Ranma stood there in shock, uncomprehending Shampoo's actions as she swirled her tongue around his mouth, fully enjoying their kiss. Ranma was completely blank for some moments, but was awakened to his senses as Shampoo broke the kiss. He pushed her off, still a bit slow. He didn't have time to react, however, as a Panda came running out of the forest nearby and smashed him with a sign saying: 'How dare you cheat on your fiancée Ranma!'

Shampoo tilted her head to read the writing, unaware of her Airen flying into the distance. She turned to Cologne, clearly unhappy. Shampoo wasn't particularly good at Japanese, but could understand it well enough to know what the sign read. Cologne hit Panda on the head with her stick, and touched two pressure points, then poured the remaining hot water over his head. It was still barely hot, but just enough to activate his curse. Cologne dragged the unconscious Genma, who somehow had his clothes and glasses on, back to the tent.

Ranma crashed down into a rubbish heap, next to a park he recognised. He got up shakily, still hurting from his wounds against Shampoo. He hadn't attacked because his sixth sense has told him something was amiss, and he was right. He wasn't sure what was happening now, but it definitely wasn't something he would have opted into. He suspected this would end in more attacks, as most things he did did.

He walked out to the park, only to find a piglet camping there. It had a yellow spotted black bandanna tied around it's neck. Ranma went over to it and picked it up by it's bandanna. It squealed in anger, then saw who was picking it up, and it's anger seemed to double. It furiously whirled it's legs around while Ranma turned it upside down to inspect it. It was a boy, Ranma was sure of that, but apart from that Ranma couldn't tell anything else about the frantically squirming pig. He dropped it, and it immediately attacked him, flying into him and ricocheting off, before flying right back at him.

Ranma tried to ignore it, but he wasn't very good at it. He quickly snapped and started chasing the pig, trying to grab it as it ran past, while putting one arm up to defend himself. Cursing the piglet, he stumbled backwards and landed in a pond.

"Alright, that's it you little pig!" Shouted Ranma, wildly trying to catch the pig. Some people came out to see what the commotion was and were surprised to see a filthy girl trying to fend off a black blur. A few people tried half-heartedly to catch the blur, but gave up after one attempt. Unfortunately for Ranma, Tattewaki Kuno, the Blue Blunder of Furinken High, happened to be passing by. He watched his pig-tailed beauty being attacked by some sort of scum, and immediately assumed that as her lover, he should save the fair goddess from her woes. He raced in, waving his stick around. By some chance, the pig actually bumped into the stick, allowing Ranma to bash it straight into the ground.

"My love!" Kuno flung himself at Ranma, and received the same greeting as the pig had. But the Kuno boy wasn't about to give up. Like a limpet, he clung onto Ranma's leg as she tried to walk away. Ranma's leg buckled under the weight of the training, Shampoo's chi-enhanced attacks, his father's punishments, and the persistent boy grabbing her leg. Kuno looked at her and picked her up. She was in need of saving, and who better than he, her true love.

Ranma was awakened by a splash of hot water, and looked up to see Kuno's face right over his. He was fully clothed and in a giant tub of hot water. Ranma's brain quickly made the links and he jumped back as Kuno whipped out his bokken. Normally Ranma would have accepted any challenge, but today he didn't want any more fighting. He turned to flee, only to see the only door blocked by Kuno.

"You scoundrel!" Kuno shouted, jabbing his bokken wildly at Ranma in the usual fashion "You have stolen my pigtailed girl away from me for the last time! I will take you down, then take the lovely Ranma back!" He turned to the side, imagining the date he would have with Akane Tendo and Ranma. Meanwhile, disgusted, Ranma used the tap on the bath to reach an overly large ornate window, which he broke through. Kuno snapped out of his dream world and gave chase to the villain. I don't have time for this... Ranma swung himself up onto the roof.

"Where have you gone, villain?" Kuno shouted, still jabbing his sword. Without waiting for an answer, he followed the pathway to find the boy

With a sigh of relief, Ranma hopped along the rooftops, only to find the other occupant of the Kuno household blocking his way. She was a girl with black hair, and was wearing a green leotard. She seemed to like black, and she was holding a black rose for some reason. The gooey expression she had on her face unnerved Ranma, and he backed away. She seemed to be concentrating on him, and he didn't like the look on her face. Ranma quickly left the Kuno estate before she could act. Ranma's sixth sense told him he was only putting off the inevitable of meeting her again, but he shook off the feeling.

He decided to head back to the Tendo household, hoping to find a bit of peace. It had been a crazy day, and it would be nice to stop for a bit. Well, if that was possible with the life he was leading. Sighing, he headed home just as it began to rain.

"Ranma. Come in, you're soaked." Kasumi greeted her with the usual smile and friendly voice as she came in. "I hope everything went OK."

"Umm, yea..." Ranma said. "Everything was fine" She didn't know what Pops had put in his note, but he wasn't likely to have put the truth. For some reason, he lied even when he didn't need to, and even Ranma couldn't figure out why.

"What happened?" Asked Kasumi in concern 't look too good."

Ranma looked down and confirmed she was an utter mess. Her hair was fine for some reason, but she was covered with bits of rubbish, as well as parts of her body, which could be seen through torn parts of her clothes, showing signs of bruising Dammit! Shampoo must've hit me harder than I thought. Maybe it has something to do with when her fists suddenly speeded up. How did she do that though...?

Thoughtfully, Ranma replied "I got into a little fight. Nothing to worry about"

"Oh dear. I hope it wasn't that Kodachi girl again. And she looked so nice too..." Kasumi looked at Ranma as she tried to think of who Kodachi was. Kasumi looked at Ranma critically and added "Well, you'd better get cleaned up then. Just leave your clothes outside the bathroom and I'll clean them while you take a bath."

Ranma nodded her affirmation and walked up the stairs slowly. She went through the first door, stripped and left her clothes outside just as Kasumi had asked, then went into the bathroom. She opened the door, only to see Akane already in the bath. She stared for a moment and started stuttering an apology. Akane frowned as Ranma struggled for words.

"What are you talking about?" Akane asked, looking at Ranma. She motioned for her to join her, but Ranma just retreated a bit. Akane's eyes widened as she continued "And what happened to you? You've got even more bruises than before! It wasn't Kodachi was it?"

"Who?" Asked Ranma curiously, forgetting her embarrassment. This was the second time Kodachi had been mentioned, and she was keen to learn who it was. Whoever she was, she didn't sound very nice...

"I'll tell you after our bath." Akane said. "Why don't you join me?"

"Ummm..." Ranma searched for an excuse "Th-the tubs a bit small isn't it?"

"What?" Akane asked in surprise, looking around and frowning "There's plenty of space." Akane laid back as if to prove it. The water hissed a bit as she lowered herself down a bit, confirming it was still quite hot. "Well, maybe later then. We can go to the public baths next time."

Akane got out of the bath, allowing Ranma full view of her body before wrapping herself up in a towel and heading for the exit. She left, and Ranma closed the door behind her, sighing with relief. She then lowered herself into the water, not bothering to rerun the bath, and he quickly bathed. Luckily for him, that seemed to be it for the attacks.

1,524 words

Sorry this one's a bit late. I ran out of time last night, but I managed to finish it off today.

The Kodachi memory chapter is next, so it will be in the past, and without Ranma. It's probably going to be a bit shorter than the others, but you never know. I don't even know, and I'm the one writing it!
Thanks for the reviews + favs. I'm loving the attention this fanfic is getting

The poll's results are in! In last place is Later and Yes. So Akane will NOT find out about Ranma's curse. In tied first place is Fish and No. The Fish vote was a joke anyway, so...

I'll update soon, and reviews please!