All Ranma characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, first published
by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by Viz
Communications.

        A Different Viewpoint: Curses and Demons:
                Chapter 31

Ranko was the first to jump over the fence to the Tendo�s backyard, and was 
forced to spin in midair to dodge an ornately warded arrow, which shattered 
on the wall behind her.

"Hey!" She shouted indignantly at the fully armed and armored samurai 
crouching on the back porch.  There was a great bow in one hand, the string 
still quivering from the shot. "What the heck do you think you're shooting 
at anyway?"

Soun Tendo blinked and stood, putting a hand behind his head sheepishly. 
"Sorry, Ranko-kun. I thought you were that Demoness again." He frowned. "And 
that was my last Hamaya too�."

Ranko looked worried. "Again?!? She came here while we were gone?"

Soun nodded somberly. "A blond girl with strange tattoos attacked only half 
an hour ago. From her powers and her aversion to charms and wards I assume 
it was the demoness you encountered before."

"Damn it!" Ranko swore darkly. "If I had only stayed here... I really want 
another shot at her�." She looked worried again.  "Was anyone hurt?"

Soun hesitated. "Well, I wouldn't say HURT, exactly. The demoness targeted 
Nodoka-san first for some reason... and..."

"WHAT!?!" Ranko cut him off, rushing into the house. "Mom? MOM!?!"

A small girl, perhaps ten years old, wearing a elegant kimono much too large 
for her and holding a sheathed katana on her lap, looked up at the red 
headed girl's approach. "I'm right here, Ranko-chan. Don't worry, I'm just 
fine." Nabiki came into the living room quietly, then hesitated, not wanting 
to interrupt.

Ranko glanced around quickly, ignoring the little girl for the moment as she 
looked for her mother. "Mom? Where�?" She finally glanced down at the girl, 
trying to smile nicely. "Hey, kiddo, have you seen an older woman around 
here? She carries a katana, just like you, and is wearing a kimono just like 
yours�." The girl waited, tapping her foot impatiently. Ranko took a good 
look at her, then laughed slightly nervously. "Um... mom... why are you a 
kid?" Nabiki shook her head with a sigh and left the room again, heading for 
the backyard.

Nodoka sighed. "That demon did this to me." She shook her head. "I remember 
at the time I was wishing I was a bit younger so that I could help you and 
your friends, but I certainly didn't mean this young!"  Nodoka sighed.  "I 
suppose a second childhood isn't the worse thing that could have happened to 
me.  "She looked curious. "Where is everyone else, dear? Are you all alone?"

Ranko shook her head. "I just ran ahead. The others will be along in a 
minute. We were worried that Mara might try something so I decided to get 
here a little sooner and check...." She chewed on her lip. "We shouldn't 
have left you here alone Mom. I'm sorry."

The little girl stood up slightly unsteadily, putting her katana on the 
ground and holding up her kimono with one hand. "That's alright dear." She 
reached up and patted her daughter on the head, although she had to stand on 
her toes to do so. "You had to help your friends." Nodoka looked at her 
daughter in concern. "Did you find Kasumi alright?"

Ranko nodded quickly. "Sure, Mom, she's with the others right now. They'll 
all be here in another couple minutes or so."

Nodoka smiled and nodded. "That's good. What about Sailor Mercury?"

Ranko shook her head. "We have some clues to where she might be... but we 
can't get there quick enough. We called some friends to go look for her, but 
there's not much else we can do right now.... Everyone is coming here so we 
can try and work out a plan."

Nodoka took her daughters hand in hers. "You're doing all you can, daughter. 
I know that."

Ranko shrugged. "Maybe... it just ain't enough."

"It ISN'T enough, daughter." Nodoka corrected. "And you're wrong. No one 
could do more." Her kimono started to slip, despite the hold she had on it 
with her left hand, and she freed her right hand from Ranko's to catch it 
and pull it back up. "Oh dear, this simply won't do. I think perhaps I 
should change clothing before your friends arrive. I'm sure Misty has found 
something by now...."

As if hearing her name (and with her enhanced hearing, that was likely) the 
half cat girl came into the living room carrying a bundle of clothing. "Here 
you go, Auntie. We still have some of Akane's old things. They should fit 
you alright." She put the bundle down on the table, and Nodoka started 
looking through the selection with interest. Misty looked slightly 
embarrassed.  "It's not the best selection... it's all slightly childish."

Nodoka laughed lightly, picking out a blue and white summer dress and 
holding it up to herself. "They're fine, Misty! I can't possibly look more 
silly then I do right now, a child in an adult's kimono."  She nodded to 
herself at the fit of the dress. "One should dress one's age, after all, and 
I am hardly suited to adult attire right now."

Misty smiled slightly, showing off her canines. "That dress should fit you 
nicely, Auntie." She quirked her head. "You're handling this change much 
better than when Ranma-chan was turned into a little boy."

Nodoka blinked. "When did that happen?" She shook her head, chuckling. 
"Never mind, you can tell me all about it later. As
for me handling this well... when you get to my age... or at least the age I 
used to be, regaining one's youth is something you dream about...." She 
chuckled softly. "It is not all that horrible a fate, I assure you." She 
glanced up at the furred face of the older Tendo girl. "Compared to the 
problems you and my son... my daughter have had to face, this is nothing at 
all!" She held up the dress she had selected. "Now then, I had best go 
change."

As Nodoka started to leave, Misty turned to Ranko curiously. "Kasumi is OK?"

Ranko nodded. "You heard? Yeah, she's fine. A couple cuts and bruises, but 
nothing serious. The only real damage was to her pride."

Misty looked embarrassed again. "The whole zoo saw her... I just saw a news 
report about it."

Ranko looked startled. "You what?"

Misty nodded. "They even have some video of her. It's not very clear, and 
it's from a long way off, but it's unmistakable. Someone at the zoo must 
have had a camera. There have been several reports on it since then. Many of 
the reporters think it's the start of another series of monster attacks. 
I've had the TV and VCR on in my room so I wouldn't miss anything."

Ranko rolled her eyes. "Oh brother. What's next?"

Misty's ears perked up. "Oh my... that doesn't sound good."

Ranko blinked. "What?"

Misty nodded toward the ceiling. "I have the sound on low, but I heard the 
announcer say something about a cat monster...."

"Whoa." The red head looked impressed, then listened very carefully. "I can 
barely even tell that it's on! Your ears are really sensitive!"

Misty put a hand to her face, looking embarrassed once again. "They're 
really not that good. Johnathon has much better hearing in his cat form." 
Ranko looked dubious, and as if to refute her own statement, Misty's ears 
perked up again. Ranko waited for her to say something, glancing pointedly 
at her ears, and Misty shrugged slightly, looking sheepish. "It's the 
others. They're almost here."

Ranko waited patiently, counting silently to herself until she finally heard 
the sound of her friends coming herself. "Fifteen seconds...." She turned to 
Misty smugly. "Not that good she says. Don't be so embarrassed when you're 
good at something, Kasumi. It's important that you believe in the gifts you 
have."

Misty smiled and nodded. "OK, Ranko. I'll try."

Only moments later the others came into the backyard, leaping over the fence 
in waves, first Ukyo and Akane, then Ryoga, followed by Ranma, still 
carrying Kasumi lightly in his arms and finally Johnathon, still in his 
cursed form.

Nabiki was the first to greet them, going over to her older sister first. 
"Hey, Kasumi. Glad to see that you're alright."

Ranma set Kasumi down lightly on her feet, and the older girl smiled at him 
gratefully. "Thank you for carrying me, Ranma. I hope I wasn't too heavy."

Ranma shrugged sheepishly. "Ah, you're not all that heavy, Kasumi. Not a 
problem."

Nabiki raised an eyebrow. "Isn't this interesting...."

Ranma and Kasumi both started blushing, and Johnathon strode up with a 
laugh. "Now Nabiki, you know it isn't nice to tease people like that."

Nabiki shrugged, smiling slightly, then sobered. "You guys missed our latest 
visitor... a certain Demoness we all know?"

Johnathon's good humor vanished instantly. "Is anyone hurt? What happened?"

Nabiki shook her head. "No one was hurt... at least not physically." She 
held up her hands calmingly. "She hit Auntie with some sort of spell, turned 
her into a kid... but she's OK... somehow Genma-san and daddy were able to 
drive her off after that. I missed most of the fight, but I think they hurt 
her pretty bad. Everyone else is fine."

Ranma's eyes went wide. "A kid? She turned my mom into a kid?"

Nabiki sighed. "Yes... she looks to be around 8 or so... maybe 10. Auntie 
says she's fine...." Ranma strode off into the house without listening 
further, looking worried.

Akane walked over to a pair of long grooves dug into the backyard, each 
perhaps two feet deep, and looking like they were carved into the ground by 
the diagonal slash of a giant sword. "So much power� did Mara do this?"

"You probably won't believe this...." Nabiki answered slowly. "It was Genma. 
I was in my room when I heard Auntie scream, and I ran to the window just in 
time to see him jumping over the fence behind the demoness. She turned 
around, and he did something with his hands that made these huge... blades 
of air shoot out and cut her in two...." The normally cold blooded Tendo 
shuddered. "I can still see it� I thought she was dead for sure� but she 
just� grew back together...." Nabiki shook her head. "It slowed her down a 
lot, though, and Daddy threatened her with one of those lucky arrows he had 
me borrow from everyone in the neighborhood, so she left."

Johnathon nodded. "Yes, the goddesses did say that she was vulnerable to 
good luck charms and such. I suppose we'll have to use different methods to 
defeat her than just attacking her body."

Ukyo was examining the grooves Genma had made in the ground, and was shaking 
her head in disbelief. "Genma made these? Fat, stupid, lazy, panda Genma? I 
don't believe it."

"Believe it." Nabiki told her firmly. "I witnessed the whole thing. Genma 
Saotome may be fat, lazy and stupid, but he's still the man who trained 
Ranma, and he proved it today."

Akane nodded somberly. "He may not be the best man in the world, but he is 
still one of the best martial artists around. I think Auntie is having a 
good influence on him too. He at least tries to do the right thing most of 
the time now."

Ukyo sighed. "I'm never going to get used to having Genma as a 
father-in-law� but I suppose Ill just have to take the bad with the good."

Akane giggled. "But which is which?"

Shampoo also examined the gashes in the ground, looking a bit worried. "I 
don't know what Ill be able to do to help against such powerful demon. We 
need great grandmother... or Senshi."

Akane and Ukyo both turned to their ex-rival in mild shock. "Shampoo!" Akane 
exclaimed brightly. "Your Japanese is getting a whole lot better!"

Shampoo shrugged modestly. "Is nothing special. Shampoo..." She winced and 
started over, just a bit hesitantly as she concentrated on getting the words 
correct. "I have been practicing... practicing a lot in the... in the past 
few days." Shampoo smiled in satisfaction at the nod of approval she got 
from her new fianc�e.

Dr. Tofu smiled proudly at the Chinese girl. "She has been doing better. 
She's been helping me deal with customers, and she's constantly practicing 
her Japanese on them. I couldn't be happier."

Shampoo winked at Akane and Ukyo knowingly. "I think he could be� but he 
still wants to wait until we're married for that." Both girls blushed at the 
same time, then shared a giggle with the purple haired girl.

Dr. Tofu sighed and shook his head. "I think Ill go check on Nodoka-san."

Shampoo waved him off with a smile. "I will stay out here in case the demon 
attacks again. Please give Ranma's mother my regards." The doctor nodded and 
went into the house, and Shampoo turned to Johnathon Dwire. "Johnathon-san, 
I was wondering if you would help me with getting used to my new form. There 
are many differences, and I am having difficult... difficulty?"

"Difficulty adjusting?" Johnathon finished for her. "Sure, I had the same 
trouble for months after getting this form. My cat form seemed to come with 
its own set of instincts on how to move and such but my hybrid form didn't. 
On the plus side it's not all that different from being human, but the 
differences are enough to matter, especially in a fight."

Shampoo nodded. "That true... is true. I tried sparring with Ono-san, but 
was clumsy... I was clumsy. I nearly injured him with my claws, I wasn't 
expecting how fast I would be."

"It will take practice." Johnathon said with a knowing nod. "I should be 
able to help you adjust to the changes."

"Thank you, Johnathon-san." Shampoo said with a bright smile. "Is it alright 
if I change right now?"

Johnathon nodded. "Sure, no one will see you here in the Tendo�s back yard. 
I use my own half-cat form when I spar back here as well. I need the extra 
speed and strength to keep up with Ranma and Akane anyway."

Shampoo smirked slightly. "Johnathon-san, you need to build up your human 
side as well, yes? It weakness to rely too much on your curse."

"It IS a weakness, yes." Johnathon agreed, correcting Shampoo's grammar 
automatically at the same time. "I do practice in my normal form as well, of 
course. I try to practice equal amounts with both forms, so as to avoid 
trouble adjusting, say, in the middle of a fight."

"Oh!" Shampoo blinked several times, thinking about that. "If you were 
splashed in the middle of a fight it could be important."

Johnathon nodded in agreement. "It could be."

Shampoo went to the Tendo pond and cupped up a handful of water, splashing 
her face and changing herself into a white furred cat-girl. "Thhhattts 
betterrr." She said, speaking with a distinct purr to her voice. She 
giggled. "I ttalkk funnnyy, yes?"

"It's just something else you'll have to practice." Johnathon replied, 
conscious suddenly of the unconscious adjustment he was constantly making to 
keep his own voice recognizable. "It took me weeks of practice, and months 
before I got the change down to where it is now." He smiled proudly. "Misty 
is doing great already, although she does have plenty of time to practice."

Shampoo straightened up and kicked off her now poorly fitting slippers. 
"Misty is� both Kasumis are... much more than I first thought."

Johnathon nodded with soft smile that even showed through on his catlike 
face. "You're not the first person to underestimate her... them. Kasumi and 
Misty are both... well, let's just say I'm far more lucky than I deserve to 
have them."

Shampoo grinned at him, showing her teeth. "You are right about that!" She 
and Johnathon both laughed out loud, sounding a lot like a pair of lions 
coughing, which just made them laugh harder. When they had finally managed 
to get a hold of themselves once more, Shampoo nodded to Johnathon. "I am 
ready. What should I do?"

Johnathon Dwire/Tendo made himself a little straighter as he thought. "Well, 
I didn't actually have any specific training method
when I learned it... I just spent a lot of time in this form... not always 
by choice, and practiced. I�d think the best way to start would be to spar� 
that way we'll see if there is anything in particular that you need to work 
on."

Shampoo got into a high martial stance, balancing on the ball of her right 
foot, the other foot perched on top of her right knee. Her hands were high 
as well, one over behind her head, the other stretched out in front of her 
as if she was beckoning to Johnathon. A moment later she did exactly that, 
making a "come and get it" gesture that they were all used too. Johnathon 
didn't move an inch for several long moments, then burst into a run, somehow 
sensing a weakness in her stance.

Instead of heading straight toward her, Johnathon ran at a point slightly to 
her left, going down for a leg sweep at the last moment. The male half-cat's 
legs passed through the space where Shampoo's feet had been only an instant 
before, as the white furred female felinoid hit the sky, leaping upward at 
the last moment. Johnathon swept his legs the rest of the way around, then 
pushed up in a bicycle kick just in time to catch Shampoo coming back down 
to earth.

Shampoo herself cursed inwardly as she fell into his kick. She had, in fact, 
been more off balance then she liked in her normal opening stance, and had 
taken an instant too long preparing to leap, jumping at the last moment more 
in panic then by plan, and not having time to pick a landing spot. She had 
jumped too hard as well, getting too much air time and giving Johnathon 
Dwire far too much time to prepare for her landing. Shampoo landed stomach 
first on Johnathon's outstretched feet, and rolled off to one side with a 
choked cough, trying to get her breath back.

Johnathon kicked up to a standing position and waited for her to recover, 
then offered her a hand up. "So, can you figure out what went wrong?"

Shampoo let Johnathon pull her to her feet as she thought. "I tried to land 
on all fours� like a cat. It was in... instinct?"

Johnathon nodded. "I had similar problems when I first changed into this 
form. I was used to the reflexes of my cat body just taking over, so I had 
trouble adjusting." He smiled cheerfully. "Still, now that you know what the 
problem is, you should be able to compensate."

Shampoo nodded in agreement, getting back into her stance again. "We keep 
sparring?"

Johnathon got into his own, more casual stance as well. "Sure. Best way to 
learn."

The two half cat's went at it again and again. It was obvious before long 
that Shampoo had a slight advantage in speed and a larger one in strength, 
but Johnathon kept managing to take her down, although each time he did so 
it got more difficult for him to do so.

Everyone else had gone inside as they continued to train, but Shampoo and 
Johnathon kept at it doggedly. The Amazon girl understood what the older man 
was trying to do, and appreciated it, although at the same time her temper 
was starting to fray each time she had to pick herself up off the ground and 
start over.

A growing discomfort was starting to bother her at the same time, but she 
ignored it, pushing the strange sensation to one side as she forced herself 
to focus on the fight. It was becoming more and more like a real fight to 
her� and their "sparring" was starting to become more and more serious, but 
Shampoo couldn't seem to calm down enough to stop.

Shampoo was starting to actually growl low in her throat when she finally 
managed to pin Johnathon to the ground after knocking him over with an elbow 
to the side of his head. She snarled down at him triumphantly, only to feel 
five sharp points grate lightly along her throat.

"I win again." Johnathon gloated softly, his eyes glinting yellow in the 
fading sun. "I think it's time you learned how to use your claws."

Shampoo's eyes flashed and she sat up abruptly with a loud ripping sound, 
raking her own claws down his chest.  "Shampoo already know how!"  She told 
him pointedly, then glanced down at herself in dismay.  "What you do?!?"  
Johnathon's own claws had gotten caught in the fabric of her short Chinese 
dress when she had sat up so abruptly, and the sudden movement had caused 
them to tear through the silk all they way down to her waist.

Johnathon pulled his claws free gingerly, careful not to rip her dress 
further.  "I didn't mean� you sat up so quickly, I.�"  He glanced down at 
his own shirt, which Shampoo had shredded with her own claws at the same 
time. " You seem to have gotten me as well, you know."

Shampoo frowned down at him angrily, and seemed like she was about to retort 
when a shudder went through her and her mouth closed.  "Shampoo... I am� 
sorry."  She shuddered again slightly and shook her head.  "What� what are 
you� what am I doing?"  Her legs bunched as if to leave, but she remained 
where she was, straddling Johnathon's waist, the wild look in her eyes 
becoming even more feral as she seemed to fight some sort of internal 
battle.

Johnathon forced himself to calm down, purposely slowing his breathing and 
trying to focus his thoughts.  "Calm down Shampoo.  Let's call it a day.  I 
think� I think we've sparred enough for now."  He suddenly found himself 
acutely conscious that he was being straddled by an extremely attractive 
female in a very compromising position, and was finding it more and more 
difficult to keep from staring at the gap his claws had made down the front 
of her dress.  He shivered once,
uncontrollably, but otherwise remained frozen underneath the Amazon.

Shampoo stared at the half-cat below her as if she had never seen him 
before, not really able to put what she was feeling into words.  A tiny 
voice was screaming warnings somewhere in the back of her mind, but she 
ignored it, trying to puzzle out what was happening to her.  She slowly 
started to stand, the movement triggering an uncontrollable urge that caused 
the strength to leave her limbs, causing Shampoo to flop back down onto 
Johnathon a moment later.  More sensations, powerful and deep, ran through 
her at the renewed contact and she gasped in reaction.

Johnathon lay underneath Shampoo getting more confused and more disturbed at 
the same time.  "Shampoo... are you... are you alright?"

Shampoo had started, almost unconsciously, to slowly move forward and back, 
rubbing against Johnathon in a very sensual way when his words snapped her 
out of her daze.  "What? Johnathon?"  She froze, suddenly acutely aware 
herself of what she had been doing.  For several long seconds Shampoo 
couldn't move, couldn't even breathe, unable to accept her own actions as 
real, but the sudden noise of several people leaping into the yard from 
outside broke her paralysis.

With a pained hiss Shampoo forced herself off of Johnathon, rolling to one 
side to lay next to him, panting.  Sailor Mars, Jupiter and Venus stood 
staring at the two of them in shock, the three younger girls looking like 
they wanted to disbelieve what they saw before them.

Mars forced herself to speak.  "What... what were you two doing?"

Johnathon glanced at her, a bit wild eyed from the experience himself.  "We 
were... sparring."  He stammered uncertainly.  "Shampoo just... er... she 
just managed to pin me... that's all."  Rei esitated, glancing questioningly 
from the rip in Shampoo's dress to Johnathon's torn shirt, and Johnathon 
held up his hand, popping the claws out automatically.  "I was going to show 
Shampoo how to use her claws... it was an accident."

Sailor Mars still looked uncertain, but Venus was quick to help. "Sure! Just 
like all those times Usagi knocked you down in practice and you two kept on 
getting tangled up trying to get loose.  Right Mars?"

Sailor Mars blushed at the reminder, trying not to look guilty, and 
Johnathon sat up with a laugh.  "Just like that."  He agreed, not really 
noticing Rei's flinch.  "No real harm done."  He glanced at the cuts in his 
shirt, pulling it aside a bit to check the fur and flesh underneath.  "Looks 
like you managed not to draw blood at least, Shampoo.  Did I hurt you at 
all?"

Shampoo didn't answer right away, sitting up shakily first, then slowly 
pulling the gap in her dress closed.  "N-no..."  She stammered.  "You not... 
You did not cut me."  She glanced over at Johnathon, then turned away with a 
shudder, closing her eyes and hunching over her knees defensively.

Johnathon slowly got to his feet, looking over at Shampoo in concern.  
"Shampoo?  Are you sure you're not hurt?"  The cat-girl
didn't answer at first, her breathing quick and harsh as she sat there 
motionless save for the slight tremor running through her body.  Finally she 
shook her head quickly and started slowly climbing to her feet.

Sailor Jupiter bent down to help her up and was surprised when Shampoo 
grabbed on to her like a life raft.  "Whoa, Shampoo... what's wrong?  What's 
going on?"

Shampoo just shook her head again, and slowly forced herself to release 
Jupiter and stand on her own.  "I..." She nearly curled up on herself again 
as another shudder ran through her, and she cried out something nearly 
incoherent in Chinese.

"Sheesh, Shampoo!"  Makoto exclaimed worriedly.  "You are NOT alright.  
What's wrong with you?"

Johnathon hesitated, feeling powerfully drawn to go to her side, then forced 
himself away.  "I... I'll go get Doctor Tofu. Something's wrong with her."  
He headed for the house, staggering a bit at first as he started to leave, 
then walking more steadily as his head seemed to clear.  Behind him, Sailor 
Jupiter slowly sank to her knees, letting Shampoo crumple back onto the 
ground, still holding on to the half-cat girl carefully.

Sailor Venus and Sailor Mars gathered around worriedly, watching Shampoo in 
concern.  "Shampoo?  Shampoo what's wrong?"  Rei asked quietly, bringing a 
hand up to check the furred girl's forehead.  "I think she's a bit hot?"  
She said questioningly, not certain of her diagnosis.  "Maybe a fever?"

Venus frowned and placed her own hand above Mars's.  "Let me see.  You don't 
even know what temperature she's supposed to be."

Mars frowned at the blond girl in annoyance.  "And you do?  I don't think 
you've even had to care for a half-cat half-human before, have you?"

Venus hesitated.  "Well... close... I mean I've taken care of Artemis 
before... so I know a bit about cats AND humans."

"Please..."  Shampoo looked up from where Jupiter was cradling her.  "I... 
I... know what's wrong... just... just get some... some hot water... 
please."  All three Senshi blinked in confusion.

"Hot water?"  Jupiter started to ask.  "Why...?"

Mars just turned to go.  "I'll get some.  Be right back."

Sailor Venus knelt down next to Jupiter and Shampoo with a thoughtful look.  
"It has something to do with your curse?  What is it, Shampoo?"

Shampoo just shook her head.  "I'll be alright.  I just never expected... I 
never thought it'd be this strong...."  She shivered
again, bringing her clawed hands up and looking at them shake as if she was 
seeing them for the first time.  "So strong...."  She grunted again, curling 
up a bit further, holding her hands away from her body as if resisting an 
urge to scratch.

Venus scratched her head.  "I don't get it.  What's wrong?  What's so 
strong?"

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

Minutes earlier, Kasumi had gone directly up to her room to change clothes 
after assuring Nodoka and her father that she was, in fact, whole and 
unharmed after her flight from the city zoo.  Soun in particular had been 
difficult to reassure, fretting like a mother hen over the scrape she had 
gotten on her arm.  Misty followed her occasionally avian twin into their 
room, and Kasumi blinked to find their TV on, with the volume on low.

"You were recording something?"  She asked pointedly, noticing the VCR on as 
well.

Misty nodded somberly, going over to the VCR to rewind the tape.  "The 
afternoon news.  You were on TV, Kasumi, or at least several photos of 
you... and even some video of you leaving the zoo."

Kasumi sighed.  "People do bring cameras to the zoo after all.  I suppose I 
shouldn't be surprised."  She started to remove the overalls she had been 
wearing and nearly jumped in fright as Nabiki barged into the bedroom with 
them.

"So, how good were the photos?"  Nabiki asked worriedly.  "Good enough for 
someone to recognize her face?"  Not fazed in the slightest at having walked 
in on her older sister changing, Nabiki looked over to Misty, then the TV.  
"Is this the tape?"

Akane was only a set behind their middle sister, and she blushed bright 
enough for the both of them.  "Nabiki!"  She screeched quietly, quickly 
closing the door behind her.  "You should knock before you enter a room!"

"Sorry, Kasumi."  Nabiki said offhandedly over her shoulder, focused mainly 
on the TV screen.

"That's alright."  Kasumi assured her, already going back to undressing 
unconcernedly.  She hissed slightly as she eased the overalls past the 
bandage on her leg, catching Akane's immediate attention.

"You ARE hurt!"  The younger sister exclaimed in concern, kneeling down to 
examine the bloody torn sock Kasumi had used to cover the scrape on her leg. 
  "You should get this changed.  Does it hurt much?"

Kasumi shook her head.  "It stopped bleeding a while ago.  It was pretty 
shallow, really.  Not at all serious."

Akane frowned angrily, grinding her teeth.  "Did those men at the zoo do 
this?  I swear, if I ever lay my hands on them...."

Kasumi shook her head quickly.  "Oh no.  I just had a bit of trouble with my 
landing on that gravel rooftop.  I'm sure I'll be able to master landing 
with a bit more practice."

Akane blinked, suddenly recalling the improbable fact that her older sister 
had spent part of the afternoon flying over downtown Tokyo and shook her 
head in amazement.  "I still can't believe it that you really... you 
actually flew, Kasumi!"

"If you can't believe it, see for yourself!"  Nabiki said, still staring at 
the TV screen.

"What?"  Akane turned to see quickly, then frowned.  "Hey!  You passed it!  
Go back!"

Misty smiled and held up a finger.  "One more minute, I'm rewinding to the 
beginning so we can see the whole report."

Before long Kasumi's bandage was changed and Kasumi herself was in a clean 
dress, while Misty finished rewinding the tape. The Tendo sisters all sat 
down to watch, Akane, Kasumi and Nabiki crowding together on the bed while 
Misty lounged out on the floor in front of them.  They watched the news 
program silently, each of them wanting to hear every detail.  When Misty sat 
up to see better, Akane absently reached down and started scratching her 
furry older sister behind the ear, and didn't really notice what she was 
doing until the cat-girl started to softly purr, pushing her head lightly 
against Akane's hand.  It was at that point that the anchorman changed the 
topic away from the mysterious angel spotted over the city, and began to 
move on to other news.

With the topic on the screen going to less interesting business, Akane 
finally noticed what she had been unconsciously doing.  "Oh!"  Akane blinked 
in surprise, taking her hand away guiltily.  "I don't know what came over 
me."

Misty smiled up at her younger sister.  "That felt SO good, Akane.  Please 
don't stop."

Akane hesitated, then shrugged and went back to petting her furred sibling.  
"OK, Misty... I guess It just seems a little strange to er... be petting my 
older sister."

Misty laid her head down in Akane's lap with a giggle.  "I don't mind, and 
it feels wonderful.  It's one of the perks of being a cat you know.  You 
wouldn't believe how sensitive my fur is...."

Kasumi nodded in confirmation.  "It really is nice.  When I was stuck as a 
cat, I loved to be petted....  Johnathon never seemed to mind indulging me, 
and sometimes he'd just stroke me for hours...."

Misty sighed.  "It's nearly better than sex."

Nabiki chuckled.  "Oh really!"

Kasumi blushed but Misty just nodded, moving her head against Akane's hand 
more firmly.  "Oh yes.  Actually, to tell the truth, as a cat I had very 
little sex drive, but I loved to be touched."

Nabiki raised an eyebrow at Misty's frankness.  "Oh? How about now?  Is it 
much different?"

Misty glanced up at Nabiki thoughtfully.  "In some ways."  She admitted.  
"Do you really want to know?"  Akane was blushing again, but Kasumi just 
giggled.

"Actually, yes!"  Nabiki said after only a moment's thought.  "I've been 
dying to know what it's like... being half cat.  It's got to be a unique 
experience."

Misty sighed.  "One I hope you never have to share, dear sister.  Still, it 
does have it's upside."  She paused, then nodded.  "It's
a bit of what you'd expect, and a whole lot of surprises.  I still don't 
know everything there is about what I am yet, but I can tell
you some of it."  She smiled softly.  "My... fur, my skin is just as 
sensitive as when I was a full cat... and it's still wonderful to be
petted."  She shrugged slowly, smiling softly.  "As for my... sex drive, 
it's not as strong, I'm pretty sure of that.  I still feel much
of what I felt as a human... I am attracted to Johnathon as much as I ever 
was.  I was attracted to him while I was a cat, so I doubt that will ever 
change, no matter my form, but I don't feel as... excited, not in the same 
way at least."

Kasumi frowned.  "I didn't realize that.  You should have talked to me 
earlier, if you don't...."  She blushed.  "Well... if Johnathon is too 
demanding." She blinked.  "It's strange that Johnathon never mentioned 
anything like this."

Misty quickly shook her head.  "Oh no, sister!  Johnathon's attentions have 
never been unwelcome."  She glanced at the floor and her voice lowered.  If 
not for her fur there was no doubt she'd have been blushing.  "As I said... 
it feels very good to be touched in this form... VERY good.  What I may... 
lack in... some ways... is made up for and more, I assure you."

Nabiki spoke up, nodding in understanding.  "So it's less intense at the 
good part... but better all the way along, is that it?"

Misty nodded quickly back, still looking embarrassed.  "That's it exactly."

Kasumi smiled softly, her eyes getting a warm look in them.  "Johnathon is 
very good with his hands, isn't he?"  She shook her head.  "Still, Misty, 
you should have told us, we could please you better if we had...."  She 
blushed again, realizing how personal their conversation had gotten.  "Er... 
I think we've really discussed this enough for now, don't you?"

Nabiki laughed.  "I'd say so, big sister, although it is fun!"  She leaned 
over the bed, taking hold of Misty's upper shoulder. "Why don't you climb up 
in bed with us so we can give you a proper petting?  I always wanted a 
pet...."  She blushed bright red.  "Not that you're a pet, Misty... sister." 
  She looked at her furred sibling worriedly.  "You're my sister, OK?  I 
love you.  I just meant that...."  Nabiki was at a loss for words for once, 
not sure how to explain herself.

Misty shook her head.  "I know."  She said quietly.  "You don't have to 
explain."  She climbed up onto the bed, laying across Nabiki's lap, putting 
her head on Akane's knees and draping her lower half over Kasumi's lap.  "I 
know."  She repeated softly.  "And I don't mind being a pet as well."  She 
giggled softly.  "Especially if it means I get petted regularly."

Akane couldn't repress a giggle of her own, stroking her older sister's head 
softly at the same time.  "I'll be glad to."  She said sincerely.  "You have 
wonderful fur..."

Kasumi smiled broadly as well, barely suppressing her own daughter.  "She 
does, doesn't she?"  Misty's human twin scooted down the bed a bit so she 
could work on Misty's legs and feet better, causing the cat-girl to purr 
appreciatively in pleasure.

Nabiki shrugged and went to work on Misty's back, running her fingers though 
the fur of Misty's arms and shoulders most, spending less time on the part 
of her back still covered by the halter top she was wearing.

Misty let herself relax as her sisters petted her, luxuriating in the 
sensations until her sharp ears told her that another important
segment was about to come on on the news.  "Listen to this part coming up."  
She warned her sisters quietly.  "It's about Johnathon."

As the news reporter began a segment on the recent series of monster cat 
sightings, Misty's three sisters continued to pet her unconsciously, letting 
their fingers go where they willed without really thinking about it.  As the 
news program went into more detail about the days events, Misty started to 
grow a bit discontent with the quality of her sisters' petting... not that 
she would ever complain, but when they weren't concentrating on the matter, 
they tended to simply stroked the parts of her body that weren't covered by 
her clothing, concentrating on the fur they could reach instead.  After 
several minutes of growing frustration, Misty slowly reached down and 
started pulling up her halter top, trying not to get in the way of her 
sister's hands while she did so.

Nabiki didn't respond to her furred sister's actions consciously at first, 
simply running her hands over the exposed area as her hands found it, 
causing Misty to purr gratefully as she reached spots that had started 
aching for attention.  Eager for the wonderful sensations to continue, Misty 
pulled her top completely off, distracting Akane slightly as she pulled her 
top over her head.

"Misty...?"  Akane started questioningly, then stopped, shrugged, and went 
back to her petting, focusing back on the TV.  < Who cares if Misty takes 
her top off?>  She reasoned, not willing to bug her older sister about it.  
< It's not like there are any boys in the room... and she's covered with 
fur, anyway.>

Nabiki also glanced down, raised an eyebrow, then went back to petting.  It 
was nicer, anyways, having that long expanse of luxurious black fur to run 
her hands though.  It was very soothing, really, and Nabiki didn't blame her 
sister a bit for wanting to get a little more pleasure out of the 
experience.  Not that she'd let her own guard down that far... probably... 
but she certainly could understand wanting to.

The news program switched to a long segment on the Sailor Senshi, which 
Misty tuned out, having heard before.  Her sisters all watched raptly, 
however, wanting to know if there was anything new on Mara or Happosai.  
They continued to pet her, regardless, and Misty squirmed lightly under 
their hands, barely conscious of a growing need deep inside her that her 
sisters' attentions were only partially dealing with.  With a soft whine 
that she wasn't even aware of making, Misty undid the buttons on her shorts 
and pushed them down, letting Nabiki have access to even more of her fur.  
Kasumi noticed her attempting to
remove her shorts without moving too much, and helpfully slipped them the 
rest of the way off for her before going back to watching the news.

Misty luxuriated in the guilty pleasure of having six pairs of hands stroke 
her now naked, if still quite furry body, purring somewhere down deep in her 
belly in pleasure.  At the same time, however, the need in her grew, filling 
her with a sensation that was starting to get more and more overwhelming.

As the news program finally switched to the local weather, Nabiki glanced 
down to find Misty now laying naked across her lap, and raised her eyebrow 
even higher than before.  "No offense, sis, but this is pretty strange...."  
She shook her head and shrugged.  "Of course most other people's sisters 
aren't half feline...."  She increased the vigor of her stroking slightly 
and smiled at the increased volume of her sister's purr in response.  
"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"  Nabiki chuckled.  "Well so long 
as you don't start masturbating I guess I don't...."  Her voice trailed off. 
  "You're not...."  For once in her life Nabiki actually sounded shocked.  
"Misty!  I can't believe...!"  Nabiki stopped petting her older sister in 
shock, almost throwing Misty
off her as she stood up.

Akane and Kasumi both blushed crimson as they noticed Misty's hand firmly 
planted between her legs.  Akane's eyes bulged and Kasumi looked like she 
had been the one caught in the act instead of her twin.

"Misty!" Kasumi said, sounding appalled . "I really don't think that's 
appropriate...."

The cat-girl gasped and rolled off the bed, her hands going wide to catch 
herself as she hit the floor.  "Oh!"  Misty landed on her back, her eyes 
wide and looking as horrified as Akane or Nabiki had ever seen her.  "Oh!  
N-Nabiki... Akane... I... I don't know what... I'm sorry!  I'm SOO sorry!"

Nabiki stood shakily and swallowed, not quite able to look her sister in the 
eyes, but not able to look away either.  "No big deal."  She said calmly, 
her voice only shaking slightly.  "Forget about it."

Akane started to stand as well, then thought better of it, sitting back down 
and smoothing out the wrinkles in her pants slowly. "That's OK, Misty... 
we're sisters, right?"  Her voice quavered, and her face was strained, and 
Misty winced away from her both of her younger sisters, staring at the 
ground in embarrassment.

"What was I...?"  She murmured quietly to herself, trying desperately to 
ignore the fire now raging inside her.  "How could I?"

She felt a hand take her by the shoulder gently, and Akane spoke to her 
softly.  "Misty... forget about it, really.  We all just got a bit carried 
away.  I think anyone would... well, find it hard to resist...."  She 
laughed softly, shaking her head.  "I never thought
I'd be telling my big sister that it's OK to... but... after everything I've 
done in the last month, I don't have any right to be taking
the moral high ground with you."

Misty shook her head.  "What you do with your husband...."

Akane's laugh almost sounded like she was choking.  "Not just him... Ranko 
too, and Ukyo... nearly.  You have nothing to be ashamed of."

Nabiki's eyes were wide.  "AND Ukyo nearly?  What you you mean by NEARLY?"

Kasumi put a hand on Nabiki's shoulder.  "Why don't we leave it at that... 
and let's go downstairs.  We should tell the others about what we've 
seen...."  Her younger sisters looked at her in astonishment and she rolled 
her eyes just slightly.  "I mean on the television.  They should know how 
much the press knows by now."  Akane and Nabiki nodded quickly in 
understanding and didn't resist a bit as Kasumi herded them out of the room, 
leaving Misty alone inside.

Kasumi glanced back at her twin before closing the door, but Misty didn't 
meet her gaze, staring at the floor in shame, and Kasumi reluctantly left 
her there.  There was something very strange going on, but Kasumi was at a 
loss to as what to do about it.

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

Johnathon brought Dr. Tofu outside only a few steps ahead of Sailor Mars, 
who followed just behind them with a slightly steaming kettle.  Johnathon 
stopped several steps away, obstinately fighting a suddenly returned urge to 
go to her himself.  Inside the house his head had cleared and he could 
hardly credit his earlier behavior, but once outside and in Shampoo's 
presence once again he found the urge to go to her... and more, resurfacing 
as strong as before, if not stronger.  He held himself back, however, 
refusing to let an impulse rule him, no matter how seductive.

Dr. Tofu's glasses fogged up as he knelt next to Shampoo and Sailor Jupiter, 
and he stopped dead in confusion.  "Sha... Shampoo???"  He stammered 
nervously.  "What a strange coincidence... meeting you here... of all 
places...."  He reached over Shampoo and grabbed hold of Sailor Jupiter's 
arm, automatically checking her pulse.  "Let me see... your heart rate seems 
fine...."

Jupiter pulled her arm free with a grunt.  "Er, doctor, Shampoo is down 
here.  I'm Sailor Jupiter."

Dr. Tofu blinked, his glasses unfogging for just an instant.  "Oh?  Oh yes, 
I was wondering why you didn't have any fur on your arm...."

Sailor Mars came up behind the doctor, holding up the kettle questioningly.  
"Shampoo... did you still want this?"  Shampoo
nodded vigorously and Mars stepped around Doctor Tofu to pour a good dose on 
the cat-girl's head.  Shampoo instantly reverted to her human form and in 
moments her breathing started to slow.

"That is better."  She commented softly to Sailor Mars.  "Thank you."  
Shampoo turned her attention to the befuddled doctor, eyebrows going up in 
interest as he babbled on incoherently for awhile.  Jupiter helped the 
purple haired Amazon sit up straight, and couldn't help noticing that her 
breathing was still rather quick, and that her nipples were showing just a 
bit through the large gap in the front of her dress.

"Er... Shampoo...." Jupiter coughed twice and inclined her eyes toward the 
Amazon's chest area pointedly.  Shampoo blinked and looked down, blushing 
only slightly before pulling her dress together with one hand.  Dr. Tofu 
blinked several times and shook his head, his glasses starting to clear up, 
and Sailor Jupiter raised an eyebrow in sudden speculation.

Shampoo herself was looking speculatively at the good doctor as he came back 
to himself, although at the same time she was still visibly trying to calm 
herself down.  "You would like to know what happened to me, yes?"

Dr. Tofu was still too out of it to correct her, and simply nodded.  "What 
DID happen to you, Shampoo?  Johnathon came in saying that you had 
collapsed?"

Shampoo nodded slowly, frowning.  "It hasn't happened for awhile... but when 
Shampoo... when I spent a long time in my cat form... like right after I 
first got the curse, and had myself shipped to Ranma...."  She shook her 
head wryly, remembering.  "I learned a bit about really being a cat."

Dr. Tofu blinked.  "Then your collapse had something to do with being a 
cat?"

Shampoo nodded, looking slightly reluctant to continue.  "...yes."  She 
sighed and shrugged.  "It was a bit different... but there is no mistaking 
it...."

Sailor Venus broke in when Shampoo hesitated again.  "You went into heat, 
didn't you!"

Shampoo blushed.  "Shampoo... I prefer to say in season... but yes."  She 
frowned again.  "It was... stronger than before... I don't know why.  It 
came on all of a sudden as well.  It was never pleasant... but it was never 
like this before."

Johnathon shivered, then nodded.  "Oh. That explains...."  He coughed, then 
put a hand behind his head sheepishly.  "I'm glad that going back to your 
human form stopped it."

Shampoo shrugged.  "It is only temporary, unfortunately."  She frowned.  "It 
didn't happen often before, but whenever I... went into season, it didn't 
end until I spent enough time in my cat form to ride it out."

Johnathon blanched.  "You mean it's not over?"

Shampoo sighed.  "The last few times it lasted for at least two days... two 
days of being a cat, that is.  Great grandmother made me stay a cat until I 
finished my cycle each time it happened, so that I wouldn't be distracted 
every time I was splashed with cold water."  She chewed on her lip.  "It's 
going to be bad this time."  Shampoo smiled slightly, glancing at Dr. Tofu 
thoughtfully, causing the doctor to break out in a cold sweat.

Johnathon looked worried.  "I'm sorry about that, Shampoo... do you think 
Misty will...."  He shrugged, answering his own question.  "Of course she 
will."  The half-cat man raised an eyebrow curiously.  "Do you think you 
could talk to her about it?  If you might have any advice on how to handle 
it, I'm sure she'd appreciate it."

Shampoo nodded, standing up calmly, still holding her dress closed with one 
hand.  "I believe Kasumi should still have a spare one of my dresses as 
well."  She headed into the house.  The Senshi, Johnathon and Dr. Tofu 
followed, but the moment they got inside Johnathon stopped dead, a tremor 
going through his entire body as a now familiar urge went though him, 
stronger than ever.

Almost against his will a foot moved toward the staircase, then another, 
slowly taking the half-cat closer.  Akane and Nabiki came down the stairs, 
looking confused, and they were even more surprised to see Johnathon coming 
right for them, his shirt torn and a glassy eyed stare on his face.

Kasumi came down the stairs a bit behind her sisters, and was too 
preoccupied to realize how strangely he was acting.  "Husband... I think you 
should go up and check on Misty...."  She blinked as he accelerated past her 
without speaking, his tail lightly lashing her as he passed.  "Oh my!"  She 
gazed after him in confusion.  "What do you think that is about?"

Dr. Tofu himself seemed about to go into a daze, but he shook his head, 
controlling the impulse.  "I think I might be able to guess...."

Shampoo nodded vigorously, cracking a sly smile.  "Misty is in season as 
well, yes?  I don't think Johnathon-san will be coming down any time soon."

Kasumi blinked, then snapped her fingers.  "Of course!"  She smiled, looking 
relieved.  "That explains why Misty was acting so strangely!"  Akane and 
Nabiki exchanged incredulous glances, then rounded on Shampoo together.

"What do you mean she's gone into season?!?"  Akane loudly demanded to know.

"Are you you saying what I think you're saying?"  Nabiki added a moment 
later.

Shampoo nodded confidently, drawing the Tendo sister's eyes to her torn 
dress.  "Johnathon is acting just like he did outside with me... only this 
time I don't think he'll try and stop himself...."

Akane's eyes bulged.  "Johnathon did that?"  Her hands tightened into fists 
as a bright blue aura sprang up around her.  "I'll kill him!"

In contrast, Nabiki's eyes narrowed and she peered closer at the Amazon 
girl.  "Oh?  What really happened out there, Shampoo?"

Kasumi raised her hand to her mouth in shock.  "Oh my!  You don't mean 
Johnathon...."  She shook her head calmly.  "I don't believe it.  He would 
never...."

Sailor Venus jumped between Akane and Shampoo, putting her hands over 
Akane's fists.  "It's not what you think!"  She insisted.  "Nothing 
happened!  I mean something almost happened but they stopped!"

Shampoo glanced down at her torn dress again and blinked.  "No!  Shampoo... 
I didn't mean that Johnathon did this...."  She frowned slightly.  "Well he 
did do this... but when we were fighting, not when we were... when I...."  
She held up a hand.  "Wait... this is hard to explain."

Nabiki pretended to look astonished.  "You think?"

Jupiter jumped in helpfully. "You were sparring, and Johnathon was showing 
you how to use your claws, right?"

Shampoo nodded.  "Only I got angry... because I wasn't feeling very good, 
and I tore his shirt... and when I pulled away from him I tore my dress 
too."  She shrugged.  "But it was an accident."

Sailor Venus nodded.  "Because Shampoo went into heat too!  But they didn't 
actually do anything!  Shampoo just collapsed and Johnathon went into the 
house to get Dr. Tofu... although he was acting like he didn't really want 
to go... but that was just... pheromones or something, right Dr. Tofu?"

Dr. Tofu was doing his best to stay focused on the conversation without 
either loosing his temper or his increasingly precarious hold on his libido, 
but he nodded shakily.  "I suspect so."  He answered slowly.  "All... 
indications are that...."  He swallowed, doing his best not to glance at 
either Shampoo or Kasumi.  "That they are... very powerful."

Shampoo moved slowly over to the doctor's side, glancing knowingly at him 
and nodding.  "You did act... strange outside... like you couldn't think 
straight.  You thought Sailor Jupiter was Shampoo... and even tried to take 
her pulse."

Akane and Nabiki both blinked, then moved over to the doctor as well, 
peering at him sideways.  "You know Doc...." Nabiki began.  "That sounds 
awfully familiar.  Do you think you were affected by whatever pheromones 
Shampoo was giving off?"

Dr. Tofu hesitated, then nodded.  "I think so. I believe that... Misty is 
probably also giving off... er... similar signals."  He purposely took a 
step back, then another, finally ending up back outside in the yard.  "I 
can't be sure without testing... but since Shampoo and Misty are both half 
human, they may give off pheromones that humans are susceptible to as 
well...."  He scratched his head.  "Although they almost certainly would be 
more effective on another half-cat."

Akane looked uncertain.  "Do you really think Misty is... in heat?"  She 
finished in a rush, blushing.

Nabiki glanced up the stairs thoughtfully, then nodded.  "Oh yeah.  Do you 
think our big sister could act like she was up there otherwise? I think 
Johnathon's going to be busy for quite a while."  She glanced at Shampoo 
curiously.  "How is it that you and Misty both went into mating season at 
the same time?  Isn't that an awfully strange coincidence?"

Shampoo shrugged.  "I have no idea. I've never been a half-cat, half girl 
before.  Who knows what's normal?"

Kasumi looked thoughtful.  "Well... perhaps its like... that time of the 
month?  Akane, Nabiki and my cycles are all about the same, perhaps this is 
similar?"

Shampoo shook her head.  "But Misty and I haven't really spent that much 
time together....  Could it just be a coincidence?"

Nabiki frowned.  "I don't believe in coincidences... at least not in this 
neighborhood.  Something triggered this, or you two wouldn't have started so 
close together."

Shampoo frowned as well.  "You think there is another reason?"

Nabiki shrugged.  "I haven't the foggiest... but I'll believe that over 
coincidence, any day."

Upstairs, Johnathon Dwire/Tendo pulled the bedroom door open slowly, forcing 
himself not to rip it from it's hinges.  He stepped inside, closing the door 
behind him with the same deliberate slowness, his whole body starting to 
shake.  Misty lay on the floor, her legs spread, one hand gripping the 
corner of the bed covers tightly where they came to the floor, and the other 
between her spread legs.  She had frozen stiff when the door had opened, and 
her eyes fixed on him steadily, her focus now completely on her husband.

"John...."  Her voice was shaky and difficult to understand, and she 
swallowed twice before speaking again, her eyes full of pain.  "I... I can't 
stop...."  She choked and looked away, suddenly too ashamed to look him in 
the eye.  "Please... please...."

The male half-cat took a halting step toward her, then another, finally 
falling to his knees only inches away from touching her. "Don't... don't 
cry, Misty."  He started.  "It... it'll be alright."

Misty shook her head.  "How can it...?  What's wrong with me?!?"  She shook 
her head wildly in denial.  "I can't control myself!  What's happening?"

Johnathon Dwire/Tendo shook with the effort it took to keep himself at arms 
length.  "You... you're in heat....  That's got to be it."

Misty shook her head in confusion, then blinked as understanding finally 
came.  "Oh dear...."  She suddenly looked up at her husband again, as if for 
the first time, and nodded in understanding.  "It's... it's affecting you 
too, isn't it?"  He nodded quickly, not speaking, just staring at her like a 
man dying of thirst would an oasis, and Misty felt an incredible surge of 
joy.  "Then... this is right.  What we're feeling... it's for each 
other...."  She beamed at him, holding out her arms.  "Come to me Johnathon. 
  Don't fight it anymore.  This is RIGHT."  Like a switch being snapped, 
Johnathon fell upon her, and there was nothing more for either one of them 
to say.

            End Chapter 31

You can find all the previous Chapters to this at:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/1449/fanfics.html

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