, the mace missing her
by the narrowest of margins. The mace flew over Akane�s head and struck
Genma who was just getting up, putting him flat on his back again, holding
out a sign saying "Ouch!". Both women paused a moment to get their breaths
back before yelling and attacking each other again. Everyone simply watched,
Cologne noting down the costs of the damaged furniture as tables, chairs and
the kitchen sink were thrown about the room, causing everyone to duck for cover.
"Ranma no marry Akane�Shampoo be Ranma�s bride!"
"Yeah right! Ranma�s engaged to me!"
"Ranma engage to Shampoo first!"
"In your dreams, bimbo!"
"Ranma no like Akane anyway�Akane chase Ranma away!" Akane disengaged and
backed away from Shampoo at that last comeback. Shampoo smirked in triumph,
knowing she�d hit a weak spot.
"That�s�that�s not true!�" Akane stammered, trying to convince herself as
well as Shampoo, who apparently didn�t buy it.
"If not true then why Ranma leave Akane?"
"He�he just needed some time to himself ok?!"
"Ranma leave Akane because Ranma no like Akane." Akane grimaced at Shampoo�s
words, somewhere inside her, she knew that it was partially true, Ranma had
left because he�d had enough of being taken for granted. Akane had never
realised how much he meant to her until after he was gone.
"It no matter anyway, Ranma already�" 
"Hey! What the hell�s all that noise out there!?" Shampoo was interrupted by
a voice coming from somewhere behind the Nekohanten. Akane froze at the
sound of Ranma�s voice.
<R�Ranma�> Tears filling her eyes as she watched Ranma step through the
doorway. 
"Woah!!! What�s been going on here?!?" Ranma took a backstep and blinked a
few times as he surveyed the scene in front of him. Tables, chairs and other
assorted furniture were lying smashed on the floor of the Nekohanten. Ranma
gaped when he saw Soun, Nabiki, Ryoga and a large panda huddled on the floor
with their arms over their heads. 
"I�Is it safe to come out yet?!" Soun asked in a shaking voice. Panda held
up a sign "You look and tell me!" Nabiki gingerly looked up.
"Ok everyone, it�s clear�" Everyone slowly stood up. "�Hey Ranma, so this is
where you�ve been hiding all the while." Everyone turned to look at Ranma
who shrunk back as he caught their gazes.
"Ranma! How could you have forsaken Akane for Shampoo?!" Soun asked as tears
streamed down his face. Panda held up a sign reading "What�s come over you
boy!?".
"Saotome! How dare you toy with Shampoo!" Mousse yelled as he ran out from
the kitchen brandishing a chopper.
"Ranma!!! We have unfinished business!!" Ryoga said in a low, dangerous
tone, his bluish-green battle aura beginning to glow. Ranma stepped back
into the doorway and eyed the group before him, his mind working overtime as
to what to do now.
"�Ranma�" Ranma blinked when he heard Akane call his name, he looked around
for her in the group that was assembled before him for a few moments before
spotting her near Shampoo. He immediately realised the cause of the commotion.
"�Ak�Akane�" Ranma breathed an inward sigh of relief when he saw her.
<Thank god you�re all right, I�d never have forgiven myself if something
happened to you.> Ranma thought as he walked slowly over to Akane. Their
eyes met for a few moments, neither of them saying a word. 
"Ranma�"
Ranma winced when he realised that Akane was crying, her fists gripping her
dress tightly. She was trying not to cry but the tears just forced
themselves through.
"Akane�I�" Ranma began, everyone else had gone quiet, watching the scene
before them except for Ryoga, who was getting extremely annoyed at being
ignored.
"Ranma Saotome!! I'm going to get you for what you did to me!!" Ranma looked
over to Ryoga and noted that his injuries had healed as well.
"Give it a rest Ryoga! We�ll finish it later if you really want to!"
"Ryoga, SHUT UP!!" Ryoga�s eyes widened at this sudden outburst from Akane,
he took an involuntary backstep and tripped over some debris.
"A�Akane�Y�you aren�t saying it�s my fault�Are you?!" Ryoga stammered as he
picked himself up. Akane shot him an icy cold glare, that in itself saying
all. Ryoga slowly nodded, his heart of glass shattered beyond repair.
"If�If that�s the way it�s going to be�Then�RANMA!!! Prepare to DIE!" Ryoga
yelled, his battle aura flaring up around him.
"Ryoga! Quit it already! You�ll hurt Akane!" Ranma blurted out, hastily
powering up and taking a defensive stance.
<Damn! He�s really pissed this time! What�s worse is that he�s stronger when
he�s upset!> Ranma braced himself for Ryoga�s attack, but to his surprise,
Akane stepped in front of him.
"Ryoga! Ranma! Don�t fight anymore ok?! Can�t you see? It�s already bad
enough as it is! We have a bigger problem to deal with!" Ranma perked up at
the mention of a �bigger problem�
"Akane, what problem?!" Ranma grabbed Akane by the shoulders and spun her
around to face him.
"Ranma�I�err�LOOK OUT!!" Akane pushed Ranma aside as Ryoga lunged at him,
both of them hitting the ground hard. Ryoga missed them, his momentum
carrying him past them and into the wall behind. Ranma winced as Ryoga
struck the wall.
"Man, I bet that hurt!�" Ranma scratched his head for a moment, looking at
Ryoga entrenched in the wall. "�Akane, what problem are you talking about?�"
"Ranma�It�s�It�s about something from Jusenkyo�"
"What?! What about it?! Did someone else fall into the a pool here!? Who!?"
Akane slapped her forehead and sighed as Ranma went around dumping buckets
of cold water on everyone.
"Nope, none of you guys�" Ranma muttered as he cast his gaze over a sopping
wet Soun, Panda and Nabiki. "�Then it must be the old mummy!�OW!!" Ranma
yelled as Cologne smacked his head into a wall.
"Who�s a mummy?!" She asked coolly. Ranma extracted himself from the wall,
rubbing the back of his head. Behind him, Ryoga had also extracted himself
and lunged once more at Ranma.
"Ranma! Take this!!" Ryoga screamed as he dashed toward Ranma with a fist
pulled back. Ranma yelped in fear, he knew that in his current position
there was no way he could defend against that attack.
"You leave oniichan alone!!" A female voice rang out. Everyone gaped as a
redheaded, pigtailed girl in a Chinese dress ran out of the doorway, leaped
at Ryoga and knocked him aside, deflecting his blow. Then to everyone�s
astonishment the redheaded girl grabbed Ryoga by the front of his shirt and
lifted him up before punting him through the roof. Ran-ko then went over to
help Ranma up, brushing him off.
"Hey Ran-ko, nice timing!" Ranma gaped at Ran-ko, everyone else was staring,
slack-jawed at the sight of Ranma and Ran-ko together. 
<Hmm, it seems the old prune was right, she does have my knowledge of
martial arts after all�> Ranma thought to himself as the image of Ran-ko
dashing into Ryoga ran through his mind. 
"Son-in-law, it seems I was right after all�" Cologne said to Ranma who nodded.
Everyone aside from Cologne and Shampoo looked at Ranma, then to Ran-ko, and
back again for a few minutes before face-faulting. Ranma gave everyone a few
moments to retrieve their jaws from where they�d dropped and to put their
eyes back into their sockets.
"What in the�?!?" Nabiki gaped.
"There really IS a Ran-ko?!?" Akane asked after looking at the two of them
and blinking a few times.
"How in the�?!?" Soun blustered, thinking he needed glasses. Panda held up a
sign reading "The impossible has happened!" After a few minutes of this,
everyone calmed down enough for Ranma to get a word in.
"If you guys will just shut up for a few moments...I�ll explain" Ranma
walked over to the group and sat down in the middle, after a few moments
Ran-ko timidly walked over and sat beside Ranma, clinging to his arm. 
"Well, it�s like this, Shampoo had some sort of anti-curse powder..." Panda
and Mousse jumped up at the mention of a possible cure.
"What did you say?!?" Panda held up a sign, his eyes wide.
"Shampoo! Why didn�t you tell me of this before?!" Mousse demanded of
Shampoo who simply ignored him. Ranma looked over to Shampoo, rolling his
eyes at Mousse for a moment before looking back. His eyes asking the
question, �Doesn�t Mousse know?� Shampoo caught his silent question and
shook her head. Ranma nodded and turned to look at Panda who was dancing
around the room waving signs saying "I�m going to be cured!" and "Finally! A
cure!" Ranma snorted at Panda before continuing.
"Anyway, she said it was kinda unstable but I used it anyway...But, we kinda
had an...err. accident with the mixture and...Well, you can guess what
happened." Everyone looked over to Ran-ko, who blushed and clung to Ranma�s
arm even more tightly, causing him to wince slightly.
"So...err....Ran-ko here...She�s an exact duplicate of yourself?" Nabiki
asked, her eyes already glowing with anticipation. Ranma shook his head.
"Nope, the old mummy...OW!..." Ranma yelped as a staff struck his head.
"Who�s a mummy?..." Cologne asked, her staff still attached to Ranma�s head.
"Sheesh!...Ok, Cologne here explained an interesting part about the
curse...It seems that anyone who falls into a pool not only is cursed like
we know, but their spirit, soul, call it what you will, also bonds with that
of the drowned person or creature in the pool as well..." Ranma paused to
give everyone time to digest what he�d said.
"So what you�re saying is that Ran-ko here is in essence the girl who
drowned in the pool so long ago who�s inhabited your other body?" Nabiki
asked, a gleam in her eye. Ranma nodded.
"More or less, yes...However she doesn�t have any memories of her past life..."
"Ok, I�m calling Kuno-baby!" Nabiki said with a sly grin, dollar-signs
circling her head.
"Nabiki!" Akane yelled at her sister. Slightly aghast.
"Hey, I�m joking ok? Cool it!..." Nabiki coolly replied. Ranma sighed at
Nabiki�s mercenary attitude, hanging his head slightly. Everyone remained
silent for a moment, then Panda suddenly jumped onto Ranma, holding a sign
saying, "Where�s the cure?! Gimme the cure!" Ranma snarled and threw Panda
off, before jumping onto him and using him as a trampoline.
"You idiot! Do you honestly think I�d give you the cure even if I had it?!?
It�s your damn fault that we got cursed in the first place!" Panda looked
sheepishly at the ground, holding out a sign saying "That�s not the point!"
"Well you�re not getting it! You got us cursed so you can suffer for a bit!"
Ranma smirked at Panda who pouted and held up a sign saying, "Ingrate!".
Ranma took the sign and smacked Panda across the head with it before walking
back to where Ran-ko was and sitting down beside her.
"Well, whatever happens now�" Ranma put an arm around Ran-ko and squeezed
her affectionately. "�Ran-ko�s my sister now�" 
"Sister!?!" Everyone gaped. Ranma paused a moment, giving everyone time to
digest what he�d said. 
"Ran-ko�" Ran-ko looked up at Ranma�s voice. "�Here, I�ll introduce you to
everyone�This is Soun Tendo, Mr. Tendo to us�" Soun smiled at Ran-ko. "�This
is Nabiki�" Nabiki grinned at Ran-ko.
"Hi there."
"H�Hi." Ran-ko stammered out.
"This is Mousse�" Mousse forced a smile, trying not to look like a jerk.
"You already know Shampoo and Cologne�"
"Ni-hao�" Shampoo smiled at Ran-ko, who smiled back nervously.
"That lump over there�" Ranma gestured to Panda who was still flat on the
floor. "�Is my useless excuse of a father, Genma Saotome�" Ran-ko�s eyes
widened. She looked up at Ranma.
"Your father�s�a�panda?!?" Ranma nodded sullenly.
"Well he�s not really a panda, it�s his cursed form�"
"Curse?" Ran-ko looked confused.
"Yes, Jusenkyo�I�ll explain it later�" Ranma paused for a moment. "�The guy
you smashed through the roof�" Ranma gestured up at the Ryoga-shaped hole in
the roof. "�Is Ryoga Hibiki, my arch-rival and sometimes best-friend�.At
times, but not all the time�" Ran-ko giggled.
"Nice friend�" Ran-ko got out between bouts of giggling. Ranma forced a smile. 
<Yeah right, with friends like him who needs enemies?> Ranma thought.
"Anyway�there�s some other people who I�ll introduce to you later�" Ranma
paused for a moment then looked over to Akane, who was clutching the sides
of her dress tightly. "�Oh, this is Akane. She�s my�fiancee�" Ran-ko�s eyes
widened at the mention of the word �fiancee�. Akane forced a smile, trying
not to look sad, she didn�t succeed. Ran-ko smiled nervously at her.
"Why does she look so sad, oniichan?"
"We had an�err�little�disagreement a few days ago�" Akane lowered her head
and stared at the ground. "�Wait here a moment ok?" Ran-ko nodded.
"I�ll help clean up." Ran-ko then went off to help Shampoo and Mousse
straighten up the Nekohanten. Ranma walked over to Akane, she did not look
at him.
"...Ranma...I" Ranma looked at Akane who was staring at the ground. Ranma
could tell she was trying not to cry.
"...Akane...I...I..." Ranma found himself at a loss for words again. He got
a shock however, when Akane simply broke down and threw herself at him,
crying into his chest. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to
look at the couple.
"Ranma!!! I...I�m sorry...What I said...I didn�t mean it. You...You mean too
much to me for me to really hate you�Can�Can you ever forgive me�?" Ranma
simply stood there like a statue as Akane poured out feelings she�d kept
bottled up for so long now. Everyone else simply watched like zombies except
Shampoo who was getting angry. She took a step toward them but was stopped
by Cologne, who�s gaze told her that it wasn�t a good time. Shampoo nodded
sullenly and shrunk back, casting an icy glare at Akane who paid no attention.
"Akane, it�s ok�I�m glad to see that you�re all right�If anything bad had
happened to you, I�d�I�d never be able to live with myself�" Akane looked
startled.
"Do�Do you really�mean that Ranma?�" Ranma nodded and smiled at her, not his
usual, annoying smile that Akane had grown to know and hate, this was a warm
smile, full of love.
"Oh�Ranma�" Ranma gently pushed Akane�s hair out of her eyes and wiped a
tear away with his thumb. The two then embraced tightly, Akane crying
unashamedly. Ranma too, was shedding a few tears, and he let them flow.
Everyone else watching the scene was moved to tears as well.
"Oh, it�s so great, everything�s all right now! Oh Ranma�Akane!" Soun
blurted out, sobbing as usual.  Nabiki wiped a few tears away, muttering
something about not being able to make money out of this situation anymore.
Mousse put an arm around Shampoo, who to his surprise, didn�t brush it off
and smack him through the roof. Ran-ko simply smiled at the couple, her
tears flowing as well, but this time out of happiness for the two. After
what seemed an eternity, Ranma and Akane broke the hug.
"Ranma�promise me�promise me you�ll never leave again�"
"I promise�Akane, I never should have left in the first place�I�m sorry�I'm
sorry I hurt you�" Akane was slightly startled, she�d never expected Ranma
of all people to apologise to her, especially admitting that it was his fault. 
"�Ranma�I�er�" Akane stammered. Ranma silenced her with a finger on her lips.
"Shhh, don�t talk�" he said gently. "�We�ll talk when we get home ok?"
Akane nodded. Ranma took a deep breath and looked into Akane�s eyes. He
blinked at what he saw, it wasn�t the uncute, macho tomboy he�d grown used
to over the years, the one always pounding him into the dirt. Instead he saw
within those eyes the cute girl that he�d met on the very first day he came
to the Tendo Dojo, the one that asked him if he wanted to be friends. <So
that�s the real you, isn�t it?> Ranma mused. It was starting to get a little
easier on him now, knowing that he wouldn�t be talking to the �other� Akane
that he�d grown to know and dislike. He closed his eyes for a moment,
smiling at her image in his mind�s eye. 
Shampoo, in the meantime, couldn�t take it anymore. She stormed up to the
couple and dragged Ranma off Akane by his pigtail.
"No!! Not Violent tomboy girl!! Shampoo no let violent girl take Ranma!"
Ranma caked at being pulled. Mousse came up behind Shampoo and hugged her
from behind.
"Fear not, my precious Shampoo�I'm here for you�" Mousse managed to get out
before being slapped into a wall. Akane sighed.
"Shampoo�don�t you ever give up?! Can�t you just accept the fact that
Ranma�s engaged to me?!" Shampoo shook her head vehemently.
"No! Shampoo never give up Ranma�Not to uncute, violent girl like Akane!"
Ranma, still bent over backward and grabbing at his pigtail, winced and
expected Akane to pull out her mallet and attack Shampoo. However, to his
surprise, Akane simply stood there, shaking her head.
"Shampoo�you have to accept it, Ranma�s engaged to me�Like it or not, that�s
the way it�s going to be�" Shampoo was only angered further at this statement. 
"No! NO!! Shampoo no accept!! Shampoo kill Akane first!!" At that, Shampoo
pulled out her maces and rushed at Akane, who had no time to defend herself
as Shampoo swung at Akane. Akane just stood there, not trying to defend
herself. She knew that Shampoo wouldn�t give up on Ranma, that was just the
way she was. No point for her to prolong this bitter feud, her only regret
would be not hearing Ranma admit his love for her.
"Akane!!! Get out of the way!" Ranma screamed at her, unable to do anything
as he was still being dragged by Shampoo who completely forgot about him.
Akane didn�t appear to hear him. It seemed that at any moment now Shampoo�s
mace would connect with Akane�s head, no one could survive a direct hit like
that. 
"Yaahhhh! Shampoo finish Akane!! Die!!!" Ranma closed his eyes, disgusted at
himself for not being able to do anything. Before the mace could connect
however, a chopstick intercepted Shampoo�s wrist, forcing her to drop the
mace. She yelped and grabbed her injured wrist, glaring over at Ran-ko who
was standing there with a resolute look on her face.
"Shampoo�I'm sorry�But I cannot let you hurt oniichan�s fiancee�" Ran-ko
looked almost sad that she had to do what she did. 
"What you know!? You not real girl even!!�Just silly side-effect of
curse!!!" Shampoo yelled at Ran-ko, who shrunk back at Shampoo�s words,
tears filling her eyes. Nabiki, Cologne, Soun and Panda stopped in their
tracks, gasping at Shampoo�s harsh words. 
"Whoa! Now THAT! Is saying something!" Nabiki said with a shocked look, a
large sweatdrop running down the back of her head. At this, Ranma wrenched
himself free from Shampoo�s grip and stood up. Ranma gave her a hard look
before slapping her tightly across the face. Shampoo reeled from the slap
and collapsed into a nearby chair. Everyone looked at Ranma in shock.
"Shampoo�I'm sorry�I had to, you went too far that time�" Ranma looked at
his hand, the palm already turning red. Shampoo, holding her face, simply
broke down and sobbed.
"I'm sorry�I really am�" Ranma looked apologetically at Shampoo for a moment
before walking over to a sobbing Ran-ko.
"Ran-ko�sshhhhh. Don�t cry, it�s ok, it�s ok, she didn�t mean what she
said�" Ranma took her into his arms, cradling her head. 
"O�oniichan�Am�Am I really�really that? Am I�really nothing?!" Ran-ko cried
into Ranma�s chest, her tears staining his shirt. Ranma gently stroked the
back of her head.
"No�of course not�" Ranma let go his hold on Ran-ko and held her face to
look at him. "�you aren�t nothing, you�re my sister aren't you?�" Ranma
gently brushed away a few tears with his thumb. Ran-ko held her brother�s
gaze for a moment before slowly nodding. 
"I�I'm sorry�I shouldn�t have cried like that�" Ran-ko turned away from
Ranma, looking down at  the ground.
"Don�t be�it�s not your fault�" Ranma walked up to her and hugged her from
behind. "�Come on, let�s go home ok?" Ranma smiled warmly at her.
"O�ok�" Ranma released his hold on her and walked over to where Nabiki,
Akane, Soun and Panda were standing.
"Ok, lets go home!" Everyone nodded and turned to leave. Ranma was the last
one to walk out, as everyone filed out the door, he turned and looked at
Shampoo who was still sobbing on the floor. 
"�Shampoo�I'm sorry�But�You and me�It was never meant to be�" Ranma said,
the words hurting him as much as they hurt Shampoo. He looked over to
Cologne who shot him an angry look. "�Cologne�Thank you for taking care of
me�I�ll never forget�" Cologne hmmphed and turned away, throwing a sheaf of
papers to Ranma before hopping into the kitchen.
"Cost of damages�Please settle it within a few days�Ranma Saotome" Ranma
looked at the bunch of figures she�d written down and nodded solemnly.
Casting one last look at Shampoo, he turned and walked out the door to join
the others.
"Ranma�Shampoo no give up you yet�" Shampoo mumbled under her breath in
between sobs. "�Shampoo tell Akane truth! Then Ranma become Shampoo�s!"

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

"Remember, I am not to be interrupted�Pass the word to everyone else, unless
called for, I am not to be disturbed!" Jyusei snapped at a servant who
quickly bowed and left after handing Jyusei the files he requested, shutting
the door behind him. 
<Bah, these lowlifes�> He thought as he sat down at his desk and began to
peruse the documents in front of him. He�d returned from the shrine about an
hour ago. Now he sat within is private rooms awaiting the return of his
shadow warriors that he�d dispatched back then.
<Hmm�> Jyusei leafed through the files of last year�s tournament
participants. <Interesting, how this �Anything Goes� school of martial arts
had managed to win the tournament three years in a row�> Jyusei thought to
himself, a hand on his chin. <That has never been done before, as far as I
know�> Jyusei took a close look at one particular file, the name read
�Saotome, Ranma�.
"Ranma�Saotome�" Jyusei muttered to himself. "Impressive�" Jyusei scanned
through the list of victories below Ranma�s details. His eyes widened as he
stopped at one particular detail. "Jusenkyo cursed�Spring of Nyannichuan�"
Jyusei appeared to think for a moment, then a thin smile crossed his face.
"�Yes�Why didn�t I think of this sooner?" Jyusei mused. The more he thought
about it, the more obvious and ridiculous it seemed, causing a slight
chuckle to rise through his throat and out of his mouth. He brought up a
hand to his mouth to try and stifle it. But the thought was now so obvious
it was funny. He began to laugh harder, and brought his hand up to his
forehead.  Then, titling his head back a bit, Jyusei gave in to his
laughter, letting it ring long and loud. His servants outside cringed as
they heard the evil-sounding laugh reverberate throughout the estate�

To Be Continued�..

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

I think many would agree that this revised chapter isn't making Ranma as bad
as he was previously, not to mention it opens more opportunities. I have to
admit, the old chapter 2 went way too fast. 

A revision of Chapter 3 will be done soon though i may just post the revised
part as it is only a minor revision.

Anyways, C&C please and thank you all for being patient, i know i am damn
slow :)
      K  u  s  a  n  a  g  i       K y o
      --|---|--    --|---|--     ----+----
       +-----+     /-, +-+-       +-----+
       |-----|      |  |-|-       |     |      
       +-----+     -|- |-|-       +-----+
      ----|----    / \ +-+-       /  J  \
 -----------------------------------------------
  "Kusanagi Flames, Yagami Tears, Orochi Blood"