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 36

   It was well past midnight and Akane Tendo lay on her back, Ranma snoozing 
lightly at her side. She was nude, and very conscious of the fact, 
especially given the fact that she was still handcuffed to the far right 
bedpost of her bed. Ranma had untied the ropes securing her feet and left 
arm while he had made love to her, but had been unable to do much for the 
handcuff without breaking it, or the bed. They both had reasons to want to 
keep their rendezvous quiet, so Akane didn't complain, but it was starting 
to get a little uncomfortable, having been attached by the wrist to the 
corner of her bed for several hours now.

   Their lovemaking had been wonderful. Ranma had seemed to know exactly how 
to touch her to bring her senses completely aflame, and he
had brought her to the brink effortlessly and held her there till she had 
experienced the most powerful orgasm of her life. Only the fear that they 
would be discovered had kept her from screaming her head off, and it had 
been a near thing.  Afterwards, Ranma had cuddled with her till he had 
fallen asleep, and only that continuing fear of discovery kept Akane from 
immediately joining him. Still, while it might seem like her room, her bed 
that she was laying in, partially covered by the slumbering form of her 
lover, it wasn't, and Akane was profoundly aware of that fact.

   When the bedroom window had opened, Akane froze, glancing that direction 
in muted horror. When her twin slipped noiselessly into the
room (demonstrating a casual grace that left an envious pit in her stomach) 
Akane could not really feel surprised. Ranma's wife dropped
soundlessly to the floor next to their bed and stood there silently, putting 
a finger to her lips.

  Akane Tendo didn't move, save to look away guiltily and choke back a sob. 
The cool presence of her twin's hand on her shoulder came as a
shock, even more so when it did not grab or hurt her, but rather rested 
there, in a gesture of understanding.   Looking up at her older self in
confusion, Akane was astonished to find a calm if sad smile on her face. The 
two Akane's looked at each other silently for several long
moments, a world of import passing between them in that short time. Akane  
Tendo started to cry quietly, unable to accept her twin's
forgiveness. Ranma's wife brushed away her cursed twin's tears, causing her 
to cry harder.

   "Sleep." Akane Saotome said quietly. "Don't cry, you'll wake Ranma."

   Akane Tendo sniffed and nodded, blinking back her tears and looking back 
up at her older self in a mix of confusion and wonder. Akane
Saotome just continued to smile that sad smile and put her finger to her 
lips again. Then, she quietly slipped  around to the other side of the bed, 
quietly undressed, and slipped into the bed on the opposite side of Ranma 
from her, pulling the covers up over them all.

   Akane Tendo just lay there for several more minutes, still unable to 
sleep, when her older self reached over and took hold of her left hand,
squeezing it gently. Subtly reassured, Akane the younger finally managed to 
get to sleep, as did her older counterpart.

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

   Kasumi woke with the dawn, as she usually did, and slipped quietly out of 
bed. Neither her twin or her husband stirred as she silently pulled on her 
robe, but when she opened their bedroom door Johnathon's ears twitched in 
her direction, and his eyes opened to peer blearily at her.

   "Go back to sleep, Husband." Kasumi whispered fondly. "Stay with Misty."  
  Hearing her name being called, however softly, Misty's own ears perked up, 
and she glanced over at Kasumi as well, her cat's eyes bright and clear.

    "Sister?" The cat-girl smiled at Kasumi and started to get up slowly, 
shifting out from under her husband's arm, who sat up as well. "Would you 
like me help you in the kitchen?" Misty suggested quietly.  "We have so many 
guests over today...."

   Kasumi cocked her head inquiringly. "I'm sure Auntie and I will be 
alright, Misty, if you want to stay in bed a while  longer. You and
Johnathon didn't get much sleep last night."

   Misty looked down, seeming considerably embarrassed. "Neither did you, 
Kasumi..." The half cat girl started to stretch, brushing against her 
husband lightly, and a shiver went through her whole body. "Ah..." She 
moaned lightly, starting to role over onto him automatically when she 
stopped, her eyes going wide in surprise. "Oh my..."

   Kasumi was surprised as well. "You're still...?" She trailed off in 
wonder as Misty's breathing started to quicken, and the alarmed look in her 
face grew. "You are...."

   Misty lay back against the bed, pulling away from her husband and 
pressing herself into the bed as deeply as she could. "Oh my...." Her
breathing continued to quicken, till she was audibly panting, gripping the 
bed with her claws. "Oh no...."

   Johnathon came fully awake, turning to his feline wife in amazement. 
"Misty... you're still..."

   "H-husband..." The cat girl stammered, glancing at him pleadingly. 
"It's... I'm..."

   Johnathon slid his hand across her furred cheek tenderly. "You're sure?"

   Misty just nodded, her chest heaving as her eyes fixed on his. "I'm 
sure...."

   Johnathon nodded and glanced up at his human wife. "Kasumi... I think 
Misty and I will be busy up here a bit longer. We'll come down and join you 
when we can."

   Looking a bit concerned, Kasumi nodded her understanding and quietly 
slipped out of their room to go downstairs and begin preparing for
the day ahead, hoping that her growing worries were premature.

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

   Later that morning, Akane Tendo woke. She found herself laying against 
and partially underneath a warm, naked man, but managed to restrain her 
first impulse to send him flying as memory returned. Her right arm ached, 
reminding her that she was still handcuffed to the bed as well. She pulled 
on it tentatively, not really wanting to damage it, but not wanting to 
remain chained to the bed for a moment longer than she had to. The bed 
shifted, and Akane realized that her twin had woken up as well.

   Ranma's wife, wearing a tee shirt and panties, slipped quietly around the 
bed to the right side and examined the handcuffs clinically in the morning 
light. "Nabiki?" She asked very softly, not looking at all surprised when 
her handcuffed twin nodded.  Akane remembered, blushing inadvertently, 
Minako's purchase of the handcuffs and ropes, as well as a promise of 
privacy from her older sister the night before. There was no doubt in her 
mind that Nabiki had known full well what Minako had intended to do with 
them, but Akane was astonished to realize that the blond haired Senshi had 
felt only the mildest of embarrassment at the purchase.

   Even as she was replaying the incidents of the night before through her 
mind, Ranma's wife had quietly slipped out of the room, going next
door to her sister Nabiki's room. Akane Saotome opened her older sister's 
door without slowing and slipped over to her sister's bed, tapping Nabiki on 
the shoulder to wake her.

   "Hmm?" Nabiki blinked blearily up at her younger sister questioningly, 
obviously still half asleep. "What is it, 'Kane?"

   "Keys." Akane stated plainly but firmly, fixing Nabiki in a no nonsense 
glare.

   Unfazed by her younger sister's ire, Nabiki pointed vaguely toward her 
desk. "Top drawer, can't miss em..."   Deciding not to start a fuss that 
early in the morning, Akane left Nabiki alone and opened the drawer. Sure 
enough, a small key was in plain sight, and she immediately collected it.

   Akane Tendo blinked as her older self slipped back into the room, holding 
up a key triumphantly, and immediately moved over to unshackle
her. Free, she rubbed her wrist to get the circulation back in it, and 
smiled gratefully at her older self.

   Once again Ranma's wife put her finger to her lips, indicating that she 
be silent, and handed Akane her favorite pair of pajamas, indicating that 
she get out of bed and dress. Quietly she did so, following silently after 
her older  twin as Akane Saotome led the  way out of their room to the 
baths.

   They both headed into the furo, only to find a ten year old girl had 
beaten them there. Nodoka was just finishing washing up before getting in 
and she smiled up at them in greeting as they came in.

   "Can we join you, Auntie/Mother?" The Akanes said together, then glanced 
at each other in surprise.

   "Of course, dears." The ten-year-old housewife told them, not at all 
fazed and smiling beneficently at them. The motherly look seemed entirely 
out of place on her child's face, but neither Akane mentioned it. Nodoka 
glanced from one of them to the other knowingly. "So, I trust Ranma has been 
sufficiently manly for you two last night?"

   Both girls blushed, Ranma's wife flushing only slightly, while in 
contrast, the younger Akane turned a spectacular shade of scarlet that
matched her name. "Yes Auntie" They intoned together, blushing further at 
the stereo sound of their combined voices in the tiled furo room.

   "And you two are getting along alright?" Nodoka inquired politely.

   "Yes Mother." Akane Saotome answered, smiling and nodding at her younger 
twin.

   "Yes Auntie." Akane Tendo answered a moment later, smiling gratefully 
back.

   Nodoka nodded, her eyes twinkling cheerfully as she slipped into the 
furo. The two Akanes started to wash up themselves, exchanging
hesitant but friendly looks, which was all either of them was up to sharing 
with the older woman/child in the room.  The ten-year-old mother floundered 
in the deeper end of the furo for several moments, then moved over to the 
shallower end, still not really being used to her smaller stature. When the 
Akanes joined her, a few minutes later, she was already starting to feel a 
bit overheated, having heated the furo to suit her adult tastes, not 
realizing how little tolerance she had in her smaller body.

   Ranma's wife lowered herself into the water near her mother-in-law 
without hesitation, while the younger Akane stopped at the edge of the
furo, frowning slightly in sudden realization. Akane the older glanced up in 
confusion, comprehension coming a moment later.

   Akane Tendo shrugged with a sigh. "I'm starting to miss hot baths...." 
She stepped into the furo next to Ranma's wife, instantly changing into 
Minako Aino even as she sat down. The instant the change had been completed, 
Minako froze solid, staring straight ahead, not daring to move a muscle.

Akane Saotome stared at her for several long moments until the silence 
became almost tangible, then slowly relaxed, sitting back in the furo and 
looking away from the petrified Minako. Taking a slow breath now that it 
appeared that she wasn't going to die any time soon, Minako tried to relax 
in the furo as well. Never-the-less, the tension in the room was palatable.

  After a short time, Nodoka stood up, stretching. "Oh dear... if I stay in 
here much longer I'll overheat myself."

   Akane Saotome immediately turned to help her mother-in-law out of the 
water. "You'd better be careful, Mother. You have to make
adjustments when you change bodies like that."

   Nodoka nodded agreeably. "Of course, dear."

   Minako started to rise as well, taking the opportunity to escape. "Yeah, 
I think I'll... eep!" She glanced down at the hand that had taken a firm 
hold of her upper arm and was firmly forcing her back down. "Er... I'll stay 
in and soak for a little longer...."

   Nodoka smiled beneficently at the two girls and finished getting out, 
picking up a towel and drying herself off as she walked away. "I'm sure you 
two have lots to talk about." She said, nodding to them cheerfully. "I'll 
see you both at breakfast!" Humming to herself, visions of grandchildren 
running through her head, the diminutive Saotome Matriarch departed.

   Minako let Akane pull her down to sit beside her (not that she really had 
much of a choice, given the iron nature of the older girl's grasp) and 
shivered slightly despite the high temperature of the bath. "Relax." Akane 
told her quietly, her voice betraying only a small amount of annoyance. "I'm 
not going to hurt you."

   "Akane... I..."

   "Don't try and tell me you're sorry, Mina." Akane said. "I don't want an 
apology." She glared at Minako. "And don't try and tell me that what 
happened was your other side's idea, either, I know better."

   Minako swallowed, hard, then lowered her head. "Alright... I did it... I 
tied myself to the bed and turned into Akane just before Ranma came in... I 
just... I didn't want Akane to be so... alone..."

   Akane Saotome sighed. "I can understand why you did it... I even approve 
your motives... as much as it hurts me to have to share Ranma...."  She 
trailed off, shaking her head. < More than I already have to that is.> 
"But..." She held up a finger. "In the future I'd appreciate some sort of 
warning first. When I heard you two..." She hesitated, then corrected 
herself. "When I heard your Akane and my husband through the window...." She 
frowned. "Or should I say when we heard you. Shampoo noticed as well. At 
least you could have been a bit more discrete!"

   Minako blinked incredulously. "You mean you don't mind what I did? It was 
alright?"

   Akane shook her head. "Of course not... I hate it... but...." She sighed. 
"But I won't stop you from doing it again...." She raised an eyebrow.  
"Provide it's your other self and not YOU that's sleeping with my husband, 
that is."

   Minako blushed bright red. "Ah... I sorta..." She twiddled her fingers 
for several long moments before sighing again. "I... remember it... all of 
it...."

   Akane shivered once before bringing herself back under control. "That's 
the way the spell was supposed to work, right? You and Akane will remember 
everything the other does. I don't see a way around it... just..." She 
sighed, looking tired.

   "I won't though..." Minako promised. "He's your husband... not mine... 
you and he belong together...."

   "Akane and Ranma do belong together." Akane said very quietly. "I know 
how I'd feel if I couldn't be part of his life...."

   Minako sighed. "I do too...." She blushed. "I mean I know how Akane would 
feel...."

   Akane Saotome looked curious, and just a bit concerned. "How much do you 
remember? Everything? What she was thinking, what she was feeling...?"

   Minako hesitated, then nodded. "Everything since the spell... it feels a 
bit strange sometimes, but it's like I was her... everything she feels, I 
remember."

   Akane sighed, her eyes dropping. "Then... you... you love him too, don't 
you."

   It wasn't a question, but Minako answered it anyway. "I... I don't 
know... I remember loving him... I remember loving him so strongly that I 
thought I would die..." She shook her head. "But that's not me... sure, I 
like him... he's sexy as hell... but love? I don't even know him..." Minako 
trailed off. "Except... I do know him... I remember everything Akane 
remembered about him last night as they..." She blushed. "Oh gods... I'm so 
confused.... I love Artemis! And Luna... I love them... what have I done?"

   Akane hesitated only a moment before putting a hand on the blond girl's 
back reassuringly. "You did what you felt you had to do. You still love 
them, right?"

   Minako nodded. "Yes... but..."

   "Don't let yourself forget that." Akane insisted. "I don't know how to 
advise you on how to deal with your Akane's feelings for Ranma, but I know 
that love doesn't just go away. Just because you feel something for someone 
new, doesn't mean your  feelings for anyone else disappear.

   Minako nodded slowly, calming down. "You're right." She looked over at 
Akane and shook her head. "I won't fall in love with Ranma... he's
for Akanes only...." She giggled. "That sounds like you're a brand name or 
something.

   Akane chuckled wryly. "Don't even say something like that. I just know 
someone's going to set up a concession stand at Jusenkyo." She
mimicked the voice of a carnival salesman. "Get your Akanes right here, get 
your fresh Akanes..."

   Minako laughed, then shivered.  "You don't think that anyone actually 
would put up an Akane booth do you?"

   Akane shivered as well, then shook her head. "I wouldn't put it past some 
people, but I don't see it happening. Jusenkyo just doesn't work
that way. Anyone who tried would probably end up taking a swim in the spring 
of drowned water buffalo or  something...."

   Minako laughed wryly. "Yeah, you're probably right." Both girls shivered. 
"I'm sure your right." She said more firmly. There was a long silence before 
she spoke again. "So..." Minako started hesitantly. "How are we going to 
work this?"

   Akane glanced over at her with a frown. "You mean with your Akane and 
Ranma?" She shrugged. "I don't know... this is as new to me as it is to 
you."

   Minako hesitated. "Well... we agree that my Akane should be able to see 
Ranma from time to time?"

   Akane nodded. "Of course. How about... oh, once a week?"   "Once a 
week..." Minako nodded. "Alright, that sounds fair. Should I come over
here...?"

   Akane hesitated. "Er... it's already kind of crowded over here... could 
Ranma come over to your place?"

   "My place?" Minako hesitated, then nodded. "Sure, Artemis and Luna won't 
mind being cats for one night a week... I can change into Akane
before I go to bed, and leave my window open... my parents never come in my 
room...."

   Akane frowned. "Are you sure? Won't they think it's a little strange? 
What if they discover your Akane and Ranma in your bedroom?"

   Minako shrugged. "I'll leave a thermos out for her, just in case... and I 
can always tell them Ranma's my boyfriend...."

   "He's still my husband you know..." Akane said dangerously.

   Minako nodded. "I know, it's just a cover. I can pretend to be his 
mistress, so my Akane can spend time with him."

   Akane growled. "Just as long as it's her and not you...."

   "I wouldn't do that." Minako said quietly. "Besides, do you think my 
Akane would let me get away with something like that?"

   Akane frowned. "She might... I know how guilty she feels about "stealing" 
your body."

   Minako sighed. "I won't. I promise. Ranma wouldn't anyway, even if I 
wanted him too... which I don't."

   Akane hesitated. "Wouldn't he?" She sighed, shaking her head. "No... 
you're right... I trust him... I can't believe I trust him... but I do." She 
lowered her head, not looking at Minako. "But... if it does happen... 
just...." She sighed. "I don't want to  know about it, that's all."

   Minako hesitated. "Akane, I promise...."

   Akane chewed on her lip. "No... damn it. We don't know what might happen 
in the future. Don't make a promise you can't be sure you'll keep."

   Minako sighed. "I promise I won't lie to you about it. I don't know what 
the future will hold... but even if I do end up... falling in love with 
him... I won't go behind your back." She hesitated. "Not again."

   Akane wrinkled her nose. "I... I guess that's as good as I can expect it 
to get."

   Minako looked down at the water. "I'm sorry.... this isn't fair to you at 
all."

   "No it's not." Akane found herself agreeing. "But who says life is fair? 
It's not fair to you or your Akane either. The only right thing to do is 
make is as fair to everyone as we can, right?"

   Minako hesitated. "I guess... but it's you that's making all the 
sacrifices."

   Akane shook her head. "That's not true, and we both know it." She smiled 
faintly at the blond haired girl. "Mina... I don't want this going badly. 
We're friends, aren't we? We shouldn't let our situation change that."

   Minako nodded, smiling back. "Friends... friends forever, OK?"

   Akane smiled broadly. "OK!"

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

   There were two tables laden with food that morning in the Tendo dining 
room, and it still didn't look like it would be enough. The room was packed 
with tired looking and hungry teenagers and martial artists, who were going 
through the breakfast that Kasumi and Nodoka had prepared like a pack of 
ravenous wolves. Johnathon was downstairs finally, in his human form now, 
dark circles under his  eyes and yawning every few minutes. The only person 
who was not present downstairs was Misty,  although no one questioned her 
absence.   Over at one corner of the table, Kasumi was quietly talking to 
Shampoo. "So... it normally lasts three days or so?"

   Shampoo nodded, then hesitated. "Worst part, yes... but the effects last 
most of a week, although not as intensely."

   Kasumi chewed on her lip. "Oh my. I had better make sure that Misty and 
Johnathon both get plenty to eat. They're using up an awful lot of
energy."

   "Shampoo think..." The Amazon winced and started over. "I still think 
this is some sort of magical effect. I have never been effected that 
strongly before this."

   Kasumi frowned. "Then perhaps Dr. Tofu could help? Some sort of sedative, 
perhaps? Misty... I'm getting a bit frightened for her."   Shampoo nodded. 
"Is... It is a good idea. Would give Misty time to recover strength, perhaps 
even time for spell to end." She glanced across the room to where Dr. Tofu 
sat with Soun and Genma, watching the two fathers play shogi. "I will 
mention  it to the doctor. He will be able to recommend a proper dosage."

   As the breakfast dishes were cleared away, Johnathon Dwire cleared his 
throat and stood up, getting everyone's attention. "I think everyone here 
has realized that we're under attack." He began. getting right to the point. 
"And I think it's about time we started hitting back."

   "How?" Nabiki asked dubiously. "We don't even know where this demon is, 
much less how to defeat her..."

   "If you can't bring Mohammed to the mountain, bring the mountain to 
Mohammed." Johnathon quoted. "We have to get her to come to us... but at a 
time of our choosing." He waited, glancing around once, and was surprised 
that no one was questioning him further. He scratched his
head. "Well... I was thinking along the lines of a trap."

   "What sort of trap, Sensei?" Ukyo asked, looking curious. She wasn't the 
only one, and the young teacher was finding the attention slightly
unnerving, especially as he was about to suggest a plan that could get them 
all killed.   Johnathon frowned. "Well... the idea is to get her to attack, 
and then counterattack. It's simple enough in concept... it's the execution 
that's tricky." We want her attack to fail, and ours to succeed, but she's 
smart enough to avoid us when we're in a  large group like this, and she's 
too dangerous to handle one on one." Everyone nodded in agreement, glancing 
at each other thoughtfully, and Johnathon laughed nervously. "So we have to 
get her to think she can attack us successfully, then hit her by surprise."

   "Get to the point, Sensei." Nabiki said with a frown. "We get the idea. 
What's your plan?"

   Johnathon chewed on his lip. "Well, actually, I was suggesting we go to 
school...."

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

   Rei sighed, focusing on her textbook and trying to keep up. She had 
volunteered, or rather had been volunteered to stay in class with Nabiki 
during the day, due to her excellent grades, at least in comparison with the 
other inner Senshi present. She was a good student, and was proud of the 
fact, but Nabiki's classes were two years ahead of what she knew and she was 
floundering badly. The prospect of an inevitable demon attack was actually a 
cheerful thought when compared with having to answer any more ridiculously 
difficult questions from the teacher in front of the whole class.

   The whole plan was insane, but despite that obvious fact, it was the best 
one anyone could think of. Johnathon's initial explanation had
gotten a storm of incredulous questions, but he had managed to field them 
all, apparently gaining confidence with each answered problem.   In theory, 
the idea behind Johnathon's plan was pretty good. She and the other Senshi 
were the ace in the whole. While Mara had shown great
power, she, like all the demons and monsters before her, had failed to 
penetrate their disguise fields. As "Rei Hino" she was just one more
unremarkable student out of hundreds  at the school, as were all the others.

   One big problem was, of course, that for maximum safety, their had to be 
at least one Senshi in each classroom that held one of Mara's targets, and 
all of the Senshi were at least a grade behind Ranma and company, if not 
two. Rei was worried that Usagi and the others would having as much 
difficulty in their classes as she was, given that neither Usagi, Minako or 
Makoto were very good students to begin with, save perhaps in Physical 
Education, in Minako and Makoto's case and Home Economics, in  Makoto's.

   A second problem was getting everyone else on campus at the same time. 
Nodoka had come into Ranma and Akane's classes, claiming to be a
child prodigy looking for a new school. At the same time, Genma and Soun had 
bribed two members  of the custodial staff to take the day off, taking their 
places, while Dr. Tofu had volunteered to help out at the school clinic. 
Shampoo had joined Ranma's class happily enough,
threatening to burst out of her borrowed uniform at any moment and enjoying 
the drooling attention of half the males present.

   It had been Nabiki who had come up with the answer to the final problem, 
that is, what to do with Misty. The half-cat girl couldn't be left alone in 
the Tendo home without risk, but she couldn't come to school in her 
condition either. Nabiki had suggested sneaking her into the school clinic 
and declaring a quarantine to keep everyone out. A quarantine would also 
explain the face mask and nose plugs Dr. Tofu would be wearing to protect 
him from Misty's Pheromone cloud. Dr. Tofu had given Misty a sedative and 
Ranko and Ranma had slipped the sleeping
cat-girl into the clinic with surprising ease. She rested quietly  in the 
clinic's one bed, the curtain drawn and the covers up, with Kasumi
watching over her and Dr. Tofu in the room beyond to ward off the curious.   
Even Mamoru Chiba had shown up, posing as Johnathon Dwire's
teaching assistant, which had solved the problem of Johnathon having to 
teach classes that held none of the others as students.

   They had decided not to actually bother and falsify any records, trusting 
that they would be able to get away with the deception  for at least a few 
days, which hopefully would be long enough for the trap to work.

   "It's all going to fall apart." Rei gloomily forecast to Nabiki during 
their first break period. "Someone's going to screw this up and they're 
going to find out we're not supposed to be here."  Nabiki shrugged. 
"Maybe... I don't like this plan much either, but can you think of something 
better?"   "Better than you being bait for a demon in the middle of a crowd 
of civilians?" Rei rolled her eyes. "There has to be a better way!"

   "I don't like being bait much either." Nabiki admitted. "But I think 
you'd be surprised at how well the students here would handle themselves in 
a demon attack." Rei looked dubious, so Nabiki turned to the nearest 
student, a girl her age, and spoke  up loudly enough for her to hear. "Hey, 
Sakura, we're expecting a demoness to attack the school sometime today... 
maybe  tomorrow."

   Sakura turned around, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? Does she want to kill 
Ranma, or just marry him?"

   Nabiki shrugged. "Just kill this time. Set the odds at two to one against 
the demoness losing. Hmm... and three to one against at least one magical 
girl showing up to fight her."   Sakura blinked. "You mean besides Ranma?"

   Nabiki chuckled. "Yes, besides Ranma. He doesn't turn into a girl anymore 
anyway."

   "I saw, he got split into two people, huh?" Sakura looked curious.

   "I'll give you the whole scoop at lunch." Nabiki told her. "Get things 
started."

   Rei watched the whole conversation in mounting horror. "What are you 
doing?" She hissed quietly enough that only Nabiki could hear. "You
can't just tell people that a demon is going to attack... and you're placing 
bets?"

   Nabiki shook her head. "No, I'll be taking bets. Who do you think pays 
for repairs after one of Ranma's fights? Only way  we could break
even."

   "But isn't that... kinda unethical?" Rei chewed on her lip, looking torn. 
"And you know that we're going to fight Mara if she shows... you can't bet 
on that."

   Nabiki grinned. "Nothing better than a sure thing, I always say." She 
shrugged. "And as for how unethical it all is, I find wanting to have four 
walls and a roof pretty good motivation, and with rogue martial artists and 
demons and such attacking every week, that's a serious concern."

   Rei sighed. "OK... I guess I can see that... but how can that girl take 
this all so calmly? I mean you just told her a demon is coming."

   "A demoness." Nabiki corrected. "And after Happosai, Pantyhose Taro, the 
Ghost Cat, giant carnivorous plants, Bird People, random escaping Oni, 
Vampire teachers, cursed swords...."   Rei waved her hands in surrender. 
"Enough! Enough! I get the idea." She blinked. "Wait...
vampire teachers?"

   Nabiki shrugged. "Sure, Miss Hinako. She's Ranma and Akane's homeroom 
teacher. She's a chi vampire, she can drain battle auras, and shoot off huge 
blasts of energy.... In fact, I assume Johnathon's counting on her to pitch 
in against this demoness if and when she shows."

   Rei could only blink. "Their homeroom teacher is a chi vampire?"   Nabiki 
shrugged. "Keeps the fighting down in class...."

   "Oh..." Rei giggled. "I guess it would at that."

   Elsewhere, Usagi Tsukino sat back and sighed. < I'm already grounded.> 
She tried to reassure herself. < What more can she do to me>
Despite the fact that she was, technically, in school, she didn't think her 
teachers at Juuban High would agree, not to mention her mother when
she found out. When she had found out about the plan to try and confront 
Mara, she had insisted that she be included, knowing that her
powers were the best bet for defeating the demoness, especially with the 
goddesses missing. She knew that there was no way she could avoid
getting in trouble for ditching school, but it was a sacrifice she had to  
make.

   Usagi sighed again. < I hope Mara comes soon... I don't know HOW I'm 
going to explain this one to Mom...>  She rolled her eyes.  < The worst
part is I'm ditching school by going to school... where's the fun in that?>

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

   Down in her hidden underground lair, Mara snored lightly in her 
soundproof bedroom, completely ignorant of the plan to trap her. Her
exertions of the previous few days had been great, and she was taking the 
time to fully recover her strength before making her next move.   In the 
room outside Mara's bedchamber, Gosenkugi took yet another book down off of 
the shelves and continued his ever-expanding studies of
magic. Mara had quite the collection, and really getting to learn magic was 
worth everything else he  had to go through. In the back of his mind he 
wondered if his parents were worried about his disappearance, or if they had 
already given up hope that he would ever return. Compared to the 
overwhelming need to serve his demonic mistress, and the  slightly less 
urgent, but still overpowering desire to learn magic, such concerns were 
trivial, and he did his best to put them out of his mind.

   The one major concern that did affect him was about his former mistress. 
The spell that Mara had cast over her to link her to the other girls with 
feline Jusenkyo curses was keeping her in a terribly heightened state of 
constant arousal. Despite Mara's offer, he couldn't bring himself to take 
advantage of her state, and moreover, he was concerned about her health.

   In an adjoining room, Cliopatra was also vaguely aware that something was 
terribly wrong. She was exhausted, almost too tired to move, but the waves 
of desire continued to fill her, nearly making her black out again with 
their intensity. She needed a male so badly that she wanted to die, but that 
was what she was afraid she would soon do if her body did not allow her to 
rest soon. Mercifully, she blacked out only minutes later, going so deep 
into unconsciousness that not even her dreams could plague her.

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

   The day went by with remarkable quickness, for all the tension and worry 
it cost them. No demon attack disturbed them, and everyone
returned to the Tendo Dojo to talk and plan for the day ahead.

   "This isn't going to work." Mamoru Chiba announced worriedly. "A day or 
two can be explained, perhaps... but the longer we keep this up the
larger the chance someone is going to figure out something is wrong.

   "I know!" Usagi suggested, looking excited. "I can use the disguise pen 
to become a school superintendent and talk to our teachers. I can tell them 
we're all part of an exchange program...." She trailed off. "Or 
something...."

   Johnathon blinked. "That's a really good idea, Usagi! I think I can help 
you work out the details so it sound's more plausible. That will get you 
guys out of trouble with the school at least."

   "For now." Rei said. "But they'll find out sooner or later...."

   Johnathon frowned. "I know... this is too complex to keep up for long... 
maybe it's best if you all go back to your own schools tomorrow... if 
there's trouble you can always teleport here...."

   The four Senshi hesitated. "We can leave you a communicator..." Rei said 
slowly. "But without Ami... I don't know if we can manage a
teleport." She sighed. "I go do a different school then the others, anyway." 
She glanced at the others, then at  Johnathon. "If Mara attacks, you'd be on 
your own... we just have to keep this up as long as we can."

   Shampoo spoke up. "I can try using the Xian Go Fu Shiatsu Technique on 
your teachers... make them forget that you haven't been in class..."

   Usagi brightened. "You can do that?" She frowned. "You wouldn't have to 
hurt them, would you?"

   Shampoo shook her head. "Not at all. It just takes a little formula 411 
shampoo and pressure applied to the right areas of the skull in the
correct order...." She hesitated. "Of course, it can be tricky erasing 
exactly the right thing... easier to just make  them forget whole day."

   Dr. Tofu wrinkled his nose. "Not that I approve of this procedure, 
Shampoo, but perhaps you could show me how to work this technique, just
in case?"

   Shampoo nodded. "You can come along and watch, is very educational."

   Rei spoke up. "Speaking of education, we'd better do something today, 
before it's too late and someone calls our parents."

   Usagi shot straight up, eyes wide. "Oh no, I forgot! Mom was supposed to 
pick me up from school today! She's going to kill me!"

   Rei sighed, standing up and holding out her hand. "Better give me the 
transformation pen then, Usagi. I'll explain to your Mom, and you can talk 
to Grandpa for me..."

   Mamoru stood up as well. "I'll drive you both home." He turned to Minako. 
"What about you, Mina? Will you need to make an appearance at
home?"

   Minako shrugged. "I already called Mom and told her I'd be spending the 
night with Akane. As long as she knows were she can contact me
she doesn't mind me staying over a friend's for the night."

   Akane blinked. "But I don't know your mother."

   Minako giggled. "You don't, but she knows Akane! I called Mom from the 
bathroom at school and had my Akane talk to her for me." She
giggled. "Sometimes it's handy being two people at once."

   Mamoru turned to Makoto curiously. "What about you, Makoto? Need a lift 
back to Juuban?"

   Makoto shook her head. "No one's expecting me, so I might as well stay 
here with Mina and keep watch." She hesitated. "Although if you
could talk to my teachers for me as well, Usagi, that would be great."

   Dr. Tofu stood up as well. "Mamoru-san, can you give Shampoo and I a ride 
as well? If Shampoo's... suggestion needs to be  implemented, it
would be best if we were on hand to do so."

   "No problem, Doctor." Mamoru nodded agreeably. "When we're done, I can 
ferry you all back here, and stay myself. If Mara does attack, we'd
best be prepared as possible."

   Usagi whined. "I hate being grounded. I want to stay with the rest of you 
here."

   Rei rolled her eye. "You're not missing anything, Usagi. We're just going 
to be keeping watch  all night." She snorted. "You'd  probably fall asleep 
in the middle of your watch anyway."

   "I would not!" Usagi said, then stuck out her tongue at Rei.

   "You would too, meatball head!"

   The two girls began their tongue war anew as they walked out of the 
house, and Mamoru Chiba groaned quietly. "Oh man... they'll be at this
the whole way."

   Akane and Ranko both giggled quietly, exchanging a look, and Mamoru, 
Shampoo and Dr. Tofu left the Tendo's ahead of a quiet wave of laughter.

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

   Ikuko Tsukino blinked hummed to herself as she prepared dinner, feeling 
for some reason remarkably refreshed. Upstairs, her daughter peeked out of 
her bedroom window to talk to the purple haired Amazon perched on the 
windowsill.

   "Mom doesn't remember a thing about me not meeting her at school." Usagi 
told Shampoo quietly. "Although she did still remember that I
was grounded."

   Shampoo shrugged. "Small changes easy. Change more, mother get confused 
why memories don't match." She looked curious. "How Rei do?
Principal believe story about exchange program?"

   Usagi nodded. "I think so. He sounded like he bought it anyway..." She 
chewed on her lip. "Shampoo... do you think you could make my
brother Shingo forget how to be such a brat?"

   Shampoo chuckled. "The memory technique does not work that way... younger 
brothers are a problem no one knows a cure for." Usagi
giggled back, sharing the moment with the purple haired girl before Shampoo 
nodded, smiling, and turned to go. "I  will come back if needed, but 
remember, Xian Shio Gatsu technique only for emergency. Dangerous if used 
too often."

   Usagi looked concerned. "Dangerous? How dangerous?"

   Shampoo shook her head. "No worry. First time used there is no danger... 
repeated use increase risk of all memory returning at once, only do if no 
other way."

   Usagi nodded. "OK... I can live with that. We'll just have to be careful 
from now on, so she doesn't have anything she has to forget."
Shampoo nodded. "That always best." She leapt down to the ground and slipped 
over to where Mamoru Chiba, Rei and Dr. Tofu were waiting
in Mamoru's car.

   "Everything alright?" Mamoru asked her in concern as she slipped into the 
back seat.

   "There no trouble." Shampoo reported tersely. "Where we go now?"

   "My place." Mamoru replied, starting the car and driving off down the 
road. "I need to pick up a few things if I'm going to stay the night at the 
Tendo's."

   Minutes later he opened the front door to his apartment only to blink at 
seeing that he had guests. Luna and Artemis were in the living room waiting 
for him when he came in, and they both looked relieved to see him.

   "What's up?" Mamoru asked in concern. "Did you find something?"

   Artemis shook his head. "No, we had to break off our search last night 
when Luna started...." He blushed. "Well... we think it was some sort of 
magical attack. We've been hiding out ever since, just in case we were being 
watched... but it seems like  however cast the spell wasn't interested in 
seeing whether or not it worked. We came here this morning when we were sure 
no one was observing us.

   Mamoru Chiba blinked. "Luna too? Hmm... are you sure it was a magical 
attack?"   Artemis nodded firmly. "Trust me, I know a spell when I see one." 
He frowned. "What do you mean Luna too?"

   Mamoru hastened to explain. "It seems that every girl that has a feline 
Jusenkyo curse has been effected the same way...." He blinked. "Or perhaps I 
should say that every female with a Jusenkyo curse who also happens to be 
feline at least part of the time was effected."

   Artemis' eyes went wide. "They all went into heat?"   Luna blushed. 
"Artemis! Don't be so vulgar!"

   The white haired young man raised an eyebrow. "Well what would you call 
it?"

   Luna blushed harder. "Never mind..." She looked over at Mamoru, frowning 
worriedly. "Misty and Shampoo? Are they alright?"

   Mamoru nodded. "Shampoo was able to change back to her human form before  
things got too much out of hand." He  frowned worriedly. "They ended up 
having to sedate Misty...."

   Artemis nodded. "Now it makes sense. The magic wasn't directed at us, 
that's why I couldn't track down the source. It must have been a
universal effect...." He trailed off, looking thoughtful. "If we could 
analyze the signature and strength of the magic on Luna, Misty and
Shampoo, we might be able to track down its source..." He sighed. "If only 
Ami or Michiru were here. They could find the source of this magic
much quicker than I could."

   Mamoru sighed. "Well... we can only hope." He looked curious. "We're all 
going over to the Tendo home, except Rei and Usagi, to keep watch in case 
that demoness tries to attack again. Do you want to come along?"

   Artemis hesitated, then shook his head. "No, we'd probably not be more of 
a liability then a help if Mara does show up there. I'll start scouting 
around again for signs of Mara as a cat, and Luna can stay in hiding here 
till we can get that spell reversed."

   Luna looked annoyed. "I can handle myself, Artemis. I may not be as 
sensitive to magic as a human, but I can help."

   Artemis shook his head.  "Mara knows what your human form looks like, 
you'd better stay out of sight for now."

   "What about you, Artemis?" Luna asked. "Mara certainly knows by now to 
watch out for a white cat."

   "Ah, but as a cat I'm much better at hiding than you are as a human." 
Artemis pointed out smugly.

   "Maybe you both should stay here, Artemis." Mamoru suggested. "Either one 
of you would be in danger alone. What if it rains?"

   Artemis sighed. "I suppose... I'll see what I can do about the spell 
then, in the meantime. Maybe I can piece together the aura if I'm a cat."

   Luna blinked. "But the spell is only present if I'm a cat as well..." She 
swallowed. "I don't know about this...."

   Mamoru shook his head, and headed into his bedroom as Artemis tried to 
convince Luna to return to her feline form temporarily. He collected
a change of clothing and left as Artemis and Luna were still quietly 
arguing.

   "You just want me to turn into a cat so you can have sex." Luna was 
accusing him softly.

   "Not at all..." Artemis protested. "Anyway, its not like we didn't do 
that anyway last night in our human forms."

   Mamoru blushed and hurried out the door, but not before Luna replied. 
"True... but if we do this... it probably means kittens."

   Mamoru shut the door before Artemis could respond, but he caught a 
glimpse of the stunned look on the white haired man's face as he closed
the door. "Kittens...." He said softly, shaking his head. "I wonder if 
Shampoo and Dr. Tofu have  conversations like that?"

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

   Waiting in Mamoru's car, the two in question were indeed having a similar 
conversation.

   "Shampoo.... I thought we agreed to wait till we were married... after 
you turn eighteen." Dr. Tofu put on his most reasonable voice, sounding like 
the answer should be obvious.

   "The situation has change." She noticed the looked on the doctor's face 
and corrected herself before he could. "Has changed." Dr. Tofu
nodded and Shampoo continued. "I have done as much reading as you have. 
Physical... intercourse would alleviate the symptoms for a time... and if I 
change back to my human form right afterwards I should be able to retain 
control of myself for some time if I get splashed with cold water at a 
critical moment, for example."

   The doctor hesitated. "Even if you're correct, that is no reason to...."

   Shampoo shook her head. "It is more than enough reason. My body is 
physically mature. I am certainly psychologically prepared for... taking the 
next step in our relationship. The only reason we had to wait is for your 
Japanese customs, correct?"

   Dr. Tofu hesitated. "Well...."

   Shampoo looked seriously at him. "Tofu-san... if it was just my desire 
for you that was at stake I would be willing to wait to satisfy your 
custom... but my current condition puts all of us at risk if Mara  should 
attack. Is your custom more important then that?"

   Dr. Tofu hesitated again. "We don't even know if it would work.. this 
spell... you might be just as strongly effected immediately after we..." He 
blushed.

   Shampoo shook her head. "I spoke with Kasumi. Misty became satiated for 
nearly an hour after each time she and Johnathon-san coupled."

   Dr. Tofu looked shocked. "Shampoo!"

   She looked at him with a faint, knowing smile. "Are you shocked, 
Tofu-san? Kasumi felt I had the right to know how I might be affected by the 
spell."

   The doctor sighed. "No, of course. It was wise to inquire... I just... 
this isn't how I pictured it."

   Shampoo sighed. "Not how I pictured my first time either... but it's the 
right thing to do."

   Dr. Tofu raised an eyebrow. "You're enjoying this."

   Shampoo blushed. "Just a little... I have... wanted you for a long 
time... must you continue to refuse me, even when it may be dangerous to do 
so?" The doctor frowned, looking like he was trying to come up with another 
excuse, and Shampoo looked worried. "Is it that we'll have to make love 
while I am in my cursed form? Am I unattractive to you like that?"

   The doctor shook his head quickly. "Not at all! I just..." He sighed. 
"I'm not going to win this, am I."

   "Nope." Shampoo told him, looking slightly smug.

   "Alright, you win." Dr. Tofu said, shaking his head but smiling slightly. 
"Where?"

   Shampoo looked thoughtful. "Need hot and cold water... preferably 
privacy... borrow Tendo furo when we return?"   Dr. Tofu swallowed. "Oh
dear... isn't that a bit public?"

   Shampoo smiled sexily. "We'll put up the occupied sign, and clean up 
after."

   Mamoru walked up to the driver's side door of the car and opened the 
door, carrying a bundle, and blinked at the brightly blushing Dr. Tofu.
"Er...." He hesitated then shook his head. "Never mind." He put the car in 
gear and started to drive. "Hold on, we have to pick up Rei before
heading back to Nerima. She should be ready to go by now."

   Minutes later, they stopped by the front gate of the shrine and parked. 
Several moments later Rei slipped out of the woods and ran up to the car, 
getting inside quickly.

   "Quick, drive." She instructed. "My grandfather thinks I'm going to bed 
early tonight, and I warned him not to wake me up, but I don't want
him to see me leaving."   Shrugging, Mamoru put the car into gear and took 
off, starting the drive back to Nerima. "You sure he won't check on you?" He 
asked quietly when they were well away.

   "He wouldn't dare." Rei told him. "The last time Grandpa peeked into my 
room, I wouldn't speak to him for weeks. As long as we get back here
before I have to leave for school in the morning, I should be fine."

    Mamoru shrugged again. "Alright, if you say so, Rei."


            End Chapter 36

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


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