Welcome to the next episode!!  This is, as with the
previous stories, based heavily on events and situations
from the preceeding ones, which are available on my
Web Site:

http://www.geocities.com/coutuva

As always, C&C is anticipated, accepted, and appreciated.
All original Ranma1/2 Characters and Backstory Copyright
Rumiko Takahashi, and are used without permission.

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.


Hell Hath No Fury - Part 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------


	Hitomi, Kikyo and Shampoo all sat in the dimly-lit
livingroom, facing the large windows overlooking the deck.  It
was snowing, and the large fat flakes falling gently to Earth,
backlit by the lights from Metro presented a calming, peaceful
scene.
	The fire crackled in the large fireplace, and with the
exception of the odd soft moan from Hitomi, it was the only
sound in the room.  Shampoo, sitting on the couch, listened
for the water in the kitchen to boil, being in the midst of
preparing hot chocolates for all of them.
	Kikyo, sitting in the wing-chair with her feet propped
up on an ottoman, gently brushed out Hitomi's hair while Hitomi
herself, perched on the ottoman between Kikyo's feet, soaked up
the attention.
        "Nee, Kiko-chan...  Want me to do yours?" she asked
quietly, her bright eyes sparkling with the firelight.
	"Hai.  Did you really think I was going to let you off 
that easy?" Kikyo grinned, setting the brush beside her.  "Okay...
what would you like tonight?  A braid, or..."
	"Nothing.  I feel like letting it all hang out,"
Hitomi smiled, running her fingers through her now shining locks.
	Kikyo smirked.  "Hai.  Dressed like that in front of an 
open window, you certainly are," she indicated, pointing to 
Hitomi's baggy tank-t and tap pants.
	"Feh... Nobody out there but some cold seagulls.  
Besides, I have to keep you interested, ne?" the redhead
countered, reaching up and fluffing her hair out in a red wave.
	"Aiyah...  I keep forgetting how much hair you really have,
Hitomi-san," Shampoo commented, shaking her head in disbelief.
All brushed out, Hitomi's hair touched the top of the ottoman,
and spread completely across the width of her back and then some.
	Hitomi only smiled proudly.  It had taken almost a year,
but she finally had the hair she wanted.
	"Hai...  I love my hair like this.  I can still remember
that silly little pigtail it used to be in, and I hated it," she
responded, reaching up past her ears and flipping the sides forward.
	"Ano...  I never saw that, Hitomi-chan.  When did you
have a pigtail?" Kikyo blinked, amazed that her girlfriend's hair
had ever been that short.
	"When I was living with Elysse.  I got rid of it right
away, though.  It really looked dumb."
	"I remember that.  Better than I'd like to," Shampoo chimed
in, sadly.  "Ranma...  Used to wear it that way.  He never tried to
really understand his girl form, and left it in all the time,"
she continued, somewhat wistfully.
	"You had it pretty bad for him, didn't you?" Hitomi noted,
rising from the ottoman and taking the brush from Kikyo, who was
listening intently.
	"Hai...  I was trying to marry Ranma's boy-type, and trying
to kill his girl-type.  I didn't know they were the same person at
first."
	"Eeeee...  How did that happen?" Hitomi grimaced, glad the
situation was different.
	"Girl-type Ranma defeated me in battle in front of my entire
tribe.  Since she was an outsider, I gave her the "Kiss of Death",
which is a promise to track her to the ends of the earth and kill
her.  When I had chased her back to Japan, boy-type Ranma beat me
again, and according to the laws of the tribe, that meant I had to
marry him.  I found out later that they were both the same person,
so I stopped trying to kill girl-type Ranma.  I also fell in love
with boy-type, and have been ever since," she related, sighing.
	"But...  I thought you got married in there someplace."
Kikyo interjected, sliding forward in her chair.
	"Hai...  I did.  A potion was slipped into the food at Ranma
and Akane's wedding, and it made me fall in love with someone who
had been chasing me all my life.  When the effects wore off, I
decided to give it a try with him...  But, like always, he
disappointed me.  He couldn't even manage to get me pregnant.  He
loved me, but not like...  Like you two love each other.  He treated
me more like a possession than a wife."
	"So what happened?  Did you divorce?" Kikyo asked, knowing
how difficult that could be in Japan, especially when it was the
woman who wanted out.
	"According to our tribe, if he is unable to father children,
I can consider our marriage over, and choose another mate.  I made
that choice," she indicated, sighing again.  "I tried to get Ranma
once more, but all I did was wake up Mu Lin.  After that, I decided
to stay with you two.  There wasn't any reason to stay in Japan any
longer," she added, her voice trailing off.
	Hitomi and Kikyo looked at each other wordlessly.  Kikyo,
knowing what it felt like to leave a life behind, smiled gently and
nodded at Hitomi, who took the hint.
	Placing the brush on the back of Kikyo's chair, she stepped
around and walked out to the kitchen, then returned with a knowing
grin and her arm behind her back.  Walking up to Shampoo, she came
to a stop directly in front of her.  The Amazon, wondering what was
on her mind, regarded her questioningly.
	Smiling, Hitomi reached out and took Shampoo's hand from her
lap, and urged her to stand up.  Once she was on her feet, Hitomi
immediately dumped the glass of warm water she had in her hand over
herself, and then hugged the stunned Shampoo tightly.
	Shampoo, upon recovering from the surprise, automatically
snaked her arms around otoko-Hitomi's broad back and sighed wistfully,
allowing herself to fantasize for a few wonderful moments.  Nestling
her head into his ripped chest, she smiled appreciatively.
	"Arigato, Hitomi-san... I really needed this," she breathed,
then surprised Hitomi by reaching up and pulling him into a
passionate kiss.  Hitomi couldn't help but notice the slight whimper
and shudder that came from Shampoo a few seconds into the kiss,
but decided to ignore it.
	Kikyo, caught off-guard by the move, almost snarled an
objection.  However, she bit her tongue, realizing that it was
'Ranma' that Shampoo was kissing, not Hitomi.
	Finally, when Shampoo decided to come up for air, her face
flushed and eyes dreamy, she again rested her head on otoko-Hitomi's
chest.
	"I am sorry, Kikyo-san...  It has been so long since I have
tasted his kiss, I couldn't let the chance get away," she explained, 
breathless.  "I hope I haven't upset you," she added, closing her eyes.
	"Lin-san, if it was anyone else, maybe...  But you, no.  I
know you don't go for women," Kikyo responded, smiling assuredly.
	"Hai...  We just thought you needed a hug, and how better
to give it to you?" otoko-Hitomi winked, giving her a little
squeeze and a pat on the rear.  Inwardly, otoko-Hitomi had felt
his knees going weak as Shampoo kissed him, having discovered that
the Amazon really knew how to work a kiss.
	"Ano...  I have to thank you again...  That felt wonderful,"
Shampoo noted, a small, almost silly smile decorating her face as 
she stepped back from the embrace.  "I will be back in a minute... 
Listen for the water on the stove -- it should be ready soon," she 
reminded, amid departing for the bathroom.
	"Good idea, Kiko-chan.  It looks like that brought her
back to life," otoko-Hitomi smiled, walking toward the kitchen to
change back.
	"Hai.  Maybe a little too much.  It looked like she was going
to suck your tongue out," Kikyo quipped, shaking her head.
	"She almost did!  I feel sorry for the guy that marries
her...  He's going to have to be an Olympian to keep up!" he quipped,
dumping cold water over himself.  "Ooooohh...!  That's a bit too cold!"
Hitomi shuddered, snatching a towel for her hair.  
	Kikyo, meantime, smiled as she noticed that Hitomi's chest 
also thought it was cold.





	In the bathroom, Shampoo stood backwards before the sink,
leaning her backside on the vanity and breathing rapidly.  She
didn't want the others to know it, but kissing otoko-Hitomi had a
profound and almost embarrassing effect on her.  Combined with the
little fantasies that she was entertaining as she spoke, the
contact with Hitomi had given her a powerful climax, one that felt
especially good as it was her first in the arms of a man.
	She smiled happily as she realized she had just lived out
one of her favorite fantasies, even though it hadn't quite
happened the way she expected it would.  Even so, she'd take it.
	As she wiped her hot, flushed face with a cloth, she
glanced at herself in the mirror, and tsked at the single gray hair
she noticed in her bangs.  A quick tug later, it was in her fingers,
a reminder that the clock was ticking.  Frowning, she tossed the
hair into the toilet, and flushed it with a resounding yank of the
lever.
	Looking back toward the mirror again, she wished that she
really did have a man in her life, knowing that hugging otoko-Hitomi
would never replace the real thing.  Despite that, she had to admit
to herself that it had felt good to be snuggled up to that body,
and not having been roughly pushed away.
	Sighing once more, she stepped out of her underwear and
tossed them into the hamper, and then headed for her room to get a
new pair.  She also thanked the Kami that she had chosen to wear
one of her minis instead of a pantsuit.
	Out in the livingroom, Hitomi now stood behind Kikyo,
brushing out her raven tresses with long, even strokes.  She had
it draped over the back of the chair, allowing Kikyo to sit
properly and rest her aching back.
	"Mmmm... Hitomi-chan...  You have the best hands," she
sighed, closing her eyes.
	"Arigato...  It helps to know how to do it right.  I just
imitate what you do, and it works great," Hitomi responded
happily, running the shining locks through her fingers again.
	"I'm back...  Is the water ready?" Shampoo announced,
appearing from the hallway looking very fresh.
	"Ano...  I haven't heard the kettle yet," Hitomi
responded, not taking her eyes off her work.
	Shampoo frowned as she noticed that Hitomi was a girl 
again, wishing she would have stayed male a bit longer.
Shrugging, she headed to the kitchen to see what was taking the
water so long.  As she did, the kettle started its wet, warbling
whistle, and she shook her head at the timing.
	A few minutes later, she sat again in her spot on the
couch, hugging the warm mug she had made up after giving the
other girls theirs.
	Kikyo sipped at her drink while Hitomi continued to brush
out her hair, and Shampoo sighed quietly as she watched the two
of them together.  They reminded her so much of Ranma and Akane,
just in the way that they seemed made for each other, making Joy's
words ring even more true.
	Shampoo noticed that Kikyo's free hand rested gently on
her tummy, occasionally rubbing it softly as she talked or just
relaxed.  Again, she found herself wishing she knew what that felt
like.  
	Sadly, she realized that had she still been in Joketsuzoku, 
she would probably be on her third or fourth pregnancy by this time 
in her life.  There was no shortage of native Chinese men willing 
to challenge for the privilege of marrying an Amazon.
	Frowning again behind her mug, she huffed as she noted that 
compared to the Ranma of old, there were no other men.
	"Ano... Lin-san!  Hey, baka!  Wake up over there!"
Hitomi's voice chided, penetrating the veil of her dark thoughts.
        "Eto... sorry, Hitomi-san.  I was...  Thinking about
something," she blinked, sheepishly.
	"I can see that.  So, do you want me to do you or not?"
the redhead smirked, waving the brush in the air.
	Shampoo's cheeks instantly flushed, and she was about
to chide Hitomi for her forwardness when she noticed the hairbrush.
	"Ah...  No, Hitomi-san.  It would take too long for me to
take all this out," she deflected, indicating her hair ornaments.
"Thank you, anyway..." she recovered, hoping that Hitomi hadn't
noticed her face.
	"Okay...  Just thought I'd ask while we had all the stuff
out," she stated, folding up the kit of brushes and combs.  Flipping
her hair back over her shoulder, she collected her kit and walked 
back over before Kikyo, coyly folding her hands together behind 
herself.
	"Kiko-chan, it's getting late...  Feel like calling it a
night?"
	Kikyo smiled.
	"Hai, Anata.  I've been thinking about it for a while
now," she replied, shifting forward in the chair.
	"Then let's go...  You coming, Lin-san?" Hitomi asked,
turning to the Amazon as she helped Kikyo to her feet.
	"Iie...  I don't feel tired yet," she responded, shaking
her head.  "You two go on," she added, flashing a small smile.
	"Okay...  I'll leave the light on for you.  Oyasumi, 
Lin-san."
	"Oyasumi, minna," she echoed, watching the girls head off 
to their room.  As soon as they were out of sight, she sighed once 
more and dug the remote out of the couch cushions, hoping to find 
something interesting on TV.  
	She knew full well she wouldn't be sleeping anytime soon.





	Hitomi stared out the window of her office at the green
Honda Prelude parked across the street.  For some reason, its
presence had been bothering her since she'd seen it that morning.
Finally, after having given it almost all day to either move or be
towed, she rose from her chair and stepped to the door.
	"Lin-san!" she called, spotting the Amazon out in the common
area. "Could you come here for a minute...  I have something I'd like
you to do," she added, levelly.
	Shampoo, curious as to why Hitomi called her into the
office, put down her tray of snacks and headed over, brow furrowed.
	"Hai, Hitomi-Sensei?" she asked, leaning in the open door.
	"Lin-san...  I'd like you to do me a favor," Hitomi began,
waving her in.  "Look out there...  See that green car?  It's been 
sitting there all day, and the occupant hasn't moved from it.  How 
about paying it a little visit?"
	"Hai...  I can do that.  Why is it bothering you?" she asked, 
knowing Hitomi wasn't normally one to be spooked.
	"I don't like this kinda thing around my kids.  Too many
freaks on the loose these days.  Just go over and check it out,
and...  Be discreet," she added, winking mischievously.
	"Hai, Hitomi-san," she replied, and headed out the door.
	As Hitomi watched, the Amazon worked her way toward the car, 
remaining out of sight until she was behind its rear bumper.  Sidling 
around the car, she sprang up beside the driver's window. 
	Hitomi could tell that she gave whoever was in it a heart 
attack, and grinned.  She would have given her right arm to hear the 
conversation, well used to Lin-san's 'discretion'.
	Out at the car, Shampoo sprang up beside the open window,
and the occupant of the car nearly jumped through the roof.
	"Nihao!" she waved, keeping a close eye on the stunned driver.
	"Eyaaahh!" he yelled, caught totally by surprise.  In his shock,
he tossed his coffee into the back seat, and in the process splashed 
his shirt.
	Noticing that the driver looked like he might be Japanese, she 
decided to try that language first.
	"Ohaiyo, suspicious person.  May I ask why you have been parked 
here all day?" she began, leaning down to look him in the eye.  As she 
did, she noted that his attention was directed elsewhere...  Just as 
she wanted it to be.  Squeezing her elbows together slightly, she asked 
again.
	"Why are you parked here?"
	"Ano...  Ahh...  I am waiting for...  A friend," the man babbled, 
his eyes darting between Shampoo's face and her ample chest.
	"If that's true, I suggest you wait elsewhere.  You are outside 
a Daycare Centre, and we are about to call the Police and have you 
removed.  Sayonara," she smiled, but made sure her eyes told a different 
story.
        "H...  Hai.  I will move...  Gomen nasai," he stammered, starting 
up the car.  She stepped back to allow him to move away, and kept an eye
on the car as it drove up the street.
	As it pulled off, her face darkened.
	Back in Hitomi's office, she sat in the chair opposite Hitomi 
and related the story.  Hitomi was pleased that she chased him off, but
dismayed at her other news.
	"Are you sure, Lin-san?  That was what you saw?" 
	"Hai.  It was right there on the seat beside him...  And it had 
a powerful lens on it.  I knew he was lying to me even before I saw it 
though...  His eyes gave him away," she assured, nodding.
	"Shimata...!  Did you get the license?  I want to report
that miserable hentai before something happens," Hitomi hissed,
her eyes flashing.
	"Hai...  I did.  Here it is," Shampoo grinned, quickly
scratching it down on a piece of paper.
	"Good job, Lin-san.  Arigato.  Now, I have a call to make."





	As Shampoo and Kikyo started into their snacks, Hitomi
wandered in the room, face fallen.
	"Hitomi-chan?  What's wrong?" Kikyo flustered, rising to meet 
her.
	"Ano...  I just got off the phone with the Metro Police.
That car...?  Well, it wasn't a degenerate or something like
that...  It was a Private Detective Service.  Somebody is watching
us," she related, stunned.
	"Kuso...!
	"Aiyah...!




	Hitomi was unable to get any work done for the rest of
the day, her concentration shot as she worried over her
discovery.  The green car never returned, but she found herself
suspicious of every vehicle that went by, adding to her anxiety.
By day's end, she was exhausted.
	"Hitomi-chan...  You have to relax.  Worrying like this is
only going to make you sick," Kikyo fretted, noting her 
girlfriend's frazzled state.
	"Hai, Kiko-chan...  I know.  But this is really bugging me.
Who would be watching us... And why?" she asked, walking over and
slumping against her desk.  Abruptly, she looked up at Kikyo
optimistically.  "It must have something to do with one of our
kids...  Are any of the moms in the middle of a divorce or a
custody feud that I don't know about?" 
	"Iie, Hitomi-chan.  None that I know of.  I can ask
around..." she stated, shaking her head.
	"Uh-uh.  I don't want to go prying into the lives of our
moms.  If they don't say anything, we don't ask...  Unless it's a
life and death situation.  Kuso, Kiko-chan...  This is gonna
drive me off the deep end."  she sighed, rubbing her eyes.  "Have
all the kids been picked up?"
	"Hai, Anata...  I've already called the cab.  Lin-san is
locking up the back, and I'm done."
	"Good," she breathed, stepping away from the desk.
"Kiko-chan...  I need a hug," she pouted, opening her arms.




	Once back at home, Hitomi wasted no time in shedding her
clothes and making for the tub.  She could feel the knots in her
shoulders, and the dull ache in the back of her head cried for
some decompression.
	Sinking into the heat of the bath with a huge sigh of
relief, otoko-Hitomi wished that Kikyo was with him, massaging
the stress out of his back.  He wouldn't dream of asking her to,
however, as he wanted her to rest after her day.
	Shifting to a more upright position, otoko-Hitomi noticed
that changing to the male form seemed to intensify the tightness
across his shoulders, which he assumed was a result of them
getting bigger.  Reaching up and working the muscle, he marveled 
at the strength in the hands.
	As he continued to work the kinks out, he was startled
to hear the bathroom door open, and someone step carefully through
it.
	"Kiko-chan!" he exclaimed, and flung the shower curtain
aside.
	"Hai, Anata!  I came to ask if you would like me to work
your back and shoulders...  I know you had a really bad day, and..."
she began, but Hitomi cut her off.
	"Kiko-chan...  I would love it.  But I just want to be
sure you're up to it.  You look tired too."
	Kikyo only smiled and set down her bottles of oil.  "Just
try and stop me, Anata," she breathed, as she unbuttoned her
dress and let it fall to the floor.




	Shampoo sighed wistfully as she realized where Hitomi and
Kikyo were, and what they were probably doing.  In a way, she
almost wished she was 'into women' as Kikyo put it, so she could
have some fun, too.  Her earlier experience with Hitomi had proven
to her how desperate she was, and how badly she missed intimate
contact of any kind.
	Sighing again as she set out the plates for supper, she
decided that it was time she found herself a man.  One that would
appreciate what he was getting, and one that would be able to fill
the role of husband and father.  However, she knew that it was
going to be a tall order, as she would be measuring any potential
candidates against her image of the perfect man...  And he was a
hard act to follow.
	As she went about cutting up veggies for the cold supper
she was figuring on setting out, her mind drifted back to the
conversations she used to have with her Great-Grandmother about
her future.  She was saddened as she recalled one in particular,
about how she was the last of the line, and if she didn't have
any children, their entire lineage would end with her.  It was
that very discussion that had in part fueled her desire to marry
Ranma, knowing their progeny would be worthy to carry on the name.
	Abruptly, she stopped cutting and laid the knife she held
beside the board.  Her face grew angry as she realized she was
doing it again.  She had promised both Joy and herself that the
first thing she wanted to do was stop lamenting her losses and
look to the future -- and here she was, wallowing in what-ifs all
over again.
	Almost without realizing it, she reached behind her back
and pulled out her long-unused bottle of shampoo, and looked it
over bemusedly.  For a fleeting second, she considered using it
on herself.  She knew that it would solve her problem, but even 
she wasn't agile enough to hit the right spots on her own head.
Smirking at the little joke, she slid the bottle away again,
shaking her head at her own silliness.
	Picking up the knife again, she continued to slice the
veggies, knowing that eventually, her friends would be coming
out to eat.



================================================================
END - Hell Hath No Fury - Part 2   A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva.


Comments Welcomed - Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@gmail.com