I think we all see the push for the end of the year craze.  ^,^;;
Don't worry.  I'll be good in January.  I've even gone so far
as to take off a week in December so far.


Desire
Thom Keehn
zinyadel@hotmail.com


Exclusive rights to all Ranma1/2 characters and places belong to
Rumiko Takahashi and are used herein without permission.  This
material is not to be used for commercial gain or in any other way
that is profitable.

This is intended to take place immediately after Graduation.  Ukyo
makes a little visit and happens to get caught up in Kodachi's plot
of winning Ranma once and for all.  Insert maniacal Kodachi laugh.

The stories of both the Cas series and Wedding Aftermaths are on my
homepage in formatted text files.

http://ravenhale.anifics.com/fiction.html

-----

In the darkest depths of the estate, existed a room filled with
vials of chemical solutions, jars of volatile solids and the
occasional radioactive material sealed in a radon lined container.
In this darkness, a single pendant light flickered overhead to
banish the shadows to the corners of the room, a constant struggle
as each flicker brought the enemies of illumination crashing back
in.

Hunched over the worktable below the warrior of light, a young
woman crossed out an ingredient from her list.  She giggled,
putting the pen down.  She threw her head back, her offset ponytail
bobbing madly as she cackled with glee.

The fit passed, but the humor remained.  Kodachi spun away from the
table, her white labcoat snapping behind her.  "A little setback,
nothing more," the girl declared, her brown eyes burning with a
light of their own, that they might have been visible even in total
darkness.  "Blackmail will have no hold if Ranma comes to me of his
own volition."

She stopped in front of the laden shelves, examining the rows for
the chemical she would need.  She unconsciously tugged at the open
front of her lab coat, the act threatening to spill the pens out
of her breast pocket.  In contrast to the dingy, white coat,
beneath it a sable layer of inert material covered her from neck to
toes.  It was a wise precaution if she happened to spill anything,
and gave her a cold tingling feeling against her skin which she
enjoyed.

"Oh, Tendou Akane, you are not even competition," she declared,
seizing the calcium nitrate solution off the shelf.  "For Ranma to
handle your sister so generously suggests you are quite failing to
satisfy his needs as a man."  She stalked back to the workbench,
her low heels clipping on the cement floor in satisfaction.

The gymnast set the pyrex container down next to her list and
picked up her pen.  "If he can think to turn to that conniving
Tendou Nabiki, surely he can come to love me," she reasoned.  "I
could wait, but my impatience is excruciating."  She crossed off
the next item, setting the pen back down.  She glanced up,
summoning an image of her beloved into her mind.

She smiled, her eyes wetting slightly.  "I'm sorry, love, but I do
not possess the strength," she said, her voice cracking slightly.
"You will forgive me later, I beg you."

Her heels clicked loudly as she turned away from the image,
striding purposefully to the shelves for the next component.  She
could not work while thinking of him.  His presence stabbed into her
conscious with the unmistakable taint of guilt.

Whimpering in frustration, she tried to banish him entirely from
her mind as she roamed the shelves with her eyes.  At last she
succeeded with bringing her attention upon the wicked Tendou Akane.
Relieved, Kodachi snatched up a brown plastic container of hydrogen
chloric acid.

There was a footstep at the door, causing her to toss her head over
her shoulder as she set the container down next to the calcium
nitrate.  Her brother stepped out of the shadows, a glazed look
over his eyes.  In his arms rested an unconscious girl with short
hair and a yellow jacket emblazoned with the name of her school,
Seisyun, on the front.

"The warrior of love has returned," Kodachi commented, suppressing
a giggle.  The success of her latest experiment had gone beyond
her expectations.  At best, she had suspected he would be
lightheaded, but the results were more than welcome.  She had to
remake the elixir.

"Why, brother dear, who is the girl?" she asked lightly, turning
her attention back to her list.  She lit the bunsen burner, the
yellow flame flickering until she adjusted the flame so it burned a
bright blue.

"I do not know," her brother droned.

"And what of Tendou Akane?" Kodachi asked, already knowing the
answer.  Her brother kept coming and going like a mindless zombie.
It was strange, but not too different from before.

She poured a generous amount of hydrochloric acid into a glass
basin near the burner.  Knowing she needed an air tight system for
this process, she ducked down and searched the drawers of the work
table for a beaker that would suit her purposes.  Finding it
quickly, she brought the glass up.

"She... the pig tailed girl..."  For a moment it sounded like he
was going to break out of the trance, but she knew he couldn't.
She had yet to discover an antidote, and was rather curious as
to why its effects had such a prolonged duration.  "They chose
each other over me," Tatewaki declared at last.  "This one choses
me, and I am content with that."

"Content?" Kodachi giggled.  "You don't love her?"

The special beaker was an unusual device, fully enclosed with
only a small nozzle of glass available for getting anything
inside.  Presently it was closed with a glass butterfly valve.
Attaching a small length of black, rubber hose to the nozzle,
she dipped the other end into the basin.  Liquid poured freely
into the beaker in the attempt to equalize the pressure.

"Of course I do!" her brother spoke with vehemence.

"What's the name of your new love?" Kodachi queried again, enjoying
how mindlessly this potion had made her brother.  Or at least, more
mindless than before.

Noting that she had enough of her first component from the tick
marks on the side of the glass, she closed off the valve and
removed the rubber hose.  She filled a second basin with the
calcium nitrate solution, and repeated the process she had done
with the hydrochloric acid.

"I do not know," came the expected response.

She cackled with glee once the level of the contents in the
beaker reached its target on the tick marks.  Closing the valve
and discarding the second hose, she swirled the contents to
ensure the mixture would react evenly.  Her eyes gazed lovingly
at the contents as she brought the container above the flame.
Tomorrow, her desire would be complete.

****

Hey Ranma,

I know I haven't said much over the past year... okay I've said
nothing, but I wanted to at least give you a heads up.  I've been
staying with a friend here, not my family for reasons I don't feel
you need to know.  She's been quite helpful over the year.  I even
attended an all girl high.  That was rather tedious, but in the
least I won't be needing Konatsu's help with makeup.  I had to
figure that out in the first couple weeks.  These girls are
merciless!

I'd like to thank you for taking Konatsu in.  I'm sure your
kindness which I've always been able to count on, ensured him a
place to stay when my restaurant was repossessed.  If it is of any
consolation to him, I'm sorry for abandoning him like that.  I
needed the time alone.  I needed to get away.  I would not take it
back, even if I could.

I'm coming back to Nerima for a short while.  I want to visit
Konatsu and I'm sure, I'll run into you by some chance.  Don't
worry.  Things change.  I think I could cut it as your friend now,
as you always wanted.  I'm not saying I found someone else, but I
believe I was only trying to escape my loneliness and insecurity
through you.  Those are the wrong reasons to need someone, and I
thank you for your stubborness in not letting me escape like that.

Oh, and don't tell me I'm cute when I do come to town.  Some things
are better left unsaid.

Ukyou

*****

"I can't believe how callous she is!" Akane stated.  "She doesn't
even sound sincere about her apology!"

Ranma sat the letter down on the table and leaned back on his
hands.  He let the words roll about his head, debating over whether
he should be happy or not.  Ukyou was offering friendship at last,
but her words did not imply any intent of staying in Nerima.

Nabiki sipped from a chocolate shake she had purchased on the way
home.  Her eyes were closed as she bobbed her shoulders in
response.  She removed the straw for a moment to comment, "It's not
like she has any legal responsibilities towards Konatsu.  He isn't
a child."

Deciding it would be more interesting to watch the two bicker,
Ranma pushed away his concerns over Ukyou.  He unfolded his legs so
they could rest at full length beneath the table as he regarded
Nabiki.  The graduate sat on her haunches, her blue denim coveralls
tight from the position.

Akane sighed at his side, placing an elbow on the table and resting
her cheek in her palm.  "I suppose that is true, but friends
shouldn't do that," Akane protested mildly.

He studied Nabiki's lips as she replied, remembering last night
with clarity.  "I hardly consider the relationship between Ukyou
and Konatsu friendship," Nabiki drawled, pulling the straw out of
the shake and pointing a malt laden edge at Akane.  The motion
moved her short-sleeved, white shirt so innocently, yet his
trained eyes glanced the blackness of her bra strap through the
momentary opening.

"I suppose Konatsu does show more feelings than a normal
friendship," Akane admitted.  "But that doesn't excuse her
behavior."

'Why am I looking?' Ranma wondered, his heart pounding.  'Am I
really the pervert Akane thinks I am?'  Her lips moved again, but
the words were lost in the jumble of his panicked thoughts.  'She's
done everything in her power to make my life miserable and I'm
still thinking about that damn kiss!  And to make matters worse,
she's not even showing the slightest hint that anything happened!
Did I just imagine it?  Am I going crazy?  Nabiki can't possibly
like me!'

"Akane!" he shouted, causing both girls to shrink away from him.
He turned his eyes wildly upon his fiancee, barely taking in
anything other than her familiar face that was turned curiously
upon him.

"W-what?" she stammered, her lips quivering.

He threw himself forward, sweeping an arm around her back as he
tilted his head in and covered her lips with his own.  He glanced
inconspicuously to the side, watching as Nabiki silently got up and
left the room.  It had been a valiant effort, but he had seen the
tear.  It was true.

He stopped the kiss, his eyes fixed in the direction Nabiki had
departed.  "What am I going to do?" he said, feeling hopeless.

"You could start running," a voice growled next to his cheek.

Ranma twitched, turning to regard a glowering Akane.  His heart
fell in shame as he noted the tears in her eyes.  A single kiss had
hurt two girls and probably more if word got out.  "I... I..." his
mind fumbled for an excuse.

Akane grabbed him by the temples and rammed his head into the
table.  She promptly got to her feet and stalked out of the room,
as he twitched in agony.

"Why me?"

*****

Kasumi padded down the hall, a large package in her hands.
"Ranma-kun," she called.  "A package arrived for you today."

Ranma rubbed the back of his head, still sore from the earlier
incident.  Neither girl had spoken to him since, not that he had
tried to talk with Nabiki.  He was too scared with the revelation
to do that.

"What is it?" he asked dubiously, taking the package from the
eldest girl, and thankfully the only one without a crush on him.
She smiled at him, instilling Ranma with fear for his
preconceptions, but she disappeared back down the hall without
another word.

He studied the box for a moment before tearing open the packaging.
Inside was a bowl of soup and a spoon.  Ranma frowned, having not
received a package like this in over a year.

"Do they think I'm dumb?" he asked rhetorically, taking the bowl
out and spilling the contents on the ground next to the patio.  He
sighed and set the bowl aside.  "Wonder who sent it.  Shampoo isn't
even in town now that the summer season is starting.  And she
hasn't done anything like this since..."  He thought of the
strangling attempts and quickly banished the memory.  It was a time
he wished he could forget, but it had also been the turning point
between him and Shampoo.  She had not pursued him since.

Footsteps padded beside him.  "You shouldn't leave dishes out like
this," Kasumi admonished him, picking up the bowl.  He didn't
respond, allowing the girl to leave in silence as he continued
contemplating who the culprit was.

With Ukyou only arriving in town later this evening, he doubted it
was her.  It left only Kodachi to fault, and he could see why that
girl would be after him after witnessing the dance with Nabiki.  He
couldn't remember what he had done.  To him he had danced and
nothing more, but it had certainly pissed Kodachi off and probably
started Nabiki's sudden crush on him.  He swore he would never
dance again.

A clatter sounded from the kitchen, alarming him of danger.  He
hopped to his feet and dashed inside.  His eyes roamed the
scene, noting Kasumi sprawled on the floor in front of a sink
full of dishes.  Her hands were still wet.

He moved to her side, noting that she was still breathing.  He
shook her softly, resulting in a soft snore from the girl.  Ranma's
eyes widened as he stared at the sink as if it were something
terrifying.

"That must have been some potent stuff!"

*****

The souvenier shop was heartwrenching to see.  She didn't dare go
inside, terrified of discovering everything from her past life gone
without a trace.  She sighed, tearing her gaze from the shop face
and started up the street towards the Tendou residence.

Of all the things to tear her out of the sudden depression from
realizing there was nothing left of her life here, a cackling girl
came dashing down the street towards her.  Instinctively, Ukyou
reached behind her, but there was no spatula to grab.  It was gone
and had been for an entire year.  If Kodachi wanted a fight, she
would have to do it with her fists.

Kodachi's eyes met hers and the girl's laughter cut off abruptly.
The raven-haired beauty came to a skidding halt, her white blouse
billowing in the wind.  The gymnast regarded her in silence.

Feeling it appropriate to keep peace, Ukyou bowed politely to her
former rival.  "Kodachi-san," she stated in utmost civility.  "It
has been some time since we last had the chance to speak together."

Kodachi's face remained impassive, though her eyes wavered for a
moment.  Kodachi returned the bow, her black skirt dipping.
"Indeed it has," the gymnast remarked lightly.  She straightened, a
small smile playing over her lips.  "Though I hardly consider what
we did in the past speaking."

Ukyou smiled at the memories that rose in her mind.  Despite all
the heartache, she admitted it had been fun fighting against and
sometimes alongside her rivals for Ranma's affection.  The thought
of Ranma brought about a question that she had in the forefront of
her mind.

"How is... Ranma-san?" she asked.  She smiled, having managed the
first question.  "Any luck in winning him from Akane?"

Kodachi huffed as if the thought was ridiculous.  "Ranma-sama is
still under their wicked spell, but he will be free soon enough,"
the gymnast assured her.  "It has been a tough battle, carrying on
all by myself but I shall reap the rewards when I succeed."

Ukyou chuckled, a sudden chill causing her to cross her arms
tightly against her white blouse.  Her decor wasn't so elaborate as
Kodachi's, but it served its purposes to pass her as the girl she
had denied herself all these years.

"Won't Shampoo have something to say about that?" Ukyou inquired.

Kodachi shook her head, regarding her as a mother would an
impertinent child.  "Dear, dear," she clucked.  "You don't realize
that the Chinese girl has all but removed her claim over him.
She's still around, but I have yet to hear of anything she's done
to show continued interest over him."  Kodachi flashed her a smile.
"But I must go now.  I'm expecting company soon."

Ukyou bowed again as Kodachi departed quickly.  She started to
continue her way when she noticed a small bottle on the ground
where Kodachi had stood moments before.  Curious, the chef
approached the object, kneeling down by it in examination.

"What's this?" she asked picking up the small bottle.  She turned
it over her hands, the word 'Desire' marked on the lable pasted
to the black glass container.  She glanced in the direction
Kodachi disappeared, wondering if she should return it now.

"No, I must see Konatsu," she reassured herself.  She slipped the
small container into the pocket of her blouse and stood up,
smoothing out her tan, knee-length skirt.  She could always return
it afterwards.

*****

Kodachi threw herself into her room, filled with glee.  It was all
working perfectly.  Ranma had seen through the deliberate attempt
and had unwittingly fallen into her trap.  With Kasumi unable to
cook and the Amazons on the other side of Tokyo, there was nobody
to give him a meal.

Her brow twitched in annoyance at the thought of Ukyou, but she
dismissed it.  The girl didn't have a shop or even the spatulas
that seemed to be everpresent on her person.  No, this new
development would have no effect on her plans.

She turned to the battered poster on her wall, the likeness of her
love smiling down upon her.  "Soon, Ranma-sama," she cooed.  She
tore her gaze away and flew to her wardrobe in excitement.  "I will
make you a feast for your pallet and your eyes.  You won't regret
it."

*****

Akane put her hand on the door frame and peered inside at the
gathering in Kasumi's room.  Her father pulled the covers up to
Kasumi's chin, the eldest girl sleeping soundly.

"It's no good," her father said, sounding crestfallen.  "She
probably won't wake up in time."

Ranma gasped.  "Oh no!"

Nabiki was sitting backwards in a short-backed chair, her elbows on
the frame, supporting her head in a palm.  "We could go to the Cat
Cafe," Nabiki suggested.  "Shampoo wouldn't mind sparing us a free
meal."

Ranma shook his head, much to Akane's relief.  His excuse, however,
made her darken in anger.  "They are busy setting up their summer
season resort," he explained.  "After losing money last year by
staying in Nerima, Cologne didn't dare ignore the wisdom of using
the place."  He sighed.  "Maybe we could order takeout?"

"After the expenditures of last night," Nabiki said, her voice
pointing out the obvious answer.  "Nope.  If Ukyou stops by in
time, we might be saved."

Tired of the continued insults against her, Akane strolled into the
room pretending not to care.  "You forget that she is coming to see
Konatsu," Akane pointed out indignantly.  "The moment she finds out
Konatsu isn't here, she'll leave for the Cat Cafe."

Ranma's eyes glazed over in panic.  "She wouldn't abandon us in our
time of need!"

Akane's brow twitched, her eyes still closed.  "I don't know," she
said calmly.  "She's already proven she can do it to Konatsu."

"We're doomed!"

Akane snapped, grabbing him by his red, silk shirt and shaking.
"It's not that bad!" she shouted.  "I can make soup if you're that
worried."

Nabiki stood up with such force that the chair fell forwards.
"I just remembered Kunou owing me a meal," she declared firmly.
"I wish you all a nice night."

Before she could protest, Nabiki hurried out of the room and down
the hall.  Her shock at the sudden departure laxed her grip enough
for Ranma to get free.

"Wait up, Nabiki!" he cried after her sister, dashing out the door.
"I'm sure he can spare something for the pig-tailed girl!"

She angrily turned her eyes upon her father, frozen in a stealthy
retreat towards the door.  "And where do you think you're going?!"

*****

"Hey, wait up!" he ordered, jogging down the sidewalk.

Nabiki stopped and turned a glaring eye upon him.  "We can walk
separately," she declared icily.  "You can ask Kodachi for your
meal."

Ranma blanched, halting his approach.  "I'm not that desperate," he
muttered, but the growl in his stomach argued otherwise.  He
stepped closer, wincing under her gaze.  "Nabiki, about last
night."

"Nothing happened," she stated firmly.  "I thought I made that very
clear."

Ranma paused uncertain.  As Nabiki turned away from him, Ranma
realized he was going to have to be firm with her if he was ever
going to get anything settled between them.  "You can hide behind
your lie, but we both know that isn't true," Ranma said resolutely.

Nabiki scowled.  "What do you want from me?  You want me to admit
what I did, admit that I like you more than what you thought I
did?" she demanded.  She turned on her heel and walked away.  "I'm
sorry, Ranma, but I'm not going to torture myself for your ego.  I
can't love someone like you."

Ranma sighed and walked behind her.  He could think of nothing to
say, and even if he did he felt he would only be shot down in a
similar fashion.  He supposed he had gotten what he wanted from
her.  She said it wasn't going to happen and so it wasn't.  He
knew that should have sated his worry, but the conclusion only
left him feeling more alone and depressed.

*****

Ukyou knocked softly on the foyer door.  She slid the door open and
slipped her shoes off as she called out, "Hello?  Anybody home?"

A head popped out of the kitchen.  The face, twisted in rage,
quickly changed to a smile.  "Hey, Ukyou," the girl chirped
merrily.  "I'm cooking dinner."

>From the unusual aroma hanging thick in the air, Ukyou could only
nod in agreement.  She wandered around Akane and into the kitchen,
immediately gasping at the sight.  It looked like someone had
fought a war inside; dishes broken, smattering of food on walls,
counters and cupboards and the flame of the oven burning insanely
high.

She whistled in admiration at how thoroughly Akane had trashed the
place.  "Any casualties," she asked.

"What?"

Smiling, Ukyou shook her head, turning to face the apron-clad
fiancee.  "How's Ranchan?" she asked, wincing at the slip.  She
felt like dirt, having come all the way from Osaka for Konatsu with
her first question to the people that took him in being for a man
she was supposed to have put behind her.

Akane's brow furrowed in anger, an anger not directed at her.
"He's out with my sister," she huffed, stalking back into the
battlefield.  "They're plotting to weasel their way into a free
meal at the expense of the Kunous."

"I'm surprised it isn't the Cat Cafe," Ukyou remarked offhandedly,
following the shorter girl in.  "I heard things are different
between him and Shampoo."

Akane turned suddenly, her face bright with a smile.  "I'm sorry, I
forgot to tell you," Akane apologized with a warmth that was
overwhelming.  "Konatsu is staying with Shampoo.  He's been a real
good help for their business.  They are presently at the seaside
shop preparing to open it for the summer season."

'Damn,' Ukyou cursed silently.  The seaside Cat Cafe was a day's
walk from here.  The prospect of spending her money so early in
her trip for train rides across Tokyo was not very encouraging.

So caught up in her disappointment in the new, Ukyou was not
immediately aware of the ladle of red soup thrust into her face.
"Here, try this!" Akane said happily.  "It's my own recipe."

Ukyou had never tried Akane's cooking before, only hearing rumors
from Ranma about how dangerous it was.  Still despite his protests
he stayed with her, so Ukyou supposed it couldn't be that bad.
After all, Ranma loved to eat.

"Sure," Ukyou agreed, taking the spoon.  "We can both try some."

Akane's face fell, her eyes suspicious.  "What are you implying?"

Not wanting to slight her companion before the evidence was
consumed, Ukyou quickly added, "Oh, come on, Akane.  You can't be
afraid of your own cooking."

Akane's eyes widened in shock.  "I... I'm not afraid!" Akane
huffed, bringing to bear another ladle that she promptly filled.
"Just watch me!"

Ukyou politely tipped the contents back in her throat.  Both girls
gagged, tears in their eyes as they waved hands before their
mouths.

"You could have warned me it was still scalding," Ukyou croaked,
grabbing a glass and crossing over to the sink.

"I'm so sorry," Akane apologized, another glass in her hand as she
appeared at Ukyou's side.

Two glasses of water later and the two were giggling over the
silliness of the act.

"I'm sure it's not as bad as Ranma thinks," Ukyou remarked,
shrugging.

"He never gives me a chance," Akane complained, gesturing to the
pot of soup on the counter across the room.  "I don't know why I
put up with him."

Ukyou shrugged, setting her glass down.  "I'm sure you know why,"
she remarked, lacking the guts to say it aloud.  "But that's no
longer my business.  I might run in to him one more time when I
return this to Kodachi, but I'm here for Konatsu, not Ranma."

She held up the small, black glass container to Akane.  Akane took
it in her hands and examined it for a moment before handing it
back.  "No doubt he's got himself poisoned, even with Nabiki
watching his back," Akane huffed.  "It's hopeless."

Ukyou shrugged.  "We've all known he's hopeless," she stated,
sighing.  "But I'll be damned if I worry over him any more.  I'll
leave that for you.  It's not like he'll come by and profess his
undying love to me.  I don't have a chance, but you do."

Akane's hand touched lightly on her shoulder.  "We can still be
friends, Ukyou," Akane declared.  "You didn't have to run away.  I
was mad... and wrong when I hit you.  I was so frustrated that
nothing ever changed between him and me, and now that you and
Shampoo are no longer vying for his attention, nothing HAS changed
between him and me.  I always thought you were the problem, but I
was wrong."

Ukyou chuckled half heartedly, tousling Akane's hair as she stepped
away.  "It's all in the past," she said dismissively.  "I'm getting
acquainted with leaving things like that behind.  But I really need
to go now.  Say hello to Ranma for me when you see him."

Ukyou left the girl behind without another word.  She slipped on
her shoes and walked out the door.  It was time to give 'Desire'
back to Kodachi.

*****

She primped her hair one last time in front of the mirror beside
the door.  It was perfect, her lips a tantalizing red and her dress
a vibrant, velvet burgundy with white lace about the edges.  It
clung tightly against her, the need for straps unneccessary as her
figure was more than adequate to fill out the dress.  She turned a
final time, a little annoyed at how difficult it was to move freely
in such a long dress, but it hardly mattered.  This wasn't going to
be a battle.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" she called out, throwing the door
open.  Her face fell at the sight of the girl next to her beloved.
Her disappointment was not lost on her guests.

"Expecting someone?" Nabiki drawled out the question.

Kodachi blinked, bringing a white gloved hand up to her mouth in
surprise.  "Oh dear," she muttered.  "You're not the Karagawas."
It was a forced disappointment, but she could not risk Nabiki
thinking this was planned.  She smiled again and gestured inside.
"All the same, come on in.  I can't deny the hospitality to my
Ranma-sama."

Nabiki, hardly looking convinced at her deception, brushed past her
with a demeanor that outraged her.  "Your kindness is most
generous," Nabiki commented, not the least bit sincere.  "I don't
suppose you'd be inclined to extend us the courtesy of a meal?  We
are having a little trouble at home."

Kodachi feigned indecision for a moment, tapping her glove against
her cheek.  Ranma wandered inside, his face a true mask of
indecision.  "I could," Kodachi declared, "but I'll need to make
some more entrees for when my guests do arrive.  I trust you know
your way to the dining room?"

Nabiki nodded and tugged a reluctant Ranma in the correct
direction.  Kodachi smiled and started back to her room to get the
perfume.  In her hurry to answer the door, she had left it in her
discarded clothes.

Her scheme was working well despite the two curves she had been
thrown over the course of the day.  If luck smiled upon her, Nabiki
would be out of the equation before she returned.  Then Ranma-sama
would be hers for the taking.

In moments, Ranma would digest her potion.  But that was only half
of the equation.  The only explanation of why her brother had
become obsessive over one girl and not them all had to lie with
the girl.  She suspected the perfume was the catalyst.

A dark figure stepped into her path, arms laden.  Kodachi rolled
her eyes, tiring of this moronic, repititious scene.  She pushed
past him without a word.

"Sister!" Kunou protested, trailing after her.  "You must tell me
her name!"

Kodachi scowled in annoyance.  She would tell him, but she didn't
know the girl any better than he did.  She seized a pail of water
the servants had left out for washing the corridors.  She tossed
the contents over the pair, soaking brother and girl alike.  For
the first time this day, the girl stirred.

"Oh, the girl awakens," Kodachi declared, tossing the pail aside
and continuing towards her room.

To her dismay, her brother pursued after her.  "The angel in my
arms stirs," he murmured, "and yet I still don't know her name."

"Huh?" a soft voice muttered drowsily.  "Where am I?"

Kodachi crossed into her room, ignoring the spectacle above her but
unable to shut out their petty remarks.  She searched through her
pockets, her dismay building as she failed to locate it
immediately.

"Such soft lips, long legs, and light as a feather," Kunou rambled
off her attributes.  "Where else could I be but in heaven!"

"Oh, hell!" the girl cried out.  Out of the corner of her eye, she
saw legs begin to thrash in her brother's grip.  "Put me down!  Put
me mrmpfh!"

Frustrated that she could not find the girl's perfume, Kodachi
realized she'd have to find another.  She stood up smoothing
her dress, absently noting that the thrashing had ceased.
Curious, she turned her head to witness her brother
passionately kissing the girl's lips.

The sight made her heart leap in joy.  If the perfume was potent
enough to drive her brother to such passion for a complete
stranger, her body ached in the thought of what this promised for
her liason with Ranma-sama.  She had to find another bottle of
that perfume.  She could not be denied his love any longer.

Kodachi managed two steps towards the door before a voice called
out, pleading, "Please, don't leave me here with him, please!"  The
tears in her voice made her pause and turn.  The girl had a hand
outstretched towards her, but the rest of the girl was blocked from
view by her brother's broad back.

"My dear, you should feel honored that my brother has chosen you
among all women," Kodachi huffed, feeling slighted that her
family's name meant nothing to the girl.  "I need to know where
you can buy that perfume you were wearing?"

Kunou turned about, revealing the girl's confused frown.  "I
suppose any shop carrying perfume has it," the girl answered.

"My thanks," Kodachi said, eyeing the pair.  "You make such a
cute couple."

As her brother continued to rave over his love for the girl's
many attributes, the girl pouted, casting pleading eyes at her.
"But he doesn't even know my name," the girl whimpered.

Kodachi snorted at the meager protest and turned away.  "Then I
suggest you give it to him," she ordered, walking purposefully down
the hall.

The girl's soft voice followed after her in a final protest, "I
already did."

*****

Ukyou pushed the doorbell again, wondering what could possibly be
taking Kodachi so long.  She doubted Ranma had anything to do with
the delay.  Ranma had no more interest in Kodachi than he had in
her.

Accepting the possibility that Kodachi was out somewhere, Ukyou
turned away taking a step down the patio when the door slid open
behind her.  She spun, pleasantly saying, "Sorry for the
interruption, but I believe you dropped this."  She held out the
small container of perfume, but hesitated when she realized whom
she was addressing.

Before her stood the imposing figure of Kunou Tatewaki, even more
imposing than usual, dressed as he was in the finest black suit
she had ever seen.  Her eyes fell from his imperious gaze to the
girl in his arms.

"May I help you?" Kunou said, more of a demand as to why she was
here.

"I uh," she managed, amazed at the sight before her.  Kunou was
daring to hold in his arms someone other than Akane or his
'pig-tailed' girl.  The sight deprived her of her vocal functions.

The girl's face turned upon her, doe brown eyes begging.  "Help
me," she cried, tears staining her cheeks.  "He won't let me go!"

Kunou grinned fervently.  "Nor shall I ever, my love!" he declared,
his grip tightening.

Putting two and two together, Ukyou snapped her fist forward into
his cheek.  He staggered backwards, but his grip didn't loosen.
Knowing how difficult it was to convince Kunou he was hurt, Ukyou
snarled and charged into him, bowling him over.  The glass
container spun out of her hand from the impact, sliding across the
foyer into a corner of the room.

He grunted, landing rigidly on his back.  The girl, sensing this
her chance to escape, kneed up into his chin.  His gripped relaxed
and she rolled away.  Ukyou got up and planted a foot down on
Kunou's face to make sure he reconsidered getting up.

"You okay?" Ukyou called to the girl, her eyes fixed on the man
pinned beneath her.

"Good heavens, what do you think you are doing?" a voice called
from the hall.

Ukyou's head turned and her eyes glazed over in anger.  Kodachi,
dressed as if she were some sort of courtier, was carrying a dazed
Ranma on her back.  There was no question in Ukyou's mind what was
going on here.

"I was going to return your perfume you dropped," Ukyou explained,
grinding the heel of her foot harder against Kunou's cheek, "but I
can see I was wrong in leaving Ranchan in your hands.  How dare you
take him against his will!"

Kodachi scowled, letting Ranma drop limply to the side of the wall.
"I can see clearly now I was mistaken," she said.  With the flick
of her wrist, a ribbon slipped into her hand.  "You still want him,
don't you!"

The chef gaped, the blatant accusation ringing in harmony with
something she asked herself everyday of the past year.  "I-I...
that's ridiculous!" she shouted, stepping off of Kunou to approach
the crazy loon.  "After all he's put me through, why would I want
him?"

Kodachi smirked and turned to grab Ranma by his red shirt.  The
gymnast hauled him to his feet and declared, "Then this won't
bother you at all."  She pressed her lips against Ranma's, her
voice moaning dramtically in pleasure.

The sound grated harshly on Ukyou's nerves.  Love him or not, she
could not watch this travesty.  With a feral cry, she charged
forward.

Kodachi attempted to attack her without breaking the kiss, but when
she snapped her wrist out to attack her with the ribbon, Ranma fell
in a heap at her feet.  Scowling at how easily Ukyou evaded her
first strike, Kodachi turned her full attention on her opponent.

Ukyou didn't give her much time.  She stopped just short of the
girl and thrust her foot at that scowl.  Kodachi turned aside,
narrowly missed, but Ukyou wasn't finished.  She grabbed onto
Kodachi's retreating arm and pivoted.

Kodachi squealed as she was thrown into the rising form of her
brother.  The two crashed back into the floor in a tangle of arms,
legs and curses.

Content with the results, Ukyou quickly knelt down beside Ranma and
slapped him across the face.  "Wake up, stupid!" she shouted.
"Where's your sense of impending danger?"

A ribbon wrapped around her, pinning her arms to her sides.
Cackling laughter rang through the hall as she was whipped across
the room into a corner.  Something shattered against her back,
glass biting painfully into her.  She grimaced in pain, her brow
twitching as she opened one eye up at her antagonist.

Kodachi continued to laugh, holding the back of a gloved hand to
her mouth.  "My, my," she commented.  "Where is your sense of
impending danger?"

Ukyou scowled up at the gymnast, trying to wrench her arms free.
The gymnast clucked her tongue chidingly at her attempts and
flicked her wrist to tighten the ribbon.  Ukyou gasped, her vision
blurring as she started losing consciousness.

There was a thud and the sound of a body collapsing.  Hands were at
her, pulling the ribbons loose.  Ukyou blinked, moving her head
about dazed.  The face that greeted her was that of the girl she
had rescued from Kunou.

"We must hurry," the girl said urgently, grabbing her by her arm.
"They'll pursue you constantly if they come to."

Ukyou shook her head to clear the spots at the edge of her vision.
"What?" she managed, breathily.

"Ukyou, my beloved, come to me," a familiar voice called to her.
The sound chilled her to the core.  She snapped her eyes across the
foyer, regarding the rising form of Ranma.  His stormy blue eyes
were glazed over as he took a tentative step forward.

"Come on," Mariko cried, her voice tinged in fear.  "You reek of it
so you need to go now."

Ukyou shook her head, still not comprehending.  The sudden hug she
was swept up into dizzied her and caused her to gasp for air.  Her
arms pushed at the offender, trying to pry free of his crushing
grasp.

"Oh my beloved Uuchan," the man cried out, voice tinged with tears.
"You came back to me after all these years."

Ukyou pounded on his shoulders, her heart beating madly.  "No!
No!" she screamed.  "Not like this!  Not like this!"

Desperate, Ukyou did the only thing she could think of.  She kicked
up with her foot, catching him in a tender spot.  His grip relaxed
as he doubled over.  Placing a hand on his head, she pushed him
hard.  He fell backwards, clutching at his groin.

"Come on," the short-haired girl ordered, grabbing her by the wrist
and running.

Ukyou's feet dragged only out the door before she realized the
wisdom of running away.  Both Kunou and Ranma were back on their
feet, chasing after them before they had managed to get halfway
down the walk to the gate.  Ukyou freed her hand and pumped her
legs madly as she kept pace with the girl.

"Thanks," she gasped.  "I didn't catch the name."  She panted as
they turned down another street.  "Kuonji Ukyou."

"Konjou Mariko," the girl puffed.

Ranma and Kunou rounded into the street behind them, calling after
them.

"Come back my love!" Kunou shouted.  "I promise to..."

"... love you for all eternity!" Ranma shouted in unison.

Ukyou winced, her heart crying out at the words she knew weren't
true.  It was not fair.  "How long will they be like this?" Ukyou
demanded, breathily.

Mariko frowned, favoring her with a helpless look.  "I only know
what starts it," she whimpered.  "I don't know if there's a cure."

Ukyou gasped, her heart lunging into her throat.  Ranma was going
to be like this forever?  He was going to emptily profess his love
to her for the rest of his life?  She wanted to throttle Kodachi
for this, but it was too late if there was no cure.

Mariko abruptly turned down an alleyway.  Ukyou contemplated
following but realized she would lose some distance between her and
Ranma if she turned about now.  She whimpered and continued on,
hoping the girl would at least save herself.

The street ended on a familiar one and Ukyou immediately took off
in the direction of the Tendou residence.  Maybe if she could find
a place to hide, she would be safe.  Akane's room came forefront in
her mind.  Ranma would never think to look for her there.

She hazarded a glance over her shoulder.  She hadn't gained any
distance on Ranma, but Kunou was gone.  It was only a small
consolation, as one obsessed, drugged lover was more than enough.
She wished someone, anyone would intervene and demand to know why
Ranma was betraying Akane or something.

Ukyou made it safely to the Tendou perimeter wall without so much
as a "What do you think you are doing, Ranma?"  Crying out in
frustration, she lept over the wall in one bound, and darted for
the open doors of the dining room.

"Don't run, Uuchan!" a voice called, rising into the air.  "We have
so much to catch up on.  There are so many things I need to tell
you!"

Ukyou careened into the residence and turned abruptly down the
hall.  She sprinted madly for the staircase, her heart pounding
loudly in her ears.  Crossing the foyer in a flash, she bounded
up the steps three at a time.  The bannister groaned in protest
as she propelled herself to Akane's door and threw it open.

Slamming the door behind her and quickly locking it, she sighed in
relief.  He wouldn't follow her here even if he knew she was
inside.  She had bought herself time, even if it was only a couple
minutes, to figure out what to do about this mess.

"My Uuchan," a voice cooed into her ear, arms wrapping about her
waist.

Ukyou whimpered, glancing over her shoulder at the open window.
"No fair!" she protested.

Hands spun her about so she could gaze upon the glassy-eyed
expression of devotion upon Ranma's face.  She felt tears in her
eyes, her heart bemoaning the gift she had once wanted.

His hand reached up, caressing the sides of her bangs, fingers
trailing sensually behind her ear.  "I've always loved you," he
declared in a soft soothing voice.  He stepped in closer.  "There
has never been any other than you.  Losing you once was more than I
could bear.  It won't happen again."

A tear rolled down her cheek, the words so close to what she wanted
to hear, and yet not the way she wanted to hear them.  Her breath
came sharply as she put a hand up to stop his advance.  His fingers
continued to torture the side of her face as his other hand slipped
up to take her hand in his.

"No," she softly protested.  "Not like this."

He stepped forward, his hand slipping behind her head.  She
resisted, trying to step away, but he wouldn't be denied.  His face
darted in and lips touched against hers.  She whimpered as he
pressed in closer, his lips moving seductively.

Another tear rolled down her cheek as she closed her eyes, giving
in to her desire.  She allowed herself the small moment, kissing
back softly at first.  His hand slipped from hers, slipping down
past her waist.  She gripped onto his red, silk shirt tightly, her
other hand reaching up to touch the side of his face.

His hand touched against her knee and tantalized her flesh as it
crawled its way back up her leg, drawing her skirt up.  She moaned
softly into the kiss, frightened but aching to be touched more.
Her hand slipped from his cheek, her fingers working at his shirt
in a clumsy effort to unbutton it.

The door rocked on its hinges behind them.  "What do you think you
are doing, Ranma?!"

Of all the times for that phrase to be delivered, Ukyou regretted
this time more than any.  A surge of strength fueled by her shame
gave her the power to shove Ranma free of her.  She fell to Akane's
feet, crying.

"I'm sorry, Akane," she bawled.  "I'm so sorry!"

Arms wrapped around her waist as a body pressed down beside her.
She whimpered, knowing it was Ranma.  In this state, he was not
aware of the acts he was doing.

"Oooooooo!" Akane huffed, hauling the drugged boy off her.  "How
dare you molest her like that!"  There was a thud and the sound of
the roof yielding under the force of Akane's uppercut.

Ukyou continued to bawl hysterically.  She had failed to change.
In the end she still wanted him.  She wanted him so pathetically
that she would stoop to taking advantage of him, when she knew he
wasn't of conscious mind and in Akane's bedroom of all places.
Akane hunkered down beside her, but she felt she had no right to
look at her.  She had betrayed Akane and Ranma in the worst way
imaginable.

"It's okay, Ukyou," Akane said in a soothing voice, placing a hand
on her bobbing shoulder.  "He's gone."

Ukyou shook her head, the tears refusing to stop.  She staggered to
her feet and pushed her way past Akane.  She had to leave.  She had
to leave and this time never come back.

"Ukyou."

*****

Ranma crossed his arms and glared at the cause of all his troubles.
Though disguised as a normal student in a white blouse and black
skirt, Ranma knew the truth about her.  She was sinister, conniving
and not the least regretful of what she had done to him today.  Her
only regret was that she had not been the target of his
drug-influenced love.

"How am I ever going to convince her to stay in Nerima now?" he
demanded of the assembled family.  "You just ruined a friendship!"

Kodachi rolled her eyes, setting down her cup of tea.  "How
forgetful you are," she remarked lightly.  "I could have left you
like that.  Show some gratitude."

Ranma fumed at her simple remark.  "I was like that because you
drugged me!" he accused.

Nabiki walked down the hallway with only a towel wrapped about her,
while using a second towel to dry her hair.  "I still can't believe
she drugged me too.  I thought her poisons were reserved for
brother and Ranma-sama," the middle Tendou remarked, continuing down
the hall and out of sight.

Ranma glanced past Akane, who was still eating, to regard Kunou and
the Konjou girl sitting side by side at the foot of the table.
Kunou offered the girl another tidbit of food, which the girl took
with a blush.

"Which reminds me," Ranma muttered, "why haven't you cured him
yet?"  He jabbed his thumb in Kunou's direction.

Kodachi closed her eyes as she picked up her tea.  "I already did."
She sipped softly from her tea as everyone fixed their eyes upon
Kunou.

"Have another pickle, my love," he said with his usual passion.  He
handed the morsel to her in chopsticks.

Mariko blushed and rewarded his generosity with a knock in his head
with her baton.  "Would you please call me by my name?"

Kunou frowned, rubbing the back of his head.  "But you still
haven't given it to me," he protested.

Mariko's brow twitched.  "For the last time, it's Mariko!"

-----

A young woman dressed in a white, professor's coat and black slacks
walks in front of a classroom.  A spotlight is turned on,
illuminating the empty, black chalkboard.  She turns, her short,
straight hair swinging softly.

Nabiki smiles at the assembly, pulling one of her hands out of her
labcoat, bearing a small stick.  Her other hand comes out and she
pulls the collapsable rod out to its full length.

"I am here today to explain the chemical reaction my colleague
demonstrated in this fic," Nabiki explains, slapping the rod against
the blackboard to accentuate her claim.

"I will begin with the reactants for the experiment," she continues.
Nabiki sets the rod down on the desk in front of the board before
turning back to the chalkboard.  Picking up one of the white
cylinders, she begins writing on the chalkboard, the motions
sounding curtly upon the surface.

Calcium Nitrate ----> Ca(NO3)2

Hydrochloric Acid ----> HCl

Ca(NO3)2 + 2HCl ------>  H2O + CaCl2 + N2 + 2O2

"As you can clearly see, this little experiment does not yield
anything special that would induce the behavior of Ranma's
character as was suggested in the fic," Nabiki concludes, setting
down the chalk.  "I'd be surprised if Kuno even develops a
stomach ache since calcium chlorate is not that harmful."

A hand raises in the audience.

"Yes, Ranma-kun?"

"Then why the hell did I do that?" he demands angrily.

"Supposedly it has to do with whatever chemical components
existed in Mariko's perfume 'Desire'," she curtly replies.

"Oh," Ranma comments, sounding confused.  "Then what was the
purpose of the first scene?"

"Kodachi poisoned her brother in the previous fic," Nabiki
answers.  "She is trying to recreate the existing conditions
of the previous night in hopes to have the same results when
she next encounters Ranma.  This is not revealed immediately
for dramatic effect."

"Oh."

-----

This was a lot of fun writing.  I finally gave Kodachi the
spotlight, well shared with Ukyou of course but I can be forgiven.
I know, I know, a lot of kissing going on.  About the only girl
that doesn't get a kiss from Ranma is Shampoo.  I figured with the
title should come a bit of kissing so... voila.  God forbid I write
one titled Sex.

Comments and criticism are always welcome.

zinyadel@hotmail.com

Ciaow





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