As I've told my ever lovely pre-readers (hihi ^-^V), the trigger for
the Cat to take FULL control, was his ailurophobia. Ranma never
actually left the Cat mindset back when miss therapist got a hold of
him. Any extreme emotion will set Ranma off into the Cat's control--
s'why he doesn't seem to get all that worked up about people saying
they want to kill him; he's been raised not to hit that peak.

Most of this was typed up in one sitting. Took me a whole week to
write this (started almost immediately after I finished writing
chapter seven. Which I started immediately after writing chapter six.)
I'm not to sure if it's any good, and I know Ranma is way OOC. Oh
well. Things are a bit more light hearted in chapter nine. (Half done,
already)

This was seventeen pages on loose leaf-- ten typed, before formatting.
I wonder how many it is now?




False Identity
Chapter Eight: Perspective
Li Xiang


"Oh Shit."

Ryouga held one arm in front of his face, using the other to bat the
insane girl off him. The Cat yowled in protest and pain as she was
slammed into a wall from the force of the Lost Boy's throw.

"...the hell? What's wrong with Ranko?"

Ryouga flicked his eyes in Yohji's direction before dropping into a
stance in preparation of another attack. It was not long in coming as
a blur of red launched itself at him. The Cat was met with a vicious
punch, just barely twisting out of the path without getting hit.

Ryouga had expected this. He'd shifted his weight onto his back leg,
snapping out with a brutal front kick. And, just to be on the safe
side, as he snapped his foot back, he twisted sideways, stacking his
hips, and slammed an equally powerful sidekick into Ranma's ribs.

The Cat responded with a slash of her claws that had Ryouga himself
howling in pain. The claws of pure, raw ki tore through his clothing
to bite into his skin. Blood pooled along the paper-cut thin
lacerations. He stumbled back as the pain hit, but kept enough
presence of mind to slam his fist out-- hitting Ranma in the side of
the head.

She hit the ground on all fours, shaking her head out, in an attempt
to dispel the dizzying pain lancing through her skull. Ryouga
recovered first-- after all, he only had a few cuts and slashes on his
arms, compared to Ranma's having a fist impact against her skull-- his
hands glowing with the sickly green of depression chi.

His face contorted into a grimace of heartrending sadness and
depression. The glowing ball in his hands grew as he simultaneously
fed his depression off the chi's power, and sent his increasing
depression into the ball. It became over powering, to the point where,
some eight feet away, Yohji could feel the depression washing over
him.

His hand flew to his watch, preparing to take the male martial artist
out with his wire, should things get more out of control. Even if he
and Ranko weren't exactly the best of friends-- or friends, at all--
he couldn't just let her die...

"SHI SHI HOKOUDAN!"

The assassin's jaw dropped as the green energy tore itself from
Ryouga's palms to slam ever so painfully into The Cat as she shot
herself forwards for another attack. Ranma gave a yowl of pure,
unadulterated pain that tapered into nothing. There were a few
minutes of silence as the dust around the wall she'd been shot through
settled. Ryouga didn't relax, but there was a tired slouch to his
shoulders.

"What..."

"Shi Shi Hokoudan," Ryouga started, breath coming in harsh gasps,
blood steadily trickling from the wounds that decorated his arms.
Yohji's hand fell away from his watch, "is my... chi technique. Ran...
ko has one, too."

"But she didn't use hers! Why did you--"

"Nekoken," came the growl from the rubble. Ranko dragged herself out,
bleeding from a long gash that ran from her left temple into her hair.
She'd been knocked out for nearly two whole minutes-- enough time for
her to wrest the majority of the control of her body back from The
Cat, "and that was a cheap shot, P-chan!"

"Don't call me P-chan!" Ryouga yanking his umbrella from his pack, and
charging haphazardly in Ranko's direction punctuated his shout. The
fiery stinging across his chest slowed him, but Ranko, too, was
slowed-- by the headache that raged across her forehead, singing in
her temples. Although, even as the blood dribbled down her cheek from
her wound, the headache was swiftly vanishing.

"RANMA! Don't tease Ryouga!"

It looked like Akane had recovered from the shock that, No, Ranma did
_not_ love her. Honestly, after Ranma had shown up, she'd continued to
date Daisuke-- or any boy that asked her, really-- to make Ranma
jealous. To force him into marrying her in a fit of jealousy.

Who wouldn't want a body like Ranma-kun's to play with? And Ranma-chan
would have made for some serious experimenting fun. And now...? Ranma
didn't care that she was dating someone else? He wasn't getting
jealous, and breaking up the date?

It made her so angry! And then...! To see Ranma making fun of Ryouga,
when the Lost boy was so obviously hurt! (She was ignoring the wound
Ranma herself had was bleeding profusely) She'd known Ranma was
callous from the innumerable times he'd tormented Ryouga before... but
this went to far!

Mallet-sama was summoned, and the youngest of the Tendou daughters ran
forwards, even as Ryouga himself charged.

Yohji still stood to one side, jaw almost to the ground, wire
forgotten. Weapons from thin air? Pure energy blasts?

It was no wonder Schwartz was after Ranko! If she had lived through
this before-- as things seemed to be pointing out... if she was
capable of doing these things herself...

Ranko jumped out of Akane's reach, flipping over the Lot Boy's head in
the process. Said Lost Boy continued to charge forwards and through
the rubble, screaming, "Ranma! Get back here you coward!"

Ranko shook her head with a laugh, "Lost again..."

"I told you not to tease him, hentai!"

Ranko's eye twitched, "I don't have to listen to you, Kawaiikune
Otemba!"

"Ranma!" the girl charged again, preparing to knock the redhead into
the stratosphere-- when said redhead grabbed Mallet-sama. The mallet's
head shattered, sending wood bits in all directions as Ranko put more
pressure on it.

"Go back to your date, Tendou. Daisuke probably wants to know why you
ran off."

Stunned from the fact that Ranma had not only caught, but _Destroyed_
her mallet, Akane could only nod weakly. She shuffled back to the
restaurant, repeating under her breath, "He caught it. He destroyed
it. He caught it. He..."

"Anou... Ranko?"

Blue eyes turned to him, darkening with irritation, "What?"

Yohji didn't bother to ask about the fight. He'd figure it out later,
he decided. Instead, he grinned. He couldn't help it-- Ranko's shirt
had all but been destroyed while fighting Ryouga. She looked down,
following his gaze, and hissed angrily.

She looked up, "You got a credit card, Kudou?"

---

"Omi, where's Yohji?"

The teenager reigned in the urge to choke the older girl. This was the
eighth time that she had asked, in this hour alone! When he'd returned
from school, he'd found both Yohji and Ranko gone. Ken had told him
that Yohji had followed Ranko on a delivery, around noon.

It was six o'clock, and neither of them is back.

"Why am _I_ holding the bags?" Oh wait, yes, they are.

Most of the store looked up as Yohji followed Ranko in. She wasn't
wearing the Chinese style clothing she'd left in. Instead, she had on
a pair of black denim jeans, and a red t-shirt. Both fit much more
snugly than her other clothing had. She had a black and red track
jacket thrown over top.

Yohji, on the other hand, looked pained, carrying three bags. Most of
them are variations on the black pants, red top theme, although Yohji
had convinced her to by other things, as well. How the man did this,
is not to be known.

"You're the guy, you carry the bags," Oh, she was just loving this, it
was like getting revenge on Akane, who'd made him carry her bags when
they'd gone shopping, "Besides. I don't like you."

"Nice reason," the longhaired male grumbled.

Ranko stopped in front of the counter, "Sorry about being late, Aya.
Kudou made me get more than one set of clothing," she shrugged, "mine
were destroyed in a fight."

Aya glowered at her, and she smiled brightly, "Don't take so long next
time."

While the majority of the shop gaped in shock, Ranko nodded with a
grin. The redheaded girl walked into the back, Yohji following
grumpily.

One of the girls turned to give Aya a dark look, "Why does _she_ get
to go back there, Aya?"

The violet eyed one looked down at the teenage girl, "She works here,
Sakura."

"Since when?!"

"Since yesterday," Sakura shrieked at the sudden appearance of Ranko
behind her. She hadn't even seen the older girl come out! A shiver ran
down her spine. The last time she'd seen someone got that fast... she
shook it off as the female redhead padded off to water the plants,
wearing Yohji's apron. The twenty one year old came out a moment
later, not looking all that happy. Although, he had at least managed
to get out of working, since he doesn't have an apron.

"She's creepy, Aya. Why is she working here?"

Aya didn't answer Sakura, merely returning to his own duties in the
shop. All the while keeping an eye on the other redhead.

---

"Hey Bishoujo."

Ranma looked up with a scowl that quickly turned into a smile,
"Jei-sama!"

"Kitty," the Irishman was frowning, "You gave Abyssian the sword." It
was not a question. It was a statement.

A panicked look entered the girl's eyes, which darted over to
Schuldich's face. The flame haired man smirked at her, before she
looked back to Farfello, bowing her head, "M'sorry Jei-sama."

"Why?"

She blushed, "I was hungry..."

Schuldich gave both of them an odd look. Farfello was nodding like it
was a perfectly acceptable reason, and Ranma radiated relief. The pale
haired man grabbed Ranma's wrist, as he had done the night before, and
began tugging her away from the Koneko no Sumi Ie.

"I have to be back tonight."

Farfello paused, "Why? You're mine!"

Ranma nodded, "I know, Jei-sama. I'm staying, though."

"Why's that, Bishoujo?"

Ranma shot Schuldich a sour look, before turning back to Farfello,
"You do not understand Abyssian, ne?"

"What's that got to do with anything?" Farfello was doing that creepy
grown man pouting, again. He'd really been hoping that Ranma would
come with him to destroy God's happiness. To watch the streets become
washed in blood.

He wanted to watch Kitty drink that blood, once more.

"I'm figuring him out," Ranma grinned, "He's an odd one, Jei-sama."

"Vengeance-driven," Schuldich proclaimed, "What else is there to
know?"

Farfello frowned-- he often wondered that himself, when he
contemplated Fujimiya "Aya" Ran. Whatever the reason, Abyssian, while
confused him, also fascinates him. It seemed odd that Kitty had picked
this up already. They had seen each other no more than three times
these last few days.

"So what are we doing now, Jei-sama?"

Farfello returned him attention to the girl who's wrist he held, "Turn
you back to normal."

"And after that?" Schuldich didn't know why Farfello had asked him to
come along. While it would be fun to torment Kitty, if he was going to
be doing that all night, it might get boring. Farfello tossed the
redheads a nasty grin.

"We hunt."

Ranma's eyes gleamed, a matching grin fluttering across her face. She
had the apron off and draped over the counter in an instant, "Let's
get going, then!"

---

A trio of shadows perched at the edge of the roof, eyes alight for any
motion. Their target lay below, waiting for a bus. The three men
grinned, moonlight and streetlights making white teeth flash.

/C'mon, Bishoujo. Your turn./

/My target, then?/ without waiting for a response to his question, the
dark haired teen dropped off the roof, with aloof confidence. His feet
made no sound as she landed lightly, standing in a single smooth
motion from the deep knee bend.

Black jeans, loose, held up with a black leather belt, and a slightly
oversized black t-shirt that clung to him. His black hair was woven
into a French braid, pulling the hair away from his face. While it
would have looked odd on any other man, this teen's effeminate
features made it look rather natural.

Stormy blue eyes glinted as he glided across the ground to the
thirty-some man at the bus stop. Raking his fingers through his bangs,
he grinned, "Excuse me, ah Sir?"

The man turned to him blinked, "What do you want?"

Ranma-- for that was who it was-- scratched beneath his braid, "I was
wondering when the next bus comes."

The man gave him a suspicious look, before checking his watch, "Ten
minutes."

"Oh, good," the ebon haired boy purred, "I've got enough time."

"Time to what?" the man had to admit he was curious as to what the
athletic looking boy wanted to do. Ranma's lips curled with a twisted
smirk that made a chill race down his spine, and stepped back in fear.

Ranma's posture shifted from 'lazy teenager' to 'deadly predator', as
he padded around the thirty year old with measured steps. An
unconcerned visage greeted the now visibly shivering man, "You have
ten minutes. Should you live that long... I'll let you go free. I
doubt you will."

"Wha... what do y-you mean?" came the stutter, and Ranma dragged his
fingers down his back. The man shot off in terror, almost flying down
the street.

/Aren't you going to go after him, Bishoujo?/

/In a moment, Schuldich. It's not as fun if you don't give them a head
start./

Schuldich smirked, as Ranma seemed to vanish. He could still "see"
Ranma, via the boy's thoughts, but otherwise, the boy no longer
existed.

"One of the Forbidden techniques," he mused allowed to Farfello, as
they stood. The redheaded man brushed a stray of hair out his face
before motion to the Irishman, "I know where he is."

"Follow him!" the lunatic snapped, "I want to see Kitty hunt!"

The flamed haired one chuckled.

---

"One more minute."

The purr seemed to come from all about Shidou Yoshida. There was no
source as he spun about in the small splash of light on the street.

He thought he'd be safer in the light. The insane boy wouldn't risk
being seen, would he? To kill him in the light, at the edge of a busy
road...

... that wasn't so busy. Yoshida realized, with a sick twist in his
stomach, that he'd been herded into a residential area. There was no
one about so late at night.

"Do you think the light will save you?"

He spun, but there was still no sign of the madman. A split second of
movement seen from the corner of his eye had him spinning to the left.
Nothing.

"Thirty seconds, Dear Sir."

He stumbled back as the boy seemed to melt out of the _light_. It lit
his face with stark orangish-white light, darkening his hair and
clothes past the color of pitch black on a moonless night. Blue eyes
glinted from the shadow of his fringe of bangs.

And in one hand, he gripped a katana that shone in the night.

He bounced on the balls of his feet, before lunging forwards, blade
brought to bare.

Yoshida stumbled back, praying to God to save his life. The blade
nicked his raised arms, but little else.

"Twenty Seconds."

The blade flashed again, and once more did little more than slash
across crossed arms, "Thank you, God," he whimpered.

Ranma's eyes hardened, "God will leave you in the end. Five seconds."

The blade did not miss. Not this time. The Saotome Family honor blade
took a life, once more, for the first time in over a decade. It seemed
to sing with the taste of blood as it sliced across the man's throat.

"It's too bad," the boy sighed dramatically, "I was actually thinking
of letting you go. And with only five seconds left... oh well."

He knelt by the man who lay dying; drowning in his own blood. Fingers
brushed across the wound before he placed his whole palm on it, "Good
bye."

His ki flared.

---

Farfello was darting forwards as soon as the energy had dissipated.
There was nothing left of the man aside from piece of a charred suit.
Ranma was calmly licking the blood from his hand. His blue eyes caught
Jei's amber.

"It didn't work."

"What didn't work, Bishoujo?" since Farfello seemed more interested in
looping his arms around the younger boy's waist, and burying his face
in Ranma's neck, Schuldich asked. The ebony haired boy gave a purr,
lifting the still slightly bloody palm to run it across Jei's face.

Ranma looked at the jade-eyed telepath, "Hinako-sensei's happo go
ensatsu. I think I over did it." Schuldich's hiked eyebrow made him
explain, "It's a chi-draining technique, to replenish your own stores.
Hinako-sensei uses it to get her adult body... I know the chi and ki
patterns to do it, I've just never bothered to try..."

"And you failed?"

"Over did it," another purr, that ended as Farfello drew away from his
pet, "Not suppose ta dissolve the body, just drain it."

"You'll figure it out," Jei stated with a smug smile, "Did good
tonight, Kitty."

"Thank-you, Jei-sama."

---

The shadow slipped into the Koneko no Sumi Ie, tip toeing its way
through the plants, drifting towards the door that lead to the living
quarters. It's hand landed on the knob, twisting it silently, as the
shadow crept inside.

It turned, closing the door slowly, quietly. A soft click gave notice
to the door's shutting-- and a light snapped on. Ranko froze, before
turning.

Aya was leaning against the wall beside the lights fixing her with a
cold stare. She gave a weak smile, scratching at her neck, just above
where Farfello had nuzzled-- and bit-- her. Dried blood decorated the
skin, "Oh, uh, hey Aya."

"You took off."

"Saw some friends. Went with them to have some fun."

Aya's violet eyes narrowed, "'Fun'? You've got blood on your face."
Ranko's fingers darted to her cheeks, rubbing the splatters of
Yoshida's dried blood off, "You were with Farfello, then."

Ranko shrugged, "Yeah, so I was. What of it?"

Aya frowned, already icy eyes turning cold as death. He said nothing
in response, instead, turning on his heel. He stalked back towards his
room. Ranko's stomach clenched and she followed the other redhead
meekly. She didn't really know just _why_ she felt like this, but she
didn't bother to analyze her feelings.

"Your room isn't completely cleared out, the bed is still covered in
junk, however, the floor is cleared. You can sleep there."

"If it's all the same to you..." Ranko's lips quirked at Aya's back,
"... can I stay in your room again, tonight?"

Aya said nothing, but left the door open behind him.


End