Complete Control
Part 5
by Sean Gaffney

All characters are (C) 1999 Rumiko Takahashi, Kitty, Viz, etc., though I 
doubt that their creators would have them doing _this_.

This fanfic is rated NC-17.  There are nine parts planned, and this is 
the only one which does not feature rape and mind control.  So be 
warned.  If this were alt.sex.stories, it would be rated:  mf, mff, inc.


     Akane leaned against the wall of the dojo, feeling the cool wood 
against her face.  She was upset and scared, and needed to calm herself 
down.  Lacking Ranma, the dojo was the next best thing.
     Ranma had disappeared.  They hadn't realised it at first until 
she'd gone up to the roof to see if he was alright and found him 
missing.  A short search had revealed nothing.  Akane had then begun to 
panic, but her sisters had brought her back to the house and calmed her 
down a bit.
     Now, however, she found that she couldn't sleep.  So she'd come out 
here, ostensibly to practice, but ended up just laying down against the 
wall and trying not to scream.
     Ever since Ranma had come into their lives, she'd been worried 
about the way that she felt things.  She had been angry for so long, 
ever since her mother died.  She felt so helpless.  Gradually, the 
entire family closed itself off.  Kasumi became the perfect wife and 
mother substitute, Nabiki became a cold-hearted mercenary.  Her father 
was far more protective of the three of them, but at the same time he 
kept his distance, as if fearing getting too close.
     And she got angry.  Angry at school, angry at her family, angry at 
the inadequacies she saw in herself.  Angry at boys.  For some reason, 
the contempt she showed for them only seemed to encourage them, and they 
kept at her, pestering her.  Anger was how she dealt with it.  It was so 
easy to be angry.
     But then Ranma had...done what he did, and now anger was hard.  
When she tried to get angry, she just couldn't do it.  So she had to 
look at the other emotions she was feeling...the ones the anger had 
always covered up.
     Ranma was gone, and she missed him so much it hurt.  No one else 
understood that.  Nabiki and Kasumi were worried, but they'd survive if 
Ranma was never seen again.  She didn't know if she would.  She *needed* 
Ranma.  He filled the void that was left when the anger had spurned her, 
and now that he was gone there was nothing to prevent it from crashing 
in on her, just emptiness and fear and despair.
     And worry.  She worried as well, wondering what Ranma would do 
without her.  She had begun to tell herself that it wasn't just one-
sided, that he needed her just as much.  He was different when he was 
around her.  He didn't just make love to her, he talked to her.  About 
how scared he was, how he thought that one day he might go insane and 
start hurting people again.  About the people he'd already hurt.  His 
goal to one day be able to undo what he did, and the knowledge that when 
he did, they would hate him.
     That thought disturbed Akane.  Ranma kept insisting that her 
feelings for her were false, that he'd implanted a need for the Tendou 
sisters to love him into their minds when he had raped them.  But that 
didn't seem to be true, whether he wanted to believe it or not.  Kasumi 
was more attached to Tatewaki Kunou lately, and Nabiki had shown signs 
of rebelling against Ranma as well.  They might not be back to normal, 
but they weren't devoted to him anymore.
     Akane, though...if this wasn't love, she wasn't sure she would be 
able to take feeling what it was.  She felt warm and safe and happy with 
Ranma.  She felt that she was what he needed.  And now he was gone.
     He wouldn't have just left.  She knew that, even though both Kasumi 
and Nabiki had tried to tell her that might be the case.  He wouldn't 
have gone off without telling her...unless he thought he was doing it 
for her own good.
     She remembered laying with him, after a lovemaking session, and 
listening to him berate himself.  Talking about how loathsome he was, 
that he had no self-control or respect for anything.  And when she tried 
to tell him that it didn't matter to her, that she loved him anyway, he 
hadn't believed her.  He told her that any feelings she had for him were 
fake, created by his manipulation.  He said that in time, she would grow 
to hate him.
     That had hurt her a great deal.  For a moment, she felt a tiny 
spark of something approaching anger, asking herself why Ranma felt that 
he was the one who knew how she was feeling?  Then it vanished as she 
started to consider his words.  What if he was right?  What if 
everything she felt was a lie?  How could she trust her own judgement?
     She sat up and sighed, trying to find some sort of peace within 
her.  Nothing, it seemed, was going to be resolved by simply thinking 
about it.  She needed to do something, try to find Ranma and see why he 
had left...or whether he was taken.
     It wasn't impossible.  Ranma might be a good martial artist, but he 
hadn't been practising as much as he should have after his arrival.  
He'd been too busy dealing with its aftermath.  He could have been 
taken...but who would have?  The authorities?  They'd have dealt with 
the household as well.  Ryouga?  No one had seen much of him since his 
defeat by Ranma, but it was a possibility.
     Akane got up and headed back to the house.  She would check Ranma's 
room and see if she could find anything that might help.  If he *had* 
gone off without telling anyone, he might have left a clue as to where 
he would go.  Perhaps back to China, to look for a cure...
     Entering Ranma's room was more difficult than she'd imagined.  
She'd only been in it once; they usually made love in her room.  There 
had always been a sense that this was off-limits to her, that there were 
certain areas of Ranma's life where she couldn't be.  Nonetheless, she 
needed any information she could get, and thus forced herself to open 
the sliding panel and enter the room.
     Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ranma's room was fairly bare.  He hadn't 
been here long enough to accumulate any possessions from Nerima, and the 
vagabond existence he and his father had shared the past ten years left 
little room for such things.  The room had a bedroll, a backpack, and a 
canteen.  Akane shivered.  It brought home one more the fact that Ranma 
didn't feel welcome here, that he was ready to leave at a moment's 
notice.
     Except if he had, why leave his possessions?  Ranma's entire life 
was here, and he wasn't the sort to leave it behind.  More and more, 
Akane was becoming convinced that Ranma hadn't simply decided to abandon 
them.
    Opening the backpack almost made her throw up.  She had to sit down 
on the floor as she felt dizziness wash over her.  Every time she 
thought that she was better, that her mind had managed to throw off the 
controls Ranma had placed upon it, something like this happened to 
remind her that she was still suffering through it, still a slave.  She 
put her head between her legs and waited for the feelings to pass.  It 
was psychosomatic, all her doing.  Ranma wouldn't have minded her doing 
this if he knew the circumstances, she was sure of that.
     Opening her eyes, she moved over to the open backpack and began to 
sort through its contents.  Now that the initial bout of nausea had been 
overcome, she was feeling a little excited.  This was Ranma laid bare - 
something he rarely allowed her to see, even in their pillow talk.  Here 
was the best way she could find out about the young man he had been 
before falling into that pool.
     There was a startling unoriginality to the clothing.  Ranma had 
apparently taken a liking to Chinese-style shirts while visiting the 
country, and had picked up four or five of them to serve as his entire 
wardrobe.  She was also surprised to find a small dagger hidden near the 
top pocket.  She would have imagined that Ranma would prefer to fight 
using only his fists and feet.  But then, perhaps Genma's teaching of 
Anything-Goes style was different from her father's.
     Down at the bottom, she found something more promising: a journal.  
Reaching for it, she cried out momentarily and dropped it.  These were 
Ranma's personal thoughts.  She shouldn't be here.  She had no right, 
she wasn't worthy to look at it.  Again she had to put her head between 
her legs, force down the desire to get out of the room and forget all 
about it.  Finally, after a few moments, she was able to look up again.
     A few photographs had fallen out of the book, ranging from recent 
looking to as old as she was.  A woman in her late twenties that looked 
startlingly like Ranma's female self was smiling for the camera, though 
in Akane's opinion the cheer looked forced.  A small boy, Ranma by the 
looks of him, with his arm wrapped around a young girl dressed in a dark 
gi.  The two looked like best friends, and Akane felt a pang of 
irrational jealousy.
     She reached out for the journal again, her hands trembling only 
slightly.  There wasn't much in it at all, only two entries near the 
beginning.  Ranma's handwriting was terrible, but Akane was able to read 
it.

		"Hi.  Um...I think it's February.  The old bag is making me 
		write this diary to be able to get my thoughts onto a place
		where she can see them.  She says she won't look at it, and 
		has got only my best interests at heart.  I don't think she
		knows how much I can read now.  I can't read her thoughts, 
		not even close, but I think I can tell when she's telling a
		bald-faced lie.  She's planning something, too.  She says 
		that she's going to introduce me to her granddaughter 
		tomorrow.  I dunno, considering how I've been feeling 
		lately, that might not be a good plan.  Anyway, maybe if she 
		gets a hold of this and reads it, she'll throw me out.  It's 
		not that I ain't grateful or anything.  She's taught me more 
		about the art in three weeks than Dad managed to do in ten 
		years.  But I dunno...I wanna get out of here.  I think if I 
		stay too much longer, something's going to happen."

     Akane almost leaped up and down with excitement.  This was exactly 
what she was looking for!  Ranma had mentioned getting training at some 
point, but had been really wary of talking about it.  Clearly the 
experience hadn't been a pleasant one for him.  More to the point, this 
old woman sounded as if she had some sort of plans for Ranma...and if he 
had left suddenly, she might not be too happy with him.  She moved on to 
the other entry.

		"I'm out of here.  Today she put me through some sort of 
		combat thing, challenging various girls in martial arts.  
		Most of them were pretty good, but I was able to beat them
		all without too much trouble.  The one big problem was the
		granddaughter.  She almost got me.  I was struggling not 
		to use my powers to stop her.  I didn't want to hurt her,
		and I still don't really know what they do.  Plus I was 
		getting kinda hard...I dunno why, really.  She was pretty,
		and had big...well, y'know, but I mean, I don't think about
		things like that during a fight.  I shoulda fought her as a 
		girl, but the old bag said no.  Something about a test.
		Every time I think she's doing this to be nice to me, she 
		gets all sneaky and tricky like this.  Well, anyway, when
		I won, the granddaughter got all excited, and started trying 
		to kiss me, which only made my problem worse.  Then she got 
		in a real knock-down drag-out fight with her grandmother 
		about something.  I wish I knew Chinese...anyway, the whole
		thing was annoying.  I need to get out of here, training or
		no.  Dad would be happy if we stayed here forever, cause he
		gets free food, but I don't care.  Maybe I can go back home,
		see Mom.  See why Dad refuses to talk about her.  Maybe go 
		back to Jusenkyou.  The Guide said that cures weren't there, 
		but I gotta do something.  I can't go on like this much 
		longer..."

     Following this was a crudely-drawn map, giving a few major 
landmarks and some arrows which might be compass directions.  The 
village and Jusenkyou were clearly marked, as were several cities, 
some ways away from both of them.  A few other dots might be villages, 
some squiggles might be rivers.  She hoped Ranma had got the distances 
correct.  Now, what did she need to bring...
     Akane stopped herself, trying to think clearly, and quelling her 
growing need to leap up and do something.  It was clear that something 
had happened in that Chinese village.  Moreover, Ranma hadn't ruled out 
going back there to get to Jusenkyou.
     That was the only reason Akane could see Ranma leaving in such a 
hurry.  He'd been told of a cure, and had left to find it.  A cure might 
not be the best thing in the world, especially if it left her and her 
sisters with his controls still in their minds, but it was something 
that he yearned for, and he might just go off without thinking.
     The other possibility was this village.  They definitely seemed to 
want Ranma to stay, and his description of the fight between the old 
woman and her granddaughter seemed a lot scarier in retrospect.  Would 
they really go so far as to come to Japan just to kidnap him?
     Akane felt herself beginning to nod off, and got up to head back to 
her room.  She had a lot of thinking to do.  She wanted desperately to 
find Ranma, but this wasn't really much of a lead, no matter how she 
tried to convince herself.  Plus it would mean travelling to China.  She 
didn't have the money to go there by herself, much less with four or 
five people.  And would anyone even go with her?  Maybe Kasumi and 
Nabiki, but she was fairly sure the Kunous wouldn't be all that 
interested in getting Ranma back.
     Heading into her bedroom, Akane rubbed her temples.  She was asking 
herself too many questions that couldn't be answered until tomorrow.  
She'd try and get a good night's sleep, and then come at the problem 
with a fresh mind.
     Akane fell asleep clutching her sheets, dreaming of a young man 
with piercing eyes and a disarming smile...

***

     Nabiki was not having a good day at all.  She'd woken up with a 
sore throat that wasn't going away.  Ranma was missing, and despite 
doing her best to pretend that it didn't matter to her, she was upset 
about it.  Ranma was a very large presence in her life, and she wasn't 
ready for him to be out of it yet.  It was too soon, the wounds were too 
raw.  She still needed him, needed his reassurance.
     And now Akane had found some really vague evidence that Ranma might 
have gone to China, and was trying to get everyone to go off and rescue 
him.  She'd based this on two entries in a diary and a map.  Nabiki was 
incredibly skeptical that Ranma would even keep a diary in the first 
place.  Everything about this felt wrong.
     But what really disgusted her was how much she wanted to believe 
it, wanted to just go to China, find Ranma, and bring him back here so 
she could be safe.
     *Listen to me,* she shuddered.  She only felt safe with Ranma, even 
though it was Ranma who had destroyed her.  Building up confidence in 
her own ideas and opinions was nearly impossible now.  Every time she 
was sure that she was getting better, that the old Nabiki could snatch 
back control and live on her own without anyone's help, the doubts would 
creep in, and she'd remember that night, in the alley.  Where Ranma had 
stripped her mind bare, and inflicted on her every bad deed, every 
selfish act she'd ever committed.  And there had been a lot of them.
     And now she hated herself.  Hated what she was, hated what she had 
been.  She needed Ranma back so he could fix this.  She didn't even know 
what she wanted him to do.  She couldn't go back to being the person she 
was.  She just needed to be...someone else.
     On top of everything else, Akane was relying on Nabiki to make this 
whole trip happen.  She still thought of her sister as the money miracle 
worker, able to keep the dojo running and food on the table by coming up 
with funds out of nowhere.  She had no idea how incredibly impossible 
this was going to be.  They needed money to get three people to China, 
and possibly five.  The Jusenkyou Springs, where they were heading 
first, were quite a ways inland according to the map Ranma had drawn, 
and getting to them would take days.  They'd have to arrange an excuse 
to get out of school - two schools, if Kodachi ended up coming with 
them.  Going to China was an incredibly stupid idea.
     *I can't use my usual venues,* she thought.  *Even if I could 
somehow come up with a scheme or two, there's no way I could get that 
much cash that quickly.*
     An idea squirmed into her head.  It was one that she'd had to 
consider a year or two ago, when the country had had a slight recession 
and her father hadn't had any students for months.  Mortgage the house.  
It would provide the necessary capital to get there and back, and then 
some.  Their house was quite large, and had been in the family for 
generations.
     It was scary, though.  If any other disasters happened, they'd face 
foreclosure.  Their entire life, gone like that.  And with Ranma now in 
their lives, disaster was not only possible but likely.  Could she do 
that to her family, and be willing to face the consequences?
     A knock at the door awoke her from her reverie.  "Yes?"
     "Nabiki, can we talk for a few moments?"  It was Kasumi.  She had 
been fairly quiet during Akane's revelations, only speaking up at the 
end when she had agreed that the trip was a dangerous but necessary one 
if they were to get Ranma back.
     Nabiki got up and let her sister into her room.  She had no idea 
what to expect from her.  Kasumi had been the most affected of the three 
sisters, her personality opening up and becoming quite different, but 
she was also the most accepting of the changes Ranma had forced upon 
her.  Nabiki had thought that she would be against the journey as an 
unnecessary risk, but she hadn't even hesitated.
     Kasumi came in, looking fairly subdued.  She sat down near Nabiki's 
desk, noting the sheets of figures Nabiki had scribbled and then thrown 
away.
     "Nabiki, can we afford this?"
     Nabiki flopped back down into her chair.  "You already know the 
answer to that."
     Kasumi hesitated.  "Akane wants very much to do this.  She and 
Ranma were quite close, and I think his disappearance is making her 
quite anxious.  She's relying on you."
     Nabiki got up and kicked against the wall in frustration.  "I 
know!" she screamed.  "Akane thinks I can magically come up with the 
money to do this, make sure we can get out of school, everything!  She's 
so goddamned focused on Ranma she's not stopping to think of anything 
else!  Dammit, she can't expect me to be a miracle worker!"
     "Why not?" Kasumi responded.  "You've done it in the past.  Your 
methods may not have been the most ethical, but whenever our family was 
in trouble, you would always find a way to help us.  Why is it so 
difficult now?"
     Nabiki growled.  "You know why!  It's HIM!  Ranma did this to me, 
and now I can't do anything!  He's taken away everything I used to be!  
The best idea I can come up with is going to leave us homeless!  I 
can't..."
     She cried out in frustration, and threw herself on her futon, 
throwing her pillow over her head.  Despite that, Kasumi's voice still 
crept through.
     "Do you hate him for that?"
     She almost laughed.  "Of course not.  I can't.  God, I need him, 
Kasumi.  Not sexually, thank God, not anymore.  I need him to...to..."  
The words wouldn't come.
     "You need him to justify yourself.  To tell you that you aren't a 
failure."
     There was a long pause before Nabiki grudgingly answered.  "Yes."
     She felt an arm wrapping itself around her shoulders, but that was 
not what she needed.  She threw her sister off and got up.  "I don't 
need a mother right now."
     Kasumi scowled at that.  It still startled Nabiki, seeing emotions 
crossing her sister's face.
     "I wasn't trying to be a mother...just a sister."
     "Oh, well, at last!" Nabiki said sarcastically.  She was tired, 
angry, and felt a cold coming on.  This was the last thing she needed.  
"Kasumi, you haven't been a sister to me for ten years, and it's too 
late to start now.  Go back to what you're best at, tending to wounds 
and making dinner."
     The words were too harsh, but she didn't take them back.  It made 
her feel good, saying them.  It was like scratching a bleeding itch.  
There would be pain, but you did it anyway.  She quickly looked at her 
sister, and was satisfied to see that her words had stung.  *Good,* she 
thought.  *Now maybe you can feel as bad as I do.*
     Kasumi got up, and headed for the door, then turned around again.  
"I think I might be able to get us the money."
     Nabiki blinked.  "How?  If I can't do it, how on earth do you think 
you possibly could?"
     Kasumi fidgeted, twiddling her thumbs before answering.  "Akane 
wanted to see if the Kunous would join us...I can ask if they might be 
able to help with the finances as well."
     Nabiki stared in shock at her sister, unable to believe the words 
that she was hearing.  The idea of her sister having a relationship with 
Tatewaki Kunou was bad enough.  The guy was a first-class loon, whether 
Ranma fixed him up or no.  But to sink so low...
     She shoved her sister towards the door in disgust.  "Get out!  Get 
the fuck out of my room!"
     Kasumi stumbled, but stayed upright.  "Nabiki, what's the matter?"
     "Just go!" Nabiki screamed.  "Go be a whore and fuck Kunou to get 
the money we need!  Don't worry about Akane, I'm sure she'll accept 
anything provided it gets her closer to Ranma!  God knows, thank to him, 
our family has no pride anymore, so why not just go be a prostitute!"
     It was Kasumi's turn to stare at her sister in horror, and then she 
spun on her heel and left the room without saying another word.
     Nabiki slammed her fists against the wall in anger.  She hadn't 
meant to be that angry, but...dammit, what was Kasumi thinking?  Had 
Ranma really changed her sweet little sister into this slut?
     She suddenly felt wracked by a cough, and sighed as she headed down 
towards the bathroom.  *Great, with my luck this will turn into flu...*

***

     Kasumi leaned up against the gates to the Kunou mansion and tried 
to calm down before she rang the bell.  It was, of course, impossible.  
Her emotions roiled around her in a tempest.  Fear, anger, lust, sorrow, 
all of these warred to take control of her psyche.  The argument with 
Nabiki hadn't helped, but it certainly wasn't the main cause.
     Each of the girls had lost something when Ranma had taken them.  
Something that was a major part of what they had once been.  Akane's 
anger, the emotion that had driven her so much since their mother died.  
Nabiki's self-confidence, everything she trusted about herself over 
years of deal-making and confidence tricks.  
     Both of them thought that Kasumi had gotten off easily, that she'd 
thrown off her old shell of obliviousness and was able to live.  But it 
wasn't as simple as that.  She had lost something as well.  Her 
serenity.  The calmness she felt, sure that everything would work out 
for the best.  Because she wasn't sure of that anymore.  Everything was 
uncertain now.  Ranma had come into their lives and changed everything.  
She'd met Kunou, and found someone she could love.  But his sister loved 
him as well, and was determined to keep him.  And now Ranma was gone, 
leaving the three sisters to grasp at straws trying to figure out what 
to do next.
     She wasn't sure anymore.  She desperately wanted that back.  More 
than anything else, she needed to feel centred, calm, assured.  That was 
why she needed Ranma back.  She rang the bell, feeling better about the 
choice she had made.
     She found Tatewaki in the library, reading another book of poems.  
He seemed to be reading a lot lately, perhaps trying to find in the 
poetry whatever it was that he had lost when Ranma had 'influenced' him.  
Never Shakespeare, though.
     He looked up and smiled at her, though it didn't seem to reach his 
eyes.  "Kasumi, how are you?"
     She debated making small talk with him, but knew it would only 
prolong the inevitable.  Besides, it was best to talk to him now, when 
he was away from the influence of his sister.
     "Tate-chan, there's been an emergency.  Ranma is missing.  We can't 
find him, and we checked with various friends, no one has seen him."
     She looked to see how he would react to this, but all he did was 
raise an eyebrow.  Despite this she continued onward.
     "Akane thinks she knows where he might be.  She found some evidence 
that suggests some people might have kidnapped him and taken him back to 
China.  It's not much, but it's all we have right now.  Akane is 
desperate with worry, she wants to go after him right away.  Nabiki does 
too, though she's obviously hiding it.  She's trying her best to come up 
with the finances so that they can go."  Kasumi petered out, knowing 
what she was leading up to.
     Tatewaki spoke after a moment.  "They?  Does this mean that you 
have no feelings about this at all?"
     Kasumi looked away, suddenly feeling ashamed.  "I'm going as well.  
I have to look after both of them, they're my sisters - "
     He interrupted her.  "Kasumi, please do not try to hide things from 
me.  Do you distrust me?"
     She still wouldn't meet his eyes.  "Not you."
     That got a reaction.  He reached out and took her face, turning it 
towards him.  The gesture wasn't rough, but it still shook her.  "My 
sister is not here at the moment, if that is what you mean.  I realise 
that the two of you do not trust each other.  I have told my sister that 
I wish her to give you the benefit of the doubt.  Do I need to take back 
my words?"
     Kasumi bit her lip.  "I'm going to find Ranma.  I still...still 
need him.  That hasn't gone away."
     She backed away from him, trying not to let him see her cry.  She 
hated this, hated being so needy.  She wanted to give herself freely to 
Tatewaki, wanted to be his wholeheartedly.  The way that his sister 
devoted herself to him.  But she couldn't.  Ranma's controls still 
burned in her mind, and she needed to find him to stand a chance of 
having them removed.  She needed to find them to help remove them from 
Tatewaki as well, make sure they had nothing standing in their way.  She 
needed...
     She needed to find him.  It was primal, no reasons were needed.
     She felt hands on her shoulders.  A thrill ran down her spine as he 
pulled her towards him, cradling her body against his.
     "Don't go," he whispered.  She could barely hear him.  It was 
something they both knew he had to say, but they also knew what her 
answer would be.
     "I have to go.  I'm sorry."
     He sighed, and pushed her gently away from him.  Walking over to 
the shelves, he started scanning them again.  "What evidence has your 
sister found?"
     "There was a journal in Ranma's pack, with mention of a village in 
China that he had troubles in.  They seemed to want him to stay."
     Tatewaki turned, surprised.  "Ranma Saotome kept a journal?"
     "There were only two entries in it," Kasumi said wryly.
     He smiled slightly, then turned back to the shelves.  "The three of 
you will be travelling to China then, going into totally unknown 
territories - "
     "We have a map," Kasumi interjected.
     "Drawn by Ranma?"
     "Yes..."
     "Into totally unknown territories, going to a village that might 
possibly have Ranma.  Or, far more likely, he is nowhere near there, and 
you will go into a place where he is unwelcome and say that you are 
friends of his."
     "Um..."
     "This is leaving aside the fact that your family is not wealthy.  
How do you plan to find the money to get to China?  Is your sister going 
to earn it through her emotional blackmail?"
     It was Kasumi's turn to be upset.  "Please do not speak of Nabiki 
in that tone.  She has only done what she needed to for the sake of our 
family."
     "Kasumi, I am not denying that the methods she used did not help 
your family to survive in the wake of your mother's death.  I am merely 
stating that they *were*, typically, emotional blackmail, threats, and 
gambling.  She enjoyed doing it, believe me.  I myself did business with 
her several times."
     "Did business with her?!  You two used to be good friends!"
     "Yes, we did.  That year was not a pleasant one.  My mother died, 
your mother died, my sister and father went insane.  Nabiki was over 
here, trying to seek reassurance, trying to rely on me to tell her 
everything was going to be fine.  But nothing was fine."
     Kasumi walked over to him, reaching to stop his hand as it ran 
along another spine.  "You believe she drove you over the edge, Tate-
chan?"  There was no anger in her voice now, just sorrow.
     He seemed to give her question much thought.  "No.  I blame no one 
but myself and my father for that.  However, I am telling you that I am 
not the only reason Nabiki and I grew apart.  She sought solace in me 
when her mother was dying, and I couldn't provide it.  Money could."
     The words stunned Kasumi, especially as she knew that there was 
some truth to them.  Perhaps this was another reason why Nabiki was so 
angry with her earlier.  Kasumi stole Kunou's companionship from her, 
and then was trying to get his money.  What did that leave Nabiki with?
     Tatewaki turned to Kasumi suddenly and kissed her.  She was 
startled by it for a moment, but then relaxed and enjoyed the feel of 
his lips on hers, his scent filling her with desire and need.  He pulled 
away far too soon, leaving her breathing heavily.
     "I will accompany you on this journey, though I believe it to be a 
foolhardy one.  I will not have you and your sisters walking into such a 
dangerous situation alone."
     Kasumi smiled, relieved.  More than his money, she wanted him to 
come with them.  She didn't relish the thought of over two weeks spent 
away from his presence, especially as she was still discovering what he 
was like.
     Tatewaki continued.  "I cannot imagine how your sister is going to 
come up with funds for the three of you to make a journey to the middle 
of China, except perhaps by mortgaging your home."
     There was nothing Kasumi could say to that.  It was true, that was 
exactly what Nabiki was going to do.
     Tatewaki sighed.  "Kasumi, did you come here in order to seduce me 
into funding this trip?"
     Kasumi looked down.  "That wasn't the only reason."
     "But it was a major one."
     "Yes.  I don't want to lose the house.  It's been in our family for 
generations.  It would destroy Father."
     Tatewaki sighed.  "Tell your sister that I will be coming, and will 
pay the way for the journey."
     Kasumi felt her entire body relax with relief.  He was going to 
help them, and he didn't seem to hold it against her.  "Thank you, Tate-
chan."
     Then a thought occurred to her.  "Um...Nabiki and I are not on the 
best of terms at the moment.  Perhaps if you told her yourself, it would 
have more meaning."  She cursed herself for her motives being obvious.
     They were obvious to Tatewaki as well, but he merely nodded.  "I 
will call our financiers and see about a transfer of funds, then I will 
go to tell Nabiki.  I feel I should tell you that this will make her 
even angrier.  I doubt she will initially accept my offer."
     "I know," Kasumi admitted.  "This is going to be very hard for her, 
but it is the best way.  She'll see that."
     He shrugged.  "If you say so."  He frowned, then walked over and 
kissed Kasumi lightly on the forehead.  "I do this because I love you, 
and I do not want to endanger yourself needlessly.  Please be aware of 
that.  I do not do it out of any need to find Ranma, or to repair any 
rifts with your sister.  Do you understand?"
     She nodded.  Dammit, would she ever be calm again?
     He stepped back, and she went to the door.
     "One more thing," he said, stopping her.  "My sister will be coming 
as well.  Aside from our need to be close to each other, she will not 
want to see you gaining an unfair advantage."  The words brought a smile 
to his face for a moment.
     Kasumi frowned.  She was eager to have Tatewaki join them on the 
journey, but the thought of Kodachi being there gave her chills.  "We 
don't have to tell her.  She doesn't even know that Ranma is missing," 
she said hopefully.
     Tatewaki chuckled.  "She has been monitoring our conversation from 
the moment you entered the house."  He went to a lamp and lifted the 
shade, revealing a small black device clipped to the side.  "These are 
everywhere.  I imagine by now she is outside, ready to tear into you for 
putting me in danger."
     Kasumi stared at the lamp, aghast.  She then turned the handle and 
quickly left the room, trying not to let Tatewaki see the blush that 
crept over her face.
     Kodachi confronted her before she'd even made it ten feet.
     "Do you feel proud of yourself?" she hissed.
     Kasumi bristled.  Everything about Tatewaki's sister rubbed her the 
wrong way, not least of which was the fact that they were lovers.  In 
many ways, Kodachi was much closer to her brother than Kasumi would ever 
be, and that thought made her heart fill with envy and jealousy, two 
emotions she had very little experience in dealing with.
     "Do you gain pleasure in listening to other people's private 
conversation?  I thought you were above that sort of thing now." she 
found herself sneering.
     Kodachi was unruffled.  "I use the listening devices to protect my 
brother.  At one point I may have taken pleasure in it, I admit.  But 
when your Ranma raped me, I suddenly had a noble change of heart."  The 
sarcasm in her voice was unrelenting.
     Kasumi tried to go around her and leave, but Kodachi was too quick.  
"It is odd," she continued, positioning herself so that she could move 
to wherever Kasumi positioned herself in a flash, "that you find my 
actions morally questionable, since you yourself abused the love my 
brother has for you in order to gain access to his money."
     Kasumi winced.  The image of Nabiki screaming at her came into her 
mind, and at that moment she found it hard to deny that Kodachi was 
wrong.
     "Will you be joining us, then?" she said.
     Kodachi laughed shortly.  "What a subtle change of subject," she 
said.  "Yes, of course I will be coming with you, if I am not able to 
talk my brother out of supporting this lunatic enterprise.  Besides the 
fact that I do not trust you in the least, I am still worried about my 
brother.  I do not believe that he has fully recovered from what your 
Ranma did to him."  This last was said more quietly, with Kodachi's 
voice taking on a serious tone.
     Kasumi frowned.  "What do you mean?"
     Kodachi scowled.  "Surely you do not believe that my brother is 
normally a logical, cool, calm individual who rarely even smiles, let 
alone laughs.  This is not the true Tatewaki Kunou any more than the 
deluded kendoist once was."
     The thought alarmed Kasumi.  She had believed that after Ranma had 
opened Tatewaki's mind to the grief that he had refused to acknowledge, 
that he would be 'back to normal', as it were.  "I...I hadn't 
thought..." she found herself saying.
     "That doesn't surprise me, frankly," Kodachi said.  "The idea that 
Ranma's changes are not all necessarily for the better never even 
occurred to you, did it?  After all, he gave you back your life, allowed 
you to live and love again.  How could what he did possibly be wrong?"
     "I'm *not* OK, dammit!" Kasumi shouted.  Something inside of her 
snapped, and she found herself backing Kodachi up slowly down the 
hallway.  "I'm scared, and confused, and I can't trust myself anymore!  
What makes you think that I'm OK?  That's why I need Ranma back, to help 
be get rid of these doubts!  I want to be able to use my own judgement 
without thinking that it's a slut talking, or the perfect mother and 
housewife!  I want Ranma to...to tell me who I am..."
     Kasumi stopped, and thumped a wall in frustration.
     "Who am I?" she asked quietly.
     Suddenly she felt a hand rise and take her chin.  She was amazed at 
how similar the gesture was to her brother's.
     "And yet you expect my brother to be totally confident with what he 
now is?"
     She lowered her hand, and moved aside, allowing Kasumi access to 
the corridor.  Kasumi composed herself, and began to leave.
     At the door, she heard the shout that she'd been preparing herself 
for.  "Kasumi!"
     She turned back to the young gymnast.  "Yes?"
     Kodachi grinned.  "I win this round."  Then she opened the door, 
and went into the library.
     Kasumi stared after her, then smiled briefly.
     "Yes, you do," she said.

***

     Nabiki growled as she drank her fourth glass of water of the day.  
Her throat felt like an arid desert, and it even hurt to talk.  She 
hoped this would pass quickly, or their little trip would be a 
nightmare.
     That is, assuming they made the trip.  Nabiki had mentioned her 
plan about mortgaging the dojo to Akane.  It had not gone over as well 
as she had planned.  Akane had been adamant that the dojo was one thing 
they would not sacrifice.  Despite this, when asked if she had a better 
plan to raise money, Akane didn't have any answers.
     It was all about honour.  Akane still saw their family as a noble 
line of martial artists, with a tradition to uphold.  For Nabiki, any 
hope of continuing their noble heritage had ended when Ranma arrived.  
She didn't hate him...hell, she *couldn't* hate him...but what he did 
couldn't be taken back.  None of them were virgins anymore, so marrying 
them off had gotten next to impossible.  Plus Nabiki was gay, so strike 
one there.  Akane seemed to be falling in love with Ranma, though Nabiki 
wasn't sure how much of that was obsession.  Strike two.  And as for her 
eldest sister...
     Nabiki growled, despite the fire that ran through her throat.  Her 
sister was now seeing the richest young man in the area, a man who had 
finally regained the sanity that had eluded him all these years.  A 
perfect catch.
     Someone who Nabiki had once considered her friend.
     Not that it had all been his fault.  Her mother had been dying, and 
Nabiki hadn't wanted to deal with it.  She was scared and unhappy, and 
turned to Kunou to comfort her.
     His own mother had died earlier that year.  She assumed this meant 
that he knew all about what was happening, and could tell her how to 
stop it.  But he couldn't.  She went over to his mansion every day, and 
watched as their father fled the premises, and then as his sister lost 
her mind.  
     And then her mother had died after all.  She couldn't stop it at 
all.  Kunou had been no help.  In tears, she had run to see him, wanting 
to shout at him, at his family, at the world.  And when she found 
him...he was carrying a wooden bokken, doing forms.  He greeted her 
curtly, as if she was a complete stranger.
     Their friendship died that day.  She'd come back home, locked 
herself in her room, and then torn it to shreds, using what little 
martial arts she had gleaned from her father.
     Then she needed to pay for its repair.  And bet two kids their 
allowances on the outcome of a fight.  It was a new beginning for her.  
She had a new friend.
     But now her friend had abandoned her.  Just as Kunou had.  She 
truly had no idea how to raise the money to finance this trip.  Not 
workable ideas.  Not ones she could trust.  Ranma had stripped that from 
her, shown her who she really was.
     She'd never grown up.  She was still the scared little girl, not 
understanding.
     A bell at the gate sounded.  Nabiki jerked up, despite her growing 
fatigue.  The idea of visitors had become a deadly fear of late, and 
even with Ranma gone there was always the danger that they would be 
found out, that this house of cards would come tumbling down around 
them.
     Looking outside, her fear lessened, but her apprehension did not.  
It was Kunou.  She was rather surprised to see him, she had presumed 
that Kasumi would still be sleeping with him in order to get some of his 
money.  Obviously he had no stamina.
     She coughed as she went to greet him, and realised that she must 
look like hell.  She certainly felt like it.
     Suddenly she really didn't feel like arguing.  She'd geared herself 
up for a fight, as soon as she knew what Kasumi was going to do, but it 
didn't matter anymore.  She had tried to do something to help Akane, and 
had failed.  Kasumi had won.  Even in money matters, she was pathetic 
now.
     She looked up at Kunou, and saw only pity in his eyes.  She 
imagined he was controlling his loathing, seeing her like this.  She 
couldn't take it, she just wanted to get out of here.
     He coughed.  "Nabiki Tendou, I - "
     She cut him off.  "You're going to help us get to China.  Fine.  
The money's where?"
     He paused.  She wondered if she'd been too curt, if he would 
rescind the offer now.  Instead he shook his head sadly.  The image made 
Nabiki feel even worse.  She had no effect on him anymore.  She used to 
be able to wrap him around her little finger, now she had to let her big 
sister go begging for his money.
     She couldn't even look at him, seeing that pitiful face he was 
giving her.  She didn't need his pity.  She turned her face to the 
ground, trying not to let shame colour her already flushed cheeks.
     Mercifully, he did not try to prolong the conversation.  "I've 
arranged for it to be deposited directly to your family's account.  I'll 
leave you to take care of how it is used."
     Nabiki nodded, and coughed again.  She needed another drink of 
water, and maybe a nap.
     "Fine.  Thank you."
     For a moment she thought he might say something else, but he merely 
bowed.  "Good day to you, Nabiki Tendou.  I hope you feel better soon."
     She returned the bow out of habit, and retreated to the house.  
Going to the kitchen, she quickly downed another glass of water.  It 
soothed her throat for a few seconds.
     Akane walked into the kitchen.  "Was Kunou just here?"
     Nabiki nodded.  "He's helping us to get to China."
     Akane nodded.  "Great.  The more the merrier."
     Puzzled, Nabiki stared at her sister.  Then she realised what Akane 
meant.  The Kunous would probably insist on coming as well.  After all, 
they certainly couldn't trust *Nabiki* with any of their money, no 
matter what Kunou might have said...
     "Nabiki?"
     She turned to find Kasumi staring at her with apparent concern.  
She hadn't even heard her get back.  Maybe she was hiding close by, 
watching Nabiki be humiliated by Kunou.
     Kasumi pressed her hand to Nabiki's face.  "Are you getting sick?  
You feel a little warm."
     Nabiki slapped the hand away, ignoring the hurt look on her 
sister's face.  "I'm fine, dammit!  It's just a sore throat."
     Kasumi sighed, and moved back down to the kitchen.  Nabiki looked 
after her, but did not move to stop her.
     "This sucks," she croaked.  Then she went upstairs to start phoning 
up airlines and arranging deals.

***

     Akane hesitated as she walked down the narrow path.  This was a lot 
more dangerous than asking Kunou for anything.  At least with Kunou 
there was love for her sister...or at least Akane hoped it was love.  
But Ryouga was an unknown factor.  None of the Tendous had seen him 
since his fight with Ranma, though he had assured them he wouldn't leave 
the city.  Indeed, tracking him down had been fairly easy, so it wasn't 
as if he was going out of his way to hide.
     Once again, Akane asked herself if this was really necessary.  
After all, she was a martial artist, and damn good too.  She'd been 
training with her father since she was old enough to walk.  Plus they 
now had the Kunous coming with them.  Akane was fully aware that Kunou 
was a much better kendoist than he let on in the fights they used to 
have, and his sister was, from what Kasumi had said, his equal in many 
ways.
     Yet here she was, trying to find Ryouga and convince him to come 
along with them on this journey, a journey to find Ranma Saotome, who 
Ryouga hated more than anyone else.  Why risk a confrontation?  Why ask 
him when it was most likely that he would laugh in her face and refuse?
     Because, she admitted to herself, they needed his powers.  If Ranma 
was kidnapped by undesirables, or if they ran into someone else with 
mind-control powers like his, then martial arts wouldn't be able to help 
them.  Ryouga would be an extra layer of protection, and seemed 
honourable enough to help them regardless of whether it was Ranma's life 
in danger.
     At least that was what she was hoping.
     He was right where she had been told he was staying, down near the 
river on the edge of the park.  He had a small fire going and seemed to 
be staring off into space.  Akane considered sneaking up on him, but 
decided that he might still be paranoid.  Instead, she approached him 
openly, moving to the opposite side of the fire.
     Ryouga nodded.  "Ranma's missing," he said.
     Akane blinked.  This was a surprise.  She began to wonder if he had 
learned of it through sources, or had merely plucked the information 
from her mind.  Had he improved his skills since the fight a few days 
ago?  Even Ranma wasn't able to read her mind without touching her.
     He smiled, noting her nervous expression.  "I don't have the same 
amount of power he does, but I can tell that he's not in the city.  It's 
like a...a void in the back of my mind."  He scowled.  "I was hoping 
that I would be able to break his controls now, but no such luck.  He 
still owns me, just like he owns you."
     Akane sighed.  "Ryouga, Ranma doesn't own any of us."
     "That's what he told you to say," Ryouga responded.
     Giving up for the moment, Akane sat down next to him.  "Ryouga, we 
think we know where he could be.  There was a clue in his backpack...a 
village he'd been to right after he was at Jusenkyou.  They seemed to 
really want him to stay..."
     Ryouga kept his stolid expression.  "You're going after him.  
You're going to go to *China* to try and find him, assuming he's even 
there?"
     She could hear the disapproval in his tone.  "What would you have 
us do?  We need Ranma.  More than you or the Kunous do.  He's the most 
important thing in our lives right now, and even if you do say that he's 
making us think like that, it doesn't make it less true!  If he doesn't 
come back..."  Her voice dropped to a whisper.  "I can't imagine how I 
could go on."
     Ryouga laid a hand on her shoulder.  She hadn't realised how much 
she'd missed being touched until just then, and had to control her 
reaction.  It didn't help that Ryouga was quite handsome, and was 
speaking to her in a deep, calmly assured voice.
     "In that case, you do what anyone does if they lose someone close 
to them.  You move on.  I personally wouldn't grieve for Ranma, but if 
that's what you need to do, then that's fine.  As long as it helps you 
get over him.  But going on a wild-goose chase that not only endangers 
you and your sisters as well...Akane, can you justify that?  My God, 
even Ranma would be telling you not to do this."
     Akane was breathing heavily now, reacting to Ryouga's presence near 
her.  Since Ranma's arrival, she'd found herself in a hypertensive state 
of arousal.  She'd assumed that it was because of her desire for Ranma 
himself, but it was becoming apparent that Ryouga was just as intriguing 
to her.  She shuddered, trying to control her hormones and think 
clearly.
     "You're right, he would.  Ranma would never want me to do this."  
She could feel him sag in relief, and hated what she was going to say 
next.  "It's one of the things that's so wonderful about him.  He's 
always thinking of us first, never of himself."
     She took Ryouga's hands in hers, and stared into his hurt 
expression.  "I know you think he was trying to hurt you, but he wasn't.  
He was protecting us.  He knows what he's done, and is trying his best 
to fix things.  And most importantly, he loves me.  I can see it in his 
eyes.  Maybe my brain can lie to me and tell me things I don't really 
mean...but Ranma's eyes aren't lying.  He loves me, even when he's 
trying not to."
     She moved closer, pulling her body to him.  She could feel the heat 
of his body against hers.  Now his breath was beginning to match her 
speed, and she knew he would be getting aroused.
     "I'm going to get him, Ryouga.  If he's not in China, then I'll 
keep looking till I find him.  Because I know that he wouldn't have just 
left us.  My sisters know that too.  But I also know that it's 
dangerous.  That's why I came to ask you to come with us.  I know you 
don't like Ranma, Ryouga, but I don't think that matters.  I like you.  
I trust you."
     She leaned in, almost touching her lips to his.  "Do you like me, 
Ryouga?  Will you help me?  Help my sisters?"
     It took all of her willpower not to draw him into a kiss.  She 
needed it, needed to feel love so desperately, but it was too soon.  She 
needed Ryouga to think of himself as the noble knight, protecting 
damsels in distress.  She couldn't give in to her desires.
     His pupils were almost dilating.  She was proud of herself for 
being able to have such an effect on a man.  Finally he took a deep 
breath and nodded.
     "Not for him.  You understand that."  His voice was still hoarse-
sounding.
     She nodded, giving him a sweet smile.  "I know.  I don't ask you to 
like him, Ryouga.  But please help us.  We need you."  She didn't even 
need to add that she personally needed him.  It was understood.
     He sighed, and nodded again.  "When do we leave?"
     She kissed him on the cheek.  A completely safe kiss, with no 
erotic overtones.  At the same time, it was a promise, a promise that 
later they would explore what had started this night.  "I'm hoping 
tomorrow.  The next day at the latest.  Nabiki's making the 
arrangements."
     "I'll be ready.  Will Kasumi's lover be coming too?"
     Akane nodded.  "He will.  And his sister.  She was...Ranma was 
protecting me."  She looked down at the ground, suddenly uncomfortable.
     Ryouga's eyes narrowed.  "He raped her as well."
     The silence that followed was as good an answer to him as any.
     He lay back, staring at the sky.  "You say that I hate Ranma 
without knowing what it means, Akane.  What he did to you and your 
sisters...it's worse than what he did to me.  I can still see, but you 
can't.  You can't see what he is."
     "Ryouga, stop."  She felt her chest tightening.  It reminded her of 
when Ranma would berate himself, calling himself a monster.  She just 
wanted to nuzzle herself next to his body, assure him somehow that it 
wasn't true.  But the words kept coming anyway.
     "I can see it, even though I can't stop it.  I can't stop him.  I 
tried, tried to go to the authorities, tell them what was happening.  It 
made me sick to think about it.  I got about halfway there before I 
passed out."
     Akane stared at Ryouga in horror.  He had tried to tell the police 
about Ranma?  My God, what if he had succeeded?  She sighed in relief 
that nothing had come of it, trying to hide it from Ryouga.  She knew 
he wouldn't see it that way.
     "You love him, Akane.  In fact, I almost believe you might have 
loved him without his powers.  And that means I can never forgive him 
for what he did to you."
     She couldn't take it anymore.  She fled from Ryouga's campsite, 
tears streaming down her face.  She felt shamed at what she had done.  
Ryouga didn't want to come with them, and yet she had practically 
seduced him into agreeing.  She hated herself.
     Leaning up against a tree, she let the sobs escape her, not keeping 
them locked up any longer.  She hoped Nabiki was able to get them onto a 
flight to China tomorrow.  She couldn't go on like this.
     "Ranma," she whispered.  "I need you.  I need you to tell me that 
what I'm doing is right.  Please."

***

     They met the next morning.  Nabiki had been able to get them an 
11am flight out of Japan.  Ryouga had been waiting by the gate when they 
had come out of the house.  For all Akane knew he had been standing 
there since the night before.
     She hoped that all the loose ends had been taken care of.  Nabiki 
had spoken with the vice-principal, explaining that an eccentric 
relative of theirs had died in China, and was insisting that the entire 
family attend the funeral.  Kunou was still on sick leave, of course, 
and Kodachi curtly explained that her school "would be perfectly happy 
if she never showed up again".
     They did not make an impressive sight, standing by the Tendou Dojo 
with their luggage.  Nabiki looked a mess, having been up all night 
arranging details.  She wasn't speaking to anyone.  Kasumi and Kodachi 
were on either side of Kunou, doing their best to ingratiate themselves 
and score points over the other.  Akane herself was feeling more unsure 
than ever.  Who was she to put her friends in danger like this?  All 
over some flimsy diary in Ranma's pack that could easily have been 
forged.  This was insane.
     She thought once more about what she would do if Ranma never came 
back.
     Straightening up, she lifted her suitcase.  "Are we ready?"
     The others nodded, Kodachi drawing a jaundiced eye over their 
little group.  "Ranma's little one-of-a-kind dysfunctional family.  Off 
to rescue him from fiendish Chinese and take him back to those who have 
been brainwashed to love him so that he can rape more people in order to 
gain the power to undo his past misdeeds.  I think, under those 
circumstances, that we're as ready as we could ever be."
     No one knew what to say to that.  Akane broke the uncomfortable 
silence by moving towards the train that would take them to the airport.  
The others fell into step behind her.  Family or no, they were on their 
way.

***

     Tatewaki cast a wary eye at the camping gear spread out along the 
ground.  This was their first night 'roughing it' after two days in 
hotels, and Akane had decided to purchase camping gear, with 6 tents and 
a gas stove.  Tatewaki regarded the stove as being rather useless; fires 
were easy to make and were much better at keeping away unwanted guests, 
but the tents were proving to be problematic in a different way.
     Both Kasumi and Kodachi had stated that only five tents would be 
needed, as they would be staying with him.  They then proceeded to have 
an argument about which one of them would have to sleep alone.  As it 
wore on, Tatewaki found himself drift over to Nabiki, who was arguing 
with the saleswoman.
     "Get six tents."
     "Already done," she added, not looking at him.
     He regarded her for a moment before moving back to the argument.  
He knew better than to attempt any type of reconciliation with Nabiki at 
the moment, when both of them were still suffering from Ranma's mental 
controls.  That did not, however, mean that it did not hurt when she 
ignored him.  He remembered their friendship as children, and the deaths 
and insanity that had driven them apart.  Perhaps there was too much 
emotional baggage between them to worry about becoming friends again.
     Kasumi and Kodachi had remained silent till they arrived at the 
small clearing where they would spend the evening, but now both women 
approached him.
     "Tate-chan, where are you staying tonight?"
     "Brother dear, can you resolve a small point between us?"
     To his credit, he stiffened only slightly.  He knew that it might 
come down to this.  Ever since his sister had returned, the two of them 
had played this little game, trying to make him choose between them.  As 
if love was a finite thing, as if loving one person meant giving less 
love to another.  Unfortunately, telling them that might be seen as 
vacillating, in which case he would have both of them angry with him.
     He sighed and turned to face them.  "What is the problem?"
     Both women gave him a hard look.  "You know what the problem is, 
brother dear," his sister replied caustically.  "Both of us wish to stay 
with you in your tent for the coming days.  Obviously we cannot both do 
so.  You must choose who will sleep in your bed."
     Kasumi added, "Please, Tate-chan.  We tried to resolve this by 
ourselves, but nothing came out of it."  She threw a hard glare at 
Kodachi, who turned her head sharply.  "Who do *you* want to stay with 
you?  We'll abide by your decision."
     Why did they have to do this to him?  He felt himself getting 
tenser, withdrawing more into himself.  He didn't want to choose.  He 
loved both of them.  He considered saying they could all stay in the 
same tent, but that would *not* be a good idea.
     Finally he spoke.  "Since the two of you can't seem to resolve 
anything, we'll take turns.  One of you can stay in my tent the first 
night, the other the next night.  Hopefully you can determine who will 
go first without my having to decide that.  But I refuse to be used as a 
pawn in your game of one-upsmanship."
     Kasumi interrupted.  'That's not what we were trying to -- "
     He cut her off.  "Yes it is.  Both of you only seem to care about 
scoring points over the other these days.  If this were a case of both 
of you wanting to be with me, I could understand.  But it has nothing to 
do with me."
     And with that, he moved towards the forest nearby, leaving them 
staring at him.  His head was starting to hurt.  He began to wonder if 
he would be doing this for the rest of his life, moderating between the 
two women.  The thought bothered him.  They were both strong 
personalities, but not totally incompatible.  They could get along very 
well if they tried, even become friends.
     If only he didn't stand in the way.
     Tatewaki stared at the trees in front of him.  For the first time 
in many days, he removed his bokken and began to practice with it.

***

     Quietly, two young women watched him, noting the intense 
concentration he brought to the exercises.
     "You were right, he is getting worse," one of them said.
     "I know my brother very well," the other responded.  "This is 
bothering him, and he's starting to backslide into old habits.  It's 
easier than you'd think.  Hopefully he won't start chopping up the 
trees."
     "You stay with him tonight, then.  But I'll be watching."
     "You did seem to enjoy walking in on us.  Is it something you plan 
on repeating?  Is it some sort of complex?"
     "That's not what I meant."
     "Then what did you mean?"
     "I get him tomorrow night, of course."
     "Of course."

***

     That night, Tatewaki lay in the sleeping bag, staring at the canvas 
above him.  His sister seemed to be content to let him think at the 
moment, and he was taking advantage of it.  It was actually quite 
considerate of her.  He was still getting used to having Kodachi like 
this, not seeing the laughing jackal she put forth to the world.  Truth 
be told, he was still getting used to his own new mindset.
     He turned over onto his side, and gazed at his sister's face.  She 
was watching him as well.  Her attractive eyes were peaceful, not 
shrouded in anger or panicked with fear.  It was like this, when she was 
relaxed and calm, that he found her most attractive.
     She apparently sensed his change in mood, and stirred, reaching 
over to caress his shoulder.  "Are you feeling better?"
     "Yes, I think I am," he said.  The sleeping bag began to feel 
restrictive, and he quickly slipped out of it.  Still, he wasn't ready 
to initiate anything with his sister, so they lay there for a few 
minutes, feeling the heat from each other's body.  Tatewaki was finding 
this even more arousing than caressing her would have been.  The 
anticipation of it all, seeing her laying next to him languidly, 
shifting her legs or adjusting her pyjama-top shirt.  He could see that 
he was having an effect on her as well, as he could hear her breath 
coming faster.
     Suddenly Kodachi was rolling over and straddling him, her thighs 
pressing against his hips, pinning him to the ground.  She leaned down 
and gave him a fierce kiss, her tongue entwining with his own.  He 
reached up and drew her to him, unable to roll over but still pressing 
their bodies together, his member growing hard against her stomach.  He 
growled, and began to try harder to turn her over so that he could get 
the upper hand.
     Pulling back, Kodachi held up a hand, startling him.  He stopped, 
his breath coming in quick pants.  She was just as aroused, if not more 
so, but was still stopping, holding her arms around her chest.
     "Not like this.  Not this time.  It's always been desperate, and 
quick, and that's wonderful, but...I don't want to feel as if we're 
hiding something.  This doesn't have to be fast.  We're not..." she 
paused, unsure how to express what she was feeling.
     Tatewaki sat up, hugging her.  There was no lust in the movement, 
just comfort.  "Shhh," he whispered.  "It's all right, Kodachi.  I know 
what you mean."
     Kodachi was crying quietly.  It was a far cry from the calm, 
assured woman he's seen a few minutes ago, or the seductive vision 
hovering above him after that.  This was his sister, feeling alone and 
vulnerable.
     She looked up at him, trying to smile.  "Now you're feeling better, 
and I fall apart.  We've got to co-ordinate this better."  She was 
shaking now.  "I try to act so calm and confident, trying to seduce you, 
and inside I just feel empty and afraid."
     "When have I ever given you cause to be afraid?  When have I ever 
said that I would leave you, or abandon you?"  Tatewaki tried to sound 
more reassuring than he felt.  The calm, relaxed Kodachi might arouse 
him, but this one was more familiar.  This was someone he had dealt with 
for years, when both of them were in their lucid moments.
     "I'm not afraid you'll abandon me.  I'm afraid it won't be enough.  
That even with your love, I'll still get worse.  Tatewaki, I don't want 
to go back to what I was!  I keep thinking I'm better, that I'm in 
control, and then I get angry, or mad, or scared..."  She took a 
shuddering breath, and her voice could barely be heard.  "I don't want 
to feel anything anymore.  I just want to be numb."
     Tatewaki felt himself grow cold.  This was getting dangerous.  He 
had to choose his words very carefully, or he might hurt his sister in a 
way that he couldn't repair.
     He took a deep breath.  "Then you'd never feel alone, or scared, or 
angry anymore."
     "Yes," she said quietly.  Her head dropped to his chest, and he 
could feel her tears on his skin.
     "And you'd never be able to love me."
     Kodachi suddenly sat up, startled at his simple pronouncement.  
This was a mistake, as her head smashed into Tatewaki's chin, making him 
bite his tongue and fall back.
     "Oh my god, Tatewaki, are you all right?  I'm sorry, I didn't mean 
to do that, you were right, I'd never stop loving you, I can't believe 
how stupid I was to think that, do you need a towel or something, oh my 
god, you're bleeding -- "
     He held out a hand to stop her.  "I'm alright, he said thickly.  He 
could tell that he'd really bitten his tongue nastily, but it wasn't 
something that required stitches or medical treatment.
     Kodachi stopped, suddenly calm again, as if a switch had been 
thrown inside her.  "All right.  Let me get you a tissue, though."
     He stared after her, aware that she had shifted moods once more.  
She returned with tissue, but there was a smile on her face.  A smile 
that looked very suspicious.
     "Since it's my fault you got hurt, I should be the one to help 
you."  She snuggled up to him, and he felt himself growing hard once 
more.
     Then, to his surprise, she kissed him.  It was painful for a 
moment, as her tongue made contact with the wound he'd just received, 
but then he forgot about the pain and lost himself in his sister's 
touch.  She moaned and leaned in further, caressing the back of his 
neck.
     They broke apart, and he could see a trace of blood on her mouth.  
For some reason, the image inflamed his passions even more, and he moved 
to remove the flannel pajama top she wore.
     "It's good to see you're feeling better," she smiled.  Then she 
grasped his wrist.  "Remember what I told you," she said, her voice more 
serious.  "It doesn't have to be quick."
     He nodded, his fingers tracing the outlines of her face.  He wiped 
the traces of blood from the corner of her mouth.  "I'll try and be 
slow..."
     She sighed.  "Tatewaki..."
     He continued, his hand moving from her lips down to the hollow of 
her neck, leaving a trail of wetness.  "Slow...and soothing...and 
careful.  I wouldn't want to miss anything."
     He could see Kodachi's eyes flutter, and she quickly moved her own 
hands to his face.  "Let's search together..."  She licked a pinkie, 
then moved it into his mouth, slightly grazing his teeth.
     They continued to trace the outline of each other's faces, getting 
closer and closer together, until finally their lips met again.  They 
took their time, tracing outlines in each other's mouths, then Kodachi 
moved her lips down to Tatewaki's neck.  She settled on his vein, 
feeling the blood pulse through his neck.  It got quicker as she kissed 
it, which made her start to feel even more aroused.  The fact that she 
was able to inspire such feelings in her brother made her feel so happy.
     Tatewaki sighed, and slowly traced his hands down her shoulders.  
She understood what he wanted to do and so straightened up, letting him 
slide her pajama top off of her arms and to the floor.  She then did the 
same with his top, letting it fall to the ground next to hers, the 
sleeves touching each other.
     Kissing again, their hands began to roam over each other's body.  
Tatewaki moved down to Kodachi's breasts, avoiding direct contact.  
Instead he would lightly brush the underside, or flick past her hardened 
nipple for a split second.  He enjoyed the gasps and cries that emerged 
from her when he did this, and looked up to see her panting, her eyes 
gently closed.
     "Tatewaki, please...I need..."  She couldn't complete the thought, 
as he had moved down to her left breast, quickly teasing the nipple 
again with his tongue.  He moved to the other side, finally giving in to 
her pleas and caressing her chest fully, cupping one in his hand as he 
sucked gently at her aureole.
     His rod was straining against the light cotton of his pajama 
bottoms, and he knew that despite their assurances to each other, he 
would need relief soon.  Suddenly it was his turn to gasp as Kodachi's 
hand strayed down to caress his member, running her fingers lightly 
along its length.
     "Turnabout is fair play," she whispered breathlessly.  She pulled 
at the drawstring, letting his bottoms flutter to the ground and 
revealing his erect penis.  It twitched slightly as she brushed against 
it again, running a finger along the tip.
     "Kodachi dear," Kunou moaned, "if you want this to go slowly that's 
not going to be a very good idea..."
     "Shush, Tatewaki.  My needs now."  She was giggling as she bent 
down to him.  He groaned and made a mental note to avoid teasing his 
sister in the future.
     She began to stroke him, running her hand up and down his rod, just 
enough to keep him on edge.   Just as he felt himself reaching a point 
of no return, she let him relax, backing up to remove the rest of her 
clothing.
     He lay back, trying to regain some measure of control.  It was 
difficult to do while his sister was posing for him.  She really was a 
beautiful woman, her body toned from years of gymnastics and athletics, 
let her breasts still large enough to make any man turn his head.  But 
there wasn't any other man here with her now, just him.
     For a moment, he was content to simply let his gaze roam over 
Kodachi.  But eventually the burning need he felt for her reasserted 
itself, and he rose back to his knees, letting his erectness speak for 
itself as it jutted towards her.
     He was pleased to see that he was not the only one desperately 
trying to keep control.  Kodachi was staring at his rod with a hungry 
look, and there was a patch of dampness glistening between her legs.  
She met his equally hungry gaze.
     "Slowly?" she asked.
     "Slowly," he repeated.
     Then they came together so hard he was almost bruised, kissing, 
touching, gasping.  He lay back onto the sleeping bag, pulling her down 
towards him roughly.  She pulled back, arranging herself so that her 
entrance was poised over his hard member, then lowered herself onto him.  
For a moment the two remained still, feeling his penis deep inside her 
body.  Then she slowly began to move, trying to pull him further inside 
her.
     Tatewaki began to move against her in counterpoint to her thrusts, 
and soon they were bucking against each other, Kodachi's small cries 
mixing with Kunou's growing moans.  Finally Kodachi froze in mid-air, 
feeling the orgasm rip through her body.  She tightened her vaginal 
muscles, trying to squeeze every drop of pleasure from her brother's 
member.  That was too much for Tatewaki to handle, and he felt himself 
empty into her, pulsing again and again as he came.
     With a final cry, Kodachi collapsed against him, driving him back 
onto the sleeping bag.  They lay there for a moment, panting and 
recovering from their respective climaxes.
     Kodachi was the first to speak.  "That didn't quite work out as we 
planned..."
     Tatewaki tried to get the energy to speak, especially as Kodachi 
was pressed heavily against his chest.  "Well, at least we tried to take 
it slowly..."
     She grinned, and pressed her finger to his lips.  She had a good 
view of the front of the tent, and noticed that it was slightly 
unzipped.  "Well, we'll just have to keep trying till we get it right."  
There was a rustling sound from outside, and she chuckled inwardly.
     A few moments later, the pair fell asleep, holding each other's 
bodies tightly.

***

     Nabiki felt as though she was looking at the world through a long 
hollow tube.  She was staring at the fire that lay in the middle of the 
campsite, watching it spark and burn.  It seemed to fill her entire 
field of vision, with everything else blotted out by this stupid cold 
that she'd caught.
     Unfortunately, the symptoms didn't seem to include hearing loss.  
The sounds coming from Kunou's tent were getting harder and harder to 
ignore, as he and his sister drove themselves towards climax.
     At least she was trying to ignore it, though.  Nabiki's one foray 
from the comforts of the fire that evening had been to look in on her 
sister, who seemed determined to watch Kunou and his sister have sex.  
After an initial startled jump, Kasumi started giving five or six 
reason why she was doing this, none of them sounding very convincing.  
Nabiki had shrugged, assuming that voyeurism was part of her sister's 
new personality that she'd have to deal with, just like everything else, 
and moved back to the fire.
     She considered going to her tent and trying to sleep, but she 
wasn't really that tired, and the tent was too cold.  China was feeling 
much colder than Japan had, and she was wrapping herself in more layers 
every day.
     Suddenly she realised that Akane was standing next to her, and had 
apparently been speaking for some time.
     "I'm sorry, Akane, what did you say?" she said, trying to sound as 
curt as possible.  She didn't need her sister's fanaticism right now.
     "I asked how you were feeling.  Kasumi says that you might have a 
cold."
     "I'm fine," Nabiki lied.  She didn't really feel like having her 
sisters fawning all over her in fake sympathy, especially when she was 
feeling this badly.
     Akane looked ready to give up for a moment, but then her face got 
that stubborn look.  Nabiki hated that look.  It always made Nabiki 
uncomfortable.
     "I was amazed we got this far so easily," Akane went on, apparently 
trying to start up idle conversation.  "You managed to get us through 
customs quickly, that was really great.  I'm glad you decided to come."
     Nabiki finally turned to Akane, a cold look on her face.  "With the 
amount of money that the Kunous graciously loaned us, a trained monkey 
could have gotten through that customs."
     Akane sighed.  "Fine.  Get better."  And with that, she made her 
way back to her own tent.
     Another twinge of guilt ran through Nabiki, but she ignored it.  
*At least she isn't going off to Hibiki's tent to get laid.  I don't 
know if I could take that.*
     She stared at the fire again.  She wondered if she concentrated 
hard enough, she could shut out the entire world.

***

     "We should stop here for the evening," Ryouga said.  Since he had 
the most experience with camping because of his former directional 
problem, he was playing the role of guide.
     "But we're almost there!" Akane cried.  If Ranma's map was 
accurate, they had only a few hours to go to get to the village where 
she thought Ranma was.  She didn't want to stop now, this far from her 
goal.
     "Akane, for god's sake, we can wait another day!"  Nabiki was 
leaning heavily on a tree, and her face looked very flushed.  Akane 
realised how exhausted her older sister really was.  She had been hiding 
it over the course of the day, but it was really starting to show now.
     Ryouga went over to her, touching her shoulder lightly.  "It'll be 
no good if we find out we need to fight and we're totally exhausted.  If 
we camp here, we'll be fresh and can get to the village the next 
morning.  It's not just Nabiki, all of us are tired."
     Akane looked down, suddenly feeling ashamed of herself.  "I'm 
sorry, you're right.  We should stop here."
     Kunou set his pack down.  "I'll get a fire started as soon as 
possible."
     As everyone else put their things down and prepared to set up camp, 
Akane looked back over at Nabiki, still leaning against the tree with 
her eyes closed.
     "She's been hiding this from us," she murmured to herself.
     "She seems to be rather good at that," said a voice from behind 
her.  Akane jumped, then remembered that Ryouga was still there.  She 
looked at his face, but he seemed perfectly serious.
     She sighed.  "She's always tried to hide her feelings.  I thought 
that once we got closer...once she was able to open up..."
     "But she didn't open up," Ryouga said firmly.  "Ranma opened her up 
instead.  Never forget that, Akane.  You may love him, but never forget 
what he did to you and your sisters."
     Akane looked up at Ryouga's face, expecting to see anger in it, but 
Ryouga seemed to solely be concentrating on her.  She felt the blood 
rushing to her head.
     "Ranma keeps telling me that.  That I should remember the horrible 
things he's done.  I think he wants me to hate him."
     Ryouga seemed to consider this seriously.  "I don't think it's as 
simple as that.  I think he wants your love very much, but can never be 
sure if it's trustworthy.  He feels that anything you say to him could 
be his power talking, instead of you."
     As he said this, Ryouga began to unpack, getting out two of the 
tents.  He seemed to be thoroughly involved in setting them up, and 
Akane felt a need to prod him to speak further.
     "Can it?  I mean...you have similar powers.  Do you think that they 
could alter people's opinions that much?  Make them feel love when they don't?"
     Akane wasn't expecting the response her question received.  Ryouga 
stood up quickly, dropping the tent poles to the ground.  "Excuse me, I 
forgot to scout the area for wild animals.  I'll be back later."
     As he ran off, Akane shouted after him.  "But Kodachi's doing 
that!"
     She cursed herself and started to put up the tent herself.  *I 
shouldn't have asked him that...he must hate his powers as much as Ranma 
does.*
     She looked back at the expanse of forest Ryouga had disappeared 
into.
     *What should I do?* she thought.

***

     There were times when Ryouga actually wished that the mental powers 
he'd acquired were stronger.  Perhaps then he'd be able to understand 
things better.  For all the abilities he now possessed, he still had no 
real idea of how a person's mind worked.
     He lay on his sleeping bag and thought about what Akane had asked 
him earlier that evening.  It was something he'd thought about almost 
constantly since he and Ranma had fought.  What were the extent of his 
powers?  And of Ranma's?  Could Ryouga eventually build up him mental 
commands enough to defeat Ranma?  If he did, would he be able to free 
the others?
     Too many questions and no answers forthcoming.  To find out, he'd 
have to use his power on someone else.  He swore he would never do that.  
He'd seen what it could do if he ever lost control.
     "Ryouga?"
     He looked up and felt his greeting catch in his throat.  Akane was 
leaning into his tent, wearing only her pajamas.  Even those were 
unbuttoned at the top, her breasts apparently trying to re-enact a scene 
from The Great Escape.  The effect was to make her look incredibly 
seductive, and Ryouga felt himself growing aroused immediately.
     He finally gained the ability to speak.  "A--Akane.  Do you need 
something?"
     She apparently seemed to notice her effect on him, but instead of 
blushing as he had expected she smiled and came inside the tent.
     "I was thinking about what I asked you a few hours ago, and why you 
reacted the way you did..."
     "Oh."  The apprehension that had briefly vanished upon seeing 
Akane's body returned full force.  He turned away from her, trying to 
hide his face.  "I can't answer your questions, Akane.  I don't know.  
I...as much as I hate to say it, I hope your feelings for Ranma are 
true.  That you do love him, at least in some way.  Because..."  Ryouga 
stopped as he felt his voice catch.
     Akane knelt down next to him.  "Ryouga?"
     Tears were forming in his eyes.  "Because I could never force 
someone to love me.  If it's true that the power is uncontrollable, and 
that your feelings aren't real...no one can ever love me."
     He shuddered.  "My entire life has been spent alone.  I've only 
seen my parents a few times...they get lost too.  I can find my way now, 
but I have no way of knowing where they are.  I've never had any 
friends...and now that I can actually settle down and make a life, I 
have to constantly guard myself.  I could never live with myself if I 
gave into my emotions and...and a woman I cared about suffered because 
of it."
     He stopped speaking finally, letting the tears fall down his 
cheeks.  The thought of loneliness, always his greatest fear, now lay 
before him like a chasm.  And he had to be lonely.  He had no choice.  
No choice at all.
     He felt a hand touching his cheek, brushing the tears away.  He 
could feel her now, leaning against him, her breath hot on his neck.  
The hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
     "How do you know?" she whispered.
     "I don't," he replied.  "But I can't risk taking the chance.  I 
can't risk hurting anyone."
     "You could with me."
     Ryouga stopped dead for a moment, then turned to look at her.  She 
looked completely serious.  "What?"
     "It's not as if you'd be doing any damage.  Ranma's controls are 
already in my mind, and he has stronger powers than you do.  If 
anything...happened, it wouldn't do any damage.  You could make love to 
me, and see if it's possible.  See if you can control yourself."  Her 
face now held an added emotion in it, a desperate yearning.  Ryouga 
suddenly knew how much she wanted this to happen.  How much she needed 
to be satisfied.  His own growing arousal warred with his morals.
     "No...you already love Ranma.  It wouldn't mean anything to you."
     Akane blushed.  "It doesn't, really.  I do love Ranma.  If he were 
here, he'd be the one I'd be making love to.  But that's not what you 
want.  We don't want this to be about love.  This is so that you can 
maybe love someone else someday.  It's about whether you can control 
your mental powers when you make love to someone."
     Ryouga stared at her.  "I don't know if I want to do this.  I 
wouldn't feel...right about it."  He could feel himself losing his 
inhibitions, though.  Akane was so pretty, and maybe she was right.  
Maybe this was a chance that he could take.  If it worked, and they were 
able to make love without him trying to rape her or control her 
thoughts...he might be able to live with this curse.  And love someone 
else.
     Akane leaned in closer to him.  He felt the swell of her breasts 
against her back, her nipples hard against him.  She was very aroused.  
He wasn't forcing her at all.  She wanted this.  "Please, Ryouga."
     He asked one more question.  "Why do you want to do this?"
     She lifted herself over him, straddling herself across his lap so 
that her face was right in front of him.  Her breath was coming in short 
gasps now.
     "Do you need to ask?"
     He didn't, and felt the last of his resolve crumble.  Slowly he 
reached up to her face, drawing it closer.  "Akane?"
     "Yes?"
     "If I hurt you, do you forgive me?  Tell me now, before we start.  
I...I need to know."
     She smiled, her eyes glistening.  "I forgive you, Ryouga.  You're a 
wonderful person.  You would never deliberately hurt me."
     That seemed to be the only thing keeping them apart.  They kissed 
with a ferocious passion, Ryouga putting all the pent-up emotion he'd 
built up since his curse into one avalanche of feeling.  Akane moaned 
into his mouth, and pressed her body tightly against his.
     "Ryouga," she murmured.  "I can feel you...I can feel you inside my 
head..."
     For a moment he froze up, feeling cold terror in his chest.  But 
she reached out and prevented him from pulling away.  "No, wait...you 
aren't trying to hurt me...I can just feel your feelings...I can feel 
how much you want this...want me..."
     As she said this, her hands roamed down his body, tearing at the 
flimsy pyjamas he wore.  He quickly moved his hands to her own, pulling 
the top off to expose the breasts that had tantalised him so much 
earlier.
     He turned his focus inward, trying to keep in touch with what his 
mind was doing, make sure he didn't overextend himself with his powers.  
But all he felt was Akane's pleasure, her desperate need to be 
fulfilled.  Her libido was a tangible force in her mind, both due to 
Ranma's controls and her own awakening sexuality.  Ranma had uncapped 
her passions, and she had no desire to put the lid back on them yet.
     He was vaguely aware that they were both naked now, that Akane was 
running her mouth down his chest with quick kisses, that he had his 
hands caressing her bottom, running along her shapely curves.  But all 
this paled in comparison to what was happening within their heads.  He 
could feel every touch of his fingers on her body...could sense her 
lubrication as she grew more excited...could feel the muscles tighten as 
he drew his hand back up towards her breasts.
     He decided to become bolder, sending his thoughts further into her 
mind...his own arousal, the feeling of her hands stroking his hard 
shaft, driving him towards a growing need for release.  He held back a 
bit, wanting to wait a little more, until they had both experienced as 
much as they could.
     And now he was entering her, feeling her sheath clench around his 
hardness, making him almost lose control.  But he held himself, and 
began to thrust into her, hard and fast.  There was no room for 
preliminaries.  The contact between each other's minds had driven their 
passions further than Ryouga had ever known before.  He felt a small arc 
of pleasure wash over him, and realised that Akane had just had a small 
orgasm.
     The outside world was lost to them.  All that there was was 
pleasure, mixing together.  Ryouga felt memories of Ranma making love to 
Akane, that first night in the furo.  Akane felt memories of Ryouga, 
experimenting with his powers and bringing himself to orgasm as a man 
and a woman.
     Then there was a wash of sounds, colours, and emotions as their 
orgasms overtook them.  Akane cried out in ecstasy, and Ryouga screamed, 
shooting his seed deep within her.  For a few moments, they rode the 
wave of aftershock, trying to squeeze every last bit of pleasure out the 
act before they finally collapsed down onto the ground, falling 
unconscious.
     Ryouga awoke an indeterminate time later to find Akane sitting next 
to him.  Her pajamas were back on and she seemed to have cleaned herself 
up.
     She smiled at him warmly.  "It worked, Ryouga.  I can't feel any 
presence of you in my mind at all, just Ranma.  Can you feel any of me?"
     Ryouga examined his own mind.  His defences appeared to have been 
sufficient.  He was able to use his powers to enhance their lovemaking 
without forcing it on her in any way.
     However, it did seem that he wouldn't be able to shut his mind away 
entirely.  Their lovemaking had definitely been both a physical and 
mental experience.  That thought did not appeal to him.
     Akane reached out to touch his cheek.  "Ryouga, you were a 
wonderful lover.  And if you ever find a woman who can love you back, 
with all of your faults, it will be a magical relationship."  Her voice 
was starting to crack, and Ryouga noticed that she had tears in her 
eyes.  "It'll be just like mine," she whispered.
     Then she collapsed, her face pressed against his chest, crying 
great heaving sobs.  "Oh, God, I miss him so much!  Ranma, why are you 
gone?  I need you...need you..."  Her voice gave out then, becoming mere 
unintelligible moaning.  Ryouga said nothing, just held her tight.
     His face, though, was twisted into a mask of anger.
     *Ranma...damn you.*

***

     Last night had not been a pleasant experience for Kasumi.  She had 
been watching Tatewaki and Kodachi having sex.  It had made her feel 
very uncomfortable, and not just because she felt like a voyeur.  Then 
she had been caught by Nabiki, who seemed unconvinced at Kasumi's 
hurried explanation that she was still untrusting of Kodachi's motives.  
Her sisters both seemed to be out of sorts, and Akane had scared Ryouga 
off earlier today.
     All things considered, she was definitely looking forward to this 
evening.  A night with her lover, just the two of them.  Maybe Kodachi 
would be watching through the tent flap, and Kasumi could get a little 
payback for what she had gone through the previous evening.
     She opened the tent and slipped inside.  "Hello, Tate--"
     Kodachi was staring back at her from the corner of the tent, 
smiling in a way that reminded Kasumi of a shark.  She was wearing 
pyjamas.
     Tatewaki was sitting on top of his sleeping bag, dressed in his own 
sleepwear.  He did not look especially happy.
     "My sister has apparently decided to chaperone us for this evening.  
I have tried to get her to leave the tent, but she is being especially 
childish today."
     Kodachi didn't blink at her brother's unflattering words.  "I've 
decided that I was a little hasty in our agreement.  I don't think my 
brother is quite ready yet to be with you.  He needs someone with him 
who knows how he thinks and is close to him."
     Tatewaki's brow creased.  "Kodachi, do not treat me as if I am not 
here."
     Kodachi hmmphed and folded her arms.  Kasumi looked at her closely.  
She was behaving in a very uncharacteristic way, far more childish than 
usual.  Was this just another mood swing, or some genuine rebellion?
     To her surprise, Tatewaki reached up and pulled her down to him.  
Smiling, he then gave her a very passionate kiss, causing her train of 
thought to focus entirely on the feel of his tongue sliding into her 
mouth and his strong hands on her body.
     The sounds of spluttering came from nearby.  "You can't do that!  
I'm still here!"
     Tatewaki paused for a moment in his exploration of Kasumi to give 
his sister a blase look.  "Then leave," he said.
     Kasumi wanted nothing more than for Kodachi to just get out.  
Tatewaki's kiss had inflamed her passions, and she very much wanted to 
make love to him now.  She found herself dragging Tatewaki back towards 
her, not caring if Kodachi saw them or not.  After all, she had ended up 
watching them last night...and Kodachi knew it.
     She kissed Tatewaki hard, and began to unbutton his shirt, running 
her fingers over his chest.  Vaguely she heard a voice in the background 
saying, "You think this will make me leave?  I won't leave!", but it was 
inconsequential.  Nothing was important anymore except the man in her 
arms.
     Her hands continued to work at his shirt, until finally she gave up 
and simply tore the flimsy cloth, letting the buttons fly off and land 
in a corner.  This done she immediately began to move her lips down to 
his neck, slowly inching towards his chest.  She could hear soft moans 
coming from him, and smiled inwardly.
     Suddenly she didn't feel embarrassed at all.  A heat settled within 
her mind, and she felt like showing off.  Both to her lover and his 
sister.  She may not have been a gymnast and martial artist, but she 
wasn't just some fat old housewife.  She kept herself in shape, and was 
proud of her body.  Why shouldn't she show it off?  If nothing else, it 
might shame Kodachi into leaving.  She doubted the other girl, no matter 
how stubborn, was interested in watching two naked, sweating bodies 
writhing away in front of her.
     She pulled back and knelt in front of Tatewaki, raising her arms 
slightly.  She hadn't yet changed into her pyjamas, so was still dressed 
in the shirt and pants she'd worn during the day.  She ran her hands 
over the shirt, lingering over her breasts before undoing the top 
button.  She repeated the procedure until the shirt was undone, hanging 
off of her in a way she hoped looked erotic.  Judging from the look on 
Tatewaki's face, she was doing all right.
     She shrugged her shoulders and let the shirt fall to the ground.  
She risked a glance over at Kodachi and noted that the girl still seemed 
to be watching her brother in a kind of controlled pout.  It was almost 
a relief, as Kodachi had always seemed to get the better of Kasumi 
whenever they competed for Tatewaki's attention.  Now it was Kasumi's 
turn to be in control.
     Kodachi had finally noticed her eye, and Kasumi smiled cruelly at 
her.  "Watch how it's done," she mouthed silently.

***

     Kodachi was really beginning to regret being here.  She had thought 
that her presence would be enough to drive Kasumi away, but it hadn't 
worked.  Indeed, the woman seemed positively thrilled to have her there, 
doing a striptease in front of both of them.  Kodachi was staring at her 
brother, trying to gauge his reaction.  She was unsurprised when his 
face seemed to be consumed with naked lust.
     Kodachi was justifiably proud of her body.  She's kept herself slim 
and toned using her rhythmic gymnastics, and had a figure most girls 
would envy.  But Kasumi's body held a few attractions as well, Kodachi 
forced herself to admit.  Two of them were staring her in the face right 
now, as Kasumi removed her bra.  Her breasts were larger than Kodachi's, 
and were...well, more womanly.  And she still looked firm and trim.  
Possibly sweeping all day builds up the arm muscles, Kodachi would have 
to look into that.
     She shook herself.  Why was she thinking about the merits of 
Kasumi's body?  Why was she here at all?
     She had been talking with her brother most of the day.  Just 
talking.  It had been wonderful.  There had been no worry about falling 
back into insanity, or guilt and paranoia about what they'd done.  There 
was just the loving feeling of two siblings being together.
     When dusk had come, Kodachi had realised that soon she would have 
to leave.  She and Kasumi had made a deal that they would be with her 
brother on alternate evenings, and tonight was Kasumi's.  It seemed such 
a shame.  Her brother didn't need someone like Kasumi with him, who was 
only interested in his body.  He needed *her*.  His own sister, someone 
who knew his moods, his needs and desires.  Kasumi wouldn't even know 
what to do if he had a breakdown.  Except fuck him.
     Judging by what was going on in front of her, she did seem to be 
rather good at that.  While Kodachi was brooding, Kasumi had managed to 
strip naked, and was now working on her brother.  She seemed to have 
gotten stuck while getting his pants off, however, and was now bending 
over and licking at his penis like it was some kind of candy.
     *It is quite tasty,* a rebellious portion of her mind mused.  She 
quickly tried to put such thoughts out of her mind.  Kasumi was the 
voyeur, not her.  She couldn't believe that woman, standing outside the 
tent drooling while she and her brother made love.  It defiled the 
entire experience.  She could imagine Kasumi standing out there, 
drooling, rubbing her breasts and working a hand into her pants...trying 
to keep silent as she slowly fingered herself to a climax...
     Kodachi stopped as she realised what she was doing.  She shook 
herself.  She had to get out of here, the woman's perverse thoughts were 
rubbing off on her.  She began to rise to leave, but then froze as she 
took in the scene in front of her.
     Kasumi and Tatewaki were lying next to each other, kissing 
passionately.  Their hands were also active, each of them engaged in 
pleasuring the other.  They had never seemed so...intense as they were 
right now.
     Kodachi fell back to the ground, her eyes misting.  She had never 
felt as alone and helpless before.  Memories came back to her of the 
past, unhappier times, when she and her brother had held on to each 
other as tightly as possible, hoping that for even a brief moment they 
could keep out the madness.  These sessions had, after she first began 
to bloom as a woman, occasionally drifted into something more.  The 
hugging would turn fiercer, then they would kiss.  Sometimes they rubbed 
each other through their clothes, feeling the pleasure they could give.
     But now she no longer saw herself doing those things.  Instead it 
was Kasumi who was in her mind.  Kasumi being comforted by Tatewaki.  
Kasumi making his pain go away.
     She could feel the tears well up inside her, and knew that if she 
started to cry now she'd never be able to stop.  She hugged her knees to 
her chest and forced herself to calm down.  She would not let Kasumi 
win.  She reached down inside her for the calm that she knew was there, 
the confidence that she used to talk to Kasumi back in the mansion.  It 
was much harder to find here.  They were in unknown territory, and the 
rules had changed.  Kodachi no longer seemed to hold any kind of 
advantage over Kasumi.
      Tatewaki had mounted her now, and was pistoning into her hard and 
fast.  Kasumi didn't seem to care, raising up to meet his hips with her 
own.  Both of them were now crying out loudly, and Kodachi was sure that 
they had woken up every living thing within 500 yards.  Kodachi felt 
herself turning red.  She hadn't realised how embarrassing this was.  
They seemed to have totally forgotten about her, sitting there next to 
them.
     Then she heard fainter moans, coming from across the campsite.  
*Oh, wonderful,* she sighed.  *Dueling orgasms.*  She had noticed from 
the start how Akane seemed to be lusting after Ryouga, and it would seem 
that the two of them had finally gotten together.
     She turned her focus back to her own private showing, just in time 
to see Kasumi arriving at a climax.  Not that it seemed to slow her down 
any; in fact, it just made her move even faster, apparently trying to 
give her brother friction burns.
     Kodachi had moved beyond sorrow into a sort of malaise.  She sat 
there, watching her brother make love with Kasumi, and listening to the 
sounds of Akane and Ryouga from across the campsite.  She had a sneaking 
suspicion that they were so far gone that she could strip down and join 
them and they wouldn't even notice.
     She didn't, however.  She just sat there and let her mind retreat 
further.

***

     ^cough^
     ^sniff^
     Shutting out the world...just stare at the fire and it will go 
away...the fire was her friend...it burned away everything unnecessary.  
She didn't need love.  She didn't need friends.  All she needed was the 
fire.
     ^sneeze^
     ^sniff^
     Her senses kept interfering with her concentration.  Her eyes were 
watering, from the smoke and from her own thoughts.  There was a nasty 
taste in her mouth, like something had crawled into it and died.  And 
her hearing...
     ^hack^
     Her hearing was perfect.  And it was picking up familiar sounds 
from the tents.
     *Ah, that would be Kasumi,* she thought vaguely.  She recognised 
the loud wails that signified her sister coming to a climax.  She'd 
heard them herself about two weeks ago, when she was the one pleasuring 
Kasumi.
     Wouldn't be happening now, of course.  Kasumi had her own lover 
now.  Hell, she'd even gotten a bonus with Kodachi.  No reason for her 
to give any attention to her sister.
     ^coughcoughCOUGH...pant^
     And there was Akane...she was beginning to wonder which of her 
sisters was more of a horny slut.  At least Kasumi seemed to be loyal to 
her lovers...Akane hadn't even waited for Ranma's bed to get cold before 
she'd started trying to get into Ryouga's pants.
     The noises were getting louder, and she was starting to shake.  
This wasn't good for her, listening to this.  Listening to her sisters, 
knowing how happy they were.  Ranma had made their lives so much better.  
Just let them be happy, screwing zombies.  But something had gone wrong 
with her.  She wasn't affected.  She wasn't happy.  She'd made love to 
Ranma, and that had been nice.  Why wasn't she the same as the others?  
Why was she feeling miserable?
     She got up.  She had to think.  It was impossible to think here, 
what with Kasumi over *there*, and Akane over *there*, and she had to 
run, to get away.  She couldn't be here, there was no place for her.
     She ran, and felt the branches whipping her in the face.  It was 
almost a relief to feel the stinging pain.  She ran, and her feet were 
cut by stones and sticks, her arms cut by bushes, and her face continued 
to get scratches, but she still had to get away.  Away from them, away 
from love, away from...
     From life.
     Suddenly there was a tree directly in front of her.  She tried to 
avoid it, but it still caught her in the shoulder and sent her 
stumbling.  But she didn't dare fall.  She knew what she had to do now.
     Ranma was right, Ranma had been right all along.  He knew what she 
was.  She was horrible.  She only loved money, and didn't care who she 
stepped on in order to get it.  How could anyone possibly love her?  She 
was a greedy, manipulative bitch.  Ranma had shown her that.  He made 
her sisters fall in love, giving them so much life, so much spirit that 
it revealed her own for what it was.
     She was horrible.  She was worthless.  She was unlovable.
     She noticed that the forest was coming to an end, and that there 
didn't seem to be ground in front of her eyes.  Briefly, she smiled.
     Exoneration for her crimes.
     She felt herself fall, and spread her arms wide.

***

     Akane was in full-blown panic.  Nabiki was gone.  She's slipped 
away back to her tent, and found the fire had gone out.  Worried, she 
checked Nabiki's tent, but her sister wasn't there.  She quickly roused 
the others and they began to search in earnest.
     Ryouga was checking to see if there were any signs of her leaving.  
"She can't have gone far, she's been sick.  She wouldn't have been able 
to move a long way, especially without any clothing or food."
     Kasumi was just as upset, though she seemed to be taking it better 
than Akane.  She spoke quietly.  "I think she may have been much sicker 
than she was letting us know.  Nabiki has always been stubborn, and so 
much has happened lately...I think she wanted to pretend that she was 
all right rather than have us leave her behind."
     Ryouga perked up.  "Here it is.  It doesn't look as if she was 
trying to hide her path or anything.  In fact, it looks like she was 
just running full out."
     They began to follow the path, noting with concern that it seemed 
to run straight through bushes and other natural hazards.
     "She was just running.  She didn't care where," Kodachi noted.  
"I've felt like that."  I felt a little bit like that last night, she 
thought to herself.
     Suddenly she stopped, holding up a hand.  "Akane, may I ask you a 
personal question?"
     Akane was puzzled.  "Um, will it help us here?"
     "I think so," Kodachi said.  "When was the last time you had sex 
with your sister?"
     "Kodachi!" her brother cried, but she had already raised a hand.  
"I do not ask because I wish to be cruel.  It may be important."
     Akane blushed, but answered.  "A while.  We made love once or twice 
more after Ranma...well, after that night, but then I just started 
staying with Ranma every night.
     "Kasumi?" Kodachi asked.
     "Pretty much the same," Kasumi said, realising where Kodachi was 
heading.
     "So we have a woman who has a bad cold, possibly a fever, and has, 
from what you told me earlier, just had her self-confidence shattered.  
Sitting at the fire, by herself, listening to stereophonic sex."
     Kodachi broke into a trot, following the path trampled at the edge 
of the forest.  "I think we should move quickly."
     They didn't have long to go, as the forest abruptly stopped at the 
edge of a short cliff.  Akane gasped in terror as she saw it.  "Oh, God, 
no..."
     Ryouga ran to the edge.  "It's not that far down, only about 20 
feet."  Without waiting, he quickly jumped down to the ground below, 
followed by Tatewaki and Kodachi.  Akane and Kasumi followed more 
slowly, terrified by what they might discover.
     As Akane ran to where the others had gone, she was brought up short 
by a form on the ground.  Nabiki lay twisted on the ground, her arm 
caught under her body, almost bent backwards.  Ryouga was checking her 
pulse.
     "She's still alive," he said, prompting gasps of relief from Akane 
and Kasumi.  "Kunou, can you make a stretcher of some kind from what we 
have here?  Ideally, she should be moved as little as possible."
     He nodded, and Kodachi followed him towards another patch of forest 
a few yards away.
     Akane reached out to touch her sister's face, and then drew it 
back.  "She's burning up!  We've got to get her back to the campsite."
     Kasumi broke in.  "And do what?  I looked at the medical kit we 
have with us.  It's mostly for bites and cuts.  There's nothing in there 
to treat a fever.  We'll have to turn back.  We can get her to a 
hospital in --"
     It was Akane's turn to interrupt.  "No!" she cried.  "We can't turn 
back now, not without Ranma!"
     Kasumi grabbed Akane's arm.  "Akane, this is your *sister*!"
     Akane was crying now.  "I *know*, but we can't!  We're almost 
there!  The village is only supposed to be a few miles from here!"
     Ryouga moved between them, forestalling the argument.  "We need to 
get her care as quickly as possible.  I don't know if she could take the 
journey back.  Akane's right, not because of Ranma, but because the 
village would be able to take care of Nabiki."
     Kasumi looked at Ryouga.  "What if Ranma's map is wrong?"
     He flinched, but still shook his head.  "Look at her.  She's 
burning up.  Her arm needs to be set soon or it won't heal properly.  
It's a gamble, but we'll *have* to see if this village could help her.  
The return would just be too long."
     Tatewaki and Kodachi returned, carrying two long branches.  
Tatewaki was taking off his shirt.  "The local plants look 
untrustworthy, I would rather not use them if they might be poisonous," 
he said.  Ryouga nodded and stripped off his own shirt.
     Akane stood next to Kasumi, looking much more frightened than she'd 
been in days.
     *When will this end,* she thought desperately.

***

     The village wouldn't let Ryouga or Tatewaki in.  Ranma had 
described it as a village of Amazons, and he apparently was not joking.  
Ryouga had argued, pointing out to Akane that Ranma had gotten into the 
village, so it couldn't possibly just be a ban on out outsider males.  
The women guarding the gate admitted that it was not their usual policy, 
but were adamant that neither of the two men would be entering the 
village.
     So the four women entered the village alone, Akane and Kasumi 
carrying Nabiki in their makeshift stretcher.  She was looking worse 
now, and occasionally moved from side to side, which made it harder to 
keep her steady.
     The village was hardly the stereotypical 'series of shacks' that 
Akane had been expecting.  Houses that looked just as sturdy as the ones 
in Japan lay around her, albeit with somewhat more organic designs.  The 
village seemed to be teeming with life, as people walked back and forth 
chatting to each other.  This was hardly the sort of place to kidnap a 
young man and take him away from his family.  Akane's spirits began to 
sink as she realised that Ranma was probably not here.  She'd been 
wrong.
     However, Nabiki was their problem at the moment.  She went to the 
building they'd been directed to, and manoeuvred inside.
     She almost dropped Nabiki when she saw the old woman who was 
waiting for them.  She was about two feet tall, and balanced herself on 
a walking stick.  She was an almost exact match for the old woman Ranma 
had described in his journal.  Maybe their journey hadn't been for 
nothing after all.
     "Put her there," the old woman said.  Akane was surprised to note 
she spoke almost flawless Japanese.
     She seemed to barely give Nabiki a serious glance, just prodding 
her in a few areas.  She then turned to an assistant standing next to 
her and spoke a few quick sentences in Chinese.  The girl nodded and 
left the room.
     The old woman turned back to the others.  "The arm is not much of a 
problem, and if we set it quickly she should regain full use of it.  The 
fever is another matter.  It has been running through her body for 
almost a week now, by my judgement.  Why didn't you take her to a 
hospital before now?"
     Akane flushed, suddenly feeling very inadequate under the gaze of 
this woman.  "Well, she didn't say anything...she kept telling us she 
was fine...we assumed it was just a cold."
     She was expecting to be berated, but instead the old woman just 
nodded.  "I've known women like that...they refuse to let themselves 
show weakness in front of everyone.  Frequently you can't tell until 
they collapse."
     The woman hopped over to them, moving herself like a child uses a 
pogo stick.  "You'll have to stay here for a few days while she 
recovers.  I will have someone inform the men waiting outside, though we 
will still prevent them from entering."
     Kodachi spoke.  "Why?  Is this a recent policy?  And who are you, 
by the way?"
     The old woman seemed a little annoyed at Kodachi's brusque tone, 
but answered her anyway.  "We have recently had to restrict entrance to 
our village.  The reason is private.  And I am Khu Lon, the elder of 
this village."
     To Akane's surprise, Kodachi then bowed.  "My apologies, elder.  We 
have undergone a difficult journey, and have not been able to rest as 
much as we should.  I did not mean to offend you as I did."
     Khu Lon raised an eyebrow, but did not seem to react otherwise.  "I 
accept your apology."
     She led them outside, despite Akane's protests.  "You will not help 
your sister now by hovering over her.  We will take care of her, and 
assure that she comes to no harm."
     Akane wanted to protest, but Kasumi put a hand on her shoulder.  
"Akane, relax.  She'll be fine."
     Suddenly a young woman ran up to Khu Lon, panting.  She spoke 
quickly in Chinese.  Whatever it was, Khu Lon seemed to react strongly, 
yelling at the woman and moving towards a remote building.  "Stay here!" 
she yelled over her shoulder.
     Despite the warning, Akane began to move after the two women.  
Nobody seemed to notice her; in fact, the entire focus of the village 
now seemed to be that one building.
     Everyone seemed to stop at the door, not daring to enter.  As Akane 
stumbled up, Khu Lon turned and glared at her.
     "I told you to stay back there!"
     Akane stammered, caught under her gaze.  "I just wanted to help..."
     "This is none of your concern!" Khu Lon shouted.
     Suddenly the door burst open, and a man appeared.  His pupils were 
invisible, only the whites showing.  His arms were bare, and seemed to 
be covered with puncture marks.  But to Akane, his face was like finally 
being able to breathe again.
     "RANMA!!!!"


End of Part 5


Ah, at last another part.  This was a weird one, for several reasons.  
It didn't have Ranma in it at all, except in the last paragraph.  It is 
the only part to feature entirely consensual sex.  It continues to 
develop the odd relationships, with couples, triples, and singles.  And, 
of course, it continues to have mind control as an overarching theme.  
The aftermath of Ranma's actions is still being felt, and I hope I get 
no more mail telling me how Ranma made Kasumi or Kunou 'better'.  Better 
is a very relative term.

I almost gave Lara Bartram a co-author credit on this one.  Several of 
the major ideas were discussed with her, and she always seemed to know 
the best way to write the scene.  She was also very useful when I 
realised that my initial outline would have to be abandoned, and I 
started totally rewriting from Part 6 onwards...Lara, thank you. ^_^  
Also, Dan, RpM, and the rest of my prereading team that haven't run 
screaming from this story.

As I mentioned above, from Part 6 onward has totally changed.  I'm no 
longer sure if this will be 9 parts, and it might run as low as 7.  For 
those Shampoo lovers who were worried I'd do nasty things to her 
character, fear not:  she barely has a role at all anymore. ^_^;;  And 
Ukyou fans, she *will* have a role...but you might not care for it.

Part 6 is next.  And, hopefully, a few explanations with it.

--SG