Okay this is my first fanfic. I mean really it is, if you don't believe me then don't but it is. This is a very rough draft. I just finished it about an hour ago. I have not read through it completely and have only spell checked it so don't do any grammer fixing. I just want C&C on what you like and dislike about the story, whether characters, dialogue, thoughts, action, whatever just give it to me. Afew notes before you start. Translations: musume- daughter ohimechan- this is a bastardized form of ohimesama which means princess. I dropped the formal -sama and added the affectionate -chan to the ending. This is used like a father calling his daughter princess in english (I mean that is what I am trying to do) I'll explain the rest at the end. So onto the show, or fanfic. The Legacy Part 1: Homecoming A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic by Joseph "Ashira" Kohle All characters are the products of Rumiko Takahashi's imagination and as such belong solely to her and a few other people like VIz Video and some Japanese companies. I am using them without her permission because I don't have her e-mail address (really I would ask her). (enough legal jargon already) Part I Homecoming The man walked steadily through the deepening twilight. Although he had never been in this place before, his movements betrayed no hesitation as he took turns and intersections with easy grace. Need and anticipation drove him on. His goal was so close. He had worked so hard for this day. It took all of his control simply not to break into a run. He was an average sized man. Though dressed in loose fitting clothing that gave him a nonchalant appearance, his movements were fluid and belied the great strength and dexterity of a fighter. Slung over his broad-shoulders was a knapsack. Cradled against his chest was the figure of a small child. The child pushed slightly away from the man's chest and looked up into his face, "Are we almost there, Otoosan?" she asked curiously. "Hai, musume," the father said quietly, "we will be there soon." "Good," the daughter said and snuggled back into position against his chest. He took several more turns, finally walking onto a nice street with homes and maisons lining the road. Light poured from many windows giving the block a comfortable, safe feeling for the weary traveler. Most of them he ignored as he walked down the street. A few people who had steeped outside for a bit watched him curiously, but did not speak. Seemingly at random, he turned into a walk leading up to a four story maison. Light spilled from all of the front windows, illuminating the walk. The man traversed the walk to the front door and checked the names of the residents. Finding the name he wanted and the apartment, he walked inside and to the stair, which he took to the second floor. As he walked into the hallway, the floor creaked a bit. The young girl stirred once again. Lifting her head she looked around. "We're here," she stated softly. "Hai," the father answered, "we are here." He patted the girl's cheek lightly with his free hand and walked down the hall to the second door and turned to it. Raising his hand, he knocked twice and waited. "Just a minute," the familiar female voice reached him through the door. He waited impatiently, wanting to rush into the apartment. The girl, sensing her father's impatience, wiggled around until he put her down next to him. He then grasped her hand before she could wander off. Suddenly he heard the click of the bolt and the knob twisted. The door opened inward. he thought, smiling. Akane was quietly putting away the dishes from her dinner when she heard the knock at the door. "Just a minute," she called out as she put the last of the dishes away, and dried her hands. She idly wondered who could be at her door, as she turned off the kitchen light and walked into the main room. Most of her friends were out at a party. Everyone but her had finished their last final today. She still had one more to take the next afternoon, so she had declined the invitation. She was used to eating and spending her nights alone though. So most of her friends just took her excuse at face value, instead of pressing the issue. Besides she was really not up to visitors tonight or fun for that matter. She needed to be alone tonight. Just her and her memories of Ranma. It still hurt to think of Ranma, even after four years. It hurt more because this was only the anniversary of the day she had been told. She had not seen him for two years prior to that day, and then Ryoga telling her he was dead. It had crushed her more than even her mother's death had. She had curled up into herself for months, refusing to talk to anyone, crying herself to sleep at night. She could not even go to his grave, since no one knew where he was buried. The only thing anyone could discover was that he had died in China, looking for the cure to his curse. "Baka!" she muttered under her breath, wiping a tear from her eye. Even after four years it hurt to think about it. That was the reason more than any other why she stayed alone on this night. It did nothing to cheer her up that tomorrow was her last final, and that she would graduated from college in a week. All she could think of was the fact that Ranma could not be here with her. Because he had not thought himself man enough to be her husband. "Ranma no baka," she whispered again, the tears coming again. She hastily wiped her eyes as she realized she was at the door. She desperately hoped the person had left, or if not it had better be important. Unlocking the dead bolt, she turned the knob and opened the door. Pulling the door back revealed a familiar man in the doorway. Her breath gasped in her throat. she thought. Then he spoke. "Akane," the voice struck her like a hammer. It was his voice. He was alive! Everything started spinning. she thought. Then she was falling, darkness reaching for her. It was just too much. "Ranma," she breathed the name like a prayer and felt strong hands catching her as the darkness enfolded her brain. Akane slowly opened her eyes, feeling the morning sun warm her face. She mumbled a bit and then sat up looking out the window, and then down at herself. Suddenly she remembered seeing Ranma at her door, hearing his voice calling her name. She sighed quietly the tears coming again. she thought quietly, "Baka," she said pushing the sheets off of her form, noticing she was still in her clothes, "It was a dream Ranma is.." "Sitting right here," a voice of to her side said. Akane spun around a shriek rising in her throat, she stopped though as she saw her visitor. He was sitting in a chair next to her bed, watching her quietly with his dark eyes. It was the same face just older, more mature. He still wore his dark hair in the pony-tail. His clothes still the Chinese shirt and trousers. It could not be anyone else. Her mind went blank and she sank down onto the bed again. "H-how?" she stammered, "Y-y-your su-supposed to be d-dea.." Then she connected name and sight and heart. With a low cry she rushed to him, "Ranma!" She felt his arms encircle her as she pressed into his warm body. The sweet scent of his skin filling her nose. She could feel the tears coursing down her cheek, as she sobbed in his arms. His hands stroked her shoulder's and hair as he softly comforted her. "It's alright Akane-chan. I am back. I won't leave you again. I'll always be here for you." Akane was not listening to the words. She was enjoying the sound of his voice, the feel of his body pressed against hers, the gentle caress of his hands over her body and hair. Nothing mattered accept this moment to her. For four years she had suffered silently, hoping against all hope that Ryoga had been wrong. Dreaming against all dreams that Ranma was alive somewhere, just trying to get back to her. But as the years passed, her hopes had slowly grown dim, reality break down their walls. And now, when hope had almost disappeared, Ranma walked back into her life like she had always hoped. She pressed herself tighter against him, just glad to be with him. Slowly her sobs slowed and ceased. Pulling back slightly she obtained her first good look at her Ranma. It was immediately evident that he had matured. His face was stronger, almost more angular, but thinner, leaner. Two parallel scars ran down his right cheek from his temple to jawline. She reached out a lightly ran her fingers over them, wondering where he had received them. His skin was rough under her touch, yet warm and comforting. He smiled at her, and she almost gasped out loud. His eyes were so different. They were the same color, yet they radiated a different feeling when she looked into them. Before they had marked his reckless spirit, his fiery temper and bold personality. They had flashed as he faced enemies and friends alike. People had been drawn to that Ranma. These dark eyes staring back at Akane were filled with compassion, patience, understanding, and something mysterious, beyond her grasp. She thought she saw a moment of the old Ranma flash through, but it came and went like a waking dream. "Now what is this all about, Akane-chan?" Ranma asked, "I promised I would return to you, and here your acting like you never expected to see me again. And why are you not wearing your ring?" The questions stunned Akane. Akane slowly got up from Ranma's embrace and walked back over to the bed. Sitting down, she rested against the wall, and looked over at Ranma who was waiting expectantly for an answer. She motioned for Ranma to come sit on the end of the bed. He nodded and pushed himself out of the chair. Quickly, he took a place at the end of the bed, sitting down in the lotus position. Akane watched him for a moment still fascinated by the sight of him after so many years. Then she sighed and took a breath, intending to get this over with as cleanly as possible. "After you left, we waited patiently hoping you would return soon," Akane began, "We all thought you would discover the cure quickly or just realize you could only be cured after the curse was done with you. We got a letter from you two months after you left. You simply told us that the Nannichuan could not cure you and you had to find the reason behind the curse before you could be cured. That was the last we heard from you. By the time graduation rolled around for me the next year, we were all worried sick about you. No one had heard anything, not even in rumors. Cologne was even back in town saying she could not discover where you had disappeared. I was distraught and heart-broken from worry. Half the time I cursed you, and the other half hoped you were all right. The summer slowly passed and I went to the university in the fall. Everyone had convinced me that it was the best way for me to keep my mind off of you and keep busy with something. They were really starting to worry about my health, since I was eating less and spent most of my time watching for you to return. The university helped a bit. I got my mind off of you and I started getting back into life again. The school year passed quickly. I finished my last exam and went home to have dinner with our families. While we were eating Ryoga..." Akane stopped as she suddenly remembered what had happened the past week. She quickly glanced at the night table where a ring case sat, unopened. she almost sobbed it out loud. Ranma noticed an anguished expression cross Akane's face as she stopped talking. Gently he touched her knee and asked her to continue. Akane nodded as Ranma's touch brought her out of her own thoughts. She took a deep breath. This was the hard part of the story. "While we were eating, Ryoga came in the door. He looked like he had not slept in several days. His clothing was ripped or shredded in many places. A haunted expression covered his face, like he had done something horribly wrong. We offered him a place to sit and eat, but he just shook his said and looked at us. He opened his mouth several times like he was going to say something, and then just stopped and starred at the floor." "Finally Kasumi asked what was bothering him. He looked at me with tears in his eyes. He said..He said...," Akane's voice choked up. Even though she knew it was not true, it still hurt. Even thinking about it wrenched her heart. She looked at Ranma, pleading for his touch. She could feel the tears in her eyes, as he reached out and gripped her hand. At his touch, she found the strength to continue, to face the past, "He said, `I'm so sorry Akane. Ranma's dead.'" Akane saw Ranma start as if slapped, then he started to shake his head as he spoke, his voice near tears, "I didn't know Akane-chan. I didn't know. I was training in the mountains at that time. I had been since that first letter. I'm so sorry. I never wanted to see you hurt, and now..now I find out you have been living with my death," Ranma was crying now as he apologized, his words sometimes lost in his sobs. Akane was shocked out of her own depression by this. She had never seen Ranma come close to this kind of emotion. He had changed, and she wondered how much. Gripping his hand, Akane said, "It doesn't matter anymore. You're here with me, alive again. That is all that matters. That is all I need to know." Ranma nodded at her words, but something was still bothering him. He looked up at Akane and asked, "How did Ryoga find out I died?" Akane shook her head in answer, "I don't really know. I was devastated when he said that. I don't remember much of the next few weeks. I spent most of the time curled up on my bed crying for you and cursing you. I never heard how he found out, but everyone believed him, and I..I just did not want to know. I thought if I did not know there could be some hope that you would be alive. I could make up my own story. And afterwards, I never asked Ryoga, even though he was around a lot, just so I could have someone to talk with, or comfort me when I cried. Ryoga became.." she remembered his proposal. It had been sweet, and in a way she did love him, but Ranma was back. She had to tell him. "Ranma?" "Hmm?" he answered lost in thought after Akane had stopped speaking. "About Ryoga," she started, "We, uh-ahhh, I mean he," she was cut off as she heard a child's voice call from the kitchen and living area. "Otoosan?" the voice called. Akane became confused. What was a kid doing in her apartment? And more importantly why was she looking for her father in her apartment? Akane was about to go find out when Ranma spoke up. "In here ohimechan," he shouted back his voice filled with love and compassion. Akane's mind was still trying to figure out who the child was when Ranma had answered. Now she wondered what his connection with this voice was, and was becoming very confused when a red headed blur shot into her room and quickly climbed onto her bed and into Ranma's lap. Hugging and kissing Ranma quickly she settled into his lap and starred at Akane solemnly from out of hazel eyes. Ranma wrapped his arms around the young girl, she could not have been more than three, Akane guessed, and hugged her. She had hazel eyes and red hair that hung loosely about her face, brushing her shoulders. As Akane watched Ranma and her she noticed that the two looked a lot alike. A horrible suspicion began to form in her head. It was confirmed as the little girl spoke. "Is this Akane-chan, Otoosan?" the girl asked, her kawaii voice a pipping piccolo, as she pointed at Akane, who was staring open-mouthed at Ranma and the girl. "Hai, ohimechan," Ranma answered, "This is Akane-chan." Akane watched as he looked at her, and then saw his brow furrow. He looked at his daughter. His daughter, the phrase ran through Akane's head. And then looked up at Akane and smiled nervously. Lifting the girl from his lap, he put her on the floor and said, "Why don't you get ready for breakfast, we'll be out in a minute." "Hmm," the child nodded as she rushed back out of the room, ecstatic with the prospect of food. "I guess I should explain," Ranma began lamely, "I.." "Explain!" Akane shouted her anger flaring up, "I mourn you for four years and then find out that you are two-timing me. You DON'T explain that Ranma! Why don't you just get out of my sight, hentai!" She reached over to grab the table to throw at him. Before she could touch the table Ranma had grasped both of her hands, stopping her. Shock filtered through her anger. She had not even seen Ranma move. She glanced at the place he had been sitting in the lotus position, to where he stood now on the opposite side of the bed, holding her arms in an unbreakable grip. The shock quickly passed though, and her anger resurfaced. She struggled against Ranma's grip shouting at him, "Let me go! Baka, I said let me go and get out of my home! Don't you understand Japanese anymore? Get out!" Ranma did not move. Instead he looked at Akane and spoke firmly and evenly, "I did not cheat on you Akane. Why don't you let me explain before you go ballistic and crush my head with one of your mallets?" "What is there to explain?" Akane retorted her voice dangerous and low, "You have a daughter and she's obviously not mine, so she must be some other woman's child. Therefore you cheated on me." She was actually rather proud of her reasoning until Ranma responded. "Picture her in you mind," he said quietly, "Who does she remind you of that you know?" Akane about to retort stopped for a second and actually thought about what Ranma had said. She pictured his daughter in her mind, the face that looked like Ranma's, the hazel eyes, the kawaii voice, the red hair... She stopped. Red hair? Something clicked on in her mind and the pieces snapped together. "She looks like your cursed form," she said quietly. "Hai," Ranma said quietly as he released her arms and sat down again. "But how? I mean..I..don't understand," Akane mumbled completely confused. Too much had happened this morning. There had been to many shocks, and now there was this. She just sat on the bed starring at nothing. She barely felt Ranma guide her to her feet and lead her out of her bedroom to the kitchen table. "Come on," he said softly as he sat her down at the table, "Eat some breakfast and I'll explain." Akane allowed herself to be seated at the table. Ranma quickly disappeared into the kitchen. She heard the sound of dishes being taken out and food being dished out onto them, but her mind was on other matters. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she did not see Ranma's daughter climb up into the seat next to her, positioning herself so she could watch her. "Why were you and Otoosan fighting?" she asked. Akane was startled out of her thoughts by the question. She looked at the child. Her eyes were staring at her full of concern. There were streaks on the girl's cheeks as if she had been crying about something. And for some reason, as Akane looked at the girl she thought that she had been crying for Ranma and her, but that was crazy. She was to young to understand those kind of things. She must have been frightened by her and Ranma's shouting. "Don't worry, child," Akane said quietly brushing a stray lock of hair from the kid's eyes, "It was a misunderstanding. Besides we are used to fighting, that was all we used to do." For some reason she wanted to explain everything to this child. Her presence felt comforting. Akane smiled at the child, suddenly wanting to hold her in her lap. Reaching out Akane lifted the girl into her lap. Ranma's daughter did not mind and even seemed to expect it as her due. Once in Akane's lap, she cuddled against Akane, her head resting on Akane's breast. Looking down at the child, Akane felt strange emotions fill her heart. Slowly she wrapped her arms around the girl and slowly rocked her, cooing slightly. Akane thought silently, then frowned as she wondered where that thought came from. Her musings were cut short as Ranma arrived at the table and placed plates of food on the table. A delicious smell assaulted Akane's senses. Her stomach grumbled hungrily. Ranma's daughter giggled as she heard Akane's response. Ranma smiled at the two females in his life getting along so well.. "I see Ranko has already won your heart, Akane-chan," Ranma said sitting down at the table opposite both of them. "Ranko?" Akane asked as she looked down at the girl in her lap who was already picking at Akane's food. Akane smiled, "I see she has your appetite." Ranma smiled back, "She does, and it was the name she deserved." Akane looked at Ranko and took a breath, she had to ask, "Ranma, you said you would explain her. I just want to know who her mother is." Ranma blushed slightly and looked at his daughter and then at Akane. He coughed once clearing his throat and said, "I am." "You are?!" she had thought it might be possible, but hearing it confirmed by Ranma just shocked her. "Were you, ahh, you know..?" She left it hanging, but Ranma got her idea. "No, Akane-chan, I was not raped." he answered back. Her anger flashed briefly before she could control it, only to have it overcome with the disturbing thought that he had submitted to a man. She had been beaten out by a man for Ranma's affections. She almost grabbed one of her mallets and smash Ranma, when she felt Ranko lightly touching her face. She looked down at the smiling, kawaii ace and relaxed a bit. He had said he would explain. I'll let him explain. "So then who is the father?" she asked quietly. This time Ranma brushed very deeply and dropped his head to his chest and mumbled something into his food. "Huh?" Akane asked. Ranma looked back up at her and took a breath, "I am." "What?!" Akane shouted, too shocked to even modulate her voice, "You got yourself pregnant?" She was incredulous. She stared straight at Ranma her gazing boring into him, her face pleading him for an explanation. Ranma blushed at her stare and nervously picked at his food. He opened his mouth, and then closed it quickly. He did this several more times, making him look like a drowning fish. "Ranma," Akane's voice was silent and strained almost hurt, "Why did you do this?" She watched as Ranma floundered while looking for something to say. Finally his head sank to the table and he took a breath. "Akane-chan," he started, "The story is a long one, and I need to tell you it. I spent my entire time traveling here trying to decide how to tell you. So far nothing has gone right. You fainted on me, and then you meet Ranko before I could explain, and now. Well Akane, to be truthful I have not slept in two days. For the last six years I have gone through more than most people will in a lifetime. Can I just ask you one favor?" Akane waited for him to continue, and then realized he was waiting for her to answer. She did not know what to say. He wanted a favor, but she did not know whether to give him the chance or not. She felt Ranko lean back into her and looked down at her. She was snuggled against Akane, eyes droopy ready for a nap. Looking at Ranma's child she decided. "Hai," she said. "Arigato," Ranma said, "All I want is some time to sleep and get my thoughts together. It's eleven now. If you could let me get seven hours of sleep and maybe two hours to think, I will be ready to tell you, over dinner tonight, say around eight or so. Akane-chan please. You will understand then. I promise I will tell you everything." Akane nodded her assent, and then suddenly snapped her head up, "What time did you say it was?" "Eleven in the morning," he responded, "Wh..." "I'm late!" Akane shouted as she tried to get up only to remember that Ranko was there. Understanding her predicament, Ranma walked over and picked up his daughter. Akane quickly jumped out of her chair and ran into her room. Where Ranma could hear her getting dressed. Putting Ranko down on the couch, Ranma walked over to Akane's bedroom door. "What are you late for Akane?" he asked. "I was supposed to meet Ukyou at eleven for lunch," the muffled reply came from the bedroom, "She was going to help me go over the material for my last exam that I have to take this afternoon." "Ahh," Ranma said, "I understand." He walked back to the table and started putting away breakfast. He was almost finished cleaning when Akane came out of her room dressed in jeans and a blouse. Ranma watched her quietly as she hurried about the room grabbing her purse and books. Finally she was about to leave. Ranma walked up to her as she headed for the door, and put his hand on her shoulder, "Akane-chan," he said. "Yes Ranma." "Will you please not tell Ukyou or any of the others that I am back in town," he said, "I am just not ready to face them yet. It has already been hard enough with you." He smiled at her, Akane looked at Ranma and saw the sincerity in his eyes. "Hai," she said, "I will not tell anyone." "Arigato," Ranma said, "Until tonight then." He kissed her forehead softly and walked over to the couch, where he looked back at Akane who was standing still in the doorway. He smiled, "You don't know how much I have missed you, Akane-chan." "Me too," Akane said her mind a confusing vault of emotions. Ranma, Ryoga, Ranko. It was all too confusing. Maybe tonight would clear it up. "Until tonight then." She disappeared out of the door and closed it behind her. Ranma sighed and picked up his sleeping daughter and went into Akane's bedroom where he promptly feel asleep on her bed. Part II: The Curse of Jusenkyo Akane hurried out of her apartment and into the street. Too much was happening too fast. Ranma's return had just created so many problems that she did not know how to deal with, and she could not even talk about it with anyone. Her promise would keep her silent no matter what. She loved Ranma and would not betray or hurt him. her mind asked. She knew the answer. She did not want to hurt either. In a way she loved Ryoga. He had been there for her over the past four years. He had been a friend. Someone she could talk to, who would hold her when it was just too hard to go on. That had been the Ryoga who had slowly entered her heart. There were still problems. He was lost most of the time, and his anger was still there, threatening to explode when things went wrong between them, but she still cared for him. He had found a place in her heart that Ranma's death had left empty. A hollowness that had needed to be filled. After time had passed, she had realized that nothing could take Ranma's place, but Ryoga had been a buffer protecting her from the hurt and emptiness. His care and love had allowed her to continue living, when she had wanted only to die. In her own way, she loved Ryoga, but when he had proposed to her she just could not accept. Nor could she refuse him. When he had asked her, she had been flattered and had wanted to blurt out yes, but Ranma's face had entered her thoughts and made it impossible for her to say yes. His promise to return and marry her had still held. The engagement ring worn on her necklace a constant reminder of the hope that he had not died, and would return. She just could not break that promise. It had saddened her watching Ryoga walk out of the room when told that she could not give an answer. His eyes had been a mask of grief, anger and understanding. She had cried after he had gone, the gold ring still cupped in her hand. She had not seen him since, but knew that he would return when he could, and when he did she had decided that she would marry him, at least until now. Now Ranma was back in her life. And things were so much more complicated. She still loved, and always would, but it was not the same. He had changed. Having a daughter was just a small part of it. She was just so confused. What could have caused him to have a child? A child by himself no less. It was so drastic of a change that it boggled her mind. She wondered if the Ranma she loved was even alive within this new one. He was so much more kind now. Not once had he lost his anger this morning. She knew the old Ranma would have completely flipped and shot back her arguments and insults until she would have had to smash him with something. Yet he had calmly talked to her, made her listen to reason. Something he could never have done before. she thought, She sighed and continued walking. Lost in her thoughts she did not even notice the restaurant she was supposed to meet Ukyou at, as she walked past it. Luckily Ukyou had been watching for her, seeing as Akane was nearly an hour late. "Akane," Ukyou's voice cut through her thoughts, dispelling the haze of doubts and misgivings slightly.. She shook her head and looked over at the restaurant and smiled sheepishly, realizing what she had done. "Konnichi wa, Ucchan," Akane said as she walked over to her friend, "Sorry I am late. It has been a bad night and morning for me." "No problem, Akane-chan," Ukyou said comfortingly. She watched Akane closely. She knew something was bothering her friend, but she could not guess at its source. She looked haggard and out of touch. Her eyes kept clouding as if something was vying for her attention, making her ignore the world. She watched as Akane shook her head, and gave Ukyou a wan smile. "Let's eat," Akane said quietly, "I am starved." Nodding Ukyou led her to the table she had reserved and sat down across from Akane. Akane simply sat down and picked up the menu and starred at it without moving. Ukyou was getting worried, and asked her friend, "What is wrong, Akane?" Akane was almost oblivious to her surroundings. In front of her the menu was a meaningless page of random scratches. Her mind was still on Ranma and Ranko, mulling over the problem. How she felt. How she should feel. It was so confusing. Being so lost in her thoughts she did not hear Ukyou's question the first or even the second time. The third time she caught a bit and looked up at her friend. "W-what?" she asked confused. "What is wrong with you today Akane?" she asked again her eyes reflecting her concern. This was not like Akane. She had not seen her like this since Ranma had died. Her heart seize up at the thought as it always did, but she pushed down her feelings, concentrating on Akane. Akane opened her mouth and just said the first thing that came into her mind, not really even realizing she was answering. "Ranma," she said. "What!?" Ukyou said her eyes lighting up. Hoping Akane had heard something about Ranma, but then it died as she saw how distraught Akane was. It could not be good. "What about Ran-chan, Akane?" Ukyou pressed. Suddenly everything came into focus. Ukyou answered her unspoken question, "What do you mean Ranma?" Sighing in relief, Akane quickly pulled together a story, with enough truth in it to be real. "I-I thought I saw Ranma last night," Akane said, "I chased after him calling his name, but when I caught up with him I saw that it was just some guy with a pig-tail. When I saw the guy, every- thing just hit me. I would never see him again. The tears just came and I ran home. Most of the night I spent crying on my bed. I don't remember falling asleep, but I woke up late this morning, and I could just not stop thinking about Ranma I'm sorry Ukyou, I'm just not up to anything today. I have had a rough time of this." Trying to comfort Akane, Ukyou reached out and grasped her hand. Ranma's death had affected both of them greatly. Ukyou had almost killed herself when she had heard. It had taken her months to even be able to think of Ranma without breaking down. Finally she had accepted it with the help of her friends and started to move on with her life. Of course it had taken time, but today she could think of Ranma and remember the happy times and stop seeing his face in death, buried in some unknown place. No matter how hard it had been for Ukyou, she knew Akane had suffered the most. She had blamed herself for Ranma's death. Somehow she had decided that she should have stopped Ranma from going on his quest. Especially since Ranma did it so he could marry Akane as a full man. As the years passed, Akane never got over it. She still blamed herself and could not think of Ranma without crying or just shutting herself off to the world. Ryoga had helped a bit, but the smallest thing could trigger Akane's dark depressions. This was the most distraught Ukyou had seen Akane in a long time. It probably did not help that yesterday was the anniversary of Ranma's death. That was probably why she had reacted so strongly. Ukyou truly felt sorry for her. "Do you want to talk about it, Akane-chan?" she asked. Shaking her head, Akane responded, "No, Ucchan, I think I just need some time by myself. Besides my final is in an hour. I should probably get over to the university." She smiled and started to get up. "Are you sure, Akane?" Ukyou asked, "I hate to see you in pain." "I'll be fine," Akane insisted, "I just need some time to work things out. I'll call you tonight. Thanks for the concern though," Akane grabbed her purse and books and started for the door when she turned back "Sorry about lunch, maybe tomorrow?" "Hai," Ukyou responded, "That would be nice." She watched as Akane walked out of the restaurant. Worry gnawed at her. Maybe she would stop by and check on Akane tonight. Yes, that was exactly what she would do. Smiling Ukyou paid the check and walked out, heading home. Akane walked into the maison and up the stairs to her apartment. After her meeting with Ukyou, her thoughts had settled down to a low murmur, allowing her to get through the rest of the day. The exam had been simple despite the four hour length, but that was it for her college career. She had finished and would graduate soon. After the exam she had accepted the invitation of several friends to go out for a celebration. Akane had accepted more out of desire to avoid her apartment and Ranma then any sense of celebration. They had gone out for a movie and a few drinks afterwards. Akane had excused herself so she could get home in time for dinner. It was a little past eight now as she walked up to her door. She hoped Ranma would not be mad that she was late. As she reached the door a shriek of laughter came from her room. Curious, Akane opened the door quietly and sneaked in hoping to see what Ranma and Ranko were doing. What she saw surprised her, bringing a genuine smile to her face for the first time that day. Ranma was in the center of the room, the furniture having been pushed against the walls. In his arms he held Ranko as he spun about the room in a complex series of turns, leaps, and flips. Ranko laughed out loud as she spun with her father. Akane could see her bright eyes shining and her mouth open with glee as she spun through the air with her father. It seemed that the more dangerous the combination, the more Ranko loved it and the harder she laughed in glee. Never in her life had she seen such a sight. Father and daughter moved together in graceful arcs and turns. Leaping into the air, Ranma somersaulted and landed on one hand, Ranko cradled in his other arm. Pushing off he flipped back onto his feet, then flipped backwards again into a fast turn, lifting Ranko over his head as he did. Ranko's head missed the floor by only a few inches, but Ranma did not even flinch, trusting in himself, and Ranko just laughed gleefully clapping her hands in excitement, trusting her father completely. Landing on his feet, Ranma launched Ranko into the air. Without breaking a movement he somersaulted on the ground and sprung to his feet. Pushing off backwards, he caught his daughter at the apex of her ascent and continued the flip to land on his feet, Ranko securely in his arms hugging her father tightly as she laughed. "Again, Otoosan!" she shouted gleefully. "Not now, ohimechan," Ranma said kissing his daughter's forehead, "It is time for dinner. Akane's back." He looked up and smiled at her wide-eyed expression. "Hm," Ranko nodded, and dropped from Ranma's arms and ran into the bathroom. Standing up Ranma, walked towards the kitchen, "You are just in time, Akane-chan. Dinner is almost ready," Ranma said as he started moving about the kitchen putting together serving plates, while checking the pans and pots on the stove. Putting her stuff down in a nearby chair, Akane walked into the kitchen smelling the delicious aroma coming from the stove, "Mmm, it smells good, Ranma," she said moving about, picking up dishes and taking them out to the table. "Arigato," Ranma said as he put the food in their proper dishes, "Do you think you could put the table back into its proper place?" "Hai," Akane said as she pulled the table back into its original position. As she was doing this she asked a question that was bothering her, "Aren't you scared of hurting Ranko when you do that with her?" "I was the first time," he answered bringing the food out to the now positioned table, "but not anymore. There is a special bond between us. When I am practicing with her like that, I know where she is like she was part of my body. It just becomes natural after a time. I can keep her safe and still let her enjoy herself. She really does love that kata." "Kata?" Akane asked curiously, it was the only bit of what he had said that she remotely understood. "Uh-huh. It is a kata I learned while training after I left," he explained, "It was important for me to learn how to dodge better and use those dodges to my advantage. By using the flips and acrobatics I could confuse my opponent. He would not be able to accurately guess how I would land, and he would not be prepared for a counter-attack. That kata was a simple one that Ranko likes a lot, and it is one of the few I can do inside a room." This surprised Akane. Ranma used to go for the new attacks. He was fast and agile so he had not really worked on new dodges and avoidance techniques, preferring more power and a greater variety of attacks. Akane observed. "What else did you learn?" Akane asked curiously. Surprisingly Ranma laughed out loud, his head thrown back. "I-it would take me days to explain my new techniques, Akane-chan," he said, still chuckling, "Maybe weeks. Let's just say that I gained a lot of knowledge and improved beyond my wildest dreams." Akane thought sullenly. "I'll make you a promise," Ranma said, "I'll spar with you tomorrow and then show you a few new things. You have been keeping up your abilities, haven't you?" "Hai," Akane replied. That was one of the few things she had kept up with. Katas and training had been her only release for a long time. She knew she was much better than before Ranma had left. Akane promised herself. Ranma was looking curiously at her, "Did I say something wrong?" he asked. Akane suddenly realized her aura was glowing slightly. Blushing, she calmed herself down and answered, "No, I just was thinking it will be fun to spar with you. I've sort of missed our fights." Ranma laughed out loud again. Akane thought for at least the thousandth time. "Come on," Ranma said, his laughter dying down to an occasional chuckle, "Let's eat and then we can talk. I did promise you an explanation." "Hai, you did," Akane said while thinking "Ranko," Ranma called, "Time to eat." Ranko appeared out of Akane's bedroom and rushed to the table. Akane suddenly realized she had never seen Ranko move slowly. She was either running, sitting in someone's lap or sleeping. Another thing she would have to ask Ranma about she reminded herself. Climbing into the chair between Ranma and Akane at the small table, Ranko smiled brightly at Akane. "Konnichi wa, Akane-chan," she said, her voice bubbling. Akane started again. She was not used to children being so informal with her. Actually as she thought about it she realized Ranko had called her that all along, simply imitating her father. Ranma seemed to notice the discomfort and suggested, "Why don't you call her Aunt Akane, ohimechan?" "Hai," Ranko responded, the rebuke not seeming to bother her. She smiled at her father and began to eat as he placed rice, stir-fried vegetables and a meat that looked sort of like pork on her plate. Akane watched for a second as the child picked through her food picking out what she liked best. Turning back to the table, Akane served herself, as she saw Ranma wasn't going to eat until she had what she wanted. Finally they were all eating. Akane was surprised at the taste of the food. She knew Ranma could cook stir-fry, but he had actually done wonders with this meal. The vegetables were lightly spiced to match the spicy sweet taste of the meat. After her first bite she complimented Ranma, "This is excellent. It's like eating Kasumi's cooking." Ranma smiled at the compliment, "Arigato. Having a child sort of made me realize I needed to know how to cook. A few women were willing to teach me, so I learned. My first meal actually made your cooking taste good." Akane's anger was on the verge of exploding at Ranma, when she suddenly realized that he had not meant to insult her. He had said it as if he understood how hard she had tried to cook well for him and wanted her to realize that. She smiled shyly at him across the table and forced a small laugh. Ranma smiled in return. The rest of the meal passed quickly, Ranma mostly listening to Akane tell about her time at the University and some of her friends. He listened and asked questions about the family. Happy to discover that his parents were finally back together, and everyone else seemed to be doing fine. "That's great," he exclaimed when told that Dr. Tofu and Kasumi had finally gotten married, "What is Nabiki doing?" "Oh she is making a killing on the stock market," Akane answered, pushing away her empty plate. Ranko was in her lap again, having climbed into it after finishing her meal. "Figures," Ranma said, "I wonder if she still has all my debts on account?" "Oh she did, but erased them when we heard you had..um you know," she finished lamely. "Well I guess being dead does have its advantages," he laughed. Then stopped as he saw Akane's hurt expression, "I'm sorry, Akane-chan. I did not know. There was just so much going on. So many changes I had to get used to. I just could not come back. Believe me, I never wanted to hurt you." Sniffling, Akane said, "Well you did. I'm juts glad your back, actually I am overwhelmed. My only dream was to find out that you were alive somewhere, trying to get back to me. But.. But now your back, and everything is so confusing. You have Ranko, you don't act the same. It's like you are someone I never meet with Ranma's memories. It is really hard to understand Ranma." She was crying now, the tears running down her face. She was not angry, just confused and frightened. Ranma stood up and went to Akane. Picking the now sleeping Ranko up, he said, "I think it is time we talked, Akane-chan." "Hai, I would like that," she answered, sobbing softly as Ranma stepped into her bedroom and put Ranko down for the night. Coming back into the room, he went over to the couch and pulled it back into position, sitting down and motioning for Akane to join him. Getting up she did so, sitting so she faced Ranma, their knees slightly touching. "I guess it will be easiest to just start out by saying, Ranko is the cure for my curse, or at least the only one I could find. But, before you start asking questions, let me start at the beginning and tell my tale." Akane nodded, keeping her curiosity under control. "When I left the dojo, my plan was actually very simple. I was going to go to China, march into Jusenkyo, find the nannichuan and jump in. Poof! No more curse. I should have realized that nothing is that easy with me. Anyway it took me about a month to get to Jusenkyo. Once there I quickly found the old Chinese guide and had him lead me to the Pool of Drowned Man. He thought there was no problem, me being a man and all, and so did what I asked." "On the way there he pointed out the various pools. Did you know there is a Pool of Drowned Fish?" Akane laughed at that. Ranma liked it when she smiled, and watched her for a second before continuing, "Getting to the point, we arrived at the nannichuan. I was ecstatic at this point. I was home free. Nothing had happened to stop me. I was finally going to be cured! I did not even listen to the guide as he ran down the spiel on how this was the pool were a man drowned tragically 1500 years ago." "Grabbing my canteen, I emptied it over myself and walked towards the water. When the guide saw what had happened, he jumped at me trying to stop me, telling me that this was wrong, that it would not work. I ignored him and pushed him backwards out of my way. I was at the edge of the pool now. The pleas of the guide behind me falling on deaf ears. Taking a deep breath I jumped straight into the pool." "The water surrounded me. I felt the tingle that generally accompanies my change. Exultant I exited the pool and looked at myself. I screamed. I was still a girl. Nothing had happened. Furious I stormed up to the guide and grabbed him, saying `I said take me to the Pool of Drowned Man, not some plain pool of water!'" "`I'm sorry,' he said, `But Pool of Drowned Man won't cure curse of Pool of Drowned Girl. Very tragic tale.' I about hit him at that point." "I asked him why it would not, and he shook his head and said, `Very tragic tale.'" "I asked him what the tragic tale was and he said he did not know and handed me the Chinese Communist Party Park Rangers Handbook. Opening it to the section on Jusenkyo, I saw a map of all the pools, and only one paragraph of instruction. `By decree of Communist Party all curses are a result of a tragic tale involving drowned victim, in this way we are able to promote the continued deception that our ancestors were wrong and as such came to ends like these. Officially no stories exist, accept that they are tragic of course, about any of the pools. Note: Hot water reverses curse, cold water activates it. Being cursed is considered treason and will be punished by death.'" "I sank to the ground, devastated. I could never be cured. I sat and cried for a while until the guide came over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. Maybe if you find out the tragic tale you will find a way to cure curse,' he said. Some hope was placed in my soul then. I did not really expect to find a cure by listening to a story, but it was a chance that I needed to take. I did not want to fail you, Akane. So I went in search of the story of my curse." "I actually found the story pretty quickly. It only took me two months of wandering through the mountains around Jusenkyo, asking every villager, hermit, and peasant able to remember his own name if he knew the story. I had traversed that area nearly three times when I finally met someone I had missed before. He was an old man, who spent all of his time sitting in his home halfway up a mountain simply watching the world pass by." "I arrived there in the early afternoon. He was sitting on a stump telling stories to a group of children. Tall and thin, he had a scraggly white beard and a bald head, darkened and wrinkle like a raisin because of the sun. I sat quietly and listened to him tell stories. I was exhausted from climbing the mountain, and he told very good stories. After a time the children disappeared to do chores and I was left alone with the old man. Saying a quick prayer I walked up to him." " What do you want, boy?' he snapped at me. I told him about what had brought me to China. The curse I was under, why I needed to break it, and what had happened at Jusenkyo. Then I asked him if he knew the story of the drowned girl and the drowned man, and why the nannichuan could not cure me. He nodded and said, I know that story.' I asked him if he would tell it to me, and he said that he would and motioned for me to sit down." "He told the story masterfully, but I cannot even come close to his performance, so I will just give you the idea of the story. Fifteen hundred years ago the valley of Jusenkyo was under the rule of a well-respected khan. Kubilai khan was his name. Under his rule the valley was prosperous and flourished greatly. Kubilai khan, however, had become khan late in his years, his father having ruled for nearly half-a-century. So only after ten years he died, and his son Kaidu became khan of Jusenkyo khanate." "Now Kaidu was a handsome young man, for a Mongol. Women for hundreds of miles would come and hope to gain his hand in marriage. Kaidu khan entertained them all, but he had given his heart to only one girl. Her name was Hui-cheng, a daughter of a Han prince who had been a friend of Kubilai khan. When her father had died, she had been entrusted to the care of Kubilai khan." "Hui-cheng did not love Kaidu khan because unlike his father, he was not a just ruler. He would torture and kill people for the smallest infraction of his personal laws. One such law was that if anyone stepped in his shadow, they were to be beheaded immediately. Kaidu khan, however, did not realize that Hui-cheng did not love him. He was considered a model Mongol. Fierce, savage, strong, and well-built, he was an excellent man, but his personality made it so Hui-cheng could not love him." "Instead Hui-cheng had fallen in love with a Han craftsman who lived in the palace. His name was Sung Pao, an apprentice wood carver for the khan. Sung Pao had befriended Hui-cheng after her father had died. Giving her comfort and small carved gifts he had slowly and accidentally won her heart. At the same time, Hui-cheng's beauty and sweet disposition caused Sung Pao to fall in love with the princess." "Over the years their love grew. They kept it hidden from the khan and the other palace servants, but soon rumors began to spread. Hearing the rumors at one point, Kaidu khan finally understood why Hui-cheng would not love him back. Furious he devised on a plan to show her that he was the most powerful and deserving man of her love." "One night he sent his guards after Hui-cheng and Sung Pao, as they snuck away to be together. When they were away from the castle, the guards grabbed them and drugged them. Tying the two lovers in ropes they carried them down to the sacred pools of Jusenkyo, where Kaidu khan awaited them." "Once there, the two lovers were revived. Hui-cheng woke next to the khan, facing a pool of calm water. Sung Pao was kneeling in front of the pool, bound, his head bowed against his chest." "Kaidu khan stood up and walked to the figure of Sung Pao. Taking a knife he cut Sung Pao's bonds and ordered him to stand. Shakily Sung Pao rose to his feet and faced his enraged khan." "'Hui-cheng,' Kaidu khan announced loudly, I will prove to you that I am the only man worthy of your love. I will show how weak your lover truly is and how strong I am.' With that he handed the terrified Sung Pao a sword, and then drew his own. With an enraged cry, Kaidu khan charged the Han." "The fight was short and ugly. Sung Pao was a man of peace and knew nothing of weapons. On top of this he was a sworn servant of the khan. As such he could not harm the khan under threat of death, nor could he disobey the order of the challenge. So Sung Pao stood there and did nothing, allowing Kaidu khan to have his way." "It was over soon. Sung Pao lay dying on the ground, his arms and legs dismembered, his guts spilled on the earth. The victorious bellows of the khan covered up Sung Pao's cries of pain, but not Hui-cheng's enraged cry of grief at the sight." "Standing she rushed forward and fell on her knees beside the fallen form of her lover. Crying she stroked his hair, as he gazed into her eyes, finally breathing his last and sinking to the ground. Hui-cheng raised her voice in a keening wail of grief as her lover died. The wail silenced all of the revelry by the khan and his men." "Kaidu khan was taken by shock when he saw Hui-cheng sobbing and wailing over her lost lover, her body covering his as she grieved. Confused the khan approached her and said, "Why do you grieve, love?" Have I not proven to you that he was a man unworthy of your love?'" "Hui-cheng's sobs ceased as she heard the khan's words. Slowly climbing to her feet, she stared into the khans eyes and began to speak, anger and rage filling her voice." "'How do you know who is worthy of my love? Who are you to decide whether this man was honorable or a man among men? I knew this man better than you could ever. He had a gentle heart and a kind spirit. He was there to comfort me. He would give help to those in need. He cared not for himself, but for others. He served you faithfully, not even raising his blade against you as you attacked him without reason. And yet you call him unworthy of my love! You who are a butcher among butchers. You whose very deeds make the earth weep as you walk upon it. You who are feared by all and loved by none. Is that what makes a man? Is a man one who can terrorize and destroy the beauty of life around him? No! A true man can only be found in the kind heart. A true man is one who is dedicated to peace and beauty, who lives honorably. Sung Pao was such a man, and he gained my love, which you will never have'" "'I will show you the power of a true man. The power of love. I curse you to a pitiless life. You will never be loved by another woman. You will never have my love or my body, and I will wait for all eternity to gain back my love! Because our love will surpass even the bonds of death itself.'" "With that proclamation, Hui-cheng turned and dove into the pool. Kaidu khan stood still stunned by his love's words and watched uncomprehending as the surface calmed once again. No one moved, waiting for the body of Hui-cheng to float to the surface. It never did." "The khan stood by the pool for three days waiting for Hui-cheng, stung and dishonored by her refusal. Finally he stood up and looked at the pool. His love and grief had slowly transmuted over the three days into a pure rage of dark hatred. "If you think your love will overcome death, then so too shall my anger surpass my death and bring sorrow upon your life once more. You will love me or die, Hui-cheng!' with that he turned and trampled over Sung Pao's body as he walked into the pool opposite the one Hui-cheng had disappeared into. Ignoring the cries of his retainers, Kaidu khan disappeared beneath the waters, never to be seen again. As the water closed over his head, his pool and Hui-cheng's filled with light and shone on the body of Sung Pao. As the light died the body of Sung Pao had disappeared, and so ends the tragic tale of Hui-cheng and Sung Pao. But many say that one day Hui-cheng will be reborn, and Sung Pao and Kaidu khan must once again face each other for the love of Hui-cheng." Ranma stopped speaking. His throat was dry, and his eyes were wet. The tale always saddened him. He felt the pain of Hui-cheng and the wonderful spirit of Sung Pao. He trembled at the anger of Kaidu khan, and hoped beyond all hope that his daughter would not have to go through that ordeal. He watched Akane for a second. He could see the tears rolling down her cheek. "I never knew the story," she said, "That was horrid. I never knew a human could be so cruel." a thought suddenly occurred to her, "Does that mean Ranko is..?" "I don't know," Ranma answered, "I hope not, Akane-chan. I hope not." Part III For What Ails Thee Standing up, Ranma went to the kitchen got a glass of water and returned to his seat next to Akane. Sipping it to wet his throat, Ranma continued his tale. "The tale did not give me the answer I sought. I still needed the cure, but at least I understood why the nannichuan had not worked. Hui-cheng's hatred of Kaidu khan and Kaidu khan's rage made it so that they could never counteract one another. I needed another answer to my problem." "After the old man finished his tale, I sat there silently waiting for him to say something that could help me. He just sat there waiting for me to speak. Finally I got tired of waiting and asked him if he knew where I could find the cure. He did not, saying that he only knew stories, but he said that if I would trust and believe his stories, he might be able to help me." "I said that I would try anything now. He smiled at me and began to tell a story of an ancient man who lived in the Himalayan mountains. It was said that this man knew everything that could be known, but he would only answer one question from each petitioner. Yet even for him to hear your question you had to beat him in a fight. He was supposedly the greatest martial artist on earth. He told me as much as he knew and then sent me on my way." "I thanked him for his help and left the Valley of Jusenkyo for the Himilayan mountains. My hopes were high as I left the valley. I had another chance. Though it was based on a tale told by a man I did not know, it was my only hope, the only chance I would get, so I grasped at it like a man hanging from a cliff grabs at a tuft of grass because it is the only thing there, even though he knows it won't hold him." "I traveled to the Himalayan mountains and began my search for this mysterious old man. I searched through villages, and monasteries all over the place. None of them could give me the information I wanted Finally I came to a small village at the foot of a mountain. The people greeted me kindly, offering hospitality, rest, and the information I needed." "When I told the villagers of my quest, they told me that a very old man lived on their mountain. Many came to seek his advice, but all went away empty handed since they could not defeat him. Some even died trying. They told me what I sought was impossible, and to turn back, but I could not do that. This was my chance to find the cure. I had to do this for you Akane. I could not let you marry me if I was less than a whole man. So I left the village and climbed the mountain." "For days I searched the mountain for the old man, traveling through caves, crags, up and down cliffs and in and out of valleys. Finally I discovered a small plateau where a stone temple had been built. Exhausted from a long days journey, I built a fire and curled up next to it, falling asleep instantly. I was rudely awakened by a bent old man, with a cane and mouse-eaten brown robes covering his skinny frame." " So are you another supposed petitioner of the wise man of the mountain?' he asked, Well Ranma,' I have not figured out how he knew who I was,' to get your questions answered you must defeat me.' With that he jumped away from me as I leaped out of bed." "He did not look like that strong of a fighter, but then neither had Cologne. I was confident, though, that my love for you and the nobility of my quest would allow me to win. To this day I do not know how Kuno put that in my head as I stood there," Ranma chuckled a bit and started telling his tale again. "Heedless of the consequences, I rushed forward and recklessly attac ked him, throwing all of might against him. He danced around my attacks, slapping me on the cheek every once and a while to insult me. This continued for an hour. By the end of it, I was nearly exhausted and had red hand marks all over my body. Finally, the old man leaped into the air and smashed his cane on my head, knocking me out cold." "I awoke with the old codger standing above me, laughing of all things. You have a hard head boy,' he said, Stubborn and to dumb to realize when to give in to your betters. Go home and live your life in peace.'" "With that said he turned his back on me and walked towards the temple. Rage filled my veins, jumping to my feet I shouted, I will be back old man. You will answer my question.'" "He just chuckled and said, Good, I don't get enough entertainment around here anyway.' He then disappeared into the temple leaving me alone on the plateau." "As you can probably guess, I was rather enraged at this turn of events. I sta there swearing and cursing, smashing my fists into boulders every so often. I swore that I would defeat the old man and gain the knowledge I required. My ego was still too large for my head much less my skill in martial arts." "I left the plateau, and searched the mountain for a training ground. Eventually I found one, a small protected valley with hot springs that would serve perfectly. I set up camp and began to train intensively, working on my attacks and speed of my movements." "I trained for a week solid, improving my skills, before I went back and challenged the old man. Again he beat me with very little effort, after tiring me out. I figured that maybe I could defeat him by working on my endurance. That next week I worked on my endurance, as well as my attacks. Then I went back and challenged him, and lost again, but after two hours of fighting this time." "This pattern continued for a long time. I would train for a week and then challenge him. I learned from him each time, and used that to better myself. Eventually he was forced to attack me more than the final blow. I slowly learned his techniques and patterns, merging them into my own style." "I traveled out into the surrounding areas seeking martial arts masters to train under. Here I learned the importance of dodging. That kata you saw me doing with Ranko was learned under a benevolent Buddhist monk who could not bring himself to hit another human, so he had learned to dodge so well that his attackers tired and left him and his temple alone. I trained with him for months, leaving every week to challenge the old man." "The weeks passed, and turned into months, the months into years. I had almost been gone for a total of three years when I almost beat the old man. Our fight had lasted all afternoon. The sun was setting behind the mountains. I could see he was finally getting tired. I was in at least decent shape. I had blocked most of his attacks, and I had even hit him several times. He let his guard down for a second as he backed away from one of my new attack combinations I had learned from a Mongolian fighter. I exalted, I was about to beat him, but then he turned my attack on me. He had let me through his defenses on purpose. Grabbing my attacking arm, he flipped me to the ground and whacked my head with his staff, knocking me out for a few seconds." "When I came around he was sitting near me, breathing hard. You are persistent, boy,' he said, I have not had a challenger like you in centuries. You are learning. Maybe you will beat me. If nothing else you deserve to now, if you can only learn to control you emotions. You jump to conclusions before studying them. Learn from this, boy. I will see you next week.' He got up and moved into the temple." "I stared after him thinking on what he had said. I needed to learn patience. I knew that is what he meant. I left that day intending to beat him the next time." "It is actually hard to learn patience. I practiced meditating for hours, or sneaking up on deer, and even fishing. At the end of the week, I started back towards his plateau, when I realized I had not really accomplished anything. It would end the same as the last week. I decided I would not go there until I had learned patience." "For a whole month I forced myself not to go and fight the old man. Finally the fifth week ended. I woke that day, realized it was the end of the week and it was time for another fight, I ignored it and started my daily routine. After a bit I stopped. I no longer felt compelled to fight the old man. I knew he would be there when I went back. I had waited four weeks. I could wait four more. I nearly yelped for joy. I had learned the final lesson, patience. I decided that next week would be the last time." "Exactly three years ago today I returned to the old man's plateau and challenged him again. He came out of his temple and looked at me. I thought you had given up, boy,' he said casually." "'I have just been busy,' I said, But today will be the last, for better of for worse.'" "'Well then, why don't you start?'" "'No thanks,' I said, I have started every other fight, I think I should allow you the honor of the last one.' The old man chuckled and leaped at me. I dodged and the fight began." "Throughout the afternoon we fought, each one of us taking the advantage at some point. A few times we each hit the other, but mostly it was an even match of dodging and blocking. Finally it was coming down to the line. The sun was setting again like it had five weeks ago. We were both tired and sore from the fight. The old man was falling back under one of my rhythmic onslaughts. Again he dropped his guard a bit. I almost went for it, but at the last minute I remembered the last time and hesitated, waiting for him to realize I had not fallen into the trap. He quickly realized his mistake and tried to recover. I switched my attack and broke through his defenses as a hole opened up as he recovered. He flew back into the temple wall and rolled to the ground, unconscious." "I stood in place, breathing hard. I had defeated him. I had defeated him. A pure shout of joy left my lips. I would finally have my answer. I would finally be cured of my curse. I rushed towards the fallen form of the old man and shook him back into consciousness." "He opened his eyes and looked at me. You have done well my son,' he said, Now what do you want to know.'" "I explained my curse and the story behind it and then asked him how I could be cured. He started laughing. All that effort to fine the cure to something as silly as that. Couldn't you have just lived with it?' he collapsed on the ground rolling in hilarity." "I looked at him and said, No, all that effort so I could stand next to the one I love and have her know that her husband was a true man.'" "The old man stopped laughing then and looked at me seriously. Yes my son, that is a worthy cause. I will give you your answer. You possess the soul of Hui-cheng in you. She is part of your soul, you are part of hers. In the female form she is present with you, in the male form you are the only one. So you are the overall dominate soul because it is your body. So to be cured you need to find a new life for her to enter that embodies both of your essence, since she is a part of you both.'" "'What does that mean?' I asked. I had absolutely no clue what he had just said to me. He told me he could only answer one question and that it was my duty to understand that answer. He got up to leave and then clapped me gently on the shoulder. Do not worry, my son. You will understand, and if you do not, remember that you have the heart of a true man.' With that he and the temple disappeared and left me alone on the now empty mountain plateau." Ranma could not bring himself to tell Akane that the old man had given him a warning before leaving. "Remember, my son, sometimes the cure can be as much a curse." The words still sounded hollowly in Ranma's head every time he thought of the old man. He was terrified something would happen to his beloved Ranko, but he could not give this burden to Akane. She had suffered too much already because of his quest for a cure. He continued with his tale, trying to ignore the fear in his heart. "I sat on the plateau for the whole night, thinking on what he had said. I did not understand what he had meant by a life that embodies both of out essences. The sun was rising when I finally stood up and walked down the mountain and into the village I had left almost three years before. They were very surprised to see me, having thought I had been killed by the old man, or having simply given up and left. They were even more surprised when I told them I had beaten the old man of the mountain. That night they threw a small celebra tion for me, but in the morning I left and started my search to understand the ans wer I had been given." "You really said that?" Akane asked as he stopped for a second. She had held the question in, but her emotions demanded an answer. She was trying to resolve everything that was bothering her about this situation. Ranma looked at her confused and asked, "Said what?" "All that effort so that you could stand next to the one you love?" she asked quietly, her voice full of emotion. "Hai, Akane-chan," Ranma replied reaching out to grasp her hand, "Every day that I trained I thought of you. Whenever I thought it was hopeless I remembered you and continued to fight. It was my love for you that took me through that ordeal. I could not give you up without a fight." "Oh, Ranma," Akane said, "I love you. Don't leave me again." She reached out and brushed his face. His tale so far had touched her heart and gave her an understanding of what he had gone through for her, and he still was not even finished with it. There were still three more years unaccounted for. Ranma smiled at Akane, the feel of her fingers touching his scars sending electric shocks through his body. "It's getting late, Akane," he said remembering he still had a lot more to tell her, "Do you want me to continue or finish it tomorrow?" "Please continue Ranma, I want to know, " she answered leaning into the crook of his arms, snuggling against him. It felt right for both of them. She felt safe and secure being held by Ranma. It had been so long for both of them. Ranma just watched his loneliness fade away holding her. Ranma nodded, holding Akane close to him, and picked up his tale again, "As I said I had no clue what the cure for my curse was. Oh I had the answer, but I did not understand it. So I left the village at the foot of the mountain and slowly began to make my way back towards China, hoping I might find the answer there." "As I traveled, I thought about what the old man had said. I sort of understood the idea of the soul of Hui-cheng becoming part of mine. There is always a slight difference when I am a girl, but it was still me. I was the dominate inhabitant of my body. Therefore it made sense that Hui-cheng needed a body of her own, a life for her to inhabit, but I did not know how to do that. Was I supposed to kidnap someone, have a magician remove the soul and place Hui-cheng's soul in the body? I did not think so, but I could not think of any other answer." "I wandered for about a month before I found the answer. I had stopped in a small village in northern China close to Jusenkyo. As I was eating in a small inn, I heard a commotion from outside. Suddenly a man rushed in shouting, Rejoice, my daughter and her husband have brought a new life into this world. A son has been born to carry on my line.'" "My mind clicked two things together instantly, and the puzzle was solved. Everything made sense in that instant, and at the same time I became suddenly terrified." "When the man said new life I thought about what the old man had told me, and then when he mentioned a son born to carry on his line, everything fit. A new life created for her that embodies both our essences. I was not to put her soul into a new body, I had to bear a child that would hold her soul. But I could not just father a child on anyone. I had to be the father and she the mother. I had to impregnate my cursed form." "The thought alone terrified and sickened me. I had never come to grips with my female form. Having always hated it, I have tried to spend as little time in it as possible. But to have a child, I would need to remain female for the whole nine months, not to mention the time I would have to stay a girl to get pregnant in the first place." "Then there was the idea of pregnancy itself. Ever since I had been cursed the thought of becoming pregnant had given me nightmares. Many nights I would wake up from some dream where I was having someone's child. I did not want to find out what it would do to me. I was afraid of the labor, I was terrified that it would change me, make me less of a man. How would everyone look at me? These were thoughts that had always been with me. And now I had to go through with it just to be cure." "Plus I did not want the responsibility of a child. I was still a young man, I had not even finished my schooling or training. I child would hold me down. But to be free of the curse I had to face this." "I thought about this predicament for a few days, while I stayed in the village. None of the courses of actions I came up with were entirely to my liking. I knew I could not return home while pregnant, my mother would kill me, and you probably would have too along with half of Nerima. On top of that I could not face anyone I knew and have them snicker at me thinking how much I liked being a girl, that I had gotten pregnant." "Plus I could not let other people know that I was both the father and the mother of the child. They would look at me as some kind of freak. I did not want to be a hentai in truth. It took me a long time to accept the fact that I would be the mother and father myself. I still have trouble with it to this day." "Finally I decided, that I would take the chance. I would try and cure myself. My plan was simple actually. I would return to Japan and pose as a married couple, playing both the husband and wife, I would meet with a fertility specialist. I would have him artificially inseminate me in my female form with my male sperm. Once this was done, I would leave Japan, and return to the valley I had occupied in the Himalayan mountains and wait for the child to be born." "The plan was perfect. I would be able to have the child, cure my curse, and not have anyone find out how I had done it. I would be home inside of a year. knew it could not fail, but then I remembered that a baby does not just get up and walk out into the world after a birth. Having been so worried and preoccupied with the idea of being pregnant in the first place, I had not even considered what would happen to the child. I had forgotten the purpose of pregnancy. I really did not know what to do." "'I knew what my choices were. I could keep the child and raise it, or I could give it up for adoption. I really did not consider myself ready to be a parent. I knew nothing about raising a child. Who would be my role-model? My father? That's a joke. My father was the worst parent you could possibly have. I mean I guess I could have done everything opposite of him and I might have done an okay job, but did I really want the responsibility?" "Besides, what would I tell you? How could I explain a child of mine and still keep your love? It was looking like I would allow the child to be adopted, yet even that made me unhappy. Throughout the whole pregnancy the dilemma would plague me. Should I give up the child, and make it easier for myself and the others, or should I raise it, trusting in love and just hope everything turned out right." "Undecided about this, I returned to Japan, and went to a fertility doctor. I set up separate meetings. Once as the husband and then as the wife. It took a bit of work, but I finally managed to get him to go along with my story. He believed we were doing this because our schedules were so incompatible that to get me pregnant was almost impossible." "Though he warned me that it would probably take a while to get pregnant through artificial insemination, I was pregnant after the first month back. I stayed in Japan only long enough to make sure things were going as planned, and then I disappeared back to my valley." "One of the reason's I returned to the valley was that I did not want to accidentally turn back into a man, and inadvertently kill the fetus. I choose the valley because there was less chance of hot water being flung at me than anywhere else. There were hot springs in the valley, but they were secluded, and I could avoid them easily. Unfortunately, or fortunately as you might see it, I did not need to worry about this." "I discovered that I was actually stuck in my female form, no matter what happened. I found this out while at a restaurant in Hong Kong. Some one bumped a waiter carry a tray of tea kettles as he passed my table. Three kettles of hot water splashed all over me. Screaming in pain and fright I jumped up, expecting to see my male form, expecting the loss of the baby, but I did not change. I remained a woman." "Somehow the curse had been negated slightly by my pregnancy. Hot water would not change me back into a man. You can imagine I was somewhat relieved and more than a little terrified. For a while I thought I would be a woman forever and that the old man had tricked me into finding the wrong cure." "It took me a few weeks to realize that if this was a cure, then maybe Hui-cheng was doing something to make me stay as a woman so that the child would not be lost. It made sense, sort of, but I still stayed away from hot water and mopped around a lot once I got to the valley. "Actually my pregnancy had me going crazy most of the time. I kept having these mood swings. One moment I'd be happy as a pig in the mud, the next I would be crying my eyes out. At times I knew I was ugly. At others, I was filled with wonder as I felt Ranko moving in my womb. I never realized how much women went through to bear children, and I am not talking about just the labor part. I would never do that again, even if I could." His voice lacked conviction as he said this, and Akane heard it, and smiled. "I could not really tell you when it happened, but I started to fall in love with the child I was carrying. At night I would lie awake, feeling Ranko move within me, feeling her heart beat against my hands. I don't really know when I started thinking of the child as a her. I do remember when I first called her Ranko though. I was sitting outside thinking about you, Akane. I was thinking about how nice it would be to see you again, when I said, Wait till you meet her, Ranko. I know you'll love her as much as I do.'" "It was at that point that I decided I could not give up Ranko. Over the pregnancy I had fallen in love with my unborn child. But there was more to it than simple motherly love. There was a connection between me and Ranko. I mentioned that to you earlier. Probably because of the nature of her conception and the curse itself. I cannot really explain it, since I do not understand it myself. It just seems that we share a piece of each other's soul." "Even today that connection still exists. I know that she is sleeping peacefully right now, dreaming, safe and content, in your bed. I am not just guessing either. A part of my mind just informs me whenever I think about it. I can also tell exactly where she is at any given moment. I know when she is sad, happy, hurt, angry, lonely, or anything else. She is much more than a daughter to me, she is a part of me. I slowly came to realize this during my pregnancy as I felt emotions and experiences that I was not having. This just strengthened my resolve to keep her no matter what the consequences would be." "The pregnancy went as normal, I assume. About eight and a half months after becoming pregnant, I went into labor," Ranma winced remembering the pain, "Somehow I made it down to that small village and was able to get a villager to help deliver the child. After a day long labor, I gave birth to Ranko." "Completely exhausted from my ordeal, I held her in my arms gazing into her perfect face. She looked more like me than anything else. She had black hair at that time, not the red hair she has now. Gazing quietly at me she cooed softly and touched my face. What could I do, my heart melted. The last doubts disappeared I could never give her up. I gave into my love completely and hugged my new daughter tightly to my chest promising to never leave her, to always protect her." "It was a few days before I could go back to the valley. The birth had taken a lot out of me. When I returned, I instantly rushed for the hot springs, carrying Ranko with me. I emersed myself in them, waiting to change back, but nothing happened. I could not believe it. I was still stuck as a woman, even though I had borne a child for Hui-cheng's soul." "Well to make it simple to understand and to shorten this story, I did not figure this out for several months, I had to remain a female to care for Ranko that first year. This was because she needed a mother to feed her and care for her, not a father to love and play with her." "As the fifth year I had been away came to an end, I had stopped nursing Ranko and started weaning her onto solid foods. One day we were down by the hot springs, and I decided it would be nice to relax in the water. Picking up Ranko who was stumbling about the grass, trying to walk, I walked into the pool and emersed myself in the hot water." "Suddenly I felt that tingling sensation that comes with my change, but it was slow. Ranko suddenly started laughing, and I knew she could feel it. The sensation continued for a few seconds before ending abruptly, but my body did not change. Then the pain hit me." "I screamed as I felt something ripping from my body. It was excruciating. Dimly I remember hearing Ranko screaming in my arms. I knew she was feeling the same pain as me. For an eternity I screamed as the pain built. I could feel and hear something tearing in me." "Suddenly the pain stopped, and images began flashing before my eyes. I saw a heavy-set muscular man bringing a sword down on a battered figure. I ran towards the fallen figure, crying in grief. Then I was feeling the water close over me, and darkness taking me. Suddenly light surrounded me as I exited the water and sat facing a panda and an old Chinese man. I was so confused. Someone was moving my arms looking at my breasts and shouting at the panda." "Then I saw you that first time we met. This was followed by many more images. Some from Hui-cheng's life, some from my own. All of them jumping around in no apparent order. Then finally it came back to the brutal man, and the sword swinging down towards me this time. I screamed and then blackness took me." "When I woke, I was lying next to the pool. My face was stiff and aching. Ranko was in my arms. Remembering her screams, I looked at her first, fear filling my heart and was completely surprised by what I saw. No longer was she a black haired infant. She looked exactly as she does now. She looked like my cursed form. Although she had sort of looked like that ordinally, now it was easy to see. She had red hair and the more delicate face. But the worst thing was that she was at least two years older, maybe three. She was a toddler now. I grabbed her in shock and looked at her closely." "At the sudden movement she opened her eyes at looked at me, smiling she said, You changed back, Otoosan.' I stopped and starred at her. When had she learned to talk? What had happened? Then what she had said entered my mind. Looking down at myself, I realized I was a man again. I had turned back. And with the change in Ranko's appearance, I thought that I had been cured!" "Laughing in joy, I swung her around and around, almost forgetting about what had happened. Slowly the celebration ended though, as I realized what had happened, and things began to take on shape." "I was a man again, Ranko was nearly three years older, around me the valley was giving up winter. When I had gone down to the pools, it had been early summer. Strange things were happening, and I did not understand anything." "Shocked, I stood uncomprehending for several minutes, until Ranko touched my face. Why are you hurt, Otoosan?' she asked. Not comprehending I touched my face and felt these parallel scars on my cheek. As I touched them. The entire episode came back to me. I remembered all the things I had seen before falling unconscious. Slowly understanding began to dawn on me." "What had happened was that Hui-cheng's soul had found itself in mine, and it had broke free to join with and become who Ranko was supposed to be." "But it was not complete, I found that out several days latter as Ranko and I left the valley, and a drenching rain turned me back into my female form until I dried off, but that is for later." "I quickly took Ranko back to the cabin I had built, and packed our things. I was exhilarated, I had been cured, and I was looking forward to returning to you. We left the valley the next day, and journeyed towards Japan. But it was not just missing you that made me return. Too much had happened. I needed someone to help me. I could not take it anymore." "After we left, I learned that Ranko and I had been unconscious, or trapped in the separation for more than half a year. Though surprised by this, and rather confused, I still have not figured out why it took so long, or why there was so much pain involved." the thought ran through Ranma's mind again. He felt Ranko stir restlessly, disturbed by a dream. He cleared his mind and felt her settle back down. "Many things are still questions in my head. I don't understand much of what has happened. I came home wanting to be with you, since my curse is disappearing slowly as time goes by. I now can only become a woman if I soak in water, and I turn back once dry." "I came back as soon as I could Akane-chan, you have to understand that. I did not wan to be gone for so long, but things do happen in their own time. As I said, right now I just need someone to help me understand everything. I can trust you. I know you will help me. I love you, Akane-chan," Ranma finished, looking down at her. She was cradled in his arm, her head resting against his chest. At first Ranma thought she had fallen asleep. "Akane?" he asked silently. "Thank you for telling me, Ranma," Akane murmured, "I want to help you. I want us to be together again. So much has happened to both of us. I just don't know where to begin. There are things that I need to tell you. I know you need to tell me more. But right now is not the time, I just want to get some sleep. We'll talk in the morning." With that she curled tightly against Ranma and soon fell asleep in his arms. Ranma was surprised. He had not expected this reaction. His mind was reeling with new questions and doubts after retelling his story, but Akane had put even more into his mind, and then she had gone to sleep. he thought. Besides he liked the feel of her in his arms. Questions could wait for tomorrow. Smiling softly he pulled her closer to him and closed his eyes letting sleep overtake him. Ukyou was walking up the steps to Akane's apartment. She had lost track of the time. Some friends had taken her out for a celebration of their last final, and things had just gotten out of hand. When she had noticed how late it was, she had rushed out of the bar, suddenly remembering that she had wanted to make sure Akane was doing better. Running down the street, she had berated herself for forgetting like this. She had a duty to her friend. If anything had happened to Akane, she would never forgive herself. She just hoped Akane had not slipped into one of her depressed moods again. What if she was going to kill herself? Ukyou had run faster. Now she was climbing the last step and entering Akane's hallway. The lights were dim, but light shone from underneath Akane's door. Walking up to the door, Ukyou knocked, "Akane-chan?" she called. There was no answer. Worried she knocked again, a little louder. There was still no answer. A horrid suspicion rose inside of her. Desperately, Ukyou pushed open Akane's door and rushed in, shouting Akane's name. What she saw stopped her in her tracks. Akane was cuddled against a man on her couch. It was not just any man though she recognized him. But the evidence was there in front of her. It was him! Ukyou ran forward with a glad shout waking the two and starting a huge commotion. "Ran-chan!" Ryoga walked quietly over the barren rocks. He was lost again as usual. He had been wandering since he had proposed to Akane. Though she had not said no, her inability to give him an answer had made him doubt himself. Ryoga was not paying attention to where he was going, which was usual for him. Because of this he missed his next step and tumbled down a rocky slope, scraping his face and hands on the sharp rocks. Sliding to a rest he cursed his bad luck and got up looking around. He recognized the place instantly, how could he forget it. The bamboo shafts sticking up from the hundreds of pools. The memory of being knocked into a pool by Ranma only to find himself a pig afterwards. The rage and anger surged through his body. He suddenly hoped Ranma was not dead so he could kill him. He wanted his revenge. It was all Ranma's fault. His entire life had been lived in Ranma's shadow. He could not have Akane because of Ranma. Even dead he held her back. Because of Ranma he had had to lie to and trick Akane to be with he in his cursed form. All because of Ranma. The dark rage was seething deeply in Ryoga's soul now. Despair filling his heart and soul. He wanted to destroy something. He wanted Ranma in his hands at that instant, but maybe he could do something just as good. He was at Jusenkyo. He could cure himself. The pool itself was no more than twenty feet from him. He might have a bad sense of direction, but his memory was very good. Never in his life had he forgotten what anything looked like, and now he recognized nannichuan, right across from the pool Ranma had fallen into. "Saotome!" the name was a poisonous curse as it rolled of his tongue. He would be alive. Ryoga knew it. Saotome would always come back to destroy his life. Laughing as he understood the perfect revenge on Saotome, Ryoga walked toward the nannichuan. He did not stop at the edge of the pool, he walked into it, the water slowly covering his whole body until nothing remained above the water. As the water enclosed him, the tingle of the change filled his body and then was replaced as fire scorched through his soul. He screamed underneath the water, the water entering his lungs, slowly choking him, taking him to darkness. Clawing at the water, Ryoga tried to swim to the surface, but he was sucked down into blackness. He heard laughing, dark and sinister, it sounded like his own. Maybe he was dreaming, then the darkness enclosed him. He awoke on the rocks next to the pool. Rain was pouring down soaking his body to the skin. It took him a moment to realize that he was a man, not a pig and it was raining. He was cured. He started laughing in joy and anticipation. He would now have his revenge on Saotome. He was a whole man again. "Saotome, you will die! I will have my love," he shouted, a dark voice echoed in Ryoga's mind, and then began chuckling before going quiet. Unnerved, Ryoga looked around, finding no one, he shrugged, and left the pools, not noticing the light dying from the pool he had just exited from. He was thinking about what he would do to Ranma. Part IV To be a Man Sighing in content, Ranma leaned back against the tree, smiling as he watched Ranko scamper towards a group of children playing around a small pond. He watched for a while, just to make sure things would go well. Knowing that Ranko had never met another child worried him. She was different in many ways. Some of these Ranma understood, but most he could only guess at. She seemed to get along fine with them though, so Ranma turned his attention back to his companions. Ukyou and Akane were talking quietly on the other side of the picnic blanket. Every so often they would look at him, as if they were afraid he would disappear. It was actually rather unnerving, but he held his temper, telling himself that they were just trying to make sense of everything. Actually the occasional glances were better than what had happened the previous night and most of the morning. Awakening at Ukyou's cry, Ranma had suddenly found himself entangled in a sobbing and very incoherent Ukyou. This was only complicated by Akane being trapped between the two of them, and then Ranko had joined the pile, somehow going from sleep to hyper as only a child could. The night had just gone downhill from there. Ranma had suddenly had his hands full with more than he could do. Ukyou's questions and demands on his attention were complicatedly Akane trying to answer for him, and her inability to leave his side. Ranko as usual had wanted food since she was awake, and had not yet figured out that breakfast wasn't for at least six hours. Somehow he had managed around all the complications and sort of pleased everyone, but eventually even he had to say enough. Though happy at the reunion, everyone had been tired, and it was hard to keep tempers in line and emotions were just to high. Finally Ranma had simply stood up, and picked up Ranko, who had become completely bored with the proceedings and was make a nuisance of herself for her father. Making his apologies, he had told them that Ranko needed her sleep, and so did they. Informing them that they could catch up tomorrow as well as they could tonight, he started to walk towards the bedroom. Ukyou and Akane had stopped reminiscing about something he had done, and looked at him surprised. "Uh, I guess your right," Akane said, "I am a little tired. Besides we could all use a few hours to settle down, and tomorrow is an open day. It will be perfect to catch up then. I'm sure Ranma would be much more companionable if he was well rested." Ranma had shot her a threatening glance, but had let the comment slide, just too tired to retort. "Hai," Ukyou agreed, "We could even make a picnic out of it." "Oh, that would be wonderful, Ucchan," Akane had said, "Don't you think so Ranma?" "Uh, sure," he had answered, "That would be great. See you in the morning." As he had turned away, he had heard them both say great, and then they were walking past him into Akane's bedroom, shutting the door behind them. He had sighed in resignation, and returned to the couch to settle down for the night with Ranko. And now he was here in the park, after eating a wonderful picnic lunch, relaxing against a tree. He could not think of a closer approximation to heaven than this, except maybe if Akane had decided not to cook some of the food. Luckily she had only made sandwiches, and she seemed to have become at least decent at making that entree. After learning that she had made the sandwiches, Ranma had been worried, but he had eaten them anyway. He had been surprised. Expecting instant death or coma, he had only found them bland, yet edible. Smiling back at Akane, he had complimented her. Surprising her when she had expected an insult. Actually about half-a-dozen insults had popped directly into his mind as he had taken his first bite; however, one thing he had learned during his search was to keep his mouth shut. He had lost count of the number of times his mouth had landed him in trouble during the first few years of his search. It had ranged from embarrassment to an attempted stoning, luckily they had not counted on him being able to leap away while still bound. He had been immensely glad of it, when Akane had smiled back at him. She still smiled too little for Ranma's taste. Even when he had returned, she had rarely smiled, seeming more withdrawn than anything else. Looking at her now next to a very animated and happy Ukyou, Ranma felt the worry gnawing away at him again. She had not told him much of what had happened with her over the past years. He had gotten a few vague impressions through her few emotional outbursts. Everything else they had talked about was just catching up on family history. He needed to talk to her, but he did not know where to start. There were just so many things they needed to work out between themselves. He knew how he felt about her, but how did she feel. She had said she loved him, but sometimes she would look at him when she thought he was not looking, and he would see the confusion, the indecision in her eyes. That hurt more than most things, and the fact that she was no longer wearing the engagement ring he had given her before he had left disturbed and in a way hurt him. He had not had the chance or nerve to ask her about it yet, but he needed to know. How would he accomplish that though? He watched her with Ukyou for a while longer and an idea began to form. Akane was responding well to Ukyou. They laughed and talked back and forth completely comfortable in each other's company. It was obvious that they were close friends. Maybe Ukyou could help him get through to Akane. If he could just talk to her, besides he wanted to talk to her and make sure everything was okay between them. A walk would work he realized. It was a park after all, and he could easily make an excuse for a walk with Ukyou, and have Akane watch Ranko. Besides it would be good for Akane to get to know Ranko better, and he knew Ranko absolutely adored her Aunt Akane. Yes, he would do that. Now he just had to ask her. Standing up he walked over to the two young women. They were talking about some people he did not know when he got there. Noticing Ranma they stopped talking and looked at him. "Do you want something, Ran-chan?" Ukyou asked smiling brightly at him. "Uh, I was just wondering if we could go for a walk, Ucchan," he said, "I would sort of like to talk. I mean that is if you don't mind breaking off your conversation, and Akane does not mind babysitting Ranko for a while." He thought it went off pretty well, but one thing he had not gained was any subtlety or a sense of bad ideas. "Are you trying to get me alone, Ran-chan," Ukyou said batting her eyes at him. Ranma gulped audibly, and looked over at Akane expecting to see her with a mallet, missing Ukyou's slow wink at Akane. "Ranma," she said dangerously, "What are you trying, hentai." "Nothing," Ranma sputtered wondering how things had gone wrong so fast, it had been such a good idea, "I just wanted to talk to Ukyou. Can't I spend time with a friend I have not seen in six years? You had me to yourself last night." Even Ranma realized how lame that sounded, and sunk his head, expecting to get hit. Instead he heard laughing and looked up. Akane and Ukyou were both on the ground laughing, pointing at Ranma's now incredulous expression. "Th-that was worth it, just to see you l-look like that," Ukyou laughed. "I'm sorry," Akane put in still laughing, "You just set yourself up so well. But I'll be glad to watch Ranko for you. You and Ukyou have fun." With that she got up and walked towards the pool still chuckling. Muttering under his breath about the injustice of it all, Ranma turned to a flush-faced Ukyou. "So would you like to go for a walk?" he asked. "Hai," she said, finally controlling her humor, "I would like that." She got up from the grass, and walked towards a path with Ranma. "So what is this about, Ran-chan?" Ukyou asked after walking in silence with Ranma for a time. Ranma took a breath and looked at Ukyou as he walked, "I don't know what to do about Akane. I mean it seems like she is so distant from me. I can understand she has suffered a lot because of me, but it just seems that she does not want me to find out that anything is different. Sometimes I look at her and it breaks my heart because she looks so lost and confused, but where do I begin to find her again? How can I help her? Ucchan, you have been her friend. What do I do? " She had suspected it was about Akane. She had been pretty sure of this, since Akane had told her that morning while making the picnic that she just did not know how to tell Ranma what she wanted to. She was too confused about what was going on. Ukyou could understand that. Heck, her mind was still whirling from everything Ranma and Akane had told her. And Ranko? She just did not even want to consider that. Ranma had moved beyond her forever. She knew that now. It had hurt her when Ranma had sat her down those many years ago and told her that he could never love her the way she wanted him to. He had told her that Akane had his heart. And everything that had happened to him, all that he had gone through to be with Akane just proved I beyond a doubt with her. But she knew she could be happy with Ranma as a close friend, especially since it was Akane that he loved. She had simply told Akane what had come into her heart. That Ranma needed someone to talk with, someone who could help him out. "If you think you are confused, Akane-chan," she had said, "Think what it must be like for Ranma. His life has turned upside down in six years. He goes away to be cured, ends up being gone for six years, returns with a daughter he had not expected or wanted at first, only to find that he had died. Do you think he needs someone to be there for him? He did this all for you. I think he needs your understanding more than anything. Just be there for him, at least for me, Akane-chan." Akane had only nodded in response. She decided it would be best to tell him that also, with a few changes at least. Ukyou started talking to Ranma telling him about what had happened to Akane after he had left. "I think mainly it is that Akane does not know what to think about you and what has happened, Ran-chan. The news of your death really hurt her deeply. For weeks she stayed in her room curled into a ball on her bed crying and crying. Nothing anyone said or did mattered to her. She did not eat, even with Kasumi pushing food on her, or Nabiki and her father forcing her to eat. For a while we all thought she would die." "Eventually she came out of her room and returned slightly to normal life, but she was very different. The smallest thing could send her into a deep depression. Pictures, places, even dinner sometimes upset her too much. She would simply turn back to her room and start crying all over again." "It was because she blamed herself for your death. She thought that if she had just told you that your curse did not matter, you would be alive. Some of it also came from the fact that she never gave up hope that you were still alive. Many of us thought that way for the first year. But she took it farther, never losing hope, even after the funeral service we held for you when everyone accepted that you would not be back. You had been gone for three years. It was just such a long time, especially for you." "Akane could not really live with the thought of your death. I think the only reason she did not kill herself was because Ryoga and I would never leave her side for those first two years. Every time she became depressed or started thinking about you, one of us would be there to comfort her. It is just recently that she has gotten over most of it so that she could get on with her life." "For the past two years she has been trying to put you behind her and move on, but I don't think she ever gave up her dream of having you back." Ranma nodded, he remembered her saying something like that last night. "And now you are suddenly back into her life, but it is not really you Ranma. Here is a person that she does not remember. Even I don't see the old you when I look at you. You have grown up, matured. The boy I and Akane knew is really dead." "Parenthood is just part of it, Ranma. I see pain in your eyes, sometimes even fear when you talk about what happened to you. Almost every moment you are around us, you seem slightly preoccupied by something, as if you are holding a second conversation. Then you are always checking on Ranko, watching her. Akane does not really know you any more. I think she just needs your understanding, and a person to talk to just as much as you do. You could both help each other." Ukyou feel silent and watched Ranma walking beside her for a while, eventually he spoke. "You are a good friend , Ucchan," he said, taking her hand and squeezing it lightly. Ukyou felt her heart quiver in excitement, but suppressed it. She had given him up and let Akane have him. "I think I need to talk to, Akane. Do you think you could let us be alone for awhile. Just me, her, and Ranko?" he asked. Ukyou sighed, she knew she could not refuse, "Hai, I can do that Ran-chan. I'll just say I need to open the restaurant. Don't worry she won't protest." "Arigato, Ucchan.," Ranma said, "Let's go back. I need to get this settled. I cannot watch her suffer." Ranma stood with Ukyou at the picnic site, watching Akane and Ranko play by the pool. Both were laughing out loud as Akane spun Ranko around by her arms. Faster and faster they turned until they collapsed on the ground in a giggling heap. He smiled as he watched the sight. It was heart warming. It was something he wanted more than anything else, the three of them together, forever. "You love her very much, don't you?" Ukyou asked next to him. "Yes," he answered, "They are the reason behind my life. For them I would do anything." Ukyou sighed, knowing she could never win Ranma's heart now. "C'mon, let's tell Akane I have to be somewhere." "Hai," Ranma said absently, not really paying attention to Ukyou. He was still watching his daughter and his iinazuke. Enjoying the sight, until Ukyou grabbed him by the arm and dragged him down toward Akane and Ranko. Ranma and Akane sat quietly next to each other by the edge of the pool. The mirror-smooth surface reflected the afternoon sun, turning the water into a sheet of quicksilver. Birds trilled in the branches over their heads as a cool breeze rustled the reeds by the pond's edge. Ranko played gaily along the edge of the pond, her laughter mixing with the sounds of the park. It was peaceful. It had a feel of home, and comfort to it. Many people walked past the sight and thought how lovely that family was, and wished to be a part of it. They would have been surprised if they knew how close their thoughts were to Akane's and Ranma's. Since Ukyou had excused herself, nearly an hour ago, they had sat quietly together lost in their own thoughts, trying to find out what each wanted to say to the other. Silently Ranma cursed. It always was like this. They could never get past the obstacle of their own stubborn wills and hidden feelings when they wanted to. Only once had Ranma done that, and it had been six years ago on the day he had left. The day he had proposed to her. Idly he wondered where the ring he had given her was. Ukyou had said she had never given up hope, but six years was a long time. He had to know. He had to try and make things work between him and Akane. Clearing his throat he turned towards Akane, about to pursue their past relationship. Akane turned to face him as he cleared his throat. Ranma saw her eyes and realized he needed to come at this a different way. Reflected in her eyes he saw sorrow, confusion, fear, and indecision. She looked as if she were about to start crying. It was too much for Ranma. He gulped once, and tried to speak, finding nothing. It was easy for him to hide his own feelings, to push them down and not face them. He had done that his entire life. It was hard for his emotions to actually reach him. Over Akane's emotions though, he had no control, and because he could not control them and make the hurt go away for her, he tried his hardest to make sure she never got hurt. He had made sure that no one made Akane cry, that no one hurt her in any way. But now she was hurt and it was his fault. He had made her cry, and weep, and suffer through four years of hell. How could he make amends for that? He started the best way he could, "I'm sorry, Akane-chan. I never wanted to hurt you." He knew he had already said that a dozen times since returning, but it was the only thing he could think of to say. "I know you are," Akane answered, her voice quivering slightly, "I know you didn't. It's just..it's just that.." she floundered, looking for something that was not there. "It's just what?" he asked, Akane couldn't answer. She looked so miserable, so lost that Ranma nearly howled in frustration and impotency, "Akane-chan," he begged, "Please tell me. I cannot help if you don't tell me what's wrong." Reaching out he touched her cheek gently, his forefinger tracing her jaw-line down to her chin and lifting her head slightly so she was looking into his eyes. "Please tell me." Something broke open inside Akane at Ranma's touch, the tone of his voice, the trust and love in his eyes, "I don't know," she almost screamed, her voice still loud and full of emotion, "It's you, me, Ranko. It's everything. Nothing is the same. Nothing can be the same again." Ranma was surprised by this, although it had been what he had expected, she sounded like she had given up on everything in life. He did not know what to say. He just tried to comfort her, the words coming from somewhere, "That's not true Akane." "It is. You just cannot see it." "All I see is the hurt in your eyes. I know I made you cry, I know I ripped apart your life. All I know is that, when I see you like this, it hurts me to the core. I want to protect you, shelter you. I don't want you to suffer." "Then why did you leave?!" she demanded hotly. "To be a man. To be a man, whole and complete, just for you," Ranma answered. "Ranma no baka!" she screamed, tears running down her cheeks, "I didn't care whether you were a full man. In either form it is still you. I loved you not your manhood. Can't you understand that I would have married you no matter what? It was not the body, but the heart that I loved." Ranma starred at her shocked. She had never told him how she felt about his curse, but then he had never asked, assuming she wanted a real man, not some hentai shape-shifter. Yet if it did not matter to her, it did to him. "Akane-chan," he said, grasping her hand, "Maybe you could live with me like that. I couldn't. I could not stand the thought of having you wake up with me in the morning to find a girl in your bed. I could not live to have our children try and figure out who was their mother. I needed to be a real man for myself before I could be with you. That is why I left. If I had the choice again, I would do the same thing." "Baka! Why can you not let go of your pride? Is it that hard to just face yourself? Your pride destroyed me Ranma. Your silly quest took away four years of my life. It gave me four years of suffering and anguish. Was your pride really worth it?" "I did it for love, Akane-chan." "Love and pride are the same for you Ranma. Everything is a contest you have to win. But your not winning this. You almost lost me Ranma, and I don't know if I can or want to have you back." Ranma's heart stopped, his mind froze. The words hit him like a bullet, shattering his state of mind. Grief, rage, anger, everything rose up within him washing over him, drowning him. He saw the truth, and it terrified him. He shook his head silently mouthing no' over and over again. He had almost lost her. He might still lose her, and for what. he raged silently. < You did nothing for love. You were proving how much of a man you were.> the other voice shot back. The voice stopped. Ranma shouted silently in his mind. But it was gone. And now he saw. He saw the truth. He saw everything he had always done. Always his pride. He had to the best he had to prove himself to everyone and everything. And now he would lose Akane. He would lose the center of his life. "Noooo!" he unknowingly cried out loud, "Baka! How could you do this? How could you be so blind?" His words became incoherent then as he pounded his rage and grief into the ground. After a time his onslaught slowed, as his rage died down, and grief and sorrow took over. He was aware of tears wetting his cheeks, raw and bruised knuckles throbbing. Akane's back was to him her shoulders shaking as she cried. He was aware of Ranko sitting in his lap, holding onto him tightly, crying into her father's chest. Ranma felt the pain and confusion in her. He could sense that she was suffering with him, but there was also, understanding. A need to help him. Hugging her close he looked at Akane. It was now or never. Slowly he regained his composure and asked her simply, silently, "Is that why you took off my ring?" She shook her head. "Then why?" "Because I could not give up hope. I did not want to admit you were dead, but everyone kept telling me to put it behind, and move on. I consented and took it off my finger for them." "Oh.."Ranma began, before Akane cut him off as she continued. "Instead I put it on a necklace," she continued turning around and pulling a gold necklace from her shirt with a simple gold ring dangling from the chain, "I wear it next to my heart, to remind me of your promise, to remind me of you. It was my only hope, that you would come back and fulfill your promise. I loved you, and I always will. But now, I don't know if I can." "A promise is useless if there is no one there to fulfill it," Ranma said quietly. he berated to himself, "I was wrong to go away, Akane. You were right, I was just too stupid to realize it. I was too proud to marry you as a freak. I could not stand it. I thought you must feel the same way, but I could never ask you. I was unable to just state my feelings, to give into them and bare my soul to you. I am sorry. I guess I really don't deserve you, but I still love you. I always will, and nothing will change that." Akane starred silently at him for a few moments before taking his hand. "You are not stupid, Ran-chan," she said, "Ignorant maybe, misguided definitely, but not stupid. Maybe we both were too proud to admit our feelings. Maybe it was both our faults. I did not care about the curse, Ran-chan. I loved your spirit. I loved the way you stood up for me and protected me. I loved your noble and kind spirit. I loved you, Ran-chan." Ranma reached out and took the necklace off Akane's neck, and held the ring in his hand. He looked at the gold ring. It had symbolized so much for him. It had been his promise to her, and he had almost broken it for his pride. He had to do the right thing. "Could we try to make things work, Akane-chan?" he asked quietly, "We have been given a second chance. Are we going to lose that chance? I don't want to. I need you, Akane-chan. Without you, I would only have Ranko to make my life worth living, but even she is because of you. It would be empty without you Akane-chan. I have already gone six years without you, and that was bad enough. I could not go on like that for the rest of my life." He clutched his hand around the ring. He had to do I. Filled with indecision, he glanced at his daughter. Her hazel eyes reflected his suffering, but they also held determination and compassion. Her gaze gave him strength, it said do it. He would Ranma began speaking, "I have made a mess of things. It cannot all be healed quickly though. But I know I cannot give up without trying to fix things, to make them better. Akane I love you, I always have, I always will. My pride almost destroyed that. It almost made me break a promise I made to you. I don't want that to happen. I don't want to break my word with you." "I made a promise to you, Akane." He held out the ring to her, "I promised to love you and only you. I promised to be a man for you, and to marry you when I was one. I am a man now, not because I have cured the curse, not because I fought and conquered, and overcame hardship. I am a man because I have faced myself. I am a man because I can admit my mistakes and try and amend them. So let me keep my promise, Akane. Let me show you that I care. Let me be a man and a lover for you. Let me be your husband. Can you still marry me? Will you still marry me?" Akane sat quietly, contemplating what Ranma had said. Her anger had disappeared. She was just too surprised by Ranma's confession. He had never admitted to being wrong before. It had moved her. She wanted to reach out and touch him, hold him. She wanted to say yes to him, to just make all the pain go away, but could she? Everything she had said was the truth. It had just not been what she had wanted to tell him. She had not wanted to unburden herself like that. Throw everything she hated about him, had come to hate about him over the past six years directly into his face. All the anguish, the misery of her life without him had been thrown into it. All the confusion of his return and her own conflicting feelings, had just fueled the flame. She had no clue what was going on. She did not know if she could still love him the way he wanted her to. She did not know if they could make it together now. Too much had changed. She didn't know what she wanted anymore. No that was not true. She wanted Ranma. She needed him. Without him, her life had been empty, meaningless. Did she want that again? Did she want to lose him after finding him? Did she want to throw away her only chance for happiness? It had not worked out the way she had always dreamed. He had not come back quickly, smiling. He had come back burdened, changed. He was someone she did not really know, but it was still Ranma. She could see the flashes every so often, like at lunch. And Ranko, Ranko was just another complication. Akane knew she could love the child, did love the girl. It was just her presence that unnerved her. There were too many unanswered questions about all of this. But would they become answered if she gave up? Ranma had said he had become a man. She believed him. He had become more than the boy she had fallen in love with. He was stronger, more sure of himself. He still had the noble spirit. She wanted that part back, and she saw it now in his plea. He had unburdened himself to her. He had taken a chance. Could she do the same? She loved him. She wanted him by her side. She knew she had to try and make it work. No matter how difficult the road. He was right. They had been given a second chance. She was not going to waste it. She was not going to lose him like the last time. Slowly she looked up at Ranma. Desperation, resignation, hope, they all passed through his eyes as she looked into them. He looked so frightened, and unsure of himself now. He was putting everything in his life on the line here, and she knew it was in her hands. She reached out and took the ring from him. "Ranma," she said, "I don't want to lose you again. I could not take it again. I need you by my side, as a friend, a lover, and my husband. I want to make this work. I want to be happy again." She felt the tears running down her cheeks. She was happy. This was right. Ranma had tears in his eyes as he gently took the ring from her. Taking it off the necklace, he slipped it onto her ring finger. Leaning down he lifted her chin with his hand and gazed into her eyes. "I promise, I will never leave you again, never hurt you again. I will love you forever." With that said he kissed her. Akane lost herself in his embrace. It was only the two of them. Their lips touching, his arms gently holding her. She wanted it to last forever. She did not want to lose this feeling. It was right. It was what she wanted. The kiss ended eventually. Ranma reluctantly broke it off, as the forgotten Ranko squirmed between the two. Blushing, Akane smiled at Ranma. It was a start. She hoped it would never end. For the first time in many years, Ranma was completely happy. He had his Akane back in his arms, completely and totally his. He knew he would not lose her this time. He would do everything to keep her. He held Ranko against him. A family. That is what they would be. the voice said quietly. Ranko touched his face gently, and the snuggled against him. He looked at her and wondered. There were still things that he had to figure out. At least one problem was behind him. Holding his hand out to Akane, he stood up. "I think it is time to go home, Akane-chan," He said, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet. "Hai, I think that would be nice," she said, linking her arm with his as they started walking away. "Ranma?" she asked him suddenly. "Hai?" he mumbled. "I think you need to tell everyone that your alive." "Yeah, I guess I probably should," he said looking nervously down at Ranko, who was skipping around them. "Well they everyone is having dinner at the dojo tomorrow night," she explained, "It would be the best time. Besides, I want to tell them about us." She leaned slightly against him and kissed his cheek. Ranma looked at Ranko. He had to tell them sometime. Besides, he wanted to talk with Dr. Tofu. Maybe he could explain everything or at least some things to him. "Sure, Akane-chan. I need to do it sooner or later," he said finally. Akane smiled, Ranma was nervous. Ranko ran ahead, exited by the prospect of meeting her grandparents. Even Ranma's unease failed to deter her enthusiasm. Something was going to happen. She felt it in the air. Part V Revelations Ryoga asked himself. the voice growled in his head. Ryoga tried to ignore it. But it was insistent, demanding his attention. the voice affirmed. Ryoga ignored it. the voice said again. Ryoga screamed in frustration, smashing half a dozen boulders lying about him. Ever since he had jumped into the nannichuan, ever since, the voice had been there. At first it had only muttered to itself in the back of his mind, but the first night had changed everything. The dreams had been the worst. He had relived everything. He had watched all the tragedies of his life, all the injustice Ranma had inflicted on him. His struggle to win Akane, finally having her love him, and then reject him. When he had crawled out of his nightmares in the morning, the voice had been there, talking to him, pushing him on. Everything he thought, everything he did was commented on. And always fermenting his anger against Ranma. This was the third day with the voice. Slowly Ryoga was feeling himself slipping. It was inexorable that the voice would win. It said all the right things. It hated Ranma as much as he did. It promised him Akane. Looking around Ryoga realized he was back at the Jusenkyo pools. It even knew where he was. Ryoga laughed. What did it mater if a voice was talking to him? He wasn't turning into a pig anymore. He was a man. He would destroy Ranma. Ryoga turned on his heels and walked away from the pools, glowing with a dark aura of hatred. Startled, Ryoga looked at the setting sun and realized the voice was right again. The voice started laughing in Ryoga's headed, dark and cynical, echoing hollowly in Ryoga's mind. After a few moments, Ryoga joined his own laughter to the voices. "You will die Ranma!" he shouted, releasing a blast of dark chi into the sky. the voice answered whispering through Ryoga's mind like the Reaper's scythe. Ranko fidgeted nervously as she walked down the street next to her father and Akane. Something was out there and it scared her. Pushing herself into her father's legs where she felt safe, she made a small nuisance of herself until her father picked her up, and held her gently in his arms. Sighing she sunk into the warmth of her father's chest, trusting in him, feeling the fright disappear beneath his love. Feeling the fear subside in his daughter, Ranma turned back to his own problems. He was nervous, almost terrified. Two days of anticipation and dread and put him on a fine edge. He was glad Akane was walking slowly from the train station to the Tendo Dojo. Getting there fast was of no importance to him. Actually getting there at all was not seeming that important right at the moment. A bath in Akane's apartment was sounding much more so. For the last two days, he had watched things slowly unravel. He had known he would face the Tendo's and maybe his father, on the next day. It was easy to forget about that. Especially since he still had to deal with Akane. Her mood swings, though coming less frequently, were still terrible. They had had one nasty fight when she had told him dinner had been postponed, and that his mother would be there. She was still mad at him. No matter what had been said in the park, no matter what they had promised, it was going to be very difficult for them to reconcile everything that had happened. Akane was still hurt by his disappearance, still trying to decide how to respond to the stranger he had become. And there was something else bothering her. Something that he did no understand. It was just too much. He had his own problems to deal with. That voice in his head had come back after the fight with Akane. Telling him what he had done wrong, berating him like a child. Ranma just did not know if he was up to this. He did not know if anyone was. Sighing, he hugged Ranko against him, seeking comfort in her presence. It suddenly seemed the most confusing thing in his life had become the least. Ranko was just there for him. No matter how many questions and problems she gave him, she had become a source of stability for him, and that is what he needed now. She needed him, he needed her. It was very simple. Nothing like what he would have to face tonight. It had been bothering him for the full two days. What would they say? How would they react? He did not think he could handle it alone. the voice said. He looked at Akane walking next to him. She could help, but she was still mad at him. He knew the fight had been both of their fault in some way, but he knew Akane would not apologize. It would be easier for him. "Akane, " he said. She did not answer him, continuing to walk in silence. He sighed. He had to get through to her, somehow. Reaching out he grasped her shoulder, bringing her to a stop. "What do you want, Ranma? We'll be late if we don't hurry," she snapped. "Well you don't really seem to be in a hurry, yourself," he regretted the words the moment he said them. "Ranma no.." Her voice was rising quickly, her anger showing through, but Ranma cut short her insult with his apology, "I'm sorry, Akane-chan. It's just that this has me so on end. I am so confused." Glancing at Akane, he saw her watching him waiting, still slightly angry. He pushed on, "I don't know how I am going to explain everything. With you everything just sort of fell out of my hands. I don't want that to happen here. If it does, I know something horrible will go wrong. Just like it always does." "I'm scared, Akane-chan. What will my parents say? How about my mom? Have I become a real man, or will I have to commit seppuku? I need your help in this, Akane-chan. I can't do it alone." She was still waiting, although the anger was gone now. "I don't want to shut you out, Akane-chan. I want our engagement to work this time. No misunderstandings ruining it, or our pride getting in the way. We have to trust each other, Akane-chan. But we cannot do it unless we let the other know what we are thinking." Ranma asked impatiently. "Ranma?" Akane's voice woke him up quickly. "Huh?" "I said how can I help? What is wrong with you?" Ranma thought for a second. The cure could be as much a curse. Could he tell her that? How could he explain what was happening? She would think he was going crazy. He couldn't tell her a lie though, not now. He sighed and settled for generalities, "To many problems. Too much keeps distracting me. I'm sorry." Akane looked thoughtful for a minute and then nodded her head slightly, "Okay, I'll help Ranma. Your right about all this." That sounded weird on her tongue. Ranma being right? What was going on here? Akane shook her head and continued. "We need to trust each other. So what do you want me to do?" Ranma smiled slightly. Maybe things would go right for once in his life. He quickly began talking, explaining what he wanted. Akane jumped in every so often with her own ideas. By the time they arrived at the dojo, they were as ready as they could be. Akane glanced quickly at Ranma. He smiled at her and squeezed her hand in response. "You'll do fine," he encouraged. She nodded and opened the door, and walked into her home. The plan was really simple, but it depended on her. She had to keep them untroubled and not expecting this. Ranma had said he wanted the upper hand, more than usual. He wanted to keep them in complete surprise, so they could not react to him, giving him the ability to have the whole situation in his control. It would work as long as Akane could keep things moving along steadily. She was to be the referee, according to Ranma. Ranma had laid the entire meeting out like a martial arts match. He wanted Akane to introduce him into the ring, and then he would introduce his daughter, hoping the shock value would keep everyone quiet and stunned long enough for them to herd them to the table. It was a good bet the table would be set and the family simply waiting for Akane to show. She had jumped in at that point saying that she could get them to the table by herself, since they were only expecting her. Then once at the table she would have him show up with Ranko. It would start them out on even better footing. Ranma had nodded his acceptance and continued explaining. If they could get the entire group to the table and eating, he could make the whole thing very informal. Besides food was a distraction to even someone with something more exciting to think about, especially when it was Kasumi's cooking. She and Ranma could then control things within reason, and maybe make the night go smoothly. The main point was to explain everything before they could jump to conclusions. She was still standing in the entrance way. Behind her she could feel Ranma and Ranko waiting right at the door. Akane could see her family moving about in the living room, most moving around aimlessly, waiting for her. She took a breath and entered the living area. "I'm here," she said as she entered, "Sorry I am late, but you now how it is sometimes." Everyone looked up from what they were doing. "Oh, my daughter, your here!" Soun cried looking up at his daughter from the shogi game tears in his eyes. Genma-panda quickly made half a dozen moves and then held up a sign Good to see you.' "Could you not have been three more minutes, sis?" Nabiki said from the couch, "Now I won't win the bet." Nabiki smiled, "But it is good to see you. It has been a long time. How were finals?" "Oh, they were great," Akane answered. At least Nabiki had not invited Kuno over for dinner. Those two had become very close lately, and she did not want to deal with Kuno at Ranma's throat, more for his safety and her own sanity than any worry over Ranma. She winced as she remembered their sparring match. He was unbeatable. "I got an A- on my last final, so that means I will graduate with honors at the end of the month." "That's great sis!" "Oh my daughter is so smart!" Good job. We knew you could..' ..do it." He finished on another sign, stealing half of Soun's pieces and rearranging the others. Soun looked perplexed as he saw his position suddenly reversed, but was too happy with his youngest to care. "Is that you, Akane-chan?" a voice said from the kitchen. "Hai, Aunt Nodoka," she answered, "Sorry I am late." "No problem, we were just finishing up. Is that not right. Kasumi?" "Hai," Akane's older sister answered. "Konban wa, Akane," Dr. Tofu said walking in from the back yard, "How are you feeling?" "Uh, fine, Tofu-sensei," she answered. The comfortable atmosphere was making her uncomfortable. Something would go wrong she just knew it. "Have you had any more of your spells?" he asked walking over to look at her. "Just one, four days ago, but I am feeling better." "My poor daughter, still grieving." My son was so lucky.' Genma said accidentally removing half of his pieces in his grief. "Four days ago," he said thinking about the date, "That makes a little bit of sense. It wasn't too bad, was it?" "No, Ukyou was there," Akane answered quietly, she still hated when they made all this fuss over her, "I'll be fine, stop worrying about me." "You should have invited Ukyou over for dinner, Akane-chan," Kasumi said smiling as she brought the food to the table. "She had to work, and some other things came up," Akane answered. "Oh, that's too bad," Kasumi answered, "Well dinner is ready." Everyone moved quickly towards the table taking their places. Akane sat between Nabiki and Dr. Tofu. Kasumi set the plates of food on the table. Nodoka hurried out of the kitchen with the rest. After setting the table, she sat down next to Genma, and Kasumi sat next to Dr. Tofu. Her father was at the head of the table, starting to dish out the food. Everyone began to dig in, the conversation picking up. "This smells great." "Arigato, Nabiki," Kasumi and Nodoka answered. Taste's great too,' the sign said as Genma wolfed down his food. Akane looked at her food and took a few bites. She was not really hungry. She was trying to think of how to announce Ranma. "What's wrong, Akane-chan?" Nabiki asked looking at her sister, "Aren't you hungry?" "Not really." In that case,' Genma reached for her food but was stopped by Nodoka's katana. "What's wrong, musume?" Nodoka asked. She had taken to calling Akane that after she had been told about Ranma, adopting Akane as her own. Akane looked at Nodoka and the rest. They were all watching, waiting for her to answer. It was now or never. "I guess I'm nervous." "About what?" several people asked. "How to tell you." "Tell us what?" everyone was hanging on her words. Genma had even stopped eating. Akane took a deep breath and looked at her father. "I have an announcement, Otoosan. I am getting married." Only Kasumi and Nodoka did not face-fault, both looking happy as ever. "Oh, my daughter is moving on with her life. What a lucky father I am to have such a child," Soun cried into his food "Who is he?" Nabiki asked, "Do we know him?" "Ah-huh." Akane answered. "Is it Ryoga?" Nabiki asked quickly. Akane startled, how had they found out about that, "No." "Well I am sure, whoever he is, he is someone my Ranma would have approved of," Nodoka said. Akane could barely stop herself from laughing. "Oh, Ranma would approve of him very much." "Well, who is he?" everyone nearly shouted. "Honey!" Akane called, "Would you please come out here." Everyone looked towards the entrance of the house. Ranma stepped out of the shadows, a smile on his face. "Sorry, I'm late, but I have been a little busy." No one face-faulted. They couldn't, their minds had suddenly shorted out, even Kasumi was stunned. Before they could react, Ranma was sitting down next to Akane, and starting to dish out food, still talking, "You wouldn't believe some of the things I have seen and done. It has been incredible, but I was missing you all so much, that I just had to come home. Good idea, huh?" He smiled at everyone, and squeezed Akane's hand. "R-Ranma," Nodoka finally muttered, staring at her son. "Y-you're alive?" "Ah-huh," Ranma said, "Sorry about the misunderstanding, Akane explained it to me. Really I did not know I was dead. If I had, I would have corrected." Everyone was starting to move again, questions forming on their lips, everyone was about to ask him a question. Ranma noticed this and dodged, "Oh, I want you to meet someone. Musume, you can come in now." Ranko burst from the entryway with great speed, completely excited by the game her father had created for her. Rushing forward she squeezed between Ranma and Akane, then settled down in Akane's lap. Akane hugged the girl tightly to her, and began getting a plate for her. "Himechan, this is our family. They are your sofubo," pointing at Nodoka and Genma-panda, both of whom were having their eyes jump back and forth between Ranko and Ranma, "That is Aunt Nabiki, and Aunt Kasumi." Kasumi was actually trying to get over the first complete surprise in her life, and it had been two surprises, "That is Dr. Tofu, your Aunt Kasumi's husband. And that is Mr. Tendo, your future sofu." "Everyone, this is my daughter, Ranko," Ranma announced, "Well I am starved. I haven't had Kasumi's cooking in ages." He started eating. That was his mistake. Once he added just a bit of his normal personality, he lost the edge, and the family overwhelmed him. Suddenly he was surrounded by everyone. They were crying, hugging him. He felt his mother kiss him over and over again. Genma and Soun were both making Niagra look small. "What happened?" "Who is her mother?" "I am so happy your back." "How could cheat on Akane?" "Why were you gone so long?" "Are you cured?" "We have missed you, Ran-chan." "What were you doing?" "What are you going to do?" "Are you and Akane finally going to get married?" "Oh my son-in-law. I am so happy" I knew my son would never die that easily.' "Quiet! Will you all be quiet!" Ranma shouted. He was on edge. Ranko was crying at his side. Akane looked like she was about to bolt. "I said be quiet and I will explain everything." He was floundering. "SHUT UP!" Akane suddenly screamed, "Let him explain. He does not need this from all of you!" Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Akane. She was crying again. Ranma took the sudden lull in combat, to reach out and pull the sobbing Akane and his crying daughter into his arms. Gently soothing them, he looked at everyone circled around him. "Maybe we should not have done it this way, but I knew this would happen. Neither Akane or myself need this. I came back for your support. I came back because my life was slowly getting out of hand. I came back because I missed Akane. I will explain everything. Just give us a moment, and don't bother us." With that he stood up and walked into the living room with Akane and Ranko. Sitting down on the couch, he started to comfort them. Ranma snapped, not wanting to deal with that now. "He's right," Dr. Tofu said sitting back down at the table, "They are both very unbalanced right now. Look at them. Let us finish diner and then talk to them." Everyone nodded, though their curiosity made them watch Ranma, Akane, and Ranko. Everyone had questions. Nodoka wanted to go to her son. She had not seen him since he was a child. When she had found out he was dead, she had almost killed herself. Genma had prevented her. And now against her wildest dreams, he was alive and back. She watched him comfort Akane and his daughter. The way he did it, the way he had handled the situation. "He is a man, Genma." She said, tears in her eyes, her voice choking up. Genma watched his son and nodded. He has grown up. I wonder where he got the girl?' the sign asked. "So do I," Nabiki said, seeing dollar signs from all of this. But even that was held back by her emotions. For some reason she felt ashamed for swamping Ranma. She couldn't wait to hear his tale, but right now she could not bring herself to leave the table. What Ranma had said just made sense. Nodoka was right, he was a man. Soun was crying uncontrollably, telling everyone that this was the happiest night of his life. Kasumi collected a few plates of food and took them over to Ranma. Setting them down next to him and his crying companions. Ranko looked at her as she came up. The girl was no longer crying, but she seemed reluctant to leave her father's company. She was a beautiful child. Kasumi idly wondered where she had come from. "Okagesama de, Kasumi-chan." Ranma said looking up at her. "We're sorry, Ranma," she said. "I know, Kasumi-chan. There was just no way to do this comfortably. Finish dinner, and then we will talk then." He turned back to Akane who was still crying, though it was softer now. Ranma's presence seemed to comfort and soothe her. Kasumi smiled as she walked back to the table. She had always known those two were right for each other. The rest of dinner was a subdued affair. The family at the table trying to eat and not bother Ranma and Akane. They watched Ranma and Akane talk together quietly. Finally both of them started eating. When everyone was finished, they moved into the living room, sat down in different spots and listened as Ranma told his tale. The hot water was soothing. Seeping into his muscles and tendons, relaxing his whole body. The night had not gone as he had expected, but he had realized a long time ago that nothing ever does. He had survived the night, that was all that mattered. Sighing, Ranma closed his eyes, glorifying in the heat of the water. The night had been an absolute nightmare for him. Akane's breakdown had been the worst for him. Sitting there holding her, he had found out how much his death had hurt her. She had become extremely vulnerable. Similar to Soun Tendo's reaction to his wife's death, in that a small thing could set her off, Akane's tears were of desperation and depression. It was her way of retreating from what had hurt her. For nearly half an hour he had held her and listened to her cry to herself, talking above her sobs. So much had poured out of her. Ranma had thought he had understood her pain, but tonight. It had wrenched his heart listening to Akane. She had suffered so much. Listening to her, he had discovered that his death had robbed her of everything she loved. Losing him had just been too big of a blow. She had never gotten over her mother's death, and just as she had found someone who could make her happy, she had lost him. It had been too much for her to bear. She had tried to kill herself that very night, only Nodoka checking on her had stopped it. From there he had listened as she cried out the past four years of her life. The agony of making herself continue each day. If it had not been for Ukyou and his mother he would have lost Akane years ago. They had been there to support her through so many days. It was because of them that she had finally made an attempt to appear normal. She had started going through with her days, making an effort to live, but she had not wanted to. She had told him that she only lived because it would kill those she loved if she died. Eventually she had to start believing he had not died to continue. Every day she woke up and told herself that she would see him again, and every night she would cry herself to sleep, when he did not show up. She had lived in denial for those years. Ukyou had been right about Akane blaming herself, but Ranma had been surprised when she had told him that she at times she had found her grief turn to anger and hatred towards him. He could not blame her. Listening to her, he had started to hate himself for going on his stupid quest. He had ruined her life. How could she still love him? Her depression was not all that had happened. She had lost confidence in herself. She had started to retreat from confrontations. She could not take the pressure, the uncertainty in her own abilities. She did not want to face anyone, trying to protect herself. She had lost the spark in her that had made her Akane. No one had seemed to realize this though. She had hidden it very well. Every time that the pressure became to much, she simply broke down. Everyone thought it was just her grieving at some memory. She had been crying because she was helpless, unable to do anything. She had come to depend so much on him as a protector, a friend, someone she could always count on to be there for her that she lost her own strength in his death. That was why she had broken down after yelling at everyone. The pressure had been too much. She had lashed out, trying to help him, trying to help herself. She had found her old strength for a second, but then had collapsed in on herself, not wanting the pressure anymore. She did not want to face the changes in her life. Ranma had listened to this and more as Akane had cried in his arms. He had just listened and soothed her, letting her emotions to run their course. There were still so many questions. She had mentioned Ryoga again, and Ranma wondered what he had done. Ukyou had said he had helped her, but where had it gone? Those were things he knew she would tell him in time, and he was prepared to wait. He had finally convinced her to eat, and they had ate in silence, simply taking comfort in each other being there for the other. After they had finished, Ranma had noticed the rest of the family watching them. Taking a deep breath he had motioned them over to hear his tale. Akane had stayed with him, although he had suggested that she get some sleep. He was actually glad she had. At times she had helped him smooth over a few things. The session had started out with the hundreds of questions he had been dreading. The crying parents and family trying to get his attention, touching him to make sure he was not an illusion. He had almost lost it again, before Dr. Tofu had brought everyone to heel. Once the questions had died down, Ranma had told them his story, in a very abbreviated form. He had covered the highlights of his adventures, but even this had caused so many questions, that it had taken him several hours to complete the tale. Just telling his story had been the easiest part of the night, dealing with his and Akane's families had been the hard part. Tendo Soun had nearly killed him once he had realized Ranko was his daughter. As Akane, he had thought he had been sleeping with another woman. It had taken him ten minutes to stop them all from deciding killing him would be a good idea. His mother had been bad too. Ranma had found out that his father had decided that Nodoka did not need to know of his curse. So Ranma had had the unpleasant task of explaining to his mother why he had gone off in the first place. The worst part had been that his mother had understood. He had found out that the promise his father had given was only a threat for his father not Ranma, and considering it was a curse that made him unmanly' his mother would have forgiven him. Killing his father right there had entered his mind instantly when he had found out. Only Akane's hand on his shoulder and Ranko sitting in his father's lap, now a human, had prevented him. His father's stupidity and pride had kept Ranma from his mother for his entire life. It had taken everything in him to not howl in pain right then when his mother had told him that she would have forgiven him. Tears came to his eyes as he thought about it. Not having a mother had affected Ranma's life greatly. Having to hide from her had always hurt him more than anything else. He had always wanted to just be loved by his mother, to have her as a confidant, as someone who would hold him when his curse and the frustrations of his life became too much. Without her he had grown up not knowing how to face himself. It was only with the birth of Ranko that he had been able to face his feelings. She had forced him to grow up. Explaining Ranko had been the hardest part in the tale. They had taken his story of the progress of his search in stride. Asking questions for clarification occasionally, they had listened attentively. When he had told them of what the old man of the mountain had said about the cure and what it meant, they had mostly just starred at him, their mouth's opening and closing, in unison. Finally Nabiki had said, "How much money do you have on you, Ran-chan?" He had simply ignored her. Nodoka and Genma had starred at Ranko, shock etched into their features. Kasumi had only stated "Oh, my!" Dr. Tofu had starred at him and said simply, "I would like to examine you and Ranko. Tomorrow?" Ranma had only nodded. He thought they had finally accepted after a while. Especially after he had explained that him and his cursed form were two different bodies, only sharing a soul and mind. It helped that it was impossible for them not to love his daughter. Things had died down from there. It had been getting late, so Ranma had pressed that they all get some sleep. Sleeping areas were quickly figured out. He and Ranko had been placed with Akane in her room. Ranma had dragged a futon in to the room, and set it up. Then he had tucked Ranko in and said good-night to Akane before slipping out for a relaxing bath. He had been soaking for at least half an hour. It reminded him of the dips in the hot springs back in the Himalayas. Maybe he would take Akane there so they could relax and work everything out. It was secluded and relaxing. Yes that is what he would do. His thoughts were broken off as the bathroom door. He glanced up at it wondering who it was, when he felt a familiar prescence. He sank back into the water, unworried. Waiting for her. She was standing in a place she had never been. Although the place did look familiar. It was rocky and barren, but hundreds of pools dotted the features. Each had a single bamboo shaft standing in its center. "Where am I?" she asked, a little scared. This place was dangerous. It was filled with grief and suffering, she did not like it. "Your at the beginning and the ending," a woman's voice answered. She spun around and looked at the woman. She was slight of build. An elfin face framed with braided dark hair held light hazel eyes that starred compassionately at her. She looked familiar, like she should know her or had met her but forgotten her name. "Who are you? Does Otoosan know you? Do you know where Otoosan is?" she asked suddenly remember she could not find her father anywhere. She could not even feel his prescence in the back of her mind like she had always been able to do. Suddenly she was very scared. "I am Hui-cheng. I am part of you, and part of your father. So I would say your father knows me," she smiled, her face lighting up with life and beauty. Though her presence was comforting, and she was not lying, somehow she knew the woman wasn't, there was something wrong in this place. Almost like a nasty odor that found you wherever you were, or just a shadow that blocked the sun for a moment sending a chill down your spine. "I don't like this place," she whimpered, "I want Otoosan back. Please let me go home." "This was never a nice place," the woman said, "Numerous tragic things have taken place here." "Then why am I here?" she asked, "I've done nothing tragic, have I?" "No. None of this is your fault, Ranko," Hui-cheng explained to her, "But you are part of what it will take to heal this place." "How do you heal a place?" she asked perplexed. "I don't know, but you and your father must do it. I can only.." she stopped in mid-sentence and looked around, worry and fear on her face. Something malevolent touched her mind. She tried to scream, but the woman put her hand over her mouth, silencing her. "Shhh, child," she cautioned, "Don't say a word. We are in danger." She nodded her head, willing to do anything to get out of this place. The evil was growing in strength, she felt like she was going to vomit. Just when she thought she could take no more two figures walked over the lip of a cliff and down towards the pools. The woman pulled her tighter to her and moved behind some rocks. As they came closer she could make them out. One was a man who looked liked her father. He was about the same size with dark hair caught in a pig-tail. He wore bandanas and carried an umbrella over his shoulder. There was a dark splotch on his soul. She could see it. It was eating at him slowly, but it would eventually consume him. There was something else there though, pity, sorrow, and repressed love. She could not hate him, he looked so forlorn, so alone. She wished she could help him. The man next to him, almost made her scream. He was a large muscular man with fierce eyes and shoulder length jet black hair. His body was covered in black leather armor, a wickedly curved sword hung at his side, swinging with each step. His soul was a dark whirlwind of hate, anger, rage, and death. He was slowly feeding the dark splotch on the other man's soul, encouraging it to grow. They were close enough now that she could hear them speak. "Why are we here?" the bandana clad figure asked, motioning at the pools. "Because I can only show you what you need to know here." the dark figure growled. "As long as I get to kill Ranma and have Akane, I don't care," the other answered fiercely, the dark splotch on his soul doubled almost instantly before sinking back to something slightly larger than before. The dark man watched this and smiled evilly. Her heart fell like lead in her chest as she heard this. "I won't allow them to hurt Otoosan." she whispered. The thought of her father hurt struck terror in her soul. She could never survive without her father. He gave her everything. He was always there for her. He had been both her mother and father, taking the roles of both. She loved him completely. She only wanted to please him, make him happy, and she knew that was all he wanted to do for her. Anger flared in her, no one would hurt her father. Jumping up she shouted, "You leave Otoosan alone!" "Ranko, nooo!" Hui-cheng shouted pulling her down. The dark man spun to face the rocks. "You!" he shouted. "Run!" Hui-cheng shouted, pushing her out of the boulders away from the pools. Terror gripped her heart, as she sped away from the pools. Behind her she heard the rage filled shouts of the dark man, ordering the other man to find and kill her. She did not look back, she ran and ran, her breath rattling in her throat, the adrenaline pumping in her veins. Mist slowly enclosed her. She could hear the scrambling sounds of footsteps behind her. She ran faster, the mist filling with light. She felt a hand touch her. Screaming she wrenched forward, and sat up in her bed, tears streaming down her face. "Otoosan?" she asked looking around, "Where are you, Otoosan?" She was suddenly scared. Had that man taken her father? She jumped out of bed. Aunt Akane was sleeping in the bed, she tried not waking her, but she made a lot of noise trying to get out of the room. As she left the room looking for her father, she did not see Akane eyes flutter and open, looking around the now empty room. She entered the hallway. She saw a light coming from the bathroom. Her father must be in there. Crying she ran towards the door and cracked it open. She could feel him. He was in there. Sobbing softly, the fear still pounding in her heart she pushed into the bathroom. It was only Ranko at the door, but suddenly his mind opened. Fear and terror entered his mind. Then he heard her soft sobs. Jumping out of the bed he rushed to her, picking up his daughter, he held her close to him. She was shivering in fright. "What is wrong, himechan?" he asked his voice full of worry. "He said he would hurt you," she cried, "Then he chased me. Don't let him hurt you, Otoosan." "Shh, darling," he comforted as he rocked her slowly, "No one is going to hurt me. No one will take me away from you. I'll always be with you. It was just a dream. You had a bad dream." "But Hui-cheng told me to run," Ranko sobbed, "She was so scared." "What?" Ranma exclaimed. How did Ranko know about Hui-cheng? And why was she having dreams about her? Oh God, what is happening? "C'mon, let's get you back into bed," trying to think of several things. "I don't wanna." Ranko said, "I don't wanna leave you." Ranma stopped and looked at her, how should he handle this. She had never refused him before, but then she had never been so high strung after a dream. "Hai, you can stay here and finish my bath with me. Would you like that?" "Hai," she said her face lighting up a bit as she snuffled. "C'mon, himechan," he said tugging off her pajamas, and carrying her over to the tub. He hoped this calmed her down enough to sleep. He was not up to all night child-care. Sinking down in the tub, he sighed as the still hot water covered his body. Ranko snuggled against his chest, hugging him tightly, "Don't leave me, Otoosan." she said. "I won't, musume," Ranma assured her. He was becoming worried. She had never acted like this before. He was used to her clinging to him, especially after the incident at the hot springs, but she had never been possessive, or scared that he might leave her. That was the farthest thing from his mind. Losing Ranko was one of his worst nightmares. He sighed and looked at his daughter's red head cradled against his shoulder. He could still feel her shivering, even in the hot water. "Ranko, what was your dream about?" he asked. "Bad," she said. "Why was it bad?" he asked. "There were two men who wanted to kill you," she said, "Hui-cheng wouldn't let me protect you. She made me run away." "Do you know who Hui-cheng is?" Ranma asked. Ranko shook her head, "No, she was just nice. She told me things." "What did she tell you?" "She told me that the place with the pools was very tragic. She said we had to heal the place, and she couldn't help us. Then the men came, and they were bad." "Who were the men?" Ranma asked trying to get everything he could from his daughter. "One was a big dark man. He had an evil soul. It was all black and horrible. The other man was sad. His soul was being devoured by the black thing. I wanted to help him, but then he said he wanted to kill you. I don't like him anymore" With that she just huddled closer against him and held him tightly. She was crying. Gently stroking her soft hair, he sang softly to her, trying to make it alright. Slowly she settled down, and fell asleep in his arms. Ranma sighed, she was sleeping peaceful. he demanded, He gulped as he said that. Be in Ranko? He looked at his sleeping daughter. No, she was his daughter, not just some dead Chinese woman. Then something connected in his head. he stopped. He knew she was not there anymore. It felt empty in his head. During the time the water had turned warm. Ranko was still sleeping, curled on his chest. He decided that sleep would be a good idea. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day. He had to go see Dr. Tofu, shopping with Nabiki and Akane. Time with his parents. Maybe a match with his father. So much to do. Yawning he slipped out of the tub, and dressed himself and Ranko, careful not to wake her, then headed for the door. Turning the lights out he went back to Akane's room. Quietly he opened the door and went in. Akane was in her bed, sleeping. Ranma softly put Ranko in the futon, and walked over to Akane's bed. The sheets were wrapped around her body tightly. Her breathing even and deep. She looked so peaceful, so innocent. "I'm sorry for everything, Akane-chan," he whispered watching her, "I never wanted to hurt you. I won't ever let anything hurt you again. You have my word." Bending down he kissed her cheek lightly. "I love you, Akane-chan." He went back to his futon. And slipped into next to Ranko. Soon he was asleep. Akane watched Ranma fall asleep, her mind a confusion of emotions. She had followed Ranko out of the room and down to the bathroom. Sitting outside the bathroom door, she had listened to Ranma comfort his daughter. Listening to him had given her another insight into Ranma. She had never knew how deep his emotions were. She felt her own love for him rise as she listened to him and Ranko. After awhile he had gone quiet, but a little later, she heard him murmuring to himself. She could not make out the words, but he sounded like he was talking to someone. She wondered what was going on. Maybe he was just talking to his Ranko. Finally she had heard him leave the bath. Quietly she slipped back into her room and into her bed. As he walked in, she had feigned sleep. After tucking Ranko in, he had come to check on her. He had watched her for a second and then whispered that promise to her. She had almost started crying when he had said those words. She began to see how important she was to him. It made her feel safe like she used to when he would always protect her. She had missed that. Then his lips had brushed her cheek. She could still feel them. She watched Ranma for a time. How could she hate him? He was so kind now, so different. He loved her, and would do anything for her. She knew she loved him, but now it was deeper. She wanted to be with him, she realized. It did not matter what had happened. She needed him back. She would make it work between them. She promised herself that as she slipped into sleep. The Legacy Part VI Just like the Old Days? Ranma stood in a relaxed position, facing his father. One knee was cocked, allowing him to lean to his left. His arms hung loose by his side. If he had been next to a tree, he would have been leaning against it instead. "Did you forget everything I taught you?" Genma snapped, looking his son's stance up and down. "No, I forgot nothing," Ranma answered, "I just thought I should give an old man a decent advantage. Taking candy from a baby is no fun." "A little overconfident, are we?" Genma asked, "I'll show you." With that he leaped towards his son, launching into an attack. Watching his father's movement, Ranma waited half a second before acting. Genma launched a fast series of punches at his son's unmoving form. To his surprise Ranma was suddenly a blur, dodging between his multiple punches. Then he was gone as he leaped into the air. Reacting quickly, Genma dodged to the side. Rolling to his feet, he leaped into the air following his son. His leap was lower than Ranma's so he would hit him as he reached his apex and Ranma was gaining speed down. The he was there, his legs and arms striking out in a flurry of movement. A sure hit on his son he thought, but Ranma had twisted his body into a tight roll at the last moment. He spun beneath the punch and above the kick, but before Genma could react, Ranma quickly stopped the spin by grabbing his father's legs and giving him the momentum. Genma found himself spinning through the air to crash against the back yard wall. Shaking his head, he looked around and found is son standing in his original stance in the original position. "Give up, pop?" Ranma asked. "Never," Genma growled, charging. Ranma shrugged and leaped towards his father. Genma took the bait and leaped to attack his son again. As Ranma passed underneath a tree branch, he rotated and pushed off of it with his feet. Genma watched in surprise as Ranma headed straight for the ground, head first. Then Ranma was there, his hands reached out and slowed his descent turning his body into a somersault. Rolling to his feet, he launched back into the air. Genma realized his mistake too late. He could do nothing in the air. Ranma had angled upwards so that he would end behind his father. Genma lost track of him as they passed positions, but he felt the kick Ranma leveled at his back. Genma quickly found himself in the pond, a soaked Panda. Looking back up he saw his son complete the move with a forward flip. Hitting the ground he went into a forward roll, popping up into his original stance, directly in front of his father, a meter from the edge of the pond. Genma held up a sign, You win son.' A round of applause sounded from the audience on the back porch. Ranma glanced over at them and nodded his head in acknowledgment. Genma used this to react. Surging forward, he attacked his son's undefended back. Ranma had been expecting this. The sound of the water, the reaction of the spectators warned him. Spinning quickly, his foot connected with his father's approaching form, knocking the wind from him. Stepping to the side, he allowed his father to stumble past him, before grabbing him and flipping him back into the stone wall. Then he leaped after his father. Genma shook his head, as he peeled himself off the wall. He did not even see Ranma until the last moment. A sign appeared in his hands. Help!' Ranma landed next to his father and swept his legs., causing genma to fall forward. Using the momentum, Ranma rolled forward with his father, and launched him with his feet back into the pond. This time a very wet Genma marched out of the pool and over to the house where he poured a kettle of water on himself. Back to normal he looked over at his son, "Next time we'll tie your hands together. Maybe that will make it a fair fight." Ranma nodded, "If you want to, but I'll still win." Genma looked at his son closely. Genma knew he himself was a very good, if not great martial artist. Few people could beat him, yet his son had not even broken a sweat while throwing him about like a rag doll. Pride filled Genma as he watched Ranma walk towards them. Ranko met her father halfway, shouting, "Again, again. Make sofu turn into a panda again. Laughing, Ranma picked Ranko up and spun her around, "Maybe later," he promised, "The old man will sooner or later want a rematch. He never could take losing." "Breakfast is ready," Kasumi called. Ranma's eyes lit up, "You hungry, himechan?" "Hmm" she nodded. "C'mon then," he said, walking towards the house, still carrying Ranko. Everyone was at the table by the time he arrived. Quickly he went over beside Akane and put Ranko down, and then kneeled between Akane and Ranko. As he settled himself in, he leaned over to Akane, "Are you okay?" he asked in a whisper. "Ah-huh," she answered back. Ranma simply squeezed her hand. Kasumi brought in the food and laid it out on the table. Everyone began to serve themselves. Ranma acted his usual at meal time, although he made sure Ranko and Akane had enough food before he began to shovel it down himself. Nodoka watched Ranma eat and shook her head in despair, she had hoped that part of Genma would not stick with him. Ranko was no better, the only concession she made was to separate what she liked and did not like, and then she followed her father's example. "Well, Ran-chan," Nabiki said, "It's obvious she's a Saotome." "Did you have any doubts?" Ranma asked, actually stopping to answer. "No, but I just like as much confirmation as possible," she said, "You know how much my clients like good information." "That never stopped you from telling them whatever you felt like," Ranma shot back, a small grin on his face. "Oh, Ran-chan, I only did that to people I knew, and besides, it did help you several times." "Hai, that's true," Ranma said, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "So it could be said that you owe me still. And I think, you will be wanting to keep the information about a certain girl out of somebody's hands," Nabiki smiled sweetly, starting to reach out her hand for the inevitable money So that was what she was after. He should have known. Ranma shook his head and looked at Nabiki, "No." "Huh?" Nabiki asked. "I said no, Nabiki. I know you too well. You might hurt me with some information, but this concerns a little girl as well. You would not do anything to hurt her. Your morals are still in there somewhere." Ranma was somewhat proud of how he had handled it. Nabiki's blackmail attempts had always annoyed him, but he was not going to let her disappoint his daughter. He wasn't going to let her see that he was ashamed of her parentage, and he was not even sure if he was. She was simply his daughter, plain and simple Nabiki looked at him for a second, her hand still out. Closing and pulling her hand back she lowered her head slightly, "You called my bluff. I couldn't hurt Ranko." "I thought so, but just to make you feel better, I will buy you something this afternoon when we go shopping." "Don't forget to stop by the clinic this morning Ranma," Dr. Tofu said from across the table. He looked at Akane then, "Why don't you come also, Akane." "Hai," Akane said still idly stirring the remains of her breakfast. Putting down her utensils, she stood up. "I think I will go for a walk." Ranma looked up at her, "Do you mind if I come along?" For some reason Akane looked relieved as Ranma said that. "No, Ranma. I would like that." Nodding Ranma stood up, "Okaasan, could you watch Ranko? We'll pick her up before heading over to Dr. Tofu's." "It will be no problem, Ranma. I think I would enjoy getting to know my granddaughter," Nodoka answered cheerfully. "Arigato," Ranma said as he leaned down next to Ranko, "I'll be gone for a bit, himechan. You stay here with obasan, and be a good girl." "Hm," the little girl nodded. She stood up, quickly and ran to Nodoka, promptly sitting down in her lap. Smiling Ranma and Akane walked out of the house, together. the voice said. Ryoga replied. He was looking down on the plain where Nerima spread out, part of the sprawling mass of Tokyo. Ryoga started walking down towards the city, his aura glowing darkly around him, the voice laughing in his head. Ranma sat silently next to Akane in Dr. Tofu's waiting room. He was enjoying the her quiet companionship as he had all morning. Their walk had been uneventful. Ranma had just enjoyed being with Akane as they had moved about the city. Chatting idly they had passed the time. Shying away from the topic of their relationship, they had just caught up on things. Ranma had found out several interesting things that made his life easier. Shampoo had gone back to China about a year after his death. According to Akane, she had been heart broken. The news hurt Ranma, he did not like seeing any of his legitimate iinazuke get hurt. Ukyou at least was healing, albeit slowly, but she was. Ranma knew that she would press on, besides he would always be there for her. He was her friend, and he did love her in his own way. There would be nothing like that for Shampoo, he realized. She would have to live with his death for the rest of her life. Hopefully she would find someone else to love. Secretly Ranma hoped it would be Mousse. He had always respected Mousse. He had strength and tenacity, not to mention a great heart. Ranma was sorry he could never have become his friend, but at least now, Mousse had a chance with his true love. Ranma would not get in the way of that, even to spare Shampoo. Eventually, he might visit her. Many years down the road, when her claim on him would have disappeared. The news about Kodachi had lifted his spirits. She had apparently gone insane after hearing about his death. At the moment she was locked away in an asylum, with no foreseeable release date. Ranma had no intention of relieving her suffering. She deserved what she got. She had just caused too much trouble in his life. As far as Ranma knew, she was the only girl Ranma would hit without a second thought. Heck he would probably pound her into a bloody pulp if she ever bothered him or his family again. On the other hand, Kuno Tatewaki was still roaming the world. In a way it did not really bother Ranma. Kuno was annoying, but it was really only because of his stupidity. He was an honourable man, and Ranma had to respect that in him; however, he was still chasing Akane and pinning over his osaga no onna. Ranma might have to talk to Kuno about that. At least Nabiki had somehow gotten a hold on the baka. If anyone could keep Kuno in line it was her. Really only Akane and himself stood between their relationship continuing. Things were slowly looking better. They had become comfortable in each other's presence this day. Staying in the past and away from delicate subjects had helped, that and the fact that he had kept his big mouth shut. He could still make a mess of things by just opening his mouth, but he had learned a little bit of control over time. Leaning back, he watched Ranko playing with some blocks on the floor. She seemed to be building a small cottage with them. For some reason it reminded him of the Himalayan valley. He had spent over four years of his life there, and in a way it had become a place he could call home. He smiled remembering all the things that had happened there. The training, his pregnancy, Ranko's first year. All those memories of her growing up, learning to crawl, and taking her first steps into his arms. "What are you thinking about, Ranma?" Akane asked as she saw him smiling and watching his daughter. She was trying to figure the new Ranma out, and had found that he would generally answer her questions if she simply asked him. "Just about the past," he answered, taking her hand, "I was remembering the valley in the Himalayas where I trained and brought up Ranko. It is just one of the few places that has really felt like home for me. I sort of miss it." "Do you want to go back there?" Akane asked nervously. She did not want him to leave her. "Hai, but only if you want to," Ranma answered much to Akane's pleasure, "I think you would like it. Maybe we wouldn't live there, but it is a place to be alone, a place just to relax, free from the cares of the world. It's a place where you can enjoy life, and learn to love it." "I would like that, Ran-chan," Akane said leaning slightly against him, just allowing her love for him to talk, "I think it would be wonderful to just escape for a while." She felt Ranma's arm slip around her shoulders, holding her gently, his hand squeezing hers. She liked when they were like this, their defenses down, just the two of them. "Ranma?" Kasumi's voice called from the door to the examining room, "Would you come back her with Ranko, please? We are ready for you." Sighing in regret, Ranma unhooked himself from Akane and stood up. Putting his hand on her shoulder, he smiled, "We'll talk later, Akane-chan." with that he picked up Ranko and walked back into the waiting room. Akane sighed as she watched him leave. Sitting on the examination table, his shirt next to him, Ranma watched as Dr. Tofu moved about the room, looking for something. Ranko sat in a chair across from her father, sucking on a piece of hard candy. She had been the first to be examined. Tofu-sensei had pronounced her completely healthy. He had given her a few vaccinations, when Ranma informed him that she had not been immunized yet. "So can you give me an explanation, Dr. Tofu," Ranma asked, "I mean she was born two years ago, tomorrow. Uh-oh. I almost forgot her birthday. I'll have to tell everyone." He stopped for a second to get his thoughts in order. The week had just been too confusing, especially if he had forgotten his only child's birthday. "But look at her, she looks like she is four, and I have somehow lost eight months of my life, in the process. Do you have any clu..AHHH," he yelled as he was suddenly doused with cold water, "Hey, I told you the change only comes when I soak for about an hour or so!" "Just making sure," Dr. Tofu explained, writing down a few things. Ranko giggled from the chair, amused by her wet father. Ranma glanced at his daughter and sighed, "You say it was when you went into the hot springs?" Dr. tofu asked, coming over to examine Ranma. "Uh-huh. I was starting her on solid foods, and she was little bit filthy, and we were next to the springs, so I decided to take a bath with her. We went into the pool. I felt the tingling sensation that goes with my change, and then it was just all pain. It felt like something was ripping out of my body, and then I started seeing all these images. Some were from my life, some from Hui-cheng's, but at the end there were things that seemed not to have happened, like they were going to happen later. Then I was falling into unconsciousness, and then I awoke with Ranko in my arms, like she is now. That was three months ago." "Hmm," Dr. Tofu answered. "Where did you get these scars?" he asked touching Ranma's marked cheek "I don't know. They were on my face when I woke up," he answered, "Do you think they have something to do with the curse being only partly cured?" "What do you think, Ranma? You know more about this than I do." "I don't know. That's the problem. I don't understand any of this. Last night Ranko had a dream where she was at Jusenkyo. She was meet there by Hui-cheng who said that we had to heal the place. Then she saw two men. One was Kaidu, I am sure of it. He was a large, brutish man with fierce eyes and a black soul. The other she won't describe, just saying that she felt sorry for him because Kaidu was feeding the darkness in his soul. Then she was mad at him because he wanted to kill me." "Things are becoming very confusing. A daughter that does not age normally, unaccounted for months, scars, weird dreams, and some sort of connection between me an Ranko," But he could not tell Dr. Tofu that. There was a difference between weird occurrences and hearing voices. "Why don't you let me look a few things up, Ranma." Dr. Tofu said, "Besides I want to check the samples I took from you and your daughter. Maybe I will think of something, or find something out." "Arigato, Tofu-sensei," Ranma said hopping down from the table and pulling on his shirt. Ranko left her chair and walked to her father. As usual Ranma picked her up, after he was dressed, "Why don't you and Kasumi stop by the dojo tomorrow night. I think I'll have a party for Ranko." "That would be nice, Ranma," Dr. Tofu said, "We will be there." "Arigato," Ranma said bowing, "Arigato for everything." Ranma left the examination room, nodded to Kasumi as he passed her. She smiled back at him and waved. Out in the waiting room, Ranma smiled at Akane, who was sitting and waiting. "You ready for some lunch, Akane-chan?" he asked, walking towards her. Akane stood up and met him halfway, "What did Tofu-sensei say?" she asked, worry in her voice. "He doesn't know, but he is going to look up some things, and he took blood samples from both of us," he answered, putting Ranko down, and taking one of Akane's hands, "C'mon, let's just get some lunch. Besides we still have to meet Nabiki for shopping, and I almost forgot that tomorrow is Ranko's birthday. I am going need to get some stuff." "Ranma no baka!" Akane said reproachfully, "How could you forget Ranko's birthday? What kind of father are you?" Ranma smiled, "A very busy and preoccupied one who remembers throwing a party for her first birthday about four months ago. Besides, as long as she gets a party and presents, I think she will be happy enough to forgive me. Is that not right, himechan?" "Hai," Ranko said walking towards the door. Akane and Ranma went after her, looking for a place to eat. "Why do I have to carry all this stuff?" a laden down Ranma complained from behind about a dozen packages and bags that Nabiki had given him over the course of the afternoon. "Because, you owe me, Ran-chan," Nabiki stated, "You have six years of interest to pay me." Ranma groaned, "Why me?" "Your the one who went away," Nabiki stated, picking up a doll and examining it, "Will Ranko like this?" Shuffling the packages around so he could see, Ranma glanced quickly at a doll with blond curls and a sweet face with a red rose-bud mouth and blue eyes. "I don't know," Ranma stated, "She has never really played with toys. I am not much of a craftsman and so she had only a few things with me. Get it if you want. She could use it as a practice dummy if she does not like it. Just make sure it is not one of those dolls that wet itself. Don't forget I sleep with her." Nabiki laughed, "Okay, I'll get her something else. How about a cat?" "Don't even joke about that, Nabiki-chan," Ranma said in a strangled voice, glancing around, expecting a cat to show up any minute. He shivered. He hated cats. He knew his fear was irrational, but when he saw one, all he could think about was the tearing, gleaming claws as they ripped the fish off of his seven year-old body. "Okay, how about a pig?" she said laughing, and walked back out into the street. Ranma muttered under his breath as he followed her out. "What did I do to deserve this kind of treatment?" "Where are Akane and Ranko?" Nabiki asked him once he was out in the street. "They are down the street getting something to eat," Ranma answered without even thinking about it, "They'll be here in a few minutes." "How do you do that?" Nabiki asked curiously, "You cannot see in front of you with all those packages, but know exactly where Ranko and Akane are without even looking." "How much is it worth to you? Maybe ten thousand yen?" Ranma said. Nabiki laughed, "You have learned, Ran-chan." "I had a good teacher," Ranma said without thinking. "That will be five thousand yen," Nabiki said simply. "Huh?" Ranma exclaimed. "Teaching fee," Nabiki said simply. Grumbling Ranma handed her a bill, not even trying to argue. He knew from experience that it would just increase the amount. Luckily Akane and Ranko showed up, carrying ice cream cones. Ranko's face and hands were naturally dripping chocolate ice cream. "Otoosan!" she shouted, "We got ice cream. Have you ever had ice cream? It is sooo good!" "You never gave your daughter ice cream, Ran-chan?" Nabiki and Akane scolded at the same time. "Hey, this is the first time I've had her in a place where she could get it," Ranma argued back, "You try finding ice cream, or any other sweets while stuck in a valley in the Himalayas." Nabiki and Akane laughed. Ranma took his ice cream and tried to eat it while holding the packages. Somehow he managed, without making too much of a fool of himself. "So where to next?" he asked as they walked down the street, "You have bought about everything you could need, Nabiki." "I still need to get Ranko something," she answered. "Fine," Ranma answered, "I am not going to deprive her of gifts. Just no pet..." He was interrupted by a familiar voice from up the street. He could not see the owner, but he knew who it was. "Surely the gods must be smiling on me this day, for they have fated my steps to cross those whom I am unworthy to even approach on my own, nay, whom I am even unworthy to worship from afar, but I must do this for I do love them both so much beyond what a mortal creature could know that I am struck blind and dumb and mute by the very picture of their unearthly beauty shining in my illustrious mind to remove all dark shadows on my soul and being. Oh, the fiery beauty and strength of Tendo Akane, and the cold perfect perfection of a diamond reflecting the sun that is my Tendo Nabiki, how is it that I could ever choose between, much less with the third of the sweet innocent and beauty of my osaga no onna, enslaved by that foul sorceror Ranma, even in the cold raiments of death that so fit that villain's body? I cannot choose, I must have them all." "He said that all in one breath?" Ranma asked amazed. "He's been practicing," Akane said to him. "I can tell," Ranma responded. They had stopped at Kuno's greeting and were now waiting for him to approach them. "But who are these strangers in the company of my Athena and Hera. The innocent child doth bring the memory of my lost osaga no onna unto mine heart. If it were not an utter impossibility on account of the purity of my lost pig-tailed goddess, I would swear upon my own family's honor that she was the divine daughter of my love." Ranma couldn't help himself, he had to laugh at Kuno for that one. It was just too good. Listening to him rant and rave was almost as much fun as punting him into low earth orbit. Usually he would have shut him up half-way through his first sentence, which he was actually not very sure had ever ended, much less been a complete thought, but for some reason he had missed listening to Kuno's endless soliloquies, if simply for the entertainment value. Kuno exploded at Ranma's laughter, "Who art thou that doth mock the melancholic grief of the great Kuno Tatewaki, former Blue Thunder of Furinkan High School, now the rising star of the Corporate Kendo Tournaments, and the Silver Thunder of the Stock Market? Hide not like a cur behind thy packages and face me as a man, or art thou truly a mangy dog yapping at thy betters?" Ranma had to admit that Kuno's insults and ego had increased immeasurably in six years, but he could really not let this pass. Maybe just knocking him into the wall would work? Well he had to answer the challenge at least. "Kuno, you just happened to insult the father of the girl you just recently praised," he said calmly, not really wanting to fight the fool. "I know that voice!" Kuno exclaimed, "That is the voice of my most despised enemy, Saotome Ranma! Face me like a man Saotome, release these women from you violent enchan...ugh." Kuno was cut off as Akane's fist connected with his stomach, toppling him to the ground gasping for breath. "I'm sorry Kuno, but we are busy right now. Why don't you stop by the house tomorrow night? We are having a party for Ranko." "We would be delighted to have you, Kuno-baby," Nabiki added, "Please say you'll come." Kuno simply grunted something that sounded affirmative. "Good! I'm glad that is settled," Ranma said, "Let's go get the rest of our shopping done." With that the group walked off, leaving a gasping Kuno on the ground. Idly, Ranma wondered how Akane could incapacitate a man so easily. It was getting late, the sun slowly dipping beneath the horizon the shadows, deepening on the quiet streets that the three walked. Nabiki had left them several hours ago, taking most of the packages with her when Ranma and herself had insisted. She had told her older sister to inform the family that Ranma, Ranko, and herself would get dinner in the city tonight. They had gone to a small quiet restaurant for dinner, ending out the day in a decent meal and subdued conversation. In Akane's opinion it had been the perfect day. Even the incident with Kuno had been more laughable than disastrous. She was glad she had stopped Kuno from making a mess of things by challenging Ranma. The day had just gone so well, that she had not wanted anything bad to happen, and now the day was coming to a close with a beautiful sunset turning the sky to a panorama of fiery orange, red, and purple. She leaned against Ranma, feeling the warmth and strength of his body against hers. His arm encircled her waist as they walked, drawing her closer. She was truly content and happy for the first time in a long while. No doubts or conflicting emotions had vied for her attention during the day. Instead she had just watched Ranma, feeling herself won over again by his actions. His kindness towards Ranko and herself, the good faith he took Nabiki's administrations and requests in, even the way he had handled Kuno had been admirable. "Ranma," she said softly. "Hmmm," Ranma answered. "I've been thinking about what you were saying at Tofu-sensei's clinic," Akane said, "About that valley and how you wanted to go there." "Hai," he said looking down at her. "I think I would like to go there," she said glancing up at him, "We need to work out everything between us, and I think some privacy would be the best." Ranma walked in silence for a moment thinking, he had not expected this from Akane. It was a big jump for her. Two days ago they had not been talking, now she wanted to go back with him to the valley. He wondered what he had done right. Pulling her closer to him, he answered, "Whatever you want to do, Akane-chan. I would love to go back to the valley with you." Akane stopped walking at gazed up at Ranma. Sincerity and tenderness filled his eyes, as he returned her gaze. Reaching up she touched his scarred cheek gently. So much pain, so much suffering, so much had changed in their lives, but as she looked into Ranma's eyes she saw the love, the soul that had never forgotten her. His hand brushed her cheek, and lifted her chin. His touch left a trail of fire along her skin. Closing her eyes she leaned up to him, their lips brushing at first and then pressing together. Encircling his neck with her arms, she pressed herself into Ranma's body, allowing the flood of emotion and heat carry her away. Ranma's presence next to her was all she cared about. His hands gently caressing her back, his arms pulling her into his body, molding her to his form. Akane was sorry when he broke the kiss, but he did not release her, instead pulling her into his embrace and holding her tightly. "I love you, Akane-chan," he said, his lips brushing her forehead. Akane replied with what was in her heart, no second thoughts now, "I love you.." "RANMAAAA!" The cry shattered the mood. Destroying the perfect night, the security she felt in Ranma's arms. It brought back her dark mood. Akane recognized the voice. But she saw the familiar figure racing out of the shadows towards her and Ranma, and knew without a doubt who it was. Ryoga had been wandering Nerima all day. Up and down the multitude of streets his feet had carried him past places he recognized, and some places he did not. He had stopped in Ucchan's forgetting that she no longer ran it. He had stood in the school yard, hoping someone from the Tendo home would walk past. Nothing he did got him anywhere, and the voice in his head had been no help. It just constantly berated him and demanded that he find the Tendo Dojo. As night fell, Ryoga was enraged, swearing as he wandered the streets. Cursing his bad luck, cursing fate, cursing the voice in his head, cursing Ranma. If he was alive as the voice had said he was, he would die when he found him. This day had been too much to bear. The whole trip had been too much too bear. Every step of the way, the voice had haunted his mind, telling him things. Telling him that the only way to get Akane was to defeat Ranma, to kill him. Then there had been that dream. The young girl who had shouted at them. Then he had been chasing after her, the man next to him demanding that he capture her and bring her back, and if he could not, to kill her. The thought had horrified him. The child was innocent, but the man had pushed him on, showing him the love he would have from Akane if he did this. Ryoga had followed them. Akane's love always broke his will to resist. He could not resist very much anymore. The batlle had dried him, he was begining to believe the voice. The voice must be right, it was right about so many things He had told him stories of his life, how he had won love through defeating and humiliating the weaker. Slowly ryoga had been swayed, he had been consumed by the voices hatred. Whenever the voice barked, it became harder to fight back, and if he was mad, he could not even think of resisting. And Ryoga did, continuing his search for Akane and Ranma. There! He thought he saw them, walking close to each other on a sidewalk, a young girl alternately dashing ahead and then returning to the two walking figures. They were talking softly, as he approached, but he could not hear what they were saying. He could see it was Akane and Ranma! He exulted, he would have his revenge after all. Silently he followed them for a few seconds, and then horror struck him. Akane was suddenly leaning into Ranma, her arms encircling his waist, Ranma responding in time. the voice in his head demanded. he growled slowly controlling himself. He wanted more people to see this. He would wait until they returned home. Then Ranma kissed Akane. Ryoga's mind went instantly blank. Ranma was kissing Akane. Akane was not fighting him. Akane was kissing Ranma back. he howled in his mind. He wanted to run down and crush Ranma's skull on the concrete, but his body and mind refused to work together. the voice screamed in his head. Ryoga could only watch as Ranma and Akane pressed their bodies together, their lips glued, Ranma's hands on Akane's body. The kiss had broken, and Ranma was gently holding Akane now. "I love you, Akane-chan," he whispered. "I love you.." Akane began to say. Ryoga snapped. "RANMAAA!!!" He shouted rushing towards the couple, death in his eyes. Ranma reacted quickly though, pushing Akane to the side, and out of the way, before settling into a stance to meet his forward rush. Screaming in black rage, Ryoga threw a flurry of punches that would have killed an ordinary man, and severely hurt Ranma if they had connected. Weaving back and forth, Ranma avoided everyone, before flipping over Ryoga's head and landing behind him. "Why are you doing this, Ryoga?" Ranma asked calmly from behind him, "I don't want to fight you. What do you.." He was interrupted by Ranko. "Otoosan!" Ranko screamed, running towards Ryoga "I won't let you hurt, Otoosan!" the voice snapped in Ryoga's mind. Ryoga brought his arm up as the child came near. He brought it down fast, feeling it connect with flesh and pain, a scream filled the air and was cut off suddenly. Ranma saw Ranko run towards Ryoga, screaming at him to leave her father alone. Ranma saw Ryoga raise his hand. "Noooo!" he screamed as he understood. Diving forward his body connected with Ranko's knocking her to the side. She screamed as she flew. Ryoga's arm descended on Ranma. Pain flared in his body as the blow hit, sending him crashing into the concrete. He heard several ribs snap, but he did not care. His eyes followed Ranko as she flew threw the air screaming. Her scream was cut short as she struck a tree, falling unconscious. Ranma's mind exploded as his daughter's presence left his mind. "Bastard!" Ignoring the pain in his chest, he kicked backwards, sweeping Ryoga's legs, sending him crashing to the ground. Leaping to his feet, he smashed hi fist down where Ryoga should have been. He had already moved though, and Ranma's punch simply crushed the sidewalk square. Realizing his mistake, Ranma rolled to the side, and barely dodged Ryoga's counter-attack. Rolling to his feet, Ranma willed himself to be calm, but it was hard. He couldn't feel Ranko. He did not know if she was okay. Ryoga had tried to kill her. Ryoga had tried to kill his Ranko! He calmed himself barely in time to see the next attack. Ducking he rolled under Ryoga's leap, popping up behind him, his kick connected with the base of Ryoga's neck, sending him flying into a tree. The blow had stunned Ryoga, but he would get up, Ranma knew about Ryoga's inhuman endurance from personal experience. "What is wrong with you, Ryoga?" Ranma snarled, not even bothering to keep the anger out of his voice, "I can understand your hatred of me, but what could possess you to attack my child? What has she ever done to you?" "Killing her will destroy you!" Ryoga shouted launching at Ranma. Ranma stepped aside and grabbed Ryoga's extended arm and flipped him into the road. "What has happened to you?" Ranma asked stunned, "You know that hurting the innocent is not honorable, and you have always been honorable, no matter what else you have done, you are honourable." "He told me to!" Ryoga screamed, standing up and facing Ranma, "He told me to kill her. He tells me everything. He will let me have Akane. You will not have her." Ryoga attacked again, his mind an incoherent maelstrom of hate, anger, and disgust at his actions. the voice screamed, < it's one of the two ways to free me of you! Now kill Ranma, and gain back Akane.> Snarling Ryoga attacked Ranma again. Ranma dodged around the attacks, but never struck back. "Stand still, damn you!," Ryoga growled, "Can't you fight fair for once in you life, instead of sneaking up and stealing things that aren't yours, like the bread, like Akane!" He attacked again, Ranma dodged. "Your always destroying everything I do," another attack, Ranma dodged easily, still refusing to attack. "You are the one who knocked me into the pool. You made me live a lie because of that." His attack was so furious, Ranma had to leap out of the way and range. "You caused yourself to live a lie, Ryoga," Ranma snarled, "I had no control over that. That was your own decision. I had nothing to do with it." "Everything you do has brought more pain to my life," Ryoga shouted starting to glow with a black aura, "It is you fault that I have suffered. It is your fault that Akane won't love me. Why could you not have stayed dead. The villager's should have been right. I believed them, I did not care. It was my only chance with Akane, I had to. You should have been dead. But now you will die!" He released a massive blast of dark chi at Ranma. Ranma tried to dodge, but was still hit by some of it. The blast threw him into a tree. Ranma screamed in pain as one of his broken ribs shifted and ripped through is skin. "You will die now!" Ryoga shouted. Ranma did not even hear him, his mind was reeling. Ryoga had tried to kill Ranko. Ryoga had told everyone that he had died. Ryoga had destroyed Akane's life. Ryoga had caused some many problems. He had even slept with Akane as P-chan. He had tried to kill Ranko! He had hurt Akane! "No!" he shouted as he rolled to the side, gasping in pain, as his ribs scraped the ground. Ryoga's attack snapped the tree he had been leaning against. Ranma ignored the pain, the warm wet blood soaking his shirt, and jumped to his feet. Rage filled him as he saw Ryoga. "Tenshin Amiguriken," he shouted, nearly a thousand punches slammed into Ryoga's startled form, sending him flying into another tree. Ranma did not stop though. He followed up with a flying kick that knocked the breath from Ryoga, sending him to the ground. Grabbing him by the shirt collar, Ranma raised his fist and pounded it into Ryoga's face again and again. Hearing the crunch of bone, Ranma stopped and picked up the dazed Ryoga. "I don't ever want to see you again. If I ever do, you will die for what you have done tonight. You have no honour, you are worthless. I hope you die alone and unloved!" with that he threw Ryoga over the distant roofs, confidant, that he would never find his way back here any time soon. Groaning in pain, Ranma dropped to his knees. It hurt to breathe. Every breath a scalding pain in his chest, but Ranko needed him. Slowly he pulled himself over to where Ranko lay, cradled in Akane's arms. Akane was sobbing uncontrollably, rocking the limp form of Ranko in her arms. A sob wracked Ranma's chest, filling him with pain when he saw his daughter. "Ranko!" he sobbed dragging himself towards her. She was breathing and alive he noticed, when he got near her. "Himechan, please be alright," he cried touching her face, gently. Her eyes fluttered and opened at her father's touch. Ranma saw her gaze focus on him, and cried in relief, before collapsing on the ground, exhausted, his chest screaming in pain. "Ranma!" he heard Akane scream. He could feel his body being lifted, but he was so tired. Slowly he slipped into darkness. Barely feeling his body being carried by Akane, not even hearing her sobs. Then it was dark. The Legacy Part VII The Power of Hate All characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, and are used without her permission Akane sat next to Ranma's hospital bed, holding his hand. He had been unconscious since she had brought him in last night. Carrying him in her arms, she had thought he was going to die. There had been so much blood . His breathing had been shallow and sporadic, making him moan in pain with each breath. To complicate matters even further, Ranko had been crying and unable to walk, still dazed from the blow to her head. Akane knew she would not have made it, if she had not stumbled upon the couple sitting on a bench. It had been too much for her. The perfect night shattered by Ryoga's entrance. She had watched horrified by what Ryoga was doing. His strike at Ranko, Ranma throwing himself in the way, knocking his child into a tree and unconscious to save her life. She had heard the snap of Ranma's bones, as Ryoga's blow struck him. She had watched horrified, as Ryoga raised his fist to kill Ranma, but then Ranma had swept Ryoga's feet, and rolled to the side and leaped to his feet, striking at Ryoga, only to miss. As the fight she had become more and more hysterical, wanting to stop it, but unable to. What had happened to Ryoga? He had always been so kind to her. Could this be her fault? Did her rejection drive him to this? He had ranted about losing her to Ranma. He had raved about Ranma destroying his life. His words had simply deteriorated into insanity, as he talked about someone telling him to kill Ranko. Then he had said everything about how he had found out about Ranma's death, how he had used it to get to her. Her world had shattered around her. She could not take it. Sobbing hysterically she had turned away from the fight, struggling to the still form of Ranko, trying to find something that made sense, trying to help, the poor child. She had sobbed and sobbed, rocking Ranko gently in her arms. Then Ranma had appeared next to her. His face a twisted mask of pain. He had cried out softly every time he breathed, but he had still pulled himself next to Ranko and made sure she was alive. He had touched her face, and brought her back to consciousness. It was the streak of blood he had left on Ranko's face that had snapped her back into reality. She had cried out in grief, as Ranma had slumped to the ground in front of her. The only thought that had entered her mind was that she was going to lose Ranma, again. The thought had terrified her, it still did as she held his hand. Fear gripping her heart, she had stumbled to her feet and lifted Ranko and Ranma in her arms, nearly stumbling under their combined weight. Stumbling she had walked down the street, crying out for help as she went. Ranma's blood had slowly soaked into her clothes. He had lost so much by the time she collapsed from sheer exhaustion and emotional overload, that it was amazing he had survived. Akane had just been unable to go on. She had lain next to Ranma, weakly calling for help in between sobs. Then the couple had been at her side, offering help, calling an ambulance, getting the wound stanched. Akane had simply fainted at that point. When she had awoke, she had been in a bed next to Ranma's. He was covered in bandages, his chest protected and held immobile by a cast. She had stumbled out of bed, and over to him, grabbing onto his, and she had sat like that ever since. "Please, don't leave me again," she whispered fiercely, "I can't take this again. I cannot take it." The tears were running down her cheeks again, but she did not even notice. Behind her the door to the room opened, "Akane-chan?" Ukyou called gently, walking towards the bed. Once there she placed her hand on Akane's shuddering shoulder, trying to comfort her. "Oh ,Ucchan" she sobbed turning and burying her face in her friend's body, "Why does this always happen to us?" "Shh," Ukyou said smoothing out Akane's hair, "Ran-chan will be fine. The doctor said he just needed some rest right now, and a few days in bed to get him back on his feet." "I know," Akane sobbed, "It's just that..that I'm afraid. Afraid I am going to lose him again. Afraid of what Ryoga will do." "Ryoga is not here, and I am sure he did not mean to hurt Ranma." "Yes he did, I saw him. He only wanted to kill Ranma. He was possessed, shouting and raving. It wasn't like him, he was different. It terrified me," Akane finished barely above a whisper. "It's just that I cannot stop thinking that this is my fault," Akane explained, "He kept shouting that he would have my love, that Ranma would not stand in his way. H-he said that he told us Ranma was dead so he could have me love him" She felt Ukyou stiffen as she sobbed that last part out. "I'm sure that Ryoga told us only what he really believed," Ukyou said comfortingly. Akane just could not be sure. Everything was changing. This was all so wrong. Why couldn't Ranma just have stayed at home? It would have been simpler for her, but now she was floating adrift, a small boat in a giant storm, unable to control her life. When she had given up on her life, she had created for herself a nigh impossible task. She was now being forced to pick up the pieces of her life and move on, but wherever she looked there was someone trying to rip it from her grasp. It was frustrating and terrifying, and the more that it happened the harder it became to pick up the pieces and start again Ranma had already become a great help in the struggle. Even though he created problems himself, he was there trying to help her, trying to give her her life back. She knew he was holding himself responsible for everything that had happened to her. It was impossible for Ranma not to try and solve all of her problems, and she had come to depend on that in these few short days. But now he had been taken from her. He needed her help, and she couldn't even help herself. What was she going to do? "Ranko?" Ranma muttered groggily. Akane turned back towards the bed worry being quickly replaced by relief, as she saw Ranma's eyes flutter open and then look around. "Ranko!" he suddenly shouted looking around in desperation, "Where is she? She isn't.." he could not even finish the thought, much less the sentence. Akane grabbed his hand, shaking her head, "No, Ranma. She's fine. Your parents took her back to the dojo a few hours ago. The doctor said she would be fine, just to keep her from taking any risks for a while." The fear and worry slid off Ranma's features like water leaving behind his own mask of pain as he tried to move. "Lie still," Akane scolded as Ranma tried to move, "You have six broken ribs, don't make things worse for yourself." "How are you feeling, Ran-chan?" Ukyou asked as she took a seat across from Akane. "Like a truck hit me," Ranma muttered, "When can I get out of this bed?" "The doctor said you could come home tonight, if you were feeling strong enough. You did lose a lot of blood." "I'll be fine," Ranma said, blowing it off wit a wave of his hand, "I felt weaker than this after giving birth to Ranko. I'll be back on my feet in no time." He looked at Akane and winced, "You've been crying." She nodded her head. "I'm sorry, Akane-chan. I did not want to fight him, but attacking Ranko like that, and then saying all those things. I just lost my head," he said gently touching her cheek. Akane shook her head, "I think it was Ryoga who lost it. I just never thought he could do something like that." "He didn't," Ranma said quietly, several things beginning to make sense. He remembered Ranko yelling at Ryoga telling him not to hurt her father. Then those things Ryoga said about the voice telling him to. Ranma had a dark suspicion that things had barely even started.. "He was there Ranma," Akane scolded, "And unless he has an evil twin, that was Ryoga." "It as Ryoga all right," Ranma said, "I just don't think it was all of Ryoga's doing." "Huh?" Ukyou and Akane both said at once. "Give me some time," Ranma asked, "I need to think all of this through, but I am sure I know what is wrong with Ryoga." It was a problem. "Sure, Ran-chan," Ukyou said, Akane nodding in agreement. Both were curious, but knew better than to push an issue with Ranma. "Now, do you think you could go find a doctor? I would like to get out of here and get something to eat." "Hai," Ukyou said, disappearing out the door, leaving Ranma and Akane alone. "Do you think Ryoga will be back?" Akane asked. "I would bet on it," Ranma said, "This goes a deeper than a personal grudge against me." "But what is wrong with Ryo..?" Akane asked trying to get everything in order, but was cut off by Ranma's finger touching her lips. "Let me worry about that right now, Akane. You need some sleep. I am not up to carrying you home." A smile briefly touched his eyes, "I promise nothing bad will happen. I won't leave you." "Oh Ranma," Akane said, hugging him lightly. Ranma draped his arm over her shoulders as she started crying, comforting her. After a moment she fell asleep, her head cradled on his shoulder. Smiling Ranma slipped back into sleep, exhausted by the previous days ordeal. Ryoga sat in the park, his shattered jaw throbbing in pain. How had Ranma survived? Ryoga remembered the broken ribs and the blood soaking Ranma's clothes. Any normal man would have been dead after his first blow. "I know that!" Ryoga growled not even realizing he was talking out loud, "I know that better than anyone." "Sure I can," Ryoga drawled sarcastically, "He was fighting injured the whole time, was completely off balance and distracted, and he still managed to beat me. Ranma has no weakness. Even throwing a cat at him will just make him uncontrollable." The rage flared in Ryoga. "Shut up," he shouted, releasing a chi blast that demolished a grove of aspen. Stunned Ryoga looked at the destruction he had wrought. He had never loss control that quickly before, what was going on here? "What weakness?" Ryoga asked again. "I will not kill her!" Ryoga raged. "No, I didn't want to. You made me. I was just going to scare her, get her out of the way. I was going to miss her, dammit!" Ryoga fumed. He had become horrified by what he had done. Attacking an innocent child like that. He tried to blame it on the voice, but deep inside he knew that it had been him also. He remember the feeling of glee that had come over him as he had realized that his next blow would destroy Ranma's life forever. Akane would never forgive him if he did something like that, but it would have destroyed Ranma completely. Yes, the daughter was the greatest if only weakness in his opponent. Ryoga argued, Ryoga demanded silently. And Ryoga realized that he had without even debating it. Shaking his head, he stood up. The voice started laughing as Ryoga slowly walked out of the park, hoping he could find the Tendo Dojo soon. His jaw burned like fire, but paled next to the gleeful rage filling him as he walked. This time everything would work out perfectly. It had taken the rest of the day to convince the doctors that Ranma was fit to leave the hospital. After countless arguments with Ukyou and a obstinate Akane had failed to do anything, after Ranma's pleas to be allowed out to see his daughter had produced even less of a response, Ranma had been forced to jump out of bed and get himself dressed, while fending off the nurses and the doctors. The doctors had relented at this, warning Ranma to do nothing physical for a while. Finally they were sitting in a comfortable cab, on their way back home. At first Ranma had insisted that they walk, but Ukyou had pointed out that he was in no condition to walk, and Akane had convinced him a cab would be faster. Ranma had given in without much of a fight, not really feeling up to a walk in the first place. Now he was trying to relax in between Ukyou and Akane. Akane was snuggled into the crook of his arm, her fingers intertwined with his on his lap. Ukyou was leaning slightly against Ranma, her eyes closed, her face relaxed. Ranma was impatient. If he could of, he would have been pacing up and down within the cab. He needed to see Ranko, he had to be sure. Even though Akane and the doctors had assured him that she would be fine, Ranma would not, could not be satisfied until he held her in his arms and knew for sure that she was going to be fine. It had been his fault she had been hurt. He could not forgive himself. "Ranma, what's wrong? Your whole body is tense and shaking," Akane asked, looking up at him. "I'm worried about Ranko," Ranma answered his voice heavy with regret. "We already told you she is fine," Akane assured him, burrowing closer. Ranma shook his head, "You don't understand." "Yes I do, " Akane said, "Your a father very worried about you daughter. That is all." "Other parents aren't the reason their child was hurt," Ranma said, his voice filled with despair and grief, "How could I ever forgive myself if she was seriously hurt. I am supposed to protect her, and what do I do!? I nearly killed her!" Ranma sobbed. "Ranma, you did what you had to do," Akane insisted, forcing him to look at her, "If you had not done that, Ranko would dead right now." "She's right, Ran-chan. You did the right thing. It was an accident," Ukyou said, patting Ranma's knee. "Accidents like that don't happen. I am a martial artist. I know what each of movements will do. I should have known where she would have flown, but I didn't think. I saw Ryoga's fist raised, and my mind froze. I could only think that I was going to lose my Ranko. I just acted. I dove knocking her away. I could've sent her into the grass, I could've hit her with less force. I overreacted, and because of that she could've died." Ranma was crying uncontrollably now, "I heard her scream. I saw her fly through the air. I could feel her body striking the tree, and then there was nothing. She was gone from my mind. The scream had stopped, her limp body fell to the ground. I thought she was dead. I thought I had killed my little girl!" Ranma broke down crying on Akane's shoulder. Akane struggling to console him. "Can't you just check on her? Find out if she is okay," Akane asked, rocking Ranma gently so as not to hurt his broken ribs, "I mean you always seem to know what is happening with her." Ranma shook his head, against her shoulder. "She's sleeping, she's not thinking about herself, she's lost in dreams. I can't tell anything." Sighing Ranma sank back into the seat. "I don't deserve to be a parent." Akane was stunned. How could he say such a thing? He was a great parent, the best she had ever seen. The guilt must have been destroying him. She could not stand seeing him like this. "That's not true," she snapped, "I have never seen a parent more devoted to his child, give so much love to his child, than you. If anyone deserves to be a parent, it is you Ranma. I haven't seen anyone give as much as you do to Ranko. You are patient. You never lose your temper. Every time she needs you, you are there. Does that sound like someone who is not a good parent? It was only an accident, Ranma. Stop this." She fell silent, and pulled Ranma back into her arms, holding tightly to him. Ranma held onto her. He knew she was right, but it did not help. He would not feel better until he saw Ranko, until he apologized to her. He let his mind wander to her. She was still sound asleep, dreaming peacefully. Her dreams were pleasant. He could not tell what they were, but they were relaxing her, making her happy. She had to be fine. She would be having nightmares if she wasn't. He still wanted to see her, he needed to assure himself. Suddenly, he realized Ranko was awake. Then the fear filled his head. She was terrified, something was with her, grabbing her. He could hear her screaming in his head, hands grabbing her dragging her. Pain slammed through his mind as a hand slapped his daughter. Then again, his mind went blank, as he lost her.. "Ranko!" he screamed bolting upright, "Someone is taking Ranko! Someone is stealing my child!" "Ranma! What is it?" Akane and Ukyou shouted at the same time, grabbing onto Ranma before he could get out of the moving cab. "Someone took Ranko, I couldn't stop it. I couldn't do anything. She was so terrified. Oh God, my Ranko!" Ranma had curled in on himself, tears streaming down his face, "I've failed her again. She's gone. Oh God, not my Ranko!" "Go faster!" Ukyou shouted at the driver, as Akane, tried to talk to Ranma, get him to explain. He could not, all he did was mumble over and over that someone had stolen Ranko. She knew something was horribly wrong. She didn';t know if Ranma was right, but if not, she did not want to find out what had happened. Holding Ranma they waited as the cab sped towards her home. Ryoga glanced at the windows in the Tendo home. He had actually found the place with little difficulty, and now that it was dark he could capture the girl and have his revenge. His jaw still ached, but he had found an old woman who had set the bone and put a poultice on it that had started knitting the bone. It was sore and stiff, but it would heal properly. the voice said. "Hai," Ryoga answered and slipped out of the tree he had been sitting in and into the backyard. The family was in the house, waiting for Ranma to return from the hospital. Ryoga had been pleased to learn that Ranma had almost died. It made him fell a little better about the loss, but it was time to lay the path that would lead to Ranma's true death. Quietly slipping through the yard, he leaped to the roof, and moved along the windows. he asked the voice. Ryoga looked at the window and realized it was Akane's room. The rage boiled in his blood. It was just one more thing that he would add to his list. Slowly he crept to the window and opened it. The room was dark inside, but Ryoga's eyes adjusted quickly. The door was closed, and tow beds were in the room. On the futon, a small bundle moved slightly, murmuring. It was the child. Moving quickly, Ryoga moved towards the bed. Unfortunately, a tray that had held the child's dinner was lying on the floor, Ryoga kicked the tray, sending it flying across the room. Ryoga froze, a curse leaping to his lips. He saw the girl stir and sit up, looking around the room. Cursing, Ryoga moved before she could see him. As he moved her eyes snapped to him and she began to scream. Lunging Ryoga made a grab for her. She tried to dodge, but terror, and the blankets kept her confined. "Shut up!" Ryoga shouted as he grabbed the girl and lifted her out of the bead. She continued screaming her hands grabbing Ryoga's face and hair. He felt one of his bandanas ripped off and flung to the floor. Ryoga could hear people moving downstairs, moving towards him. "Shut up!" he snapped slapping the child. She only screamed louder, tears filling her eyes. Enraged, and scared, Ryoga slapped her again, hard. The child's head snapped back, and the screaming ended abruptly, the body going limp in his arms. Horrified, Ryoga checked her, and was relieved to see she was still breathing. Composing himself, Ryoga dropped the rolled parchment he had brought, and flitted out the window, a few seconds ahead of the family. As they burst into the room, Ryoga was already a block away, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, laughing in glee. Before the cab had even come to a stop, Ranma was pushing past Akane and Ukyou, sprinting into the house. As he entered he was already shouting, "Where is she? What happened? Why the hell did you not stop it?" "How did you know?" was the common response. "I felt it, damn it. Now where is my daughter!" "We don't know, sir," a police officer said, stepping forward, Ranma had not even noticed him, "The perpetrator was already gone with your daughter by the time the family got there" "Who did this?" Ranma's voice was cold as death, his eyes blazing fires of rage. There was several sharp pops, as his knuckles cracked as he clenched his hands into tight fists. The police officer backed away, terrified by what he saw in Ranma's eyes. "Why don't you sit down, sir?" the officer suggested nervously. "Why don't you just tell me what I want to know?" Ranma snarled. "Ranma," Akane said, placing her hand on his shoulder, "Please sit down. This is not good for you. You need to take things easy for awhile." "I don't want to take things easy," Ranma said his voice losing its edge of anger with Akane but not its rage, "If I die and get my daughter back, I will be happy." "Ranma," his mother snapped, "Sit down and listen." Ranma looked at his mother, surprise in his eyes. "I know your angry, Ranma, but acting like that is not helping anything. Sit down and let the officer speak with you." Ranma, dropped his eyes, recognizing the logic in his mother's explanation. He picked his way to the living area, and sat down. "Now," the police officer said again, giving Nodoka a grateful smile, "We don't know who did this. No one saw anything, but there were a few things left in the room, which your family claims did not belong there." He held out a yellow and black bandana. "Ryoga," Ranma snarled and Akane and Ukyou gasped in unison. "You know him?" the officer asked. Ranma nodded, not trusting himself to speak, his mind an inferno of hate and rage at the moment. Akane said, "He did this to Ranma last night." She pointed at his cast. "Well then, there might be some reason behind this, and now we know there were two people." "Huh?" everyone asked. "There was a note left at the scene. Let me just read.." The note was ripped from his hands by Ranma. His aura burning brightly, Ranma opened the rolled parchment and slowly read the words out loud. "My revenge is almost complete, Hui-cheng. If Ranma wants to see his daughter again, come to the beginning, and we will create the ending. Kaidu khan." "Damn you!" Ranma screamed, everything clicking into place., "I'll kill you Ryoga. I'll destroy Kaidu. I'll destroy all of Jusenkyo, if I have to. No one uses my daughter like this." Completely enraged, Ranma moved towards the door. His rage was boiling in his head, thundering in his ears. He did not hear Akane cry out for him to stop. He did not see Dr. Tofu walk up behind him. He did not feel the fingers lightly touch specific points on his body. He simply collapsed unconscious. Akane, rushed forward to the collapsed form of Ranma. Kneeling beside him, she cradled his head gently in her lap. Looking up at Dr. Tofu she smiled, "Arigato, Tofu-sensei. He would've killed himself. I just know he would've." "Take him upstairs. He will wake in a few hours. Watch over him, he will probably be mad when he wakes up." "Hai," "I need to find some things out, before he runs off," Dr. Tofu said, as Akane picked up Ranma's inert form, and started walking with him upstairs. The Legacy A Ranma AB fanfic by Joseph "Ashira" Kohle All characters are the products of the imagination of the esteemable Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video and several Japanese companies. They are used without her permission. Hey I would ask if I knew her e-mail address. Part VIII The Solution to A Riddle Ranma slowly regained consciousness, his mind slightly foggy. There had been something that was important. Something that had happened. He heard crying and felt terror in the back of his mind. "Ranko he shouted pushing the sheets away. "Wait!" Akane's shout surprised him, but not as much as when she suddenly grabbed him and dragged him back down on the bed, "Listen for a minute, Ranma. You can't go running off. You'll kill yourself." Ranma was still a little shocked. Akane was holding him tightly, pinning him to the bed, her body pressed tightly against his. He shook his head, trying to clear it. The last thing he remembered was walking towards the door, and know he was in bed with Akane. This was confusing, had it all been a dream? Ranko screamed briefly in his head. That cinched it, Ranma untangled himself from, Akane's arms. Wincing slightly as his broken ribs shifted under the sudden movement, Ranma stood up. "I don't care if I die, Akane," Ranma said, grabbing his clothes from the floor, "I just want Ranko back safe and sound. You would do the same thing if she was your daughter." Watching him dress, Akane knew that Ranma was right. She wanted to go after Ranko also, if for nothing else than to make Ranma's pain and guilt disappear, but she had also come to love Ranko as if she were her own daughter over the past few days. It grieved her to have this happen, it infuriated her. Ranma was walking towards the door, when Akane spoke again, "Wait. I want to help you." It was a little bit of fear that made her say it. She did not want Ranma to disappear again. The chances of him not coming back, especially in his condition were pretty good. She had to be with him, no matter what. Examining her for a minute, Ranma nodded his head, realizing it would be easier to take her along and place her someplace out of harm's way rather than let her follow him and maybe get hurt herself. He did not need anything else on his conscience. Hurting Ranko and now having her kidnaped by Ryoga, who he should have realized was going to do something like this, had shredded his confidence, had made him question his own right to be a father. "I'll wait outside while you get dressed," he said finally before slipping out in the hall and closing the door behind him. Akane sighed as he consented. She did not want to trail him, trying to keep him out of trouble. This way they could help each other. Satisfied, Akane slipped out of the bed and began to dress herself, blushing slightly as she thought how naturally Ranma had accepted her being in his bed. She had not planned it that way. It had just happened. She had not wanted to be alone, and she had not wanted Ranma to leave without her knowing, so she had slipped into bed next to him, holding him while they slept. Shaking her head, Akane continued to dress, not wanting to get distracted by daydreams. She was ready in a few minutes and was out the door. Ranma was waiting patiently across the hall, apparently not willing to break his promise yet. "C'mon," Ranma said impatiently, grabbing her hand and leading her towards the stairs, "I want to be out of here before anyone notices we're gone. I don't want to explain any of this." "Actually I would like an explanation," Dr. Tofu said from a chair in the living area. The rest of the family, sitting at the table, finishing off breakfast, mumbled their agreement. Two plates of food had been set aside for Ranma and Akane. Startled, Ranma quickly revised his time sense, he had thought it was night, not mid-morning. he thought gloomily. But the voice had already gone. Bowing his head in defeat, began walking down the stairs, his spirit suffering, as Ranko cried in pain and loneliness in his head. His daughter needed him and they wanted an explanation. Nothing ever seemed easy for him. Nothing ever had. Feeling Akane slip her hand in his, Ranma clutched it in his, holding onto something that he could control at the moment. "I'm here for you," Akane whispered in his ear. Something had changed in her since yesterday. Ranma could feel a new strength and confidence in her. It was reassuring to him, since he was fast losing his own confidence in himself, as both a parent and martial artist. Squeezing her hand, Ranma thanked her quietly. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Ranma moved into the living room where Dr. Tofu was sitting, patiently waiting for him and Ranma's answer. Carefully, Ranma took a seat, the steel ribs in the protective corset, making it a little difficult to find a comfortable position. he thought, as Akane joined him. After a moment the family started joining the couple and Dr. Tofu, their mood somber and quiet. Even Soun's weeping was subdued, as he silently moaned over the loss of Ranko. Nodoka and Genma silently touched their son's shoulder, love and compassion in their eyes. Nabiki gave him a sad smile and squeezed his hand, trying to comfort him as the others had done, but it was just not working. Ranma was becoming increasingly impatient. He wanted to get going. He had to get Ranko back, and that meant getting to Jusenkyo before Ryoga, which he hoped would not be too hard with his sense of direction, but Kaidu was in this, and Ranma did not know him. About to leap to his feet and storm out of the house, he was stopped as Kasumi gently shook his shoulder, careful not to jar his ribs. Ranma glanced at her. She was holding a tray of food balanced on her free hand, with plates for himself and Akane on it. He was not very hungry, but it was impossible to refuse the gentle kindness Kasumi was showing, "Okagesame de," he said quietly, more to say something than out of gratitude. Taking the tray from her, he handed it to Akane. Kasumi sadly smiled back at him, her eyes filled compassion for him, sorrow for his predicament. "I'm sorry, Ran-chan. We all are so sorry," she said her voice full of emotion. Something just broke inside of Ranma at that point. He had been through so much. At first the horror and guilt of hurting Ranko had simply incapacitated him when he had witnessed her kidnaping and ben unable to do anything about it. He had simply retreated into himself, unable to believe what was happening. His mind had shut down and refused to work. By the time he had gotten to the home, he was simply seething in rage, determined to get his daughter back, Storming through the house, he had simply boiled and raged at everything, wanting to go after Ranko. He had not yet grieved though, and watching Kasumi, hearing the sorrow in her voice, the apologies she had given, things clicked in his mind. Ranko was gone, and he might never see her again. He might lose his Ranko forever. Grief suddenly welled up, within him, a surging wave that crashed over his body and soul, carrying him away with it. It was too much. He broke down, his head collapsing into his hands as the tears came, sobs wracking his body. Kneeling in front of him, Kasumi drew him to her, holding him against her, comforting him as he poured out his grief. Slowly the emotions died down, his sobs lessened and finally stopped . Spent, Ranma took a shuddering breath and gazed into Kasumi's eyes, his tear streaked face still a mask of pain and suffering, "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me," Ranma stammered, pulling away from her. "Don't be sorry, Ranma. We are here to help you," Kasumi said softly, "We loved Ranko too. Don't shut us out, use our strength to help." Ranma shook his head, "I appreciate your concern and desire to help, but I don't need and can't let you be hurt because of me and Ranko. Akane has already insisted on coming with me. I don't need anyone else. You just don't know what's involved here." "You could tell us, Ranma," Akane chastised from next to him, "You are in no shape, emotionally or physically to do this on your own. You need help. Trust us, we will help." "Akane is right, my son," Nodoka said reaching across to touch his knee, "We can help you. We want to help you. As a family we are honor bound to help you. Do not shut us out." "It's just that I need to get to Jusenkyo," Ranma complained, although he knew he had already lost, "I need to get moving." "Why are you so sure, Ryoga went to Jusenkyo?" Nabiki asked, "Personally I would expect him to walk down the street in front of our home with his sense of direction." "It's not just Ryoga we are dealing with. Actually I don't even think Ryoga was truly responsible for kidnaping Ranko," Ranma stated, looking at Nabiki. "The proof is pretty irrefutable, Ranma," Nabiki retorted. Ranma sighed, he was going to have to explain everything. "No it isn't," Ranma started, "You are just working off the physical stuff. You don't know what is really happening." "This is not a conflict between Ryoga and me. Well it is I, but only because what is happening needs a stimulant. Do you remember the story behind my curse and how it connects with the nannichuan?" Everyone nodded, Ranma noticed Dr. Tofu had paled slightly at this question, he ignored it though, continuing on with his explanation "I never told you this, I just couldn't, but ever since I woke up from that incident at the hot springs, there ha been a presence in my mind, just sort of sitting there and watching," Everyone looked strangely at him but made no comment, "It's not there all the time, but I know when it is there. This really didn't bother me, since I was used to having Ranko in my head all the time. A few days ago though, it started talking to me. Just a few suggestions at first, telling me what to do. But the previous night, when I was soaking in the bath, Ranko came in crying. She had had a bad dream and she told me about meeting Hui-cheng, and a dark man walking with a man I can only assume was Ryoga." "After she told me this, I noticed the presence was there in my head, a sneaky suspicion began to form, I called out to Hui-cheng and she answered me. I tried to get an explanation from her. She sort of told me a few things, that I really did not understand. She said that my curse was not done with me and Ranko yet, we still had things to do. She said something about Ranko being only one cure for my curse, but it was not finished because I had asked how to cure the curse of Jusenkyo, not my particular curse." "For some reason Ranko and myself are at the center of some age old rivalry between Kaidu and Hui-cheng. Ranko is a reincarnation of Hui-cheng, her soul is supposed to fulfill Hui-cheng's original destiny, which was left unfinished by Kaidu khan." Everyone was listening breathlessly. Dr. Tofu was looking increasingly nervous. "I don't know to much more about that, Hui-cheng told me it was for me to discover in my own time. The only problem is that it seems time is running out fast. Kaidu already has Ranko." "I thought Ryoga took her?" Akane asked confused, this tale was sounding rather implausible. A voice talking to Ranma, Ranko the reincarnation of some dead Chinese woman, it was all unbelievable. "He does, but Ryoga and Kaidu are the same now." "Huh?" Everyone said stunned. "Akane-chan, did you hear Ryoga ranting, when he fought me?" Akane nodded her head. "When I asked him why he tried to kill Ranko, he shouted "Because he told me to. He told me to." over and over again. Like someone was whispering in his ear, making him do horrible things. This and Ranko charging Ryoga yelling at him not to kill me, made me realize that somehow, Kaidu had entered Ryoga. Maybe he jumped in nannichuan to cure himself." "Ryoga was cursed?" Akane asked surprised. Ranma cursed his loose tongue, and quickly recovered, "He was, but he did not like it. He hid it from everyone. The only reason I know is that I accidentally knocked him into the pool." "What did he turn into?" Akane asked curiously. "I can't tell you Akane. Ryoga made me promise not to tell anyone a long time ago, and even though I am going to kill him the next time we meet, I won't break my promise to him. That wouldn't be honourable." Akane sighed, "I understand, maybe someday though?" Ranma squeezed her hand, "Some day, maybe then I could, but not now." "So you are saying that Kaidu made Ryoga take Ranko?" Nodoka asked. "Approximately, I would probably say convinced would be a better word. Ryoga was rather unstable last time. He did try and kill Ranko," Ranma shuddered at the memory, the guilt rising again. Shaking his head to clear his mind he continued speaking, "But I don't know why Kaidu wants Ranko. But I know he is going to Jusenkyo, and so that is where I am going." Dr. Tofu looked like he was about to speak, but Nabiki interrupted, "Why are you so convinced that he will be at Jusenkyo?" "That note that was left by Ryoga told me to meet him at the beginning, and it was signed in Kaidu's name. Hui-cheng told Ranko that Jusenkyo was the beginning and the ending in her dream. It is just too much of a relationship to be a coincidence. I have to go to Jusenkyo. Whatever Kaidu wants Ranko for, I wanted it stopped." Finally Dr. Tofu opened his mouth, and said the words that chilled everyone's heart, "He wants to kill her, so he can have his revenge on Hui-cheng." Ranma's heart stopped, his mind going blank. Kill, Ranko? He shook his head, his mouth forming the word no over and over. It took him a while to get himself under control. It felt like someone had just crushed his life out in an instant and forgot to tell him he was dead. Eventually he found his voice, "H-how do you know that?" "After you left me, I started looking through some old Chinese manuscripts I had. You had made me curious and I thought I recognized one of the things you had mentioned. It took me a few hours to find the manuscript I needed, and even longer to find the right part. Finally I did though, and it terrified me when I read it. I strongly hoped that it had nothing to do with you and Ranko, but I now realize that it does." "What did it say?" Ranma demanded, almost standing up. "The book was of some ancient Chinese stories of magic and curses. This one was know as the Rejection of the Khan. It basically told the story you told me, how the khan loved Hui-cheng and she did not love him back because she loved a simple craftsman. It of course made the Khan the hero of the story. I think it was meant to be a tragedy, but I was not sure." "The story basically stayed the same until the death scenes. In this the khan attacked Sung Pao, in an honorable duel for the hand of Hui-cheng. Sung Pao was a coward and did not fight back, so the khan killed him. Turning to accept his bride, he was spurned as she ran to her fallen love. Thinking it was just grief, he tried to console her, but she rejected him and insulted him, telling him he knew nothing of love. Then after pronouncing that she would never love him and would return one day to earth to have her life back. With this she drowned herself in the pool." "The khan, grieving, remained by the pool for three days, deciding what to do. Slowly his grief turned to rage as he realized the insult she had given him. He became so enraged that he shouted that he would destroy whatever chance Hui-cheng could ever have for happiness and love. He would return when she did and either possess her soul or destroy it." "With that said he dove into the pool across from hers and drowned. Neither of their bodies were ever found. As the khan died, the tale says that the heavens themselves groaned in despair and changed the valley of Jusenkyo and its pools to their current state." "The story goes on to say that when Hui-cheng returns to the world, Kaidu will return with her. He will attempt to possess her body and soul, and make her his bride. If not he will destroy her soul completely. The curse goes on to say that this will happen because the khan was the righteous man, and Hui-cheng the evil temptress." "Listening to you Ranma, I don't think he cares to have her as his bride. He just wants his vengeance. Your daughter will die, if you do not stop him." Ranma sat on the chair, stunned, uncomprehending. Ranma pushed himself to his feet, "I have something I must do." His voice was cold as ice, his eyes hard as diamonds. "Ranma, you can't do this by yourself," Akane stated grabbing his arm before he could walk off, "I am going with you whether you like it or not. I will not lose you again!" "Neither will I let you go alone in your condition," Nodoka said standing up and walking up to take Ranma's hand, "Your father and I are going with you. You'll need our strength." Genma eyes bulged a bit, but he sighed and nodded his head. "I brought the curse on you, son. The least I can do is help you now." He stood up and took his place at his wife's side. "I cannot let my children go into danger alone," Soun cried, "I must go also." Dr. Tofu looked around nervously, "I don't think I can or should go. I have responsibilities here, and I would be in the way, although I suspect you will need my healing abilities. Kasumi could join you, if you wanted? She knows a good deal about medicine." Ranma shook his head, "I think this is enough. We had better get going." "Haven't you forgot something?" Nabiki asked. "Sorry," Ranma apologized looking at her, "You may come if you want." "No way Ran-chan," Nabiki said, "I, like Tofu-sensei have too much to do here. What I meant was, how are you going to get to China?" Ranma starred at her blankly. He had no really thought that far ahead. He had just been planning to do his usual and stow away on a ship headed for Hong Kong or Korea, but with this many people, he could not do that. This was a major problem. "Actually, Nabiki, I have no clue." "Then I'll help by getting you to China," she said smiling, "Give me a few hours." Ranma nodded, and Nabiki disappeared. He looked around at the others. "I guess we wait." With that he turned on his heel and walked outside. Akane quickly followed him, worry in her eyes. Akane found Ranma sitting next to the pond, throwing small rocks into the pond. She sat down next to him. Leaning into him she asked him quietly, "How are you feeling?" Ranma continued to throw rocks in a steady rhythm. He did this for awhile until there were no more stones within his reach. Then he stopped and his head dropped to his chest, his shoulders shaking in silent sobs. "How did you deal with my death? How did you continue to live?" "I didn't," Akane answered, a little surprised by his question, "The only reason I went on was because I did not want to hurt anyone anymore. I didn't deal with your death. I closed in on myself, stopped caring about everything. I backed away from anything that reminded me of you. I tried not to think about you, but you were always there. An emptiness just filled me where you had always been. It reminded me constantly of you. How you had always been there for me, always cared for me. Without you there, I could not do anything by myself.. I did not want to do anything. Then I started believing that you would come back to me. Sometimes that made it worse, sometimes better. All I know now is that you are back here with me. Just remember there is always hope." Ranma sat quietly after Akane had finished, his mind blank, his soul empty. "I couldn't have done that," he finally said, "Just the thought of losing Ranko, just the thought makes me feel so empty. It doesn't even hurt, it is just like I am not there. There is nothing without here. No reason to live. I feel like just curling up and dying. There would be no point to living without her in my life." Suddenly he stopped and looked at Akane, seeing the hurt in her eyes, the grief. "I am sorry Akane-chan," he said suddenly, taking hold of her shoulders, "It's just that Ranko has become so precious to me, so central to my life that life without her is just so inconceivable that I don't want it. I do love you Akane, and want to be with you forever, but would you want an empty husk by your side?" "Ranma, I will be here for you forever. It does not matter what happens to you, I will always love you. I will help you through everything. Stop worrying about Ranko dying. You will save her. You always saved me." "I don't know this time, Akane. I just don't know," he said. "Akane don't come with me. I don't want to lose you too. I couldn't handle that, not both of you." He was crying again, but he did not care. "Why is this happening Akane? Why does Ranko have to suffer because of me? It's not fair." Akane pulled him into her embrace, rocking him gently, "It's not your fault. You are doing everything you can." "You don't understand. I gave birth to her to cure the curse. The curse is trying to complete itself now. I should have never gone on that journey." "Would you be willing to give up ever having Ranko?" Akane asked, running her hands through his hair, "Would you give up all those memories of you and her? I don't think you could Ranma. She is part of you. You two were meant to be together. Don't give up hope yet. You still have time to make everything right." Ranma did not answer. He was thinking about what she had said. He knew she was right. But the pain and emptiness filling him hurt too much. He closed his eyes and just prayed. In the back of his mind he could feel Ranko sleeping. At least she was not in any pain, but she was not peaceful. How could she be? She was not with her father, she was scarred. Ranko awoke for a second, her loneliness and terror hitting him like a brick. He started crying again in sympathy and grief. He could do nothing to help her, not now, but he would. he thought to her . He felt her become happy for a second, and felt her love for him. He smiled softly and hugged Akane to him. "She can hear me." he whispered to her, tears in his voice. "What?" Akane asked, but Ranma was far away with his daughter. The Legacy A Ranma AB fanfic by Joseph "Ashira" Kohle All characters are the products of the imagination of the esteemable Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video and several Japanese companies. They are used without her permission. Hey I would ask if I knew her e-mail address. Part IX For the Sake of a Child Nabiki returned in the early evening, a large smile on her face. "I love having people owe me favors," she said walking into the house. "What do you mean?" Genma asked looking up from his game of go. Soun removed three of Genma's pieces and replaced them with his own stones. Nabiki waved a large legal envelope at him, "This is what I mean," and she threw the envelope onto the table. "Where's Ranma? Tell him you guys have to be ready to leave in a few hours." Genma pointed towards the backyard and walked over to the envelope. Opening it he dumped the contents on the table. There were five small black books and five plane tickets lying on the table. He picked up one of the tickets and looked at it. His eyes bulged out as he saw what was written on it. Nabiki was walking back into the house with Ranma and Akane next to her, talking to them quietly. "Nabiki, how did you afford these?" Genma asked in a strangled voice, holding the tickets up. Ranma stepped forward and took one. "First class?" Ranma said stunned, "We can't afford these, Nabiki." "Don't worry, Ranma," Nabiki laughed, patting Ranma's cheek, "Someone at the airline owed me a big favor. I won't even charge you, accept for the service fee of course." Ranma glared at her, and then laughed, "I guess changing you would be impossible." "No, just a very big challenge. You up to it?" Nabiki said. "Uh, no. I kinda like you this way," Ranma said, and then hugged her, "Arigato. You don't know how much this means to me." Blushing Nabiki, pushed herself away from Ranma, and dropped her eyes, "No problem, Ran-chan. What's a big sister for anyway?" she said, obviously unsettled. Akane glared at Ranma, but stopped when he smiled back at her, winking. Akane smiled and shook her head. Ranma had a lot of surprises in him yet, and she was glad he had found some hope in this. She looked back at the table and picked up one of the black books. She examine dit for a second and then turned to Nabiki, "What are these?" "Emergency passports and VISAS, to get you into China," she explained like it was nothing. "How the heck did you get these?" Akane asked stunned. Nabiki giggled, "I caught the Chinese Ambassador in a rather, ahem, uncompromising position. He owes me big time for covering that one up. This pays back part of the debt. Hey you needed to be able to enter legally. I don't think Ranma's approach would work that well." Ranma glared at her and picked up one of the passports. "I think it is time to get going." He said and went to round up everyone who was going. Akane just starred at her sister. she did not even want to think about what she had seen, or why she had been there in the first place. "Arigato, oneechan," Akane said, hugging her, "We owe you." "Just bring back Ranko and Ranma in one piece, and I'll call it even, Akane-chan. There has been enough grief in this family." Nabiki kissed Akane's forehead and went upstairs. Akane followed Nabiki with her eyes, love for her sister filling her heart. As her sister disappeared upstairs, Akane put down the passport and hurried upstairs to get packed. "Ranma will you sit down," Akane said for the fourth time, "Pacing will not get the plane into the air or there any faster.". Glancing at her Ranma threw up his hands and sank into the seat next to her, the plush cushions conforming to his body. "It works of my impatience," Ranma said, "I can't stand this waiting. I want to be in Jusenkyo, now. I want Ranko back." Leaning towards him, Akane kissed his cheek, "Don't worry, Ran-chan, we will get her back. Try and get some sleep, you need it." Pulling up the arm rest between their two seats, she leaned her head on his shoulder, and wrapped her arms around his waist. Soon she was sleeping. Ranma held her gently, his ribs were bothering him again, throbbing every time he moved, but it was something he could ignore. He was still impatient. He wanted to pace up and down, maybe threaten the pilot to make sure he got them there as fast as possible, but he knew Akane was right. Worrying and fretting would not help anything. Sighing he watched her sleep. Since Ryoga had attacked them, something had happened to her. She was regaining her confidence as he lost his. She was there to support him when he needed it. Ever since Ranko had been kidnaped, she had been by his side, comforting him, giving him someone to talk to, work out his problems with. He hoped this would change everything between them. They had been growing closer during the crisis that had been dropped on them. But would it last afterwards? He did not even know if he would live through this. It was becoming difficult to think of a life without Ranko, but could he hurt Akane again? He did not want to...but he could not be sure what he would do if Kaidu won. The possibility frightened him. He sought comfort in Ranko's presence in his mind. She was awake, but Ryoga was leaving her alone. She was hungry and scared, but otherwise fine as far as he could tell. Ryoga had slapped Ranko several times in the past few hours. Every time he felt one, Ranma's rage boiled over. He could barely contain himself. It angered him that someone was hitting his child. He had never struck Ranko, even in punishment. He could not bring himself to do it. He knew when she was sorry. He could feel her pain and shame of her actions. Besides hitting her was like hitting himself. He could not do it, nut Ryoga could, and that was unbearable for Ranma. Sighing Ranma actually listened to himself. Pulling Akane closer, he breathed in the herbal-scent of her hair, feeling the warm resistance of her body. He was soon slipping into sleep, still holding Akane to him. Ranma was standing on barren and rocky ground surrounded by still pools with bamboo shafts rising out of them. He did not recognize this part of Jusenkyo, but he knew it had to be Jusenkyo, no other place looked like this. A calm breeze blew around him, caressing his bare cheek and tugging at his clothes. The blue sky above was dotted with white clouds. Birds cartwheeling through the air trilled their lonely songs. It was beautiful, but around him there was only the bleak suffering of Jusenkyo. It was a depressing feeling that weighed down on Ranma's soul. The suffering of this place as distinctive and odious as the reek of a decaying carcass. Beneath it all he heard the fearful cries of a child being carried to him by the wind. "Ranko," he breathed, taking a few steps towards the sound, and then a few more. He was soon walking fast towards the source, his feet drawn to the child's cries like a sailor to his rocky death at the feet of the Sirens. He was running now searching through the hundreds of pools hidden in the rocky valley. Ranko's cries were becoming louder with each passing second, at times they were filled with fear, at others pain, but always the desperate longing in the voice for himself. He searched and searched through the pools, the source of the voice always eluding him. It always seemed to be coming from over the next clump of boulders, but when he jumped them he found only lifeless pools, the cry now coming from a different direction. Frustration and fury were taking hold in Ranma. His side was aching from running, trying to find his daughter, his ribs throbbing in pain. "Where is she? Stop playing games with me. I want my daughter back!" Ranma screamed as he cleared another boulder only to find the area barren and lifeless. "You can't have her," a dark voice rumbled from behind Ranma. Spinning Ranma turned to faced his opponent, and stopped at what he saw. The figure of a powerful man stood between two pools. His form obscured by the dark malevolence of his soul as it swirled around him. But the man held only a passing interest for Ranma, it was the pools and what they contained. On the man's right was the waters of nyaniichuan, its surface glowing with a white light. Tendo's of white mist rose from its surface and spread out around the pool. One brushed Ranma and he felt the deep sorrow and tragedy that infected the landscape around Jusenkyo, but beneath it was hope and love, soothing his soul. The scene to the man's left horrified Ranma. On the left stood the swirling dark waters of nannichuan, tendrils of black vapor rose from its surface to twine around the body of his daughter, who was tied to the bamboo shaft in the pool's center. Several of the tendrils were latched onto Ranko, resembling demonic leeches. Others continually brushed her, causing her to weakly cry out in pain. Some of the white tendrils tried to reach her, but they could not pass the evil of the pool, breaking up as they touched a black tendril. "Ranko!" Ranma cried in grief and rage as he saw this. Heedless of the consequences he launched himself towards Ranko, intending to take her away from this. The man only laughed. Ranma understood why when his body slammed into a wall that formed out of the black vapors directly in front of him. Pain flared in his chest as he struck with full fore and was thrown back to the ground, jarring his broken ribs. Leaping to his feet, Ranma spun to face Kaidu. "Release her," he growled his voice filled with death, "Release her now!" "I said you can't have her," Kaidu laughed, "She is mine now, and nothing can change that." He lifted his hand, a black vapor forming out of it and streaking towards Ranko. Gently it brushed her face. She screamed. Ranma's mind went blank. Howling in rage he attacked Kaidu. The man did not even move as Ranma flew through the air, and completely passed through the man. "Fool," Kaidu said, "You can't attack someone who has no body. Ranko is now..auughh." Kaidu grunted as Ranma's chi blast ripped through him, tearing away the dark vapor surrounding, exposing his formless soul. "I said give me my daughter back," another chi blast ripped from Ranma and streaked towards Kaidu. This time Kaidu dodged it, rolling into the pool. A second later he emerged once again surrounded by the black vapors.. "I've had enough of this," he growled. The dark energy began to swirl around him, faster and faster until a black ball had coalesced in his hands. "You will not stop me. I will have my revenge." With that he threw the ball at Ranma. Ranma leaped to the side to avoid it, but the sphere changed course and slammed into Ranma's chest sending him flying backwards into the nyaniichuan. Pain flared in his chest and his soul cried out as the dark energy ate its way toward his being, but then the waters of nyaniichuan surrounded him. The pain disappeared, the hungry blackness rushed away from his soul and smothered. He felt himself changing, turning into his cursed form. he called out reaching for her, a shining tendril of vapor stretching from his hand to her body. His soul touched hers, he could feel all the pain and suffering in her body, the agony of being drained of her life. Crying Ranma did all he could do, he sent his love, his compassion for his child to her. He enfolded her in his love, trying to protect her. He felt her suffering lessen, her pain disappear. He could feel the strength returning to her. Desperately he gave her everything he had, pouring his whole soul into her, willing her to be better. He could only do so much. Exhausted the connection slowly broke as the dark vapors coalesced around Ranko. "Don't' leave me Otoosan," Ranko called. "I won't," he shouted back, "I'll always be with you, even if you can't see me. I love you, himechan." The connection broke. Ranma sobbed as he lost his daughter. The waters of the nyaniichuan surrounded him, took him deeper. He was descending towards a bright light. Slowly it enveloped him, easing his mind and worries, pushing him into sleep. Ranma's eyes opened in the darkened first class section. The dream had been so real, so vivid. Gently he reached out towards Ranko with his mind. Peace, comfort and strength radiated back from her. Maybe it had been more than a dream. Hui-cheng said. Hui-cheng explained. Ranma asked worried and scarred. Ranma shuddered, he did not like hearing about Ranko dying. and then she was gone Shrugging Ranma tried to stand up and found that his arms simply refused to take his weight. All of his strength was gone. Trying again he only exhausted himself trying to get the same result.. He sank back into his seat. As he did Akane reached out to him murmuring in her sleep. Ranma draped his arm around her shoulder. Sighing she rolled into him, burrowing into his body. Ranma hugged her. He was worried and her presence helped to comfort him. Stroking her hair he gently drifted into a deep untroubled sleep,, Ranko peaceful in his mind. Ryoga demanded as he watched the girl's eyes snap open, her head thrown back in pain. Ryoga snarled in frustration. He could not reason with Kaidu. He did not need Ryoga once he was back at the pool. He cringed as the child screamed. This was not the way to do this. It was not honorable. He wanted to defeat Ranma, but torturing his daughter did nothing towards that end. It only gratified Kaidu. Another scream echoed through the valley. Ryoga found his eyes drawn to the girl. He did not love the girl, or even care about her, but her appearance saddened him. Pity for the child welled up as he watched her. She hung from a crosspiece on the bamboo shaft in the middle of the nannichuan, her legs dangling in the water. Her head hung limp against her small chest, her read hair matted and disheveled around her pale face. He did not know how Kaidu was hurting her, there were no marks on her body, but her scream were so filled with pain and horror her eyes filled haunted when she looked up at him pleading him to free her. Ryoga wanted to, but he could not get close enough to her. He was useless. Was this worth Ranma's defeat? Could he allow this to continue? No he could not, but what could he do. He had tried at first to save the girl and had been nearly killed when Kaidu and countered his attempt with a massive globe of darkness forming around him and crushing him until he relented. He knew that he would stand no chance, but if he had help? Yes, maybe then. If the girl could hold on just a little longer. A plan was forming in his head. He just hoped he it would work. "It hurts," Ranko sobbed, "Please make it stop. Please." The only answer was more of the black smoke coming towards her. Shuddering in fear, she tried to pull herself away from them, but she could not. They touched her skin, sending chills through her body. They passed through her skin turning into icy stabs of pain as the y made their way to the center of her being. Pain shot through her. She started screaming as the pain washed over her It seemed to last an eternity, but then they were gone, and she was weaker, crying in pain and misery. She wanted her father. He would make everything better. She knew he could. He had tried to last night. She remembered him leaping towards her, trying to get to her. The n he had disappeared into the other pool. Then he had suddenly been with her, taking away all the pain, making her happy, safe, and strong, but then he had been gone leaving her lonely. She missed her father. She was so lonely, "Otoosan, please come for me. I miss you. He keeps hurting me. Please Otoosan. Please,". She sobbed, her voice breaking on most of the words. She was so tired. It was so hard to stay awake, she wanted to sleep. She did not hurt when she slept. Ranko told the lady's voice. Ranko nodded, trusting the lady. It was going to be hard, but she promised to stay awake for Otoosan. She shuddered as more of the black smoke came towards her. Ranma clenched his fist as the pain hit Ranko again, crushing the can of soda soaking the cars carpet between his feet. His teeth were grinding together, causing everyone in the car to wince. "What's wrong, son?" Genma asked from passenger seat. "He's hurting her again, " Ranma seethed through clenched teeth. Her agony was building to a crescendo in his head, before suddenly letting go, leaving her lost sobbing echoing in his mind. "How much longer?" Ranma demanded, his anger had been rising steadily since they had landed. Ranko's pain and suffering were unbearable for him. "Thirty minute," the driver said. Ranma grunted in response, his eyes scanning the landscape outside of the sport vehicle. It was flat enough, not too rocky, "Go faster," he commanded. The driver looked back at his passenger and swallowed once at the look of rage on Ranma's face and increased his speed. "Ranma, hurrying won't make anything better," Nodoka said, Soun and Akane nodding agreement. "Yes it will," Ranma responded, watching the land roll past them, "She's dying. I don't have much more time before I lose her. I can't let that happen." Ranko was exhausted, her spirit weak and downtrodden. She wanted to sleep, escape the pain, he could feel that in his mind. Somehow he knew she would not last much longer. He had to stop this. He had to stop Kaidu before he could kill Ranko. The car was going as fast as it could over this terrain. Ranko was suffering. Kaidu was ahead. Twenty more minutes at most. All Ranma could do was sit quietly and endure as the time slowly ticked away, his impatience and anger making each minute an hour of grief. Ignoring everyone, he concentrated on Ranko, trying to encourage her, trying to make her understand she only had to wait a little longer. He poured his soul into it, but he could not feel any change in his daughter. It seemed to be useless, but he refused to give up. He would not let Ranko die. Slowly the time passed, and Ranma became more agitated, more angry, as Ranko suffered in his mind. Finally the car was slowing down, coming to a stop in front of a small cottage. Ranma recognized it. It was the guide's home. The fact was unimportant though. He was at Jusenkyo. Ranko was here. Quickly he shoved the door open and leaped out of the car onto the ground, starting to run the moment his feet hit the ground. "Ranma, wait!" Akane called as he took off, "You can't just run in there, you'll get killed." Ranma stopped in his tracks and glanced back at the car. Everyone was piling out of it, moving quickly towards Ranma, Akane running to him, and grabbing his arm. "You're in no condition for this Ranma. Physically or mentally. I don't want you dying because you make a mistake." Nodding Ranma waited for the rest. He could be patient when he wanted to. He understood the logic behind what Akane said. He would not throw away Ranko's only chance because of his anger. He had to figure things out first, make sure he did the right thing, but he had to hurry, Ranko did not have much time, he could feel it. "Fine, but let's get moving, I have a few scores to settle," he responded, a dangerous gleam in his eye. They moved away from the hut and into Jusenkyo valley. Ranma knew his way around the place. He knew where the pools he wanted were to be found. He knew exactly how long it would take to get there. As he walked his pace increased with each step, until he was jogging past the pools. Ranko's cries were getting weaker in his head, she was dying. He needed to get to her. The other's were close on his heels, keeping his pace. They were not trying to slow him down, for which he was grateful. He needed to hurry. Time was slipping away like grains of sand through his fingers. He sprinted up a hill, realizing that his goal was just over the lip. Just before the crest, he forced himself to slow and move the rest of the way to the top stealthily. Breaching the crest, he looked down on the small valley that held several dozen pools, he saw his objective. His heart leaped into his throat, his rage building. Beside him he heard Akane gasp, "Oh God, Why Ryoga?" His mother was speechless just starring at the sight before her. Genma was crushing a rock in his fist. Even Soun was muttering evilly under his breath. Before him Ranko was tied to a bamboo shaft in the middle of the nannichuan. Her small body hung limp from the crosspiece, her head lolling against her chest as she breathed in short gasps. Conflicting emotions raged within Ranma. Fear, grief, guilt, and anger rushed into his mind, blanking his thoughts. There was only Ranko's suffering. But then his gaze fell on Ryoga. His mind went instantly calm. There was nothing in it accept cold rage. Standing up, he began walking down the hill. He heard the others calling him back, but he ignored it. Ryoga was starring at his daughter, watching her suffer. He would die for this, but Ranma would do it proper. "Ryoga." he snarled, "Kaidu khan. Prepare yourselves., for I will destroy you this day." his voice was calm, but it echoed across the valley as his solemn proclamation. Ryoga spun around and looked at Ranma. Ranma saw hope and relief flood Ryoga's face. He did not even seem to notice the cold blue aura surrounding Ranma. "Ranma, I'm so glad you're here," Ryoga shouted taking a step towards Ranma, "We have to help.." Suddenly he clutched his head, dropping to his knees. He screamed once for a second and then went silent. He then stood up. His face was no longer filled with relief or hope, it was filled with pure hatred. "Die Saotome!" he shouted, charging Ranma. Ryoga was pacing nervously. he asked himself again. He glanced over at the girl. She was barely moving, her breath coming in short gasps. Kaidu was killing her, he could tell, there was no mistaking it. No matter what Kaidu promised him, he was killing her. He wondered how many other things he had told him were lies. How much had he controlled him. He ignored what Ranma had said. He was here, they could save his daughter. They could still have a chance. Forgetting himself he called out "Ranma, I am so glad your here," he took a steps toward him, rasing his hand and continued, "We have to help.." Ryoga stopped for an instant, he suddenly wanted to kill Ranma. The moment passed. the voice thundered in his head. Then the black coalesced around his mind. He screamed in pain as he was wrenched away from his thoughts. The darkness battered at his soul, breaking into his rage, focusing on his hate of Ranma. Ryoga tried to fight it, but Kaidu's control was to great. He dredged up everything and flung it at Ryoga. His mind went blank as he saw every injustice Ranma had ever done to him. His rage building up. Somewhere from the side, Ryoga cried out, trying to gain control back. He had to help the girl. Dimly he was aware that he was rising to his feet, "Die Saotome!" echoed dully in his head, then he attacked. Ryoga desperately fought the demon Kaidu had unleashed within him. He could not let the girl die. He had to help Ranma, not attack him. He watched dimly as his body moved, controlled by his demon's rage. He fought it every step of the way. Every attack the demon wanted, Ryoga fought against. Every defense he tried to stop or push in the wrong direction. He felt Ranma's attacks getting through. By fighting his own self he was slowing down his attacks. He was leaving openings. He could see a way to do this, if only Ranma would knock him out for a second. Any head blow, he could take control again. Throwing himself against his rage, Ryoga struggled, using his anger at Kaidu's betrayal against his own anger at Ranma. He used his guilt to combat his rage. He fought every step through the battle. Disrupting more and more attacks, making the demon frustrated. The more frustrated the demon became the easier it was for Ryoga to gain more control. Finally he wrenched complete control away for a second. That was all he needed. He stopped his body in mid -attack. He spoke to Ranma who was flying at him, "Go for the head." Ranma's attack struck. Darkness descended on Ryoga, he struggled against it briefly, before he realized the demon was dying, his rage disappearing. He hope he was not out long. Darkness quickly swallowed him. Ranma meet Ryoga's attack head on, blocking his blows and returning the attack. Ryoga blocked him, and leaped backwards. Ranma refused to follow, and circled left. Becoming impatient, Ryoga once again attacked him. Dodging the punch, Ranma saw Ryoga overextend. Taking the advantage, he slammed several punches home, in quick succession. Before Ryoga recovered, he leaped away settling into a ready stance. He was already starting to regret his decision to attack. His ribs were throbbing from the exertion. He knew he could not let Ryoga connect with any of his punches. A single punch could shatter more of his ribs or pulverize the still healing ones. His thoughts were interrupted as Ryoga attacked again. Blocking the blow, Ranma fired back. Ryoga seemed to hesitate for a second, allowing Ranma to slip his kick through before Ryoga could move completely out of the way. The kick sent Ryoga flying backwards to crash into the rocky ground. Slowly he got to his feet. Ranma was wondering what was going on. He could see the rage that was driving Ryoga. His face was pulled into a snarl, his eyes burning That always made him a better fighter, but he was making basic mistakes, hesitating in his moves. Something was wrong. What had he tried to say before the fight? Ducking under a series of punches, Ranma sent two quick jabs into Ryoga's stomach. Ryoga snarled back at him and reacted quickly forcing Ranma back, as he started a massive combination. Halfway through it though, his rythm broke and Ranma was able to escape and set up his won attack, coming in high. Ryoga started to dodge, stopped, and then quickly recovered, but it was too late already. Ranma's speed once again allowed him to connect through Ryoga's mistake. Back and forth they fought, Ranma blocking Ryoga's attacks, and responding with his own, many getting through. Ranma did not understand what was going on. Usually he had some trouble defeating Ryoga, and with his ribs throbbing with every movement, Ryoga should have been doing better. But he was making too many mistakes, hesitating. Something was not right with him, it was almost as if he was trying to lose. And Ranma was eager to oblige that, Ranko needed him. He dodged as Ryoga misjudged another attack. Quickly recovering he grabbed Ryoga and flipped him away from him. Ryoga landed heavily, skidding across the ground. Jumping to his feet he turned on Ranma and leaped into the air for an attack. Ranma leaped to meet him. As they came together, Ryoga suddenly dropped his guard and said, "Go for the head." Stunned Ranma could only do just that. His hand struck out and struck Ryoga's temple. Ryoga's body went instantly limp as he fell from the sky and to the ground. Ranma landed lightly and spun to face Ryoga's still form, but he only got to Ranko's hanging form. Grief and rage welling up within him, he ran towards the pool. Behind him he heard Akane shout for him to stop, but he did not care. His Ranko was hanging Christ-like on the bamboo shaft, her life slowly draining from her young body. He would save her if it killed him At the edge of the pool he leaped for her. He was knocked backwards though as he entered the air, a blast of dark chi sending him flying into the ground next to Ryoga. He gasped in pain as he hit, his chest exploding in fire and agony. He felt the crunch of bone. His sight wavered in front of him, things going blurry. Akane was there then, calling to him. He heard her voice through the fog of pain and tried to reach it. Slowly he was able to clear his head as the pain settled down to a fiery throbbing. Akane was asking him if he was alright, gently pulling him to his feet. He shook his head, "I have to get to Ranko," he muttered insistent, pushing himself to his feet. "I need a way to get to her. I have to reach her Akane. Look at her! She's dying!" He shouted motioning towards the limp form of his daughter. "I don't know how to help you Ranma," Akane said, supporting his weight as he swayed slightly, "I don't even know what happened. One moment you were leaping the next the pool was surrounded by a black sphere and you were flying away from it" "I do," Ryoga gasped from next to them. They both starred at him, hatred in their eyes, softening a bit as they heard him continue, "I can get you to her, Ranma." Ryoga slowly crawled out of the blackness, coming to on the ground. His body was sore but he would survive. Dimly he became aware of voices speaking next to him. "I need a way to get to her. I have to reach her Akane. Look at her! She's dying!" "I don't know how to help you, Ranma," "I don't even know what happened. One moment you were leaping, the nest, the pool was surrounded by a black sphere and you were flying away from it." "I do," he finally gasped. He did not see them turn to him and probably would not have care if he had, "I can get you to her, Ranma." "Why should we trust you?" Ranma snapped. "Your the cause of this all," Akane followed "I know," Ryoga answered sitting up, rubbing his head, "I only wanted to have my revenge on you. I listened to Kaidu, let him lead me along. He said that your daughter was your weakness. So I took her from you, hoping to beat you. Kaidu promised he wouldn't hurt her, but he did. He is killing her. I tried to stop him, but he has too much power here. I cannot defeat him alone, but I can get you to Ranko, Ranma." "Why should I trust you?" Ranma asked again, not satisfied. "By causing this suffering for your daughter, I have incurred a great debt to you. I owe you Ranma. I was blind. I want to make reparations. Let me help," Ryoga begged, his eyes pleading. Ranma did not want to trust Ryoga. There were a hundred reasons not to, but the single reason to outweighed them all. He had to get to Ranko, and Ryoga was probably his only chance. Slowly he nodded his head, "What can we do?" Sighing in relief, Ryoga started explaining his plan. Ranma listened patiently as he spoke, his gaze constantly wandering to Ranko's body. The idea was a simple one. Ryoga asserted that it would work. Stating that Kaidu was overconfident and was placing most of his attention on Ranko, he thought he could distract Kaidu enough that Ranma could at least reach Ranko. From there he said it would be up to Ranma and Ranma alone. Slowly Ranma nodded his head, "I will take the chance. She can't hold on very longer. She is almost beyond my ability to save right now. We have got to do this now." Standing up, Ryoga took a deep breath. This was it. He had to make his amends now, or it would never work. "Remember when I yell, than die, go for your daughter.." Ranma nodded. Ryoga walked to the edge of the pool. The voice responded, distracted and not all there. Ryoga snarled at the voice. Ryoga threw back at the voice, "Then die!" he shouted out loud, walking into the pool. Ryoga heard Kaidu's laughter in his head, as he gathered his strength to strike at him. Ryoga acted first, sending a blast of chi into the pool, spraying water everywhere. Kaidu howled in rage and threw his might against Ryoga. Ryoga prepared himself and meet the blast head on, absorbing as much as he could. The pain was incredible. It felt like his body was being torn to pieces from the inside out. Unable to stop himself, he began screaming. It burned. His body was a raging torrent of agony, but he endured it. Ranma had to get to his daughter. Through a haze of pain Ryoga saw Ranma moving, leaping across the water, to grab onto the bamboo pole where his daughter was. He saw him rip her bonds from her limbs. Suddenly he was blasted off of his feet as Kaidu screamed in rage as he realized what was happening. The last thing Ryoga saw as he slipped into blackness was the water rising around Ranma and Ranko, and disappearing with them no longer there The Legacy A Ranma fanfic by Joseph "Ashira" Kohle All characters are the products of the imagination of the esteemable Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video and several Japanese companies. They are used without her permission. Hey I would ask if I knew her e-mail address. Part X The Cure can be as Much of a Curse Ranma waited patently as Ryoga walked towards the edge of the pool. There he stopped and stood completely silent, his hands clenching into fists occasionally like he wa sin an argument with someone. Finally he shouted, "Then die!" and stepped forward into the pool. Ranma was already moving when he heard the words. Glancing at Ryoga to make sure everything was going to plan, he was shocked to find Ryoga surrounded by a black pulsating sphere. HE could hear Akane calling Ryoga's name. Then he heard Ryoga's screams. It nagged at him a little that he could not help Ryoga, but he had to do his part, make amends for what he had done. Secretly Ranma enjoyed hearing him scream. He deserved it for what he had done to Ranko, but he did not have time for that now. Racing forward he reached the edge of the pool and leaped to the bamboo shaft. Catching it above his daughter's position, he lowered himself down and began ripping the bonds from her arms and legs. She was quickly free, grabbing her in his free arm he was about to leap away when he heard a dark voice rage, "No!" Before he could move the water beneath him surged upward and knocked him off of the shaft and into the pool. Carrying Ranko's body tightly against his chest, Ranma tried swimming for the surface in the inky black water that surrounded him. He could not find it. His breath was scorching his lungs, his ribs burning, is heart pounding in his head. Then he saw the light. It was a single point of light beneath him. Summoning his reserves of strength, Ranma reached out to it, using his free arm to swim towards it. He kicked with his legs, reaching for the light. Spots were swimming before his eyes. His lungs were burning. The light did not seem to be getting closer, but Ranma refused to give up. He would not let Ranko die. Pushing with the last ounce of his strength, Ranma entered the light, and found himself lying on dry, rocky ground. Moaning in pain, Ranma sat up. In his arms Ranko started coughing. His own discomfort disappeared as he checked his daughter. She was pale and gaunt, her skin sickly, her hair limo and lifeless. More than anything it was her soul that scared Ranma. It had been slowly eroded and attacked. Her life force could barely sustain her anymore. She was dying. Desperately Ranma searched for something he could do. He needed to give her some strength until she could heal herself, but how? Then he remembered the dream. Trying to calm himself, he reached out to her, pushing his soul and energy into her body, giving her part of his life. Sustaining her with his strength. He watched her closely as he felt himself weakening. Her breathing slowly stabled, and her heart beat steadied. Finally her eyes started to flutter. Ranma stopped sustaining her, He could not let himself die or become to weak, he still had to deal with Kaidu. But at that moment Ranko was more important. As here eyes opened and focused on him, Ranma drew his daughter into his embrace, holding her tightly to his chest, enjoying the feel of her in his arms. She was safe for the moment. "Oh, himechan," Ranma cried, "I'm so sorry. I will never let anyone hurt you again. I promise you.." Ranko simply hugged her father, her body shaking as she cried, "He hurt me Otoosan. Always hurting me. It hurt so much." she sobbed. "It won't happen again, himechan," Ranma promised, "After this day he will never harm you again. No one will!" Ranma said fiercely, hugging Ranko to him. He did not want to let her go. He did not want to find out if this was real. As long as his daughter was in his arms, he was satisfied. "How touching. A father making promises he cannot keep," a deep voice rumbled menacingly. Ranma's head shot up. Turning he bored his gaze straight into the man who had spoken. Ranko pulled herself tighter into her father's arms fear filling her, as she recognized the voice of her aggressor. Her body shaking against her father as she remembered the pain. "You hurt my child," Ranma said his gaze burrowing in to Kaidu's chaotic form, "You made her suffer for something she does not understand, for something that she never did. You tried to kill her for your own revenge. For this I will make you suffer." Ranma slowly put Ranko down, despite her cries to the contrary. Standing up he faced Kaidu, Ranko curling herself into a ball behind him, trying to hide from the man. Rage and anger seethed beneath Ranma's calm exterior. This thing had made his daughter suffer more than any child much less adult should be made to suffer. HE had tried to rip away her life by destroying her soul and her only chance at a future. He cared little whether Hui-cheng's destiny was fulfilled. In his mind, Ranko's life and happiness were all that mattered, and this dark malevolence had attempted to destroy her life, and maybe had destroyed her happiness. Even now Ranma could feel the pure terror coursing through his daughter's frail body. The dread and fear of what could happen to her even with her father around. This man's revenge had cost his daughter her innocence, had made him question his ability to be a parent, had made her question whether her father could protect her. He had destroyed Ranma's life. With a snarl, Ranma attacked the man. Ranma was not foolish, however. He remembered the dream and knew that a physical attack was useless against the man, but by attacking physically he put Kaidu at ease, tricking him into lowering his defenses. Ranma leaped through the air, but at the last moment, instead of striking out physically he focused his grief and rage into a single blast of chi that ripped outward from his hands and struck Kaidu. The blast of energies slammed into and through Kaidu's form, disrupting his swirling rage and darkness, making him drop to hi knees for a second. Ranma blasted him again, hoping to finish the job, but Kaidu merely laughed and brushed aside the second blast, already recovered from the first. "Attacking me with my own power is useless,' Kaidu growled and struck back. Ranma tried to dodge the blow, but the dark chi blast caught him and sent him flying into a few boulders. Pain flared in his chest as he hit. "Otoosan!" Ranko cried out from where she was, and ran towards him. Ranma tried to wave her away, but she came anyway, driven by the pure fear of losing her father. Kaidu laughed and sent another blast towards him. Ranma rolled sideways, grabbing Ranko and covering her with his body. The blast exploded above him, crushing his body into the ground. Luckily Ranko was underneath him, cradled in his arms, she felt nothing besides a slight squeeze. "You cannot defeat me," Kaidu gloated, the dark chi swirling around him, forming into another attack. Ranma waited for the attack to be launched. "But now you will both die," he released the blast. Ranma instantly exploded, rolling forward to his feet and launched himself into the air, Ranko curled in his arms protectively. The blast missed destroying the ground he had been on. Landing next to a few boulders, Ranma gently laid Ranko on the ground, "Stay here, himechan. I'll make sure Kaidu does not get you." With that he leaped away and blasted Kaidu with another chi blast. Kaidu simply absorbed the blast and returned it towards Ranma. Twisting in the air, Ranma barely managed to avoid the blast. Landing lightly, he began to survey his options. Nothing looked good. Kaidu seemed untouchable. Physically Ranma could not attack him because Kaidu had no body. His chi blasts were simply absorbed my Kaidu as they hit. They had no affect on him. Ranma did not know what he could do. What could possibly hurt this man? Kaidu fired several quick blasts in succession, forcing Ranma to leap about to avoid them. Ranma was so involved in the fight, that he did not notice himself drifting away from Ranko's position. A large rush of chi energy forced Ranma to duck and roll to his side. He barely saw the black sphere that Kaidu sent towards Ranko. The sphere floated over the ground to the place he had left Ranko. She was curled up into a ball, her eyes wide with fear at the approaching blackness. Ranma could feel her terror, her dread. The sphere touched her and she screamed. Ranma felt the pain wash over him as the sphere enveloped Ranko. Kaidu was laughing as he finally achieved his revenge on Hui-cheng. Ranko was dying, and there was noting anyone could do. With a strangled cry Ranma leaped towards his daughter. Heedless of his own safety, Ranma entered the black sphere surrounding his daughter, fighting through it until he was at her side. Kaidu only laughed harder, the maniacal sound echoing through he valley. "I can kill you too Ranma. It does not matter. Your Ranko is already mine. My revenge is complete." Ranma refused to give up though. As he reached Ranko, he cradled her body in his arms as his last movement before the blackness closed in on him, making it impossible for him to move. The dark vapors dug into his and Ranko's flesh seeking their life forces, their very souls to devour. Icy pain shot through Ranma as one and then a second entered his chest, borrowing to the center of his being. He tried to ignore the searing agony. Ranko was screaming in his arms, dying in front of his face. He could not save both of them he realized. It had to be one or the other. The decision was easy. He could not let Ranko die. "I'm sorry Akane," he whispered, and opened himself to Ranko, letting his life flow into her, bolster her body. The connection between them opened like a door, letting everything through. Ranma sent his life, his love, everything he felt for this small child in his arms. He surrendered himself completely to his love for her, his need for her to live. He felt the pain ease in Ranko. Her spirit and life began to stabilize drawing from his own. The darkness around her fell back under Ranma's sacrifice. Unable to compete against Ranma's pure love. Kaidu khan screamed in rage when he realized what was happening. Desperately he attacked Ranma's body trying to halt him from taking his revenge from his hands. Ranma screamed as more of the black parasites entered his body, searching for his life, but Ranma was already near death He was giving everything to Ranko. She would survive, but then he felt the unexpected. Ranko reached out and touched her father's face, her head resting on her father's chest. She could feel his pain, his body and soul slowly dying. She knew it was because he was trying to save her, but she wanted her father alive. Unconsciously she began to do the same thing Ranma was doing. Her life force flowed into Ranma, strengthening him in his moment of weakness, draining her. Ranma realized what was happening and shook his head at her. "No, himechan," he gasped, "Don't do this. Let me save your life. Let me make everything right." He pushed the life he was getting from Ranko back towards her. Soon a complete circle was made. They both shared the same strength, the same love. Each was helping the other. Light was glowing around both of them, pushing back the darkness, weakening Kaidu's hold on both of them. Ranma found himself able to move. Slowly he pushed himself to his feet, weak and weary, but confident. Maybe there was a way to defeat Kaidu. His and Ranko's love for each other was more powerful than Kaidu's hate and rage. "No," Kaidu shouted, as Ranma took a step towards him, the last of the dark sphere dissipating around him. "I will not allow this to happen. I will kill you both." He railed at them.. Surrounded by a glowing white aura, Ranma walked towards Kaidu, Ranko cradled protectively in his arms. Kaidu blasted at the pair with wave after wave of his dark rage, but it simply parted and disappeared as it touched the glowing aura around Ranma. Step by step Ranma advanced, he now understood how he could win. "You are nothing, Kaidu." he said, "Your life is empty and meaningless. You threw it away because of your pride, You threw it away so you could have someone who would never have you. And when she would not have you, you would never give her peace. You have given away your eternal rest to make sure she never completed her destiny, but your anger is nothing now. It holds no power over my love for Ranko, her love for me. Anger and hatred cannot destroy our love. It can only make it stronger." Kaidu was backing up with each word Ranma said. Finally he stood in the nannichuan. Growling in hatred, he tapped the power of the pool, surrounding himself in the dark hatred his centuries of confinement had created. The blackness swirled around him like an approaching storm front, ominous and deadly. "I will show you how powerful hate is. I will show you that love is weak and can be broken like any other thing." with that he released the storm at Ranma and Ranko. It surrounded them, engulfed them, but Ranma did not flinch. His aura pushed back the darkness around him, breaking the storm apart, shredding it as it passed over him. "How?" Kaidu asked stunned as Ranma stepped out of the swirling energies of the khan's hatred and rage. "The light can push back the darkness with ease, so to can love push back hatred." A woman's voice spoke. Ranma saw a woman rise from the nyanniichuan, and walk towards him and Ranko. She could only be Hui-cheng. "I have never loved you Kaidu, I can never love you. You destroyed my life when you killed Sung Pao, but I had hope. In another life I could find love again, become the person I was meant to be. You forsake all of that for your revenge. You could have had love in your life. You could have found happiness, but you threw it away because of your pride. You wanted your revenge on me, well now you know that it is not possible." "I choose to love and forgive. I gave my life because there was nothing left for me on the earth. I gave myself a second chance. You crossed the road to oblivion. Once your revenge was complete, you would no longer have the hate to sustain you. You would have withered away and disappeared, where my spirit would continue on to a different time and a different place to start again. You cannot win Kaidu khan. Ever" "My hate is not empty," Kaidu raged, shaking his fist at Hui-cheng, "It gives me power beyond your dreams." "Look at these two, Kaidu," Their love for each other is sustaining their lives right now. They are defeating death itself with their love and still able to make your hate as useless as a feather against a castle gate. Give up your hate, Kaidu. Give yourself to hope, and a better future." "I don't believe you!" Kaidu shouted. Hui-cheng sighed and looked at Ranko. "I did not want this to happen, Ranma, but it must happen. Kaidu must be shown. The curse must be broken. Ranko," she held her hand out to the girl, "Do you know what you have to do?" Ranko moved against her father, wiggling until Ranma placed her on the round a confused look on his face. She had had no clue what anyone was talking about. She had been concentrating on her father, making sure he was staying alive. She did not wan to lose him. But as soon as Hui-cheng had spoken to her, she had remembered something, that had seemed forgotten, if she ever even knew it. She looked at this place. It was so sad. The centuries of conflict and tragedy had afflicted this place, making it depressing and dark. It had been a better place before, she could make it that way again. It was within her reach. She walked towards the darkly swirling nannichuan. This was what she was supposed to do. Kaidu watched her nervously as she knelt beside the dark water. Slowly she reached forward and placed her palms on the surface of the water. Gently she broke off contact with her father, making sure he had enough energy to survive. Ranma started as his daughter broke contact with him. Desperately he tried to reestablish the link. He knew she was too weak to survive for long. Fear gripped his heart. She needed him. "What are you doing?" he asked worry in his voice. "What must be done," Hui-cheng responded. Ranma watched as the water beneath Ranko's hands began to clear and glow with the white light that had previously surrounded Ranma. Suddenly he understood, "No!" he cried running forward, reaching for Ranko. Hui-cheng stopped him though, grasping his shoulder and holding him back. He was too weak from the ordeal to fight her, his body and soul depleted almost to the limit. "Please let me help her," Ranma begged, "She'll die if she does this. She's too weak." Ranma cried falling to his knees and reaching out to his daughter. "It has to be done." Hui-cheng said, "She is destined to break the curse of Jusenkyo that Kaidu and I laid upon it." "I don't care about your damn curse," Ranma sobbed, "I want my daughter." Ranko continued to pour her strength into the dark waters, changing them, banishing the hatred and tragedy with her love and innocence. Slowly at first, but with increasing speed the white light spread fro her hands and swirled into the murky waters of the nannichuan. The light touched Kaidu and he gasped as he felt the power of what Ranko was doing. "My God," he cried as the light began swirling through his aura, his hatred muted by the unconditional love of a child, "What have I done?" Crying he slowly sank into the water, letting the change carry his soul away. "I'm sorry," he cried out as his soul swirled beneath the now glowing pool. Ranko did not stop at the nanniichuan though. The whole valley needed to be healed. The curse Hui-cheng and Kaidu had started had to be healed, now or never. She was tired though, there was only so much she could give, but she was meant for this. It was her destiny. Regret filled her, she wanted to be with her father, she did not want to see him suffer, but this was also important. Tears streaked her cheeks as she reached deep inside of herself and tapped her inner core, drawing from her very soul the strength needed to cure the valley. The glow of nannichuan spread illuminating the valley. As it touched each pool, that pool began to glow and intensified the light. Soon the entire valley was glowing as the pools were cleansed the restless spirits inside of them appeased, given the eternal rest they deserved. It was done. Ranko released her hold, and toppled forward, exhausted, her body unable to continue. She just wanted to sleep. To rest, She was so tired. Ranma let out a strangled cry as he watched Ranko collapse forward. In a last ditch effort, he broke from Hui-cheng's grasp and moved to his daughter's side. He gently picked up her limp body cradling her in his arms. He was crying, the tears streaming down his cheeks. "Don't die, please don't leave me, himechan," he sobbed, clutching her body to him, "I can't live without you. I don't want to live without you." Ranko's breathes came in shallow gasps, each one weaker than the last. He knew she did not have much time left. "Hep her!" he shouted at Hui-cheng, "Don't let her die. I can't let her die." "There is nothing I can do," Hui-cheng said placing her hand on Ranma's shoulder, "This was her destiny." "It's not fair," Ranma sobbed, "She does not deserve this, take my life. Give her my strength." "Do you think she wants to live without you anymore than you do without her?" "I don't care, I'll do anything. Just don't let her die," Ranma begged her "There is one way," Hui-cheng sighed, "But you would have to give up the very thing you have given six years of your life to. Can you do that?" Ranma looked at Hui-cheng. He thought he understood. The old man's words came back to him, "Sometimes the cure is as much of a curse." HE shuddered at what it meant. Akane would understand. He had to do it. He had to take the chance. He would not let Ranko died. "Nothing matters next to Ranko. She is my life." "Pick her up then, come with me." Struggling, Ranma lifted Ranko's body. She was barely breathing. Her eyes fluttered a little, as she felt herself being moved, "Luv otoo..ssaaan." she whispered quietly. Ranma held her close. "Don't worry. Otoosan will make everything better." He followed Hui-cheng to the edge of the nyanniichuan. "Take her into the pool. You already share spirits, let her share your strength also. From this point on you will be cursed to take your daughter's weakness as your own. She has lost too much of her inner strength. I can never be fully regained. She must share yours." Ranma nodded once, not really understanding, but determined to do this. "Remember, that you will only change when she needs you and for as long as she does. I can no longer stay. My time is done on this earth. Walk into the water." Ranma did. Carrying Ranko he slowly immersed himself in the waters, letting them rise to his knees, his waist, his chest, his head slipped below the surface. The water surrounded him with a cool white glow. He felt his body tingling, changing. He willed Ranko to live, to use his spirit to live. He felt her spirit strengthening as his body became smaller, taking on a form he had thought would soon be gone, but now would be with him forever. He felt no regrets. His daughter was mor important to him than being a true man, and in a way by doing this he was more of a man. He gave away what had always mattered the most to him to save his daughter. Slowly Ranma assumed his female form, his soul life force and Ranko's merging into one, strengthening her, bringing her back from the brink of death. Ranma cried as he felt the strength return to her, her breathing become stronger, her heat beat more steady and sure. Crying she gripped her daughter close to her body. She had done the right thing. She would have no regrets. Even as she felt her daughter's original weakness enter her body, she was satisfied. This curse was easier to bear than the curse of her daughter's death. Epilogue Akane waited impatiently on the hillside, her mind filled with fear and worry. Ranma and Ranko had disappeared into the nannichuan hours ago. The sun was now setting, as the day came to a close. The rest of the family was back near a fire, Nodoka tending the unconscious Ryoga. During the afternoon, Akane had only had one moment of hope. When the valley had filled with light as every single pool had begun to glow with a white light. This had lasted for a few seconds, before disappearing, leaving a profound sense of peace and calm over the valley. That had been an hour ago. She had expected Ranma to return then, but he had not. She was beginning to worry now. The light must have meant he had won, but why wasn't he back. Had victory cost him his life. She did not want to think about that. She wanted Ranma back. A movement at one of the pools, brought her back to the world. She saw a figure stumbling out of the pool across from the nannichuan. Even at this distance she could tell it was a woman, carrying a..small child. No it could not be. Ranma had been sure he had been cured. But who else would be carrying a child out of one of the pools. She did not care she realized. It was Ranma that mattered, and if he was cursed, she would live with it. She had been prepared to before, and she wold not lose him again because of not telling him so. Standing up she rushed down to Ranma-onna, calling his name. She looked up as Akane came near and gave her a wan smile. The she simply collapsed to the ground, her body giving out underneath her. Akane was next to Ranma instantly. "Get some hot water," she shouted, "Ranma needs it." She heard sounds of her family scrambling at the campsite. Akane watched Ranma. She looked so tired and haggard, but there was triumph in her eyes. "I saved her, Akane-chan," she said cradling Ranko's body next to her. Akane looked down at Ranko and was surprised. The girl was younger, smaller. She could not have been much more than two years old. Her hair was till red, but now there was a scar very similar to Ranma's double scar on her right cheek. Akane examined it and then looked at Ranma. She had the single scar on her right cheek also, the sister of the one on Ranko's. "What happened?" Akane asked. "She was dying. It was her destiny to cleanse the curse from the valley. She did this, but it depleted her so badly that she was going to die. I couldn't let that happen. So I gave her part of my life force to help her survive. I took this form so she could live." "Are you stuck like this forever?" Akane asked fearfully. Ranma shook her head, "Only when she needs my strength will I turn into a woman. When she is safe, I will turn back." "Can you accept me like this Akane-chan? There was not other choice for me. The old man said that the cure can be as much of a curse. I would not live with her death. I will make this sacrifice and live like this so I can have her alive. No regrets, no turning back." Akane watched him silently, "Where will you go now?" "Back to the valley, at least until Ranko and I recover," Ranma said, "After that, I don't know. I have to complete school. I have to find a life for myself. I have lost six years for this. But I won't regret my decision. I love Ranko. I always will." Akane reached out and grasped hi hand, "Let me help you. I want to be with you and Ranko. We could be a family together. Let me come to the valley with you. I need this. I need you." She leaned into her and kissed her lightly on the lips. She did not care that Ranma was a girl at that point it was still Ranma. "I love you, Ranma," She whispered. "I love you, Akane-chan," Ranma responded, kissing her back. Ranko wiggled between them as she woke up, her eyes wide. "Otoosan, Okaasan." she said and kissed both Akane and Ranma. They hugged Ranko between them. Ranma thanking God she was alive. Akane glad to be a part of a family.