Disclaimer: We all know that Rumiko Takahashi owns all rights to these wonderful characters... just playing around with them for the sake of entertainment!

Whew... I know it's been awhile... it's hard trying to juggle two stories at once here... but at last I manage an update. And all while watching my Red Sox win Game One of the playoffs... can I get an AMEN? heh heh... okay, I'll stop now...

On with the show...

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It was nearly dawn when Ryoga finally strolled into the loft. As he had the night before, Ryoga found Ranma was once again sitting in the overstuffed arm chair, his eyes staring blankly at the wall in front of him, his lips tainted a freshly painted red.

Ryoga smiled as he took in the scene. He reveled in the fact that Ranma had once again been indulging himself. Maybe there was hope for him yet. Akane Tendo was certainly proving to be an excellent distraction from his friend's usual morose state.

Still smiling, Ryoga walked over and sat down on the couch in front of his friend.

"Ranma." He snapped his fingers in front of his face. "Are you in there?"

Slowly Ranma cast his gaze in Ryoga's direction. His eyes were laced with a mixture of deep seeded satisfaction, mired with guilt.

"At it again I see," Ryoga quipped. "You get to indulge in your fantasies while I'm out doing all the work."

Ranma rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Ryoga…"

"She must be something else."

Ranma simply glared at him too tired to do much else. He was in no mood to mince words. Ignoring Ryoga's obvious bait he got right to the point.

"What did you find out?"

Ryoga gave him a wicked smile. "I'll tell if you will," he taunted.

Ranma gave an exasperated sigh, his gaze now turning a stormy gray as he eyed his friend threateningly.

Ryoga could feel the sudden charge fill the air making his skin tingle. Ranma had taken all he was going to where Akane was concerned, and that gaze told Ryoga he was treading on some very thin ice. He knew that pressing the matter would be very unwise, as his head still held a slight throb from Ranma's earlier intrusion into his brain.

"Alright! Alright!" Ryoga held up his hands in mock surrender. He had to marvel at the irony of Ranma's unexpected willingness to fight back. It was what Ryoga had wanted after all, for Ranma to rediscover his true nature. He just never thought this sudden resurgence would be directed at him.

"You already know this Tatewaki Kuno runs quite a few businesses in his family's name, but rumor has it they are just fronts for his real business. Care to guess?"

Ranma digested this bit of information with rapt interest. He gave a small grunt of indignation. "From what I've heard of this Kuno I'd bet money that it's drugs."

Ryoga nodded. "You got it," he said. "And he's got some pretty important people for his clientele."

"Important?" Ranma asked, his interest growing.

"Let's just say they aren't the kind of people you'd want to mess around with," Ryoga returned. He then gave a wicked smile. "Unless of course you are us."

Ranma waved off this suggestion. "Okay, let's just stick to the man at hand here."

Ryoga sighed. When would Ranma lighten up?

"Fine, his club has also been struggling ever since Akane left. He's desperate to get her back not only to save face, but for the financial boost she brings the place. But I guess you already knew that. From what I hear he's obsessed with her—he'll do anything to possess her. And if he can't have her… "

Ryoga watched as Ranma's eyes flashed red in his anger. "Bastard!"

Ryoga smiled at his friend's reaction. "Easy, killer," he teased.

"I'm so glad you find this funny," Ranma returned, not at all amused. "That lunatic sent another of his lackey's after Akane tonight."

Now it was Ryoga's turn to look interested. "Let me guess. You gave the guy a night he wouldn't forget?"

Ranma gave him a cool stare. "Weren't you the one telling me I needed to get back to my basic nature Ryoga?"

"Hey, was I faulting you?" he replied. He gave Ranma a wicked smile. "So, exactly what did you do to this guy? He's not sitting in the alley thinking he's a small girl is he?"

Ranma shook his head in disbelief. Leave it to Ryoga to say something like that.

"No, but I do believe I scared the piss out of him… literally."

Ryoga gave a hearty laugh at that, a laugh so infectious that Ranma couldn't help but let out a smile of his own.

"I guess it was pretty funny."

"Admit it Ranma." Ryoga cajoled. "You enjoyed yourself!"

Ranma shook his head, the smile still etched on his face. Ryoga would never give up. He had to admire his resolve.

"Okay, for argument sake let's just say I did. It doesn't change anything Ryoga."

Ryoga's smile faded. "Are you telling me after all these years of trying to suppress what you are, and finally being able to revel in it, that you still want to deny your true nature?"

Again Ranma shook his head. He didn't know what he had to do in order to make his old friend understand.

"Get one thing straight Ryoga," he said, his voice deadly serious. "I did it for her, to protect her, not for some sort of thrill."

It was Ryoga's turn to shake his head. He stood up and walked over to where Ranma was sitting and placed a firm hand upon his shoulder.

"Have you thought about what will happen when she finds out what you are?" he asked, his large brown eyes boring into Ranma's gray-blue ones with steely resolve. "Do you honestly believe she'll look into your blood red eyes and think you did it all to protect her?"

Ranma felt the rage begin to burn within him once more. He knew it was what Ryoga wanted, to provoke his dark nature, to prove once and for all he couldn't deny what he was, but at this point he didn't care. He leapt up from the chair, shoving Ryoga's hand away as he did so.

"Is that a threat?!?"

Ryoga returned his hot stare with a cool one of his own. "It's a fact Ranma. How long do you think you can keep your little secret from her?"

Ranma closed his eyes, as if blocking Ryoga out would also block out his suggestion. Unfortunately it wasn't something he hadn't already thought of himself.

"Do you really think sooner or later she's not going to notice that you never eat? That she never sees you in the daytime, or the fact that you're able to make her feel things when you aren't even in the room? She's not a stupid girl Ranma. I won't have to tell her, she's going to figure it out all on her own."

"Shut up," Ranma retorted, angry with Ryoga, but more angry with himself for not having better control on his emotions. Ranma opened his eyes and glared at his friend.

"You're the one who pushed me into her life remember," he said through clenched teeth, his anger barely controlled.

"I did it to get you out of your funk Ranma," Ryoga replied coolly, crossing his arms over his chest. "The self depreciating act was starting to get on my nerves. Of course I don't need to tell you that there is no future with her."

Ranma was silent. He knew better than anyone that there was no future between him and Akane. He had stumbled into her life and for the first time in centuries hadn't felt the burden of his immortality. She filled him with wonder and a renewed love of life. He knew the time would come when he would have to say goodbye. The thought more than depressed him and he dreaded the day when he would have to let her go. The last thing he needed or wanted was Ryoga pointing it out to him.

"Does it look to you like I'm no longer in a funk?" Ranma retorted, trying to get his anger under some sort of control.

"I'd say it worked rather well," Ryoga stated simply. "You should've seen your eyes when you told me about the guy in the alley. They had a fire I haven't seen in years. As for Akane, there's no saying you can't have some fun. You are a vampire after all."

Ranma rolled his eyes and threw his arms up in a gesture of exasperation. "Thank you so much for reminding me of that yet again Ryoga. You know after over 100 years I'd almost forgotten!"

Ryoga ignored the outburst, much to Ranma's dismay. Instead he said, in a carefully controlled voice: "I had hoped she would bring out what you try so hard to suppress, that your desire for her would override your sense of virtue."

Ranma could only stare at him flabbergasted. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry out in frustrated rage. It would be just like Ryoga to play games with the lives of others. He was immortal after all, and the monotony of such a long and endless life grew very tiresome for most vampires. They, like any other creature, needed a diversion from the tedium. For Ryoga it was a way to keep from goingcompletely out of his mind with boredom.

"Let me just clarify this," Ranma said, trying hard to suppress his growing frustration. "You mean to tell me you deliberately used my desire for Akane for the soul purpose of your own entertainment, because you were feeling the urge for some excitement?"

Ryoga smiled wickedly. "And who knew it would turn out to be so much more interesting."

"You are unbelievable," Ranma seethed. He fought to keep a tight reign on his boiling rage. He didn't know at this point why he should care but he wasn't sure what would happen to Ryoga should he get a full blast of it echoing through his head.

"Oh don't get all high and mighty on me," Ryoga retorted, frustration evident in his eyes. "It's not like you didn't get something out of it. And Akane, well, if I hadn't pushed you into her life that brute would have made off with her to do God only knows what."

Ranma could only shake his head at Ryoga's flawed logic. "So you think that justifies things?" he argued. "You just don't get it do you? I wasn't put here for your amusement Ryoga and neither was Akane."

Ranma took a deep breath and closed his eyes once more, the effort of restraining his anger causing his own head to throb. He sank wearily back into the oversized chair, rubbing his temples as he went.

"Believe it or not," Ryoga said, his tone suggesting his honest intentions. "But I did it for your own good."

Ranma stopped rubbing and slowly glanced up at his friend as if he'd suddenly lost his mind. "Excuse me?"

Ryoga turned leisurely and came up behind the oversized chair. Slowly he leaned down so that he was mere inches from the top of Ranma's head. A wicked smile lit his handsome face as he whispered, his voice suggestive, "It was good for you wasn't it?"

At the insinuation Ranma's eyes fell shut, as the images of Akane suddenly flooded his senses once again, making him long for the feel of her touch. It had been more than good for him, a little too good.

When he remained silent Ryoga continued.

"She's obviously willing," he observed, a sly note entering his voice. "I mean the sexual tension between you two is thick enough to cut with a knife. I bet she even tried to convince you to spend the night? Am I right?"

Ranma sighed, feeling some of the anger leave him at the memory of Akane. She had been so willing to give herself over to him, with no trace of hesitation. So full of trust and love, he'd never come across someone so pure of heart. Her blood was richly tainted with it. The taste was exquisite, so much so that he found himself desperately craving it, craving her. He knew he'd only bring her darkness, but he couldn't bear to stay away.

"I am right!" Ryoga exclaimed, amazed that Ranma hadn't taken her up on the offer.

He assumed Ranma had been afraid to lose control, and therefore reveal his secret. Although Ryoga could guess it must have been quite a battle for him, between his fear and his undeniable lust for the short haired girl. The thug lurking in her alleyway had probably been just what Ranma had needed. It had been something to focus on other than his barely controlled desire.

Ryoga sighed inwardly. He would have to be patient. It would happen. It was inevitable. He wondered what would be left of them when it did.

"What does it matter Ryoga," Ranma asked his voice gruff with desire, yet tinged with sadness. "Like you said, there is no future with her."

Ryoga straightened, walking around the oversized chair so he was facing Ranma once again. He raised his eyebrow inquisitively.

"Are you saying you want there to be?"

Ryoga eyed his friend curiously. Ranma was taking the news of his betrayal a little too hard. It had been a long time since he had felt him give off such an electric charge, a charge so full of barely controlled anger he was practically shaking with it. He could sense Ranma straining to hold it in check. A frightful thought came to him then.

"You're not falling in love with her are you?" he asked, almost afraid of the answer. Ranma's returned silence told him all he needed to know.

"Ranma…" Ryoga began only to let the sentence trail when Ranma held up his hand to stop him.

"You don't need to say it Ryoga."

Ryoga hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath until it came out in a heated rush. He knew pushing the issue would be fruitless. He had to trust that Ranma understood, though he could have his fun, getting too close to the humans could only have dire consequences.

"What now?" Ryoga asked, trying to take a different tact.

Ranma rubbed his hands over his tired eyes. He wasn't sure, all he did know was that he needed her in a way that was downright frightening. He didn't know how, but she made him feel whole again. He found himself aching for her, his lust becoming a never ending fire that burned so bright it nearly consumed him.

He wanted her like no other---God how he wanted her.

Ranma sighed, pulling his thoughts back as he glanced over his shoulder at the ever lightening sky. Whatever they did it would have to wait until nightfall.

"Now we sleep," Ranma said, gesturing toward the bay window. The horizon had started to burn, igniting the landscape in a bright golden hue.

Ryoga sighed. He walked over and drew the shades as Ranma hauled himself out of the chair and made his way over to the walk-in closet.

His hand was on the knob when Ryoga spoke.

"One last thing," he said, making Ranma turn and stare at him inquisitively. "The lovely lady I was able to persuade into dishing the dirt on Kuno also mentioned him sending one of his girls over to Club Kindred to keep tabs on Akane."

Ranma grunted at Ryoga's choice of words. He knew all too well the methods his friend had used in order to "persuade" his young feminine target. Still, the thought of someone spying on Akane and reporting her every move to Kuno was downright unnerving. No wonder Takeshi had known exactly where and when to wait for her. He felt the old familiar anger starting to well up once again.

"Did she say who the girl was?"

Ryoga nodded. "Someone by the name of Shampoo," he replied, unable to suppress the slight bubble of laughter at the absurdity of the moniker. Who named their kid Shampoo anyway? "You know her?"

Ranma thought for a moment… he had heard that name before. He racked his memory, sifting through the faces of those he had met at Club Kindred. Then it came to him. Shampoo---she had been the one who had slammed his beer on the table and then stormed off in a huff. The same one that Akane had joked had a lot in common with Kuno.

"Ranma," Ryoga said, interrupting his train of thought. "Earth to Ranma, come in."

"Sorry," Ranma said, shaking his head as if to clear it. "I was just thinking."

"Do you know her?" Ryoga repeated his earlier question.

"Not really," Ranma replied. "I've met her briefly. Let me tell you that short meeting was more than enough. The girl is one cold bitch."

Ryoga raised his eyebrows in wonder. It was rare that Ranma talk down about a human this way, especially if she was of the female persuasion.

"Someone I would like to meet perhaps?" Ryoga inquired with some interest.

Ranma shook his head. "I wouldn't even wish this one on you Ryoga."

Ryoga took in this bit of information, his wonder growing. He was definitely intrigued. He would have to set up a chance meeting with this Shampoo, if only for the entertainment value alone.

"She seems to really hate Akane," Ranma confessed. "Almost as if she's jealous."

Now Ryoga was even more intrigued. "So, that's how it is."

"It would seem so," Ranma replied, a little perturbed.

"Very interesting," Ryoga said, more to himself than to Ranma, which in turn made Ranma wonder if his friend's sudden interest couldn't somehow work out to his advantage.

They stood in silence for the next few moments, each one lost in his own thoughts. Ryoga wondering what a girl like Shampoo would be like to tame. Ranma thinking that Ryoga would be just what they would need to keep Shampoo busy and out of their hair, not to mention it would also keep Ryoga occupied and out of trouble.

They were forced out of their reverie as the first rays of morning light struggled to stream in through the closed blinds. Both retreated to their respective closets, each eager for a new night to begin.

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Well, there ya go... comments welcome:)