DISCLAIMER: As we all know, Ranma & co. belong to Rumiko Takahashi, until the day I make pots of money and BUY the characters from her. Wahahahaha....hrm.

A/N 1- FF.net banned me from uploading a new chapter for some infraction. I haven't a clue what the infraction is. The link they sent me to 'guidelines' doesn't work, and no one has replied to the e-mail I sent support@ff.net. If anyone has any helpful ideas or comments on this, please let me know.

Aside from that, here's ch 14.

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CHAPTER 14- Hell to Pay

I shoved Ranma away. "What's gotten into you?" I demanded, moving to put some space between us and trying to catch my breath at the same time.

My ex-fiancé gave me his best 'who-me' look. "What do you mean, Akane? You know we've both changed, grown up..." He took a step closer, then another one.

I refused to give way, holding my palm out to stop him. If I moved back, he'd only follow. "Two nights ago, you were mad at me. Now you're acting like I'm ice-cream on a hot day."

He gave me his hunter's grin. "Akane, all of that's ancient history. In the here and now, I'm with a pretty girl. What else am I gonna do with a pretty girl?"

I sucked in my breath as hurt washed over me, making my eyes sting. Was that all I was to him, a pretty face who just happened to be someone he knew a long time ago? I'd started to think he might still feel some affection for me but really, how well did I know this Ranma? All my old insecurities rushed back, and I hated him for making me feel that way again. The old anger began to build, slowly. I recognized it and tamped it back down.

Deep breath. Deeeep breath. Ranma was watching me with curiosity, his head slightly tilted to one side in a way that made him look boyish.

"Well, I...." I swallowed and tried again, turning my face away. "Keep your hands off me. One way or another, I am getting this job done, and we are running out of time!" I turned back and glared daggers at him, determined to bring our minds back to the job.

"I'm going to steal back that diamond tonight!"

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After bribing a maid back at the Plaza Stars hotel, we had the whereabouts of Zhang's room. We also learned that after the party, the diamond had been placed in the hotel's special safe with Zhang's security guarding it.

"Simple plan, Akane," Ranma said. "I'll ice the guards, you grab the ice and we can go find Blaine. With any luck, I'll be home by tomorrow night so that I can catch some real sleep for a change."

"Home..." It occurred to me that I had no idea where Ranma lived. "Where's home, Ranma?"

He winked at me. "Ask me nice and I might take you there some day."

I sniffed and turned away. Ranma and his stupid jokes.

"Okay," I said. " How are we going to get past hotel security, let alone Zhang's people?"

"Nothing easier," Ranma drawled, leaning back against the wall.

Five minutes later, Ranma and I were pushing service carts to the elevator. I was dressed like a hotel maid, and Ranma, having discreetly splashed herself with water, had dressed similarly. She tucked her conspicuous red hair under her maid's cap.

"I wish you hadn't attacked those maids for it," I grumbled, looking down into my cart where a sleeping maid lay hidden under piles of crumpled hotel linen wearing only her underclothes.

"Hey, what do you mean? You helped, too, remember?" Ranma scowled at me, looking cute in her lace cap and apron. She pushed the button for the safe's floor and we pushed our carts in.

"Doesn't mean there wasn't a better way of doing it!"

"I didn't hear YOU come up with one!"

"I COULD have!"

"Then why DIDN'T you?" We were nose to nose when we realized the elevator had reached its destination. The doors slid open and we carefully rolled our carts out. As we passed the lobby, I could see Zhang's men standing in front of the safe, which was a large glass door, do doubt made of some impenetrable material.

"These disguises are so obvious. They'll never let us in."

"Who said they have to let us in?" With that, Ranma gave me a push between the shoulders that sent me stumbling forward and into the arms of one of the guards.

The other guards immediately looked alert. I blinked and allowed myself to sag in the arms of the guard who had caught me.

"Oh, excuse me, sir, I must've tripped and fell," I blinked at him with big eyes. He stared down at me, lust creeping into his face.

"Do you work here, little maid?" he asked.

"Fool! She's obviously a setup! Use your head!" Another guard shouted.

"He's right, I should use your head," I said, and slammed his head back against the wall, which was easy to do from my position and proximity. He slumped forward, unconscious.

"Baka! I 'tripped and fell'????" Ranma yelled as she hurled past me to kick a guard in the face with her extended leg. "You were supposed to down the creep, not make eyes at him!"

"I did trip, okay!" I yelled back. "Who asked you to push so hard, anyway?"

"Moko Takabisha!"

A blue stream of power jetted past so close to my ear that it blew my hair away from my face. The glass door blew open with a large cracking sound and I ran through it only to stop in frustration.

"Shit! Ranma, there's another door!"

"Moko takabisha!"

"Thanks!"

Inside the second compartment, the diamond gleamed lazily on its velvet bed. I sighed with relief and moved to scoop it up. Suddenly, I remembered something.

"Waitaminnit...."

"Thought you'd leave with the Mogul so easily, Miss Tendo?" A cool voice came behind me. I whirled to see Zhangs' secretary, Shekuto, blocking the entrance.

"Akane, they have reinforcements." Ranma's voice sounded faintly from outside. I wanted to roll my eyes but my gaze was trained on Shekuto.

Tall and slim, the man looked terrifying with his shark's smile, the black glitter of his eyes above the narrow blade of his nose, not a hair on his jet black head out of place. He wore his ninja's outfit without the mask, the black cloth clinging lovingly to his hard muscles and outlining his broad shoulders and deep chest, his slim hips and his long hard legs.

Memories of our last encounter flashed through my head, him standing in the shadows of the Shanghai rooftops as he challenged us for the diamond.

I gulped. Here stood a very dangerous man. Who was going to wipe the floor with me.

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A/N: Well, school has started so my chapters will probably take longer to be written up. This chapter was a bit short and not v. polished as I am stuck for time, but I'll have the next one up soon. I will also be making minor changes to the previous chapters every once in a while. Happy New year to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

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