[FFML] [Ranma][dark] Poisoned Honor chapter 6.

To all FFML members,

Here (finally) is the next chapter of Poisoned Honor. For those who don't remember Ch. 1-5, or never read them, they can be found at www.Fanfiction.net, the RAAC, and (BEST PLACE) on my website
www.nukimouse.homestead.com under the my stories link. (ignore the incomplete version of ch. 6 posted there, it's old/wrong)

Please!, feed back, C&C, Reviews, grips, hates, likes, ect... WANTED by the write (ME!) please e-mail at nuki_mouse@hotmail.com. or better yet, if its not something against FFML rules reply via FFML, so others can see what you think of it as well.

Now for the sales pitch! This is a story I started last winter, it is a Ranma alternate ending story. It is dark, but not morbid. No wholesale killings, no death fights, and no 100% different from cannon characters. As a matter of fact, it's "pre-history" is almost 100% Cannon Ranma up to the start of the story. Time frame, after Nodoka appears looking for Ranma, but before the Saffron episode/ issues. It is some what like "Lost Innocence", in that misuse of a sex drug causes rape, but my version centers more on the feelings and remorse of the characters, not the action alone.
The rape and attacks are not even discribed, other than the bare minium require to tell the story. This is NOT a lemon. Please read the first five chapters on my website. (No, I get NO fiancial gain from you visting my site, I just know that the versions on my page are the most recent, plus I like to see that little hits counter go up and up!)

PS chapter 7 will be out Tomorrow!
PPS To my Pre-readers, still accepting C&C for 6 & 7, as well as 8
PPPS Chapter 8 is just waiting for a few more C&C and then editing before first release, if you have a C&C for it ready, please send it so I can release ch.8
PPPPS (I'm going to break my P key! ^_^) If anyone else, after reading this story, would like to pre-read for me, the more, the merrier! Just drop an e-mail to me. Chapter 9 should be ready by the weekend for pre/proof reading and C&C.

Nuki Mouse
Poisoned Honor

A RANMA 1/2 FAN FICTION

BY WILLIAM O�HALLORAN

AKA Nuki Mouse

Authors notes: This is a story based on characters owned and copy righted by Takahashi Rumiko and VIZ Communications. I wrote this story for entertainment purposes only and have not received any money for it, nor will I attempt to.

< > Encloses the thoughts of the character.

" " Enclose the spoken words of a character.

CHAPTER SIX: LATE AFTERNOON DEDUCTIONS

Nodoka tried to catch the fleeing form of Ranko as she raced down the street. At 36, she still had her trim athletic body from her youth, due to her daily Aerobics and Kendo training, but still the younger girl was substantially faster. At the end of the block Nodaka was surprised to see that Ranko turned nether left or right but ran on straight-ahead, right into the side of a two-story house <Oh My Kami! She so upset, she can�t even see where�s she going!> Nodoka thought.

At the last moment, when a collision looked all but unavoidable, Ranko seemed to almost levitate up into the air like a phantom as she leapt onto the rooftop, her legs spread wide and the kimono billowing up around her torso, revealing her body from the waist down. This exposed her very shapely legs, well-rounded hips, and eye-catching rear, which was covered by, of all things, a pair of yellow and blue men�s boxer shorts.

This was instantly noticed by a number of young (and not so young) kids playing at the end of the street, who were initially dumbstruck by the awesome sight of the prettiest legs in Tokyo as they passed overhead. As the girl retreated into the distance, they showed their appreciation with cries of "Hey nice legs!"; "Didn�t your momma tell you not to show your undies?"; "What�s with the men�s shorts?"; "More! More! Slut!"; accented with wolf calls and whistles, which echoed up after her.

Nodoka watched as Ranko jump from roof to roof, quickly fading from sight in the distance. <Men�s underwear? Why would she be wearing them? And leaping from roof to roof, didn't she realize her kimono would flare up like that?> She wondered.

<Or is that some new kind of fad, like baggy pants or backward ball caps?> Nodoka asked herself. <Maybe she did know, and just wanted to cover up her panties? But why didn�t she just wear pants instead, or her gym shorts?> Nodoka thought, as an evil grin appeared. <Maybe she�s an exhibitionist! But then she wouldn�t be wearing any underwear at all.>

After a moment however, Nodoka dispatched these last two ideas from her mind. <Ranko may not be the most modest of girls, but she isn�t a slut! She blushes as red as her hair at even the slightest mention of sex around her!> She realized.

Nodoka walked back to her home, and as she entered the doorway her eyes also focused on the same family photo that had so captivated Ranko earlier. Nodaka realized for at least the thousandth time. <But I can�t, that is the first true family portrait of all three of us together, just after I lost my weight gain. My dear little Ranma-kun must have been, what? Four mouths old? Five?> She reminisced.

Then out of the blue, a strong feeling of deja vu, as intense as an electric shock, struck Nodoka and she could only just stand there and gape at the photo, trying to figure out what was suddenly wrong or different with it. Normally, she only really "saw" Ranma and ignored images of both her and Genma, but this time it was not at the image of Ranma, but that of herself that drew her attention and evoked such an intense response.

Nodoka noticed, teary eyed. Her thoughts broke off with a start; the hair on her neck rose and a chill ran down her back as goose bumps covered her arms. <I... Ranko...we look alike, we even look like sisters, no... more like twins, born 20 years apart! She�s even the same height I was before my last growth spurt!>

A series of confused sundry thoughts ran through Nodoka�s mind, further adding to the sense of strangeness. <She can�t be related... I�ve only had one child, I would know if she was a niece! Could she be a cousin? Maybe Hiro... No, she isn�t old enough nor did she inherit the hair.>

A sudden far-fetched notion seemed to pop up into her mind, from somewhere deep in left field. <Dad? Could he... ugh! Ranko is what? 17?, Um... 1984... Mom would have still been alive then, but I just CAN�T see dad cheating on her...> as Nodoka tried to denied the idea.

<But how else? There are not very many bloodlines blessed with redheads in Japan. Ranko�s a Tendo, and dad did know them quite well, especially Soun.... Could Soun have �arranged� something? Between dad and a.... NO!> Her mind slammed shut that line of thought, even though she knew it was the only one even remotely possible.

Nodoka�s thoughts returned to Ranko�s disheveled, almost panic-stricken appearance. <She looked so depressed, from the look of her eyes she must have been crying all day.> Nodoka�s own eyes flitted by the family blades, then stopped short and shot back to them. Her katana and the family tachi were resting there as always, but... the tanto... The tanto was missing. <OH NO! Could... could Ranko have taken it? Why would she take it? Does she even know the history of that cursed knife?>

That blade had killed many, both in battle and in seppuku, and stench of death had seemed to seep into the very �soul� the knife. Nodoka only rarely handled it, just to oil the blade, and never when she was depressed. It seemed to have a way to draw the very life right out of you, and there was the �myth� that it drew suicidal family members to itself like a flame drew moths.

Nodaka paled as the blood drained from her face as the threads of her thoughts; of Ranko, the missing knife, and suicide, swirled about in her mind and suddenly coalesced into one. <My Kami! Could Ranko be suicidal? What if she is family? Did the knife draw her here?>

Nodoka almost ran back out the door to search for her, but knew that would be fruitless. She didn�t know where to look, she didn�t even know where Ranko really lived, just that she spent a lot of time with her cousins, the Tendo sisters.

Nodoka accused herself. <What if she really is suicidal, If she does try, and I didn�t do something...> Nodoka thought as she entered the main room of her home and reached for the phone.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Cologne cleared her throat and glanced around the table at the others. Ono Toufu was still seated to her left with a look of detached calm which actually hid his bewilderment, and patiently waited on Kasumi�s return. Nabiki sat to her right, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on Cologne, watching for any further signs of deceit or deception in her. Kasumi, ever the gracious hostess, had insisted on fixing a light meal and afternoon tea before continuing. This was not due to any naivet� or innocence on her part, but to her judgment that they all needed a few minutes to calm their frazzled nerves after Nabiki and Cologne�s confrontation.

The CRASH of a dropped teacup shattering into a million pieces resounded from the kitchen, revealing that Kasumi�s nerves were as affected as the rest of them. "Oh my!..." was heard, quickly followed by "Would anyone like some cookies with their tea?" Assured by the rest that tea alone was fine, she returned to the table and sat down next to her imouto, but not before serving the tea and snacks. Cologne could feel the three sets of eyes watching her as she sipped from her cup, waiting for her to enlighten them on Shampoo�s recent activities.

Cologne realized.

"Last night I received a request for aid from an ally in the Juuban ward. Once I located her, I found it was a fabrication to get me out of the Neko-Hanten. I rushed back, only to find my most secret drugs and lore books missing. They�re collectively called the �Forbidden Knowledge.�" Cologne�s voice took on an ominous tone when she said the last. "They are only to be used in times of great crisis, and then only for the good of the village or its allies. But never..., never for �personal gain.� If the other elders were to find out..." Cologne trailed off as her voice momentarily failed and a single tear shed for one she once called "Grand-daughter" ran down her face.

"I guess I should start from the beginning" Cologne finally started to speak again. She shifted her weight forward in her seat, and leaned on her staff for support, both in a physical and psychological sense, almost looking all of her 300 years rather than her normal youthful 150.

"Shampoo, since the moment I named her my heir, was molded by me towards but one goal, to be the youngest, strongest, greatest elder, ever. It all started to unravel when son-in.... Ranma first entered our village." Cologne momentarily stopped to take another sip of tea, and noticed Nabiki�s face cloud up in anger when she almost said �son-in-law�.

"Ranma, when she beat Shampoo, put Shampoo�s whole �perfect� future in jeopardy. It wasn�t just that Shampoo lost, but that she lost to another female, an outsider, and that was an unforgivable slight to her honor and status. It put her goal, MY goal, in doubt and made Ranma an obstacle to her eventual power bid." Cologne continued.

"�OBSTACLES are for KILLING�, I used to tell Shampoo as a child, meaning that we must stop at nothing to fulfill our goal. I never thought she would take it to heart so literally. When Shampoo gave Ranma the Kiss-of-Death, it was a shock to me and the entire village! She wasn�t doing it because some Amazon law demanded it, that law hadn�t been used in over a hundred years, she was doing it only because she lost face!" Cologne, again, had to stop for a moment to collect her thoughts before continuing.

"Then, when she was defeated by the male Ranma as well, she could tell he was a great warrior and wanted him. Maybe it was lust, or even a little �love at first sight�, but mostly it was that he made a perfect Amazon �trophy husband� and nothing more. It was not until Ranma transformed and declared herself to be the female Ranma as well that Shampoo had to stop, because Ranma had a JUSENKYO spring curse!" Cologne said as if that explained everything.

"You see, our village has sworn a blood oath to protect and help any of the springs� victims. Our oath even prevents us from harming a victim, unless they harm or endanger the village FIRST, and most of our laws and traditions like the Kiss-of-Death, don�t apply to them. We are honor-bound to help them adapt to their new lives, if they need or request it. Ranma�s curse made him immune to the Kiss-of-Death or Marriage, and since his life was in Nerima and he didn�t want her in it, Shampoo�s only choice was to return empty handed," Cologne informed them.

Nabiki chose this moment to speak up as she look at Cologne with disdain. "If Ranma was off-limits to Shampoo, and none of your laws could be used to force him to marry her, how could she come back and defy your so called �blood oath�!" She demanded of Cologne, who returned the glare with an impassive face. Inwardly the old woman was boiling with barely suppressed irritation that one so young would dispute her word. "Wouldn�t that cause her to lose more �FACE�? Nabiki finished as she almost spat out the last word. "And what about Mousse, I wouldn�t call your treatment him as �protecting� or �aiding�! Wouldn�t you be honor bound to help Mousse marry Shampoo if he asked?"

"Being cursed doesn�t mean a free ride or free rein to defile ALL our laws or traditions, you know." Cologne shot back. <That little bitch!> "It doesn�t stop us from imprisoning them for crimes against the village or banishment, but once a cursed person leaves the village, no other pursuit or punishment is allowed as long they don�t further endanger us," Cologne explain.

"Please excuse me, I would I like to ask something too," Kasumi asked, interrupting the two bickering antagonists. Both Cologne and Nabiki broke from glowering at each other and turned to look at her. Kasumi might seem shy, mild, or meek at times but when she spoke, people did listen. Kasumi could feel the three pairs of eyes now watching her, and blushed. "Its really not my place to say..." She started to answer, as a sudden bout of shyness almost stops her. "But if it�s true about the Amazon's treatment of Jusenkyo victims, if Shampoo did receive a curse, and then still wanted Ranma, claiming she needed him to help her adapt, wouldn�t the village be honor-bound to help her court Ranma if she requested it, unless she endangered the village?" she simply asked.

<Only Kasumi would call the hell Shampoo was putting Ranma through as courting!> Nabiki thought <not that he doesn�t deserve it!> before asking another question, this time to Kasumi. "Why would you think Shampoo getting cursed would make any difference?" Nabiki asked Kasumi.

"DAMN!" Cologne exclaimed in amazement, interrupting any answer Kasumi might have had. <Kami, she looks so sweet and angelic, it�s easy to think she doesn�t have an ounce of brains... until she spots the one thing no one else ever did,> Cologne thought, as she shook her head. Cologne realized before continuing.

"You�re right, Kasumi! It was the perfect loophole! If the help required by two cursed victims ran counter to each other, of course we would support the needs of an Amazon FIRST! Shampoo told the council she needed a strong husband who understood what it meant to be cursed for her to �adapt� and they determined that Shampoo�s need outweighed Ranma�s immunity. She even fooled me..." Cologne realized. <She�s been scheming to flaunt Amazon law longer then ever I realized. To be willing to curse herself to fulfill her own selfish goals..., her warped pride, conceit and arrogance could have destroyed the village!>

"By our own oath we had to help her, you know. So it was decided that I would accompany and aide her, to insure she didn�t endanger the village." Cologne paused for a moment to collect her thoughts before continuing.

"I was forced to allow Mousse to accompany us as well, since it was his desire not to be separated from Shampoo, but given that I considered him unworthy of her, I was damned if I was going to like it! So I made his life miserable, a living hell, without actually hurting him," Cologne admitted, realizing to herself that she was guilty of flaunting Amazon laws as well.

"So for the last 18 months I�ve been the council�s watchdog over Shampoo and Mousse, insuring they didn�t permanently harm Ranma OR the rest of you, although I admit that my idea of what was �harmful� was somewhat lax and biased."

"So nice of you to admit that NOW!" Nabiki said sarcastically "So Shampoo stole your poisons; it�s not the first time either of you tried to use them on Ranma or Akane! How is that not harmful, you old monkey?"

"These DRUGS made the simple potions Shampoo used before look like herbal tea! Shampoo was getting desperate. Her actions were starting to be noticed by outsiders and were becoming a danger to the village. There have been at least three attempts seize water samples from the springs and the Elders thought raids on the village itself could be next." Cologne informed them.

"Last week the council met, and issued Shampoo a ultimatum, giving her three choices: to return to the village with or without Ranma, to stay in Nermia as our envoy and stop all use of Amazon lore or any other actions that may further endanger the village, or be banished for 20 years and have a Decree-of-Silence placed on her. But I can tell you this, if it weren�t for her curse, she would have been hauled back to the village long ago."

"A Decree of Silence? Is that the same pledge I had to make before you agreed to teach me?" Ono Toufu spoke up for the first time. He saw the strange speculative looks the sisters were giving him and the slight nod of permission from Cologne before he continued "Cologne discovered I had special, um... �abilities� in healing and offered to be my Sensei. I had to promise her never to reveal the source of my training to anyone else, and only train others who would use the skills wisely, and even then the Elders have the right to overrule my judgement." He quickly explained to the two sisters.

"No, that was just a teaching pact. This is a blood oath, and it would forbid the using or even the talking about any Amazon lore at all, except at the express bidding of an Amazon Elder or to save a life." Cologne explained. "To refuse or defy it would mean death, even to a Jusenkyo victim. It would also mean total excommunication on Shampoo�s part."

"Not only was there the threat of �Silence� but the elders sent word that they disapproved of our methods to win over Ranma." Cologne continued "And they informed Shampoo of a further condition; she could only bring Ranma back with her if he VOLUNTARILY DECIDED to return with her." Cologne emphasizing the last part in a loud commanding voice.

"Due to her curse, the Elders couldn�t force Shampoo to return if she didn�t want to, and the council declared Ranma couldn�t be forced against his will to wed or live in the village, either. Shampoo was given until today to make her choice known." Cologne looked around the table as her words sunk in.

"Once I returned and found that Shampoo, the books, and the drugs were all missing, I did a quick search, but couldn�t locate any of them. My next thoughts were to warn Ranma and try to intercept Shampoo, but I failed, I was too late!" After finishing, Cologne slumped back in her chair as guilt and remorse threaten to overtake her.

"What was the drug Shampoo took?" Ono asked Cologne as he leaned forward and retrieved one of the bottles (the jade green one) and started to examine it.

Cologne snapped out of her funk and glanced widely around the table, locating the other bottle. She picked up the white soapstone bottle and popped the stopper out, and carefully sniffed then tasted the remaining contents. "Yugh! yak!" as Cologne spat out the sour vile substance. "Just like I thought, Bastards Seed and Passion Spice, plus a touch of Martyr�s Soul," Cologne determined.

Nabiki gave Cologne a look that had her thoughts plainly written all over her face. she thought. "What type of mumbo-jumbo is that! I thought you said these are DRUGS!" she demanded of Cologne.

"Oh they are! The strongest! The names are just �mumbo-jumbo�, so we don�t give away any clues to their real contents. This actual blend is called �Lover�s Bane�. It's effect is that the users would willingly have sex with each other and it would result in a pregnancy almost every time, only during menstruation would it fail," Cologne replied. "Shampoo must have realized it was the perfect way to compel Ranma to marry her! His honor and the remorse that this drug would cause within him, would have demanded that he support and raise his child."

Kasumi eyed the bottle as if it was a poisonous snake and even slid farther down the table away from it. <Take it away! Its.... its evil!> She mentally screamed. "You would use THAT as a weapon?" she asked, trying VERY hard to keep her fear out of her voice as her mind refused to accept its existence.

Cologne slowly nodded her head yes. "The ability to cause a pregnancy, an unwanted bastard in an enemy's family or to disrupt a blood tie between their allies, is a powerful weapon." Cologne acknowledged as the three woman sat in a sad silence, thinking of its implications for both Ranma and Shampoo.

Kasumi momentarily felt relieved as she realized Ranma wasn�t responsible for his actions, that it was the work of that evil drug, but then felt her panic rising once more. "Oh My Kami! What of Ranma-chan! She�s out there, somewhere, with THAT in her!" Kasumi cried out in horror, as she suddenly comprehended the full scope of the situation and her eyes finally broke away from the bottle to stare out the window. Within her culture morals, Kasumi knew that a boy who managed to "score" could be thought of as "healthy" or even "manly", but a girl who did, especially if she "caught" was, well..., Kasumi didn�t like using those words, even in thought. "We have to find her!"

"Where would you suggest we look, Kasumi?" Nabiki asked in a sarcastic tone that did nothing to help the situation. "Ranma could be anywhere! She MAY be drugged, but that�s not a white wash for all her actions!" Nabiki continued. <At least not with ME! And she deserves to be...> Nabiki mentally bit off that reprehensible thought, shocked that she would wish that on anyone.

It was Cologne, of all people, who placed a comforting arm around the distraught Kasumi and tried to calm her, as Ono hovered nearby, not quite getting up the nerve to touch her once again. "She�s in little danger of anything happening to her," Cologne quietly told her in a soothing voice. "After an hour or so, this drug has a side effect that makes the victims extremely sleepy. I�m surprised Ranma-chan stayed awake long enough to run away. Plus, since it does NOT compel sex, just makes the victims �willing� it only works well if both participants are drugged," Cologne said to ease Kasumi�s fears. "But wherever she is, she�s sleeping NOW, and won�t wake until it wears off, so her virtue isn�t endangered."

Ono felt like a coward as he watched the distress in his beloved and yet could not force himself to touch her again. Ono realized Kasumi felt that using pregnancy to entrap a husband was the worst form of immorality possible. <But we�re not even touching this time... this isn�t natural, I�m not psychic!> He knew.

<But... If I was, why don�t I sense the others as well? I�m just as near to Cologne as I am Kasumi right now and I don�t sense her emotions. It must be the Healing, our auras are now the same, that must be it....> Ono was afraid, scared of what this meant. <Three hours ago this would have been my fondest wish, but now I feel like I�m losing my identity, her emotions are mixing with mine and my innermost thoughts are open to her.>

Ono realized that it wasn�t Kasumi that he was afraid of, but the intimacy of their �bond�. He knew that the only way he would voluntarily reach out and �touch� Kasumi, would be if he fully accepted it. Ono came to a decision, and the only surprising thing about it was that it actually took him almost a whole second to decide. He slowly removed Cologne�s arm and cuddled Kasumi to his chest, while trying to broadcast his feelings of love and reassurance to her. Kasumi, for her part, buried her head onto Ono�s chest. She felt his emotions and took strength from them, and accepted their new bond as well.

[Somewhere, somehow, in an old Temple by a park, Belldandy felt inexplicably, uncontrollable HAPPY and knew that one of her �own�, spiritually, had found true love, and Belldandy suddenly just had to be with Keiichi...]

After a moment, Kasumi suddenly broke their embrace, she tightly clasped her arms together in front of her and blushed a bright pink. She glanced across to her sister who was intensely watching their interaction like a cat watching a canary. She quickly looked away, not wanting to answer the question of �What the hell is going on?� written all over Nabiki�s face. She stole a look back at Cologne, who gave her a sad knowing smile and reached out to hold her hands, while also watching the byplay between her and Ono. Kasumi felt like she was under a microscope and blushed so deeply even her hands turned red.

It was Ono who came to their rescue by breaking the silent inquisitive mood. "Well, it�s a good thing Shampoo is also still a virgin, otherwise Ranma might be a father!" he announced in a loud voice to distract the two inquisitive meddlers away from their examination of him and Kasumi, as he dabbed a drop of the potion from the jade bottle on to his finger and made a big show of closely examining its color and viscosity.

The Nabiki and Cologne turn to stare at the doctor as if he now had a loose screw, and he now found out what it felt like to be under a microscope.

"After what we saw this morning, Shampoo is most definitely not a virgin! Just ask Kasumi!" Nabiki snapped back at Ono in ire. "The blood from her ruptured hymen was all over them!" she continued after a moment as she waited for Kasumi to confirm her statement.

"Ranma may be strong willed, but even he could give but token resistance to this drug!" Cologne sneered at Ono�s ignorance. <And to Shampoo�s training in seduction> "His �body� wouldn�t resist Shampoo�s sexual advances, no matter what his �will� wanted."

Kasumi thought back in confusion to the morning events and also to her rapport with Shampoo during the healing and suddenly she knew Ono was right. "No, Ono�s correct, he... um I... WE could sense it while we healed Shampoo. I �saw� her thoughts and emotions, she still is a virgin. Although I can�t be sure, I think the blood came from a cut on her hand, not from... �THAT�. Plus, Shampoo knew that she had failed and was still pure."

"I guess Akane and I are lucky that the hentai bastard wasn�t any more successful with us than he was with Shampoo." Nabiki couldn't resist saying as her face now turned red, not in embarrassment, but in anger at Ranma. "If the pervert had to be a failure at something, I�m glad it was as a rapist!

"Although Ranma might have wanted to rape you, he wouldn�t actually have done it." Cologne assured Nabiki. "The drug has a component in it called Martyr�s Soul. It would have kicked in and filled him with an unbearable remorse if he tried to force himself on a unwilling or un-drugged partner." <Or tried to renounce or abort the baby afterwards> Cologne silently added to herself, because she knew the drug would also plant a overwhelming revulsion against that. "Its another fail safe, like the sleeping agent, making it a precision weapon and insuring its use doesn�t result in widespread unwanted rape." Cologne further informed Nabiki.

<We have other... um, DRUGS... for that....> Cologne secretly knew, and briefly thought of the dreaded Succubus Blood.

"I don�t know anything about your stupid �fail safes� but it wasn�t stopping that baka rapist all that well! Ranma attacked first ME, then AKANE! Even changing sex didn�t phase her, she still was molesting Akane, and I can assure you neither one of us was �willing�! I HAD TO PHYSICALLY DRAG THE BITCH OFF OF HER!" Nabiki shot back at Cologne in anger as she rose from her chair, placing both hands flat on the table and lean menacingly over the elder.

"And how do you think a scrawny under trained girl like you managed that?" Cologne answered Nabiki as she tried to keep her temper under control. Cologne leaned back to stare directly into Nabiki�s face, while waving her staff from side to side in front the girl, with an almost hypnotic snakelike effect, like a cobra. Nabiki�s eyes followed the �head� of the staff and the anger in her seemed to melt away. Suddenly the staff jabbed forward and struck the girl squarely in the chest, knocking Nabiki back and she fell with a loud "OMPH!" back down into her chair.

<Its going to be years before you out-maneuver ME again, fledgling!> Cologne thought with a twinkle in her eyes.

"All the strong Amazon drugs have certain �fail safes� and �side effects�," Cologne continued. "This one is also a depressant, and it suppresses certain violent emotions like anger or rage, while boosting others like passion, lust, and remorse, making the victim unlikely to fight back and more �compliant� and �eager� to any sexual advances. It has the further side effect of disrupting chi flow and coordination, making the victim even more �manageable�," Cologne explained.

Cologne could see that Nabiki was still showing what she believed to be an unreasonable anger at Ranma. "Nabiki, you must understand that under the influence of this �potion�, Ranma was not responsible for his actions. Even if he did realize what he was doing, which I doubt, he wouldn�t be able to stop himself."

"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!" Nabiki cried out in fury. "YOU�RE NOT THE ONE HE GLOMPED ON, YOU DIDN'T HAVE HIM REJECT YOU FOR ANOTHER!" She finished screaming out, then clasped her hands tightly over her mouth, her eyes going wide in surprise and her face blanching so white she looked like a ghost as she realized what she had just said.

<OhMyKami!> Nabiki thought in a rush, as the suppressed memory of her soul rendering revelations from earlier resurfaced from her subconscious. <I... I guess Cologne is right... Ranma isn�t responsible, and my... um... anger is not AT Ranma but at my life...> Nabiki�s thoughts broke off as tears welled up in her eyes threaten to cascaded down her face and she managed to stutter out "I-I g-guess it w-w-wasn�t Ranma�s A-ATTACK... th-that I was sso m-m-mad at...."

Suddenly the kitchen phone rang, interrupting Nabiki�s emotion charged revelation, and Kasumi quickly rose to her feet to answer it, but not before stopping to wipe the tears from Nabiki�s face and give her sister a quick hug. Even though the contact was fleeting, Kasumi could instantly FEEL the entire emotional turmoil and deep loneliness inside Nabiki, and she managed to bring forth happier memories of Nabiki�s friends, both male and female, to �prove� she wasn�t alone.

Again the sound of the phone rang out and Kasumi broke off the embrace, thinking <If this is just another phone solicitor, I may just have to have um... words... with them!>

"Moshi Moshi" echoed out of the kitchen in a falsely cheerful voice as Kasumi tried not to advertise her family�s �troubles� to others. "Nodoka? Have you seen Ranma?" Kasumi immediately responded to the callers name "...What�s that, a thief? ... But it wasn�t Ranma? .... Oh, Ranko! She visited you?... ...Why yes she was here... ...No... I�m not sure.... ...Crying! but she not the type... ....No I don�t think Ranma upset her... ...She took your WHAT! ...SUICIDAL! ....Yes we�ll look for right away! Bye!" Kasumi hung up the phone and hurried back to the main room.

"That was Nodoka! Ranma was at her house as Ranko! She�s not asleep, but AWAKE! Nodaka is very upset, It seems that Ranma took a family heirloom, a tanto used for seppuku! Nodoka�s afraid that Ranma might be suicidal!" A worried Kasumi related the other half of the phone call to them. <Oh my... OH MY!> Kasumi thought as she remembered Ranma-chan�s last words to her as she fled the Tendo home,

Ono felt a stab of pain as he heard the fearful tone and saw dread in Kasumi�s voice. <My poor angel!> He thought, as he could feel her distress. "We at least have a starting point! I can call a cab! No, I can RENT a car! I can..." He broke off as he realized he was babbling and he tried to regain his composure. He reached out as Kasumi stumbled her way zombie-like into the room and gathered her back into his embrace. He then reached up and absentmindedly rubbed his hand across his face as he tried to think just what his the best course of action would be. Some of the Amazon potion was still unknowingly coating his fingers and he accidentally tasted it. "Yegh Achhk Ughh!" Ono suddenly vocalized loudly, as his face contorted like he had bitten into a sour lime at the taste and spat it out.

"I assume it must be a little on the bitter side" A slightly smiling, sarcastic Nabiki commented at Ono�s antics, as she regained her emotional center and visually composed herself before turning to address her sister. "Look, Kasumi, Ranma may be a lot of things, but suicidal isn�t one of them!" she tried to reassure her sister as her anger AT Ranma finally started to die.

"BITTER?" Ono exclaimed back to Nabiki in surprise, as he wiped a napkin across his lips to remove any remanding residue. "It was ungodly SWEET, like it was pure honey, only ten times stronger!" Ono stated with some emphasis as he now continued using the napkin to clean his hand off.

Cologne jumped to her feet as if something had bit her, and her staff clattered forgotten to the ground. She seized the jade bottle from in front of Ono and sniffed the contents. <NO! SHE WOULDN�T! It has to be the same potion! The only sweet drug.... even Shampoo wouldn�t be that reckless!> Cologne sampled the potion from the green jade bottle herself, and although she could taste the �Lover�s Bane� in it, just like in the other white soapstone bottle, the jade green bottle had another added ingredient. Her eyes bulged wide in shock, and there was a loud CLUNK! as the bottle fell from her listless hand to the floor below.

"WE MUST FIND RANMA RIGHT NOW!" Cologne yelled. It was now her turn to blanch white as a sheet and she started to rush for the door...

End Chapter Six

I know, a lot of words and little action. Chapter 7 will have a lot of action, including the rape (or will it be the attempted rape) of Ranma.

Nuki Mouse.