Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns all rights to Ranma and Co. I am just borrowing them for awhile.

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Tatewaki Kuno eyed his brother with frustrated impatience. He had asked for only one thing, to have Akane Tendo brought to him, and yet he had failed to accomplish this simple task. He closed his eyes in an attempt to get control over his mounting anger. Silently he counted to ten a few times. When he finally felt he'd regained some measure of control he slowly opened his eyes. Giving his brother a look that said he was not amused.

Takeshi took no notice of this, as he was still reeling from the shock of what he had seen.

It wasn't possible, it just wasn't possible!

It was what his fractured mind kept repeating over and over again, as if keeping with the mantra would somehow make what he had seen a mere figment of his imagination. But deep down he knew it wasn't, that what he had seen had been all too real, and there was no going back now that he knew things like that existed.

Reality had been suddenly and irrevocably shifted, pulled out from under him. Everything he knew and trusted had been swiftly broken, and he wasn't sure they would ever be totally right again. If he could see what he had seen tonight what else, what other ghastly surprises might also lie in wait for him?

"Takeshi." Kuno's voice was cold, the frustration evident in his tone. "The task I gave you was simple. Retrieve my high-spirited fiancée and bring her here. Now you speak of some complication and tell me that you, an esteemed member of House Kuno, could not just take care of it?" He gave a harsh sigh, his eyes narrowing upon his brother. "You disappoint me Takeshi."

Kuno didn't understand. His brother had always been reliable… he had no conscience, a family trait that was held very dear. He could always count on Takeshi to carry out the more delicate tasks, situations that Kuno himself, having a high profile reputation, rather not dirty his hands on.

Takeshi had always been eager to please his brother in these matters. He had been stoic and trustworthy. Never once had Kuno seen him like this---his eyes wild, face pale, hands shaking. What the hell had happened to send Takeshi into such a state? He didn't know, but it was infuriating. If Takeshi didn't snap out of it soon he would be forced to take drastic measures.

Takeshi was suddenly pulled out of his thoughts by the tone of his brother's voice. He knew Kuno would be angry at his failure to bring Akane back with him, and his brother was not one you wanted to cross. He was used to getting what he wanted when he wanted it.

Takeshi knew his brother was furious with him for not succeeding in his mission to subdue Akane. Now here he was asking why he hadn't just taken care of the complication, how was he to tell him what had really happened without sounding completely insane?

In his mind's eye he could still see the man's blood red eyes leering at him. Man? That was no man, the voice inside his head told him. He shivered inwardly. It was enough to make his blood run cold.

"Takeshi?" Kuno spoke his name again, his frustration mounting. "Are you even listening to me? You had better start explaining yourself."

Takeshi wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his sleeve. He knew his brother would not like his explanation. He wondered absently if he would try and have him committed once he heard it. Knowing he had no choice but to explain either way he took a deep breath, swallowed hard and began.

"There was this guy," he said, trying to control the tremor in his voice "He showed up just as I was about to get Akane in the car."

"And…" Tatewaki said with impatience, eyeing his brother skeptically. "Why did you not just handle it?"

Takeshi shivered as the perspiration rolled off his forehead, making him feel clammy. When he spoke his voice was low.

"I would have," he reasoned. "But this was no ordinary guy."

Kuno's brow furrowed in confusion mixed with frustration. "And what pray tell does that mean?"

Takeshi felt his pulse quicken. In his nervousness he wiped his sweaty palms across the top of his thighs. Then, taking a deep breath, he blurted: "He… he wasn't human."

Kuno felt the beginnings of a tension headache starting to build behind his eyes. First Takeshi had failed to bring him Akane, and now he had concocted some ridiculous story to explain his failure. He gritted his teeth in an effort to keep his temper in check.

"I swear it's true!" Takeshi said quickly, seeing his brother's anger mounting.

Kuno decided to humor him. "Then what pray tell was he?"

Though he didn't want to admit it, especially out loud, there was one word that echoed inside his head even as he contemplated it.

"I... think he might have been a… a vampire," Takeshi stammered, unable to look his brother in the eye.

Kuno frowned at this. "Have you been into the sake again?" he accused, his eyes narrowing, scanning for signs Takeshi was drunk.

Takeshi shook his head vigorously.

"I'm telling you the truth. He was…it was his eyes…"

"Takeshi," Kuno cut him off, exasperation in his voice. "I am a very busy man. I do not have time for this foolishness."

Takeshi was frantic now. He needed desperately for his brother to believe him. He didn't think he could bear to shoulder this knowledge alone.

"It… it was almost like he had some power to hypnotize," he blurted, his voice desperate. "He told me to let Akane go, and even though my mind protested the command… I had no choice but to obey him."

Takeshi took in a long shaky breath at the memory and let it out slowly, trying to calm himself.

"He looked right at me and it was like I was in a trance… and then… then his eyes…I'm telling you Tatewaki, they weren't human!"

Don't forget his teeth, his mind whispered. Those razor sharp fangs waiting to tear into…

Takeshi cut off the train of thought instantly, not wanting it to go any further.

Kuno had heard just about all he wanted to. It was obvious that Takeshi had been hitting the substances as well as the drink tonight. After all Takeshi was well known to partake in these indulgences more often than not. It had never before affected his ability to carry out orders, but perhaps the abuse had finally caught up with him. That had to be it, Kuno's mind reasoned, for this other explanation simply did not make any sense.

"Takeshi." Kuno's tone was sharp, his displeasure evident. "I do not know what had gotten into you, but I dare suggest you lay off our sister's mind altering substances."

"But I'm not…" Takeshi interjected only to be cut off by Kuno's raised palm.

"It does not matter," he said, forcing himself to keep calm. He hadn't remained one of the top businessmen in the city by losing control.

"You are to gather yourself together. I will not allow such insane talk." He gave his brother a piercing look. "As you are my kin I am willing to let this one incident slide. However, I do suggest strongly that it not happen again. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

Takeshi simply stared at his brother and nodded. It wouldn't do any good to argue with Tatewaki. He couldn't exactly blame him for not believing his story. He knew he wouldn't have believed it had the roles been reversed.

"Now go."

Takeshi got to his feet quickly, grateful that Tatewaki had let him off with a warning this time. If he was made to go back after Akane, he would see to it he took the proper precautions, no matter how crazy he might look in doing so.

Kuno watched him go with barely veiled disgust. He didn't know what was happening to him lately, first Akane leaving him and now Takeshi's total failure to bring her back. He wasn't used to not getting his way. It was a totally foreign feeling, and it frustrated the hell out of him.

He had to get her back. He had to show not only her, but the men that worked for him that what he said went. That insubordination was simply not tolerated. She belonged to him, plain and simple, and he always kept what was his.

He gritted his teeth, seething in his frustration. How dare she leave him! Just who the hell did she think she was anyway? Not only had she humiliated him, but his business was now suffering since she'd left to play Club Kindred. He felt another wave of anger wash over him and pounded his fists on the desk in aggravation.

How dare she do this to me!

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to bring his thoughts back under some semblance of control. He would use his anger to his advantage. Make it work for him instead of against him. He felt a sudden calm come over him, as the malicious thoughts began to suddenly take shape inside his head.

She would come to regret the day she'd left him. He would make sure of that. If he couldn't have her he would see to it that no one else did either. With this in mind he leaned back in his chair lacing his hands behind his head, a sly smile starting to spread across his face.

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It was brought to my attention that Takeshi shouldn't have been able to remember his encounter with Ranma if he was being hypnotized, however, I did it this way on purpose as Ranma definately WANTED him to remember their meeting, and further to show how powerful he is when it comes to using that sort of influence. That he can decided what a person will or will not remember, just a different twist on things.