[FFML] [Ranma] [Fic] Poisoned Honor ch 12.

Here is the next (rough) chapter of Poisoned Honor. The entire story can be found on my website at http://www.nukimouse.homestead.com/MyStories.html

Warning: Extreme language on the part of Tendo Akane in this chapter.

C&C greatly desired!
Chapter Twelve: It's Ten PM, Do You Know Where Your Daughters Are?

Alternate title: ...Meanwhile back on the (Tendo) Ranch....

"BITCH! You damn gaijin SLUT! I'm going to kill you!" Akane screamed in fury at the naked lavender haired Amazon hiding under Ranma's futon.

<Ra... Ran... THAT RAPIST... must not have "sated" her desires, the bitch must be waiting here for another "roll in the hay">

"Whore! Slut! Fucking chink! I hope Ranma RIPPED YOU WIDE OPEN AND RODE YOU ROUGH!" Akane kept up her loud and boisterous running tirade of screams and taunts. She was employing language and terms she had never even dreamt of using before, let alone saying out loud or screaming to the top of her lungs, so lost was Akane in her hurt and anger.

"Damn 'NOBLE' Amazons! HA! "Easy FUCKING lay" is a better name! You're nothing but a bunch of dyke bitches that have to spread your legs to get a real man!" Akane ranted on.

<Not that Ranma's a REAL man, you can have the DAMN BAKA RAPIST!> she mentally screamed, but deep down something inside her argued that Ranma was still hers, that Shampoo must of somehow driven him to rape.

But this thought only added more fury to her thoughts!

The flames of her rage lit up Akane like a party lantern as her battle aura burned red hot, fueled by her anger driven chi. Shampoo had taken too many things that were rightfully hers; Akane wanted not only revenge, but to leave Shampoo hurt, broken, and DEAD!

"Come out here so I can KILL you!" Akane seethed, filled with a witch's brew of betrayal, jealously, and rage.

Three quick steps and Akane retrieved one of her trusty mallets hidden behind the dresser then raced back to the futon. Akane's arm shot up over her head, the mallet firmly griped in her hand.

BOOM! CRACK!

The two thunderous sounds came as one, as the mallet seemed to break the sound barrier as it swept down in deadly flight. Squarely it struck the futon over Shampoo and the whole house shook from the force of the blow. Possibly if the frame was made of tungsten steel or the mattress pad of Kevlar carbon fiber the futon MAY have survived the blow, although that seems doubtful.

Needless to stay the plain wood beams and simple cotton lined mattress of Ranma's futon was not up to the task of resisting such a blow. They literally exploded into a shower of kindling, shredded cloth, and feathers, which all but buried Shampoo under a pile of wreckage and debris.

Back and forth Akane's mallet continued to swing, like it was a scythe and she was reaping the harvest wheat. Each swing struck the pile, scattering more debris in all directions and at the same time imparted a new bruise or contusion to Shampoo, still buried underneath.

Akane savored the sensation, each new cut or mark sent a spasm of pleasure and joy racing through her body for the pain and hurt she inflicted on the purple hussy.

Finally after a series of quick, violent blows, Shampoo's body was uncovered and laid un-moving while Akane prepared herself for her final, exquisite attack.

Standing with her feet apart, head down, arms straight, Akane straddling Shampoo's limb body. She swung her mallet back like Tiger Woods teeing off on a long par five and you can guess what was the golf ball.

"FORE!" She cried out with relish as her "club" descended.

At the last moment, Shampoo twisted to the side and tried to cover her head with her arms in a vain attempt to ward off the deadly blow.

Or maybe not so vain as they seemed.

Akane shanked her swing and struck just a glancing blow to Shampoo's head, managing instead to only break both the fibula and tibia in Shampoo's right arm like they were a pair of matchsticks.

Akane thrilled at the sharp cry of pain and gibberish from her foe, no doubt some Chinese curse or taunt.

"Speak Japanese, stupid SLUT!" Akane screamed, as Shampoo lay limp and defenseless. <I'll enjoy making her eat those words> she fumed, <whatever they were!>

This time the mallet was raised straight up above her head like a pickaxe, she'll smash Shampoo like an over ripe tomato. Akane's knuckles turned white and her muscles knotted under the strain as she feed all her strength and rages into the blow.

"Now dodge THIS, bitch!" Akane knew this truly would be the final blow. Only vaguely could Akane hear other voices crying out to her, but her anger and rage kept her form listening to them.

NOTHING will stop her NOW!

* * * * * * * * * * *

Xian Pu's only thoughts during Akane's tirade were for escape, to hide, and hope for help unseen to arrive.

She knew very well why the Kitchen Destroyer was here. SHE was the only one of the three sisters that understood, even if vaguely and imperfectly, of just what it meant to be a true warrior. Gorilla Girl was here to do the same thing Xian Pu would with a defeated foe.

Gorilla Girl was here to kill her.

Although a lot of Gorilla Girl's rant was beyond Xian Pu's limited Japanese vocabulary, the parts of the tirade Xian Pu did understand made her blush with both anger and embarrassment. Xian Pu was not a prude or a virgin (well... actually she WAS still a virgin, but it wasn't from lack of trying!) but she was not use to hearing such "bad" words, at least not directed at HER!

Xian Pu implored, she knew the Kitchen Destroyer wouldn't attack until she had her say.

But Xian Pu also knew that this wasn't really her true desire at the moment. She actually wished the Gorilla Girl wound rant on, all day and night, rant to her hearts content.

Xian Pu didn't want to die!

but Xian Pu knew that was asking the seven lucky gods way too much. <But..., if the Kitchen Destroyer keeps it up long enough one of her sisters is bound to hear!>

But which one would it be?

<The Yakusa? She'll just ignore it, no way she'll endanger her precious skin for anyone, least of all ME> Xian Pu felt. <No honor at all in that one, but the Old Maid, the Housekeeper!> she thought in contempt, <She so weak and timid, she bound to come and try to stop the Gorilla.>

Xian Pu could already hear the Old Maid's voice, <"OH MY! You mustn't dishonor our family!">

<Humph!> she though with a scowl. <THEY don't understand, killing me would be the epitome of upholding the Gorilla Girl's place and honor!>

Xian Pu mentally screamed at herself. <WHAT am I THINKING! I don't want to die! I HOPE SHE DISHONORS HER CLAN FOR THE NEXT SEVEN GENERATIONS!>

The ranting was over and for a moment Xian Pu's heart soared as the 'Destroyer seemed to step away. <Gorilla Girl? Is she leaving?>

But a moment later Xian Pu's hope was dashed as Gorilla Girl returned with a mallet in hand and the futon above her exploded into a million pieces.

It was now time for Xian Pu to die.

<Umph!> A blow struck Xian Pu's right side, <Eowch!> another hit her left! Head, chest, legs, torso, the blows rained down repeatedly on her. Nothing was missed, no part of her was spared,

This wasn't honorable combat, this was torture! <But this is just what I would do in Gorilla Girl's place,> Xian Pu realized.

Like its been said, Xian Pu did not want to die, but damn if she was going to give Gorilla Girl the satisfaction of seeing her grovel or fail in some futile attempt to save her life.

Defiantly, Xian Pu lay still, staring up at her executioner and waited for the deathblow to fall.

* * * * * *

Suddenly reality froze and in the eternity between one second and the next the voice of Kohl Lon rang out fresh in Xian Pu's memory.

<"With friend or foe alike, dead is DEAD, and there's nothing honorable in death, the Honor is in living.">

Xian Pu never before truly understood the meaning of this old adage. To her, in the past, it had always meant "to fail (to DIE) is dishonorable, do whatever you need to win, and the HONOR only goes to the victor, the one left alive."

But now as death stared her in the face, Xian Pu was finally starting to understand just what her Great Grandmother had tried to teach her.

Xian Pu had been wrong, for all these years. She had it all backwards! The true meaning of those words was that death (any death!) was the LAST resort and there was NOTHING honorable about resorting to it.

The honor came from the saving (and sparing!) of lives, friends or foes alike.

Xian Pu forced herself to face the bitter truth of her Grandmother's words. <It's better to surrender, to swallow my honor...and ask for... MERCY then to die,> and this idea was indeed very foreign, almost vile to Xian Pu.

In a flash of intuition, Xian Pu realized that it meant more than just GIVING mercy. <It...ugg, It means that ...life is more important then honor itself.>

<No, that can't be true! Honor is everything!>

If it was a choice between her life and her honor, Xian Pu already knew the answer.

She was an Honorable Amazon Warrior and would die before letting anything besmirch her HONOR!

<But is drugging my Aerin or defying the Elders acts of honor?> a meek voice in Xian Pu's head asked.

<Yes, I must have the BEST! I must BE the BEST!> Xian Pu thought with pride! That was what her HONOR was all about!

<THAT was what my... Honor?...NO!,> The truth washed over Xian Pu and shocked her to the core.

<No, not MY honor, MY PRIDE! Its my arrogant pride that I consider more important, not my honor!>

Xian Pu knew what she had to do now.

She had to bite the bullet, give up, to surrender, and "dishonor" herself, all things which, only moments before, she rather die before doing.

After all it WAS the honorable thing to do.

* * * * * * *

<But I'm too late,> Xian Pu realized as she looked up at Gorilla Girl standing over her. <In a moment it will be all over.>

"FOUR!" Xian Pu heard the Gorilla Girl's strange battle cry sounding her impending doom.

"No...," was the only word Xian Pu could say as she watched the mallet speeding down on its murderous journey.

At the last moment, from some deep untapped reservoir, Xian Pu found the energy to raise her arms about her head and at least try to twist herself aside. These feeble moves were but a token, a last minute futile gesture, and Xian Pu paid a terrible price for them.

"CRACK-CRACK!" Xian Pu heard a sound like the sudden snapping of bamboo staves and pain flared in her right arm.

Both of the bones in her forearm were broken, shattered in numerous places between her wrist and elbow, but even that horrible sacrifice was not enough to fully stop or deflect the deadly blow. The mallet continued on, striking a glancing blow to her head, just above Xian Pu's left ear.

Gasping in pain, Xian Pu finally managed to cry out her surrender, the pleas for mercy that Xian Pu thought she would never say.

"I surrender! I'll..., I'll serve your family! I'll swear oath of captive, of servitude! I'd do whatever you want! Please don't kill me!"

Unfortunately, Xian Pu had unknowingly slipped back into her milk tongue and her pleas were in CHINESE, a language The Gorilla Girl didn't speak or understand more than a simple word or two.

Elsewhere in the Tendo homestead....

Nabiki sauntered out of her room, towards the guestroom located just down the upstairs hallway from hers.

<I'll keep 'Kane from hurting Shampoo too much, but damn if I'll hurry to stop her fun!> she smirked, trying justify her delay in stopping her sister. <So Shampoo's a little ill, it's not like she doesn't...!>

"THUMP... THUMP... THUMP..." came the sound of heavy footfalls, interrupting Nabiki's train of thought. Someone was running up the stairs behind her at break-neck speed.

Nabiki turned around just in time to see a very flustered and worried Kasumi clearing the last of the steps. <So much for her Taoist "way",> a startled Nabiki thought at the uncommon, almost unheard of sight of a distressed Kasumi.

"Akane...! Shampoo! Must stop her, She'll kill her!" Kasumi stammered out in fear to Nabiki as she ran towards her shocked sister.

<What the hell...?> Nabiki thought, <Kasumi's frighten? Why? 'Kane and her mallet are more than enough to handle that pussy.> Judging from the yells escaping from the guestroom, Akane was in rare form and was in no peril at all from the sick Amazon.

"Oh, don't worry 'Sumi!" Nabiki tried to reassure her onee-chan. "Akane is just having a little one-on-one "discussion" with Shampoo, I'm sure she's in no danger." Nabiki stood fast in the hall, preventing Kasumi's passage.

<'Kane deserves a little more time to "work" her anger out,> she realized since Nabiki had yet to hear any blows being landed or Chinese accented cries of pain.

"You don't KNOW! You don't understand!" Kasumi started to plead with her imouto-chan, as she tried to force her way passed the obstinate Nabiki "Akane's rage is out of control, she not in her right mind! Shampoo is too ill to fight back..."

"So the pussy was a little ill, a bit of hot water cured THAT!" Nabiki reminded her sister as she held fast and failed to move, making it perfectly clear she WANTED to delay Kasumi's effort to rescue Shampoo.

"Shampoo deserves THIS!" Nabiki continued. "It not like she had actually died or som...?

The look Kasumi shot her younger sister was as cold and hard edge as a piece of Damascus forged steel

It froze Nabiki's words tight in her throat.

<Did something... ELSE... happen to Shampoo?> For not the first time that day, Nabiki wished she knew what had really occurred while Toufu treated Shampoo.

Kasumi did not have time to waste arguing with Nabiki. Her arm suddenly shot out and her hand, with a speed that belied her gentle nature, jabbed Nabiki hard in the side.

A perfect solar plexus blow.

"OOMMMPHH," came a grunt of pain and surprise as the air rushed out of Nabiki's lungs.

<'Sumi HIT me?> thought the totally shocked and confused girl as she staggered back, leaving a clear path to the guestroom door.

But Nabiki wasn't the only one shocked. For in that moment of contact, the briefest of touch, Kasumi felt the hidden turmoil buried deep in Nabiki's soul.

<Oh my> Kasumi thought, momentarily forgetting all about Akane and Shampoo. She just stood there, staring wide-eyed at Nabiki.

Then words came unbidden to her lips, words Kasumi somehow knew she MUST say, no matter how cruel they were.

"I know you can be cold and calculating at times, but I use to believe it was just an act, but you LIKE it, don't you? Being a remorseless cold-hearted bitch." Kasumi said in a voice so frosty that icicles formed on the words. "Do you have ANY scruples at all? Is no one, even your family, safe from your trickery? I never realized just how... mean and uncaring... you could be, Ice Queen."

If Kasumi had hauled off and hit her (again!) or plunged a dagger in her heart a dozen or so times, she could not have HURT Nabiki as much as those words just did.

But it was exactly the cathartic Nabiki needed to hear.

Something broke deep within Nabiki's heart and soul. The ice wall she had built around her true feelings started to crumbled and melt. "Kas... Kasumi? I Never..., I didn't.... I DON'T WANT TO BE THE ICE QUEEN!" Nabiki cried out in angst-ridden misery.

Tears that Nabiki had always hidden from others, tears she cried out only in the lonely solitude of her room burst forth like a fountain and Nabiki found herself gripping Kasumi in a fierce embrace. "I... I don't want... to... be a... a c-cold hearted bitch..." she sobbed into sisters shoulder.

Kasumi just stood there, stunned. SHE had never said something so mean or heartless to anyone before, least of all her imouto-chan.

Kasumi didn't know WHERE the words came from, she even didn't know WHY she said them, just that she had to.

<No, I do know WHY I said them. They were exactly the words Nabiki needed to hear.> Kasumi suddenly realized. <But the real question is HOW did I know that?>

Kasumi tighten embrace her around her sobbing sister and slowly rocked her imouto-chan back and forth while whispering soft, almost sub-vocal word of comfort.

"There, there, its OK, let it all out, you're fine...."

Never before had Nabiki allowed anyone to hug or "mother" her and Kasumi reveled in the fulfillment of that wish. Kasumi realized.

But it was not to last long.

The sudden "BOOM!" of Akane's chi driven mallet rudely interrupted their "Kodak Moment." The two sisters jumped apart as if stung, as the framework of the old house shook like Jell-O under the force of the blow and dust rained down from the cracks between the wooden ceiling beams.

"SHAMPOO!" they both cried out in unison.

Nabiki had wanted the gaijin to be hurt and punish, but the fury of that blow and the sounds of destruction now echoing from the guestroom made her realize that Kasumi may be right.

<I... I gotta stop this!> as fresh tears streamed down her face.

Even through the thick wooden door, it sounded like a tornado was loose in the guestroom. It took all the strength of both Kasumi and Nabiki to force the door open against wreckage piled inside.

The room was in shambles! Splitters of wood and shreds of cloth were scattered everywhere and goose-down feathers floated through the air and laid ankle deep on the floor.

But the most appalling part of the scene before them was the sight of Akane, mallet held high, standing over a bruised and bloodied form of Shampoo.

<NO! Stop, please mustn't do it!> Nabiki silently implored her younger sis, too shocked to cry out those words. This was not a battle or a fight, it was not even a justly deserved punishment, it was murder anyway you cut it.

<And it is MY fault,> Nabiki knew,

* * * * * * * * *

Time slowed for Nabiki, almost stopping, yet her thoughts race ahead with the speed and force of a runaway locomotive....

Nabiki admitted to herself.

<So Cold, so dispassionate, let my OWN SISTER dishonor herself, use her like a tool> Nabiki accused herself. <Let the TOOL hurt Shampoo, KILL Shampoo! I'll just sit back and go "Tist Tist Poor Shampoo..." and blame it all on hotheaded Akane....>

Streams of salty tears flowed down Nabiki's face, she could no longer hide behind her cold icy facade. <If my TOOL kills, then I'm the murderer, the executioner> Nabiki now realized, <Akane may strike the blow, but I'm the who responsible, I'll be the killer!>

In a flash of intuition, Nabiki also realized this applied to her a lot of her other "activities" as well.

<I set-up Ranma in fights, just to make a profit, why should I care if he gets hurt or injures another? I feed Kuno's, Koldachi's and Ukyou's obsessions, with MY photos and innuendo, so what if they or an innocent bystander gets hurt, it's their fault, NOT MINE!> but Nabiki now knew it was she who was wrong, it was all her fault!

Nabiki continued as more tears rained down and a slight sob escaped her lips. <Give me your money or else!>

<What's the difference between a MUGGER and me?>

To Nabiki, all this self-incrimination, all this life changing revelations took place in the fraction of a sec it took for Akane's mallet to fall.

* * * * * * * * * *

Before a word could be spoken or a step taken into the room by either sister, they heard Akane yell out "FORE" and down came the mallet towards the defenseless girl.

"CRACK-CRACK" was heard the sickening sound of Shampoo's bones breaking.

Nabiki had never heard such a nauseating noise before and hoped never to hear it again. But what came next were even more shocking and disturbing to her.

"O-OH M-MY!" Was all Kasumi could manage to stutter out at the sight of the blow. Kasumi could FEEL the red-hot rage roiling in her youngest sister as Akane's thirst for revenge was still un-sated.

Although the foreign Chinese words Shampoo cried out meant nothing to Kasumi, the emotions behind them did!

<She giving up, surrendering!, I can FEEL it> Kasumi realized, <she's not faking it, I can tell!>

Shampoo's feelings were no longer that of the defiant warrior Kasumi sense earlier. Those had CHANGED, now Kasumi sense a scared, troubled, pain wracked girl who desperately wanted to live.

Nabiki also heard the words cried out by Shampoo and struggled to translate in her mind. Although not fluent in Mandarin Chinese (YET!), Nabiki had made it a point of trying to learn some of that tongue, <after all, it was good for business!>

<"I surrender! I... serve (?) family(?) I give(?) oath of.... (?) I do what(?) want! Please don't kill I(?)"> While some of the words were still unknown to Nabiki, the overall meaning was more than clear.

<Kami-sama! I never thought I'd live to would hear that coming from her mouth,> thought Nabiki!

Nabiki and Kasumi saw the madness still in Akane's eyes, the rage was still inside her soul. Again the mallet was raised and again it began to swing down, faster and faster.

"AKANE!" Nabiki yelled, "DON'T DO IT, YOU WON! SHAMPOO GAVE UP! IT'LL BE MURDER!"

"Akane, this isn't you! It's your anger, let it go!" Kasumi pleaded. "This isn't honorable, a true martial artist wouldn't do this."

Akane apparently didn't hear either of her sisters' cries or more likely just didn't care.

<Kuso... Shampoo's dead!> Nabiki shuttered. This was a foregone conclusion. This time nothing could stop the mallet from smashing Shampoo's head like a piece of over-ripe fruit.

< Or almost nothing...> Nabiki realized, <there's still ONE way to stop it.>

The "Queen" would have happily let Shampoo die but Nabiki could no longer do that, the price was too high; her heart, her family, her SOUL!

The "Queen" would have allowed her sister to kill, cause the murder of a helpless captive, cold heartedly used and ruin others at a whim, defile and destroy her family....

The "Queen" would..., well the list was pretty much endless and there was little knowing just how far or how LOW the "Queen" might stoop.

<Never more!> Nabiki decided.

The "Queen" is dead, long live NABIKI!

Kasumi tried to further plead with her imouto-chan but quickly realized it wasn't working.

<Akane won't listen, even to ME.> Kasumi realized. Akane didn't give a damn about honor or martial arts at the moment, just revenge. <But if I could just get though to her, talk to her! Then maybe... maybe the right words will come to me!>

<Yeah right, and maybe the sky will fall or pigs will fly! Damn..., action is needed not words!> Kasumi belittled herself. <Useless, useless, useless! That's what I am, useless! Good for nothing but housework!>

Kasumi watched as Akane's mallet sped down again towards the helpless Amazon.

Kasumi found herself mentally tongue-tied, having trouble saying (or thinking) the word "innocent," when applied to Shampoo.

<Maybe..., maybe Shampoo does deserves some form of punishment, but not this! It's torture... its murder!>

<Here I am, "useless, helpless Kasumi" again> Kasumi continued. <First I fail to... to stop Ranma from trying to R-Ra, to Ra-a...? Mole-lest? Damn!>

Kasumi found she now couldn't use the word "rape" or even "molest" anymore, when referring to Ranma's actions that morning. <He, umm SHE wasn't responsible, it was that...., that damn drug!>

<If I had only known, I wouldn't have driven Ranma away!> Suddenly Kasumi felt sick, dirty and unclean as she remembered just HOW she drove Ranma-CHAN away!

<I... THREW the seppuku pact right into her face> Kasumi realized.

<I'm worst than useless! I sent a distressed girl out to kill herself! Or... (remembering the Succubus Blood) ...maybe to an even WORST FATE!>

Kasumi thoughts suddenly broke off as she witnessed Nabiki's solution to Akane's speeding mallet.

Before Nabiki could have any second thoughts or more importantly before she lost her nerve, she found herself leaping into action. But not at her sister or Shampoo like one might expect, there wasn't time enough, but instead she threw herself directly into the heart of the fire, into the downward path of the deadly mallet.

The thought of putting herself in danger, of self-sacrifice, was NOT the norm for Nabiki, usually it was the farthest thing from her mind. <No, let "others" do such stupid acts....> Nabiki always thought, <but now it really was ME doing the "stupid act.">

<Oh shit, here it comes...> Nabiki thought as the mallet approached. Akane was out for murder, both figuratively and literally, and Nabiki knew that this was only way to stop Akane and start to redeem her own soul as well.

But to Kasumi, Nabiki's unselfish deed came as no real surprise.

She always "understood" her middle sister better than anyone else, maybe better than Nabiki herself. Behind that mask of cold indifference and detached nonchalance was still the strong willed little girl who hated to be a "Crybaby," "Weak," or "Helpless."

* * * * * * *

Now it was Kasumi's turn for time to slow while her thoughts flew ahead on falcon's wings...

When Momma..., MOTHER died, Nabiki wouldn't cry in front of anyone, only at night when she was all alone in the sanctuary of her room,> Kasumi recalled.

We all... um, ...reacted... "badly" to Mother's death.

Akane..., she was the one always crying, wailing out for her "Mommy!"

Father became a...? Kasumi thought about her father's with-drawl from life. became a weak shadow of the strong man he had been, like the best part of him died along with mother.

And I..., I was helpless. I hid myself in a role, I tried to BECOME mother, Kasumi realized. The "Perfect Traditional Japanese Housewife;" never complained, always happy, docile, I never tried to be myself, the family came first!

But Nabiki... She NEEDED a strong presence in her life, a role model. Father was weak, Akane a crybaby, and outside of my housework I'm helpless. I just wished she found a different role model than HIM, um... "Uncle Happi" Kasumi thought with some distaste.

Happposai taught Nabiki to be an "Ice Queen", but he didn't MAKE her one! Kasumi always felt the "Queen" was just an act, a facade, and a role that Nabiki played to the hilt.

Just like my perfect "Housewife," an escape, a way to hide her true feelings, so no one would see her cry, so she wouldn't appear to be weak or helpless....

But Nabiki can't escape, can't hide anymore. She needs to take responsibility for her actions, her life. She has to BE herself, not a role.

So do I.

* * * * * * * * *

Akane thrilled in the extreme exaltation she felt as her mallet sped down in just retribution towards the foul gaijin bitch.

<YES! Vengeance IS mine, said the Kami!> Akane savored taste of sweet revenge but then a blur of motion and a dark shape flew between her and her prey, trying to intercept the blow.

<Chikusho, it's some demon or oni, bent on denying MY vengeance!>

Akane drove the mallet faster, trying to elude the dark shadow. <The gaijin WHORE must have summoned it! I always KNEW she was a WITCH as well as a BITCH!>

"AUUGG!" came Nabiki's cry as the mallet struck her on the side.

If Nabiki had been anywhere else but in mid-air, the force of the blow would have shattered her ribs and smashed her body into a bloody pulp.

Still, the anger fueled weapon swatted Nabiki from the air like a housefly and smashed her body HARD to the ground, barely missing Shampoo.

"A... A-A-KANE," Nabiki managed to painfully cry out, something in her shoulder BROKE when she hit the floor. <Now I know how it feels to be a chunk of pig iron caught between a hammer and anvil.> Even while in extreme pain, Nabiki found her wry humor hadn't abandoned her.

The mallet was still pressed against her bruised side and Nabiki curled her body around it. "Please ST-STOP!" Nabiki continued as she felt Akane wrenching back on the mallet's shaft, trying to pull it free.

"Kuso!" Akane rage knew no bounds as she cursed the demon. "Damn Oni, go to... HUH?" Then guilt and distress hit Akane like a speeding bullet (or a flying mallet!) as she suddenly realized just WHOM her mallet had struck.

"Na..., Nabiki...?" Akane replied with her heart in her throat, trying to deny what her eyes told her.

<NO! It's a trick! Nabiki wouldn't do that, my sister! Nabiki would NEVER do... never...?> But then memories of all the things Nabiki had done to her flooded into Akane's mind. All the spiteful gossip, the snide comments, THE PHOTOS...!

<No, She would NEVER do THAT..., Yeah RIGHT!> Akane thought sarcastically, <not unless Shampoo PAID her...!>

"Damn you Nabiki! You'll do anything for a little blood money! BITCH, WHORE, ...ICE QUEEN!" Akane screamed at her sister cowering at her feet.

<YOU and that BITCH! Like two peas in a pod!> Akane realized. Now her rage and thirst for revenge rose threefold and embraced not just Shampoo but Nabiki as well.

"How much did it take for you to turn traitor? 5000 yen?, 1000 yen? Shampoo's pocket change?" Akane yelled. "I'm surprised you never just sold YOURSELF to Shampoo for a couple of yen!"

<Or maybe you have?> Akane silently seethed. <You were quick enough to PIMP that RAPIST, maybe...? I've HEARD those Amazon's were all butch of DYKES....>

Nabiki's heart and mind, still reeling from Kasumi's word were almost crushed Akane's. <Is that the way everyone sees me? Is that what they thought?>

"NO... that's not TRUE!" Nabiki replied in horror "I, ...I was j-ju-just TRYING to... OUCH!" Nabiki voice broke off as Akane kick her injured side.

"Just trying to protect your meal ticket, your little piece of gaijin fluff, huh Nabiki?> Akane continued for her sister. "You damn LEZ!"

Akane slammed her foot down on Nabiki's sore shoulder, as she yanked up and down on the mallet, still trying to retrieve it from her injured sister's grasp.

"Iiieeee... Auggg! Oh pleases Kami, NO! Yeeeoooo! Please stop, ...Akane!" Nabiki screamed out in pain, "Please, AAAYYYEEEIII....!"

Akane ignored the delightful cries of agony coming from her vile, perverted sister! Her foot grated violently on the broken bones and the mallet head slammed repeatedly into bruised ribs and she relished in the sensation of power and control she now had over Nabiki, secretly HAPPY to have caused her such pain!

"Oh my..., OH MY!" Kasumi cried out as she raced to place herself between Akane and her unfortunate victims.

<This is disgraceful, dishonorable!> Kasumi thought. She had to act and act NOW, if she was to save Akane from further shame. <Not to mention the guilt and pain Akane will feel... later, once her anger recedes.>

And that is what puzzled Kasumi the most, that RAGE. This was not like her imouto-chan, at least not the one she use to know.

* * * * * * *

Akane was always a happy child, full of laughter, Kasumi remembered. Neighbors use to call her "Little Sunshine" from the way her face lit up when she smiled.

When Mother... left, Akane was devastated. She cried so much her nickname SHOULD have been "Little Rain-cloud", Kasumi frowned. But then she "discovered" the art, it helped her to focus, gave her something to strive for.

By the start of junior high, the cheerful girl I remember was back. She was now "The Happy Angel of Nerima Ward," an actual title she once won at the spring festival.

And what an angel she was! Just like a flower starting to bloom, Akane grew more beautiful every day, Kasumi thought with pride.

Back then nothing seemed to discourage her, even cooking! Akane use to LAUGH at her failures but then would just try, try again.

But a couple of years ago, something happened. Akane started to change. I always put it down to puberty, but now I realize that was must have been something more.

That was when her anger started.

* * * * * * * *

"Akane, please stop! You're hurting Nabiki, she you're sister! She LOVES you!" Kasumi pleaded with her sister, trying to pierce the fog of anger and vengeance that clouded her imouto-chan's mind.

Kasumi was bewildered by the hurt and rage that boiled out of Akane <She thinks Nabiki sold her out, for money, because she (Nabiki) is a... a lesbian?> Kasumi eye's eyes went wide in shock.

<Where did THAT come from! Nabiki isn't..., isn't... gay?> Kasumi forced the thought from her mind, <later, when time allows I WILL discover the truth to this ...notion....>

Kasumi suddenly sensed a new..., different..., well, PERVERTED emotion roiling out of her imouto-chan. <She... Akane..., she's enjoying this! The pain, The terror, the CONTROL! OH MY... she's a ...a ...SADIST!>

<So, you like giving pain, huh? Let's see how you like THIS!>

Once, twice, three times Kasumi hauled back and slapped her sister, opened handed across her face. These where not little "Love Taps" but violent blows fueled by Kasumi's own stress and frustration, a sure sign she had lost "The Way"

Akane's face burned and stung as her head rocked back from the force of the blows, her eyes tearing up from the wicked, delightful pain. Releasing her death grip on the wooden mallet shaft, Akane's hands massaged and caressed her brightly redden cheeks.

Akane caught a flash of motion out the corner of her eye. <Stupid baka...> she cursed at herself, <letting a that bitch Shampoo get behind you.> Akane had broke one of the most basic rules of defense, turned her back on a foe. THIS mistake she would correct NOW!

Kasumi saw Akane release the mallet and turn towards her, forgetting all about Nabiki. The anger was still building in her little sister, like liquid magma in a rumbling volcano, threatening another eruption of fiery rage and violence.

<Mount Saint Akane..., ready to blow> Kasumi envisioned, <but this time I'M was the one in the blast zone!> Kasumi could SEE the wrath in Akane, IT clouded all her reason, and IT colored all her views. Until Akane broke free from THAT rage, anything was possible.

Kasumi reached out and touched Akane, and like with her beloved Ono, she could now "hear" as well as "see" Akane's raw emotions-- <...Its my right, look at all they've done to me! Those BITCHES earned it! Every one must see it MY way! And if they DON'T...> --overriding Akane's conscience, her honor, her sense of right and wrong.

<Oh my, what do I do NOW!> Kasumi wondered.

She couldn't leave to go for help, Kasumi knew that would be like signing a death warrant for the two injured girls. She also lacked the skill to stop a berserk Akane, if she tried there might be THREE dead bodies for police to find.

Faith and trust was all Kasumi had left. Faith in her new ability, <if I could just get Akane to SEE things clearly, un-clouded by rage...> and trust in her imouto-chan, if freed from her rage, to "do the right thing."

Kasumi seized her sister in a tight embrace, hugging her to her breast, trying to calm and comfort her. Akane's body went rigid, taut as a bowstring with the angry emotions swelling within her, ready to snap.

<Shampoo GLOMPED ME!> Akane seethed, too shock to strike back.

"Let go, you ecchi rug muncher! Stop pressing your damn tits into MY FACE!" Akane screamed as she tried to free herself. "CHIKUSHO, you damn Amazon slitch! I'm not some hentai yuri dyke... like... like NABIKI!"

<Oh my! She thinks I'm Shampoo!> Kasumi realized the danger she was in as she felt Akane squirming in her grasp.

"Akane NO! It's me..., Kasumi!" Kasumi tried to project a sense of peace and tranquility into her sister's mind. Like from a wellspring Kasumi felt her empathy surge forth, pouring out over Akane, seeping into her sister's mind. Like cold clear water, she felt it flowing over the flames of Akane's anger, cooling the blaze, extinguishing the fire, drowning the rage.

A spasm of guilt rocked Kasumi, what gave her the right to play games like this with people's mind? <It would be... BAD! Wrong, like a mental RAPE, to ALTER a person's thoughts or mind> Kasumi somehow instinctively knew to be true.

But Kasumi wasn't changing her imouto-chan's thoughts or memories, she wouldn't do that even if she COULD!

<I'm... I'm...> Kasumi struggled to put words to her newfound ability <I'm just helping her to see things as they truly are....>

<Maybe she just needs to see her actions though another's eyes?> she wondered, <can I DO that?>

A strange peaceful feeling crept into Akane's psyche, soothing her rage and dispelling the veil of anger over her mind. Akane felt her body going limp, no longer could she resist the desire to rest her head on Shampoo's ample chest. Her mind seemed to float off into a dream world.

In her mind's eye, Akane imagined a Kami, a helpful spirit coming to her aid. The kindly presence, the benevolent spirit seemed to envelop her soul, trying to free her mind from her anger.

Akane could almost feel the make-believe spirit talking to her, telling her it aright, giving her strength.... She began to see things calmly, differently...

<No, not differently...> Akane decided, <just more.... honestly? No, it's more than that..., free from her anger?>

She recalled hearing about people who allowed everything to be shaded by their troubled psyches, their unchecked emotions.

<...Looking at the world thought a pair of rose colored glasses...> the old adage popped into Akane's mind, seemingly out of nowhere. <Or in my case, a pair of angry RED colored ones?> she wondered.

<Is it true,> Akane asked back to her imaginary friend. <Do I let my anger color the world as I um..., SEE it?> Akane added, not really expecting an answer.

"Yes, you do" came a brutally blunt reply.

<?!?> Akane was flabbergasted, it wasn't her wild imagination. The spirit WAS there, it had answered her! It, no SHE, sounded like..., like mother.

<What...?, Who are you?> Akane asked.

"OH M...." The spirit started to answer, then paused a moment before continuing "a... a friend."

"I don't know, maybe," the spirit replied, <I'll... try, if I can.>

<What, am I a lost cause? Beyond your abilities?>

"I didn't say I couldn't help" answered the spirit. "I'm just, umm..., not sure if I should."

<FINE, Some FRIEND you are!> A smoldering ember of Akane's dying anger momentarily flared up at this answer. <Then why are you here? To belittle and humiliate me like everyone else?>

I AM your friend! The spirit chided her, I want to help you SEE what your anger has caused. To show what you have done.

Akane knew she had a fiery temper, it wouldn't be the first time she acted without thinking or even realizing she did wrong.

<What... I have done?> Akane had to ask. <Can you show me?>

Almost as if a videotape cassette was rewound and played over, Akane watched her recent actions unfold before her again. The same events, but not the same viewpoint. It was as if she was watching through the eyes of another.

Eyes that were un-clouded by her rage or anger.

Akane found herself standing at the guestroom door, looking in. A black haired girl afire with a red battle aura stood over a lavender haired girl lying amid the futon's wreckage.

For the first time Akane noticed the Amazon's sickly pale pallor, her feeble attempts to hide, her limp, almost lifeless body as it cowered on the floor.

<Kami-sama!,> Akane realized, <Shampoo was already sick or hurt, before I even attacked!>

Akane watched her double's mallet as it struck the girl, over and over.

Akane realized. <She was defenseless!>

Akane's view was drawn to her doppelganger's eyes, and noticed the perverse glee in them. Disgust and self-loathing filled Akane as she remembered the thrill of breaking Shampoo's arm, the joy she took in hurting her.

Then Akane noticed the looked Shampoo's eyes and saw her body language. Akane realized. Then Nabiki entered her field of view.

<Please, no more!> Akane tried to stop the images, to blot them out but the spirit wouldn't let her.

More and more of her actions continued to play out before Akane's eyes. She HAD to watch every image, hear every foul word, and see every depravity.

Finally it was over and Akane had to start facing her shame.

<I... I... think I'm going to be sick!> Akane felt the bile rising in her throat as she tried to come to grips with her contemptible behavior.

<This... this can't be true!> Akane tried to deny her actions. <I'm the one with a moral code, I'm the one who follows the code of Bushido!>

<Shampoo..., all I saw was a "thing," an insect to squash, a pummel stone to take my rage out on> she realized. <Not a injured, defenseless girl who begged for mercy.>

Then Akane remembered how her savage jealous rage allowed her to believe the worst in Nabiki, rather than the truth. <Nabiki, she was trying to stop me, save my honor, and look how I repaid her!>

She had hurt her sister and just like with Shampoo, she reveled in a sick joy while she tortured and brutalized her.

<Nabiki..., it was so easy for me to believe the worst in you,> Akane thought. <But then you risked your life, KNOWING you would get hurt, to save Shampoo.>

<Shampoo is supposed to be the dishonorable one, not me!> Akane screamed at the spirit that seemed to be sitting in judgment of her. <Nabiki is the one who wouldn't raise a finger to help another, SHE'S the one that hurts others!>

<I'm supposed to be the honorable one, the martial artist!> Akane cried, <I'm the one whose suppose to risk life and limb to defend the weak....>

<Kuso! Some honor, some code!> Akane had to finally recognize the true cause of her actions.

Akane realized.

With that, Akane suddenly felt the calm presence of the spirit start to fade and retreat. <NO! Wait, don't leave, don't abandon ME!> She called out to the spirit, begging her to stay.

" I'm not abandoning you," the faint voice of the spirit answered as it faded away. "I must go, others need me."

"But don't worry, I will always watch over you and help you when I can."

* * * * * *

Akane left her strange dream state and returned to the real world.

Akane felt the tears streaming down her face, soaking the cloth-covered bosom that her head still was resting on.

<This can't be Shampoo. She... was nude, hurt! She couldn't even stand....> Akane realized. <Plus, she isn't this tall!>

There was only one person this could be.

"K-Ka Kasumi?' Akane stuttered out as she looked up with red-rimmed eyes at her onee-chan's face, afraid of what she'd see there. <Will she hate me? Disown me? Will she...?>

Kasumi smiled back at her imouto-chan and hugged her even tighter, dispelling the fears of rejection she saw in Akane's eyes.

Kasumi knew that both of them had done the right thing.

Gently, so not to disturb her sobbing sister, Kasumi pulled out the cell phone that Ono-kun had left in her care.

Glancing first at the unconscious Amazon to her left, then at Nabiki curled up on her right (and STILL clutching the mallet), Kasumi pressed the quick-dial button for emergency services.

Kasumi thought as she cleared her mind and found "The Way" again.

<It's nice that those pleasant paramedics always got here so fast!>

End Chapter Twelve.

Author's Notes: "The Way" Kasumi is trying to follow is Taoism, the path of not acting, or rather the path of acting through inaction. A Tao tries to maintain inner harmony and the lack of contention in their souls. Tao embodies the harmony of opposites (i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark, no male without female.) and the belief in a spiritual power which envelops, surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living.

This might seem a little corny, but if you remember how a Jedi Knight acts in "Star Wars," and the concept of the "Force" this will give your an idea of Taoism, since George Lucas based them on it.

The idea that Kasumi might be a Taoist, or at least follows some of their beliefs came from a website: The Tendo Kasumi School of Philosophy at http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/8343/

Here are some Japanese words that are used that you might not have seen before.

Imouto-chan: younger sister

Onee-chan: older sister

Kuso: swear word, equivalent to "Shit" or "Damn."

Chikusho: a stronger swear word, more like "God damn it" (Kuso comes from it)

Oni: demon or evil spirit.

Nuki Mouse 8/25/02

"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

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