AN: I said I'd continue this, and I meant it. So here it is, my least popular fic on this site, yet strangely enough my most popular fic with my family and friends. Go figure. Just don't flame this story, if you don't like it, just say so with out flames.

FEAR

CHAPTER TWO

EXCEPTING FEAR

Latter, at the Tendo house and dojo, as everyone else quietly talked downstairs, Ranko and Nabiki were in Nabiki's room.

"So Nabiki, why did you take up the engagement?" Ranko asked as they got into Nabiki's room.

Nabiki sat on her bed, motioning Ranko to do the same.

"Ranma, in both his forms was very pretty eye candy. I thought they both looked just scrumptious." Ranko raised an eyebrow at this. "But good eye candy wasn't enough for me. He lacked two things that you have that have attracted me to you."

"And what might they be?" Ranko asked.

"Intelligence and a degree of ruthlessness." Nabiki told her. "Ranma was dumb as a post. You seem pretty smart. And Ranma was way too nice and forgiving. You won't put up with the crap he did." Ranko nodded unconsciously at that. "So I decided to try this relationship out with you. If it doesn't work, then we can just call it off, but if it works, we're all the better for it." Nabiki said.

"Understandable." Ranko said. "You're not going to pimp me out this time are you?" she asked.

"No, god no." Nabiki said shaking her head. "I didn't want Ranma, so I did that to him, but I think I want you, and I don't share."

"And the pictures?" Ranko asked.

"I want to talk to you about that. I knew Ranma would never go for this, but you might." Nabiki said.

"What is it?" Ranko asked suspiciously.

"Some how, my pictures of you that I sell at school have ended up at a few modeling agencies. Don't look at me," Nabiki said quickly waving her hands in front of her "I didn't send them to them. But they sent letters offering a lot, and I mean a LOT of money to get you under contract. Even with out our replies, they've gotten into a bidding war over you." Nabiki told Ranko.

"Really?" Ranko asked, sounding interested.

Nabiki, sensing Ranko's interest, said "Yes. You're a hot item to them right now."

Ranko seemed to think about it, and then said "We'll talk more about this tomorrow. Right now I want to talk to Cologne Before she leaves. And, "She said standing up "How about tomorrow you take me out to dinner for a date?"

Nabiki froze and thought 'Did she just ask me out while saying I should pay? God she's got guts. I like it! "Sure. Tomorrow at seven thirty?" she asked.

"Fine." Ranko said, leaving the room.

Nabiki got up and hurried after her.

When the got down stairs, they found everyone silently talking. "Cologne," Ranko started

"Yes Ranko?" Cologne asked, wondering what was on her mind to make her look so grim.

"I wanted to ask you some things." Ranko told Cologne.

"Ask away." Cologne said.

"Now that the Kiss of Marriage is invalid due to Ranma's death, is the Kiss of Death prominent?" Ranko asked calmly.

All in the room froze at that.

"What do you mean?" Cologne asked nervous.

"Ranma got the Kiss of Marriage, and with his death, it is invalid. Same thing SHOULD be said for the Kiss of Death, but some times Amazon Law can be screwy." Ranko said with a smirk. "You could still see me, now that I see my self as completely female, as a threat to be eliminated." Ranko said with a cold voice and empty eyes.

Cologne repressed a shutter. She did better then nearly everyone else, because they did, and said "No, both kisses died with Ranma."

"Good. Then I would like to make a deal with you." Ranko said.

"What kind of deal?" Cologne asked intrigued. Could she dare hope?

"In exchange for the use of the potion you use to lock your failed warriors in their cursed forms, and you teaching me everything you know about Amazon-Wu, plus the right to get taught by your war masters here in Nerima, I will Ally myself with the Amazon Tribe, to be called upon in times of need and war. I do know my worth. Telling the others in your valley that Ranma Saotome decided to become Ranko Saotome and Ally her self with you, with creatable proof, will get you a lot of respect and breathing room. Just try not to start too many of the wars I get called in for." Ranko said with a mischievous smirk.

'Well, she doesn't want to BE an Amazon,' Cologne thought 'but she's willing to ally her self with us. It's more then I'd ever hoped to get from Ranma.' Aloud she asked. "How soon do you want to formally do this?"

"Is tonight too soon?" Ranko asked looking into Colognes eyes. "You draw up the contract or whatever you're going to do, and as soon as I take the potion, and sing the contract we're allies." She said.

"Mousse." Cologne called not even looking around for him, all her attention was on Ranko. She would not let her slip away. The Tribe needed this alliance. And maybe one day Ranko WOULD join the tribe. Hmm, something to think about.

"Yes elder?" Mousse asked.

"Bring me my sealed box of potions. And be careful with them!" Cologne said with steel in her voice.

"Yes elder." Mousse said and left.

"Shampoo." Cologne called out, still not letting her eyes leave Ranko's.

"Yes Great Grandmother?" She asked, wondering what she would have her do.

"I am going to draw up an alliance treaty now, and I want you to watch, for you many not get another chance." Cologne said.

"Yes Great Grandmother." Shampoo said. Cologne finally broke her eye contact with Ranko and went over to Kasumi, leading Shampoo, and asked to use the study and some paper and a pen. Kasumi nodded and led them to the study that Nabiki used.

Ranko went to her Mother and Father. "Mom, Dad. I'm sorry if this upsets you, but I got to do this. I never want to be male. It would just feel wrong, and remind me, and everyone else, of Ranma. Plus Cologne and the Amazon tribe War Masters have amazing techniques that only an Amazon can learn. And this way I CAN learn them without being one. So, like I said, sorry if this hurts you, but I must do it for myself." Ranko said waiting to be yelled at.

She was pleasantly surprised when her Mom said with misty eyes "I meant it when I said I just want my child. And all that's left of hi is you. I don't want to Replace him with you, but get a second chance with a different child. For that's what you are now, my second child, my second chance. And it would hurt to see you as a male, looking just like Ranma, yet not being him. I never really thought of his female form as his true form. It was just a piece of clothing that he had to wear. But when he was male, he was my son. Sorry that didn't come out quite right." Nodoka said sniffling. "What I meant was, He was always in my eyes, no matter his gender my son. While you I see as my daughter. But if I saw you as a boy that looked like Ranma, I'd, I'd just lose it. I know I would. So please, do this."

Genma nodded and said "I agree with my wife. I lost my son to my foolishness, and quite honestly, would like as few reminders of that as possible. My own memories hound me enough. And I don't want to lose my second chance with my child either." He finished with.

"Thank you for understanding." Ranko said. Turning to Nabiki, she asked "Are you ok with this?"

"I thought you'd find some way to lock yourself. I just had no idea it be tonight." Nabiki said.

"And the rest of you?" Ranko asked.

Kasumi said "If this is what you must do then do it."

Akane said "If this will make you happy." And then she turned around, crying for the last of Ranma being taken away. All knew why she was crying.

"As long as you don't go overly girl and will still fight me, I don't care." Ryoga said "You're my goal. Man or woman, I shale beat the everloving snot out of you someday, and I'll enjoy it immensely."

"As long as we keep it friendly, I don't care. You'll never beat me." Ranko said.

"We'll see, we'll see." Ryoga said haughtily.

Mousse came back soon there after with a sealed box that he gently put down on the dining room table, and then sat down and stared at it like he was guarding it like his life depended on it. And knowing how Cologne valued even the most basic of her potions, it just might.

A little while latter, Cologne came back into the room with Shampoo and the contract. "I think you'll find everything in order Ranko."

Ranko read it. Then she asked "Looks ok, but can I get Nabiki's opinion on this. More her thing then mine."

Everyone looked startled, then Nabiki said "Yes, I woun't want my Fiancée signing anything that would come back to haunt her OR me." Nabiki said with frost in her voice.

"Please go ahead." Cologne said. And then Nabiki did so. She took over ten times the time Ranko took on it, covering everything, checking to see if something could come back to bite them in the ass.

Finally Nabiki asked "What's this about 'Her having the option of becoming an Amazon?" that's the only thing I don't understand."

"And why I wanted her to look at it in the first place." Ranko said.

"It means, that should she ever wish to stop being just an ally and join the Tribe, she can do so more easily. But we can't force her, she must ask us to do so."

Nabiki reread that part and said. "Yep, that's what it means. Well as soon as you sing this, and she gives you the potion, you are the Ally of the Joketeuzoku Amazons, and you are obligated to help them in their times of need and war, and they, and especially Cologne owe you full training in Amazon-Wu." She finished by handing the alliance contract to Ranko. Ranko walked over to the table and asked "May I have the pen?" After Cologne handed it to her, she signed Ranko Saotome.

Cologne took the papers, nodded, and then magically opened her little box of secret potions. Getting out the correct one, then double and triple check that it was the right one, first by reading the label, then by feeling the magic with in it with her aura, she nodded, and handed it to Ranko.

All in the room were silent as Ranko looked at the bottle. Then Ranko quickly removed the stopper and downed the whole thing.

Cologne stood in shock, then she said in an almost yelling tone. "You were only supposed to take a sip, not down the entire bottle!"

"Um, will it do anything bad to me?" Ranko asked.

"I don't know. I just don't know. It could just be harmless, but with magic this powerful, I doubt it. There will be some effect." Cologne said wearily.

AN: And here ends another chapter. I am going to continue this. It's just this is the low story on the totem poll at the moment.