[FFML] [ffml][Ranma] Poisoned Honor Ch. ELEVEN (new/rough draft)

Here is the rough version of Poisoned Honor, chapter 11. It is ready for pre/proof reading. Please let me know what you think of it! Thanks!
The rest of the story is on http://www.fanfiction.net Just do a search for the name Nuki Mouse to find it.
It is also on my website at http://www.nukimouse.homestead.com/MyStories.html

Chapter Eleven: Night's Ending

Akane slowly opened the door and peeked into the guestroom. <If it's true, if he tried to ra... rape me..., then he'll be gone, to hell I hope! However, if he is in here, then it was just a dream...>

On first glance, all she saw was Ranma's empty futon, in an empty room. <So it wasn't a dream, it really happened. He tried to rape me.> A wave of shame, sorrow and depression crashed down upon her, drowning her and she started to curse the name of Ranma Saotome, "Damn ecchi hentai...!"

But then a slight movement caught her eyes. A pair of slender, feminine legs was sticking out from behind the futon, and the owner seemed to be trying to slide under the bed, away from her view.

Akane all but wept in relief at the sight of those legs. <HE'S HERE! So it didn't happen, it really was just a dream!> The waves of negative emotions parted, receding, and a bright sunny look of joy lit up Akane's face. The legs suddenly disappeared, hiding themselves totally under the futon. <He heard me cursing! He must think I'm here to pummel him. I... I want to kiss him!> She felt like she was on cloud nine!

"Ranma!" Akane voice now sang out in delight, rushing in greet her fianc�e, needing to be with him, to be comforted by him after that horrible dream.

But as Akane rounded the end of the bed she noticed two things. First, that the girl's body under the futon was rather "large" for Ranma-chan. Not fat, just bigger, taller..., and that it was nude. Next was the purple hair.

"BITCH! You damn gaijin SLUT! I'm going to kill you!" Now the flames of her rage lit up Akane as her battle aura sparked red with anger around her. Her arm shot up over her head and suddenly her trusty mallet was firmly griped in her hand. Akane swung down with all her might, trying to hit Shampoo, wanting to KILL her!

* * * * * * * * * * *

Nabiki laid on her own bed, her eyes red from crying and her pillow wet from tears. She had been soul searching, examining her life and found herself lacking. <Just when did I become such a cold-hearted bitch?> she asked herself. "All I care about is money..."

she remembered, on the day her mother left home for the last time. <It still hurts, all these years later> Nabiki thought, as she screwed her eyes shut and buried her head into her pillow, the buckwheat chaff helping to deaden her sobs.

It was 11 years ago, at night when a she had awoke from a nightmare and cried out for her mommy, a mommy who didn't come, who no longer COULD come. Kasumi tried to comfort her younger sister, parroting the words she remembered their mother telling her.

<"I WANT MOMMY! NOT YOU!"> Nabiki remembered yelling, fighting off Kasumi's attempts to comfort her. Kasumi finally gave up and returned to her own room, leaving Nabiki crying quietly into her pillow. <Just like I'm doing tonight....>

That night, long ago, Happosai heard her crying and for some unknown reason took pity on the 7-year-old girl. <He... changed me..., taught me how to manipulate others and made a game of it...> Nabiki knew. <He never meant to ...hurt... me, he only saw a keen mind and a thirst to find out "secrets" and learn what to do with them. The love of money I think I was born with> she acknowledged.

Nabiki honestly believed. <No one would fight for ME, no one even LIKES me...>

The sudden cry of "Ranma!" , followed by "BITCH, you gaijin..." jolted Nabiki out of her funk, out of her bed, and out of her room.

"Well I guess Akane woke up" Nabiki said to herself with a smirk, restoring her facade of detached indifference. <Although I would love to see sis kick her ass, Shampoo can't really defend herself right now.> Nabiki knew Akane would enjoy beating the living shit out of Shampoo but she also knew her little sister. Once Akane calmed down and found out just how weak and ill Shampoo was, it would fill Akane with shame and remorse for hurting a defenseless invalid, <even Shampoo!>

She slowly strolled down the hall, headed for the guest room, ready to intercede on the behest of the "gaijin slut."

* * * * * * * * * *

Kasumi had long since finished the dishes, and now was busy dusting the main room of the Tendo residence. Not that it was dusty, it was probably the most dust free room in all of Nerima, you could build microchips in it, but this was Kasumi's way to escape from reality. She wasn't delusional or mentally ill, she just didn't like facing brutal truths and housework was her way coping and hiding from them.

But today that was not working and she was also busy examining her life.

Unknown to anyone, <even Nabiki> Kasumi thought, her hobby of reading medical books and all her frequent shopping trips were more than just curiosity or necessity. Kasumi was dead set on being at least a nurse and was spending several hours a week "while shopping" taking courses at the local hospital. But her family was more important and came first, she knew she had to wait before following her dreams.

<But after today, after Shampoo..., something awoke in me,> Kasumi realized. <Like a new perception, a new way of... understanding things? an extra sense?> This new "ability" both scared and thrilled her, it was like magic <or E.S.P.? Is that it, am I a mind reader? But, with the exception of Ono-kun, I think it is more moods or emotions that I'm sensing not actual thoughts.> The word "Empathic" suddenly jumped into Kasumi's mind, <Is that's it, I'm empathic...?> she wondered. <But how? Why? Even now I can feel it working....>

Something like a faint scent in the air too weak to identify or a sound too low and quiet to really hear brought Kasumi a feeling of remorse and sadness. <Some thing to do with Nabiki and Mother...> and it brought up her own sad memories of that time. <It hurt so much when mother died, listening to my sisters crying in the night while fighting back my own tears. Father just cried himself sick and hit the sake, doing nothing to help. I had to be the "adult," to be "mother" and hold the family together.> she sighed.

In the background of Kasumi's thoughts, she sensed a new source of emotions, these having to do with Akane and Ranma. First came a mix of confusion, doubt, and fear, only to be replaced by a wave of utter joy and happiness. But then Akane's yell echoed down to Kasumi, disturbing both her thoughts and her work.

"Oh my!" Kasumi cried out, dropping her duster. Kasumi could "feel" the rage and anger boiling out of Akane. The duster laid forgotten on the floor as Kasumi rushed up the stairs, hoping to stop Akane before she did something unwise and brought dishonor to the family.

* * * * * * * *

Ryouga tried to yell a warning, "Konatsu! Get outa there! She in Neko-ken! She'll kill you!" But the lovelorn Ninja was lost in his own world of grief as he dropped to his knees and cradled the unconscious body of his beloved Ukyou in his lap and bent his head to kiss her.

<A noise! Call!> Male/Foe's evil bellow resounded from the dark, calling out to Male/Fake. Then Female/Friend fell(?) and lay helpless on the ground. Visions/memories of what the males did to her, of her being the one lying defenseless on the ground and what came after swam before Neko-Ran's eyes. The fears and visions were too new, too fresh, it paralyzing her with terror at their memory.

Then Male/Fake struck, crouching down and seizing Female/Friend, lowered its head down..., starting..., starting to...! Then something in Neko-Ran just snapped. <?What? STOP! ...To late! Not allow! Defend, KILL!> Anger and bloodlust for revenge overrode her fear and terror of males, she would not let THEM hurt/use another female! It started as a vibration deep in her chest and by the time it welled out of her throat, her entire body shook in resonance. Neko-Ran gave voice to all the fury and rage pent up within as she launched herself at the dreaded male before her...

The moment Konatsu lips touched Ukyou's cheek, a low growl started to rumbled from deep in Ranma's throat, not a hiss or yowl of fear, but an ghastly snarl of rage and hatred that left no doubt that Ranma was ready to maim, mutilate, and kill. It would haunt the dreams of all who heard it for years to come.

Neko-Ran leapt, striking the ninja square on the upper torso, 8 chi claws gouging deep bloody furrows in Konatsu's chest. The force of the blow flung Konatsu away from Ukyou, knocking him flat on his back, legs flailing, his voluminous silken kimono billowing around him, already stained crimson red with fresh blood. Konatsu clasped his arms firmly across his chest in pain, trying to staunch the blood, his life's essence, from pouring out of the grievous wounds.

Neko-Ran paused in her attack for only a moment, to sniff Ukyou's body from groin to chest, then to nudge Ukyou with her head. The cook's body stirred, moaning slightly, and it was enough to reassure Neko-Ran that her friend was still alive, and "untouched." That did NOTHING to lessen the murderous rage in her body and she pounce once again on the ninja.

Konatsu's billowing kimono and his slight form helped to hide most of his body under a shroud of fluttering silk, enough so that Neko-Ran's razor sharp claws shredded only cloth upon landing and not flesh. But two more quick swipes of her fore paws and the kimono was reduced to strips of tattered silk. In a flash, she struck at Konatsu exposed legs.

"YOWLRR..." Neko-Ran howled in a weird combination of rage, fervor, and blood lust as she tore at the strange fur. Somewhere underneath was the flesh of Male/Fake and she longed to taste its blood. <There! Legs, GROIN!> Neko-Ran spied its rear legs and lower belly of the male. A sudden glee, Neko-Ran knew what to do, what she wanted!

She leapt on Male/Fake's limbs and savaged its thighs with her claws, trying to tear muscles and sinews, but this was not her only goal. Neko-Ran sank her fangs into the fur still covering Male/Fake's groin, ripping and tearing her way though it. There was a certain appendage, a. a... member...? in there she wanted, wanted to rip out, crush! She WILL make sure this male can never hurt females again!

* * * * * * * *

Ukyou felt the cool silk covering his lap under her head, his gentle hand caressed her face and heard soft almost musical voice of her friend as the blood returned to her brain and she fought her way back to consciousness. Her eyes open slightly and she saw the concern and sorrow in his face and ...something else.... Ukyou felt his hot tears drip on her own face and then she heard him say what she long knew he felt but never before told her "I Love You..."

She peered up at Konatsu and suddenly his face loomed larger before her eyes. Ukyou thought she might be passing out again, but then felt his warm soft lips as he kissed her cheek and then her mouth.... <My first real kiss from a boy, but it wasn't... wasn't... from Ranma....> Ukyou didn't know just how she should (or did) feel about it. She THOUGHT it should upset her, that she was saving her first real kiss for the one she loved, but somehow it seemed right kissing Konatsu, she felt a strange spark, an excitement in her chest and felt herself starting to blush <He's the first "boy" to kiss me, even if he's a prettier "girl" than I am.>

Then a horrendous cry assaulted Ukyou's ears and she caught a glimpse of a fearsome shape as it flew over her. It body was four-legged, smooth and muscular and it seemed to glow red and the anger and rage in it was a palpable stench around it. The only other features Ukyou had time to notice where its long red claws and a flame red mane.

<Its... not Ran-chan, its an oni! a monster!> Ukyou frantically thought, in her dazed state not able to (or wanting to!) believe it was actually Ranma. She felt Konatsu's body being wrenched out from under her and her head smacked down on the hard packed earth of the clearing.

Ukyou lay dazed, frozen in terror and unable to move even if she wanted to. Suddenly she heard the "crunch... crunch... crunch..." of earth, twigs and leaves under the paws of the monster as it prowled alongside her, sending a shiver of fear up and down her spine. She screwed her eyes shut, not daring to look at it nor wanting to see it again.

<Maybe with my eyes closed, I can play dead> she thought, vaguely remembering that from a show about bear attacks. <I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead...> ran repetitively through Ukyou's mind, hoping it might "hear" her and really think she WAS dead.

Ukyou felt the puff of its hot breath around her groin, sniffing her, as if to smell the fear within her. It took all of her will power to keep from screaming in terror as she waited its inevitable attack. Time seemed to stand still as the hot breath of the oni moved up her body inch by agonizing inch. Suddenly the breath withdrew and just as Ukyou thought the monster gone, a mass of rank hair, <its head?> rammed repeatedly into her head, smelling of dirt, sweat, blood, and other, much more vile odors.

"Nooooo..." escaped involuntarily from her lips and her body shook in revulsion, <It knows I'm alive! Now it will kill me....> Ukyou's last thought, as she waited for the claws to strike, but then ...NOTHING! Another microsecond or two slipped by or they might have been hours, they both seemed the same to Ukyou as she waited for her death.

A snapping of twigs and a waft of disturbed air, Ukyou heard and felt the oni leaping away. <Its left... its GONE!> Ukyou hoped. Yet again Ukyou somehow escaped, unharmed, or so she hoped. But then, from only a few feet away came the oni's cry of rage and fury once more along with a strange tearing sound like a giant cotton bed sheet being ripped a hundred ways at once.

Ukyou thought. <But if I move, it will see me, it'll know that I'm alive.> Ukyou wondered if she dared even to reach for her throwing spats, <R-Ran-m-a... NO!, the MONSTER might see it...> Ukyou thought, trying to decide what to do. <Its to my left,> she decided, listening to the noise the monster was making.

With her right hand, Ukyou slowly search the ground around her for a weapon, her dropped battle spatula, a rock, a sharp stick, something, ANYTHING! but found nothing. Finally she felt a small cloth bag that fit snuggly into her hand. <Is it Konatsu's? One of his poison bags? Is. is he ok?>

Almost as if in answer to her unspoken question came a pain filled cry "Uk-ky-e-ooo... AAHhh...!" Ukyou mentally screamed <KONATSU!> as she recognized the tortured voice of her friend. <The monster, the oni! Its got him!> All thoughts of playing dead or escape fled Ukyou's mind. Konatsu needed her and it was Ukyou's turn to protect him. Eyes open at last, she sat up and turned to face her monster.

"Ran-chan?" Seeing was believing and Ukyou had to accept it. "NO! Please stop, don't hurt him!" Ukyou yelled, but with no effect. The sheer viciousness and brutality of the attack on Konatsu was beyond anything Ukyou ever dreamed her "Ran-chan" capable of, even while in Neko-ken.

But at the moment Ukyou's only weapon was the bag she found, anything could be in it. She dared not throw it, she might hurt or even kill Konatsu by mistake! Then help came from an unexpected source, as Ranma's mom rushed past her and drove Ranma away from Konatsu. <Now! Now's my chance!> Ukyou's arm snapped forward and the bag sped away. Ukyou didn't know what was in the bag and in all honesty didn't care, as long as it stopped Ranma from hurting Konatsu anymore.

* * * * * * * *

With a cry of sheer rage and hatred that made her blood freeze and heart miss-beat, Nodoka watched as the demon driven Ranko leapt to attack the two "girls." In a flash Ranko was on top of the slender, pretty girl in the flowered kimono, as the other girl laid dazed on the ground. <Kami-sami!> Nodoka gasped as she saw Ranko biting and slashing the girl's lower torso, <is she trying to gut the girl?>

<What the kami am I doing just standing here like a baka!> Nodoka cursed at herself and raised her sword, rushing to aid of the two "girls." She quickly closed in on Ranko from behind, mumbling out the phrase "May-The-Silent-Dragon-grant-you-peace!" A flash of neon blue foxfire blazed and crackled along the katana's length as Nodoka drove the flat of the blade hard onto Ranko's back.

"YYEERROOOWWLL..." Nodoka heard Ranko screech out from the touch of the sacred blade and she twisted and writhe as if in agony. Nodoka never banished an Oni before, but she knew this wasn't right. <It should have driven the evil from her soul and banish it to the spirit-world!> Nodoka thought <But it seems to be doing something...!>

Then "something" did happen, but far from what Nodoka expected or hoped for. As Ranko turned to escape, the bag Ukyou threw missed her by a hairs breadth, only to strike Nodoka in the chest instead. The bag broke open with a "pop!" and a swirl of yellow powder welled up to envelope Nodoka.

"AUUGG! [Gasp] ...Ka-Ka... KAA-augg!" Nodoka coughed and choked. She could barely gasp out a breath, her eyes burned and her throat was on fire. On top of all that, her skin itched. But not the mild tickle of a burr or small stone in your shoe, nor the annoying itch of a mild rash, it was as if a thousand fleas, chiggers, lice, bed bugs, spiders, mosquitoes..., (well you get the idea) attacked at once.

Nodoka was torn between gouging out her eyes, ripping open her throat, or scratching the skin raw. But she was her son's mother and a martial artist, she forced down these "minor distractions." Staggering clear of the dust cloud, Nodoka immediately started to feel better, whatever the powder was it was fast acting but also short lived. <An irritant, to distract prior to a direct assault, but no actually hurt your opponent> Nodoka realized, a "non-lethal" weapon. <What an oxymoron that term is!>

* * * * * * * * * * *

Witnessing both Ranma's injuries and her Neko driven attacks on Ukyou and Konatsu, Cologne's sense of duty and honor cried out to do something, anything to help. But this urge was tempered by the knowledge and wisdom she developed over her many years of life. <Son-in-l..., Damn it ya old stupid woman!> She cursed herself, <here ya still thinking he'll be a worthy husband of Xain Pu. Xain Pu has proved herself unworthy of him!>

<RANMA is in "Cat Fist"> Cologne continued her thoughts. <I'm afraid her "cat" persona doesn't like me very much, She'll kill me as soon as lay eyes upon me or at least try to.> Cologne remembered her previous encounters with Ranma while he (or she) was under the sway of Neko-Ken. <That swords woman better be good, or Ranma will make mince-meat outa her!>

<By the seven gods> Cologne exclaimed to herself as the mysterious swords woman evoked her chi once more and blue foxfire erupted from the blade and envelope her in a protective mantle. This was not normal battle chi, the chi was too precise, too controlled and that bother her. Something must be helping her, focusing, directing her chi, an artifact or sacred weapon of some kind.

<Maybe the katana?> Cologne thought, ...remembering... <HUH! But... is it THAT blade? It can't be! That's IMPOSSIBLE! That would mean she..., But SHE can't be, they're all DEAD!>

In her youth, Cologne had traveled far in search of knowledge to enrich the village's lore. She eventually made it all the way to shogun era Japan, just before the Meji revolution. While there, she trained with the Dragon Servants, a group of 'secret' schools that emphasized helping the weak and innocent, and defend them against evil, both physical and supernatural, as well as injustice in all forms. They were the closest thing in fighting spirit and honor to the Amazons that Cologne had ever witnessed.

Now standing before Cologne was a aberration, a incongruity, something from the past that she thought long lost and forgotten. <A Dragon Servant, a true to life Dragon Servant, and here I thought them all gone years ago!> The woman was clearly a cleric of the Silent Dragon school and armed with one of their most sacred weapons as well.

Cologne HAD to hold back her own foray into the battle. <If Ranma stays focused on the pancake maker and her serving boy, the Dragon Servant might have a chance to sneak up on her.> She knew a true Servant wouldn't kill someone unless she felt it necessary to save another's life. <She must be trying to use a submission 'spell', to try to subdue Ranma!> Cologne thought knowing the clerics preferred the word "spell" to "technique." <But if Ranma senses her intent, he'll kill her!>

<She is very skilled!> Cologne quickly determined after seeing her use another Chi technique. <It took me over a 100 years to master a chi warding and she's what? 30, 35?> Cologne noted with more than a little jealously, <And she does it in the heat of battle with no prep or without battling an eye or missing a step!>

<The only artist I'd ever knew that could learn that fast or well was Ranma.> Suddenly Cologne both mentally and physically smacked herself on the head! <Of course the swords-woman was skilled! Dark red hair, very well endowed figure, beautiful face and blue eyes, she must be Ranma's mother!> Cologne realized,

A noise off to her side revealed Cologne wasn't the only one watching from the shadows along the clearings edge. <Ah, Ryouga...? He's showing a little more discretion and intelligence for once.> But then Cologne noticed him preparing and actually moving in to attack. <Very little,> she thought,

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

Bile weld up in Ryouga's throat. he thought with a shutter and instinctively grasp his hands over his own manhood. Then came Nodoka's attack.

<Oh Kami-sami help me! I'm must stop her! She sill trying to kill her own daugh...ur SON!> Ryouga left the protection of shadows and started towards them, knowing he had only seconds to save Ranma from his mother's wrath.

Suddenly a gnarled staff lashed out and struck him in the chest, stopping Ryouga dead in his tracks. The staff felt more like a bar of hard unmoving iron than the varnished wood that it was made from and his eyes fixated on its length as it barred his way.

"Wait!" spoke a voice of command in a near whisper, a voice Ryouga knew only too well. <Cologne! Where did she...?> Ryouga thought as his eyes moved down the length of the elder's staff, up cologne's arm. to the grim look of determination and..., regret? on her face. <Does she want Ranma to die? Why?> Ryouga wondered, although there was one reason <Revenge for not choosing Shampoo....>

But before Ryouga could even finished this thought, the elder's staff fell away from his chest and he heard Cologne speaking again. "Damn! I hoped she could stop Ranma! Why didn't she use sleep or calming...?> Looking up from Cologne, Ryouga was just in time to see a rock or ball of some sort strike Nodoka dead center right between her Um... bosom...! Ryouga notice, blushing slightly.

As the cloud billowed up around Nodoka, Ryouga thought <I'm the only one wants to save Ranma!> He knew the time was now or never to put his plan into action. Cologne, he noticed, was no longer trying to hinder him, <now, before she stops me again!> From out of the darkness Ryouga charged, one..., two..., three great strides and Ranma-chan was within his grasp. <She musta heard me coming!> Ryouga thought, as Ranma-chan turned at the last moment and tried to run.

* * * * * * * * *

"YYEERROOOWWLL..." screamed Neko-Ran <Males...! behind! Want me..., HURT me...!> Flames lanced across her hind quarters from a burning hot? what? claw? that drove against her spine. Neko-Ran was finally weakening, the chi reserves that were sustaining her battered body and suppressing her pain were not limitless and the sword was draining away what was left of them.

Neko-Ran's body was in agony as she twist and turned away from the ?claw?, her only thought was escape. <Males catch me! Must run, hide! No hurt again, die first.> and she forced her tired limbs into motion once again. Then as suddenly as it struck, the claw was gone and the burning fire with it.

<Weak, can't now kill all Males, FLEE! Run, Find/watch Males, learn!> Neko-Ran was subconsciously using her father's training, The Saotome Final Attack, <Then Kill! Eat flesh/blood of all Males!>

After staggering a step or to away, Neko-Ran was finally able to look behind her and was surprised to see only her Mother/Pride leader, just a step or two behind her. <Mother! Males hurt attacked you?> noticing her mother's torment from the dust. <Where Male? It gone/hide again> then she saw her mother's sword.

"Yerrrowlll..." Neko-ran cried out as she spied the Katana gripped in her mother's hand, <It hurt me? It kill me...?> Memories from her human mind were leaking in to her "cat" side, in essence she was getting "smarter", remembering more and more of her true life.

<It kill me?> She wondered again of the sword, <kill if not act Male? NO! Mother not do that! I...? I do if..., I kill self with 'IT' if not... Male?> These thoughts so confused and troubled Neko-Ran that all she wanted to do was run, from both the Katana, and the strange terrifying images and ideas entering into her mind.

* * * * * * *

Ryouga bore down on the girl and realized just how weaken Ranma-chan had become. <Ranma isn't even trying to defend herself anymore, just escape...> Ryouga thought as he scooped her up on the fly and jumped head first into the swift cold waters of the canal.

Unfortunately, there was still that one tiny little hole in Ryouga's plan, a hole about the size of say, the Grand Canyon. Because of P-chan, Ryouga was prone to thinking that cold water meant becoming an animal and hot water meant returning to human. But Ranma was human in BOTH forms and in the heat of battle Ryouga had forgotten that Ranma-chan was already in her cursed form and the cold canal water would have no effect on her.

* * * * * * * * * *

Neko-Ran's worst fears came to pass, even as she tried to flee, one of the dreaded evil Males was upon her. By its smell, its sound, and it's shape, Neko-Ran knew exactly who her attacker was, Male/Foe had returned. <No... not again..., no hurt anymore.> Neko-Ran silently pleaded as the male seized her and she was carried away in its grasp, too terrified and weak to resist any longer.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Still coughing and trying to overcome the lingering effects of the dust, Nodoka more felt the rush of air than see the speeding form as it raced past her. <Who's that, the boy? That hentai is still here? No, RANKO!> She thought as the hentai boy grabbed Ranko in his arms and leap into the black waters of the canal.

"LEAVE HER ALONE YOU DAMN ETCHI......Eppp?!" Nodoka broke off in shock, unable to believe what she had seen, although the irony of such a "fate" appealed to her own sense of divine justice. <It must be the dust, some kind of hallucinogenic drug in it.... He didn't, couldn't just turn into a pig! I must of imagined it,> a startled Nodoka tried to rationalized. <He must of just... what?, disappeared?>

* * * * * * * * * *

The familiar tingle washed over Ryouga's body when he plunged into the canal's water. As he morphed into P-chan, his vision and perception of his surroundings underwent a complete change in perspective. But like always, rather than feeling that he had shrunk, it seemed more like the world around him had expanded. P-chan squirmed free of his drifting clothes and bobbed up to the surface of the water only to face a very wet Ranma-chan, still in the deadly grip of Neko-ken.

<Kami! Baka baka baka!> P-chan cursed to himself as he realized his mistake. <What I needed was HOT WATER, not COLD!> He barely avoided the thrashing limbs and claws of Ranma as he set out doggy style (or rather piggy style!) for shore,

* * * * * * * * *

"MER...A-Ack HAK! YEROLL-ACK!" Spat and coughed a very wet and madden Neko-Ran. Cats and water mix about as well as oil and vinegar, though the shock of the cold fluid seemed to re-energize her somewhat. <Male? Where Male/Foe? It hide, wait/soon attack again!> she thrashed and flailed her fore-limbs about her, anything to keep the males at bay.

Then Neko-Ran saw the small black creature that was in the water near her. <It Male! Help other Males! KILL IT! KILL IT! KILL IT!> Neko-Ran raged. She struck at it but it was too far! She tried to follow it, she had to catch it! To Neko-Ran it as prey! food! a black "mouse" to eat and regain strength, that it was also Male would just make it all the more tasty.

But the flow tugged at Neko-Ran, the icy cold current swept her off her paws. Neko-Ran floundered in the waist deep water, all she had to do was stand up on her two feet, but the "cat" in her didn't, or rather wouldn't, think of doing that.

The Males were still there, all round her, she could FEEL them! Even now, one tried to seize her foreleg, but she taught it a lesson! <That paw won't touch me again. It hurt! Feel pain!> Vainly Neko-Ran tried to swim for shore, but it was so far and she was so tired...

* * * * * * * * *

Nodoka forgot her own "discomfort" and rushed to the canal's bank, afraid Ranko might be swept away by the swift current. Without thought or heed for her own safety, she dropped the katana, stripped off her kimono, and leapt into the water.

<C-C-COLD!> Nodoka gasp, struggling to maintain her footing on the slime and muck covered bottom. <It feels like... like, NO! I don't want to think what it feels like!> as she waded toward the thrashing girl.

"BBBWEE-ock-ca-ca-caok! BWEEEEPP EEK!" came the half cough, half squeal of a black piglet swimming near her. <It's the pig, its real? Kami-sama... it... it... IS the boy!> as Nodoka did something many others (well at least ONE other) failed to do, recognize P-chan by his distinctive "collar." Part in aid, but mostly in disgust, Nodoka picked up and flung the piglet in a high arch, listening to the frighten "BEEEEeee-e-e..." and then very gratifying, painful sounding "THUD!" as the pig landed head first on shore.

<Now that I've thrown out the trash...> Nodoka half swam, half waded out towards Ranko. The girl was swimming, <if that is what you call IT,> in a frantic jerky parody of ... what? <A drowning cat, of course!> Nodoka realized, reaching for the girl. <Damn it, she as slippery as an eel, I can't get a grip on her!>

"Yooowch!" Nodoka exclaimed as she tried to snag one of Ranko's failing arms only to receive the gift of four matching claw marks, deep and bloody, just above her wrist. <She definitely doesn't want anyone touching her, not that I'd blame her...> Nodoka thought while gritting her teeth from the pain.

Although the wounds were painful, they were not debilitating. <At least it wasn't my sword arm!,> Nodoka gratefully thank the Silent Dragon. Besides trying for an arm or leg again, there was nothing to grasp, Ranko was nude, wet and very slick, Nodoka knew of only one safe way to subdue the girl, <If I can just reach, as much as I hate to do this....>

While trying to avoid the deadly claws, Nodoka stretched her uninjured arm to it's fullest and reached for the tangled mess of matted hair that use to be Ranko's brilliant flame colored tresses. <Got them!> She felt her fingers entwined in the dirty reddish mass. What Nodoka did next was NOT nice, she yanked on Ranko's hair so hard she almost tore it out by the roots.

"MERROOWWLLL.. HACK, HIISSS... GRRROWLL!" Nodoka heard as demon inside Ranko voiced its rage at her. Straight back Nodoka pulled Ranko's head and managed to flip the girl belly up in the water at the same time. While maintaining her hold on Ranko's hair with one hand, Nodoka used the other to grab the back of Ranko's neck and started to drag the girl towards shore.

<Now she looks more like an upside down turtle than a cat!> Ranko tried to resist, but lacked the leverage or the flexibility to reach Nodoka while on her back. <If she only stop struggling, this would be so much easier.> Nodoka silently wished. Ranko suddenly arched her spine and rigidly locked her limbs straight out from her body, as if frozen in place. Ranko tilted her further back and Nodoka could feel the piercing angry gaze as Ranko stared defiantly at her.

"GRROO-...! Meow?" Ranko's vocal assault on Nodoka's eardrums suddenly stopped with a very submissive and kitten like meow. A look of <What...? Peace?, Relief?,> seemed to sweep over Ranko's face, although it was very hard to tell for sure with all her injuries. Ranko's whole body relaxed and she curled herself up in to a fetal position. <Kami, what happen? She's gone totally limp! Has the demon fled from her?> Nodoka asked herself. <No, she still has a cat aura and I can still hear, or rather feel her growling very quietly, almost a... purr?>

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

<NOOO! Males! No honor! Strike/attack behind!> Neko-Ran raved as one of the hidden Male tormentors latched onto her long fur mane. Neko-ran cried out in pain and anguish as the evil monster wrench her head by the fur and rolled her over to expose her vulnerable belly and groin. IT <Male/Foe?> had her, could gut her, could feast/feed on her flesh, could... <NO! Not THAT! No hurt... Not force mate again!> as Neko-Ram remembered another, more common reason for a Male to grab or bite the back of a Female's head/neck.

A dreadful fear and terror welled up in her mind, "that" was a fate worse than death. <Rather be gutted/eaten than MATE with Male!> Neko-Ran wished they would all die, <No need Males! Kill, maim, hurt all Males!> Males had no honor, only wanted to hurt, force mate with females!

Strange thoughts invaded Neko-Ran's psyche. More broken fragment of memories forced their way in, Neko-Ran mind rebelled at that vile image, <No, never be Male! Die/kill self first! Stay Female!>

Neko-Ran still tried to resist the Male that had her, arching her spine and splaying her legs, trying to make it as hard as possible for it to drag her away. Something in Neko-Ran's soul or spirit made her want to tilt her head back and stare Male in eye. Neko-Ran growled in both fear and contempt as she looked upon her detested foe, though it loathed her to do so.

<What? It not Male? It... MOTHER!> It was not Male/Foe, or any other male for that matter, but her own Pride/Family leader! Relief and elation flooded into Neko-Ran's mind as she stopped her growling and "Meow'd" a greetings to her mom.

Instinctively, just like any kitten would when their mother gripped them by the head or neck, Neko-Ran let her whole body go limp and she placidly allowed her mother to pull her to shore. <Mother save, protect me! Take to den/home, where no males can find/hurt me.> and she started to purr in sheer relief and happiness.

End Chapter Eleven.

(see, no cliff hanger for once!)

Nuki Mouse.

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

Nuki_Mouse