Desire

By: Dreiser


	I stand on top of the high bridge and watch in satisfaction as 
the inhabitants of Nerima fall to the wayside. They might have never 
known it but all of them fell to him. He was the center of their universe 
and now he's gone.
	Unfortunately he's not gone for good. He and his little wife 
went on a training journey to improve his skills. I chuckle at the 
memory of the Amazon's defeat of him.
	How pathetic. Once I considered him a genuine opponent but 
now it seems that even hyped up girls who used to worship him can 
bring his defeat. And yet, for some reason he keeps trying. I would 
admire that if it wasn't so useless. He doesn't possess the drive to truly 
use his skills to the fullest. Like everyone else he lacks my vision.
	Folding my arms over my chest I gaze out over the well 
lighted district and pronounce.
	"Fools. All of them."
	A soft thump meets my ears and I shift my gaze to see a figure 
approach me in the darkness. Despite myself I smile on seeing her. 
Out of them all she's the one who could best understand my drives, 
my desires. After all, she was in many ways just like me.
	Too bad she was a part of the cache of victims to fall to his 
clumsy charms. What a waste. She does have such charming 
viciousness. I do appreciate that in a woman.
	"A lovely night, don't you think?"
	I smile at this. She's trying to make pleasantries. How very 
novel. I dip my head in admission as my eyes focus on her curvaceous 
frame nearing closer. She is quite the beauty.
	"I suppose."
	She stands next to me and her hair plays in the wind. I look to 
her and study her features. How could she ever want someone like 
him? He's weak next to me. I chuckle on thinking this. Hell, they're all 
weak next to me.
	"Missing your fem-boy?"
	Her eyes lock on me and I know many would shiver at the icy 
look she gives me. But I relish in it. I love the heat of confrontation. 
It's the breath of life itself.
	"Hardly."
	Tossing her hair over her shoulder she feigns boredom as she 
tilts her head upwards. A proud gesture for a proud woman. Oh the 
fun we could have together. She turns back to me and smiles slyly.
	"Why would feel the need to inquire such a thing? Perhaps 
you're missing him yourself?"
	I snort at this. No other response is needed. Me missing   
fem-boy? I miss him about as much as I miss my former name that 
Happosai gave me. Of course, in some ways he did present a 
challenge. That's something to be missed. I ponder this for a moment 
but stop as I sense her eyes on me. She's wearing an expression of 
satisfaction and I scowl at this. Damn her.
	I hate being proven wrong.
	Seeing my reaction she turns her attention back to the glowing 
cityscape of Nerima. I study her a moment before deciding to even 
the score.
	"I always wondered... what was the point in your pretending 
not to know what fem-boy really was? Soon as I saw you I knew 
what you were and what you were after."
	I pause to smile harshly as her eyes focus on me in narrowed 
anger.
	"You're not the type to chase after fairy tales so why try to 
make fem-boy into your Prince Charming by ignoring what he really 
is? You knew that he was a guy that changes into a girl and you 
pushed it aside by acting like you had no idea. They might have 
bought your crazy act but not me. I know better."
	"Oh? And how is that?"
	In a slow movement I step forward to leave only inches 
between us. She neither welcomes nor dismisses my approach. 
Instead she simply lets it happens with a quiet strength that intrigues 
me further. Moving my face closer I breath lightly against her lips.
	"Because we're exactly alike, you and I."
	She tilts her head to one side and studies me closely. As if I'm 
a puzzle she needs to put together.
	"Yes..."
	The word comes out slowly but it still comes out. I watch as 
she nears me to whisper in my ear.
	"We are alike, us two. Our desires are what we exist for and 
by that same measure it is our desires that will one day cause our 
undoing."
	"Maybe. But that's a long way coming."
	A catlike smile spreads across her features and she wraps her 
arms around my shoulders as she winds her fingers into my hair. In the 
moonlight her violet eyes shine with something I've seen many times in 
the mirror.
	Hunger. Desire. Ambition. Lust.
	We're a match, the two of us. I've known this since the first 
moment I saw her. And now it seems that she finally knows this as 
well.
	That's a good thing because an Emperor can hardly rule 
without his Empress. Every conqueror needs a confidant and now she 
will be mine.
	The words play in my mind and as I lean in closer to possess 
her lips with my own I say the names that will live forevermore in 
infamy.
	"Taro and Kodachi."
	It does have a nice ring to it.

-End-

Both characters in this fanfiction are from Ranma 1/2. This fanfiction 
was inspired by the works of the great goddess Rumiko Takahashi. 
This is part of the series of one shots I'm writing with the different 
character reactions/interactions after the wedding of Ranma and 
Akane. Like Shy and Obsession before this work was partially 
inspired by a song which, for me at least, defined Taro and Kodachi. 
Scroll down for the lyrics. Now I'm off to watch Slayers.

Send comments to: Dreiser1@ix.netcom.com

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"I want what I want, I want it now. I feel what I feel, don't bring me 
down. I know what I know, I don't know how. I want what I want, 
and I want it now."
-Lauren Christy-