CAN'T LET GO (A Ranma 1/2 fic by Cass and GSL) Comments, criticisms and MSTs are welcome. You can reach us at chiaty@singnet.com.sg You can view this at http://web.singnet.com.sg/~chiaty/fanfics.htm We also would like to thank our pre-readers, Justin Baugh, Jed Bidwell, Arthur Edwards and Maurice Phillip. [ ] = dream sequence < > = character's thoughts { } = conversations in chinese Part 5B: Opposite of Love is Hate --------------------------------- Night after night, Ranma continued his vigil over Ukyou, coming to soothe her when she had nightmares, smiling when she didn't dream of such things the whole night. He would lie down and pretend to fall asleep but once Ukyou was in slumberland, he would sit up straight and wait patiently. He knew he dozed off sometimes but usually her cries, however soft, would awaken him. Siting next to her in a flash, he chased the imaginary Daddy away, comforted her and sang a relatively unknown lullaby (he remembered his mother singing it to him when he was small) to her. Throughout all this, Ukyou never once awakened, though she came close several times. So she was unaware of what Ranma was doing. The lack of rest naturally made Ranma more tired and it was even more of a struggle to get him to wake up in the mornings. And his exhaustion showed, as his martial arts moves started to get sloppy. Desperate, he took afternoon naps, rather than to clue Ukyou in on what was really going on. Once, he heard her humming a tune while cooking, recognizing it to be the lullaby he had sang to her. When he asked, she smiled and replied simply, "I think my mother sang it to me when I was little." Ranma beamed for a whole hour after that. As days went by, Ukyou became more cheerful and she frequently hummed the lullaby. Also, her nightmares grew infrequent. All these changes did not go unnoticed by Ranma, who was secretly pleased. To hear her hum that tune was enough to spur him on those long vigils. -------------------------------------------------------------- (Meanwhile...) "Ryouga? Can I come in?" "Yeah, sure! Oh, wait just a minute!" Ryouga frantically surveyed his room for any messes. He stuffed his clothes and book into the closet and shouted, "Ok!" Akane opened the door and let herself in. She smiled and said haltingly, "I just wanted to say that, uh, I had a great time today." "Even though Mr Tendo came into the restaurant and started hugging the other patrons, shouting that his daughter was dating?" asked Ryouga. "Despite that," laughed Akane. "I wonder if Dad is still there?" They had discreetly left by the back door when Soun's back was turned. Then, they had went home and watched an old movie, mimicking the actors' famous lines and reenacting some scenes. Akane beamed as she recalled the fun they had. "I uh, would like to do that again." "How about a date tomorrow?" He cursed under his breath. He didn't want to seem too eager. The fact that she had asked him out on a date today was already a miracle. Akane grinned. "Ok. We can go to that new amusement park." "and ride on the 360 degrees rollarcoaster ride!" they said in unison. Both teenagers laughed. "Well then, see you tomorrow. Good night." She pecked his cheek and rushed out, leaving a dumbstruck Ryouga frozen in his spot. -------------------------------------------------------------------- (8pm in Nekohanten) Today, according to the Chinese almanac was an auspicious day for marriages. Couples would have life-long marriages and plentiful descendants. And because of this, they have chosen to get married on this fateful day. The last few days were spent on making marriage preparations. Since they were both Chinese, a Chinese wedding was planned. Being Amazons, it was not customary to register their marriages as state regulations were normally ignored. So the couple decided that a simple dinner and wedding ceremony at home would suffice. There would not be any guests, as they did not have friends here anymore. It would be a ceremony consisting of the two of them only. Straightening her red cheongsam for the last time, Shampoo smiled satisfactorily at the image on the mirror. They didn't get the traditional marriage costumes as it was too expensive. Even though Cologne had left them a considerable sum of money in the bank, they decided to watch their spending since they have no income with the Nekohanten being closed. She became panicky as the auspicious hour drew near. Very soon, she would become Mousse's wife. It was kind of funny that she spent most of her life rejecting his advances and now, she was to be married to the man willingly. So far, her decision seemed correct. It didn't matter if she didn't love him as much as she loved Ranma. Mousse was there for her, and the past few months have proven that she could be happy with him. Knock. Knock. She checked herself in the mirror again to make sure that she was presentable. A knock on the door was heard again, followed by her groom's voice, "{Shan Pu, may I come in?}" "{Yes,}" she called out, turning expectantly to the door. He appeared wearing a matching red Chinese robe. she thought. "{Hmm, you are really beautiful.}" "{Thank you.}" She made a full turn to let him have a complete view of herself. He just continued to smile. She noticed that he had brought an envelope with him and asked him what it was. "{Oh, the lawyers' office sent a person up just now. Didn't you hear the bell ring?}" "{No.}" "{Anyway before we can sell the Nekohanten, we need to transfer the shop to your name first. So, we need Cologne's death certificate...,}" he stopped suddenly as if realizing his mistake. "{Must we talk about this today?}" Her mood was greatly dampened. "{I'm sorry.}" He seemed apologetic. "{Why don't you authorize me to handle the sale, like that you can just concentrate on being my wife.}" He was grinning now, much to her chagrin, "{Must I remind you who is the boss of the house?}" "{Yeah, you are...}" He had a resigned tone, which made her feel bad about bullying him. "{What must I do?}" "{Huh?}" He gave her a bewildered look. Then, he realized what she was referring to and promptly took out a document from the envelope. "{Uh, just sign the form here.}" Without reading, she signed the legal document. "{Now, can we revert to our wedding?}" She slung her hands around his and they began to walk out of the room. It was the moment of truth. The time has come. Together, they came to the doorstep of the restaurant. Facing the moon up in the sky, they made a bow. Next, they came to the offering table. On it, there was a picture of Cologne. To it, they made another bow. Finally, they bowed to each other. The ceremony was complete. Normally, there would be a tea ceremony where the couple would present tea to their elders. But since there wasn't any relatives around, they scrapped this. They started to have their dinner. It was a small feast, which they prepared together. Lighthearted conversation ensued but it didn't hide the uneasiness that both had. Somehow, she had become apprehensive that they were going to be intimate. It was probably the wedding jitters, she thought. He, on the other hand had waited his whole life for this moment. And it was funny that he had second thoughts of what he was going to do. There was some part of him that begged him not to carry out the plan, to take her as his wife and they could live happily ever after. And that urge was getting stronger as he saw the beautiful face of hers. But how could he allow her to get away without punishment? She caused the deterioration of his eyesight, and she never even apologized once. How could he forget the insults and jeering that arouse due to his poor eyesight or the way Shampoo had treated him in the past? There was no way he was going to let that pass. Finishing their meal, Shampoo attempted to clear the dishes. She felt a hand on hers, turning, she saw Mousse shaking his head. He gave her a warm smile and kissed her lightly on the lips. Breaking off the kiss, he bent to carry his bride. Whistling to the tune of the Wedding March, he marched to their room where their lives would change forever. (Insert any lemon scene between Mousse and Shampoo of your choice.) Totally spent, he lay on top of his bride. He was still recovering his breath and fought defiantly against the lethargy. Pushing himself up, he looked at his flushed bride. He couldn't believe that it had happen. And yet it was laid in front of him. He laughed uncontrollably. He has truly succeeded. The years of planning, the agony that he suffered under her hands, all ruptured into this one moment. The first step to his plan was completed. Shampoo was giving him a startled look. She called out to him, asking what was wrong and shook his body to get his attention. He didn't seem to notice and continued to laugh. She was confused, with a dreading feeling of what was to come. Finally stopping, he gazed menacingly at his wife. It was time for the second step. She attempted a smile but he could see the fear in her eyes. Speaking in a taunting voice, "{So, did I do well?}" "{Mu Tsu...,}" she was still weary of her husband, especially his words had intensified the dreading feeling that she had. Somehow, she was afraid to speak, fearing that she might say the wrong thing. However, he was still waiting for her answer and quickly she formed a reply, "{Yes, it was very satisfying.}" "{I'm glad. I've enjoyed it a lot too. I have waited so long for this.}" She smiled weakly. "{Do you love me?}" He asked in sudden seriousness. Relaxing slightly now that they were on familiar grounds, both her hands rose to cup his face lovingly, "{Of course, who else would I love?}" "{I was so afraid that you would call out Ranma's name...,}" Mousse said casually, flashing an evil grin. "{MU TSU! You're my husband now and I love you. Ranma's all in the past.} "{Really?}" "{Yes!}" Pausing for a moment, she professed her love again, "{I. Love. You.}" "{That's great,}" his eyes were sparkling. The seriousness of Shampoo's face, the finality of her words added to his good mood. After giving her one of his more passionate kisses, smiling wryly, he continued, "{'cos I don't.}" "{Huh?}" That shocked her all right. "{What? You expect me to still love you after all that you had done to me?}" Mousse said, pulling a straight face as if he was stating the obvious. "{No...}" She was overwhelmed by confusion. "{You...,}" she stuttered, disbelief written all over her face. She could still smell his sweat from the love-making and remembered his tenderness, she just couldn't accept that all he did was just an act. As self-denial set in, she sought for the reason that Mousse would say such things to her. "{Mu Tsu, stop playing with me. This is not funny.}" "{Oh, you think this is a game,}" he smiled as he saw the pair of hopeful eyes staring at him. His grin grew wider as he proceeded to eliminate her hopes, stealing the sparkle from her eyes. "{Sorry, but I will have to disappoint you.}" He leaned down on her, talking softly to her ears, "{Guess I'm not the lovelorn boy who was desperately in love with you 6 years ago. That boy died on the day when you threw him into the river.}" Stunned, she didn't know she had started crying. Emotionally scarred, she knew she couldn't take another rejection, or another failure. She had deposited all her hopes on him and it would certainly crush her if he had used her. Relishing the effect his words on his antagonist, he carried on willfully, squishing the little voice in his head that told him not to. "{I only wanted revenge. And what else would be better than to give you a taste of your own medicine.}" He wanted his every word to torture her. It was like he lived his whole life just for this moment. "{The reason that I chased after you was to capture your heart and crush it with my bare hands. I stopped loving you a long time ago. How could you be so naïve that I would still be attracted to you? But you were great, the sex and all. Don't worry, I'm not going to throw you away like a used tissue paper; I had lots of plans for you. You would repay every single debt that you owe me, plus interest.}" He didn't need to see the despair on her face. The aura that she was radiating showed that. However he wasn't perturbed by it as he didn't need to hold back on their fights anymore. He could show her his true prowess anytime. She had finally seen his true colours. It devastated her that the past few months were just a ploy. She was sad and angry at the same time, angry with herself for not seeing through Mousse's true intentions and angry that she had truly fallen for him. "{BASTARD!}" With a push, Shampoo tried to shove him off. He was flung to the end of the bed but he didn't seem to mind. She followed up with a kick to his chest and almost got him when he swiftly caught hold of her leg and pushed her crashing onto the wall. "{My, aren't you feisty tonight?}" Mousse winked at the fallen body. He didn't take advantage of his superior position. Instead he leapt off the bed and stood, watching Shampoo trying to pick herself up. He was prepared when she came charging at him. She was trying to execute one of her moves and he knew exactly how to respond to it. Her left arm stretched aiming for his head, which he brushed away forcefully and hurried to defend his abdomen area. As he anticipated, Shampoo's true intention was to hit him in the stomach. He caught her hand and saw the surprise on her face. He went behind her, and cruelly, twisted her arm until a crack sound was heard. "{It's no use, I know all your moves, having watching you on the sidelines for so long. Surrender and I...}" "{Never!}" Shampoo screamed before he finished his sentence. Her free left hand grabbed the back of his neck and tried to flip him over. He was surprised that she nearly got him, but stood his ground and half-carried her over him and promptly dropped her. Without letting her recover her breath, he jumped on her and crushed her with his bodyweight. "{This is for the times that you ignored me.}" Then, he picked her up and threw her across the room. "{This is for throwing me into the river.}" Not letting up, he ran to where she was laying on the floor and kicked her which she blocked feebly. "{This is for the times that you hit me.}" He came down on her like a raging bull, losing all senses except the pent-up anger that he had accumulated for the past few years. Strangely his tears flowed as he threw punch after punch at her which she could hardly block. Shampoo's world turned black as a forceful punch connected to her face. Feeling no resistance from Shampoo, he continued his blows even when she was knocked unconscious. Only when his tiredness took over, did he come out of his trance. The rage that he had a minute ago had dissipated, his sanity returning. Looking at the battered body, heartache overwhelmed him completely. He didn't know why, according to his plans he should be doing a wacky dance routine now. But happy was the last thing on his mind. He didn't understand his emotions or why he hit her except that he had to. He reached out to her and cradled her body to an embrace. Hugging her tightly, his tears began to flow more freely and murmurs of sorry were spoken. -------------------------------------------------------------- (Morning, Nekohanten) She dreamt like everyone did, only hers was a nightmare. Most people forget their dreams after they wake up but she did not. Probably because it was a reality that Mousse had attacked her. Despairing, she realized that even in her dreams, the horrors didn't leave her. She had awoken to find herself still naked with her arms and legs chained to the wall, in a standing position. She was in a room, and despite the darkness, she recognized that she was in the basement of the Nekohanten. Pulling at the metal chains, she tried to free herself. She couldn't muster any strength on her right hand since Mousse had broken her arm. The chains didn't budge and what she succeeded in was getting more bruises. She stood as the time passed, unable to do anything else. In the beginning, she cried regretting how her life has turned out. She was sorry that she had caused Mousse's misfortune but it was an accident. She was deeply hurt that the man whom she thought would treasure her had only wanted her for revenge. It was a grimly realization that there was not one person in the whole wide world that truly cared for her. She felt very lonely and dejected, only her tears accompanied her. It was only after a long time, presumably hours, did the tears stop. Being an Amazon, she was a strong person at heart. She realized that crying wasn't going to settle anything and being sad would just fall nicely into Mousse's plans. No, she wouldn't let him have the pleasure. A door cracked open, letting light into the basement. Squinting, she saw a figure descending the stairs. she thought as anger began swelling inside her. He switched on the lights to the basement, allowing her eyes to relax. He slowly approached her with a medical kit. And she didn't lose any time in voicing her thoughts. "{Damn you Mu Tsu, release me at once!}" It ticked her off when he just smiled. "{To hell with you!}" He remains unconcerned. "{You piece of shit.}" He was standing in front of her now. With a quick move, he jabbed a point few inches below her left shoulder, immobilizing her and putting an end to her foul language. "{A lady shouldn't say such things. Besides it just eggs me on that you're having such a wonderful time.}" He didn't wait for a response and instead opened up the medical kit. Taking out a bandage and some ointment, he proceeded to tend to her wounds. "{Best not to let you die from infection or internal bleeding, right?}" He grinned, looking up at her. "{Furthermore, I haven't had enough fun yet.}" Returning to the bandaging, he continued to talk to his unwilling audience. "{Who would have guessed that the future leader of the Amazons would have a fate like this? Being trapped in a basement, with no chances of escaping by a mere man; a man you thought was useless. Didn't the old crone tell you never to underestimate your opponents? Hell to it, she didn't even practice that. So, I guess you should be forgiven for making that mistake.}" He looked up to her again. His control nearly slipped but he checked himself in time. Faking an appearance that he was satisfied with the wide-eye look that she was giving, he reverted to his task at hand. "{I'm a hidden weapons expert but weapons are not the only thing that I hide. I knew that by concealing my skills and emotions, I would have an advantage in the form of an element of surprise. Khu Lon was too old, it was just time for her to meet her maker. In a way, she was killed by you.}" She screamed in her mind. "{I got an impersonator of you to kill her. So she thinks that her beloved great granddaughter had ended her life.}" Anguish welled up within her. She wanted to scream out her grievance and injustice but no sound came out. Tears flowed as she realized that Cologne had thought that she had murdered her. "{Even though I didn't get to kill her myself, I did make mincemeat out of her.}" Grinning madly whilst looking away from her sorrowful eyes, his hands gesturing as he spoke, "{I used a screwdriver and repeatedly plunged it into her body. It was a bloody mess. Blood scattering everywhere, pieces of her flesh flying to the surroundings... I couldn't even recognize her when I'm done.}" Never in her life did she desire to kill a man. Now, her aim in life would be to slaughter him in cold blood. At the same time, she wanted to inflict pain on herself, to slap herself, to beat up herself for causing Cologne's death, no matter how indirectly. If it weren't for her, Mousse had no reason to bear a grudge against Cologne. He nearly cringed when he met her deadly gaze but he held on his mask for dear life. He was losing control and he needed to end it fast. "{I guess it's very tiring for you to keep standing like this, I'll make other appropriate arrangements. I don't suggest running away as you will find the stay enjoyable. There is something that I want to give you; something that would make you high and take the pain away.}" Finishing up the bandages, he retrieved a syringe from the medical kit and injected a substance into a vein in her hand. "{Its called morphine. Hope you like it.}" ---------------------------------------------------------------- Hastily, he came out of the basement and closed the door firmly behind him. Locking the door, he leaned heavily on it. His heartbeat has finally begun to slow down. Breathing deeply, he tied to assess the situation. He managed to taunt her, jeer her and told her that Cologne had died because of her. She was hurting deeply now. The plan has gone accordingly but it nearly went haywire. He gave himself a tight slap and berated himself, "{I don't believe I nearly spoiled that. All I have to do was to follow the plans and I...}" Getting away from the door, he punched a nearby wall in frustration. Why did he feel the guilt? Why did he feel reluctant to follow up on what he had planned for years? Why was it so hard on him? "{She must have cast some spell over me. That's why I'm hesitating.}" Breathing normally now, "{She won't get away that easily, I swore that she would get her desserts and I fully intend to accomplish that. The next time. The next time that I have my fun, there will not be any hesitation, any guilt. I will fully enjoy it.}" --------------------------------------------------------------------- "So what are you two planning to do today?" asked Kasumi as she passed a bowl of rice to Ryouga. "Roller blading in the park," he replied as he placed some tofu in soy sauce on top of his rice. "And sharing blue cotton candy," added Akane with a smile. Ryouga looked at her in surprise. "I remember buying my three daughters cotton candy a long time ago," reminisced Soun. He sniffed a few times and progressed into a loud wail. "Wahh! Now my Akane has her fiancé buying her cotton candy!" "Daddy, remember what I told you about not pushing them?" reminded Kasumi. Akane blushed and intertwined her fingers with Ryouga's. She softly remarked, "I don't mind." "Congrats, Ryouga. Welcome to the family. Of course you'll still have to pay the rent." commented Nabiki. "I'm very happy for you, Akane. And you, Ryouga," beamed Kasumi as she mentally thought of the dishes for tonight's big celebration. Soun stopped wailing momentarily to solemnly shake Ryouga's hand. "Future son-in-law. Make my daughter happy or I'll make you very unhappy." Then the Soun fountain started again. Ryouga did the only thing he could do. He fainted. -------------------------------------------------------------- Ranma sat down in a lotus position and meditated. The new moves he was trying required a level of concentration and purity of spirit so high that most mortals could never qualify. The manual was titled 'How I Ruled Chin and Seduced Xena by Lao Ma'. It was a strange title but who cared so long as the skills contained within are powerful. And this manual certainly fulfilled that criteria. One technique called for the pugilist to manipulate his chi so well that objects could be destroyed by merely thinking about it. And that was just the second level! At the highest level, the pugilist could fly like the birds. Such power contained in an unassuming thin manual! He remembered the day he found it. It was after a vicious fight with Happosai which he won, of course. As Happosai fled, a manual dropped onto the ground. The old pervert's loss was his gain. Ranma slowed down his breathing and ignored all outside stimuli, to get distracted while he was practicing would mean internal injuries at least. He repeated the mantra stated in the manual over and over again, hearing the words in his mind, his blood and his soul. He felt his chi building up and flowing through his body. Slowly, he lifted his arms at chest level and waved his hands about, with the palms facing, always keeping one hand above the other. It was as if he was holding a ball and rotating it in his hands. Within minutes, a chi ball appeared in his hands, invisible to the naked eye. But Ranma could feel it, as though it was an extension of himself. As the minutes passed, Ranma grew more excited. Never before had he been able to control his chi ball for so long. he thought. The chi ball flickered, almost vanishing. Startled, he tried to concentrate on his meditation, repeating the mantra with a fervour. However, with one errant thought came others. The chi ball vanished as Ranma coughed. Breathing heavily, his heart racing like it was a locomotive, he felt as if he had just ran around the world. When he finally caught his breath, he slowly stood up, only stubbornness keeping him from fainting. Seeing the reddish patch on the grass, he thought, Ranma slowly walked back to camp, thankful that it wasn't far. Back in camp, he slumped down exhausted. he complained grumpily. His expression softened as he remembered the tomboy that had captured his heart. Images of their past flashed in his mind's eye: their first meeting, the bath incident, a few of their quarrels, her going out with Ryouga, her collapsing due to his ki balls, resulting in a jumbled mess of emotions. The regret, guilt and love combined to give him a heartache that no medicine could ever heal. He closed his eyes, trying to remember the happy times they had spent together but sadly there were too few of them. Most of the memories he had dug up were sad or angry ones. He smiled as he remembered the day he had picked some wild flowers (he didn't have enough money for a decent present) as her birthday present and she smiled as radiantly as the sun, them sitting near the campfire telling ghost stories and jokes and their childhood days together. And gradually his heartache lessened. It was as if thinking about her was enough to lessen his pain. a part of him replied. A tiny smile appeared on his face. Gradually, so slowly that he hadn't noticed until now, Ukyou had healed his wounds and crept into the crevices of his heart. screamed his mind. Ranma groaned and buried his face in his hands. A minute later, Ukyou arrived. She had just finished her training regimen for today. Ukyou beamed as she wiped off the beads of perspiration on her face. "Ranma! Finished training already? I'll start on dinner right away." Ranma looked up, his spirits perking up a little when he heard her voice. His throat caught at the sight of her. Ukyou's hair, tied up in a loose ponytail, was damp and messy. Her pretty face marred by dirt and sweat. Her workout clothes, damp in some areas, dirty in others, didn't show off her figure. Despite all that, he thought of her as Aphrodite. "What! What's wrong with me?" Ukyou peered down at herself. "Why are you staring at me like that?" she mentally added. "You never have before." "Huh? Nothing. I'm just in a good mood that's all." Ukyou looked at him for a moment, a silly suspicion forming. Shrugging her shoulders, she walked off to prepare dinner. But first, she had to make a detour to her bag where a mirror was kept. Watching her go, Ranma's good mood increased. He now knew where his heart laid. Akane was his first love and a place in his heart would always be reserved for her. But their relationship was in the past. Perhaps, if they both weren't innocent youths not knowing how to show affection, he might still be with Akane. But perhaps they might have broken up or he might have suffered brain damage from all that malleting. Who knew of the destiny that might have been if one path was not taken? He certainly didn't. And he could not, would not spend his entire life wondering about what might have been. The time for regret had past or he'll find himself regretting about lost opportunities in China. No. He wouldn't make that mistake again. Not with someone like Ukyou. -------------------------------------------------------------- That night, Ranma acted really strange. He stared at Ukyou a lot, with a gentle smile and eyes that hinted of a surprise. Whenever Ukyou caught him, he would say something quickly like 'I love the fish stew you made', 'how's your training going?' and 'nice full moon we're having". The only time she got a negative response from him was when he talked about suffering internal injuries due to lack of concentration. Puzzled at his actions but not daring to ask why, Ukyou quickly retired for the night. Watching her sleep peacefully that night, Ranma couldn't resist stroking her hair and cheeks. Nor could he stop smiling. Maybe he would never stop. Heck, he wouldn't mind it in the least. -------------------------------------------------------------- 4 a.m. Darkness surrounded the forest, for the moon was hidden by a cloud strangely shaped like a croissant and the campfire had extinguished long ago. ["Mama, I love you!" shouted Ukyou as she ran towards a tall woman wearing a plain blue dress that reached the floor, the latter's face hidden by a large straw hat. She seemed to run forever, trying to reach her mother but always the distance between them remained. Just as Ukyou was about to give up, her mother opened up her arms and beckoned for Ukyou to hug her. With a burst of newfound strength, Ukyou raced towards her mother. A few metres remaining, she jumped, straight into the arms of her mother. "Mama." Ukyou buried her face in her mother's bosom, not wanting to ever leave her side again. Suddenly, Ukyou felt her mother growing taller, bulkier and the latter's breasts shrinking. Shocked, Ukyou could only stare as her mother morphed into Kenzo Kounji. He grinned evilly, revealing his wolf-like teeth. He licked his lips as he stared appreciatively down Ukyou's body, mentally undressing her. Ukyou shuddered as his hand squeezed her left breast and slowly travelled downwards. "No! Get away from me!" she yelled and ran off. She turned to see if she had lost him and instantly regretted it. Her father was gaining on her, one hand stroking his erection as though her resistance thrilled him even more. Spying a room, she went in. Leaning against the closed door, she panted and surveyed the room. Her old bedroom! "Where's my beer, Ukyou? Get your pretty butt here this instant!" All the items in the bedroom morphed into her father's face. And they were all yelling at her, taunting her. "No! Get away from me!" Wielding her giant spatula, she destroyed every last one of them. Breathing heavily from the exertion, she gaped as her father walked through the wall. Finally, the impossibility of the whole situation clicked in her mind. "You're dead, father. I killed you! Stay dead and out of my dreams!" Determination shining in her eyes, she lifted her weapon high above her head. It lingered there for a second and quickly moved downwards in an arc to sever his head. She watched as his head dropped down onto the floor and rolled to her feet. "Never", she heard the room whisper as the head jumped right back on top of the shoulders. Enraged, Ukyou hacked away at the man, cutting him into tiny pieces. Soon, all that remained of her father was a large pile of scraps of flesh and bones. "Stay dead!" she shouted as the wind sent the pieces flying off into destinations unknown.] Ranma peered down anxiously at Ukyou. Did she moan just now? Staring at her, sleeping peacefully, the corners of her lips curled up in a tiny smile, Ranma smiled and whispered, "Sweet dreams, Ucchan." Yawning, he went back to sleep. ---------------------------------------------------------------- (Night, Nekohanten) A sweet smell filled her nostrils, stirring her from her sleep. In her dazed mind, she barely remembered what happened after Mousse had injected morphine into her. The effects were still there though, she shook her head a couple of times to dispel the drowsiness. A voice startled her. "{Glad that you're awake. I was wondering how much longer I had to wait.}" She tried to sit up but found that she was restrained. Her hands and legs were spread apart, fastened to a stone table. She tried to shift around but the locks were tight, each movement brought pain to her wrists or ankles. "{Ah, you shouldn't do that. It's no use.}" "{Curse you Mousse, I'll never forgive you. I should have let you drown in that river.}" She hadn't got a chance to see Mousse yet, but from his voice, she could roughly guess where he was standing. "{Sorry, but you are 6 years too late.}" He walked towards Shampoo but stopped at the side of the table, near her legs. She strained her neck upwards and caught the grin that he wore. Her body began to complain and she surrendered, lying heavily onto the table again. "{Devil! You're the devil.}" "{Tsk, tsk. How could you treat the person who had given you so much pleasure a day ago?}" "{BASTARD!}" "{You were screaming my name, asking for ME. I say you were very high indeed.}" "{Shut up!}" Her eyes clenched tight, willing the memories to go away. "{Why, you weren't that shy a person?}" Hearing no response from her, the game was less fun. So, he decided to start the next one. Taking a tin from his robe, he asked, "{Hungry? You haven't had anything to eat since last night.}" There was no response, not that he was expecting any. He walked nearer to where her head was and opened the lid of the tin. "{I remembered honey was one of your favourite food.}" With that, he dipped his hand into the tin. Sucking at his finger, "{hmm... the top grade quality that you liked.}" Again, she didn't speak, turning her head defiantly away from him. It didn't matter that she kept quiet now, because she wouldn't be able to do so later on. She felt his hands on her cheek, forcing her to face him. The smell on his hands was familiar. Then, she realized that it was this smell that she had awakened to. Gathering all the hatred for this man, she glared at him. He had her attention and his fun could now begin. Spilling a little of the honey on her body, he began to rub evenly, whistling at the same time. She was becoming uncomfortable. Between the sticky substance on her body and the hands that were roaming freely on her body, she hated the latter more. She struggled, her body moving about, making his work more difficult. But instead of stopping him, he seemed to be encouraged by it. Before long, he came inches above her head. He brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face and immediately his attention was locked onto her face. Staring intently at her, his heartstrings pulled and again he hesitated. For that, he earned a spit on the face. Resolve returning, he swiftly wiped his face with the sleeve of his robe. Then, he proceeded to not so gently rub honey on her face. After that, he was finished, her whole body was coated with the sweet substance. He disappeared from her sight and the running of tap was heard. For a while, she was wondering what he was trying to do. Was it some kind of sick sex game that he was thinking? She didn't need to answer it as he reappeared shortly with a small tank partially covered by old newspaper. She started to have panic attacks. What was he trying to do? And what was in that tank? She could not see that clearly as he had stopped near her legs. From what she could see, there was some black stuff inside the tank. Somehow, she didn't want to know what it was, having a bad feeling about it. Mousse wasn't about to have second thoughts. He had spent an hour hardening himself for this. And the spit nailed it. He was the revenge obsessed maniac, not stopping until she suffered a fate worse than death. This time he would follow through, nothing was going to stop him. He tore off the newspaper, revealing the gruesome sight within. There were tens or hundreds of big black fat ants creeping around, most of them concentrated on a cut tree branch. He set the tank on the table where Shampoo was laid. Wearing gloves, he cautiously took out the tree branch and left it near Shampoo's legs. Shampoo hasn't been able to see all these since it was outside her line of sight. The ants smelled and they knew what to do. Shampoo was starting to itch and ache from bites. She knew that there were something crawling on her and it was scaring her. She tried to look up but she couldn't see anything yet. Meanwhile, she could feel her legs being swarmed and there was little to do except to panic more. Mousse was standing not too closely to Shampoo. He watched eagerly as the ants raced along his wife's shapely legs and commanded his mind to enjoy the sight. There were some red spots forming and when he turned to her face, he could see the scared little girl that she had become. "{What's happening? Dammit! Let me go.}" she scowled although fear was evident on her face. "{Can't do that. My buddy over there seems to be enjoying itself,}" he said pointing to the army of ants. "{What's ...,}" she managed before she screamed. She had finally seen the culprit for her discomfort. She tried to shake the ants off, but there were too many of them. It was a fascinating sight for him. To see her cower and quake before him just as he imagined it to be. The ants were playing their part very well. He visualized that very soon, the six-legged creatures would be traveling up to every part of her body, even to her insides where none had ventured. He especially looked forward to the sight of the ants making their way into her nostrils, ear... It was a very exciting time for him. Even as he mind recited the above, his hands were unknowingly clenched tightly by his sides. It particularly disgusted her when the ants took liberty with her sensitive regions. The pain she could take but shame was not something that she could handle. With renewed feverish, she tripled her efforts to shake the ants off, or at least stop them from biting her. It was a daunting task. She was growing tired. The creatures were crawling higher and higher up her body almost to her neck. Her heart was pounding vigorously in her chest. Her mind was set on an emergency alarm, her thoughts frantic, her resolve dissolving. Scared out of her wits, she cried for leniency. "{Please, anything but this. Mu Tsu, release me. HHHHHHEEEEEEELLLLLLLLPPPPPPPP!}" He laughed nervously to her plea, ignoring her and instead concentrated on the ant's advancement. They were moving along the contours of her neck. he thought ardently. But as he continued to watch, bit and pieces of his control started to fall apart. The ants had climbed up to her chin. They neared her mouth. He moved out of reflex. He didn't even think about moving. In fact, he was convincing himself not to move and to enjoy the sight. But it didn't work, no matter how strong the reasons, he couldn't stand the sight of Shampoo being hurt. Swiftly, he brushed the ants away from her face. Some of them got onto his hands while others fell to the ground. But there were too many of them. The ants kept coming and those that were on him were climbing up his sleeve, disturbing him. He knew that it was a lost cause if he kept on sweeping. There was no way he could sweep all the ants away from her and him. He needed to think. How was he going to kill the ants in his original plans? He ran towards the sink, attached a hose to the tap, turned the tap to warm water and brought the hose to where Shampoo was laid. Spraying the water at Shampoo, he managed to wash the ants off her. He continued for a while to make sure that no more ants were left on her body. Then, he turned the hose to himself, washing away any ants on him. When he was satisfied, he dropped the hose, the water still running and walked towards Shampoo. She still looked very frightened but there was also something on her face. A look of shock, astonished that he had saved her. That look shook him, his concern for her liquefied. Instead, he grew angry at himself for once again disrupting his owns plans. He couldn't let her know that he was feeling weak for her. Trying to salvage the situation, he tried his best to put on a smile. "{We'll have more fun later.}" -------------------------------------------------------------- (In the morning) Ucchan, I... I got something to tell you. I," stammered Ranma, as he nervously shuffled his feet, not daring to look at her. "Eat your breakfast first, then we'll talk," interrupted Ukyou as she poured him a cup of hot tea. Glad of a chance to compose his thoughts and slow his wildly thumping heart, Ranma sat down and gobbled his food. his heart cautioned him. His relationship with Akane was full of missed opportunities and regrets. Now that he's wiser and more experienced, he wouldn't let his relationship with Ukyou be like that. When they had finished their meal, Ranma thought, He gazed fondly at her lovely face, bathed in the morning light, and his heart rate accelerated. He gulped down his tea and poured himself another cup. He saw Ukyou starting to get up and clear the dishes and panicked. All he could say was "Wait." Ukyou sat down again, smiling at him. And he felt himself go numb at the sight of that smile. He wanted so much to profess his feelings for her but what came out was "You got some sauce on the corner of your mouth." "No, not there. Here, let me do it, " Ranma said as he leaned forward. His finger wiped away the offensive spot and touched her lips lightly. Impulsively, Ranma pressed his lips onto hers, trying to convey all his feelings for her with that simple act. When he pulled away, he was blushing furiously. "Ucchan, I..." he stammered. He continued, "I love you". His blush deepened. "When we first got engaged, we were only 6 year olds. Let me make it official. Ucchan, will you marry me?" "But what about Akane?" "Akane and my feelings for her belonged to the past. You, Kounji Ukyou, are my future." He smiled and waited for her reply, already knowing what it would be. "If you want me to say 'yes'," Ukyou said coyly, her eyes conveying mirth, "then, you'll have to defeat me in battle. Are you up to it?" "Yes," he confidently replied as he stood up. "Then, let the battle begin!" Ukyou shouted as she swung her giant spatula at him. Ranma leapt away, though that move was unnecessary, for the attack was way off. he wondered. However, the sight of Ukyou wearing her bandoleer of small spatulas, soon proved him wrong. He moved into an attack position, still smiling away. Ukyou smiled back and winked conspiratorially as she began a series of slashes and strikes so fast that it would put Shampoo in shame. Ranma, using his own Chestnut Fist skill, fended off each attack. He grimaced at the thought and concentrated on increasing his speed but to no avail. he thought as he matched Ukyou blow for blow. As Ukyou swung her spatula forward, he blocked it with one arm and punched her hard in the stomach. Ranma stepped back and asked, "Ready to give up?" Ukyou's only response was a high kick to his face which he blocked with both hands. He caught her foot and tossed her up. He watched as she performed a quick double aerial somersault and landed perfectly, three feet from him. He applauded the move, saying, "9 out of 10." Ukyou frowned slightly and turned, doing a spinning back kick to his head. Ranma ducked and brought his fist towards her face. She blocked the move with her forearms and somersaulted out of his reach. Instinctively knowing where she would end up, Ranma ran to the spot. Before Ukyou finished her somersaults, Ranma had already punted her to the sky. He watched as she twisted her body in mid air, used a tree branch as a trampoline and propelled herself towards him. He saw the small spatulas flying at him and was able to dodge all of them. Just then, a pain in his left arm made him realize his folly. He glanced at the injured arm and was relieved that it was only a small shallow cut. "You're not making it easy for me, are you?" Ukyou opened her mouth and then closed it, as if she wanted to say something but changed her mind. She concentrated and a small ball of ki appeared in her palms and sent it hurling towards our hapless hero. He sidestepped it and it exploded upon contact with a tree, two metres behind him. He frowned and commented, "Hey, Ucchan. Let's not use our ki attacks. This is just a friendly match. I don't want you to get hurt." "Are you sure I'm the one who will get hurt?" She launched another ki ball, this one much larger than the first. However, Ranma got out of its range. She frowned, beads of perspiration forming on her forehead as she found the strength to throw some more smaller ki balls at him, one after the other. Leaping out of one ki ball's path, ducking under another and blasting the rest with his own Moko Takabisha, he recalled how he had taught Ukyou the ki blast technique. Always one for practical demonstrations rather than long-winded theories, he had demonstrated his Moko Takabisha several times but to no avail. Ukyou wasn't able to do one. Realizing that she had to find her own intense emotion to fuel her chi, just like he used confidence, Ryouga used depression and Happosai used his pervertedness, he stood there silently as she reached into the depths of her soul. Soon, he noticed a faint aura around her, flickering like a flame. 'That's it!' he had yelled and urged Ukyou to concentrate on that emotion. Within the next few days, she was able to launch several small ki balls in rapid succession. He asked her what emotion had fueled her ki but her lips were sealed. But he could hazard a guess, for her eyes would become cold and dangerous when summoning up a ki blast, just like right now. he thought as he launched a Moko Takabisha at her, knowing and praying that with her current level of skill, she would be either dodge or blast his attack away. She did neither. He watched in mute horror as she stood her ground, gripping her spatula. Unable to move, he looked on as the scene unraveled, in slow motion. His blast was just half a metre away from Ukyou now. Ukyou closed her eyes and sent her ki flowing from her hands and into the spatula. It glowed pale blue. She swung her spatula like a baseball bat, sending his ki blast, combined with her own ki, spinning towards Ranma. Shocked and relieved, Ranma couldn't react in time and was sent flying to the distant trees by the force of his and Ukyou's ki blast combined. Ranma shakily got to his feet, trying to ignore the pain signals coming from all over his body. He wasn't able to continue this train of thought for Ukyou had sent another ki blast his way. Concentrating hard, he tried to form a ki ball of his own but failed. With the internal injuries sustained yesterday and his present injuries, his ki reserves are almost gone. The blast knocked him onto the grass. Another blast nearly knocked him unconscious. "What are you doing?" he asked as blood oozed from his mouth. Ukyou laughed , taking delight in his confusion. She grasped her giant spatula firmly, pointing it at Ranma's neck. "What does it look like? I am killing you!" She lifted the weapon up and swung it. Ranma hurriedly rolled out of the way. "Why?" he gasped. "WHY?! You dared ask why! You and your father ran off with my family's yattai and left me behind. Because of that, my dad, he..." A flicker of pain showed in her eyes. She kicked his side viciously. Her eyes were now furious like a blazing fire that has gone out of control. "Did you really think that I can forgive you for years of suffering and humiliation just by saying that I am cute?!" The spatula drew blood as it slashed his right arm. "Did you really believe that once I saw you, I'll be bowled over by your charm and everything will be bright and cheery again?!" The spatula slashed his forehead, causing him to see red. "Are you really that egotistical?! A kick and a blow. "Or are you just plain stupid?!" Two quick slashes at Ranma's chest. "Ucchan... I didn't know... about the... engagement... Only kids," he whispered as he watched her with his left eye. The view his right eye offered was a sea of red. "Sorry," he added. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?! Will one 'sorry' make up for all the injustices in my life?" she asked rhetorically. Her gaze hardened, reminding him of the look in her eyes whenever she did a ki blast. , he realized belatedly, . Trying to reach past her hatred and into the soul of the Ucchan that he knew and loved, he pleaded, "Please Ucchan... Don't... Pain doesn't... go... away with... revenge." "What do you know about my pain?! Nothing!" The spatula cut his body, leaving small and large wounds all over. "Ucchan," he managed to get out. He wanted to say that he did know of her suffering, that he would do anything to change the past. That it was him who comforted her from the nightmares. That the lullaby she loved was what he sang to her every time she had a nightmare. However, he had passed out from the pain. The spatula moved down in a deadly arc that was sure to sever his head. "I'm sick of hearing you call me 'Ucchan'." --------------------------------------------------------------- (Afternoon, Nekohanten) Splash. He had used warm water so her curse was not activated. Bleary, Shampoo opened her eyes to see a smirking Mousse staring at her. Then, frantically she looked as much as possible around her body for signs of ants. No, there was none of them. But she still had the feeling that they were still crawling on her body. "{Oh, my Shampoo, the woman who was the soul of my life. A woman so hot that she nearly ate the fiber of my soul.}" Mousse scorned, his voice full of contempt. Having dropped an empty pail on the floor, he grabbed a nearby towel to wipe off the moisture on Shampoo's body. "{You make me sick. No, you are sick. You deserved to be confined in a mental institution. Kept in isolation, killed, hanged, electrocuted whatever... and KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF ME!}" He dropped the towel because she was dry but his hands continued to linger on her body. "{Had fun last night?}" He said with a glint in his eyes. Horrible memories returned. She felt a deliberate soft brush against her right shoulder, immediately she turned to it. For a moment she thought she saw the six-legged creature again. Her skin began to itch and along came the fear also. "{Don't worry, I've run out of ants. Hmm... I've been thinking, what type of funeral do you want?}" She didn't answer him. She wanted to ask him to kill her now, that she wasn't afraid of death. But another part of her mind, the Amazon part told her that if she were to die, she had to pull him along with her. "{How about burying you in a wasteland? Well, you know like matters congregate together. Furthermore, you would have the company of worms, ANTS...}" After taking a moment to enjoy the cringe on her face on the mention of ants, he continued, "{Didn't like it? Ah, I got it. Cats like fish. I throw you into the sea and you get the perfect scenery of the ocean. Colourful fishes swimming around, making a meal out of you.}" She couldn't stand it anymore, "{What is your game?}" Ignoring her, he carried on. "{Cremation. That may do it. Like the old saying, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Hmm, I wonder if you are able to feel anything when your dead body is being burnt.}" She knew she was in for another torture. If only she found a way to break free from him. "{Mu Tsu, damn you. Are you a man? The river thing was an accident, don't put all the blame on me. You had a part in it.}" He didn't bother with her and went on, "{Ah, I just burn you before you turn in your last breath.}" Smiling happily, he finally met her eyes and nearly flinched. Mentally reminding himself not to look at her eyes or her face more than necessary, he resumed his act. Taking out a cigarette lighter, he flicked it on, missing the look of horror on her face as he followed his own advice. Hardening himself, he began teasing her body with the flame. She shifted to avoid it but he followed her every movement. Until she couldn't shift anymore, he exposed her to the full flame. There was minimal pain but the fear was immense. Trapped like a deer, she prayed very earnestly that he wasn't going to set her aflame now. She still hadn't given Mousse his rewards yet. He was very careful with the lighter, never lingering in the same place for too long. Being unclad, there was no danger of her clothes catching fire. It was just the naked flame and her naked body wiggling about. Even as he tried to convince himself, his resolve was burning out. He stopped suddenly. Silently she thanked the gods when he walked away from her. But she knew that he wasn't over with her. There were some clanking noise and shortly his voice floated in the air. "{I always had the hots for you, even now. It's just that it's in the form of a metal rod.}" Reappearing and holding onto a lighted, heated metal rod by its wooden handle, he gave her a long view of the elongated item. He held the rod hovering over her body, threatening to scald her with every movement. Everytime when he looked like he was going to drop it, her heart skipped a beat. She knew that there was no escape for her but it still didn't kept her from fearing or hoping for the best. He tried to drop the rod on her but at the last minute, he held back again. Fighting an internal struggle, he told himself that he must do it but something kept holding him back. After a while, she was wondering why wasn't him making a move. He seemed to be in some kind of struggle himself. His face was grimacing, his hand shaking slightly as he held the rod. Could it be... could it be that he didn't want to hurt her? But that was not possible. He killed Cologne, injured her, trapped her in this basement and was torturing her. She couldn't believe that she would think that he still loved her. But yet her heart wasn't convinced of her reasons. At the end, he didn't scald her with the rod as it had cooled down. Blaming himself, he swore silently under his breath, determined that he shouldn't fail again. Recalling the next step of his plan, he moved towards the sink and picked up the hose which was still attached to the tap. Turning it on, warm water gushed out. He was next to her now, hose in one hand. Forcing her mouth to open, he stashed the hose into her mouth. She turned sideways and tried to force the hose out but he kept holding it onto her. She began choking onto the water, swallowing it on mouthfuls. Her breath was starting to expire. Her face turning green from the suffocation. Then, it happened, the water stopped coming. She threw out all the water that was still on her mouth and began to take quick breaths. A hose fell noisily onto the floor, water spraying everywhere. She turned and saw Mousse taking a few paces back, a disbelieving look on his face. When he met her stare, she could see the panic and agony in his eyes. She was even more surprised when he ran away from the basement without a word. Could she be right? Did he still have feelings for her? Somehow, she had become more confident of her answer. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (China) Gradually, he opened his eyes and winced as the sunlight glared down at him. A face popped into his line of sight, sunlight forming a halo around it. Suddenly, he remembered. The proposal. The battle to win Ucchan as his bride. Her moves becoming vicious and deadly. Ucchan loudly proclaiming that she wanted revenge. That she didn't love him. Ranma shouted. Nothing. He paused in shock. He swallowed and tried to speak. Nothing. Only the sound of laughter, Ukyou's laughter. "You're finally awake, eh. Good. I wouldn't want all my efforts to go to waste. Aren't you going to ask me why I spared your life? No? Oh I forgot! You can't speak anymore." Ukyou laughed, taking pleasure in his shocked look. She watched as he opened and closed his mouth several times before giving up. He tried to get up but couldn't. He concentrated on moving his fingers but he couldn't feel them. He commanded his legs to stand but they wouldn't. he mentally screamed. "You see, I realized that killing you straight away was no fun at all. You'll be dying the way you wanted - in a battle. Nope, no way. After all that you and your father put me through, that is too light a punishment for you. I want you to _suffer_." She stared at him, her gaze cold and penetrating. "I want you to be crushed by the fact that you will be a quadriplegic for the rest of your life. To go back to Nerima and notice the looks of pity on the faces of your friends and joy from enemies. To see your dear Akane and silently watch her get married and have kids with someone else because you are no longer a man, no longer Saotome Ranma, the greatest martial artist in Nerima." Ranma frantically shook his head, not wanting to believe her, refusing to give up hope. After all, wasn't he Saotome Ranma, the guy who could overcome all odds? He kept on encouraging himself, blocking out Ukyou's endless tirade of sarcasm. Sensing that her victim wasn't as depressed as she had hoped, Ukyou leaned down until her face was inches away from his. "You still can't accept your fate, can you? You think you can wake up one morning and everything will be the way it was." Ukyou stared at his eyes. "I'll enjoy seeing hope fading away from those pretty eyes of yours." And she was right. End of Flashback---> --------------------------------------------------------------------- AUTHORS' NOTES: 1. What flashback, you ask? The flashback began in Part 1, in which Ukyou was reminiscing to an invalid Ranma.