Chapter Seven: Hateful Love

Husui handled the thorns of this particular rose bush very carefully. Should she prick herself, she would be in for a terrible pain. The red thorns may lack most of the lethal toxin found the plant's dark rose petals but it has just enough to induce agonizing pain. It wouldn't be much of a problem however considering all she would have to do to treat such toxin was to eat one of the three light rose petals.

The Seven Rose was her favorite plant. Its uniqueness not only lies in its myriad of different colored roses all on one bush as well as the blood red thrones but at each blooming season it only blossom strictly seven rose buds, no more no less. Four out of seven of those buds flowered into black, navy blue, deep purple, and dark green roses. The other three usually came in pink, yellow, and white. This rare plant was cultivated under the most unusual conditions. When she was younger, as an experiment, she took a cutting from a red rose bush she encounter and soaked it in seven of her deadly potions for a year. When rooting formed, she alternately treated it with even more of her concocted poisons. The poison had the wanted effect in the plant but oddly enough it had also created an antidote for itself through the lighter colored roses. She had expected merely a poisonous plant not a different breed altogether. Strange enough that there wasn't even a red rose in the lot since the cutting was from a red rose hybrid.

Minding the thrones, she carefully placed her cuttings down. Briefly pulling her long purple-blue hair over her shoulder, she spoke calmly out into the clearing. "Since when do you hide in the bushes?"

A long pause later, a short elderly woman with long white hair came into view. The woman's usual big wide eyes seemed smaller as they narrowed in suppressed anger.

"Daughter," was the usual Chinese greeting from the elderly woman before her. Husui may respect her mother—the woman is, after all, an Amazon matriarch—but she could help but scowl at the reason her mother was here in her presence. "You have gone too far this time."

Husui didn't answer right away. Instead, she continued with her cuttings, almost ignoring her mother behind her. "You know as well as I do that this matter should have been resolved two years ago. I merely decided that it had gone on too long and I want my daughter back at the tribe with me," she answered after a while.

"But such means weren't necessary!" her mother replied hastily.

Husui's visage twisted in a scowl. Two years in Japan among such people had turned her once strict mother—a once strong Amazon Queen herself—soft and yielding. Her mother, Cu Long, had turned weak. The old woman had even stopped pressuring her daughter to satisfy her obligations of honor whereas she should have had it taken care of their first year there. The village children were even starting to question her daughter's skills. Husui refused to let such disgrace to her family and name stayed as it was.

"No, it wouldn't have been necessary if you and Xian Pu had either returned with him or killed him at the very beginning of this venture." Husui retorted, her voice starting to lace with venom. "In this case, I've decided to take things into my own hands."

"Husui…"

"Besides, isn't it better this way, mother?" Husui added before her mother could say anymore. "The girl dies and I receive a strong son-in-law for the tribe."

"Son-in-law on doubt would refuse Xian Pu especially if he knew what will kill his fiancée." reply Cu Long, "So tell me whose blood—"

"That's enough, mother," interrupted Husui once again, angered that a Amazon matriarch would defend an opponent. "It wasn't I that poisoned her. The boy only had himself to blame. She traded her life for his. There is no antidote for my poison at this point."

Cu Long faltered. Just as she had feared. Because Akane Tendo had made the transfer, the toxin's original ingredients were altered. At this stage, giving her Husui's antidote would immediately kill her. She now could only hope that Ranma Saotome wouldn't do anything foolish when Akane Tendo finally passes away.

"If that's all mother." Husui rose with her cuttings carefully wrapped in a cloth. Her visage stayed emotionless as her mother nodded and disappeared through the buses.

"Xu Ji!"

Almost immediately a large white tiger bounded into the same clearing, a straw basket hung easily at its back. The tiger was big, even for an adult of its kind. Its powerful muscles stood out sharply as it sauntered elegantly over to her side and settled down patiently as Husui stocked the basket with the cuttings.

Her mother had made a point. From what she had observed in Tokyo, Ranma Saotome did seem in love with his fiancé. And for a woman with such loyalties as to trade her life for her fiancé, whom she constantly argued with… and to survive to this time…

'Akane Tendo… a strong-will girl like that would be difficult to find indeed.'

There she goes again.

Ranma watched with fist clenched as Akane left for school early again…

Along side a rather happy looking Ryouga.

"Dammit all," he snarled, resisting the urge to blow a large whole though the roof.

Jealous.

He was very jealous.

He knew what he was feeling for the last week since the stupid pig boy's arrival. Why else would be the reason for him to wake up early to spy on them as they leave for school without him? He might not have minded as much if Akane was just fussing over her 'P-Chan'. But it wasn't P-Chan that was always around her… it was the human Ryouga that was.

Then—to add to the wound—whenever he tried to start a fight with Ryouga, Akane would somehow start a verbal battle with him just to get him angry and stomping off.

That's right… he stomps off now. He let out a strangled laugh. She refused to hit him anymore. He should be happy but he's not. He was actually starting to miss that part of their relationship… when they were just arguing over silly things and all is well. Before, her words weren't laced with venom. His words weren't so cruel. It didn't hurt as much either. No, it was worse now. Her words now did much more harm than the mallet could...

"What?" he growled. Her face was getting redder. She was definitely angry. So why doesn't she hit him already and get it over with. "The tomboy now doesn't like me fighting with her precious Ryouga?"

"YES!" she yelled. "That's all you do… pick fights and impulsiveness."

"Impulsive?!?" he answered in equal volume. "This impulsive ass of mine saved your pathetic weak ass from trouble every single time and this is the attitude I get?!?"

"Hump… If I knew you would put it against me, I would have rather you not save my pathetic weak ass!"

"I shouldn't have!" he shouted back.

"Fine!" her voice grew even colder. "If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't probably be in trouble."

"It's not my fault you're too weak to defend yourself. You got yourself into trouble all on your own… don't blame your ineptness on me."

"Urg! You're so arrogant! You beat a few people and you'd think that you're the best in the world."

"Now I'm arrogant?!"

"YES!" she practically yelled. "Arrogant, impulsive, stubborn, far too competitive for your own good, pig-headed… you're worst than a child for an 18-year old."

Ryouga stood on the side, trying to keep up with the arguments and refraining from kicking Ranma every time he opened his mouth. If Akane hadn't asked him to stay out of it, he would have already jumped in to defend Akane's honor. One more distasteful word and he would be choking the guy.

Ranma grew silent, hiding his eyes behind his hair. He did want Akane to see the hurt in them. He refused to let her see how much her words affected him. "If that's how you feel… You can forget about me when you need help!!"

With that he stormed out of the house.

Ranma hated this feeling. But he couldn't help but feel that Akane no longer cares for him… Or that he was slowly loosing her.

Their relationship, as if overnight, is diminishing and he couldn't do anything about.

Published: 12-29-04

A/N: Poor Ranma… I had to admit… that argument were as vicious as I had wanted to be. Sigh Now I have to revise it soon to make them sound angrier and meaner to each other.

I'm getting deeper into the situation now… you guys probably could guess by now what is happening to Akane….

Sniff She's going to Die! Well…. Maybe… maybe… if…

Oh, can someone tell me if that's Cu Long is Cologne's Chinese name? I remember it was something like that. Any who… it would be appreciated.

Any who… Enter Husui…. Who's Husui? You may ask (If you haven't figured it out already) but she is Shampoos' mother… the Amazon Queen. By the way… Husui is a made-up name… not affiliated with Ranma ½ Anime and Manga.

Until next time… PLEASE REVIEW!!