All Ranma characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, first published
by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by Viz
Communications.

A Different Viewpoint: Curses and Demons
                Chapter 21

    As Mina's wandering hands started to wander a bit too freely, Rei
stamped firmly down on her libido and grabbed for her friend's arms,
stopping them from going any further.  "Mina, before you do anything you
might regret... this is NOT a dream."

    Mina froze.  "It isn't?"  She blinked.  "Are you sure?"  The blond
girl glanced around.  "If it's not a dream, then why am I taking a bath
with you?"  She nodded to herself.  "Besides, if it's my dream, why
would you know if it was real or not?"  Rei sighed and pinched Minako on
the fleshy part of her arm.  "Ow!"  Mina protested.  "That hurt!"

    Rei raised an eyebrow.  "And that means?"

    Mina paled.  "That this isn't a dream?"

    Rei nodded.  "I'd say so."

    Mina pulled away from Rei and slid over to the opposite side of the
tub in one quick motion.  "Eep!" After taking a couple deep breaths Mina
turned back to Rei with a guilty look.  "Rei, I'm sooo sorry!  I thought
I was dreaming and I would never seduce you in real life, I promise! 
Not that you're not really cute or anything but I'd never betray Artemis
like that, at least not without asking him first, not even with Luna,
you've got to believe me!"

    "OK, OK!"  Rei broke in, trying not to laugh.  "I believe you!  It's
OK."  She let out a chuckle.  "The look on your face!  Oh Mina, you
should have seen it!"  Rei couldn't hold back her laughter anymore.  "Oh
my, that was priceless!"  She brushed away a tear from laughing so
hard.  "I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh at you, but it was funny."

    Mina sighed.  "Don't tell anyone, please?"

    Rei nodded.  "I won't.  A person's dreams are private, after all." 
She raised an eyebrow.  "However, if you wouldn't mind telling me
something...?"

    Mina nodded.  "Sure, what?"

    Rei grinned mischievously.  "How long have you been dreaming about
me?"

    Mina flushed.  "Ah... heh... well...."

    Rei sighed.  "Never mind, Mina, I was just teasing.  It's OK if you
fantasize.  Everyone does.  I don't really mind."

    Mina took another deep breath, then raised an eyebrow.  "Is that
true?  Who do you fantasize about, Rei?"

    Now it was Rei's turn to blush.  "That's private, Mina."

    Mina hesitated.  "I won't tell anyone.  I promise I won't.  I'll
tell you if you tell me."

    Rei hesitated, then shook her head.  "No thanks, I can guess,
anyway.  You probably fantasize about Artemis all the time, Luna, Luna
and Artemis, Ranma, Ryoga, Mamoru... Mamoru and Usagi, me, Ami...
Makoto... me, Ami and Makoto, Haruka and Michiru... occasionally
Setsuna... Johnathon-san..."  She had been watching carefully as Minako
bushed a different shade of pink at each name, confirming her guesses. 
"Is there anyone I missed?"

    Mina stared at the corner of the room, refusing to meet Rei's gaze. 
"Akane."  She whispered.  "And Kasumi... and that okinamiyaki chef,
Ukyo...."

    Rei was silent for several seconds, then she sighed.  "So what?" 
She smiled slightly.  "Like I said, there's nothing wrong with
fantasizing.  Trust me, it's nothing unusual."

    Mina pouted.  "But now you know who I fantasize about.  It's not
fair that I don't know who you fantasize about."

    Rei sighed.  "I just guessed, Mina.  You didn't have to tell me."

    Mina frowned thoughtfully.  "Fine, two can play this piano...."

    "Game."  Rei corrected absently.

    Mina waved her off.  "Game this piano?  That doesn't make any
sense.  Anyway, I was guessing.  Let me see, you probably fantasize
about... um... Mamoru... and Usagi?"  The stiffening of Rei's body and
the slight flush on her face gave her away.  "You do!"  Mina crowed. 
"This is kinda fun.  I bet you fantasize about me too, and Makoto, and
Ami...."  Minako went on to name practically everyone they both knew,
getting progressively more ridiculous, until Rei started to laugh,
causing Minako to break into giggles as well.

    "Now some of those were just plan silly."  Rei said, still
chuckling.

    Minako giggled some more.  "But it was fun."

    Rei shook her head.  "Mina, Mina, Mina, whatever am I going to do
with you?"

    Mina shrugged innocently.  "I don't know, what do you want to do
with me?"

    Rei sighed, shaking her head.  "Unfortunately, Mina, this isn't
actually a fantasy, so I can't do what I might like to do...."  She
blushed.  "Did I say that?"

    Mina grinned.  "You sure did!"

    Rei closed her eyes.  "I think that's enough fantasy for now."

    "OK."  Mina murmured quietly.  "Back to reality.  How did I get into
the furo with you, Rei?  I remember heading for home...."

    Rei nodded.  "You were, but it started to rain, remember?"

    Mina blinked.  "Oh yeah, that's right... oh!  I changed into Akane,
didn't I?"

    Rei nodded again.  "She had no idea where she was when she... um,
when you turned into her, so she ended up calling the Tendos.  Kasumi
called me, so I went and got her and brought her back here."

    Mina nodded in understanding.  "And when she got into the furo, she
turned back into me."  The blond girl frowned.  "I guess she doesn't
know where anything is around here."

    Rei continued to nod.  "That's right.  Akane drowned in that spring
several months ago, before she met any of us.  I explained some of the
details about you and introduced her to Ami, but I think she should get
to know all of us as soon as possible, and we should probably show her
the way to everyone's house."

    Minako nodded worriedly.  "That's a good idea.  Boy, I didn't
realize how much work this curse would turn out to be!"

    Rei shrugged.  "We'll adapt sooner or later.  It's you and your
other half I'm worried about."  She looked at Minako in concern.  "Mina,
this can't be easy for you.  I know it's tough on Akane.  She feels
terribly guilty about "stealing your body" as she sees it."

    Mina looked indignant.  "It's not her fault!  It's nobody's fault,
except maybe Cliopatra and Mara's."  Her nose wrinkled.  "Darn it.  Rei,
tell Akane that I don't blame her for this when you see her again, OK?"

    Rei nodded.  "I will.  I wish there was a way for you two to meet."

    Mina sighed.  "Yeah, me too... wait a second, there is a way!  What
about using the spring of drowned twins!  Sure, we'd get an extra Akane,
but that's gotta be better than this!"

    Rei shook her head.  "Belldandy blew that spring up when she fell
into it, remember?"

    Mina blinked.  "Oh yeah.  Um... maybe we could... no... um...."  She
was silent for several minutes before finally speaking up again.  "I
know.  I'll get my dad's video camera, and I can tape her a message!"

    Rei nodded.  "That's really a good idea, Mina."  She looked
thoughtful.  "Although I suppose you could write her a note or something
if you had to."

    Mina nodded.  "Yeah!  I could carry a notebook in my purse.  Oh
yeah, I almost forgot.  I left my purse here earlier, Rei.  I was going
to come back for it tomorrow, but I guess I'll grab it now before I go
home again."

    Rei sighed.  "You're almost as forgetful as Usagi.  We have to talk
with Akane before you go home.  It's still raining anyway.  You probably
wouldn't make it home unless Akane takes you there."

    Mina nodded, sadly.  "I guess you're right."

    A familiar voice came into the furo from outside.  "Mina, are you in
there?"

    "Makoto!"  Mina called back.  "I'm here, come on in!"

    Makoto opened the door to the furo and slipped inside, followed by
Artemis.  "Hey, that water looks good!"  She exclaimed.  "Mind if we
join you?"

    Mina glanced at Rei, who shrugged.  "Not at all, come on in."

    Artemis backed away.  "That's OK.  I have this terrible shrinking
problem in hot water.  Mina, I'm glad to see you're alright."

    The white haired girl ducked out of the bath, and Makoto started
getting undressed.  "Man, I'm soaked through.  It was really pouring out
there."

    Mina looked contrite.  "You were looking for me, weren't you?"

    Makoto finished getting undressed and started pouring some water to
rinse her hair.  "You'd do the same for me."

    Minako brightened.  "Sure I would!"

    The taller girl soon joined the other two in the furo, sighing in
pleasure as the heat permeated her muscles.  "That's great.  I wish I
had one of these at home."

    Rei smiled.  "You're welcome over here."

    Makoto nodded.  "I know, but it still would be nice to have a furo
at home."

    Mina nodded enthusiastically.  "I know what you mean.  All we have
is one of those puny western bathtubs in my house.  You can't DO
anything in one of those."

    Rei and Makoto looked at her in interest.  "And what, pray tell,
would you DO?"  Rei asked pointedly.  "If you had a furo instead of a
tub that is."

    Mina blinked.  "Well, you can fit more than one person in a furo so
you can...."  She blushed.

    Makoto raised an eyebrow.  "Yes?"

    Mina shook her head.  "Oh, never mind."  When the girls had gotten
their fill of soaking, they dressed and joined Ami and Artemis in Rei's
room.

    Ami looked up when they came in and reported the current news. 
"Hotaru called.  All of the outers made it home safely.  Kasumi called
in to see if Mina got in OK.  Pretty much everyone else has checked in
now.  The only one still out searching is Ranma.  No one's managed to
let him know that Mina's been found yet."

    Rei nodded.  "Well, I suppose Ranma can take care of himself.  I'm
sure he'll check in with someone before too long."

    Ami nodded.  "That's true.  I called my mother, and she was fine
with me waiting out the storm here.. if you don't mind, Rei?"

    The shrine maiden shook her head.  "Of course not.  You can all stay
if you want."

    Makoto shrugged.  "Might as well.  It's starting to get real late,
and I don't want to waste that great bath."

    Rei smiled.  "It's settled then.  We can all sleep in here tonight."

    "I can't."  Minako broke in regretfully.  "My folks are asleep by
now, but if I'm not home in the morning I'll get in trouble for sure. 
My folks are used to me coming in late, but not coming in at all.... I
don't think so."

    Artemis spoke up.  "I can show Akane the way to Mina's house, and we
can use the bathroom next to Mina's room to change back."

    Mina nodded.  "That's a good idea, Artemis."  She sighed.  "I guess
we had better get going then."

    Rei spoke up.  "While you're here, though, let's introduce Akane to
Makoto and Artemis.  It shouldn't take too long."

    Mina nodded again.  "OK, I'll go stand in the rain!"

    She started to go outside when Artemis stopped her.  "You don't need
to get your dress soaked again.  A cup of water over your head will do
it."

    Mina looked almost disappointed but nodded.  "OK."

    Rei headed off for the kitchen.  "I'll get some water."

    Moments after Rei had left, a muffled voice came in from outside.
"Rei?  Rei, are you here?"

    Mina threw open the door at the sound of the voice.  "That's Ranma!
Hey Ranma, over here!"  Ranma was indeed coming across the yard toward
Rei's room, and his face lit up with relief at seeing Minako.

    "Hey, Mina!  Man am I glad you're OK.  I heard that you'd... um...
got turned into Akane, and since she don't know where you live or
nothin...."  Ranma shrugged.  "Anyway, I'm glad to see you're OK."

    Rei came back into the room, carrying a glass of cold water. 
"Ranma!"

    Minako grabbed the pigtailed boy's arm and pulled him into the room
and over to Rei.  "Come on in, Ranma. I've got someone here who I'm sure
wants to see you."

    Ranma blinked but went along bemusedly.  "What are you talking
about?  Who wants to see me?"

    Mina deftly took the glass of water from Rei, then wrapped Ranma up
in a close hug with one arm and both legs before answering.  "Akane
does!"

    Before anyone could react to this, and before Ranma could pry the
blond girl off him, Mina tipped the glass of water over her head,
changing into a very startled looking Akane.

    "What...?  Ranma?"  Akane very nearly stopped breathing.  "Why...
why are you...?"

    Ranma looked ready to panic.  "Akane, it ain't what it looks like! 
Mina hugged me and splashed herself.  I didn't do nothin!"

    Akane blinked several times as she attempted to decipher what the
pig-tailed boy was saying, but her close proximity to Ranma was making
it very hard to think clearly.  "What?  I don't...."  The confusion did
allow his explanation time to filter in before she had time to get angry
at him, however.  "OK Ranma."  Akane finally said.  "I believe you."

    Ranma blinked incredulously.  "You do?"

    Akane nodded, tapping him on the head with the empty glass in her
right hand.  "I'm still holding the evidence."  Reluctantly she
extracted herself from Ranma, who also seemed slightly reluctant to
release her.  The quartet of goggling teenage girls around him turned
out to be enough motivation for him to let go.  "Ranma."  Akane repeated
quietly.  "You came looking for me because I was lost?"

    Ranma put his hand behind his head nervously.  "Yeah, well, everyone
went.  We were kinda worried about ya."  He waved a hand dismissively. 
"Not me of course.  I know you can take care of yourself."

    Akane shot him a dirty look.  "Built like a gorilla and twice as
strong, huh?"

    Ranma shrugged.  "Nah, I know you're smart.  You can handle yourself
when there's trouble.  It's not like getting lost is gonna stop you for
long."  He grinned.  "And you're here, so I guess I was right."

    Akane just started at Ranma incredulously.  < Why doesn't he insult
me?>  "Well...."  She started hesitantly, waiting for Ranma to pounce on
any sign of weakness.  "I had to call Kasumi collect, and she got Rei to
come and get me...."  Akane waited for Ranma to laugh, call her a stupid
girl, anything, but he just nodded.

    "Yeah, that was pretty smart."  Ranma said easily.  "I'd have
probably done something dumb, like wandering around till I recognized
somthin."

    Akane blinked twice, then her eyes narrowed.  "Wait a minute." 
Stepping forward, she grabbed Ranma's collar and hoisted the pig-tailed
youth up to his toes with a growl.  "Who are you and what have you done
with Ranma?!?"

    Ranma put his hands gently over Akane's.  "Kane, it's really me."

    "No way!"  Akane growled.  "What happened to the tomboy jokes,
making fun of how strong I am, telling me I'm weak or stupid?"

    Ranma winced.  "Hey, I was an idiot, OK?  I never really meant that
stuff, I was just...." < Afraid.> "I just didn't want our pops to marry
us just like that... and I... I didn't really know how you felt... I
was..." < Afraid> "I thought you'd just laugh if I told you how I really
felt...."

    Akane slowly put Ranma down, staring at him in growing
astonishment.  "R-Ranma?"  The room was deathly quiet, the other girls
not daring to breathe as they crept as quietly as mice from the room. 
For Akane, she could see nothing but Ranma in front of her.  She
couldn't think, could barely breathe.  Finally she found the willpower
to ask the question.  "How... how do you really feel?"

    Ranma looked her right in the eyes and smiled.  "I love you."  He
shook his head whimsically.  "You can't believe how hard it was for me
to say that... the first few dozen times, anyway.  Now I got it down.
It's easy, cause it's true.  I love you, Akane.  I have for a long time
now."

    Akane felt weak, her knees were knocking, and a feather could have
keeled her over.  You... you... you...."

    Ranma nodded.  "I love you, yeah.  Why else would I have married
you?"

    Akane shook her head.  "No... you love her... the real Akane.  I'm
just a copy."  She turned away, unable to look at him any longer. 
"Just... just go back to your Akane."

    Ranma put his hand on her shoulder.  "You ARE her, Akane, my Akane,
in every way that counts.  You're a few months younger, and you're
sharin space with Minako, but you're still Akane, and I still love you."

    Akane turned into him furiously, beating her fists into his chest. 
"You can't!  You're already married, you idiot!  You can't love me too! 
You can't marry me too!"

    Ranma endured the beating for several seconds, then stepped into it,
trapping Akane's fists against his chest and hugging her to him again.
"Hey, hey, it's going to be alright, Akane.  I don't know how yet, but
it's going to be alright, I promise."

    Akane was quiet for a minute, crying silently into Ranma's chest
before looking up at his face again.  "It won't work, Ranma.  I don't
see how it could.  I mean, even if I'd be willing to share you... and
I'm not so sure I could manage to do that... even if I could, what
then?  What would people think about you having two wives?"

    Ranma shook his head.  "We'll deal with it  It's not like we're the
only ones with this kind of problem.  I mean Johnathon, Kasumi and Misty
have pretty much the same situation going on, and they're not going to
let anything break them up."

    Akane blinked.  "Misty?  Who is that?"

    Ranma raised an eyebrow.  "Oh yeah, you've missed a lot haven't
you?"  He scratched his chin.  "Um, you see, on the honeymoon, um... on
the way into the hotel room...."

    "Wait, I remember this."  Akane broke in.  "Rei was telling me. 
"Kasumi and you were split into two people... so Misty must be
Kasumi's... um... other half?"

    Ranma nodded.  "Yeah.  If she and Kasumi and Johnathon can be
married to each other, I don't see why we can't."

    Akane looked confused.  "Wait, isn't Kasumi's other half a cat?  How
can they...?"  She shook her head.  "No... that's right, Johnathon is a
cat half the time too."  Akane shook her head again.  "That's so
strange.  My big sister is a cat... and married to a guy who turns into
a cat."  She frowned.  "How in the world did that happen, anyway?  Don't
tell me that Shampoo had anything to do with it?"

    Ranma looked uncomfortable.  "It's a long story, but the person
really at fault is this lady named Cliopatra.  She was trying to get
Johnathon to be her personal slave or something, and when he and Kasumi
got real close, she tried kidnapping Kasumi to make him surrender to
her."

    Akane blinked.  "Kasumi got kidnapped?  I thought that sort of thing
only happened to you and me."

    Ranma shrugged.  "Maybe it has something to do with Jusenkyo.  If
you're cursed, or know someone who is cursed, a lot more weird stuff
seems to happen to yah."  He frowned.  "I hope that's not it, but I'm
starting to think that's why our lives have been so crazy in the last
year."

    Akane nodded.  "I guess it does make a crazy kind of sense. 
Johnathon has a curse too, so if he and Kasumi got engaged, I guess it
makes sense for weird stuff to happen to her too.  So, Kasumi got
kidnapped.  How did she get cursed?"

    Ranma scratched his chin.  "It's a little complicated.  You see,
Johnathon brought water from the spring of drowned girl, drowned boy,
and drowned cat back from Jusenkyo, hoping it could somehow be used for
a cure.  When he went to rescue Kasumi, he brought the water from the
spring of drowned cat with him as a bargaining chip."

    Akane broke in.  "He cursed Kasumi?  How could he...?  I...."

    Ranma interrupted her.  "Hey!  I wasn't finished yet, OK?  Johnathon
had smuggled Shampoo and Ryoga in with him in his bags...."  Ranma
winced, suddenly realizing what he had just let slip.

    "He smuggled Ryoga in his bags?"  Akane asked in confusion.  "How in
the world could he do that?"

    Ranma laughed nervously.  "Heh... you should probably ask Ryoga
about that... it's not my place to say."  < One revelation at at time!>
Putting his hand behind his head and trying not to break out into a
sweat, Ranma continued.  "So anyway, they found out that Cliopatra had
kept Kasumi locked up in this maze full of death traps, and they
couldn't figure out any way of getting her out of there.  At least not
until Shampoo figured out that while a person couldn't make it through
the traps, a cat could go through them without setting any of them off.
So while Johnathon and Ryoga were sleeping, Shampoo snuck off to see
Kasumi, and she dragged Johnathon's bottle of water from the spring of
drowned man with her, as well as a note to Kasumi, explaining what her
plan was."

    Ranma sighed.  "The note Shampoo brought Kasumi explained about the
traps and told her about the drowned cat water she had brought.  Kasumi
decided to curse herself so she could escape, and she did."

    Akane's face grew angry again.  "Shampoo!  I knew it had to be her
that got Kasumi cursed."

    Ranma shook his head.  "Kasumi decided to do it on her own. 
Johnathon, Ryoga, you... everybody was mad at Shampoo when they found
out what had happened, but Kasumi insisted that it had been her
decision, and not to blame Shampoo for it."  He nodded to himself.
"Shampoo fought as hard as any of us to save Kasumi.  She took a big
risk, sneaking in like that in Johnathon's pack, and it couldn't have
been much fun, either.  I don't blame Shampoo for what happened, I blame
the ones who kidnapped Kasumi in the first place."

    Akane frowned, then sighed.  "I guess so.  What happened to that
woman though, Cliopatra?"

    Ranma looked grim.  "Well, we beat her and her little army that
time, when she came out of her fortress to chase Kasumi and the others
down.  The rest of us were waiting and we kicked some serious ass, I can
tell you!"

    Akane nodded, unsurprised.  "And Cliopatra?"

    Ranma grinned for a moment.  "After the battle, we convinced her
people how badly she had been tricking them, and she got demoted from
high priestess to scullery maid."

    Akane blinked.  "High priestess?"  She shook her head.  "Never mind,
I can guess.  She was the leader of her own religious cult, right?"

    Ranma nodded.  "Yeah, you see there's this long lost tribe of
ancient Egyptians hidden in the mountains of China...."

    Akane rolled her eyes.  "Of course there is."  She raised an
eyebrow.  "So that was the end of it?"

    Ranma looked uncomfortable.  "Well... not really.  Cliopatra
eventually escaped.  She was behind all of our recent trouble, with the
help of a Demoness called Mara.  She was the one who got Kuno to trap
our hotel room with the water from the spring of drowned twins, and
lured us to Jusenkyo so she could get revenge on us for defeating her
the first time.  That's how Sailor Venus fell into your spring, Akane,
fighting to stop Cliopatra.  When the Senshi found out that it was a
trap, they came to Jusenkyo to help us, but a whole lot of them got
cursed in the process."  He shook his head angrily.  "She should have
left it between her and us, not gone and gotten others involved."  Ranma
took a long breath.  "Well, she's paying the price for it, most likely."

    Akane blinked.  "She's paying the price?  What do you mean?"

    Ranma shrugged.  "You remember I said she had gotten a Demoness to
help her?  Well, at the end, the Demoness grabbed Cliopatra and
teleported away.  I don't even want to guess what happened to her after
that."

    Akane grimaced.  "Oh."  She looked curiously at Ranma.  "A real
Demon?"

    "Demoness."  Ranma corrected.  "And yeah, it looks like it.  From
what I've seen, and from what I've been told, Mara is the real thing
alright."

    Akane nodded slowly.  "I think I saw her.  Was Mara that... strange
creature I saw?  It looked almost human, but it was covered in white
fur, with claws and teeth, and eyes like a cat."

    Ranma blinked.  "Er... no.  Mara looks pretty much normal.  She's
blond, wears black leather...."

    Akane looked confused.  "Than who... or what was I fighting?  Some
sort of lesser demon?"

    Ranma shook his head.  "No, no, I think you're talking about
Shampoo.  I didn't see it myself, but I heard she picked up a drowned
girl curse."

    Akane looked shocked.  "Shampoo?  You're kidding!  Wait, how does
that work?"

    Ranma blinked.  "Oh yeah, you weren't here for that either.  When
Johnathon first came back from Jusenkyo he revealed the fact that the
Jusenkyo curses don't cancel each other out, they mix.  Remember how
Taro picked up his tentacles?"

    Akane nodded slowly.  "Yes, I think so."

    Ranma shrugged.  "That should have tipped us off I guess, but it
wasn't until Johnathon came back that we figured it out.  Johnathon
tried jumping into the spring of drowned man when he got to Jusenkyo,
and his curse got changed.  Now he turns into a half cat, half man when
he gets wet, kinda like Shampoo does now."

    Akane's eyes were wide.  "Oh... oh my."

    Ranma nodded seriously.  "Pretty scary stuff, huh?  I am soooo lucky
I never managed to get any drowned man water, huh?"  He shivered. 
"Being a girl was bad enough."

    Akane looked at him in sudden wonder.  "That's right!  You don't
change into a girl anymore!  You ran here in the rain, and you're still
a boy."  She smiled sweetly.  "Ranma, I'm so happy for you."
 
    Ranma frowned.  "Ah, well...."  He shook his head.  "I don't know
why exactly, but I would have almost preferred not to get cured... not
at the price."

    Akane looked at Ranma intently.  "I thought you'd give anything to
be a guy for good, Ranma.  What changed?"

    Ranma's frown deepened.  "Not ANYTHING, Akane.  I think you should
have realized that by now."

    Akane blushed, then looked at her feet.  "I'm sorry.  I do know
that.  You've sacrificed your cure to save me... more than once in
fact."  She looked up at his face searchingly.  "You wouldn't have
wanted anyone to get cursed to help you.... and... and when you were
split...."

    Ranma sighed.  "Ranko took the girl curse for me, and she hates
being a girl as much as I did.  She is me, or was, before we split. 
Close enough, anyway."

    Akane looked sad.  "Ranko... you named her after what we called your
girl side when you were hiding from your mother?"

    Ranma nodded.  "Yeah, well, we got used to the name, and Nabiki had
gotten some paperwork made out for my girl side too... just in case, so
it made sense."

    Akane nodded absently.  "And the new Kasumi's name is Misty?  The
English version of her name, right?"  She sighed.  "I guess I should
take a new name as well... so nobody gets confused, at least."

    Ranma shrugged.  "I guess so, if ya want to.  You don't have to take
a new name if you don't want to."

    Akane shrugged with a smile.  "I don't mind.  It might be kind of
fun, having a new name."

    Ranma grinned.  "Well, I don't think "Red" fits, although Angry
Cloud...."

    Akane growled and slugged him.  "Do you WANT me to get angry?"  She
said the last word in English to make her point.

    "Hey, hey!"   Ranma raised his hands in surrender.  "I was only
kidding, really!"  He winked.  "After all, no one would ever think of
you as angry, would they?"

    Akane's eyes flashed.  "Why you!"  In a moment she was chasing Ranma
around and around the room, while the pig tailed martial artist laughed
happily and kept just out of her reach.  Before long, Akane was laughing
too, and the chase ended with the two of them giggling insanely at each
other until they were panting and out of breath.  After several minutes,
Akane spoke up, her voice calm again.  "Ranma, tell me the truth, OK?"

    Ranma nodded quietly, noting the intensity in Akane's expression. 
"What?"

    "What..."  Akane started slowly, hesitating.  "What happened to
Ranko, to your female half?  Where is she now?"

    Ranma hesitated.  "You mean where she would be if she weren't out
looking for you?"

    Akane nodded, still a bit surprised at Ranma's behavior.  "Yes."

    Ranma took a deep breath.  "At Ucchan's place, most likely."

    Akane sighed.  "That's what I thought.  Rei was dancing around the
subject when I asked, and we never got back to it."  She hesitated. "Are
they... are they...?"  She shook her head.  "I'm not sure what I'm even
asking."

    "They're getting married."  Ranma answered quietly.  "Pretty soon. 
Ukyo's legally a boy it turns out, so Nabiki's figured out how they can
tie the knot legally."

    Akane took a deep breath of her own, as if trying to accept that,
then blinked.  "Wait a second, you were just at Jusenkyo, right?  Why
didn't Ranko jump into the spring of drowned man?  Then she... he could
marry Ukyo as a guy."

    Ranma shook his head.  "We thought of that.  That was one of the
reasons we went, but the curses don't work like that.  Misty tested it
out, just in case, but even when we're split the curses still mix.  When
Misty jumped into the spring of drowned girl, she became a half cat like
Johnathon and Shampoo... and Cliopatra for that matter.  We figured that
Ranko had better not try it."

    Akane looked shocked.  "So many...."  She frowned.  "Hey!  Why did
Kasumi have to test it?"

    Ranma threw up his hands.  "It was her idea!  Besides, it's better
than her being stuck as a normal cat."

    Akane glared at him.  "Oh, and why is that?  Now she's some sort
of... of...."

    Ranma raised an eyebrow.  "Some sort of what?"

    Akane flushed.  "... I don't know what.  But people will be scared
of her.  They might hurt her...."

    Ranma nodded.  "She knew that, Akane.  Johnathon's gone through the
same thing.  People call him a monster, and attack him for no reason. 
The Senshi even attacked him once."  He shook his head.  "But I don't
think you really understand the alternative.  She was stuck as a cat,
Akane.  She couldn't speak, couldn't do nothing a human can do.  I mean,
Johnathon and Kasumi treated her real good, but she was getting tired of
having nothing to do.  Even I could tell that much.  She wasn't able to
be anything more than a pet like that, she couldn't even... er... do...
um... you know...."

    Akane blinked, trying to figure out what Ranma was blushing about,
then suddenly realized.  "Oh!"  She blushed as well.  "Oh, I guess I
can... understand that.  I guess it makes sense..."  She said at a
whisper.  "They're married after all."  She blushed even brighter as she
tried pushing an image of Johnathon and two Kasumis, one human, one
half-cat (although she wasn't really sure what a half-cat Kasumi would
look like) in a compromising position, out of her head.  Her eyes
suddenly went wide as an image of her, wearing a red bow in her hair,
(and nothing else) Ranma and another short haired Akane replaced the
image of Johnathon, Kasumi and Misty.  "Is that what you want?"  Akane
looked indignant.  "Two girls at once?  You pervert!"

    Ranma just raised an eyebrow.  "Is that what you think?  I happen to
know for a fact which one of us is the real pervert, Akane, and it ain't
me.  We're married, remember.  I know all your little secrets."

    Akane flushed bright red.  "What are you... oh my god... you...
she... I...."

    Ranma nodded matter-of-factly.  "I happen to know exactly how
perverted you are, Akane.  I'm not the one who started all of the stuff
we've been doing every night since we got married."  He shrugged.  "Not
that I mind none.  Most of it anyway."

    Akane was blanching.  "Ach!  No!  No no no no no no!"  She shook her
head wildly.  "Stop!  I don't want to hear any more!"

    Ranma chuckled.  "Then I guess you don't want to hear about the
scheme you and Ukyo cooked up for trading Ranko and me?"

    Akane's eyes went wide as saucers.  "I DIDN'T!?!"

    Ranma nodded smugly.  "Oh yes you did.  I had nothing to do with it,
and I wouldn't have ever even thought of it, so you and Ucchan planned
on getting us drunk and seducing us.  You wanted Ranko, and Ukyo wanted
me...."  He snickered.  "You should have seen the looks on your faces
when we caught you!"

    Akane was shaking her head in denial.  "I wouldn't, I couldn't!"

    Ranma raised his eyes innocently.  "Well it was kind of hard to deny
it after Ranko and I caught you and Ukyo in bed together... and trust
me, you weren't sleeping!"

    Akane's eyes threatened to pop out of her head.  "UKYO?  No way, you
must have gotten it wrong!"

    Ranma relented.  "Well, it was kinda a mistake.  Both you and Ukyo
mistook the other for Ranko in the dark, and while that's understandable
enough for Ukyo, you sure didn't have any excuse.  It's not like you
could mistake Ukyo for me, after all."

    Akane sat down with a thump on Rei's bed.  "I... how could I?"

    Ranma sat down next to her, looking apologetic.  "Hey, it's not like
I minded you being... well... exciting.  You've always been the smarter
one of us, Akane.  Ya got a good imagination, and I can't complain.
Going after Ranko like you did... well I can understand that too.  You
love her the same way you love me.  You didn't want to give either of us
up.  If it hadn't been for my idiot pop making that promise to marry me
to Ukyo, you wouldn't have had to... but momma pointed out that if there
was a way to honor both promises, we were honor bound to do so, no
matter how much it hurt."

    Akane sat there looking stunned.  "I just don't believe any of
this.  What was I thinking?"

    Ranma shook his head.  "Don't worry about it too much, Akane.  It
all turned out OK.  Well, except for the part where you and Ukyo...." 
He coughed.  "Anyway, don't be too hard on yourself.  Ya had the best
intentions."

    Akane shot Ranma a suspicious glance.  "You're not just making all
of this up, are you?"

    Ranma shook his head.  "Do you think I have that good an
imagination?  Besides, if you don't believe me, you can just ask
yourself."

    Akane frowned.  "Don't think I won't!  True or not, I have to talk
to... her.  That's for sure."

    Ranma nodded.  "You really should."

    Akane sighed.  "The problem is, I can't help but believe you.  It
sounds just crazy enough to be my life."  She shook her head.  "So you,
Akane, Ukyo and Ranko are... um...."

    Ranma nodded slowly.  "We're supposed to be switching partners... or
at least, that's the plan.  I'm actually not sure how we're going to do
it, but me and Ranko agreed to let you and Ukyo trade us.  Ukyo's'
supposed to be my mistress... and I guess Ranko's yours... or maybe
you're hers?  I dunno.  We ain't actually done nothin yet, at least, not
me and Ukyo.  I can't say if the other you hasn't er... you know."  He
looked embarrassed.  "I ain't used to talking about this stuff yet...
but I gotta!"  Ranma looked Akane in the eyes.  "Cause I want you to...
be with me, with us... just like the other you wants Ranko and me, and
like Johnathon-san wants both Kasumi and Misty."

    "You're all perverts."  Akane stated flatly, looking away from
Ranma.  "And I guess... that I must be one too... because I want to
accept.  I do!"  She shook her head.  "But I can't  This body is not my
own.  This life is not mine to control!"  Akane tightened her hands into
fists.  "It is a martial artist's duty to protect the weak, and while
Sailor Venus might not be weak, this curse is a serious handicap for
her.  I'm the only one who can protect her from it.  I can't let myself
do anything that would cause me to steal her life away, and going with
you would be doing just that."

    Ranma hesitated.  "I could talk to Minako.  We could...."

    "NO!"  Akane shouted.  "You will not!"  Her voice held the tone of
command, her eyes were flashing.  "You will not try and convince that
poor girl to give me her life.  It's hers, not mine.  Every minute I am
here is one that she is not.  If you do manage to get her to give up
part of her life for me, I won't accept it.  It wouldn't be right!"

    Ranma was opening and closing his mouth.  "Akane... I...."

    Just then, Rei stuck her head into the room, a worried expression on
her face.  "Is everything alright?  We heard shouting...."

    Akane turned to her almost with relief.  "Rei?  Could someone please
come and show me the way to Minako's house?  I really should get her
back home so she can change back."

    Ranma spoke up.  "Wait a sec..."

    Akane looked at him somberly.  "Please."  Ranma's throat closed up
at the look of pleading on her face.  "Please don't make this any harder
than it has to be."

    Ranma hesitated.  "Can... can I walk you home at least?"

    Akane hesitated as well before shaking her head.  "No... no, I don't
think that would be wise."  Ranma's hands clenched and unclenched as he
fought to keep from screaming in frustration.

    Sensing the tension in the room Rei swallowed heavily and started
backing out.  "Um... I'll go get Artemis, he can take you to Mina's
house."

    Rei vanished through the doorway, and Ranma moved closer to Akane,
trying to take her in his arms.  "Akane, I...."

    "NO!"  Akane lashed out with a fist, launching Ranma into the air,
and thankfully out the still open door, rather than through the roof.

    Artemis peeked her head into the room.  "What's going on?"

    Akane looked at the white haired girl wildly.  "Who are you?"

    "Artemis."  The girl announced, looking confused.  "Where did Ranma
go?"

    "Never mind that."  Akane insisted, rushing over to her and taking
the smaller girl by the hand.  "Please just come on.  You're here to
take me to Minako's house, right?"

    Artemis nodded slowly.  "Sure, but...."

    Akane hauled the cursed girl outside in a matter of moments, not
letting her finish.  "Great, let's go!  We should hurry, OK?"  Hauling
the bemused girl behind her, Akane put several blocks of distance
between them and the shrine before slowing down.  "It's this way,
right?"  Akane finally asked as she started slowing down a bit."

    Artemis nodded, faintly surprised.  "That's right.  Hey, how could
you know that?"

    Akane shook her head.  "I woke up over this way, and Minako was
headed home before the rain started, right?  That means she lives over
this way some where."

    Artemis nodded.  "She does.  That's a pretty neat piece of
reasoning."

    Akane shrugged.  "The prospect of ones own death concentrates the
mind wonderfully." 

    Artemis's eyes went wide.  "What?!?"

    Akane shot her a wry grin.  "Something I heard once.  I'm not
actually going to die... although suddenly ceasing to exist, then coming
back without warning is kind of like dying and being reborn, don't you
think?" 

    Artemis looked uncomfortable.  "I guess."

    Akane spoke up again.  "Maybe you'd be more impressed by this bit of
logic.  You've got a Jusenkyo curse, don't you?"

    Artemis blinked.  "How did you know?"

    Akane shrugged again.  "Well, you look a little bit like Ranma's
female form, except for your hair being white.  Anyway, Rei called you
"he" when she said she'd get you to show me the way to Minako's home. 
So, you must be cursed to turn into a girl, like Ranma, right?"

    Artemis hesitated before answering.  "I do have a Jusenkyo
curse...."

    Akane grinned.  "Now how's that for deductive logic?  I bet Ranma
would be surprised...."  She shook her head.  "Anyway, I know the Senshi
were at Jusenkyo, and there's only one guy member of the team... so
you're Tuxedo Mask, right?"

    Artemis laughed.  "Mamoru would be surprised to hear that!"  The
white haired girl shook her head.  "It's a good guess, Akane, but no.
I'm not Tuxedo Mask."

    Akane blinked.  "Oh."  She looked at Artemis curiously.  "Well, you
know about the Senshi, and you're the one Rei thought should take me
home so... you're... Mina's... boyfriend?"

    Artemis hesitated.  "Sort of, I guess.  It's a bit difficult to
explain."

    Akane looked thoughtful.  "Well, if you don't mind, could you try? 
I'm going to be part of Mina's life, so it might help if I knew as much
as possible."

    Artemis nodded.  "I'll do my best to explain, Akane, although much
of this is a secret from most people."

    Akane nodded quickly.  "I'll keep Minako's secrets.  They're mine
too, after all."

    Artemis sighed.  "That's true enough.  Well, even after everything
else you've heard and seen this might sound a little strange."

    Akane smiled through the light rain.  "Only a little strange?  That
would be a nice change."

    Artemis laughed out loud.  "I know what you mean!"  The white haired
girl sobered quickly.  "Well, to start with, I may be cursed to become a
girl, but my normal form is not a human male.  I'm actually a moon
cat... a male one.   I, and Luna, are the Senshi's advisors, sent from
the moon to help them."

    Akane was staring at him in confusion.  "You're a cat, from the
moon?  I don't understand...."

    Artemis sighed.  "I told you that it's hard to believe.  Yes, I'm a
cat.  Luna and I look like normal earth cats but we're not.  We're from
the moon, in the distant past.  We can talk, and we served the moon
kingdom as advisors for many years."

    Akane raised an eyebrow.  "A kingdom on the moon?  That sounds like
a child's fairy tale."

    Artemis shook her head.  "I didn't think you'd believe it...."

    Akane stopped her.  "No, no, I believe you.  Like you said, it's not
all that much stranger than everything else I've seen.  You're a magical
talking cat that turns into a girl whenever you're splashed with cold
water?  I can handle that."  She raised her eyebrow.  "So when you said
you were "sort of" Minako's boyfriend... it's because you're not a boy,
right?"  Akane looked a bit disturbed.  "You... er... how do... er... I
mean, are you two...?"

    Artemis sighed again.  "If you're asking if we're intimate, the
answer is yes."

    Akane blushed.  "Oh... ah... it's not really any of my business...
really."

    Artemis hesitated.  "Well, it is, in a way.  You're sharing space
with Mina now, and you have a right to know about things that might
affect you."  She shrugged helplessly.  "Knowing how chaotic these
curses make things, we're sure to get into an embarrassing situation or
two, so it's better if you know the truth about Minako and me."

    Akane nodded.  "I can understand that, I guess."  She shook her head
wryly.  "It's embarrassing enough just being me.  It's not going to get
any more embarrassing being the cursed half of a girl with a half cat,
half girl lover."

    Artemis blinked.  "Er... right."  The white haired girl put a hand
on Akane's shoulder.  "Hey, YOU shouldn't have anything to be
embarrassed about."  She said reasonably.

    Akane laughed hysterically at that.  "You don't know, do you?  You
have no idea!"  She looked at Artemis with a pained expression.  "You
haven't heard what the real Akane Tendo's... or I should say Akane
Saotome has been up to since she drowned at Jusenkyo?  I don't have any
reason to judge you and Minako."

    Artemis blinked.  "Akane has...?"  She shook her head.  "It doesn't
matter.  It doesn't matter to me, and it won't to Minako.  As you said,
who are we to judge?  Who is anyone to judge, for that matter?"

    Akane hesitated.  "Well... what... I keep thinking that my big
sister would be so disappointed in me if she knew how... well, how Akane
is acting."

    Artemis raised an eyebrow.  "Kasumi?  I wouldn't be so sure about
that if I were you.  If anyone could understand how a Jusenkyo curse, or
three or four, can lead to some... strange relationships, and really
embarrassing situations, it would be Kasumi.  She's been naked in public
almost as many times as I have, she loses her clothes all the time, she
enjoys a healthy relationship with a man that turns into a half-cat, who
she's also currently sharing with a Jusenkyo twin of herself who's a cat
girl."

    Akane was flabbergasted.  "My big sister?  Kasumi?  I don't... I
can't... really?"

    Artemis nodded frankly.  "I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried. 
Now if someone like Kasumi can get into a mess like that, people like
you and me shouldn't have anything to be embarrassed about, eh?"

    Akane laughed.  "Well, if you put it that way, I guess not!"  The
two girls walked in a comfortable silence after that, Akane following
Artemis's lead through the maze of streets leading to Minako's home.

    "Here we are!"  Artemis announced cheerfully.  "So, do you think you
can find it again?"

    Akane nodded.  "I think so.  I should be able to find my way back to
the shrine too, if I have to."

    Artemis nodded.  "Good."  The moon cat turned girl hesitated.  "I
believe that Mina's parents lock the front door.  Did you...?"  She
looked Akane over once.  "We forgot to get Mina's purse, didn't we?" 
Artemis shrugged.  "Oh well, I guess we'll just have to go back for
it...."  She glanced upwards.  "Or we could try the window.  Makoto and
I did leave it open."

    Akane followed the white haired girl's glance, then nodded.  "I can
make that, no problem."

    Artemis wrinkled her nose.  "So could I, as a cat, anyway.  I'm not
up to jumps like that as a human, though.  Not yet, anyway."

    Akane stepped onto the wet grass under Minako's bedroom window and
looked up.  "No problem.  Hold on a second."  She jumped up, tapping the
window to open it fully, landing solidly in the grass, her feet slipping
just a little but managing to keep her balance.  "OK."  She put her
hands together under the window.  "Go on, I'll give you a boost."

    Artemis hesitated.  "Um... a boost?"  She stepped forward
cautiously.  "You want me to step on your hands?"

    Akane raised an eyebrow, then nodded.  "That's how it's done. 
You've never done this before, have you?"

    Artemis shook her head.  "Not really...."  She blinked.  "Haven't
I?  I can't quite remember...."  She shook her head again.  "No, I
couldn't have.  I've only been human for a short time, I'd have
remembered.  I have seen it done, I believe."  Artemis took a couple
quick steps then hopped up, putting her right foot into Akane's hands.
Akane redirected the white haired girl's momentum with a grunt and
lightly tossed Artemis up to the bedroom window, so that she landed just
on the sill.

    "You didn't have to run."  Akane said, slightly cross.  "I nearly
tossed you face first into the wall."

    "Um... oops?"  Artemis said apologetically.  "It was my first try."

    Akane shook her head.  "Never mind.  I should have explained it
better.  Everything worked out, anyway."  She stepped away from the wall
herself.  "Now stand back, OK?"  Artemis did so and Akane ran up and
jumped, tucking her head in and going through the window neatly, landing
on the bedroom floor with a slight thump.  She held out her arms and
bowed theatrically to an impressed Artemis.  "Ta daa!"

    "Shh!"  Artemis put a finger up to her lips.  "Minako's parents are
asleep."  The white haired girl hesitated.  "Not that they'll think
anything about a few strange noises in here, but we shouldn't wake
them."

    Akane nodded quickly, looking embarrassed.  "Right."  She said
softly.  "Sorry about that."

    "No problem."  Artemis said with a shrug.  "Wait here, I'll go get
some hot water, for both of us."  She hesitated.  "If that's alright?"

    Akane smiled.  "It's nice of you to ask.  Of course.  I'm sure Mina
will have a full day tomorrow."

    Artemis nodded.  "That's true enough.  Be right back."  The
transformed Moon Cat slipped out of the room, returning after a minute
with two full glasses of water.  "They should be just hot enough."  She
judged, setting them down on the night stand.  "So, shall you do the
honors, or I?"

    Akane hesitated.  "Can I...?  I've never met a talking cat before."

    "Moon Cat."  Artemis corrected.  "Sure, why not?"

    Akane picked up one of the glasses and tipped it over Artemis's head
deftly.  The cursed girl vanished into her clothing and a white cat
crawled out.  After getting completely free of the pile of clothes
Artemis looked up at Akane with a wink.  "Not something you see every
day, huh?  Think we should take this show to Vegas?"  Akane giggled at
that and Artemis jumped up on the bed, grinning.  "It's nice to hear you
laugh again, Akane."

    Akane's giggling slowly died and she took a deep breath.  "Thanks, I
needed a laugh."  She picked up the second glass of hot water and smiled
faintly.  "See you later, Artemis."  She tipped the water up over her
head and Artemis nodded.

    The white cat's soft voice was the last thing Akane heard that
night.  "Goodnight Akane."

End of Chapter 21

I hope you liked it! Please C&C, it's why I write!

You can find most of the rest of the story on my website at
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/1449/
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