{Characters and certain situations belong to Mike Loader and Susan Doenime. Based on characters and situations created by Rumiko Takahashi. Use of this story is forbidden without my permission. No money may be made by the sale of this story IN ANY WAY (including CDs, compilations and any other illegal activities).}

It would be a very good idea to read Ill Met By Starlight before reading this if you haven't. It contains characters and situations which pertain to that story.

Koji walked into the encampment. All this waiting... It was the best way to catch the bastard Saotome, but not the easiest on his mental state. He listened briefly. Not the easiest on Mariko either.

"Mariko, why are you crying?" he asked, bewildered by the display of emotion.

Mariko shook her head. Damn. She didn't want Koji to see her like this; he would never understand how hard this whole thing was on her. She had probably completely ruined her image too.

"C'mon, sis, you can tell me." His voice was gentle, yet strong. Just like...

"I... I can't stand to be without him, Koji!" she said loudly through her angered sniffles. Angry at herself, angry at Saotome, angry at the world. "I miss him so much!" She pounded her fist into her palm.

Koji sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. "I know, but we have each other now, and we'll get Saotome, and we'll give him what he deserves for what he did to our little brother." He squeezed her gently.

Mariko's sniffles slowed and she leaned against Koji a little more. "It's just not fair! He shouldn't be dead! No one knows how much he meant to me!" She grabbed Koji's hand and squeezed... painfully so.

Koji sighed and rocked Mariko a little, pulling his hand from hers and flexing his fingers. "I know," he said quietly. "I miss him too."

"No, you can't possibly..."

"Mariko, he was my brother too. How could you say that I wouldn't know how much you miss him. We were as much blood as you and he were." The hot flame of unfairness blazed to life in his gut. "I miss my brother too!"

"I'm sorry, Koji. Just... just sometimes I don't know how much longer I can go on. I l... loved him." And the fact that she had had to hide made her angry...

"So did I, sis. But we have to move on; we take our revenge to honor him, then we move on," Koji said sadly. If only he could believe his words."

"Thank you, Koji..." It made her feel better, but didn't make her any less angry.

The fire was warm and suitably muted. Perfect. Koji was sitting next to it, staring at the shimmering flames. Mariko's outburst had affected him. He wasn't a cold emotionless bastard, not like Saotome, and he hurt just like every other man. Seeing his sister acting so unnaturally had worried him. Worried him a lot. He didn't know what to do when she started crying. He knew how to take care of her when she was in a rage, ready to kill the next thing that touched her, but not when she was actually crying.

There was a soft sigh behind him, and he immediately knew it was Mariko. Well, who else could it be? "What is it, sis?"

"N... nothing, Koji. It's just..." She tried to smile at him, though it was weak.

"Just what?" He never turned his head.

Mariko sat next to him and put her hand on his thigh. "Did you know..." She had already embarrassed herself with the girlish tears; Koji would know something was very wrong.

"About you and Ryoga?"

Mariko nodded, feeling ashamed. Ashamed, and angry. Everything made her angry. Why was the world such a shithole?

"Yeah, but I figured you two knew better and would get over it. I know, it's hard, because I wished I had someone to share things with. That's why I never said anything."

Mariko leaned against his shoulder. "Thank you," she said quietly, then laughed a little. If there was ever anyone she could count on, it was Koji, her big brother.

They each remained silent until something made them look at each other. There was a sparkle in Koji's eyes that refused to go out. Similarly, there was the reflection of the fire in Mariko's eyes that seemed to smoulder with her gaze.

Slowly, they leaned toward each other until their lips met gently in a shy kiss. It lasted an instant, then a few seconds, then over a minute, growing less timid with each passing heartbeat. And then, as suddenly as it started, it ended, Koji and Mariko each pulling away, looking shame-faced.

"I'm sorry," Koji tried to apologize.

"No, it's my fault," Mariko insisted, though she was slowly moving forward to repeat the incident.

Koji shook his head, looking at his sister. "No, it's my fault. I should have never let things go so far... with any of us. I should have stopped you. This should have never..." He trailed off as he saw the hot flush on her face change to muted rage. Tears of anger trickled down Mariko's face.

"Oh, hey... Stop that." Koji put his hand on Mariko's shoulder.

Mariko pushed his hand away. "Don't touch me! How can you say that about Ryoga? Don't you know he..."

"I know plenty about him. I know how he would've been better off, and you too, to... live normally..."

Mariko stood up then. "I hate you," she hissed. "I hate you!" She ran out of the fire's light, and although she couldn't run far, Koji felt like she was a million miles away. "You should be dead! Not him!" she yelled from the darkness.

Mariko sat among the cattails and picked up a rock, throwing it out into the darkness, hearing it splash in the water. How... How could Koji even THINK of saying such things? About Ryoga. It just wasn't possible, it just wasn't right, it just... hurt her to the very core of her being.

"Mariko, I'm sorry."

Mariko turned at the sound of her brother's voice. "Just leave me alone! You hated him! You were always jealous! It was all your fault! Why didn't you save him? Why didn't you keep him alive..." Mariko's voice was angry, no doubt about that.

"I wish I could... express myself like you, Mariko." Koji sat down beside her. "But... I lost my brother, and nobody... Nobody really knows how I feel. I feel so... empty and alone and angry..." He pulled her against him. "I'm so sorry. You're right, I was jealous, jealous that you had someone and you were..."

"Oh, Koji, I hate this... I hate everything. I hate this stupid camp, I hate Nerima, I hate Tokyo, I hate this park, I hate your cooking..." She nestled herself against him. "I'm so tired of it all..." She was tired of being lost and angry, but those seemed to be the only two constants in her life. "You know how happy I'll be to see Saotome's butt with two shells full of buckshot in it?"

Koji buried his face in Mariko's hair, trying to hide his own sadness. Her words might have sounded light-hearted to a casual listener, but he could tell... She reminded him so much Ryoga, and he had hurt her with his memory... "Forgive me," he whispered.

Mariko turned her face up. "I do. I could never hate you; you remind me too much of Ryoga."

There was that interminable moment where they could've kissed, but both knew they shouldn't, with their lips only a short head movement away from each other...

Mariko's lips looked like they were mouthing something, something that might have been 'for Ryoga' before she kissed Koji again. Only this time she didn't plan on giving up so easily.

Koji, for his part, was fairly surprised. Mariko had latched her arms around his neck, kissing him forcefully, leaning her body against his. For a moment, Koji felt like he was caught in time. He couldn't move to push her away, couldn't separate himself from her, couldn't help himself...

Then reality crashed down on him and his arms went around Mariko, and he was squeezing her, drawing her closer to him. They had always been as close as their poor direction sense allowed, and this... this seemed to be so natural to him. Koji stopped thinking, pushing everything except his sister to the back of his mind.

As Koji basked in the warmth of his sister's affection, he realized that she was just a bit... more experienced than he was. She was teasing his partly opened lips with her tongue, taking deep breaths at even intervals through her nose, and Koji could feel her heart pounding against her, and his, chest.

Koji tried to break away then, finally having to push Mariko back. "Mari," Koji breathed, "stop."

Mariko looked a little hurt, which changed to the faintest anger. "Why should I?"

Koji looked at her, gasping for breath. "I couldn't breathe."

"Oh," Mariko said, then started to smirk. "I guess I'll just have to teach you how to do it then."

"Mari..." Koji started to say before he was knocked over and pinned to the ground by his sister.

Mariko quickly stripped Koji of his clothing, having grown quite efficient over time at it. She ran her hands over his bared flesh, noting the subtle differences between him and his brother.

She looked up at his face and smiled, seeing that he was still a bit... afraid. "Don't worry, Koji. It's perfectly fine," she tried to reassure.

What Koji was really worried about was his inexperience with females and what if someone caught them or if Saotome decided to make a move or one of a hundred other things happened. He could feel the anxiety build up in him as all the bad possibilities asserted themselves in his mind.

Mariko seemed to notice and took his face in her hand, squeezing his cheeks. "Look here," she said, her voice growing dangerous, "I want you to relax. Feeling guilty is not allowed, and worrying is not allowed. I am commanding you to enjoy yourself. Do you understand?"

Koji, his lips puckered by Mariko's hold on his cheeks, stared at her for a moment, then nodded.

Mariko released his face, still looking extraordinarily serious, then she began to remove her own clothes. Watching Koji's face, she saw his cheeks redden and a trickle of blood escape his nose as she removed her shirt. "What's wrong, big brother? I'd think you've never seen a half naked girl before." She smiled at him.

Koji shook his head, his eyes nearly bugging out as Mariko removed the rest of her clothes. He put his hand to his nose and pinched it, trying to hold back the tide of blood. "I haven't," he said in his nasally voice.

Mariko laughed and kneeled over him, taking note of his burgeoning excitement. "You haven't seen one, but I guess that wouldn't stop you from liking it when you do." Mariko posed for him, turning back and forth. "So what do you think?"

Koji was speechless. His mouth was hanging open and his eyes were open wide. His sister was actually...

Mariko seemed hurt by his lack of an answer. She pouted a little. "What's wrong? You don't think I'm pretty?"

Koji shook his head frantically, his hand still at his nose. "I think you're... beautiful!"

Mariko giggled a bit at Koji's voice. "Thanks. Now can we get started? Or am I going to have to get rough with you?"

Koji gulped at the look she was giving him and managed to nod and shake his head at the same time.

"Good." Mariko pulled his hand away from his face and leaned down and kissed him again, tasting the blood that had run down to his lip.

Koji's arms, that had been limp, suddenly twitched to life. The naked girl rubbing herself against him was too much to not react to. He grabbed hold of Mariko and sat up, rolling her so she was in his lap, their lips still pressed together.

Mariko smiled when she felt Koji's desire pressing into her ribs. She pulled her head away and smiled. "Come on, Koji. You'll like it." She ran her hand down Koji's arm, tickling him slightly.

Koji's eyes got wider, almost wild, and he nodded. It was definitely time. Holding Mariko by the shoulders, Koji moved, pushing her to the ground and putting one leg over her. "So you want to start something eh?" he asked, looking in her eyes.

Mariko nodded. "Definitely."

Koji gave her a crazed half smile and changed the position of his legs, moving them between Mariko's. He started to lower himself when Mariko stopped him.

"Let me help. It'll go more smoothly that way." Mariko didn't wait for Koji's agreement, moving her hand down his body, making a quick stop at his butt to squeeze it. With her right hand, she reached between their bodies and took hold of Koji's fully erect rod and held it steady. "Now, Koji. Do it now."

Koji leaned all his weight down and forward, driving himself into his sister until their pelvises met. Koji's whole body felt like there was electricity flowing through it. He found that he couldn't move, couldn't even breathe and his heart was hammering in his chest, begging to be let out.

"Don't stop now," Mariko urged, squeezing his muscular butt and running her hand up and down his back. "You're just getting started."

Koji looked down at Mariko, looking like he was caught in a dream.

"Come on, big brother, don't poop out on me now." She leaned up and kissed his chin, trying to pull his body down to her.

Koji slowly regained his senses... his other senses, and looked a bit confused. "Mari, I don't know..."

"Just follow my lead. You should pick up on this quick." Mariko smiled as she hooked her legs around Koji and began to thrust against him.

She had been right, of course, and Koji learned very quickly, starting a rhythm that worked the best for the both of them. Soon enough, they were both sweating in front of the fire, Koji moving as fast as body would allow him.

Mariko was doing her part too, grasping, squeezing, licking and biting Koji to keep him motivated, letting out little gasps and groans every so often. "Don't stop, Koji," she said, digging her fingers into his flesh.

Koji's only response was a grunt, and he shuffled his body forward.

Mariko seemed to get the point and put her arms around his neck, pulling herself up off the ground.

Koji rolled over gently to his back, not breaking their connection at all and only pausing their rhythm for a moment. Then he was on his back and Mariko was on top him and they were at it again, this time with Mariko forcing herself down on him.

She started to move faster, more forcefully, fairly bouncing on top of Koji. Their rhythm finally broken, the two moved chaotically, pleasuring each other.

Koji slid his hands up Mariko's thighs, up her body as it moved erratically, her breasts bouncing within his reach with every thrust of Mariko. The pleasure on Mariko's face would have been very nice for him to see if his eyes weren't closed as he was consumed by the intense waves pure physical pleasure ripping through him.

He shivered with delight as he felt the pleasure build to a point that he couldn't contain any longer. With a cry of triumph, Koji bucked his hips several time sharply and released his seed into his willing sister.

But Mariko wasn't done, and she wouldn't allow Koji to be done so soon either. "Don't you dare think you're done," she said between gasps of air.

Koji shook his head, eyes closed, but smiling. "No way. How could I let my little sister outlast me?"

Mariko growled at him, to which he laughed. Koji sat up and tipped the two of them over backwards to put them in the position they started out in.

Koji began thrusting with renewed vigor, their bodies sliding against each other under a layer of sweat.

"Koji?" Mariko asked, amazingly calm for the situation.

"Yes?" he answered with effort.

"Harder!"

Koji eeped as Mariko's fingernails dug into his side and he started thrusting harder. No wonder Ryoga always had such great stamina when they happened to meet up.

Mariko pulled herself up to start kissing him under his chin. It was a good thing she didn't try her life-stealer kiss then, or he might just suffocate and die. And it would really stink to die from screwing his sister when Ranma...

Koji didn't hear Mariko's cries of pleasure as his own anger fueled body. Thinking about Ranma had really messed up his mood though...

"Yes!" Mariko called out. "That's it, Koji!"

Koji didn't even hear her, still absorbed in his misery and anger, slamming into her, working it out through his physical efforts. Wallowing in his feelings, he was pounding harder and harder, Mariko calling out beneath him.

For Mariko, it was the most joyous moment she could remember since her first time with Ryoga. She cried out with pleasure, arching her back, squeezing Koji, pinching his skin.

Koji went through the whole process again, with anger filling his mind, clouding his senses until the final moment. He yelled loudly, partly with pleasure, partly with anger, an anguished look on his face.

His fleeting moment of pleasure passed and he was left with only the anger and a dead brother.

"Koji? Koji, please..."

Koji looked down at Mariko, seeing how she was concerned. And that was when he realized he was shaking, and how badly he needed Mariko and how much he wanted a normal life again.

Mariko put her arms around him, pulling him down to lay on her. She kissed his neck and stroked his hair. "It's not your fault. We'll be fine. We'll get him," she whispered soothingly, until he fell into a light sleep.

"What was it about him?"

"What do you mean?"

"What was it about Ryoga that you..." Koji trailed off.

Mariko looked up at the sky. "I don't know. Mostly that he was there when nobody else was. He always knew how to make me feel better." She rolled over so she was laying on top of her brother, looking into his eyes. "Why?"

Koji kissed her quickly. "Just curious. That's all."

"Oh. Convenience I suppose, deep down." She shrugged. "Now, um..."

"Whatever has become of my innocent little sister?" Koji moaned dramatically, rolling his eyes.

Mariko laughed and kissed Koji. "Your innocent little sister is right here and she's looking to get some." Mariko gave Koji a half-smile and wiggled her eyebrows.

Koji laughed and hugged her to him.  

[....]