Warning: From this moment on, certain events, things and people may stray very VERY far ooc. The wonderful thing about Tiggers... I mean fanfics is my ability to do this and get away with it. In other words, if it looks like an oops, I more then likely meant to do it. Also, Ranko in this story is in her own right, her own person. And just realizing that you were created because someone didn't want to face life and all that hell you went through is because of a lot of lost hope, that can probably make ya kinda loopy and a little not right.

In the midst of chaos, the heart can do many wondrous things for the host. Shear determination is one such thing. Knowing that you're fighting for the one you love gives you the ability to keep going, past all reserves and far beyond tenacity. During this time the heart will sing louder then ever before, alerting all to it's presence, warning all who don't want to get hurt to stay away.

A Lost Heart

Chapter 6

A Not So Nice Break

Akane and Nabiki strolled through the mall, sweat drops had formed on the back of their heads as each had an arm hung behind them. The reason being were these arms attached themselves through their hand to the collars of Ranma and Ranko yelling about how cool something looked or that they wanted something shiny.

Akane gave a tug on Ranma's shirt and looked over at Nabiki, "Can't you keep your girlfriend under control?"

Nabiki in turn, tugged on Ranko's shirt to keep her in line, "Hey, she's half your boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend, and quit reminding me."

The both of them had finally gotten fed up and deposited their respective charges onto a nearby bench. They both leered down at Ranma and Ranko now, Nabiki was the first to speak.

"Listen up cause we're only saying this one last time..."

"... we aren't shopping for pleasure..."

"... we're here to get..."

"... Ranma some clothes."

Ranko and Ranma sat there gripping each other tightly wondering which one was going to be eaten first. Several passerby's glanced over and then quickly moved away afraid they might be eaten as well.

Akane and Nabiki, seeing that they had succeeded in scaring the two into obedience, grabbed Ranko and Ranma continuing their shopping.

In a clothing store, Ranma was holding up a set of school clothes looking rather appalled, "You mean I have to wear this? To school?"

"Don't make it sound harder then it has to be, Ranma," warned Akane.

Ranko looked over at Nabiki, "I got an idea, why not buy me new school clothes? The other ones should fit Ranma right?"

Nabiki nodded, "Good point, you could always turn on the charm like last time."

Ranko fumed a bit, "Wasn't my fault he was flirting with me, I just thought he was being nice."

Nabiki smirked a bit and pointed at her, "I don't suppose that's why you're wearing the same outfit is it?"

Ranko hung her head and fidgeted with the front of her skirt speaking in a cute but hurt tone, "You don't really think that of me do ya, Niki?"

"Actually it's one of the things I like about you."

Ranko was completely taken off guard by this and stood there scratching her head.

After buying Ranko some new school clothes they headed to lunch, with Ranko still upset and Akane steaming, "Figures the manager would've shown up. Would've gotten away with a fifteen thousand yen discount."

"And probably a fine if your negotiations had gone any further," muttered Akane through clenched teeth.

Nabiki shook her head, I wonder if she was conditioned as well. The sound of Ranko's seductive voice still played through her head sending shiver's down her spine. She was brought out of her thoughts as Ranko's voice broke into her mind.

"Ah crap! Why did they have to be here?" Ranko was staring hard into the food court, and following her intense concentration everyone found Gosunkugi and his hoard badgering innocent bystanders.

Ranma immediately pointed to a railing that over looked the lower floor. The four of them moved over to it and looked down. Before Akane and Nabiki knew what was going on they felt hands grip their waste and saw the lower floor quickly getting closer. Gosunkugi had spotted them though and Ranma quietly cursed as he heard the zombie like man start shouting orders to follow and capture the three girls.

The four of them landed and took off down the strip, moments later several thuds alerted them that Gosunkugi's men had the same idea concerning speeding up the chase, though a snap and a crack followed by screams let the four know a couple were out of the chase. Several thrown objects whizzed by their heads exploding in their path forcing them down another.

"We have to get out of here!" Ranma yelled. He knew the others knew but it just seemed right at the moment and even proved useful as several people in front of them heard and moved out of the way.

Several more objects whizzed by and exploded right in front of them causing them to stop. Looking around Akane pointed to the stairs back the way they came and the four were off running again. The men chasing them had considerably caught up due to the backtracking the four had to do. Finally they spotted a way out, and finding reserves they didn't know they had, they sped up pushed their way through the glass barriers finding themselves face to face with Kuno.

"Shit," Akane screamed.

"It's just our luck, how'd he know where we were going to be anyway?" Ranma turned to Akane as he spoke.

"Vile filth," came Kuno's cool voice, "who do you think you are talking to the beautiful Akane Tendo like that?"

Ranma just stared blankly at Kuno for a few moments before finding his voice, "Huh? Vile... filth?"

"I guess it'd be rather rude of me not to introduce myself first, even though tradition states that one in higher standing such as myself be introduced last." Kuno smirked, "If your primitive mind can recognize the name then I'd suggest running; I am Tatewaki Kuno, age 17, owner of Tokyo's greatest business empire, and I'm here for what's rightfully mine."

Ranko was just about to explode, "Rightfully yours?"

Kuno never lost a beat or his smirk, "That's right, you and Akane. It's not every day that beauty's such as yourself are approached by me personally. Naturally out of the kindness of my heart I'll give you time to bask in good fortune that smiles upon you."

Akane had just about had enough as she rushed towards Kuno only to be stopped by Ranko.

"We ain't interested." Ranko's eyes narrowed, "And what makes you think people can be bought and abused at your whim?"

"I am the richest person on the planet, if not for me you still be rotting away in some slave camp never to know freedom. You should count yours..."

"BASTARD! I have nothing to thank you for! If anything..."

"Silence slave!" During Ranko and Kuno's exchange a small group of people started to form. Kuno stuck his hand in his pocket as he smoothed back his hair, "Hmph, you managed to anger me this time, however, you will be mine again. A parting gift." Kuno pulled out a rose and tossed it at Ranko who, out of anger, gripped the stem tightly ignoring the thorns jabbing her palm.

Kuno backed up and entered a limo that soon sped off. The group watched in fascinated horror before gathering near a pylon to discuss amongst themselves. The audience that had gathered were of mixed emotion, most were just getting over fear thinking one of them had been about to be taken.

Akane was the first to speak up, "This is horrible. What're we supposed to do? Kuno basically has his own private army, who knows what he's capable of doing."

Ranko shook her head, "I don't know, maybe it was a bad idea for me to come here in the first place."

Nabiki tensed up clenching her fist tighter, "Don't say that, Kuno's even been after Akane. Whatever he's planning on doing he may have gone through with it anyway. We have to see this through to the end, together."

Ranma leaned against the pylon, "No, he may have a small army on his side but I don't think he would have used it to get to Akane."

"And what's that supposed to mean?!" Akane balled up her fist menacingly.

"Don't take it the wrong way, I'm just saying he didn't 'purchase' Akane at an auction nor did he spend the money to 'train' her." Ranma sighed, "And besides, I think you've done enough running Ranko. You took out Gosunkugi and his men pretty quickly, and that was by yourself. Think about how much easier it'll be with four of us all trained in the same techniques."

Nabiki let out a small 'eep' and everyone turned to see the big guy from Gosunkugi's gang holding Nabiki up around the waste. Gosunkugi walked from behind the big guy chuckling, "I would say that while you may now posses great fighting ability, you're still pathetically weak. A message from Master Kuno to the red head and Akane, If you want to see Nabiki alive and well you'll prepare yourself to be taken by way of limo to live at the Kuno estate. You have one week to prepare. Otherwise, she takes your place."

A second limo pulled up and the two of them got in. The limo sped off with the remaining three companions left behind. Ranko started sniffling and whispered, "Nabiki."

"Sis?"

Ranko started shaking a bit before falling to her knees now crying uncontrollably. After a few moments Ranko slumped fully to the ground on the verge of creating a new river right in the parking lot of the mall. Moments later Akane knelt down beside Ranko and joined in the waterworks saying that they were going to get her back. Ranma was at a loss but watching the passerby's he started to understand the hopelessness the people must be feeling.

Those who had been there from the beginning only spared a split seconds worth of a glance, fearful if they got mixed in with the group they would be the next to go. Other's seemed caught up in their own troubles they didn't even care about the two crying girls to notice them. And yet other's seemed intent to just leave the shopping for another day, scared another incident might happen. The ones who were inside during the chase fled the mall in case the chaos should come back.

To say that Ranma was a little peeved was an understatement, his visible battle aura was proof of that. He slammed a ki infused fist into the concrete of the pylon, cracks spider webbing out, "Kuno's gonna pay!"

This startled the two currently crying and made other's heads turn and more people stopped short of the door before deciding that the locked confines of their home were more and more appealing. Thoughts of everything Ranko had been through flitted through Ranma's mind. He picked up the bags and found Nabiki's wallet sitting atop some clothes. He smiled a little, he knew that Nabiki always kept it on her person so she must have tossed it there when she had been grabbed.

They took a taxi home that night and ordered in. Dinner was heavy, even Kasumi lost her smile. Ranko had to be watched carefully as she tried several times to run to Kuno's. Someone new showed up that night and suggested they use his bandana's to keep her from running which caused to first laughter of the night.

Hours later found only Ranma and Ryoga still awake holding the sleeping forms of three woman. Ranma was rubbing the shoulder's of Kasumi and Rank who decided to use his leg's as pillows. Akane had decided to use Ryoga's shoulder instead.

Ranma nodded towards Akane, "I guess even she'll put aside her hatred for comfort."

"Most people will," Ryoga sighed. "It's kind of a nice feeling too, can't remember the last time someone did this for me. Not since my mom was taken anyway."

"Yeah, I understand how you feel kinda. I didn't get to see my mom for ten years. But that's a long and weird story as it is."

"Probably not as weird as mine."

"Well, let's see. Taken on a training trip by your father where all he did was use you to get whore's, liquor, and food. Then dipping you into a spring that turns you into a girl to be sold. Then somehow managing to hide in your own subconscious and create a brand new personality only to be forced to see everything she sees. Finally being bought then managing to escape only to be kept on the run only to make it here then to have the two personalities split into separate people." Ranma took a deep breathe, "So what's yours?"

Ryoga stared at him in disbelief before starting his own. "Wow, I'd say you got me beat. I've only been on the road for four years trying to find where Kuno is keeping my mom, I do however turn into a little black pig."

They both laughed quietly and eventually fell asleep during a talk of what they were going to do to Kuno once they got their hands on him.

From the author: I'm taking this time to thank a lot of you who submitted reviews and helped me correct a lot of my mistakes. I've been thinking of turning this into a three part series so as not to make this into a thirty or so chapter story. Lemme also say again that this is an AU and many of the characters are completely OOC. Many of the characters will also be introduced in the next segment of the story as well as a huge twist. If you guys have anything to say about me splitting the story into three parts lemme know, don't ask about the twist or what I plan on doing with other characters. If you have a suggestion to make by all means make it. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

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