{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!}
"You there!"
"Who? M... me?" The boy pointed at himself.
"Yes, you! I wish words with you, Hikaru Gosunkugi."
Gosunkugi gulped. "It wasn't me. I didn't do it, really!"
Kuno strode up to the pale boy. Gosunkugi was bad news. There was an unpleasant air about him. An air that smelled of open graves and brimstone. An air that smelled like it blew from the depths of Hell itself. Kuno kept a polite distance from the underclassman. "I have something to discuss with you, and you will give me your undivided attention."
Gosunkugi thought he saw Kuno's eyes flash red for a moment and took a step back. "Yes, sempai."
***
"What is it with him? Every day he makes a big show and it sure seems like he could do better, but I kick his butt like normal..."
"And you're complaining about it, Ranma?" Akane looked in surprise at the young man next to her. Normally, he didn't care. To him, a quick and easy fight was a good fight.
He shrugged his shoulders, looking up at a few puffy clouds. "I guess it just gets boring, ya know? I keep waiting for him to do somethin' different. Like he possibly learned somethin', but it's just the same old thing." He jumped up to walk on the fence. "Even Ryoga's like that. 'Prepare to die' and 'I've seen Hell'... but he never does anything different."
"He almost beat you before."
Ranma gave her a sour look. "Yeah... he's pretty good." A moment of silence. "Good, but boring." He looked down at Akane. "Even Pop's gettin' predictable. So much for Anything Goes... More like Anything that you're not too lazy to do Goes."
Akane snickered. For once, she wasn't going to enter her own martial arts ability into the equation. Even if she didn't think she was as bad as Ranma liked to say, she knew she was not the most creative practitioner.
***
"I think you're insane!"
"What? What did you say?" Kuno grabbed the front of Gosunkugi's shirt.
"I said you're insane! You expect me to believe a... a story like that? Do you think I'm going to fall for a stupid trick like that?" That was poor, downtrodden Hikaru's breaking point. People thought he was a wimp. Fine. People thought he was strange. Fine. But he was NOT stupid His somewhat vacant eyes narrowed into a glare. He tried to knock away Kuno's arm.
Kuno's grip was like iron, though. It tightened further on Gosunkugi's shirt, becoming almost painful. "You..." Kuno yanked Gosunkugi toward him, lifting the boy off his feet. "You should learn to treat your betters with respect."
Gosunkugi gasped as he watched Kuno's arm bulge unnaturally and pale hair race down its length. He looked up at Kuno's face, his mouth hanging open.
Kuno, this time, most definitely had red eyes and was snarling. Snarling and baring very long and pointed teeth.
"Sorry. Sorry, Kuno-sempai. I didn't mean it," he said frantically.
Kuno dropped him back to the ground and released the white uniform shirt from his hand, his arm looking completely normal. Kuno smoothed his own shirt, then turned his attention back to Gosunkugi. "I will speak with you after school." That was his dismissal, though Gosunkugi was too shellshocked to move. Kuno looked down at the the smaller student then walked off.
***
"I think I hate that woman."
"Come on. I'll get you some hot water."
Ranma sighed and tried to be inconspicuous.
"Pig-tailed girl."
"Oh no," Ranma said under her breath.
"I must..." Kuno stopped. He smelled Ranma somewhere very close by. He lowered his head a little and glared at the pig-tailed girl. "Where is Saotome, girl?"
Ranma looked at Kuno, feeling annoyed as usual, until he saw the look in Kuno's eyes. He didn't like it at all.
Kuno approached Ranma, still glaring. "Where is he?" he hissed.
Ranma swallowed. This was far beyond anything he had seen Kuno act like before. He decided to play it safe and act cute and irresistible. "Whatever do you mean, sempai?"
"I know he is here, somewhere. I will find him and crush him." Kuno's hands twitched as if they were around Ranma's neck. He inhaled through his nose, trying to locate Ranma.
The only clear scent was the pig-tailed girl's, though hers was admittedly strange. It was very distinctive, but she smelled like... she smelled like a man, and... There was one thing Kuno had learned: everything had its own scent. Some things were similar, but none were exactly the same. None, except for the pig-tailed girl. She smelled just like fresh pine chippings and a cool breeze. She smelled just like... "Ranma... Saotome..."
Ranma almost flinched away from the look in Kuno's eyes. Kuno looked very upset and extremely unstable. A dangerous combination in anyone. Ranma wasn't sure if anyone else could see the same things he did in Kuno, but he didn't like what was there.
There's no way she could smell like Ranma unless she WAS Ranma. And Ranma smelled like a woman... And the pig-tailed girl smelled like a man... like Ranma! "You are... Ranma Saotome..." Kuno's lips parted, revealing a mouth full of white teeth. "You... You..." The hatred was almost tangible.
Ranma noted Kuno's teeth were very long and pointed white teeth. Normally there wasn't anything to fear from Kuno, and Ranma wasn't worried about losing, but the teeth... Those were something new.
"Sa... O... To... Me..." Kuno began advancing on Ranma, showing no fear, no hesitation, and an uncommon fury.
"But I'm not..."
"I will destroy you." Kuno's eyes were fairly glowing.
Ranma's own blue eyes hardened. "Fine. You wanna fight? You're gonna get one." Ranma brought her two delicate fists up.
Bestial growling came from Kuno's throat, distracting Ranma for the barest second. "I shall destroy you."
"Dream on."
Nabiki walked up, and as if the two were in slow motion, she watched Ranma and Kuno approach each other. Alarm bells went off in her head right away. One of the them, maybe both, was going to get hurt, probably very severely.
Akane didn't like the way the two were matching up either. "Ranma!" she yelled.
"Kuno-chan!"
Ranma's eyes never left Kuno, but Kuno turned to look at Nabiki.
"Stop it!"
"I must de..."
"No! You better stop right this instant!"
"Who are you to command me?"
Nabiki got a better look at Kuno and immediately walked over to him. Her voice was a fierce whisper. "Kuno, don't! You don't want to do this. Someone's going to get hurt."
"That is the point, woman."
Nabiki was surprised at the contempt in his voice. She stared in his eyes and spoke, her voice growing colder than before. "If you don't stop this... never again." She watched his eyes turn red as her meaning sank in.
"How dare..."
"No! I will explain later, but stop right now. And if you don't stop changing, everyone's going to know."
That stopped Kuno. "Changing?"
Nabiki nodded, seeing his eyes shift back to their normal color.
Kuno's mouth tightened into a thin line. Without a word, he turned and walked away, leaving everyone to watch, stunned.
Ranma and Akane, confused and amazed, went over to Nabiki. "What was that?" Akane asked her older sister.
"You don't want to know," she said, watching Kuno as well. She looked at Ranma. "Don't you think you should change, Ranma?"
***
"What were you doing?"
"I don't know."
"Why were you changing?"
"I don't know."
"Is that all you're going to say?"
"No. I wish to utterly destroy Ranma Saotome."
"That's a huge improvement over 'I don't know'," Nabiki said with heavy sarcasm.
Kuno glared at her. "Are you making fun of me again?" he asked tersely.
"Yes. Are you going to do something about it?" Nabiki was nonchalant as always.
Kuno's glare faded. "No," he said quietly, with a trace of defeat.
Nabiki had been hoping as much. Kuno had gotten quite unpredictable and the scene with Ranma that morning had proven it. She didn't really think he would do anything to her, but there was a niggling in the back of her mind.
"Good," she said, adopting her normal air of 'I've got what you want'. "I've got good news and bad news."
"About what?"
"About getting you cured of your little problem."
"I have already seen to that."
"What? What did you do?" No doubt it was a mistake that would be big trouble in the near future.
"I have requested the services of one Hikaru Gosunkugi to look into a cure."
Nabiki's mouth hung open. "You. Did. What?"
"He agreed to look for something that would relieve my condition."
"You told him?!" It seemed Kuno's brainlessness went to deeper depths than Nabiki had anticipated.
"Yes. He hesitated at first, but I was able to convince him."
"You didn't show him, did you?" That would be the icing on the cake of stupidity.
"Of course not! Though he most certainly did not agree because of my superior stature." Kuno frowned. "The little worm," he said under his breath.
"I can't believe you did something that stupid... Wait, yes I can." Nabiki shook her head. "Since you've got such an expert, I'm sure you're not interested in hearing what I've found out."
Kuno's glare returned. "Woman, you try my patience," he said menacingly.
"I'll assume that means you are interested." Nabiki turned and began rummaging through her bag, looking for the notes she had made. "Hmm, they're not where I thought I left them..." She nearly screamed when the hands grabbed her and moved her bodily to the other side of the room.
Hands... Claws. The fur-covered arms, the strength that surrounded her... He had finally gotten tired of her comments and was going to put and end to them once and for all. That's what Nabiki thought, at least, until Kuno pushed her over the arm of the big, overstuffed couch and lifted her dress.
"What are you..."
Kuno's angry growl cut off her words, and she felt a tremor of fear run through her. Putting her hands on the puffy cushions where she had lost her virginity, Nabiki tried to push herself up. However, her hands sank into the couch and a large hand came down on her neck. Head and torso pinned down, she found it impossible to fight back against Kuno's power.
He growled at the struggling girl and yanked down her panties. If she was going to cop an attitude with him, then she was going to get a surprise. Even with the straining seams, he managed to get his pants down without tearing them.
"Kuno..." Nabiki reached behind her and tried to push Kuno's hand away from her neck. "Let me go." She struggled and squirmed under his hold.
Her trying to escape was starting to get annoying. With the way she was wriggling, she wasn't staying in position. Kuno growled again; there was only one way to deal with an uppity female. Removing his hand from Nabiki's neck, Kuno grabbed her around the waist, and clamped his mouth over her neck instead.
Nabiki's entire body stopped moving instantly. She figured she was in for serious injury if she didn't stop struggling since the hold on her was not friendly, nor playful. "Shit," she said quietly, feeling his erection pressing against her leg. Resisting the urge to try and break free, she did her best to relax. It would hurt less that way.
"Please don't," she said in a last ditch attempt to avoid the pain he would cause.
Kuno snorted in her ear, tightened his hold on her waist, and thrust himself into her as deeply as he could. Just as he knew his hold would do to her, Nabiki didn't move even though she cried out.
The sound of her pain still bothered him, but that was just something they would have to get used to. That thought passed quickly through his mind before he started moving, his tail swishing back and forth in time with his thrusts.
Nabiki couldn't move with the way her body was pressed into the couch, his weight holding her there, his mouth on her neck, and his arms holding her tightly. She moaned, the initial pain giving way to intense pleasure.
"Ku... Ku... Ku... noOOO." It was the only way she could react to the sudden rush he was making her feel, along with taking the cushions in an iron grip.
Kuno didn't stop. He wasn't even close to being finished with the receptive female body beneath his. The position appealed to his increasingly animalistic desires, but did absolutely nothing for his sense of romance. He wanted to see her pleasure, see how much she was enjoying him, and he really liked it when she pulled on his fur.
He sighed heavily and, as if he flipped a switch, released his seed in Nabiki's body. Kuno relinquished Nabiki's neck and pulled himself out, looking down disgustedly at the mess he was. The moment he got the urge to lick himself was the point he decided he would commit suicide.
Growling softly at himself, Kuno flipped Nabiki's dress back down then pulled on her shoulder and got her standing. He turned her around and looked in her flushed face. He was rewarded with her slight grin.
After that little fiasco, a bath was in order.
***
"So he says jump and he thinks I'm just supposed to ask how high? What a..." Gosunkugi looked around his room as if to make sure Kuno was not there. "What a moron. He wants a cure, I'll give him a cure..." He opened the thick book to a page he had intimately memorized and stared at the intricate drawings.
One well-penned picture portrayed a man kneeling in front of what was supposed to be a floating portal. Out of the portal, flowing into the man, was a shapeless mass. Oh yes, Gosunkugi would give Kuno his cure, and a little something extra...
***
"How dare he deceive me!"
Nabiki rolled her eyes. "Just wash my back." She felt Kuno's hands begin scrubbing her with the sponge and soap. It was hard to believe how dense he really was. She shook her head and closed her eyes, relaxing under the firm and methodical washing.
"You know, we have tried to tell you."
"Nonsense. It was a determined effort to conceal Saotome's true nature. That is not something I appreciate at all." Kuno set down the soap and sponge and worked his thumbs into the tensed muscles of Nabiki's back. "Why did you deem it necessary to make a fool of me in such a manner?" His voice was quiet, almost hurt.
"We tried to tell you, Kuno-chan. You just didn't want to listen. Ranma never liked it either, you know." Nabiki sighed, frustrated with Kuno, but also enjoying his attention. "We never hid anything from you, and I never needed to try and make fun of you. You did it all on your own."
Kuno's voice had lost most of its fire. "Truly, I did not know. Though I am still angered by Saotome's actions. He performs most unkind deeds against Akane."
"Ranma got some of it in return. I wouldn't worry about it. Those two give as good as they get. Especially to each other."
Kuno sighed and picked up the sponge, running it idly over the smooth, flawless skin of Nabiki's back. "No matter. I will have my revenge."
"What is it with you and revenge? Why can't you just let it go?"
"Look who speaks. If you were similarly humiliated, you would seek revenge as well."
"I wou..."
"Do not deny that which I know to be true."
Nabiki shrugged. "I suppose." Then wanting to change the subject, she said, "I'll get your back now. Turn around."
They both turned and she started on his back. There was one question that would not leave Nabiki alone; she had to ask it. "So, why were you changing at the school?" She used the sponge on his back where his wounds had been at one time. "You know it would cause trouble."
"I was not aware that I was. I was angry at Saotome and had only his destruction on my mind."
That didn't tell Nabiki anything except what she already knew: Kuno was pissed at Ranma. "Then why... How did you... Earlier?" She wasn't sure how to voice the question.
Kuno didn't respond for a moment, only sitting and allowing Nabiki to wash him. Finally, when he did speak, it was very quiet. "The things you said... they made me very upset. Your insults wound me greatly, and the way you take advantage of me..." His head shook slowly. "I could never hurt you. You could threaten my life, even the existence of the planet and I would not be able to hurt you in the least. I suppose I did the only thing I knew would hurt you, that I could do, even if it was only for a moment."
"You changed... on purpose?"
Kuno shook his head. "No, not on purpose. I merely thought that that was how I hurt you before, and I wanted to hurt you for... Hurt you for hurting me."
Nabiki's hands stopped moving.
"When I saw you bent over like that, it just happened. I was powerless to stop myself."
'Couldn't? Or wouldn't?' Nabiki thought. So why was it possible for him to change back to human at will, but not a wolf? "Well, maybe I deserved it, but I don't think you changing was chance."
"What do you mean?"
"Frankly, I think you can control it, and you're afraid to learn how. See, it's nice and safe to turn human, but why would you ever want to turn into an animal, right?"
Kuno nodded. It almost made... sense. Too much sense.
***
Gosunkugi couldn't take the time to admire his construct. It took his full concentration just to maintain it. He whispered the words again, feeling the power surge through the room.
It was working! It was really working! Gosunkugi was happy, euphorically so. Finally, the secrets of real magic were his! Now Akane would be his! Revenge would be his! Everyone at school would finally respect his ability.
It was his glee that did it. He was so happy, his concentration wavered, and that was all it took. The black mass flowed from the portal like it was water and engulfed young Hikaru Gosunkugi.
The pale boy tried to scream, but the blackness filled his mouth, invaded his brain, wrapped around his soul. And just as quickly, it was gone, flowing back into the portal.
Gosunkugi was left on the floor, barely conscious, as the portal collapsed in on itself and snuffed out the candles arranged around the room. The thin, pale boy was even thinner, even paler than before, and passed out among the arcane symbols and decorations.
"I'm sorry," Kuno said, sitting down in the bath.
"Don't be," Nabiki answered, kissing him softly.
Gosunkugi's eyes opened slowly, glowing with an unholy light. He sat up, his bones almost creaking, his entire body in pain. Sweet, comforting pain...
"I really didn't want to," Kuno said apologetically.
"Doesn't matter to me either way. But I plan on getting you under control, one way or another," Nabiki said, much to Kuno's delight.
Gosunkugi stood up and surveyed the darkened room. It brought a smile to his lips, revealing sharpened fangs. "Kuno will get his cure, and I will have my revenge... And Akane." He began to laugh, a deep and evil sound, totally unexpected from the boy.
***
At school, Kuno watched the other members of the kendo team mill about nervously. Why they didn't just go about their normal daily business, he didn't know.
Two of the young men suddenly started arguing about something inconsequential, nearly coming to blows. A sharp glare from Kuno broke the the two apart, embarrassed looks on their faces. The other team members didn't speak, fearing the wrath of their captain.
Tired of their presence, Kuno waved his hand and sent the group scattering across the school yard. That was when he spied Akane, Nabiki and Ranma entering school grounds. With long strides, he went over to meet the group, and to face Ranma in combat once again.
Ranma saw him approaching and immediately tensed up. "Here comes trouble," he said.
Nabiki looked at Kuno, catching his eye. Unnoticed by Ranma or Akane, she shook her head.
Kuno snarled in her direction and continued to get closer.
Nabiki frowned. If Kuno didn't figure out how to stop himself from changing, the entire school was going to know his problem, and that would not be good. She shook her head again and gestured to the other students standing around.
That made Kuno stop. He looked at the students, all waiting to see the fight, then turned and walked away, his body shaking with restrained rage.
"What's gotten into him?" Akane asked, confused by Kuno's behavior.
"Beats me, but I don't really care," Ranma answered.
***
"I want to see you change."
"What? Why?"
"Because I do. Now change."
"But... I can't."
"I think you can. You can change back human, can't you?"
Kuno nodded.
"Then change into a wolf."
"I can't!"
"This is what I thought would happen. It's not that you can't, it's that you don't want to. I'll be right back."
Kuno watched Nabiki walk into the bathroom and close the door. He was more confused than ever. Why would she want him to change? Why would HE want to change? Being an animal was a bad thing. He'd killed as an animal... The bathroom door opened and Kuno's jaw hit the floor.
Nabiki was in the doorway wearing something small and black and mostly see through. Saliva formed in his mouth in large quantities. "What do you think?" She smiled, looking into his eyes that were the size of dinner plates.
"I... uh..." Kuno's hands twitched and he sat down heavily. "You..."
"You want me?" She didn't move from the doorway.
Kuno nodded.
"Then change."
He shook his head. "I can't."
"Do what I know you want to, and change. Then you can have what you want."
Kuno started to stand.
"No. Not until you change. I know you want to. It feels so much better that way, doesn't it? If you change, I'll let you do it. No teasing."
Kuno sat back down, not sure what he should do. Nabiki wanted him to change. That was the only way she would let him... And he really wanted to. Seeing her in that tiny little swatch of translucent material... What man could resist? All he had to do was change.
Change into a monster? No, not a monster. He hadn't done anything monstrous, only what any other man would like to be able to do. Everything was so much more real when he was changed. All the sights and smells... The way everything felt... Kuno looked over Nabiki again and that was when the tingling started.
Nabiki smiled as she watched Kuno transform, bursting out of his shirt. It wasn't that pleasant to watch, it looked quite painful, but it was fascinating. She wondered when he would learn to get undressed before he changed. His shirts would last longer that way.
Of course, now she had to deal with an extremely eager and amorous wolf stalking toward her. Nabiki did not allow her smile to falter as Kuno approached. Maybe her plan had been a bit drastic, but soon he would learn... But, why did she care? When he towered over her, his eyes burning with desire, and his hands grasped her hips, his head dipping lower with his long tongue hanging out... That was why.
***
Gosunkugi wanted to go out and begin his plan, but the fiery rays of the sun kept him sheltered inside. Sitting in the darkness of his room, he looked through the book, his eyes seeing with perfect clarity. He found the things written on the pages quite interesting.
The information was priceless to anyone who knew how to use it. The power in it was... beyond belief. Only someone with amazing ability and a phenomenal command of magic would be able to consider using a good portion of the spells. He had been very lucky that his brain hadn't been incinerated just considering using some of them. Long canines were revealed when he smiled, perfectly accenting the bloodless face.
He knew exactly what Kuno's problem was, and it was really quite easy to solve. It was also easy to pass around, and that would be the basis of Gosunkugi's plan.
If the sempai wanted someone to push around, well, he'd get someone. Gosunkugi looked over at the vial of swirling black liquid sitting on a small table.
He would have to have his camera ready when the sempai got his surprise.
***
"That much?!"
"Yes, that much."
Kuno looked down at the devastated pieces of lingerie. "That much?" he asked again.
"You heard me. It's not like it's just some pair of underwear. That was very high quality."
Kuno nudged the cloth with his toe. "I am sorry."
"That's alright, just as long as you pay me back for it."
Sighing, Kuno nodded. He hadn't been very articulate when he had removed the wisp of fabric and had torn it to pieces. He had no desire to buy Nabiki's favor, but if that was what it took to get her dressed in an outfit like that again...
"So what did it feel like?"
"It felt the same as it always feels. Your screaming..."
"Not that. Did it feel any different when you changed?"
"Not really. I just..." 'Thought about how much I wanted you and then I...' "Started to change." Because he wanted to.
"Because you wanted to. I told you, Kuno-chan. It's all because you want to."
Kuno frowned. Maybe she was right. All those times, he had done it because he wanted to? He had wanted to change so he should kill those men, so he could get revenge... "No. I can't," he said flatly.
"You can. You've done it."
"No. It's not my choice. If I could control it, I would." He was shaking his head the entire time.
"But you can control it. It is possible."
"And what difference does it make to you? Why do you care?"
"Because I..." Nabiki thought for a moment. Because she actually cared? So what was wrong with that? "Because, whether I like it or not, I want..." She took a big breath. "I want what's best for you."
Kuno felt his heart swell. She could admit it, so maybe he could too. "Maybe I can control it," he said quietly. "It's... very difficult."
"Because you don't know how?"
"I never considered the prospect. Why would I want to turn into a mon... A beast."
Nabiki's voice softened. "You're not a monster or a beast. You're..." 'Not really an animal, not my mate, not in love with me, not really in my dreams, not someone I'm beginning to care about.' "An OK guy." That seemed to temper the intense look in his eyes that was directed at her. She found herself shaking.
***
She was cute in a girlish sort of way. She would do; he needed the energy. "You're Sayuri, right?"
They tried very hard to ignore him. Most everybody did. But he would not be denied. Never again, would he be denied.
Gosunkugi put his hand on Sayuri's shoulder and spun her around. "Why don't we go somewhere private?" he suggested.
Sayuri blinked at him. "OK."
Sayuri's friends watched, dumbfounded, as she walked away with Gosunkugi. They looked at each other, their eyes suddenly becoming vacant. Then, shaking their heads at the same time, they looked around. "Where's Sayuri?" the first girl asked.
"I think she's at cheerleading practice," answered another.
"I didn't know she was in cheerleading," commented the third.
"Neither did I, but she is that outgoing type," the first girl responded.
And with that said, the girls didn't think about Sayuri for the rest of the night and the next day.
It couldn't have been too late that she woke up, but she was regretting the fact that she had. A soft, pillowy quilt was covering her and a pair of arms were wrapped around her. It was warm and comforting. It was a feeling she didn't want to lose.
"How was your nap?"
"Very nice." She smiled as his lips brushed her neck. "I don't ever want to leave."
"You won't have to, Sayuri." Gosunkugi's eyes flared with yellow light and his hand seized Sayuri's throat.
Sayuri's eyes flew open and she tried to scream. The yellow glow surrounded Gosunkugi's hand as he started to drain her life away. Her only sound was a gurgling.
Gosunkugi raked his fangs lightly over Sayuri's cheek, leaving two shallow grooves, as her lifeless body slumped in his arms. He licked up the trickle of blood from the dead girl's cheek and smiled. If it was that easy to get Sayuri, then Akane would be no problem...
***
"Akane, I'm sorry."
Akane had tears in her eyes. "But how, Kasumi?"
"They didn't say. They were calling people they knew she was close with." Kasumi opened her arms and waited for Akane to come into them.
After a moment of stunned disbelief, the tears intensified and Akane threw her arms around Kasumi.
"It's OK, Akane. Go ahead and cry." Kasumi rubbed Akane's back and kissed the top of her head.
"What's with you, Akane?" Nabiki asked, coming down the stairs.
Kasumi gave her that certain look, and gestured with her head that Nabiki should go on ahead.
"Whatever," Nabiki said, collecting her lunch and bag.
"So how's Gosunkugi's search coming?"
"In truth, I have not seen him for two days. A visit to his domicile may be in order."
"If you think that'll help." Nabiki ignored the stares from her lunchtime companions. She could see their heads turn from her to Kuno and back again. They looked... unnerved by his presence.
"From his initial hesitation, I believe it is." He finished his lunch and stood. "I thank you for your company." Kuno bowed to the small group of girls and walked away.
Nabiki answered the questions before they started. "I'm subcontracting."
***
"Nothing like Akane, but not half bad," Gosunkugi said under his breath. The girl he was eyeing was tall and slender, like the most popular idol singers. She moved with grace and confidence. She was exactly the type of girl that would not go out with him. If she had a choice, that is.
Gosunkugi sauntered up to the girl and her friends, stopping right in front of her. "Hi. My name's Hikaru. What's yours?"
The other girls looked at him with disgust. "Buzz off, you little weirdo," one said in defense of her friend.
Gosunkugi ignored them. "What's your name?"
His target looked at him, revulsion on her face until their eyes met. Unbeknownst to the others, there was a dancing flame in Gosunkugi's eye. It was a flame that no girl could resist.
Without speaking, the girl took his arm and led him off into the night.
***
Kasumi began the task of cleaning the lunch boxes. It was getting close to her bedtime and this was her last chore of the day. She opened Ranma's and smiled. It was almost perfectly clean, like he had licked it. Kasumi shook her head. Ranma was such a healthy eater. She began to wash it.
Gosunkugi crept through the house. The creeping wasn't necessary since none of the inhabitants could see him anyway, but it was a habit that was hard to break. He headed up the stairs, his footsteps completely silent, and went to the room at the far end of the hall. Sure it was fun taking care of those girls that always rejected him, but they served an important purpose too. It wasn't just petty vengeance; the strong lifeforce provided him with the necessary power to make himself unseen by the members of the household. And going around without anyone seeing him was of the utmost importance.
Kasumi's room. Gosunkugi knew Kasumi was in the kitchen, and couldn't really think of anything to do to her. She was, after all, the only one who ever treated him kindly. He left the door untouched.
Nabiki's room. She deserved something special, a special brand of humiliation. Gosunkugi pondered giving her a little of what he had for Ranma, but decided it just wasn't right. Maybe a little glamor spell, make her completely irresistible to men... violently so. He grinned and passed through Nabiki's door like it wasn't even there.
Much to Gosunkugi's chagrin, she wasn't there. "Damn. Where the hell is she at this time of night?" he growled. He snarled and left a slow burning sphere of magic under her bed. If he was lucky, it wouldn't be discovered until half of Nabiki's body was covered in burns.
Chuckling, Gosunkugi left Nabiki's room and went to Akane's. He entered it and stood at her bedside, looking at the sleeping girl. "Very soon, Akane... When I have my revenge and all obstacles are gone..." He touched her cheek with one long-nailed finger and watched her grimace in her sleep. "Very soon."
Now it was time to set everything into motion. It wasn't possible to give it to Ranma directly. That was just not how things were done. Besides, Gosunkugi wanted Ranma to be humiliated and laughed at when it happened. Ranma's lunch would do, and the really convenient thing was that it didn't even need to be put in the food itself.
Kasumi left the clean boxes on the counter while she checked on her father and Genma. They were forever staying up until all hours of the morning, making horrendous noise in the meantime. She walked down the hall and shivered for a moment. Stopping and looking around, she didn't see a thing. Nabiki would need to have someone check on the heating.
Gosunkugi passed through Kasumi, wincing at her goodness, and went into the kitchen. There, sitting on the counter, was Ranma's lunch box. If anyone could have seen Gosunkugi, they would have been frightened by the maniacal glee in his eyes. Pulling the little vial from his pocket, he unstoppered it and dumped the contents into the box. Ranma would never know what hit him. Gosunkugi smiled as the inky liquid covered the bottom of the box.
"Have a good lunch, Ranma Saotome. And say hi to that cheese brain Kuno for me." Gosunkugi smiled wider, then faded out of existence.
Kasumi reentered the kitchen and began putting the clean dishes away, until she got to Ranma's lunch box. In the bottom of it, there was some sort of dark residue. She scratched it with her fingernail, but it wouldn't come off at all.
It was a good thing she hadn't drained the sink of it's soapy water yet. She plunged the box into the water and immediately jerked her hands out, splashing water onto her face and apron. "Oh my, that's warm." It hadn't just been warm though. It had been near scalding.
Kasumi rubbed her hands on her apron, then used her apron to wipe her face off. Cautiously, she put her hands into the water again and relaxed when it did not hurt her. 'That certainly was odd. Maybe I should have Dr. Tofu look at my hands.' Kasumi giggled inwardly and began scrubbing the box.
When she finally finished, the box was as clean as a whistle. She never noticed the blackish residue on her hands.
***
"Do it."
"No! That is embarrassing!"
"Come on. I think it's kind of cute." Nabiki gave Kuno a sly smile.
"I know your tricks. I will not do it."
"Look, it's just one more part. Like all the others."
"One more part you say. Next you will want to see my..." Kuno blushed heavily at the thought.
That widened Nabiki's smile. "Not a bad idea, but seriously, do it."
Kuno sighed, resigned to his fate. She wouldn't let him not do it, no matter how humiliating. "Very well." He closed his eyes, then thought better of it and opened them to glare at Nabiki. "Do not look!"
"Why would I ever do something like that?" Nabiki asked innocently.
"I believe it would be to look at my..." Kuno couldn't bring himself to say it, so he left it at that. He closed his eyes again and began to concentrate. He should have known he could control it. After all, what had he done in Kodachi's room that one night? It was easy to imagine how grotesque his hand had looked.
Kuno suddenly felt a tugging on a body part he didn't normally have. "Release me!" he bellowed trying to pull away from Nabiki.
"I told you, it's cute," Nabiki said, holding and stroking Kuno's tail.
"Release me, woman!" Kuno demanded, trying to pull his tail out of Nabiki's grasp. Her hands felt just a little too nice for comfort.
"That was really fast, faster than anything else. How'd you do it?" She released the tail and tried to get a good look at where it was connected to Kuno's body. He was right. She was getting a pretty good look at his butt.
Kuno whirled around, holding his pants up, removing the tail mostly from Nabiki's sight. She couldn't help but snicker. Humans with tails just... weren't right. She met his outraged gaze. "You liked it," she said simply. "It felt nice, didn't it?"
Damn, he hated how she always knew how he felt. And especially how she knew what she did to him. It just wasn't fair! "Yes. One day, you should be so lucky to experience the sensation." Kuno stepped forward, his spare appendage forgotten... for the moment.
***
Gosunkugi looked down at the body. He was taking too many, he had to stop. But the power, the lifeforce was so delicious, how could he bring himself to end his feasting?
A red aura engulfed his hands as he touched the body, and it was consumed totally in a heatless fire, burning with spectral black flames. It was Sayuri that taught him he couldn't just leave bodies laying around. They were soon discovered, and then people started asking questions. Nor could he stand to see Akane cry like that.
Gosunkugi brushed his hands off and went back to the study of the book. Maybe, after Akane was his, he would go about with something larger. World conquest possibly. Insane laughter escaped his mouth as he looked at the picture of oceans filled with blood.
"Hikaru? Are you alright in there?" His mother's voice was accompanied by her knocking.
Gosunkugi coughed, his laughter ending. "I'm fine, Mother," he answered. "Just fine."
***
"Here's your lunch, Ranma."
"Thanks, Kasumi." Ranma grabbed his lunch out of Kasumi's immaculately clean hands and bounded out of the kitchen and down the hall.
Kasumi watched him go, smiling at his back. 'Such a nice boy,' she thought. 'Such a nice, well-built young man.' Kasumi's eyes blinked as she realized what she was thinking. "Oh my. Perhaps I should go see Dr. Tofu." She wiped her hands on her apron.
"Excuse me, Dr. Tofu?" Kasumi called from the waiting room. Mysteriously, everyone that had been in the waiting room had left quickly when she had arrived.
"Just a moment."
Kasumi waited demurely for Dr. Tofu to show himself. He was so darling, always talking in funny voices when she was around, and doing things to make her laugh. It had been a long time since anyone had ever done anything for her. Especially not her family...
"Why, hello, Kas..." Tofu came out of his office and stared. The familiar heat never rose to his cheeks, and the fog didn't cloud his brain this time. In fact, Dr. Tofu was feeling... urges. Directed at Kasumi. It was wrong to be feeling such urges toward Kasumi, but he just couldn't stop himself. The words were out of his mouth before he could do anything else."Kasumi," he said quietly, staring at her still.
"Good morning. I was wondering if you could look at my hands. I'm afraid I might have burned them last night."
Tofu strode over to Kasumi, feeling supremely confident. "Of course, Kasumi." He took her hands in his and stared deep into her eyes. "Your hands are fine, Kasumi. They're beautiful."
"But Dr. Tofu, you..."
"No. Call me Tofu." His voice sounded somehow deeper. And how he was able to be so forward with Kasumi? Tofu clutched her hands in his. It didn't matter.
"Why, Doct... Tofu, what's come over you?" Kasumi was still smiling politely.
"You, Kasumi. When you're near, I can barely form a coherent thought and I can't speak."
Kasumi couldn't speak, she was so startled by Tofu's confession. "I never knew you felt that way, Tofu," she said, feeling a little excited by the good Doctor's closeness. Excited and confused. She had never felt this way about anyone. She had always had a crush on Dr. Tofu; he was so handsome and noble, and always took good care of her family when it was needed. But he was being so... direct. She wasn't sure what to make of it.
She had conflicting feelings about what was happening. Being so close to him was making her almost weak-kneed, but Kasumi knew it wasn't right. Feelings like she was getting were supposed to wait until a man and a woman's wedding night. "Tofu, I don't know if we should do this."
"I do, Kasumi." And without further ado, Tofu leaned forward and kissed Kasumi.
Kasumi didn't resist. He was a doctor after all.
"Kasumi!"
"She said she was going to Dr. Tofu's, Tendo. Something about her hands..."
Soun burst into tears immediately. "Oh no! What's happened? She'll never cook again!"
"Now, now, Tendo." Genma took the opportunity to rearrange some pieces on the shogi board. "I'm sure she's perfectly fine."
"Tofu, what are you..."
"Relax, Kasumi. This won't hurt at all."
"Oh my!"
***
Gosunkugi conjured up a small window in front of him. It gave him a view of the school yard and Ranma, as if he was looking into a pool of water. It was a little fuzzy, but would do for the time being. He watched Ranma face off with Kuno yet again.
"Look, it's not my fault you're a moron!"
"It no longer matters. Only your defeat at my hands is of any importance," Kuno hissed.
Ranma was slowly getting the idea that he shouldn't be teasing Kuno. The kendoist did look just a little mad. "Fine. Then come on, even if you can't beat me." Ranma grinned and shifted his stance, prepared for the enraged Kuno's attack.
Enraged was probably an understatement. Kuno snapped his bokken in half with a twitch of his hand and threw the pieces aside. It was not his *special* bokken, though. He kept that in a very safe place. Clenching his fist in a moment of supreme control, he suddenly charged Ranma.
Ranma thrust his fist out, expecting it to connect with the onrushing Kuno's face, but barely managed to dodge away as Kuno slipped past his attack. To Ranma's trained eye, he could follow Kuno's movement, but he knew that Kuno was moving much faster than he ever had before.
Gosunkugi watched the battle with interest. It was quite feasible that Kuno could beat Ranma is he went all out and changed. But once they made it to lunch, that would be the time to watch the fireworks. Still, it was a good matchup.
Ranma felt something like an anvil hit him in the back. Was this really Kuno? He turned quickly and blocked a fist almost the size of his head, and lashed out with his foot. A grunt from Kuno was the only indication that the attack had connected. Kuno's assault never slowed at all.
Grabbing Kuno's other arm that had extended in a punch, Ranma twisted, pulled and flipped Kuno to the ground heavily. He released Kuno's arm and skipped back a few yards, waiting for his opponent to stand.
Gosunkugi chuckled as he watched Kuno get to his feet. With Kuno actually using his change, it looked like Ranma might be in even more trouble. That would be a rather crushing blow: to lose to Kuno.
"Damn it."
"What's wrong, Nabiki? Is Ranma ruining your odds?" Akane asked with a hint of contempt.
"Why don't you just keep your nose out of what you don't understand, OK?" Nabiki didn't bother looking at her younger sister. "I told him not to do this," she said under her breath.
The two sisters watched with concern in their eyes as Kuno and Ranma prepared to attack each other again.
Ranma was breathing heavily, and was somewhat satisfied to see that Kuno was as well. How Kuno managed such skill, without his bokken even, Ranma didn't know. There had been glimpses of kempo that Ranma knew very well and maybe a little kung fu, but where Kuno learned them and how he managed to integrate them... Ranma shook his head.
Kuno snarled at him and rushed forward again, but Ranma was better prepared this time. Instead of trying an attack, Ranma simply blocked the speeding attacks. Instead of the expected fist crashing into him, Ranma felt something like razor blades rake into the skin of both his arms, drawing blood. Surprised by the sudden sensation of pain, Ranma acted on instinct to block Kuno's next series of attacks.
Gosunkugi saw the blood pouring down Ranma's arms and smiled hungrily. Things were looking up for his plan. Ranma wouldn't be able to resist revenge after this, and if he ended up using his full power... That would most assuredly spell the end for Kuno, and once everyone saw Ranma... The vigilante killer would be caught, and that would be Ranma's end too.
Ranma fought valiantly, ignoring the burning pain in his arms. He was losing blood fast. Something important in his arm was cut, and he was in bad shakes. He was probably dying even as he was fighting. Kuno had left him a rather sizable opening, but when he tried to kick Kuno's liver out his back, Ranma simply tripped over his own feet, his legs feeling rather heavy.
On the ground and struggling to sit up, Ranma watched Kuno approach him calmly, his fist upraised. Ranma could see the blood all over Kuno's hand. "Not yet, Kuno," he said tiredly.
Gosunkugi watched with increasing interest. Could it be that Ranma wouldn't even make it to lunch? That thought filled his dark heart with joy. He would have to change his plans around a little, but that was perfectly acceptable.
"Ranma!" Akane shouted as she watched Kuno prepare to strike.
A shrill whistle made everyone stop and look at the person who had made the sound. "Akane, go get the nurse," Nabiki said calmly.
Akane nodded, sparing a glance at Ranma, and ran to the school.
"Ranma, relax. Help is on the way."
Ranma started to shake his head, but that made his vision blur.
"Hiroshi, Daisuke. Help him until the nurse gets here."
The two nodded and rushed over to help Ranma, carefully avoiding Kuno.
"Kuno..." She looked at him while he stared back, his eyes devoid of any emotion. "Kuno, you come with me."
He looked at her indignantly and was preparing to say something when Nabiki cut him off.
"No. You follow me. Now." With the order issued, Nabiki walked away, expecting Kuno to follow.
After a few moments of alternating looks between Nabiki's back and the fallen Ranma, Kuno followed Nabiki, a scowl on his face.
Gosunkugi allowed the window to fade as the nurse began bandaging Ranma. So it looked like Ranma would make it to lunch, though the plan might be on hold a bit while Ranma recovered. Gosunkugi was only sorry he hadn't been there in person.
"Look at yourself! What were you doing?" Nabiki asked angrily, glaring at the blank-faced Kuno.
Kuno looked at his blood-stained hands. Ranma's blood. Ranma, who he had been ready to kill. Ready to kill for humiliating him. The fiance of the girl he had once claimed to love. The sister of the girl he thought he loved now. "What have I done?"
"You almost killed Ranma, that's what! I don't know how you feel about your little sister..."
Kuno looked up, anger flashing in his eyes. "I love my sister."
"Well, I love mine too. And she loves Ranma, why I'll never know, but when you hurt him, you hurt her. And when you hurt her, you make me very upset."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm getting tired of hearing you say that. Next time..." Next time, what? Instead of voicing her anger, Nabiki hauled back and slapped Kuno. "Next time, I won't bother to care what happens to you." Then she gathered her anger and walked away.
"Wait, Nabiki," Kuno called, but she did not slow. Once she had left his sight completely, he looked down at his hands again. They were very ugly, covered in blood like that. "What have I done? What have I become?"
***
Ranma looked at Kasumi as she brought him some tea. He had never noticed how truly pretty she was. Even her actions were pretty. Ranma smiled and thanked her.
Kasumi smiled back. Ranma really was a nice, polite young man, almost as sweet as Tofu. "If you need anything, Ranma, just let me know." She almost didn't want to leave the sight of those beautiful blue eyes, but she had duties to attend to.