{These characters are not property of me. I would never attempt to claim them as my own. This story may not be used without my permission, and may not be used to make money in any way, shape or form. Characters and certain situations were created by Rumiko Takahashi, so don't try any funny stuff!}

He stood outside in the cool night air. Even though Nabiki had headed for home over 15 minutes ago, he could still feel her presence as if she was still at his side. He could smell the shampoo she used, the soap, the little dab of perfume she put on every morning. It was almost eerie, and yet, so tantalizing.

He looked up at the sky; it was a clear, cloudless night with the waxing moon shining brightly. His stomach growled loudly and shook him from his quiet contemplation. He headed back inside and went straight to the kitchen.

Kuno opened the refrigerator, leaving the overhead lights off, and grabbed the first thing his hand could reach. Without even seeing what it was, he shut the refrigerator door, sat on the floor and began to eat.

Kodachi heard strange noises coming from the kitchen and carefully approached the closed door, ribbon in hand. They had never had burglars in the house before, but there was a first time for everything. She opened the door slowly, trying to avoid making a sound, and turned on the light suddenly.

The instant the light flashed to life, she snapped her ribbon, ready to use it on the intruder. Instead of using it to snag a criminal, the ribbon fell from her hand. "B... Brother?"

He was sitting cross-legged on the floor with his back against the refrigerator with a big bowl held in both of his hands. It was the bowl with the leftovers from two nights ago that had ended up nearly untouched. And her brother was sitting there with his face in the bowl.

In fact, he was actually licking it clean. He had eaten everything out of the bowl and was licking the sides busily. "Brother?" she asked again, confused by a number of things.

He looked up at her, food all over his face, and stared. It looked like he hadn't bothered with any eating utensils and had simply plunged his face into the bowl to feed.

Kodachi recoiled from her brother. For one thing, he looked disgusting. Another thing was that he should have been incapacitated from the poisons in that dish. And lastly, his eyes were red. He looked up, smiled at her, and went back to licking the bowl.

She quickly exited the kitchen, hoping she would wake up from the strange dream she was having. It couldn't all be happening, it was far too unbelievable. Her brother having sex with Nabiki Tendo... a lot. They never tried to hide it and they were loud too. Like animals. Then him eating her poisoned food and having red eyes. It was then that she decided to give him his space for a while.

***

"Your lunch smells delicious."

"I didn't bring my lunch today. Risa owes me today."

"But I distinctly smell the heavenly odor of your sister's shrimp."

"Yeah, Kasumi made shrimp, but I didn't bring any. Akane and Ranma did, but they're on the other side of the building."

Kuno inhaled deeply. He could smell it like it was sitting in front of him. And he could smell Nabiki. He couldn't decide which smelled better at the moment.

He leaned over and inhaled. It was like smelling roses, hot chocolate and... and... He couldn't quite put his finger on it. Roses, hot chocolate and... He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes. A woman. She smelled like a woman, which wasn't really surprising, but the extent to which he enjoyed that scent was. And the fact that she smelled of every pleasant smell he knew was amazing.

"Kuno-chan, what are you doing?"

He looked up at her, his eyes a little wide. "Nabiki Tendo, you smell... intoxicating."

She gave him a funny look, then said, "Whatever. Could you not stick your face so close to me in public?"

He pulled his head back. "Pardon me." He nonchalantly brought his hand to his face and sniffed. There was nothing about himself that he smelled. It was just... him.

He looked at the boy in front of him and inhaled. He immediately recoiled, getting a disgusted look on his face. The boy, Hiragashi he remembered his name being, stank of alcohol, tobacco, and was ripe with uncleanliness.

***

She brushed her fingers through his hair. "You think I smell good?"

He nodded. "Verily."

"Is it the perfume?"

"No, it is no artificial fragrance. It is your natural scent." He held her arm to his nose and breathed deeply, his eyes almost rolling back into his head. It was so strong and heady, like a powerful drug. "I can not begin to describe it."

She smiled wryly at him. "You really know how to make a girl feel special." Except Akane. And Ranma.

"But you are, or we would not have the bond that we do," he said with all sincerity.

"Oh please. I don't believe this is some spiritual bond or some other crap like that. This is just some..."

"Force of nature?"

"Possibly. I suppose natural selection could get pushy if it wanted to. Not that I'd put money on it." She laid quietly for a moment. "You know, with my brain and your thick skull, we could probably have a genius kid immune to head trauma. Not that I plan on having any kids." She was half joking, but it almost made sense.

He nodded, not really listening to what she was saying. "We have been speaking for far too long. I must demonstrate what your scent does to me."

"What if I said I didn't want to?"

"Then I would say you are a very poor liar." He just knew she wanted to, knew she was ready. There was like a light that over her head that went on and off indicating so. "We must make up for all the times in the day we were unable to find peace and solitude."

"What times in the day?" She tried to sound innocent.

"Come now. I could see your desire, your desperation. During lunch, before math, when you left with your friends..."

"Well don't you think you know everything?" she asked playfully.

"Not as much as you." He nuzzled her neck, inhaling her fragrance. "I am surprised you have not discovered an explanation for all this yet," he said, kissing his way down her neck.

"How... how am I supposed to know what kind of weird things your sister feeds you?" She dug her fingers into his back as they made up for missed opportunities.

***

He followed her silently in the darkness. She would never stand for his presence if she knew he was seeing her home safely, so he followed under the cover of shadows. She was just stubborn that way.

Several times he lost sight of her and had to pick up his pace to get her in his view again. It was strange, the way he felt. He had told her he did not love her, and he most assuredly did not. Yet, he was most concerned for her safety; the thought of injury to her person almost set him into a rage.

She stopped and looked around which made him freeze. Had he made a noise? He didn't think so. He set himself to concentrating on keeping himself hidden, and finally she moved on. He followed, his footsteps quick and light.

She turned down a darkened street, and he drew closer. He shouldn't have let her go alone so late at night. There was an unsavory element beginning to encroach on Nerima, and she was the perfect victim. In fact, he could hear whispering from near by and wondered why she didn't react to it.

He got closer still, invisible to her, invisible to whoever had been whispering. It sounded so ugly as it died down. The anger in his heart started to mount and he could feel the heat rise to his cheeks. He couldn't stop his face from twisting into a snarl.

Then he growled from somewhere far back in his throat. How dare they prey on her? She... He saw a group of shadows approach her from an alley. She... He saw her backpedal from the figures. She belonged to him!

He charge out of the shadows too quickly for the thugs to react. They barely even got a look at him. The first one, looking barely old enough to be in high school, was rendered unconscious before the others had moved. Their sudden surprise was an almost tangible thing. Before they could confront their attacker, he was working over the second thug with animalistic rage. One thug, with a shaking hand, opened his knife and stuck Kuno in the side.

Kuno jerked away from the source of pain and turned his gaze on the thug. His eyes burned with hatred. It was a hatred so deep, so complete, a fury they couldn't comprehend. The ones still conscious looked for only a moment then ran off into the night.

"Ku... Kuno-chan!" Nabiki ran over as he collapsed, the knife still in his side.

He was still breathing steadily and his pulse was strong, but his eyes were glazed over. She held him, careful not to hit the knife, a single tear escaping. His hand moved weakly and touched hers.

"Like no other," he said quietly, as if they were his last words.

"Come on. You're going to be fine. You're too stubborn to let this little pinprick hurt you." She looked at his side but couldn't see how bad it was.

He gave her a weak smile. "I'm not feeling so good."

"Can you stand up? We need to get you to the hospital."

"I'm fine. I just need to rest a little bit."

She looked at his side again. It wasn't bleeding too badly, and the knife didn't appear to be in him too deeply. "Get up, Kuno-chan. If we don't get you to the hospital, do you know what you're going to miss?"

He blinked slowly and his smile widened. "You... are such a temptress." He slowly got to his feet, Nabiki helping him. He looked at the knife jutting from his side, then yanked it out.

He slumped against her and put his hand on his side over the wound. They walked down the darkened streets slowly, both of them with blood on their clothing. He was pleased to know how concerned she was for him, but knew she wouldn't care to hear how concerned he had been for her. She liked to think herself independent, that she didn't need anyone, but he could see the truth in her eyes.

"How are you doing? Are you feeling OK?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied weakly. "It is not as serious as it appears." That didn't mean it was painless though.

"I don't care. You need a trip to the hospital."

"No. Just... help me home."

She sighed. "You're going to owe me big for this."

***

"We're going away for the weekend. I won't be back until Monday."

"I understand. It is best that I am allowed to... heal anyway." He was laid up in bed again, unable to even... help Nabiki.

"Don't worry. I'll survive. Just get better and we can make up for lost time later." She smiled and patted his cheek, already feeling a little empty without him.

He shook his head. "Like no other," he said and kissed her hand.

"Stop it. We can't. Not while you're hurt." Well, they could, but...

"Forgive me. Please enjoy yourself on your trip."

"Don't give me those puppy dog eyes, and don't think we're any sort of couple."

"I know we are not. I merely enjoy our intimate time together."

"Yeah, sure." She tried to be harsh, but she enjoyed it too. Maybe too much. "You... you just make sure you get better."

***

A day without her was like a week without food. He didn't know why and he didn't care. She had become a staple of his existence, and without her, if only for their brief encounters, his life was woefully incomplete.

He laid, unsleeping, in his room on the futon. He wondered briefly if she was having as much trouble as he was, if she was as uncomfortable as he. Realizing the futility of his attempts to sleep, Kuno got up and removed his yukata; there was no need for it in the privacy of his own room. It was warm inside and he was restless, so he paced, walking the length of the room, one end to the other. He felt so... contained, so pent up in the house.

He went to the dresser and opened the bottom drawer. Rooting through the clothes until he found what he was looking for, he stripped off his shorts and put on the dark gray gi. He hadn't worn it in years, and it was a miracle it still fit. It was a leftover from the days of him wanting to make himself a complete martial artist. That was a goal he had given up a very long time ago.

He tossed aside the belt, an empty symbol of his empty accomplishments. There was only one thing he needed and she was gone. He went to his window and threw it open. There was a gentle song on the night breeze that called out to him. The breeze carried a smell also. His blood was dancing, his heart was crying out... Crying out... For blood.

Kuno looked up at the moon, the sky alight with its silvery glow. It was so beautiful. The sun could be no rival of it. Staring up at it without the one thing he needed, he had only one thought: revenge.

***

Kuno woke up, sprawled on the floor of his room with empty dishes all around him. Feeling his head, he sat up slowly. It felt like there was an freight train taking a shortcut through his skull. Getting to his feet was a monumental task that he ended when he reached his knees and couldn't go any further. Looking at the mess around him, he didn't remember eating all that food; he couldn't remember much about the previous night.

Once again, he tried to get to his feet again, succeeding this time, however wobbly. He looked at his unslept in futon, getting vague stirrings, and suddenly, desperately, he needed Nabiki right then. Instead of dwellign on it, he staggered out of his room and down the hall. School. He should have been at school, but he didn't really care. How could he go to school? He was so hungry, he couldn't even think very well.

He went into the kitchen and stopped. It was a complete disaster; pots and pans were all over, cupboards were hanging open with their contents dumped out, and the refrigerator was left open. What in the hell had Kodachi been doing?

Almost starting to shout and yell, he stopped when he saw the half-thawed frozen dinner on the floor. He scooped it up immediately, ripped open the package, peeled of the cellophane and shoveled the glom into his mouth. It wasn't very good, but it was better than nothing.

Finished, he tossed the empty package to the floor and began looking for more food.

***

"Murders?"

"That's the kind of thing you expect to hear about in Tokyo any more."

"These weren't in Tokyo. They were here."

"What?"

"Yes. Four young men, gang members most likely, were found brutally slaughtered. Police think these were the guys ambushing people. Guess someone didn't like being ambushed."

"Guess not."

***

Kuno paced, not knowing what to do. If Nabiki had been there, he would have known what to do. He grinned lecherously to himself and knew she would be spending at least one night in his room when she returned. His stomach growled in response.

"I just ate!" He threw up his hands and marched out of his room. He had eaten everything in the house, and it had satisfied him for a short time, but not long enough.

"Kodachi! Kodachi!" he yelled.

Kodachi came down the hall in her nightgown, wakened from her sleep by his shouting. "What is it, Brother?"

"I'm hungry. Make me something to eat."

She gaped at him. "It is the middle of the night. I shall not be making you anything to eat. Not after the mess you made last night."

"I said make me something to eat!"

Kodachi just stared at him for a moment. "Yes, your majesty," she said then walked back to her room.

He growled at her back, then headed to the kitchen. Maybe he had missed something.

"Nothing! Not a damned thing!" Kuno threw a pan across the kitchen. No one could possibly imagine how hungry he was. He put his fist through a cupboard door then ripped it off its hinges.

He flung it across the room like a frisbee, then glared at the refrigerator. The stupid box without any food in it. What good was it then? "What good are you?!" he yelled at it, then kicked it, knocking it over.

He sank to the floor, almost in tears, his body trembling. He was so hungry, so horny, so... thirsty. He looked out the window over the sink to see the moon there in the sky, staring at him. Kuno stood up and started to go out the side door, but stopped. There was something about the breeze...

He went back to his room, got what he was looking for and tucked it into the makeshift belt he wore. Then he went back outside into the yard.

"So hungry..." he mumbled, walking through the dewy grass in his bare feet. The breeze was carrying the song again, the one that was so beautiful, and... There it was again. Food.

It was the smell of food, and it was close. Kuno ran over to the wall surrounding the estate and leapt over it, landing lightly on the other side. He started running down the sidewalk towards the smell of food.

"Slow night."

"It is every night. I don't know why we have to stay open 24 hours. It seems like a waste."

"I'm here."

"But you're the only one, each night. Have been for the past two weeks."

He sipped his coffee and shrugged.

The door opened violently, causing both people to turn their heads. A young man was standing in the open doorway, clad in only a pair of loose gray pants. He had his nose in the air and was taking deep breaths.

"Hey kid! No shirt, no shoes, no service! Get out!"

He ignored the woman's order and sat at the counter, staring at the sugar packets.

"I said get out of here! Don't you understand Japanese?"

"I'm so hungry..."

"Well, find your handouts someplace else. Go!"

He reached down, and for a brief instant, the woman thought there might be violence. Instead of the knife she thought he might pull out, he slipped his hand in between the belt and his pants and set the piece of plastic on the counter. "I'm so hungry..."

The woman looked down at the credit card. "Well, I guess I can let it slide this time. What would you like?"

"Anything. Everything. As much as you can make..." His stomach rumbled its approval.

"OK..." She was a tad frightened by the young man's eyes, but he was a paying customer after all.

"Another one?"

Kuno nodded, swallowing another mouthful of chicken, biscuits, bacon and orange juice.

"You know that's going to drive your cholesterol levels through the ceiling," the woman said, turning to make more.

He shook his head, picking up a piece of chicken in his fingers and shoved the whole thing in his mouth. He finished the glass of juice then downed some tea as well.

The woman dropped a plate with a steak, some hash browns, a few pieces of toast and a stack of pancakes on it. This was the most food the little Western-style diner had ever served at once, let alone to one person. She had kept careful track and couldn't believe the size of the bill the kid had racked up.

After the last plate was clean, he finished a glass of water and sat, staring at the counter.

"More?" the woman asked. The man was staring at him, wondering how much more he would eat.

He sat thinking for a moment, then shook his head. "I feel much better, thank you."

The woman nodded and took the credit card, surprised to hear such polite words come from the young man's mouth. "It... it was no problem."

Stepping outside, he released a belch. He was full and felt mostly satisfied. He walked down the sidewalk, his feet cold on the concrete, and listened to the breeze. It was silent this time, the song was gone. He looked up at the moon only to find it was a plain moon with nothing special about it.

He sighed and headed back home. Hopefully he would not be hungry for the rest of the night.

***

He woke up an indeterminate time later; it was still dark out. This time though, he could hear the song. He got up and looked out the window. He didn't feel any strange urges this time; only peace from the the song on the breeze and the sight of the moon, high and glorious in the sky.

He picked up his blanket and climbed out the window. Finding a spot in the yard where he had an unobstructed view of the sky, he laid down and covered himself with the blanket.

***

"Are you sick?"

"I think so. I wasn't feeling so great before we left."

"Well, you look awful. It looks like the flu."

"I think it's just a regular old cold, Kasumi. Don't worry about it."

"If it was just a cold, you wouldn't be so pale. Now lay down and have some tea."

Nabiki sighed and laid down. She drank the tea and closed her eyes. It was a slight relief if she fantasized, but just barely. She heard Kasumi leave the room and knew she had some privacy for a time.

She breathed deeply and pulled the blanket up to her neck. She undid her jeans and pushed them down past her hips. It was hard to generate a fantasy about Kuno. There just wasn't anything there to work with... Except sex. Hot, sweaty, screaming, orgasmic, animalistic... She cried out, somewhat surprised at how quickly she had orgasmed.

She never should have agreed to go on the trip. At least, not until she discovered the nature of her problem. She wished she knew what he was doing; if he was waiting for her, if he was... resorting to the same thing she was, or if he... She swallowed. Or if he had found someone to take her place.

She started the process all over again. His smooth skin beneath her hand, his body against hers, his heartbeat, his breathing, his lean, long lines, his thick... She cried out again, her whole body tingling.

***

"Do you hear it?"

She nodded. "It's beautiful."

"It's for you. Everything is for you." He was dressed in a black kimono decorated with blue stripes.

She nodded, his attentions making her shy. She was dressed in a white kimono, patterned with roses.

"If you are pleased, I am happy."

"I am. It's very beautiful out here." They were standing in the middle of a field, huge and empty. The moon hung overhead, seemingly close enough to touch. There was a gentle breeze blowing.

"Have I told you how much I need you?"

She shook her head.

"My life is..." He looked up at the moon. "So woefully incomplete without you." He held her hands in his.

"I feel the same." There were tears shimmering in her eyes.

He brought up one hand to stroke her cheek, the massive claw so amazingly sensitive. "We should go."

"Go where?"

"To where we can be free."

"I can't."

"But I can't live without you."

"I can't."

"Please come. Say you'll be mine. Say you'll be mine because you want to be, because you can't live without me."

Tears started to fall and she shook her head. "I can't. Look at yourself!"

He looked down and couldn't believe it. Bristling in his kimono, which was far too tight, was a... a monster. He tried to say it wasn't really him, but he couldn't form any words.

She backed away, horror on her face, and fled into the night.

He tried to call out, to tell her not to be afraid, but it came out as a howl.

Kuno woke up, still in the yard, curled into the fetal position with the blanket twisted all around him. He could feel the tear tracks on his face, but couldn't remember the dream. He only knew it left him filled with sorrow.

***

"I am so glad to be back." Nabiki practically threw her bag across the room and headed for the door.

"Where are you going, Nabiki?" Kasumi asked.

"I've got some... business to take care of." She waved and left.

"She's always so busy."

"She couldn't survive three days away from money-making," Akane said with a slight frown as the front door closed.

Nabiki was walking quickly, her breath coming in quick pants. She was feeling awfully... desperate. Her quick walk turned into a jog, which turned into a run. The fantasies, the masturbation hadn't been enough.

She went through the gate and right inside without knocking. She wanted to yell out his name so she wouldn't have to look for him, but that would undoubtably alert Kodachi. Instead, she moved quickly and quietly through the house.

She stopped in his room, and even though he wasn't there, she decided to wait. She started to strip, to hurry things along when he showed up, then got an idea. Nabiki looked through his dresser and closet until she found the kimono that he normally wore with his hakama. She took off the rest of her clothes and slipped the kimono on. It was long on him, so it was even longer on her; a perfect fit.

He was taking care of the dishes in the kitchen when he heard it. Someone had entered the house and was walking around, doing their best to keep silent. By the weight and pattern of the footsteps, he could tell it was Nabiki. The soap he was using had masked her scent or he would have know she was there even sooner.

Once he got out of the kitchen, he could smell her clearly, and she was just as ready for him as he was for her. He followed her scent trail up to his room and opened the door slowly. The sight that greeted him almost brought tears to his eyes.

She was on her side, the kimono drooping open and covering her up in all the right places. "Don't stand around there all day; we've got business to take care of," Nabiki said from the floor. She gave him a smile fueled by intense lust and waited for him to join her.

Kuno dropped to his knees and crawled over to her. He could smell that she was definitely ready and that there wasn't any need for foreplay. He was having some trouble getting his pants off... Definitely not a need for foreplay.

***

She was poison. It was so easy to tell. She smelled like death. He never had any trouble locating her because she was like a black mark in a pure white room. So when she approached his room, he knew it, but didn't do anything about it.

And when she was standing in the doorway, watching them, he knew it, but didn't do anything about it. He was content to let her think whatever she wanted. It didn't matter. She didn't matter really, not to him. There was only one person that was important to him, and she was pinned safely beneath him.

He had discovered one night that he didn't love the pig-tailed girl or Akane Tendo anymore. He didn't feel love for anyone. There was simply one person he needed, and how he felt about her didn't matter. But how could he not grow affectionate towards the one person his life centered on? He didn't love her...?

"Nabiki!" he shouted, as he had another one of his mind numbing orgasms, and fell on top of her.

That was odd. He had never done that before. Usually, they were both reduced to simple grunts and moans. And Nabiki noticed that even though she hadn't had her usual orgasm, she still felt satisfied.

It concerned her how complex the drug, or whatever it was, affecting her was. It was working on many different levels. Intellectually, she was fine. Emotionally, she was a little off-kilter, but nothing too drastic. The jealousy was the worst thing, and she could handle that. The physical desires spoke for themselves. Physiologically was where the real scary stuff was taking place.

Why should she be satisfied that he had gotten off while she was left waiting on the brink? She shouldn't be, but she was. So she simply held him, enjoying the feeling of his body mashed against hers.

"I am sorry," he whispered to her.

"For what?"

"For not helping you achieve your peak."

"Don't worry about it. I'm just happy you got yours."

She almost ran off when he yelled out Nabiki's name. Kodachi watched them whisper to each other, then snuck away.

There was something distinctly not right about her brother, but what it was, she couldn't say.

***

With her curled up against him, he felt like the king of the world. This was the way it was always meant to be. His whole life before had been a lie. He nibbled on her ear, stirring her into wakefulness.

She mumbled a little, pulling her head away from his. "No, Kuno-chan... I'm too tired..."

He sighed and laid back. After a few moments, her breathing changed and she was deeply asleep again. The breeze was carrying the song, but this time it was soothing and urged him to find sleep. He closed his eyes and nearly did, but there was something he had to take care of first.

Reluctantly, Kuno separated himself from Nabiki and slipped his pants on. She mumbled and tossed a bit, missing his presence even in her sleep. He covered her with the blanket and watched her settle in. He left his room, silently closing the door. Hopefully, she wouldn't wake up while he was doing this. She wouldn't like it.

He padded through the house. He could hear that his sister was still awake, which would make things easier. He went to her room and stood in the doorway. She was preparing for a match in three days and was quite distracted at the moment. "Kodachi."

She jumped and whirled around. There was an angry look on her face which quickly changed to wariness. "Brother."

"I suggest that you do not look in on us again."

Kodachi's face turned red, then she got really angry. "Why you... How dare you... Won't the Tendos be pleased to know..."

"You will not say anything to anyone."

"And you plan on stopping me?"

"If I have to."

"You could never defeat me. Your skills are far too path..." She stopped speaking and backed away when he advanced.

"I shall not need to defeat you. You simply will not say anything. Ever."

Kodachi stopped backing away. It was only her brother after all. "You will not stop me."

"I ask for common courtesy and you return my request with hostility." He was still walking toward her. "Where are you manners, Kodachi?" He stopped when she brought her ribbon out and twirled it threateningly.

She laughed quietly. "You know your skills are an inadequate match for mine."

"Kodachi, do not make me..." He took another step forward.

Kodachi flicked her wrist and sent the ribbon toward her brother. She wasn't planning on pulling any punches with him either.

He did something completely unexpected though. As the ribbon flew towards him, he swatted it away, as if it were a bothersome fly.

Kodachi jerked her arm back, meaning to snap the ribbon at his head. Instead, the ribbon was almost slack as she pulled it back. Most of it was ripped, torn into three strips almost the entire length of it. The look on her brother's face hadn't changed.

"Now, Sister, please give us our privacy. And do not speak of this to anyone." She looked at him, dumbfounded. "Both of us would appreciate your cooperation. I would like to keep you as my sister, not an enemy." He turned and left her room.

She watched him go, the ribbon falling from her hand. She had dangerously underestimated him, and nearly paid for it. So what if he wanted to have an illicit affair with Nabiki Tendo? It was his business after all. Kodachi decided to just keep out of it once and for all.

He checked his pants to make sure he hadn't made a mess in them. His sister was very good at putting up a front, but he could tell... She had been frightened. Of him. The deadly flower had been reduced to a wilting weed. That had been something he enjoyed. He liked seeing her covered in a thick cloak of fear. He liked her being afraid of him.

He walked silently back to his room and opened the door. "You're awake," he said and closed the door behind him.

"Where'd you go?"

"I needed to have a talk with my sister." He sat next to her.

"What about?"

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with." He leaned over to kiss her, but she pulled back.

"I think I do. Just tell me."

He sighed. She could make him do whatever she wanted. "She saw us."

Nabiki's eyes got very wide. "Oh no."

"I convinced her to say nothing of what she's seen. She agreed."

"What? She just agreed? With no catches?"

He shook his head. "I was very persuasive." He leaned over and she allowed him to kiss her. "Now how can I persuade you?" He rubbed his crotch against her leg so she could feel his erection.

"Where'd this come from?" she asked and grabbed it through his pants.

"My sister was as frightened as a kitten; it turned me on." He kissed her neck and felt her hands work his pants off.

They both reached their peaks... multiple times.

***

"Where is that coward Saotome?"

There was an audible groan from the students around Kuno. He glared at each one, those meeting his gaze backed away in fear.

"Yo, Kuno! Finally healthy enough for me to kick your butt?" Ranma called as he entered school grounds with Akane.

Kuno whirled, his bokken at the ready. "Saotome, today is the day you meet your end! Akane Tendo, please clear the way lest you are injured."

Akane moved out of the way in a daze as Kuno seemed to have just lost it.

"Now, Saotome, it is time." Kuno studied the younger man in front of him. He could see Ranma's strengths, and they were numerous. The breeze carried Ranma's scent to him. It was clean and pure, exactly what would be expected of a healthy young man. There was also the faint smell of a large animal and... a woman. He wasn't sure why those two scents were so prevalent on Ranma.

Ranma waited for Kuno to charge. It was what he always did. Instead, Kuno walked up slowly, and the two began to circle each other. Ranma was getting impatient at Kuno's lack of predictability and threw a lazy punch to get Kuno's guard open.

Kuno moved aside as Ranma's fist flew toward his face and got his first good whiff of his nemesis. Fresh pine wood was his first impression. And a cold sea breeze. And a woman. Ranma didn't just have the scent of a woman on him, he smelled like a woman, of a woman.

Confused by the new information, he missed Ranma's incoming foot and was sent sailing across the school yard.

***

"What was that show this morning?"

"Hm? You mean with Saotome?"

"Yeah... oh... do that again..."

"You would not understand."

"You impressed a lot of people... right there..."

"Is that so? From a basic sidestep?"

"Yes... yes... Oh god yes..."

He smiled at her. "May I?"

"Kuno-chan, after that, you can do anything you want."

He smiled wider. "I hope you have recovered then..."

"Here, let me." Nabiki got on her knees behind him. She still didn't love him, didn't believe she ever would. She did care for him deeply, but not just because of the lust, though that had most definitely started it. She had gotten closer to him than anyone, and she knew a little bit about how he really was. Of course, the changes he had undergone had helped quite a bit, but she had never thought him completely unbearable before.

They had gone from the simple act of sex to something a little deeper. A little, no more. She didn't just leave when they were done, and that made her feel a lot less guilty. They did things more like lovers than just sexual partners. She enjoyed the baths together and was surprised to see how well he could cook. And the massages were fantastic. It seemed like he could massage her entire back at once.

She prepared to pour the oil on his back when she noticed his skin. The scars... the scars were all gone. The bottle fell from her hands. She looked at his side. The scar was gone there too.

"Is there a problem?" he asked.

"You... your back."

"Is something infected?" He turned his head as if he could actually look at his back.

"No... It's... It's..."

"If it is bad, please inform me."

"They're gone... they're all gone..."

"What?" The tone of her voice was getting him frantic.

"Your scars... they're gone." She ran her hand down his back, expecting to feel the familiar lines of scarred flesh. There was nothing but smooth skin.

"Please do not make jokes!" He could feel her hands on his back, a sensation he was used to. "There's nothing..."

"I said they're gone!" She grabbed his hand and put it against the back of his neck.

"What are you... I don't feel anything," he said, exasperated by her actions.

"Exactly."

He stopped, then moved his hand around a little more. She was right. It was as if he returned to his state before the attack.

"I'll see you tomorrow?"

"All of me." He smiled, but felt too distracted to be completely sincere.

She smiled, gave his crotch one last affectionate squeeze, and left.

He couldn't imagine what would have caused his scars to disappear. Disappear... or heal?

***

He woke up in the middle of the night, his body aching all over. The ache was beginning to escalate, building into intense pain throughout his body. He sat up suddenly, gasping for air. It felt like his chest was too small for his lungs, not allowing them room to expand.

Simultaneously, his stomach was in total upheaval, and he doubled over to try to stop himself from vomiting. He tried to listen to the song on the breeze, hoping that would soothe him, trying to find some comfort, but it was harsh and grating on his ears. He leaned over and dry-heaved, sweat standing out on his skin.

He groaned and laid back down on the floor, listening to the blood pounding through his temples. The urge to throw up repeated, so he rolled over and curled into the fetal position in an attempt to alleviate the cramping in his gut. He swallowed, choking back the nausea.

Shooting pain in his back made him unfold and clutch at his blanket. He kicked out at nothing, feeling like he was losing control of his body, his muscles spasming wildly. Then his room was filled with the smell of fear. His fear.

He managed to get to his feet, his body shivering and twitching, threatening to pitch him to the floor. He lurched over to his dresser and put his hands on it to steady himself, his hands shaking severely. He looked up into the mirror and was frightened by his own appearance. His hair was limp and sweaty, his eyes were bloodshot and his skin was very pale.

And then it began. There was a tingling sensation in his toes that slowly traveled up his legs. Following the tingling was a cold wave, like he was slowly being covered in chilly water. He thought his body was going numb... until the pain started.

It wasn't just an ache or a cramp, or even a shooting pain. It was much more than that. It was the feeling of having every tendon, every bone, every muscle stretched between two cars, and then having the skin peeled off.

The tingling passed through his thighs and kept going. His face was screwed up in a visage of agony and fear, his breathing was quick and shallow, and his eyes were open their widest.

His hands lost contact with the dresser as it seemed he grew in height. There was a complete loss of equilibrium and he toppled to the floor. The tingling kept going, followed by the cold, followed by the pain. He wanted to scream, but it was as if his vocal cords were paralyzed.

Time became an unknown as he found himself wrapped in a cocoon of anguish. Wave after wave of pain assaulted him, most of it centered in his chest and head. It felt like he was being turned inside out. His brain felt like it was on fire, caught in a press, being squeezed and reshaped. Even his teeth hurt.

Suddenly the pain ended, and the assault on his senses began. The worst was the noise. Just laying on the floor was like standing in the middle of a construction yard. His heart was pounding, his breathing was labored, his joints creaked, the house settled, his sister walking around, a fluorescent bulb was humming, and the refrigerator was running, and it was all doing it at 120 decibels.

He brought his hands up to cover his ears and immediately noticed a... development. His head was not the proper shape, he seemed to have a great deal more hair, and his ears were long and pointed. He opened his eyes and the room came into focus in black and white. The room, and a long snout.

He sat up and knew there was something horribly wrong. His whole body just felt... wrong. His balance was all out of whack and his weight had shifted drastically. He put one hand down and stared at what used to be his normal human appendage.

It must have been twice the size of his... human hand. Each elongated finger ended in a yellowing claw that looked deadly. He turned it over and looked at the palm. As best he could tell, his skin was grayish (though lots of things looked grayish) and quite soft.

He got unsteadily to his feet, wavering in his new body, feeling like he was on a bicycle for the first time. Taking one step, he stared at the floor in front of him. One immense claw stepped down on the carpet, looking quite similar to his... his hand. He took another step and tottered dangerously. There was an unconscious twitching at his back and his balance was regained.

Figuring out what had happened to him and learning how to walk in his body had made him completely forget the deafening noise. He walked around a little, adjusting rather well to his new state of being, and had no clue as to what to do. He had tried to look in the mirror, but what had looked back had been too horrifying to believe.

He inhaled deeply, his massive chest expanding farther. How had it happened? It must have been that evil sorc... He looked back in the mirror, not turning away this time. The red eyes that nearly glowed in the dark, the fur, the... teeth. The creature that attacked him.

He snarled, a frightening sight even to himself. A row of gleaming white and deadly looking teeth appeared, in stark contrast to the black fur on his face. He stared at his reflection, his eyes burning with hatred. He raised his hand... No, it was a claw now. He raised his claw and smashed it into the mirror, fracturing his image.

He stalked out of his room, unable to keep himself from growling the entire time. Someone... someone would pay. Someone would suffer. But first, he had a certain house to visit.

So he stood below her window amongst the shadows. Her light was still on, indicating that she was still awake. He wanted to call out to her; damn whoever might find out. He just wanted her to know how badly he needed her. He tried to say it softly, but it only came out as a wheezing breath. He tried again, louder, but that came out as a series of grunts and yips.

He couldn't believe it; the time when he most needed to talk, he couldn't.

He tried it one more time, at the top of his lungs, but it came out as a despairing howl.

Nabiki was working out the next day's interest when she heard the strange noises from outside. It sounded very much like a dog sitting outside her window. She did her best to ignore it until the howl started. It was loud, but low pitched and sounded almost... sad. "What the..."

He tried again, letting out the same pitiful howl. It just wasn't fair! Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Akane's light go on, then Kasumi's. Someone had to understand... Again with the howl.

Then she appeared, looking annoyed, at her window. He wanted to say something along the lines of 'I need you' but stopped when it came out only as growls.

Nabiki looked out her window. In a pool of shadow beneath her window was a figure. It was too dark to get a good look, but she could tell it was large. And did she see faintly glowing eyes? Nah... couldn't be. She started to close the curtain when it made a noise.

Though it was humanoid shape, the noise was most definitely not human. It was a quiet, inquisitive sound, somewhere between a grunt and a bark. Who... whatever it was down there wanted to see her. She didn't plan on complying any time soon.

Nabiki shut the curtain and turned off the light, leaving her calculations until the next morning, and got into bed. She pulled the covers up to her neck, listening to the... thing outside

He watched her close the curtain and wanted to cry. How could things have gone so wrong? He called out again, this time to anyone who would listen. His answer was a howl from a dog someplace close by. He would have to take desperate measures.

Nabiki listened to the howls, getting more and more creeped out. Very soon, the howls stopped though and she closed her eyes in an attempt to find sleep.

Kuno looked up at the sill. He could make it, it wasn't too big a jump. He could hear by her breathing and heartbeat that she was already asleep, so she wouldn't mind.

He crouched down, then uncoiled the muscles in his legs and launched himself at the window sill. He got his feet on it, but had to cling to the side of the house because he was far too large to slip in through the window easily. He put his head and one arm through the window, trying his best to keep quiet. Difficult or easy, he would make it.

He folded and squeezed his body until he was finally in her room. Immediately he went to her bedside and looked at her sleeping form. At that moment, he knew, love or hate, he would protect her at all costs. He got on his knees and laid his head on the bed.

She rolled over and practically forced her chest into his face, then put her arm over his head. He snorted contentedly, fluttering her nightgown, and stared at her sleeping face.

She mumbled something and clutched at the fur on his back. "But I wanna keep him..."

Kuno nuzzled her between her breasts, and she clutched him tighter. He nosed open her nightgown and enjoyed the sight of her bare skin, even if it was in black and white. He pressed his nose directly against her skin and breathed deeply.

"But I wanna puppy," Nabiki mumbled and pulled his head closer to her body.

He pulled away a little, leaving her hand on his head. He pulled the blanket down so it was on her hip and carefully opened her nightgown. The brutal looking claws had the capacity to be as gentle as they had to be cruel. He ran one finger down her chest, feeling things he never felt before about her skin. Its complex texture, its warmth, the slight sheen of sweat on it...

She sighed and hugged his head. Mommy and Daddy had finally agreed to let her keep the puppy. It was so cute and she knew it would be no trouble at all. At least, that was how her dream started.

He snorted again and licked his chops. He could imagine how nice it would be to taste her, how much sweeter it would be. Suddenly, his tongue was trailing over her skin, leaving a wet trail behind it. The sensation was almost too much; not only could he smell the roses and hot chocolate, he could taste them too.