Ranma ½
Love Note
Usual disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, any resemblance to Ranma ½ or Death Note is purely intentional, and the rest of that jazz.
For the purposes of this story, any text within single quotes like 'this' is considered a thought.
Chapter 14
'Akane, just how long has it been? It feels like an eternity,' Ryoga thought as he trudged aimlessly down a city street. Pausing a moment, he looked up into the sky, imagining Akane's image in the clouds. 'Oh, how I miss your smile.'
At that moment a delivery van drove by, through a street side puddle. The resulting spray of water quite naturally hit the daydreaming boy. A few seconds later, P-chan struggled his way free of his former clothes and let out an annoyed snort.
As he considered the best method to find some hot water and get back to his clothes, he heard a very unexpected voice on the adjoining street.
"I can't believe you haven't had your prescription updated in ten years," Akane said as she walked up the street.
Excitedly, P-chan rushed to the sound of Akane's voice. He rounded the corner just as Akane, together with Mousse were about to pass. With a squeal, he caught the girl's attention.
"P-chan!" Akane called out happily and rushed over to pick up the piglet. "Where have been?" she asked with a smile.
After taking a moment to bask in Akane's embrace, P-chan finally took notice of Mousse. The Amazon boy eyed the piglet curiously. P-chan returned the look.
Misinterpreting Mousse's look, Akane chuckled and explained, "Oh, this is P-chan. He's always wandering off. I would have thought you would have seen him before."
"Oh, I have," Mousse replied, eying the piglet for another second before diverting back to the previous topic. "Anyway, I didn't think I needed to update it."
Akane shook her head in amusement and lead on once more. "Of course you do. I'm just glad I mentioned it. We should get the new one filled out right away."
"I suppose," Mousse replied, looking around briefly. "Any sign of Ranma?" he asked quietly.
"No," Akane answered, P-chan catching an odd, almost nervous look from Akane that Mousse missed. "Don't worry about him. There is a store not far from here. I'll help you pick out some frames."
"I suppose," Mousse responded.
Still in Akane's arms, P-chan looked between Akane and Mousse in confusion.
XXXXX
Far away, in a Tokyo television studio, Toshiki Inoue, host of Cupid's Arrow, opened the door to his dressing room and entered, followed by an assistant. "What we got for the next episode?" he asked as he took a seat.
The assistant leafed through several sheets of paper on a clip board before responding, "Two more couples from a previous episode, and some guy from down south. Says he has this secret crush..."
Toshiki sighed. "Another one. Thank God these people are so naive to think Cupid is actually listening."
The assistant chuckled. "Yeah, enjoy it while it lasts. Sooner or later they will figure it out. Till then it is a paycheck."
"Yeah," Toshiki replied. "That L character may have already caught him for all we know."
"He would probably have announced it if that was the case. Oh, you got another package from a Cupid."
Tiredly, Toshiki looked at a nearby table with a box. "Another one," he said in annoyance.
"Security already checked it out. Just some video tape," the assistant said as he looked through his papers.
"You watch it?" Toshiki asked with a smirk.
"No. One piece of amateur porn was more than enough for me," the assistant responded. "Probably just another nut job. If you want me to toss it..."
"Nah, I'll handle it," Toshiki responded.
With a nod, the assistant went through a few pieces of business before departing.
Toshiki leaned back in his chair with a tired sigh before looking at the package. As he continued to eye it, an increasing compulsion to open it took hold.
XXXXX
"How about these?" Akane suggested.
Mousse looked at the frames that Akane passed him skeptically. They were an understated pair, with a minimalist metallic frame. "I don't know..." he replied as he held them over his eyes and looked in the mirror. "They look rather flimsy."
"Hmh, yeah, let me see..." Akane said as she returned to the displays.
Mousse took a nearby seat, P-chan sitting in the one next to him. As Akane drifted away, Mousse leaned over to the piglet. "I'm telling you right now, this was not my idea. It is all Cupid's fault."
P-chan squealed in response, Mousse unsure if it was meant to express confusion or perhaps anger. Sitting back up straight, Mousse looked around him for any signs of Ranma, but found none. 'Where is Ranma?' he thought in puzzlement. 'He should have been here by now.'
"Here, try these ones," Akane called over to him.
Sighing, Mousse obediently walked over to check out Akane's selection. Like the last they had a metallic frame, but this time more robust, but still understated. Mousse squinted as he tried to get an idea of what they would looked like in the mirror. This continued for another minute before Akane suddenly intervened.
"Here, just try them on," Akane said, removing Mousse old glasses before he had a chance to argue. With his vision blurred, he could do little but allow Akane to put on the new pair.
"I can't tell what they look like though," Mousse pointed out.
"Trust me, they look great. You should get these," Akane replied.
Akane handed Mousse back his glasses which he raised in front of him in a futile attempt to get a better look in the mirror. "You really think they look good?" he asked.
"Definitely," Akane replied, beaming.
Mousse hesitated but finally nodded. "Alright," he conceded as he replaced them with his old pair.
"Great! Let's go fill the order," Akane directed, pulling Mousse by the elbow toward the nearby clerk.
"Still no signs of Ranma?" Mousse asked quietly. Akane mutely shook her head in response. "Where is he?"
"Don't worry about him. Jerk is probably sulking somewhere," Akane replied as they reached the clerk.
Behind them, P-chan continued to sit, puzzled by the whole situation. However, one thing was sure, he did not like how familiar the two were being. As he continued to watch them talk with the clerk, he grew ever more concerned as Akane continued to smile happily in Mousse's direction.
XXXXX
"Kasumi, I'm back," Ranma called out from the front door as he removed his shoes.
"Oh good," Kasumi called back. "Did you get everything?"
"Uh, yeah," Ranma replied as he carried two bags to the kitchen. Inside, he found Kasumi in cooking prep for dinner.
"Wonderful, just leave them there. Thank you so much for getting them for me. It was silly of me to forget when I was shopping yesterday," Kasumi said, giving Ranma a brief appreciative smile before returning to her work.
"Uh, no problem," he replied, setting the bags down as directed. "You... need anything else?"
Kasumi shook her head. "No, thank you. Dinner won't be ready for at least an hour." Ranma nodded in acknowledgment, but remained at the kitchen door for a long moment. Noticing this, Kasumi looked over her shoulder curiously. "Is there something you wanted?"
"Uh... nono," Ranma quickly replied and departed before Kasumi could become more suspicious. Out of her view, he sighed and slowly headed to the common room. 'I don't know why I get nervous all the time. It's not like she doesn't know,' he thought. 'Of course, Akane would probably kill me if I did anything. I just don't know. If this thing doesn't wear off, then what?' Shaking his head for lack of an answer, Ranma entered the common room just in time to notice another presence.
Before Ranma could react, he found himself tossed to the floor, and Ryoga hovering over him, grabbing him by the collar. "How could you let this happen to Akane?!" Ryoga angrily demanded.
It took a second, but exactly what Ryoga was referring to became obvious, and with that realization Ranma slugged Ryoga, sending him to the floor a few feet away. Ranma quickly reversed the situation, grabbing the now prone Ryoga by the collar. "You think I just let this happen?!" Ranma nearly yelled back in outrage. "Don't you even start with me, or you will sooo regret it! I'm in no mood!"
Ryoga was struck as he saw the emotion on Ranma's face. After a moment of silence between them, Ranma grunted and tossed Ryoga roughly back to the floor and stepped away. Another few seconds and Ryoga recovered and got back to his feet. "So, it's really true then?"
Ranma scoffed in annoyance. "You come in here accusing me of things and you're not even sure it's true?!" he asked angrily, but after another few seconds to calm, sadness took hold and he nodded. "Yeah, it's true. How'd you find out?"
"Akane was out with Mousse..." Ryoga began to reply, getting Ranma's full attention suddenly back.
"What? When?"
"Earlier today," Ryoga replied.
Ranma clenched his teeth. 'She didn't even tell me this time. Was she trying to hide it?' he thought tensely.
Ryoga looked down at the ground, fighting with his own emotions. "Just who is this Cupid?"
"Where you been?" Ranma asked in annoyance before waving off any answer. "Actually, never mind. Alright, sit down, I'll bring you up to date," he said with a tired sigh. Obediently Ryoga did so, Ranma soon joining him, and he went over all the recent events, although omitting his own issues with Kasumi. After about ten minutes the tale was finished, leaving Ryoga temporarily at a loss.
"Are there no clues?" Ryoga finally asked.
"Any good clues, no. That L character seems to think Cupid is nearby, and he's probably right, but that doesn't do us much good," Ranma answered.
"Then we have to take action," Ryoga declared, puzzling Ranma. "Mousse, we have to make sure he stays away from Akane," he explained.
"And how do you propose we do that? Clobber him? Trust me, that's not going to work," Ranma replied.
"No, he still wants to be with Shampoo, right? We just have to get her to take him back," Ryoga suggested.
Ranma scoffed. 'More like I have to get Shampoo to take him back,' he thought with a frown. 'Still, he's got a point. Get him back into the Nekohanten and Mousse will probably be too distracted by Shampoo to even think about Akane.' Ranma pondered for another few seconds before finally nodding in agreement. "Alright, suppose that could work."
"Then let's go!" Ryoga said excitedly, jumping to his feet.
XXXXX
Nearing the Nekohanten, Ryoga could not help but think of Ranma's reaction. He had known Ranma was in love with Akane, however much he denied it, but it had made it startlingly clear just how much this situation was playing on him. Earlier, Ryoga had hoped that he was simply overreacting, and that the situation between Akane and Mousse was less serious, but Ranma's reaction proved otherwise. There was also a small part of his mind cursing his bad luck, certain that had he been around at the time Cupid would have chosen him instead of Mousse. Of course, he would vehemently deny any such base thoughts.
The two stepped into the Nekohanten to find Shampoo and Maho waiting tables. Almost instantly, Shampoo gleefully rushed over and hugged Ranma. Ranma naturally did his usual protest at the attention, while Ryoga took it as a little comfort that not all had changed in his absence.
"Come on, Shampoo. I'm just here to talk," Ranma said, doing his best to not encourage the Amazon, but also not complicate his goals by angering her.
"Talk?" Shampoo repeated, withdrawing.
"Yeah," Ranma confirmed in some relief.
Shampoo's mood shifted to a more serious one. "Shampoo want talk too, then," she said to Ranma's surprise. "You listen, okay?"
"What about?" Ranma asked, prompting Shampoo to glance around the room.
"No here," she said, and took Ranma by the hand and started leading him into the back.
"Alright, fine, but no funny business," Ranma said as he left sight, leaving Ryoga behind.
Cologne curiously hoped into view from the kitchen, watching after her great granddaughter. On seeing her, Ryoga rushed over. "Old lady, is it really true? All this Cupid stuff I mean?"
Cologne nodded. "Unfortunately yes. I had started to believe you too might be a victim given your long absence. Such is not the case?"
"No," Ryoga answered quickly, becoming nervous at the mere thought of such. "Is there nothing we can do? Don't you have a potion or something?"
Cologne let out a sad laugh and shook her head. "No. Nothing can cleanse away this I'm afraid. The only cure seems to be simply time, however unhelpful that is."
Ryoga hung his head. 'This is... is... a disaster!' he thought in misery. "Maybe... if we find Cupid..."
"Perhaps," Cologne conceded. "I'm sure Son-in-law is hopeful of such, as are many others. Although, it is far from certain that even Cupid has the ability to undo this."
"Are you saying... Akane might..." Ryoga started to ask.
"Akane, Ranma, Tofu, Shampoo... all may have to face that reality," Cologne replied.
Ryoga frowned, not liking that answer in the least, before pausing at noticing the nature of the names. "Wait, Ranma got affected too?"
Cologne looked at Ryoga curiously. "Forgot to mention, did he? Oh yes. He is apparently in love with Kasumi Tendo now," she answered.
'No wonder he was mad,' Ryoga thought. 'Although, I might be able to use that,' he added before his thoughts were interrupted by Cologne.
"Have you had any cause to suspect that Cupid has had some involvement in your life?" Cologne asked.
Ryoga quickly shook his head. "No."
"Think boy. It does not have to be yourself directly. Has anyone around you recently been affected?"
Ryoga thought for a moment, but once more shook his head. "I don't think so. Does that mean anything?"
"Perhaps," Cologne replied, but then shrugged. "Then again, perhaps not."
Ryoga pondered this a moment longer before noticing Ranma return. Unexpectedly, Ranma looked to be in a bit of shock. 'What happened?' Ryoga wondered.
A second behind Ranma, Shampoo appeared. Her appearance too was different, seeming almost depressed. As they entered the dinning area, Shampoo asked, "What Ranma want talk about?"
"Ah... forgot it," Ranma said quickly. "I got to go."
Leaving everyone a bit confused, Ranma rushed off without a further word. Ryoga was himself briefly stunned, realizing Ranma, for unknown reasons, had abandoned their objective here. While he was curious why, he dismissed such for the moment and instead turned to Shampoo himself. Seeing her expression, her head hung in thought, delayed him a moment, but finally he stepped forward.
"Shampoo, you know Mousse isn't Cupid, right?" Ryoga said suddenly, gaining the Amazon's attention.
Frowning at the mention of her unwanted lover, Shampoo reluctantly nodded.
"Then won't you let him come back?"
Shampoo's frown deepened. "This what Ranma come for?" she asked.
"Uh, yeah," Ryoga answered.
Shampoo continued her frown, looking to Cologne. The elder said nothing, merely watching. With a sigh, Shampoo turned back to Ryoga. "If is what Ranma want, will do."
Ryoga grew happy at this. "Oh, thank you so-"
"No get wrong idea. Shampoo still no like him," Shampoo said coldly before looking back at Cologne. "Great grandmother, can Shampoo go out?"
"Very well," Cologne replied before heading back into the kitchen.
XXXXX
"Man," Ranma moaned, kicking a can in front of him, a habit he was getting a bit too familiar with lately. "Why'd she have to go and say something like that," he mumbled as he walked.
Ranma did not really know how to take Shampoo's apology. It had caught him completely off guard. 'How am I suppose to respond to something like that?' he thought with a sigh. Truthfully, he tried not to dwell on the past. He had his own share of misdeeds to answer for, and really he did not want to get into back and forth with anyone over who was more in the wrong. Still, that did not mean he had simply forgotten.
'Hmm, she did seem honest enough,' Ranma thought. Shampoo could be deceptive, but she did so usually by playing innocent, or hurt. In this case she seemed to be truly contrite. Asking her to take Mousse back in after that just felt so wrong.
As Ranma approached the can for another kick, he heard laughter from a nearby yard. He looked just in time to see a pair of kids run out, both wielding water pistols and firing them at the other. Ranma tensed, but the kids passed by without hitting him. Sighing in relief, Ranma turned to leave, but found a third child smiling at him from behind. Before he could fully process this, the child pulled the trigger on his water pistol, spraying Ranma in the face, then quickly ran off giggling.
"Figures," the now female Ranma complained, but quickly dismissed her bad luck. Back on course, she starting kicking the can once more. After another couple of kicks, she reached the street corner. Her thoughts shifted to Akane, and the revelation Ryoga had brought her that had precipitated this whole thing. Frowning, Ranma took a particularly hard shot at the can.
Such was unfortunately timed as a figure rounded the corner at just that moment. Ranma cringed, fully expecting the worst and sure enough the can was on a direct course for the person's face. However, just before it hit, the person deftly snatched it from the air.
Whatever relief Ranma may have felt at this vanished when the figure lowered their hand to reveal it was in fact Kodachi. "Am I to interpret this as a sneak attack, Pigtailed girl?" she asked in an unusually calm tone.
"It was... I didn't see you, honest," Ranma quickly said, only then noticing Kodachi's new hairdo.
Kodachi gave Ranma a flat look, then shrugged and tossed the can across the street and into a trash can. "Let it not be said that Kodachi Kuno is without forgiveness," she said, before looking back at a perplexed Ranma. "I suppose you have heard I have changed interests in love."
"Uh... yeah."
"As such, there is no further cause for us to quarrel," Kodachi said, moving a few steps closer to speak. "Although, I must admit, I realize now that your relationship with Ranma was never clarified. I thought you perhaps were another of his supposed girlfriends, but seeing you now... are you his sister?"
"Uh... something like that," Ranma replied, deciding not to try and explain his curse.
"Hmm, I see, disappointing," Kodachi responded.
"Disappointing?" Ranma echoed in confusion.
Kodachi smiled slyly. "It would serve my interests far better for you to be his girlfriend."
"Oh, right," Ranma said with a bit of a nervous laugh.
Kodachi looked to the sky, growing dreamy. "Oh, if only my dearest Ukyo would see the truth of that vile man. I suppose, though, I cannot blame her as love can blind you to much."
"Truth?"
Kodachi frowned, and looked back to Ranma. "That he has never had any intention of marrying her," Kodachi explained, then sharply turned to the side, angry. "Oh, it so irritates me to know how he strings her along... taking advantage of her trust... has he no dignity?!" Kodachi asked, Ranma weakly trying to speak but getting cut off before she could speak a word. "No! Obviously not! Without the slightest guilt that man will freely take Ukyo's offers of free lunches and dinners... that cad!" Kodachi nearly yelled out, but stopped herself, sighed, took a moment to straighten an errant hair, and calmed. "If he was half the man he claims, he would tell her the truth, but he is not."
'Just grin and bear it, Ranma', the transformed boy thought to herself, doing just that.
"Ah, but I have to simply be patient. He will slip up inevitably, and then I will be there," Kodachi declared before refocusing on Ranma. "If you do see that no good brother of yours, feel free to convey what I have said. Perhaps it will have an impact. I doubt such, however. I should be off." Kodachi gave Ranma a brief nod before continuing on her way. Ranma likewise waved weakly goodbye.
'Yeah, tell Ukyo that... yeah, that would end really badly,' Ranma thought. Of all his unwanted fiancees, Ukyo worried him the most in fact. Shampoo, he could always leverage her love for him against her. Kodachi, it was just a big game to her in the first place. Ukyo though, her anger would go straight towards him, she was very serious, very capable, and had an ever growing list of complaints. It was difficult to predict exactly what would come, but the odds favored the worst. Even if Ranma beat the odds, she was almost certain that she could no longer count Ukyo as a friend.
As Ranma thought on this, her mind turned back to Shampoo's apology, wondering how Ukyo would take such a thing. 'Well, I might get off with just a thorough beating...' she thought in weak joke to herself. Shaking her head, she dismissed the idea for now. It was far from the first time she had considered it, and it would not be the last, no doubt, but like all the other times, Ranma just did not have the nerve to attempt it.
'Got to give Shampoo credit, at least she had the guts to do it,' Ranma thought. With one last sigh, and no more can to kick around, Ranma decided to head home.
XXXXX
Around that time, Shampoo was on her way to Ukyo's restaurant, although her mind was still on Ranma. She was not sure what to make of his reaction to her apology. 'He wasn't angry, but... I guess I was hoping for something... better,' she thought with a frown. She wanted desperately to talk over the incident with Tofu, but the doctor had once more been called out of town.
Shampoo frowned deeper at that. 'Figures, his mother gets sick the day after I go talk with Kasumi. What lousy timing,' she thought in irritation. It could not be helped but it frustrated her so, especially now.
She rounded the last corner to Ukyo's restaurant, her mind now turning to how to speak with Mousse. 'I just know he's going to get the wrong idea,' she thought with a growl before looking ahead at her destination and paused. Just outside was parked a large automobile, still running. Shampoo watched for a moment, seeing a familiar man exit the restaurant, and enter the vehicle before it drove off. Said man was L. 'What was he doing here?' Shampoo thought in puzzlement, hurrying her pace to the restaurant.
Stepping inside, she found the restaurant empty save Ukyo behind the grill. Her rival was staring down at said grill tensely. Shampoo was not sure what to make the the okonomiyaki chef's expression. She never got the chance to analyze such, as Ukyo noticed her, her expression quickly shifting to an angry glare. "What are you doing here?" Ukyo asked
"Why L here?" Shampoo asked back, causing Ukyo to hesitate.
"What do you care?" Ukyo evasively responded, looking away.
Shampoo examined Ukyo for a moment, debating whether to push the matter or drop it. In the end, she decided Ukyo would not bend to questioning if she had not already. With a huff, Shampoo asked, "Where Mousse?"
Ukyo relaxed some, and looked to the staircase. "He's upstairs. Just got back from his date," she replied. Seeing Shampoo cross her arms and take a seat, Ukyo sighed. "Fine, I'll get him. You're not going to kill him, are you?"
"No," Shampoo dryly answered.
Ukyo nodded in acknowledgment and headed upstairs, leaving Shampoo to wait. 'Why would L be here of all places?' Shampoo asked herself. 'Does he suspect Ukyo?' she wondered, but shook her head. Any further consideration was cut off as Mousse came rushing, then tumbling, down the stairs. Recovering quickly at the bottom he rushed over to Shampoo.
"Is it true?" Mousse asked hopefully as Shampoo gave him a tired look.
"Shampoo no even start talk yet..." Shampoo replied.
"But, you've forgiven me, right?" Mousse pressed on.
Ukyo came back down the stairs herself, but stopped at the doorway to the restaurant, leaning against it to watch.
Shampoo sighed, debating her words. "Shampoo just no think you Cupid anymore, and new girl no as fast at work as Mousse, so Mousse can come back if want."
"Oh, I do, I do!"
"At half pay," Shampoo quickly added.
"I'll go get my stuff," Mousse said excitedly, no longer listening, and rushed back upstairs, rushing past Ukyo who was covering her face with her hand.
"Seriously, you cut his pay in half?" Ukyo asked.
"Shampoo no one who pay him," Shampoo replied as she stood up. "Probably still ten times what you pay him."
Ukyo grew nervous at this, and looked away. "He gets free room and board too," she responded, getting a huff from Shampoo before the Amazon left. Seeing this, Ukyo followed Mousse back upstairs, finding him already in a rush to grab up his stuff. "You do realize something is up, right?"
Mousse paused and looked back at Ukyo in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"She doesn't really want you back. I'm guessing Cologne, or maybe even Ranma put her up to it," Ukyo explained.
"Ranma..." Mousse echoed, his mood darkening as he thought on that. "If it was Ranma, then he must want to get me away from Akane. That's a good thing."
"If you say so, Sugar," Ukyo replied, unconvinced and headed back downstairs to man the restaurant.
Mousse wondered at Ukyo's response for a moment. 'Maybe she's right. This may keep me away from Akane, but doesn't really get him and Akane back together. Damn him... But... I can't just refuse... Double damn him!' Mousse thought in frustration. 'Fine, if that's the way you want to play it Ranma, I'll go back, but I'll also keep seeing Akane. Your little scheme will fail!' he mentally declared.
XXXXX
Later that day, her work day done, Maho arrived at the hotel she was staying at. Mousse had indeed returned earlier that day, and while Maho had hoped this might ease things up on her, instead Cologne seemed to find all new work to put her too. Sighing with exhaustion, Maho entered the elevator and leaned against the wall. 'This is so not worth it!' she thought before the ding came for her floor.
No sooner had the elevator doors opened than Maho's cell phone rang. Exiting the elevator, Maho quickly pulled out the phone and answered. "Hello?"
"Maho, are you home?" L asked.
"Just got to our floor," Maho answered. "Where have you been? Have you gotten my messages?"
"Here, and yes, all very interesting. If you can, can you meet me in my room. It is time to discuss matters."
Maho debated briefly replying no, tired as she was, but quickly dismissed such. "I'll be there in a sec, hold on," she replied, hanging up and changing destinations.
She found the door to L's room unlocked and entered, announcing herself. Within, she found several laptops and numerous screens now scattered around the room, several boards with dozens of names and pictures on them, and even more plates, all with the remains of watermelons on them. On his seat as usual, L was in fact in the process of eating another watermelon as he typed away at another laptop on the table.
Seeing her L looked up. "Ah, Maho, come, sit. Would you like some watermelon?"
"Ah... sure, why not," she replied as she sat. L passed her a plate with several slices before returning to his work.
"I've grown to quite like the taste," L said before finishing his typing.
"Mousse is back at the Nekohanten, by the way. And, there is a new boy in town, Ryoga Hibiki. From what Cologne told me, he is in love with Akane Tendo as well, but that dates back well before all the Cupid incidents," Maho said.
"One wonders about that," L said.
"You think Cupid has been active a lot longer?" Maho asked, a possibility she too had considered.
"Perhaps, but unfortunately we cannot as yet confirm or refute such," L replied.
"And you got my message about the doctor, right?"
L nodded. "Yes, very interesting, which may yet prove to be key, but let's put that aside for the moment. As you know, Kasumi mentioned something to me during our talk that gave me new insight into Cupid's powers." Pausing, L took a bite of watermelon then asked, "What do we know about those that Cupid's victims fall in love with?"
Maho, who had just started eating her own watermelon piece, finished her bite and replied. "Cupid doesn't seem to need to know anything about them. Some have had no appearances on television."
"Exactly, and I left it at that, a mistake on my part. Understandable to be sure as I was analyzing data as it came in, but now that time has past, an important pattern has revealed itself," L explained and started pointing to the boards. "I have placed these people into two groups, those Cupid would likewise have the name of face of, and those she would not. The results are remarkable. Counter intuitively, when Cupid has more information, the effect is less durable."
"Less durable?" Maho asked.
"The love does not last," L explained. "It isn't an absolute, but over 90 percent of those Cupid would have had the name and face for the object of the love, the love effect has since passed. By contrast, those Cupid would lack a name and face for, so far with 100 percent consistency, are still in love."
"That is weird," Maho said as she eyed the boards and continued eating. "Do you think she is doing this deliberately?"
"If so, it is yet another power Cupid possesses, the ability to limit the duration. However, the pattern of the victims leads me to believe the odds favor this not being the case. However, since Kasumi Tendo did suggest this avenue of investigation, I do have to question that as potentially deliberate," L said, tapping his lip. "But that is not all, there is some other differences as well between these two groups.
"Those Cupid has the name and face for, when the victim falls in love, it quite often happened with no contact between the two individuals. By contrast, the other group, always had contact. It did not have to be direct. It could be talking on the phone, seeing their picture, but in some form they had contact," L explained. "What do you think about that?"
Maho frowned in thought. "I'm not sure," she said at first. "One would think she would need some mechanism to target an object for the love. So maybe, then, when she has more info, she can target them under all circumstances, but when she lacks such, she uses something simpler. Kinda like a cruise missile versus a proximity fuse."
"An interesting analogy, and apt I think," L said with a nod. "Although it still does not explain why more information gives us less duration."
"Maybe the added targeting is more expensive power wise and cuts into the duration?" Maho suggested.
"Perhaps, although that too has problems with the few cases where it is continuing to endure. However, let's put that aside for now. there is one more interesting case I wish to discuss.
"One particular pair was very interesting. Both movie stars, they were in a recent movie together as romantic leads. By all public knowledge, that was the extent of their relationship. However, in fact, they were carrying on a relationship unknown to the public. What is very interesting about this pair is that both fell in love with 2 other people. The other people Cupid would have lacked names and faces for. Even more interesting, these loves happened very nearly back to back. What do you make of this?" L asked.
Maho puzzled over the new info. "Two each?" she asked and gained a confirming nod from L. "If Cupid knew about their relationship and wanted to break them up, why two? Even if the first didn't do the job, you'd think she would wait to see such before adding another, but you say she didn't?"
"We can't be positive, but the timing is within minutes. The public would certainly be unaware of such," L elaborated. Seeing Maho puzzled by this, L said, "What do you think happens when Cupid attempts to use her power on people that are already in love?"
Maho blinked as she pondered this. "I suppose it could potentially... toggle it off, but we've seen no evidence of such, at least nothing obvious. Other possibility is it could increase the intensity, again we haven't seen anything like that. Or it could maybe overload... and direct at others?" Maho asked, L giving her a slight nod. "You think she was trying to get these two together, but because they already were, it misfired, but why twice each? One each I could understand."
"I've been considering that, but haven't come to a firm conclusion, but I do believe we are on the right track as far as the reasoning. Now then, in the light of this new information, let us look at the incidents of interest here in Nerima," L prompted.
Maho leaned back and began thinking aloud. "Shampoo's love for Mousse lasted mere days. Assuming it wasn't fake, that would mean it was a targeted one, with Cupid knowing Mousse's name and face."
"I would agree."
"Kodachi... now she's still in love even today. Plus, as I recall, she just happened to be walking by Ukyo's restaurant at the time," Maho said in realization. "She wasn't targeted at Ukyo?"
"Perhaps. What I didn't mention is there is another tell tale sign that it is not specifically targeted love. Without fail, all such loves always target those who are of compatible sexual orientation," L said.
"But Ukyo likes Ranma... wait, he can turn into a girl..." Maho said in thought
"Yes, I had to contact Ukyo directly earlier today to confirm my suspicion. I asked her quite bluntly her sexual orientation, making sure to emphasize that an inaccurate answer could potentially lead the case astray."
"And?"
"She grew nervous and would not answer," L replied. "Which is all the response I needed. If she were heterosexual, there would be little reason to not answer. So, that means Kodachi was not directed to love Ukyo specifically. It was a mere coincidence."
Maho thought on that for a second then moved on. "And Akane and Ranma... It isn't quite the same, because it is only one each, but it is a lot like that pair you just told me about. That means, Cupid may have been trying to get them together, not break them apart."
"Yes, this leads us to quite different conclusions as to our Cupid's original intents," L said, grabbing up another slice of watermelon. "But that is not all. Assuming you are right, and Cupid was trying to get Ranma and Akane together, what is your impression of all of this?"
Maho frowned in thought as L started eating his slice. "Hmm... well... seems kinda sloppy."
"I would say naive, but yes," L agreed.
"What was she doing, messing around?"
"Possibly, but the pattern of the early victims still indicates a directed intent rather than simple testing," L said. "What I'm more concerned with, though, is the drastic change," he continued, confusing Maho. "You mentioned it yourself when we first discussed the case, the attack on the police was quite atypical for Cupid up to that point."
"Well, clearly, all that use of her power on other people made her a lot better."
"Did it though?" L asked, once more confusing Maho. "I considered that, so I looked for any pattern of improved usage of her power, particularly any signs of puppeting her victims. There are a few cases, but all very minimal in extent. Nothing even approaches the complexity of the puppeting we see in the attack on the police. In fact, her usage in general shows only a very slow progression."
"So, what are you saying? The attack on the police wasn't carried out by Cupid?" Maho asked in shock.
L nodded. "By our original Cupid, no. Clearly the individual attacking the police had Cupid's power, but the methods and planning are on a completely different level than anything the original Cupid has shown."
"So, did the original Cupid puppet... no, that doesn't make sense, it was the other Cupid that puppeted people..."
"Yes. Rather than a puppet, I think we do indeed have two Cupids, although since both stopped activity at the same time, and the second appears to be protecting the first, they are somehow connected," L said with a frown as he looked to the boards.
"So, where does that get us?" Maho asked.
"It puts us back a bit, unfortunately, but puts us on firmer ground. We know little of the second Cupid. We cannot even conclude anything about the second Cupid's gender at this time. We know only that he or she seems protective of the first, although not the reasons why. However, I still think Kasumi is a good suspect for our first Cupid. Most of our other information on Cupid remains intact, and Kasumi still matches it quite well. There are also many people who would potentially wish to protect her."
"Ranma, her father, her sisters..." Maho said with a nod. "Still, you said she didn't seem like Cupid."
"More accurately I said she did not respond as I anticipated," L pointed out. "There is the possibility now that the second Cupid has affected her."
"But she hasn't fallen in love with anyone," Maho said, to which L nodded.
"True, although such may yet still occur. We are dealing with mysterious powers here to which the full limits of such are still unknown to us. We know Cupid can set a time for a love to occur, but not the exact limits of such. This makes me wonder about the doctor in particular. You said he was affected after the police."
"That's right," Maho confirmed.
"The doctor is one of those that would have cause to protect Kasumi. It is possible that he could be the second Cupid and used the power on himself in an effort to conceal such," L suggested. Maho was shocked by this, but before she could respond, L continue. "Unfortunately, that is just conjecture at this point. It does open the possibility, though, that both Cupids may not even be aware that they were Cupid any longer."
"And if that is the case?"
"That will make solving this case considerably more difficult," L replied. "It is time, I think, to cast a wider net. Ukyo mentioned, while I was speaking with her, that she, Akane and Mousse would like to assist me. I think I shall take them up on the offer, as well as the others."
"I don't understand," Maho said.
"I'm going to gather all the major players together and bring them in. Both Cupids undoubtedly have a close connection if they are not within the group directly. Either way, the pressure on Cupid will increase as they will have not only myself but everyone focused on finding them. As well, if they are within the group, I will be able to observe them more directly," L explained, getting a nod of understanding from Maho. "However, I want you to maintain a lower profile for now. Continue your current activities. I will speak with Ke Lun privately on the matter, but I am certain she will cooperate."
Maho sighed, but nodded in acceptance.
"Good, I am also in the process of setting us up some more long term housing," L added.
"Long term?"
"Yes. If the Cupid power has been used to remove the memories of the Cupid's, it may take considerable time to prove such. Is that a problem?"
"Uh... I guess not," Maho replied.
End Chapter 14
Another chapter done. Some might be wondering why I didn't elaborate on Shampoo's apology. I'm trying to keep this story low key, so decided since I didn't really need it as the important bits is that it was simply given and the reaction to such, I'd have it done off page as it were. You may also notice I've been generally avoiding giving detailed fight scenes for much the same reason. I won't avoid it always though. As the story goes along I'm certain I'll have to have some serious moments.
Just a little side blurb on Shampoo's comment about Ukyo's pay. Konatsu apparently got paid a mere 5 yen an hour by Ukyo, so assuming Mousse is similarly paid, if Mousse is getting anything even remotely close to reasonable pay at the Nekohanten, even at half it probably would be more than 10 times what Ukyo pays out.
Not sure when I'll be getting back to this next. I may be doing an editing pass through the earlier chapters. Among other things, have to fix a minor glitch with the description of Ukyo's restaurant: I described it as having tables, when in fact it has none, which I can get away with in my other stories as they are alt-verses where Ukyo may have gotten a different location, but in this case I can't, not that it matters much.
As I always say, I'm open to input here. My ideas are sketchy at best.
