I survey the group of thugs before me. "You shouldn't have hurt her. I told you not to. You do remember what I told you, don't you?" They nod hastily. "The prize is mine." They stare at me quietly, waiting for my outburst of fury. "You crossed the line, boys."

I still cannot believe their mistake. How could anyone be so stupid? I gave them a simple instruction and they managed to mess it up. Kids just out of kindergarten could do better.

I walk around the guys, who are seated on the floor. "Dammit, I told you the whole plan! All of you managed to screw the damn thing up!" They are afraid. I can smell the fear in the air; it is a thick, depressing smell, one that seeps into your very being. Fear is a feeling that suffocates you and rids you of all your liveliness, making you dead and unalive.

"You know, if I hadn't been so damn busy with preparations, I would have done it by my damn self." The thugs, who I'm sure have never been so scared in their lives, are shivering. My lips curve upwards in a smirk. Good. Scare them into submission now, I tell myself.

"I do have a goal here." Something I want badly.

I want her so badly I cannot help myself. I would kill to have her in my arms and I want to hear her voice teasing me. I want to call her by her nickname and I long to kiss her.

I need her.

A small whimper interrupts my thoughts and I land on planet Earth with amazing pain. My thoughts of her has lessened my anger so I try to add more force in my voice.

"Don't ever mess with me." Some are backing off.

"And don't ever screw up a damn detail next time." Bastards. If you get a next time.

"I told you to get the guy with the girl, not the girl. I need the girl. I'm paying you to listen to me and follow my instructions, not to screw up everything. If I could find a group of guys more stupid than all of you, I would've killed every single one of you."

Giving them another cruel smirk, I walk out of the room. They had better understand my plan. I just can't afford to lose a second or fail or even mix up any a minute detail. This is important to me. I am forced to wait six years to achieve my goal and when I can carry out my plan, some idiotic thugs screw the whole thing up. Really, the only thing that has saved them from certain death is the fact that I can still veer their screw up from disaster. There's still a way out.

I walk through the dark corridor silently. In this large, overwhelming mansion, it really pays to not attract any attention to yourself. I sigh.

Those fools really don't know shit when it comes to work. But whatever happens, whoever interferes, I will get what is mine. I will let nothing get in my way. Nothing. No one, not even the so called 'Great Saotome Ranma' can stop me now.

For I know.

I am stronger than he can ever dream of being. So, so, strong. I long for a chance to test him.

With that said, I laugh a little for I know that every step I take and every blunder Ranma makes, brings me closer and closer to my prize.

I have waited for her for years. I trained hard to improve, to refine my skills. There is no way in hell Ranma can beat me.

I will never do what Ranma does to her. She will be happy with me.

My mind travels back to an event which happened about ten years ago. I was twelve and she was eight.

It was a sunny day and I had decided to run away from home. My parents never really paid me much attention. Now that I think of it, my family was kind of crazy.

I was walking past the playground when I heard this scream. It was coming from the mouth of a pretty little girl.

I walked up to her. "What's wrong with you?" I scolded her. "Don't you know that people are still sleeping?"

She sniffed and gazed at me with her huge brown eyes. "But I lost my teddy bear."

I sighed impatiently. "And so?"

She scowled. "My mummy gave it to me before she died."

I rolled my eyes. Girls, I thought disgustedly. "Okay, if I help you look for it, will you promise to never ever scream like that again?"

She looked delighted. "Of course!"

Ten minutes later, I found the rotten old thing for her. She was so happy she hugged me.

"Thank you," she mumbled into my shirt.

I found my lips curving up. "You're most welcome."

After that, we became firm friends. While travelling, I'd find myself buying little trinkets for her. Cute things I know she'll like.

I would visit her whenever I could. One day, about two years ago, I found myself throwing pebbles at her window. She opened her window and I shouted, "Akane, get down here!"

I heard her giggle and a few seconds later, she managed to shimmy down to the garden.

When I looked at her, I was stunned by the changes she had gone through. She was still petite, but her body had rounded out to become the body of a young woman. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that the little girl I had helped would become such a beautiful woman.

"Your climbing's improved," I quickly said to cover up my shock.

"I've had practice," she said, smiling.

We talked all night. She confided in me that her father had betrothed her to a guy she didn't and simply couldn't like.

"He's such a jerk!" she exclaimed. I smiled, but I felt jealousy stirring up.

Imagine how I felt when she said that the guy was Saotome Ranma. That's when I knew that I had to win her back at all costs.

I solemnly swear to upload the next chapter of Double Standards soon. It's just that my dad confiscated my laptop. D

I'm currently working on my school computers but there's only so much progress you can make 40 minutes a week.