Deluded? You lie! Part 3

Kodachi chuckled under her breath. Soon, ah, very soon, she would see her darling. According to Nabiki's information, Ranma would soon go past this stretch of road on his way to school. And with him would be…Akane Tendo.

Kodachi's left eyebrow twitched. That unworthy wretch! How DARE she walk to school with my Ranma?

The Black Rose adjusted the cloak she wore to cover her clothes. In order to follow her beloved without interruption it was necessary for her to go unseen...For now.

She watched Ranma and Akane walk along the road, and saw a girl in a Furinkan uniform walk up to Akane and take her aside. However, Ranma kept walking.

"Ohohohoho." whispered Kodachi.

She waited, just around the corner Ranma would soon turn, and heard…

"…Stupid tomboy. Why do I bother? Well I won't… Wait, there's the-"

*Splash*

"-Ladle Lady! Not again!"

It did not cross Kodachi's mind that her darling's voice suddenly sounded a lot higher.

"Ranma-darling!"

Kodachi leapt out to enthusiastically embrace…The pigtailed girl!?

"Yaaaah! Get off me!"

"Wh-what-where-Where did Ranma-darling go!?"

Kodachi dashed around the corner. Ranma wasn't there. He was gone! And in his place was the pigtailed witch that she so despised. This was no coincidence.

"Yes…I see it now. All these times when Ranma-darling has disappeared…" said Kodachi. Of course! How foolish she had been.

"Huh? So you understand now? Took you long enough."

"All this time and you truly ARE a witch! Magically spiriting my Ranma away from me…You will pay for this, pigtailed witch!"

It was so obvious! How could this have escaped the notice of one so perceptive as the Black Rose? It was not that her darling was avoiding her, but that he was sent away by vile spells of the pigtailed girl. The witch…surely envied Kodachi's manifest brilliance, and sought to steal Ranma by sorcerous means, as she could not even begin to compare otherwise.

"HEY! What's going on here?"

So. Akane Tendo. Was she in league with this despicable redhead?

Ah, it would be so sweet if both of my brother's loves were in truth darkest sorceresses, when even yesterday he claimed, ohoho, my darling Ranma a sorcerer himself! How foolish Tatewaki is, believing such a thing.

"I am merely here…,"said Kodachi, "to rid the world of this disgusting stain on humankind. Die, witch!"

Kodachi's ribbon lashed out towards Ranma-chan, with if not intention to kill, at least intent to wound. Ranma-chan ducked easily.

"Kodachi you psycho! I ain't a witch!"

"You're ignoring me! Ranma, we're going to be late for school!" called Akane. "Get a move on!"

The ribbon whipped out again, and again…And then stopped. Kodachi smirked.

"Just vanquishing you now, witch, would be too easy! I will find a more fitting punishment. Soon you shall know the true thorns of the Black Rose! You will never have my Ranma!"

"Do your worst! And I'm not 'your Ranma'!"

"Do not presume to call yourself by Ranma-darling's name, peasant! Why would I want you? O-hoh-hoh-hoh! Your end is near, pigtailed girl."

"If you're going to stop yelling at Kodachi, Ranma, we might get to school!"

A glowering Akane grabbed Ranma-chan by the pigtail, and hauled her off towards Furinkan.

And Kodachi realized that her beloved might be at school by now. She would have to go to Furinkan High immediately! Her revenge would have to wait.

End of part 3