After much work, I give you the 10th chapter of Ai Shite Nai Wake Ja Nai. I am pleased to announce that I had achieved nearly 6,000 hits. I give a big thank you to everyone who is reading this! Please R & R!

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Ai Shite Nai Wake Ja Nai Chapter 10: A change of heart

Not far away, hiding quietly in the streets, a small, purple cat had spied its prey. It smiled; a smile that was almost human. It was only a matter of minutes until he would be hers.

Leaping softly, the cat climbed an adjacent tree. With a skill, unlike a feline's, it tore open the small pouch attached to its collar watching the contents, a shimmering, black powder, drift down towards the redheaded girl walking on the streets beneath her.

The only thing Shampoo could do now was wait.

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Sneezing, Ranma looked up. Her surroundings appeared ordinary and harmless, yet she knew she had felt something. Something that had made her sneeze and made her eyes water. Funny, she thought; she did not have allergies. Ranma stumbled, grabbing hold of a nearby tree for support. She could feel a dull, throbbing pulse throughout her head. All thoughts clouding, Ranma turned around and staggered back to the Tendo dojo.

She trudged upstairs, ignoring the apologetic looks of Akane, the surprised ones belonging to Kasumi, and the money signs inside Nabiki's eyes. She did not want anyone to stop her or ask questions. Sliding open the door to her room, Ranma collapsed onto the floor. The pounding inside her head persisted, followed by faint voices murmuring phrases in a language she could not comprehend. Ranma closed her eyes and surrendered herself to the pain.

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Cologne took the water kettle onto the stove upon hearing Shampoo enter through the back door. For now, they would wait.

By the coming morning, the potion would take its full effects. Then, Ranma would finally belong to her Shampoo. What she had given him had been one of the strongest potions in Amazon history. It tampered with a person's feelings in a way no other potion she had ever come across was capable of, even throughout her centuries of existence.

Two trivial details Cologne left unmentioned to her great-granddaughter. The first, that the powder's true nature had been to completely reverse the victim's feelings.

Its original use had been during wartime. The Amazon elders had used it on the attacking enemy who were stopped in midair and instantly dazed by the glittering powder. When they awakened, they turned against their own, leaving the Amazons unscathed. When they attacked, it was with a hatred matching no other.

Although she denied it, Cologne knew more than she let others acknowledge. She perceived that her great-grand daughter's attempts to win Ranma's heart were futile. The time for drastic action had come.

Her thoughts were interrupted as a small, purple cat entered the kitchen of the Nekohanten. Cologne took the steaming kettle off the stove and poured the boiling water onto her great-granddaughter. Shampoo emerged, grinning. "Shampoo do as great grandmother say! Now, Airen deep deep asleep. "

"We'll see what tomorrow brings." Cologne said, smirking slightly to herself.

Tomorrow was going to be a fun day.

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"Ranma, Ranma, RANMA! Wake up! It's almost noon."

Ranma sat up groggily. Had she fallen asleep on the floor? Someone outside was rapping heavily on her door, augmenting the already painful throbbing inside of her head.

"I'm up!" She yelled back, hoping that the person on the other side of the door would be satisfied with a response and would then leave her alone. Grumbling silently, she stood up, attempting to clear her mind. Funny, Ranma thought, she felt no hunger. Had it been a regular day, by this time she would have eaten enough food to keep the people in Nerima alive for weeks.

On the look out for Happousai and his daily groping, she walked out of her room and to the furo. Despite the summer heat, Ranma felt relieved splashing hot water onto her face feeling the familiar change take place. Looking looked into the mirror, he smiled despite of himself.

The problems of yesterday seemed vague and forgotten. There seemed to be more important things at stake, his dignity being at the top of the list. Looking out of the corner of his eye, he reached out at his right, purely out of instinct. Happousai, a cup of cold water still firmly in his hand, fell to the ground, dazed from the force behind Ranma's punch.

The small, conniving, pervert picked himself off the ground, looking in disdain at the small puddle of the cold water that had spilled from his cup. "Whaaa! You ungrateful boy! How could you deny an old man his pleasures?" He whimpered bitterly. "You are unworthy of the Saotome-ryu and everything it stands for!"

He waited, but no insult from Ranma came. Much to both Ranma's and Happousai's surprise, Ranma fell to his knees in a deep bow. Not looking up, he muttered a heartfelt apology about his actions to the grandmaster and with another deep bow exited the room. Happousai remained standing, stupefied and in disbelief of what he had just witnessed. Finally, Happousai pinched himself to confirm reality. A sharp pain told him that he was not dreaming Ranma had just apologized, with no words of challenge, insults, or hint of sarcasm.

Maybe it was going to be a lucky day, Happousai thought. Hoping his fortune would hold, he headed for the public baths.

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Ranma could find no explanation for what had happened. It was as if another person from within acted in his place. All his rage and annoyance seemed to disappear, replaced with respect. Respect? It was a strange feeling unknown to him. Whatever had happened, he did not like it.

Ding! A familiar bicycle ring was heard downstairs. Though Ranma's first instinct had been to run to the farthest corner of the house in order to avoid being squeezed half to death by Shampoo, his body took him to the noise. Shampoo emerged from the cloud of dust formed by her bicycle going through a wall. Upon setting her eyes on Ranma, she grinned, noticing that he was slowly coming towards her. Without even a second to consider, she latched herself onto him.

A small voice told Ranma he was acting irrational, yet it grew fainter and was entirely silenced by the Amazon magic after a last futile attempt. As she felt Ranma's tensed up body relax in her grip, Shampoo knew he was hers.

Akane, who had been practicing in the dojo, walked out upon hearing the sounds of a large crash. She watched the entire scene in a mortified silence. A thick, red battle aura emanated from within her, veiling Akane. How could that idiot dare to act so nonchalant towards Shampoo? Why, that two-faced, lying….

"You jerk!" She yelled out, as her eyes filled with tears. He did not turn to look at her.

Akane wondered, why had he not jumped away from Shampoo and begun muttering heated deanials. Had he lied to her about his feelings? No. Ranma was not one to do that. Then something must have gone awry. She watched as Ranma walked out of the Tendo house with Shampoo. She had seen far too many Amazon plots; enough to know that for every potion there was an antidote.

Unfortunately, she did not know the second detail Cologne left unmentioned o Shampoo: Once Ranma took the potion, there could be no doing back.

"Ranma wait! What are you doing?" She lunged for his arm, but he shook it free without the slightest problem. Turning around, he looked at Akane. What she saw in his eyes chilled her heart.

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Minna-san, I hope this was worth waiting for. Wow, I entirely forgot about my fanfic. Thank you for your kind reviews, they reminded me that I have a story to write and kept me going! The 11th chapter will come much sooner than this, I promise, as I am eager to start on my next fanfic.

As for now, I will appreciate any and all feedback from you!

Sneak peek at Chapter 11: Only one thing can defy an Amazon potion. We'll soon know what.