The man was wet, walking in the freezing rain. How he loved the rain, especially when it was cold like this, and sheeting out of the skies like it was trying to punch the earth into submission. Ah rain.

He looked up, underneath the brim of his wide, straw, Chinese hat, and gazed at the large house in front of him. The house was dark, except for a light in the uppermost corner of the house. The signal; this was the right house. Gracefully the man hopped onto the pillar and stood gazing at the house. He turned his head slightly and looked behind him. Apparently finding nothing he returned his eyes to the house. Oh yes, this was the place. What awaited him there….That he could not be so sure off.

Shampoo was angry. She was more than angry, she was livid!!! First her impudent little sister decides to support that, that- pathetic excuse for a female DOG, and then, obviously fearing her elder sister's prowess in battle, and aptitude for revenge, she had dared to call for help! What a pathetic excuse for an Amazon! The little whelp was a disgrace to women everywhere, one that Shampoo would be sure to eliminate…

But at the moment…there were more important matters to be attended. She began to roof-hop towards her current base. Even in the dark and rain Shampoo's footing was sure. Her great-grandmother had taught her well. At the thought of the Amazon matriarch the purple-tressed woman mentally bristled, betraying her anger through the narrowing of her eyes, and the clenching of her fist. She'd show them all, oh yes she would.

First it would be Nodoka, and whoever she called to her aid. Then would come the fat cow's sisters. And then….then she'd kill Akane. With the blood of Akane's family staining her hands and clothes, she'd fight Akane. The silly little girl could never control her anger. She would lose her mind, and Shampoo would slaughter her. Shampoo's fingers itched in yearning. She wanted to strangle Akane, rip her throat out and watch as the blood streamed out. And she'd keep her alive, yeeessss, she's keep her alive. She'd make sure the blood didn't flow too quickly, make sure that the bitch didn't die too fast. Shampoo wanted to relish the moment of her final victory. She would make Akane BEG for mercy before she finally killed her. And mercy, Shampoo had very little of. She'd make Akane think she'd die quickly, perhaps even live, and then stab her over, and over, and over, and over…. And then…then Ranma would be hers, and he would love HER, and forget about the stupid cow.

Akane was feeling oddly. It felt as if her entire body was filled with emotion, with out room for bones, or muscles, or a brain, or a heart. She was filled with anger, fear, hate, and…and bloodlust. The realization startled her. It had been ages and ages since she'd lost control like this. She hadn't actually LOST control, but she'd been heading that way, and she hadn't even realized it. She was losing control, and with a surge of anger seized control of her body and mind. The emotions seemed to drain out, and what was left was a ruthless, calm, cold machine. It's intent was to kill and it would not fail. She made short work of the hindrance that was her $800 dress, by cutting slits on the sides from the floor, up to a couple of inches below her waist, so that she could kick freely without having to worry about being caught in the expensive fabric. It would not do to be lose the battle because of a silly thing like a dress. Akane surveyed her work and deemed it satisfactory, then returned her attention to the prey.

Unconsciously, deep in the back of her throat, Akane began to growl imperceptibly, as she smirked. This was her element. She had a prey, and she was the huntress. The prey knew she was there, but not where she was, and she had the advantage. This battle, this hunt, it was hers.

Soon now, soon. He was walking towards her. Silly male-cat! Walking right under her! He couldn't taste her chi, she'd masked it. He knew, he knew, so he was searching for her by smell, tracking her, stalking her. Akane laughed in her head. Silly boy-cat ! There's a reason WE are the hunters, and not your kind. Boy-cats are never as good at hunting. Don't just pay attention to the trail! You could still be being hunted, and with concentration solely on tracking, you won't sense your hunter! What a silly cat mate is. Mate! No! Boy-cat is not mate!! Boy cat is PREY!

Akane's last thought filled her with the fury that passed through her like a flaming wave, leaving frigid, arctic calm. As soon as Ranma-cat had passed in front of her, she leapt off the bars. As she plummeted towards him she brought her hand down to slash his back, while roaring her response to his challenge. Ranma whirled around at the sound, and was knocked back as Akane slashed into his bare chest, leaving four narrow, shallow gashes. He flew back and landed on his back 10 feet away. Akane, who had landed in a crouch, stood up and began to walk back and forth, waiting for Ranma to regain his feet.

Ranma groaned quietly as he sat up. He looked at his attacktress through a hazy fog before his head began to clear. She was smiling slightly, in a self-satisfied way that reminded him of the Cheshire cat, and he had the distinct impression, that she had a tail she was swishing contentedly. With a growl of anger at being knocked down, he shook his head to clear away the last vestiges of fog that had filled his head, and stood up. He lifted up his lip to growl in anger and then began his own attack. He'd show the arrogant little female, this fight was not over yet!

Ranma lunged forward, feinting a hit with his left arm, and then dropping down into a crouch, and spinning to knock her off her feet with his right leg. Akane had not lost her self-satisfied smirk, and with Ranma's growing anger, her confidence increased. She watched, in what seemed as slow-motion as Ranma's leg spun towards her. He'd made a terrible mistake. By crouching and spinning, he'd left his back wide open. The opening was supremely fast, but Akane was faster, and took advantage of it. She jumped, allowing his feet to nearly pass underneath hers, and pounced on Ranma's back. She dug her claws in quickly, rolling off, as he pitched forward into a roll, trying to get her off. The mistake could have been, WOULD have been fatal, but for one thing. Akane was playing with him. Instead of just stabbing him through the heart she had left 8 painful claw marks on his shoulders. She was winning, and taking her time savoring the fight. She stood and smiled serenely as Ranma struggled to his feet again.

"Why do you do this Akane? You know we are mates, we belong together. You know this. If you cannot see it, I will make you see it!" With a furious cry Ranma attacked with renewed vigor, rushing Akane and slashing at her with his chi claws. Akane was forced into retreat and was doing her best to dodge his attacks. This went on for a good 5 minutes, Ranma on the offensive, and Akane on the defensive. Ranma's words had affected Akane though, and she was not a happy kitty. Ranma brought down his arm and was surprised to find it halted in midair.

"We-" Ranma swung his second arm.

"are not-" it had also been caught.

Akane threw her weight backwards, still holding Ranma's wrists.

"MATES!" she screamed in the raspy, growling manner of speech the Neko-ken caused

As she fell into her roll she released Ranma's wrists and he flew over her. Akane completed the roll and stood up quickly, looking for her opponent. She'd made a mistake. She'd allowed her anger to take control of her, and now HE was the one in the position of advantage, the one shrouded in darkness. Now HE could pounce on her without warning. Akane shook her head, berating herself mentally.

-Fortunately I'm better at this than he is- she thought to herself, beginning to track Ranma. She sniffed the air delicately, and licked her lips in anticipation. It didn't matter what the prey was, just the hunt, only the hunt, the exhilarating, exciting hunt mattered. Akane's nose flared a little and then she spun around and leapt, pouncing on an un-expecting Ranma, her dress fluttering. Ranma, not expecting her attack, was bowled over, and using the momentum of her leap, continued to roll, so that he ended on top of her. Unfortunately Akane knew what he was doing, and kept the roll going, so that their positions were reversed again, with Akane sitting on a pinned Ranma.

"Now Saotome, my murderer, you get your deserved reward. At the risk sounding cliché, DIE." Akane panted out. She lifted her arm to strike when-

"If you really think I deserve to die-kill me. I don't want to live with your hate." Ranma said quietly, but forcefully, his eyes narrowed.

Akane raised her hands, chi claws bared…

A/N: This is my first really big cliffie. Sorry, but I needed to end it somewhere. And besides, now I know you'll come back and read it. Right? Please? Anyway feedback is SUPER appreciated. Thanks a lot!!

P.S. what do you guys think? Think she'll do it? She thinks he deserves it…You'll find out why later.o and also, I tried to make seperating thingis b/w the povs, but it wouldnt lemme, so im very sry, but you'll have to deal