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A Hollowed Out Heart: Chapter Seven

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One month ago...

No matter how pleasant his disposition, Manami could not help but be intimidated by her Captain. Massive physical presence aside, he was nearly three feet taller than her afterall, the oddly shaped helmet Captain Komamura wore kept Manami on edge. What deformity did the imposing Shinigami perpetually hide? Manami had wondered for all the decades she'd been assigned to 7th Division, but never had the courage to ask. She pushed the nagging question out of her mind for now.

"You wished to speak with me, Manami?" The Captain's powerful voice was in no way muffled by his helmet.

"Yes, sir. Are you aware of the mission I have just recently returned from?"

"Vaguely. Another one of Kurotsuchi's pet projects, something beyond the ability of his technicians, I believe?"

Manami briefly described the objectives of her failed mission and the events leading up to the targeted Hollow's destruction.

"Remarkable," Komamura murmured at the description of the human's spiritual power.

"And there is the crux of my dilemma, sir. Slythe had exceeded the limits imposed upon my actions by threatening the children of the school when the human boy destroyed it. I would have intervened had Ranma not arrived when he did and Slythe still would have been neutralized. I wish to request your permission to submit a falsified report to Captain Kurotsuchi, leaving out only the involvement of the human boys."

"This is a highly unorthodox request, Manami," the Captain rumbled.

"I know, sir," the Shinigami replied hesitantly. "It goes against everything I've been taught as a Shinigami, but I cannot in good conscience draw the attention of 12th Division's Captain to the boys, Ranma especially."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's perverse fascination with experimenting on interesting subjects was not openly discussed in the halls of the Court of Pure Souls. That did not mean the man's behaviour went unnoticed. There were more explicit rumors fit to give Manami nightmares.

Even hidden behind his helmet, Captain Komamura gave the impression of nodding along with his subordinate's observations. "Your consideration for those we protect is admirable. Though I would be inclined to grant your request, I must first speak with General Yamamoto."

Manami nodded as she tried to keep her expression neutral and to mask the disappointment she was feeling. Her Captain's high regard of General Yamamoto was well known, just as the General's stiff adherence to the rules of Soul Society was legendary. She tried to find comfort in the thought that perhaps Ranma would prove too troublesome a subject for Kurotsuchi to get his hands on.

"Thank you, sir."

xxxx

The Present...

There was little difficulty involved in acquiring a copy of the footage captured by Kodachi Kuno during her late night encounter with her beloved. Actually, Tatewaki Kuno found it quite easy, if incredibly expensive. Nabiki Tendo was selling cheaply made video CD copies of the tape by the gross. How she'd managed to duplicate the original footage, despite it being locked away in a police evidence room, remained a mystery.

Standing before the bank of monitors that normally displayed virtually every square inch of the Kuno Estate, Tatewaki gestured for his minion Sasuke to proceed. The little ninja dimmed the lights and inserted the CD.

The greenish-gray light indicative of the camera's nightvision setting bathed the darkened room.

Kodachi Kuno's face filled the many screens, imperious even in these ignoble circumstances.

"The Seduction of Ranma Saotome, Volume One," whispered the gymnast dreamily, her eyes glassy with the effects of one or more of her concoctions.

Kodachi disappeared from view and the camera panned down and to the right, revealing the sleeping form of the unwitting star of the film.

"My lord Ranma, perfection given form," Kodachi commented. A five minute narrative followed, during which time every imaginable virtue was attributed to the obliviously sleeping teenager. She stopped just short of claiming him capable of walking on water and rising from the dead, though that was left as an open possibility to be discussed in later volumes.

For a few moments the image girated wildly before Kodachi was satisfied the camera had been affixed to its tripod properly. She walked into the frame, revealing her chosen attire for the first time. The habitual skintight spandex leotard had been replaced with a stiff-boned and tightly laced leather corset, knee high leather boots, and elbow length gloves. Kodachi's pert breasts rested atop the shelf-like bustier, nipples plainly visible, her waist constricted waspishly. A pair of barely existant black lace panties, their lack of material totally failing to hide her shaven sex, completed the ensemble.

"It has been difficult these past weeks, worshipping Ranma from afar." Kodachi slowly ran a leather clad fingertip up and down the boy's thigh. "How it pained me to see him grieve, his mourning for that harridan Akane Tendo enough to cloud even my lord Ranma's bright eyes. He cannot be blamed, though. The hussy's enchantments were strong and her morals loose. Even sone as masnificent as Ranma could be swayed by such temptation."

From a small sachel just out of the camera's field of view, Kodachi drew a small leather case. Opened, it was revealed to contain a disposable syringe and a glass ampuole of an unidentified substance.

Kodachi went very still as Ranma shifted in his bed, rolling over to more fully face the camera while clutching his pillow tightly. "No, Akane, don't go!" he mumbled urgently, not yet aware of his nocturnal visitation.

The gymnast did not move nor make even the slightest sound for over a minute, not until she was certain the boy remained sleeping.

Finally, a fierce scowl transforming her aristocratic features into something ugly, Kodachi spoke,"Even in his dreams my darling is tormented by the bitch's lingering influence." She busied herself with preparing the syringe, carefully measuring an exact dose, then ensured that no air bubbles remained within the cylinder.

"My most recent success, this substance combines the beneficial aspects of a powerful vasodilator with my favorite muscle relaxing herbal extracts. My lord Ranma surely does not need this artificial enhancement to help pleasure me beyond my physical limits, but it will improve his enjoyment greatly, perhaps even assist in the purging of whatever dregs of forced affection he feels for the foulminded temptress, may she burn in hell for eternity."

Slowly, so as not to alarm the sleeping boy's subconscious defenses, Kodachi approached. Kneeling at his bedside, she murmured nonsensical sounds of comfort. The needle slipped into Ranma's thigh and delivered its payload in the blink of an eye.

Half a minute passed before there was a blur of motion so quick it slid between frames of film, making it appear as if Ranma went from slumber to a near sitting position with no steps in between. Tense and confused for a moment, the camera captured his muscles relaxing and tension fading with unnatural swiftness. Slowly, he fell back to the bed in a near boneless heap.

The gymnast smiled down at her wide-eyed conquest. "Your constitution is incredible, my darling Ranma, to resist the effects of my creation for so long."

Ranma opened his mouth to speak, closed it, then swallowed deeply. With obvious effort, he asked,"Kodachi...what are you...doing?" His words were hoarse and thick with a combination of sleep and pharmaceutical impairment.

"Shh, relax, let the drugs take full effect." Taking advantage of her immobilized victim, Kodachi shredded his nightshirt with a strong sweep of her arm. Revealed to both girl and camera was a toned torso, no fat visible, just taut skin, muscular perfection, and somehow accentuating all that, a number of scars, some more visible and severe than others.

"I've waited so long. You can't imagine how I've burned for you, my lord, the sleepless nights of self-abuse I've suffered with your image rooted deeply in my mind." Questing fingers moved from caressing his abdomen to exploring the flesh hidden by a pair of heart covered boxer shorts. "I've wanted this," she squeezed lightly, causing Ranma to spasm,"so badly."

"Dammmnit...Kodachi...you bitch...what have you...done to meee!" Ranma squeaked at the girls continued ministrations.

"Oh my!" exclaimed Kodachi, paying no heed to Ranma's growing anger. "Though it sickens me to imagine that uncouth beast taking pleasure in your body, my lord, I can certainly understand why she would find it so desirable." She eyed the tented boxers with hunger.

Obviously displeased by his assailant's actions, Ranma continued to struggle against the effects of the injection. Static and digital ghosts began to surround Ranma's prone form as it was lit by a crawling wave of crackling energy. Once enveloped in the sheath of light, Ranma's image was badly distorted, still visible but blurred and choppy.

"So beautiful, your inner light shows the purity of your affection for me, my love."

At those words Ranma's struggle with himself increased greatly, then there was a burst of light and static filled the screen. Nearly a minute passed before the image was restored. The tripod mounted camera had been knocked over. It continued to record, whatever force that had interfered with its operation apparently no longer in effect.

The angle was not ideal, but half of Ranma could be seen sitting up in his bed, soaked with sweat and breathing hard. He made as if to rise from the bed when Kodachi closed the distance between them, "Why must the whore torment us from the grave?" she demanded angrily, reaching out to Ranma. His arm struck out too quickly for the camera to discern, again crossing the distance without visibly moving. Unseen or not, the strike's results could not be missed.

Wide-eyed, a stunned Kodachi looked at her forearm where Ranma's had impacted so powerfully. For a moment she was numb with the shock and trauma inflicted, but that could last only so long. Blood sprayed from damaged vessels and bone protruded from torn flesh. She announced her agony to the world in the most simple manner available to her, a piercing shriek of pain and horror.

"Shut up! Shut up shut up shut up!!!" Ranma roared to the wailing girl. His hand was suddenly at her throat, squeezing, heedless of the girl's lack of air or her good arm's desperate clawing attempts to win free from his grip.

A flash of light and static overwhelmed the camera, shrouding another short span from view. The image returned to reveal Ranma no longer choking Kodachi. The martial artist was not in the frame, but a gasping, twitching Kodachi, a bloody gaping wound decorating her abdomen, laid twitching on the blood drenched sheets.

Thus the video came to a close.

Sickened for a number of reasons, Tatewaki did not attempt to stand. Somehow maintaining an outward appearance of calm disinterest, he commanded,"Sasuke, you are dismissed."

xxxx

"I don't get it, Nabiki, why are you selling these things?" Ranma asked. He stood before the youngest remaining Tendo. In his hand was a CD in a red paper envelope. The footage contained on the disc was not only embarrassing, it also made him look like a monster.

"I thought that would be obvious, Saotome," she replied, voice cool and without inflection. "My father's hospital bills are enormous and insurance does not cover them in their entirety. There's also the cost of Akane's funeral to consider."

"Don't feed me that line of BS. Mom's told me all about the settlement you guys are getting from the city." Undiscovered pockets of explosive gas hidden beneath the grounds of a high school that lead to a student's death? Yeah, you'd better believe the city was eager to settle out of court.

"And when that money runs out, what then?"

"I don't know, maybe get a job?"

Nabiki rolled her eyes at Ranma's simplicity. "I won't bother to attempt to explain the ins and outs of the Tendo financial situation to you, Saotome. Let it be enough that I don't bill you for wasting my valuable time."

Frustrated by the girl and patience worn thin, Ranma snapped,"Whatever, Nabiki. All I care about is that you stop peddling these things to anyone interested." He gestured angrily with the CD.

"Since when have I ever done what you wanted?"

"Listen, Nabiki, I'm not gonna say this again. You don't have any right to do this. It's an invasion of my privacy! More than that, you're selling a freakin' snuff film to the perverts. What do you think that's doing to their dirty little brains, huh?" Temper well and truly roused, Ranma held the CD up between himself and Nabiki. An effort of will surrounded the envelope and its contents in golden light and with a flash there was nothing left of it but ashes drifting on a stray breeze.

"If I have to, I'll do that to every single copy, and I'll point everyone to you for refunds."

Further discussion was put on hold with the ringing of the final bell that signaled for students to find their homerooms or be considered tardy.

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Author's Notes: I hadn't planned to elaborate on Kodachi's actions, at least not this much. It was just going to be something that happened out of sight, but enough people seemed interested that I went ahead and fleshed the scene out a bit.

To clear up some confusion, yes, I know that phoenix is not spelled phoneix. Eight or nine years ago when I first made my hotmail account, I was messing around with the computer in my high school French class when I was supposed to be doing something else. I was in a hurry and didn't bother to check my spelling. I noticed the mistake later that day, but was too lazy to correct it. When I started writing fanfiction I decided to just stick with my nom de plume(hmm, I wonder if I'm using that correctly, French never was my strongest subject). So now I have to explain every so often how I got my name