Meiyo Ai soshite Nikushimi
                                         Chapter III
                            The Judgement of Bookyaku 
                                   Part III: Lost Hope                

                                   A Ranma � Fanfic
                                     by Joseph Kohle

     All characters of the Ranma series are the products of Rumiko
Takahashi's imagination and are used without the permission of her or
the innumerable companies that have rights to her products. This is not
intended for sale and all creative and copyright privileges and rights
belong to the author and Rumiko Takahashi.


     "Great-grandmother, can Shampoo ask a question?" Shampoo
spoke quietly, the singsong Mandarin gently rising and falling. Cologne
was smoking a pipe as she sat in her room, her eyes closed as listened.
     "What is it great-granddaughter?" Cologne asked her voice
crackling with age, "I still have much to do tonight."
     "About Husband?" Shampoo asked tentatively, as she stepped into
the room and kneeled by her great-grandmother.
     Cologne opened her eyes and fixed her gaze upon the purple-headed
Amazon, appraising her. "Among other things." She had no intention of
discussing her plans with this child. Her great-granddaughter could not
possibly understand what motivated her. "Now hurry up and ask what
you came to ask." She let a ring of smoke drift lazily from her mouth
and then speared it with an abrupt exhale. 
     Before she had sought her great-grandmother out, Shampoo had
been in her room, thinking about things. She was worried, worried
about her Husband. She did not want him to die, but it seemed that
there was little choice in the matter for her. The decision rested solely
on Husband's father and that violent brat, Akane. Genma was an
unknown to Shampoo. She knew about him, that he loved to eat and
was given over to thievery and shady dealings in the past, but he
seemed very intent on Akane and Ranma becoming married. Would he
rather have his son die than break his pledge to the Tendo's? And
Akane.That girl always fought with Husband and hit him, and insulted
him, and just was plain mean to him, but they stuck together always.
Ranma didn't shoo her away like he did her. Did Akane love Husband?
If so would she rather have him die than go over to a rival? Shampoo
knew she would rather lose a love than honor.
     Yet it was not only worry that had brought her to great-
grandmother's door. She was feeling guilty, guilty about the entire
situation. What the violent, kawaikune girl had stated was the truth.
Without Shampoo, Husband would be fine and free at this moment.
Maybe even in her arms. If she had only stayed in China, not been
forced to go after the girl who had beaten her, the man who had de-
feated her, but what else was possible. The honor of the tribe deman-
ded it. Her own honor demanded it. And now, now Husband had
almost died, and might still die. 
     Shampoo did not want Ranma to die. She truly loved him, even
though deep down she knew he did not love her; however, that was not
important. If she loved him, he would love her in return, yet she had to
make sure that he did not die. Even if Akane and Genma refused, she
wanted Ranma to live. There were always future times. There were
more opportunities to capture her Husband than stars in the sky, but all
the opportunities in the world were useless if he died. 
     Great-grandmother always came up with schemes to capture him.
Many came so close to working, one had to eventually, and she must
have more hidden up her sleeve. Shampoo had faith in her, but this had
such potential for going wrong, for ending in catastrophe for everyone.
If it were Akane dying, maybe she might be happier, but this was
husband. Shampoo did not want to lose Ranma. So she came to great-
grandmother to alleviate her misgivings, her fear.
     "I-if no one pledges my Husband to Shampoo, will great-grand-
mother still let him die?" Her voice was soft and fearful as she
asked the question, her eyes downcast. It was hard to question
great-grandmother. Many were Shampoo's memories of her wrath
descending like a thunderbolt.
     "Yes." The answer was short and crisp with no hesitation on the
part of Cologne.
     Shampoo started to tremble, moisture entering her eyes. I don't
want him to die. "But why?" she asked her voice raised in a demanding
tone, "Great-grandmother, there are many ways to win Ranma. No one
wins if Husband die. I don't want Husband to die." Looking at
Cologne, Shampoo implored her to relent with what she felt.
     Cologne returned Shampoo's imploring look with one of contempt.
"That is not an attitude becoming of an Amazon. Do I need to punish
you, Great-granddaughter?" Shampoo mutely shook her head, fear
surging in the pit of her stomach. "Good, I don't have time for
children."
     "Son-in-law has too long run circles around the Amazon's without a
care for our position. It is disgraceful. No one treats the Amazons like
that. If he does not become one of us this time, than I will let him die. It
will be his punishment and punishment on the rest who have stood
against us. That is my final word." Cologne fell silent and turned away
from Shampoo.
     "But.." Shampoo protested.
     "Silence!" Cologne snapped, "I will not have your insolence great-
granddaughter. I said my decision is final. Leave." She pointed her staff
towards the door. "Why don't you scrub the kitchen? Every surface
now." Meekly bowing her head in acquiescence, Shampoo slunk from
the room like a dog with its tail between its legs. She would not let
great-grandmother see her grief though. She would cry later. 
     Cologne did not notice Shampoo's departure. It was unimportant;
however, Shampoo's actions were weighing heavily on her thoughts.
The child's actions were a disgrace to the Amazon tribe. No female
worth the title of Amazon would ever place such importance on a man,
especially a man not of the tribe. It was obvious the values of these soft
and backwards Japanese were beginning to influence her great-grand-
daughter. That was unacceptable, and just on more reason to go
through with her course of action. Either way, the fool girl was going
to need a great deal of training to break her and make her into an
Amazon again.
     The young were very impertinent these days. They wished the tribe
to become part of China, a subservient member working toward the
greater good. She knew that was wrong. The Amazons had been free
for thousands of year, and would remain so until they ruled all of
China. These reformers would need to be shown a lesson now, shown
the true power of the Amazons. Shown what made the Amazon tribe
great. If they were shown, maybe then she and the other Matriarchs
would not be forced to crush the usurpers like the ignorant bugs that
they were.
     Shampoo had been Cologne's hope of the future. She was destined
to be the Chief War leader of the Amazons, and since she was of
Cologne's line she would also become one of the most powerful and
respected Matriarchs. But now, now she had been corrupted, beaten by
an outsider, unable to fulfill her duty of marrying a fool boy and killing
a weak girl. It was disgraceful. She would need to start over with that
girl, all because of Ranma.
     "Hmm." She twirled her staff among her fingers. The rudiments of a
solution was beginning to form in her mind. Ranma's death would hurt
many and prove her point. Why did he have to survive? True he was a
great martial artist and would make an Amazon of incredible strength,
not to mention his children, but he was not needed. There were many
of the older Amazons just as good or better than that boy, and several
of the children held almost as much promise.
     In his death the Amazons lost a powerful ally and rare opportunity,
but the benefits gained by his death would offset any loses. In his death
were all those in Japan who had thwarted and gone against the
Amazons punished, most particularly the Saotome and Tendo families.
In his death the power of the Amazons would be shown, in another
nation outside their bounds. Fear was always important to maintain. No
one must be allowed to think the Amazons were weak.
     And his death was the perfect way to punish Shampoo. Ranma's
death would devastate the girl, making her easier to control, easier to
reform. She would become hard and ruthless, a perfect leader for the
Amazons. Cologne smiled and chuckled. Besides the girl must suffer at
some point in her life. Show her how useless men actually were. They
are only needed to reproduce. A woman was able to do everything else.
     And the tribe. What about the tribe? By killing Ranma it would
show those upstarts who wanted to live with the world the folly of their
ways. They would begin to fear the Matriarchs again. In this death they
would certainly gain a taste and respect for the power that the
Amazons could, no would hold some day.
     Yes, it will be so easy to make sure he dies. What is a promise to
one not of the tribe? Besides he has reacted unpredictably to the
Judgement already. If he dies I can easily blame it on that for now. I
will not need to deal with the authorities, and then I'll let those who
love Ranma know the truth. That I, Cologne, killed their precious
youth. Yes, when I go to revive him, I'll leave something out. Just a
small piece, but important enough to condemn him. The honor of the
Amazons will be preserved no matter what.

     Picking up her books and notes, Akane pushed away from her desk
and walked out of her room, shutting the door behind her. Everyday it
was the same. For the four days since Cologne had made her dreadful
pronouncement, her steps and heart had led her from her room, down
the hall to stop in front of the guest room. 
     Every night she came here, and every night it tore at her heart just a
tiny bit more. When she sat next to him and talked, it required all of her
strength not to cry, but it was easier to stop the sun than not spend time
with him. No matter what way the dice rolled, she knew she was going
to lose him forever, and so came to his bedside just to be with him, talk
to him, fix him in her mind for what lay ahead. I wish this was a game I
didn't have to play.
     For four days she had agonized over her choice. To let him die or
give him to Shampoo. To many it seemed an easy decision. Let him go
to Shampoo. At least then she would know that he was alive, and just
maybe she might see him a few times again in her life. Wasn't that so
much better than a simple marked grave, a memory that faded with
time. But at least then he would be her's forever. She was the one with
the claim on him at this moment. He had done so much for her.
Protected her, defended her, loved her that once and now had been
trying to make things better. He must love me, he must.
     If she let him go to Shampoo though, he would no longer be her
Ranma. Shampoo will have him, love him, bear his children. To live
with that was just as hard, if not harder than accepting his death. To
have him alive, somewhere in the world, and have the knowledge
ingrained in her that she could never hope to have him again was
unbearable. She did not want that. Could not take that, but everyone
was telling her it was the best decision to make. Even her father.
     She remembered the conversation vividly. It had been so unlike her
father, so different from the man she had come to know over the last
few years. He had come to her as she sat watching the sun set, two
days ago. She had just returned from Ranma's bedside, her eyes moist
with tears.
     "Musume," Otoosan said sitting down next to her, his large, strong
hands gently taking her small ones, engulfing them, "I know this is hard
on you. Maybe I don't understand exactly, I've never had a choice that
might kill someone I love." She started to object. "Shh! I've known
how you've felt for awhile. Do you really think I'd force a marriage with
someone you didn't love, no matter the promise or the future of my
school?" She shook her head. She knew that she could have had the
engagement broken a long time ago.
     "This is your decision, but let me make a suggestion. If you love
him, don't take his life from him. Let him decide. He's a strong young
man and will do what he wants. Don't fear. If he cares for you, he'll
come back to you somehow. Don't live your life like me, always
grieving for a lost love. Please, for me, musume." He kissed her and
left. A few feet from her he broke down and started crying, his strength
and resolve cracking under the strain. He retreated from the world
seeking refuge from the pain.
     Her father's words had relieved the pain for a time, allowing her to
feel like she was not trapped by her choice. Reality, however, had a
way of intruding into the minds of the sane, making escape impossible.
And so did reality slip upon her once she had returned to her room for
the night.
     Otoosan thought he knew what was going to happen if she
promised Ranma to Shampoo. Despite what he had said, she knew
Otoosan was set completely on Ranma and her being the heirs to the
school. This clouded his judgment, but she could not love him less or
hate him because of it.
     It was this single-minded purpose that blinded him to the truth. If
she promised Ranma to Shampoo, if Genma did also, he would go. Oh
he might complain and struggle, but in the end he'd go because of his
honor. She remembered his comment made in the tent the night before
fighting Cologne perfectly. She had asked him why it was always
honor. He had looked at her, his eyes clear and serious, his voice even
and calm as he said, "What else is there?"
     Even if he did not make the promise himself, she knew he would not
ruin her word, nor his father's. Cologne had known that also. Her
otoosan did not understand that, but then few understood Ranma, even
those who knew him personally. For many he was a riddle wrapped
within an enigma. About his emotions and thoughts he showed next to
nothing and said even less. Of the many who knew him she had been
the closest for nearly two years, and still she barely knew him. Even
Ukyou knew little about Ranma despite having known him as a child. 
     Honor was important to him, as important as breathing. She knew
that beyond a doubt. So her father's words were little comfort and even
less now as she was about to confront im again, go once more into his
room to face emotions that she was still trying to come to grips with.
She opened the door and walked in.
     After Cologne had made her pronouncement, Dr. Tofu had decided
it would probably be safer for Ranma to remain at the dojo. At least
then his family could be around him, and then he would be free to
pursue a cure. They had moved him there that night, a few hours after
night fell. Maybe easier on him, but not on me.
     The lights were dim in Ranma's room, only a few small lamps
illuminating his bed and the chair permanently stationed next to it. No
one was sitting next to him, but then most came before darkness fell.
A sort of pattern had developed among the family. Kasumi and their
father generally spent some of each day watching over him. Nabiki
usually stepped into the room for a few minutes after school. She never
mentioned it, but Akane had seen her entering twice. Genma watched
at night, and she, she came after dinner, when she could no longer stay
away.
     Nothing had changed, not that she had expected anything. Ranma
lay in her futon motionless and silent. The sheets were tucked to her
mid chest, her arms lying on top of them. In her right hand the statue
was still clutched, although she had put a white cloth over the
disgusting thing after her first visit.
     She hated that thing. Looking at it made her want to puke. Just sit-
ting in the room with it made her ill and uncomfortable, and touching
it...she dreaded to think of that. 
     Even though he fought for his life, Ranma's face was peaceful in the
light. The delicate features of Ranma-onna relaxed and calm as if she
slept. Red hair spilled carelessly across the pillow, her lips slightly
parted as she breathed, her breast rising rhythmically.
     Smiling slightly, Akane crossed the room and sat down next to
Ranma-onna. Gently she brushed her fingers along her lover's face,
languishing in the warm feel of her flesh, the soft resistance against her
sensitive skin. 
     Suddenly she remembered the first time she had met Ranma, the
images floating through her mind like a slow movie. Ranma had been
sitting at the table so depressed, her head hung low like this was the
last place she wanted to be. 
     Having expected a man, Akane had been embarrassed by this girl
in front of her. Then she had realized how much more embarrassed this
strange girl must be. A girl dragged to be in engaged to some stranger's
daughter. Her heart and pity had gone out to the poor girl. So she had
stood up and offered her hand in friendship. The grateful smile that had
appeared on Ranma's face still burned in her mind.
     The face looking up into her own as she tentatively touched the
girl's shoulder was filled with regret, despair, shame, and almost fear.
"Do you wanna be friends?" She held out her hand. "We could spar."
The face had brightened, the clouded grey-blue eyes coming alive and
sparkling with life. A small smile had ventured tentatively across her
lips and then grown large as trepidation vanished. The girl nodded
eagerly and stood up next to her. 
     "I'll always remember you like that, Ranma," she said quietly, laying
a hand on Ranma-onna's upper arm, "You're always so confident, sure
of yourself no matter what. So why do I remember your weakness?
Maybe because you show that side so little." She smiled and touched
Ranma's cheek. "And now I'll never see it." A single tear escaped her
eye to run down her cheek and drip onto the sheet.
     "Baka." The word was soft on her lips. "Ranma no baka!" she cried
out, "Why do I have to do this?  Hentai! Jerk! You insensitive bastard,
come back to me. Don't make me do this. I don't wanna. I don't." The
last word was whispered as she closed her eyes.
     Her father had not been the only one who had wanted to help her,
give her advice that might make it easier for her. Last night Nabiki had
come to her room. She had been sitting on her bed, depressed by her
visit with Ranma. She had not stayed long with him, unable to stay in
his presence and still keep her emotions under control.
     Her oneechan had entered her room quietly and sat down next to
her, her hand twitching toward her's before returning to her side. "Do
you wanna talk about it?" The words were the same as after she had
broken down in Nabiki's arms.
     "I just don't know what to do," she said quietly, keeping her face
and eyes averted from Nabiki's, "I'm so worried, so scared, so alone."
     That comment brought Nabiki closer, her arm draping gently on her
shoulder, "We're all here for you. Whatever you decide, we'll be there
to help, but if you give me the chance, I'll make sure he stays with us.
Where else am I going to get money?" Nabiki smiled down at her, but
then let it slip. It was hard to make light of the situation. 
     They had remained together for a long time, just giving each other
some comfort. It was so strange to express their feelings to each other,
but afterwards she had felt better, more relaxed. Maybe Nabiki would
bring you back to me. She's good at those things.
     But Nabiki's words had not helped. No one's had, not even
Kasumi's. Oneechan had come to her the night she had returned after
hearing Cologne's judgement. She had been crying steadily since she
had returned, shut away in her room, refusing anyone entrance. Finally
Kasumi had entered with some small sweets and a calming tea. Setting
the tray down, her oneechan had drawn the story out of her, comforting
her with soft words. In the end she had said only one thing that really
mattered. "Do what Ranma would want you to do?" 
     It did not help, she did not know what Ranma wanted. Did he want
her? Would he prefer Shampoo over death? Would he prefer not having
her over death? I wish I knew. She stroked Ranma's cheek, trying to
find solace for her tormented heart.
     "What do you want me to do?" she asked after a long silence,
"Otoosan is wrong. You won't come back to me. Your honor is so
much more important than feelings, especially for some kawaikune,
violent tomboy. Why do you make me feel like this? I don't even know
if you love me. I know you care, I'd be blind not to see that, but you've
never just told me out of the blue, for no reason, how you feel. There
has always been some tragedy that prompted you. I'm just not sure. I
don't want you to die without knowing, but I don't know if I want to
live without you if you do. It's not fair. It's just not fair."
     "I-I wish I had some hold on you. Some way to make you mine."
She suddenly started laughing her strained emotions jumping erratically
from one extreme to the next. "And to think that a week ago I wanted
you to simply die, and before that..before that a week's worth of civil
words between us would barely make up a minute long phone
conversation. What is wrong with us? Why are we like this? Why does
it take tragedy to bring us together? Why?" She fell silent again and
idly began to twirl a lock of Ranma-onna's red hair on her finger.    
     "If I promise you to Shampoo, will you find a way back to me?
Let your honor and mine be damned. Will you promise to find a way,
no matter what?"  Imploringly she watched Ranma's silent face. Please
just for a moment hear me, help me. Ranma didn't. "Hmph," she
brushed off the sudden disappointment. "It's not like you would, even
if you were awake. Baka."
     I don't want to lose you, but what other choice do I have. But which
way, which way? I don't know Ranma. I wish you could tell me. I wish
I knew what your father is going to do. It must be so much easier for
him. So much more easier for him. 
     Crying softly she touched Ranma's face for one moment and then
turned to leave. "If I just knew how you felt, what you wanted." She
closed the door behind her. Ranma stirred in her deep coma, a grimace
of pain crossing her face. "Akane....l-love," she breathed in a voice
barely above a whisper. 


     He was tired of this place. The monotony of endless cracked, red
earth, of an unchanging sky with neither night nor day, just always the
perpetual burning haze glaring above him, of the distant, dark peaks no
nearer now than when he had started had begun to grate upon his
sanity. Even the burning sea that he had left behind so long ago would
have been welcome. Anything was better than this endless torment of
enforced isolation. I would kiss Happousai if he showed up.
     Everything was wearing him down, grinding him down to a dull
edge like an overworked and abused tool. Recently he had been slip- 
ping into waking dreams as he plodded along, striving toward the only
place where things might differ. They were simple fantasies that played
out in his mind as if they were happening in front of his eyes. Some-
times though they became so real that he almost cried from loneliness
and sorrow.
     The last one had been the worst in a series of depressing visions.
Akane had stood before him, sometimes crying, sometimes reaching
out to him, but through it all her grief and sadness had been as clear as
the noon-day sun. Trying to reach out to her, to comfort her, he had
found only an empty vision that had dissipated under his touch.
     Only a few moments later though she was again before him crying
softly as she spoke to him. "What do you want me to do?" she asked, "I
don't want to live without you. It's not fair." What did she mean? What
wasn't fair? Am I dying? Did I already die? Why can't I remember?
     "Will you find a way back to me?" Yes he called to the vision, trying
to make her understand. I don't want to leave you. I love you. She
reached out to him, her eyes overflowing with tears as she turned away
from him. "If I just knew how you felt."
     "No, Akane! Don't leave me," he cried out to her, stumbling
forward to her, "Akane I love you. I told you, didn't you believe me? I
love you!" She disappeared as he tried to grab hold of her. "Akane, I
love you, don't leave me. I'm so lonely. Somebody! Anybody! I'm so
lonely." Collapsing to his knees he trembled as silent sobs shook his
body. I don't wanna be alone.
     It had taken time to recover from that. He did not know how much,
but that had been a long time in the past. He had walked and walked
since then, concentrating on the next step, not the last, not the present,
always the next. Thankfully no more visions had come to him. He did
not want any more pain. He was so sick of it.
     He wa sick of all of it. The monotony disgusted him. Loneliness ate
at his soul, slowly devouring him. Fear and confusion chipped at his
sanity, slowly breaking down the walls within his mind. He did not
want to continue, it was so useless. There was nothing in the blasted
place.
     "Dammit all to hell!" he screamed as rage abruptly boiled within
him, "Why do I deserve this? Answer me dammit. Show yourself ass-
hole! I want out. I'm sick and tired of these damn games." There was
no answer. He had not expected one. There had not been one the other
dozen times he had exploded.
     Sighing he faced the mountains once again. They were a goal to
strive towards, yet they were as unchanging as the rest of the hellish
land in which he was trapped. For every step he made walking to them,
they seemed to retreat a step, always staying at the horizon, a days
walk away.  
     Taking a step forward he suddenly stopped in his tracks, his rear
foot half-raised. I'm never going to get there, so why should I even try?
It's not like those mountains are going to magically take me back to
Nerima. I'm dead, none of this matters. If there was just a place I could
sit and rest...Something caught the corner of his eye. 
     Turning he saw a blackened tree with a few rocks spaced around it
in a small circle. Where'd that come from? He was definite that it had
not been there before. Maybe this place reacts to me. He smiled at the
thought.
     Shrugging he walked toward the tree and rocks. If he was unable to
go forward there was no reason for him to not just stay and rest for a
little while. It will be nice to sit for a while. 
     For the first time he noticed that he was actually tired and sore.
Before this moment everything had been a numb limbo without feeling
or physical needs. Now, just as he saw a perfect resting place he was
tired, no, exhausted. And come to think of it he was kind of hungry.
And wasn't that a piece of fruit? It was a small, purple object that hung
pathetically from a lower branch, as twisted and blackened as the rest.
Unconsciously he increased his pace.
     "I wouldn't do that if I were you." The voice stopped him in his
tracks. His mind started listing things. He had heard something. It was
a voice, not the wind. Had it been him? No, it had been a feminine
voice. He was male, he felt his chest, one in Ranma's position could
never be exactly sure what his sex was at the moment. Most assuredly
male. It must be real. It must be another person. 
     Exalted he spun around to face his companion. Standing before him
was a short, red-haired girl with a pig-tail and grey-blue eyes. "You're..
you're..." he struggled to finish the thought, but nothing came out of his
mouth. Finally he fell silent and sank to the ground in exhaustion,
wearily looking around. "Why did I have to go insane now? Why you?"
He started sobbing as a bleak despair filled his soul.
       
     Replacing the handset in the cradle, Ono Tofu leaned back in his
chair and wearily rubbed his eyes before digging his fingers through his
hair, his nails scratching his scalp. In the past few days he had called
several hundred colleagues and gotten leads to at least another few
hundred people. All had the same dead end, the same words issuing
from their learned lips. "Bookyaku? It's an ancient Chinese spirit of
darkness. Other than that I can't help you. Gomen." Click. 
     Exhausted he glanced at the last name on his list. It was a longshot,
a Professor Ikeda one of his colleague's Hong Kong contacts had heard
of a few years back. The chances of actually having success with the
man were at best just a fantasy, but he owed it to Ranma. If nothing
else, Dr. Tofu thought the boy deserved a break for once in his life.
     Set on his course, he lifted the phone and checked the number. It
seemed to be somewhere in Nepal, that meant he had to go through an
operator. It would probably take a few minutes to connect. He dialed
the number and waited patiently, answering the operator's questions.
After a few minutes he heard the ringing as he connected.
     After the seventh ring with no answer, Dr. Tofu was about to hang
up when the other end was picked up. A slurred voice muttered some
unintelligible gibberish into the receiver. Blinking in surprise Dr. Tofu
answered in a confused tone, "Er, is this Professor Ikeda?"
     There was silence from the other end. The sound of the receiver
dropping was followed by a splash and a cry of exclamation before the
man returned a little more coherent. "This is Ikeda," the man said,
"Who's this?"
     "My name is Ono Tofu. I am a clinical specialist in Nerima. I have a
puzzling case here that some of my colleagues said you might be able
to help me with."
     "What kinda problem?" Ikeda demanded in a gruff voice.
     "I think it is a possession," Dr. Tofu said carefully. Several of the
people he had talked to had laughed him off the phone telling him that
no such thing existed.
     Ikeda started laughing a short, barking laugh at the other. "Y-you
th-think it's a possession. It either is or it isn't. Which one is it?"
     "It's a possession."
     "Ah, so that's why you're talking to Ikeda the Witch Doctor, the
Mystical Shaman of Crackpots." His unseemly laugh crackled across
the phone lines once again.
     "So whose possessed? No let me guess. A small girl? Or better yet a
Catholic priest. They always seem to think they get possessed. Can't be
a Buddhist. One of them would brush it off as enlightenment. Some old
lady with a bad streak of luck is my guess. So what is it I can help you
with. Folk remedies, quick fixes, superstitious nonsense. C'mon speak
up lad, I ain't got all night." 
     Ikeda rambled on incessantly, obviously enjoying the entertainment
of actually being sought out for information, or thinking it was a joke in
the first place. Dr. Tofu was unable to figure out which, but he did need
an answer. "No, it's a young man. An Amazon placed the Judgement of
Bookyaku on him, and he has been unconscious ever since then."
     There was silence from the other end. "That makes no sense," Ikeda
muttered.
     "If you don't believe me about the possession..."
     "No, no," Ikeda insisted, "If he was an Amazon he should be wide
awake, well at least for fourteen days. If he was not, well, anyone not
an Amazon would have died near instantly and become Bookyaku's
vessel. Unconscious, that makes absolutely no sense."
     "Well, actually. He has a Jusenkyo curse, and he is residing in his
cursed form to keep from dying," Dr. Tofu explained quickly, excited
that he had found someone that actually knew a little bit of what was
going on. Now if he could just get an answer.
     "Jusenkyo curse?" Ikeda asked curiously, "That might work, but I'd
have no idea why. Well it doesn't matter. Only an Amazon can break
that possession." Dr. Tofu's hopes crashed around him. "I tried to learn
it, but none of them would teach it to me unless I defeated one of their
women and became a member of the tribe. Pretty hard to do for a sixty
year old man, well that's in the past."
     "Well, I thank you for your time," Dr. Tofu said crestfallen. Ikeda
continued to ramble though.
     "I did hear of one other man who might know how to help though. I
think he lives in Okinawa. Yes, I'm definite he does. On the north tip by
Hedo Misaki. Let me see. His name, umm, Ouchi something. Can't
remember it, but it doesn't matter. The people around there should
know him. He was old when I was young, but he was still alive two
years ago. A friend of mine talked to him. He should be able to help, if
anyone can." 
     "Arigato," Dr. Tofu gushed in appreciation.
     "Of course you'll have to go to him. No phone and no address, but
I'm definite he can help you. He told me once of an Amazon he had
cured of Bookyaku. Well I hope I've helped."
     "Hai, very much so. I wish I could thank you in some way. Ranma
will be most grateful."
     "Could you send me a few bottles of sake? It's impossible to get that
stuff in Nepal."
      "I'll work on it," Dr. Tofu said and quickly jotted down the given
address and thanked the man, before hanging up and calling the Tendo
household.

     Akane would have been surprised at how wrong she had been about
Ranma's father. In fact, Saotome Genma was envying his son's
iinazuke, as far as he was concerned the engagement still existed. To
him her decision seemed the easier. Why would she want Ranma dead?
Hadn't she had always complained about the engagement anyway? So
why should she care if his son married Shampoo?
     In many ways, Saotome Genma was as dense and misguided as
Kuno Tatewaki. The real world rarely ever intruded into his senses. In
most cases he did not have to pay attention to it. About the only thing
of the real world that affected him was food and sleep. For those two
things he would do anything and had done almost everything humanly
possible to get them. 
     At heart Saotome Genma was a coward and braggart. On top of
this, his martial arts training had loosened the padlock around his mor-
als allowing them to wander out to pasture like stray sheep. To be blunt
Saotome Genma was not a man and in most cases hardly a human. That
was one of the reasons he spent so much time as a panda. Pandas were
not held by honor and social customs that always seemed to get in his
way. 
     There had been a time in his life that he had been a man for a time,
just a small amount of time. His wife Nodoka had brought that out. At
that time he had loved her more than life itself. He would have done
anything for her, and still would. He still loved Nodoka and missed her
terribly, but realized that to go back to her was the wrong thing. Deep
down he knew what he was and did not want one of the good things of
his life ruined forever, his love for Nodoka.
     He could not take that last insult. He had already ruined the other
most important thing in his life, his son. When he had thought of it, it
had been such a grand and noble plan. He would take his son and go
out into the world and train him to be the best martial artist ever. At the
same time he had decided to fix all the flaws in his training and upbring-
ing. That was the reason he had so readily agreed to his promise to
Nodoka. He was planning to make a true man out of his son in any
case, so why not make a promise to the wife he loved so dearly.
     The first mistake was that he had not wanted to admit the truth
when he left, that he was leaving because he was trying to escape.
Marriage and fatherhood had not been what he had expected. The
responsibility, the demands placed upon him by his son, his work, his
wife were too much for a martial artist who had never settled down
even as a child. 
     Because he was escaping he reverted quickly to his old ways. With-
in days he had become the sneaky, cheating, conniving, lying thief of his
previous days. Three weeks into training he had already promised his
son in marriage to some fisherman for part of his day's catch. From
there things had slowly gone downhill for both him and his son.
     At first it had not been too bad. Only on a few occasions had he
been forced to give his son in marriage for food or sell him or have him
do weird tasks. They had returned to the home every so often for a
week or two, mostly because Ranma complained bitterly about wanting
his mother after being away for a few months. Slowly that longing
became less and less, especially after the episode with Ukyou.
     For longer and longer they had been away and unconsciously
Genma had begun to indoctrinate his son in the true form of Anything
Goes Martial Arts. It was not that dishonorable tactics led to dishonor,
it was just that they were much easier to apply to real life and so
Genma did that and Ranma picked it up just as quickly, but with a
slight twist of his own. 
     Nodoka had had a strong influence on their son from the beginning.
She had ingrained the concept of honor and obedience to his elders. So
Ranma slowly became an amalgam of conflicting desires and attitudes.
He followed Genma without a complaint, did everything he was re-
quired, learned quickly but just like his father had retreated from the
world, too confused by what he was supposed to do, confused by what
was expected, what was the right thing to do. At times he became the
man his mother wanted and stood up for the right of the situation, but
just as quickly he would slip and become his father, addicted to pride,
to martial arts, and unable find out what he wanted. 
     The more he saw this happening the harder he tried to stop it by
increasing the training and the length of time away. Then the mistakes
started happening. The Cat-fist, the countless fiancees, and finally the
coup de grace, Jusenkyo. It was too much. Ranma had been lost.
Genma saw him crack a few days after he became cursed. He closed
up, shut everything off. All that mattered was to be a man again. 
     He had been gone from Nodoka for six years and he was in dire
straits. His son had become something beyond him, a meld of Genma
and Nodoka totally devoted to his art, totally obsessed with his current
situation. He had needed to bring Ranma someplace to try and bring
him back to the real world. He remembered his promise to is old friend
Tendo Soun. They had agreed that they would marry their children, his
son to one of his daughters. It was the only place he could go. Nodoka
was an impossibility. He was never going to let her see what had
happened to her son. He had failed her, so he retreated to the Tendo
household and hid as a panda and young girl named Ranko.
     More than anything he thought that by engaging Ranma for real, he
would be able to help him, show him there was more to life than his
martial arts; however, that was hard to do for a man who considered
martial arts all that there was, and a boy that was the same. 
     Genma sighed and walked from the dojo. He knew he had done the
right thing in bringing Ranma here, but sometimes it was hard to see
that. More and more of Nodoka had been showing up in Ranma since
he had come to live with the Tendo's. It seemed that by interacting with
people his mother's morals came to the surface easier, yet he slipped
just as easily. Cologne and Ryoga and the multiple challenges dragged
him back to his old self. The curse dragged him back time and time
again, yet had he not seen him give up his chance again and again to
save Akane or other people. 
     As the first year had passed and now most of the second, he had
seen flashes of the man he had tried to create, but it was not Saotome
Genma that had done it, it was Ranma that had done it. It was as if
gristle stuck in his craw when he realized that he had brought Ranma
down in the first place. He was just glad he had brought him here, yet
now everything was going to fall apart again.
     Genma realized how important the Tendo's were to Ranma. They
had become his surrogate family. The three daughters were like sisters
to him, even Akane and his son had a relationship that though bizarre
was comforting to Ranma at times. Losing all of that was going to be a
massive blow to Ranma, maybe the last one that he could take.      
     More than anyone Genma knew how much Ranma had suffered in
his life. The curse had almost destroyed him, and probably still might.
The only thing holding him together was the sense of stability in Ner-
ima. Despite all of the problems, they gave him an outlet, a way to cope
and something he could deal with in a way. But if Ranma lost that and
he forced Ranma to go to Shampoo to ave his life, he wondered what
could happen. 
     His son had the makings of the strongest martial artist in history. At
his age he was able to hold his own against great fighters like the
Master and Cologne. If he suddenly lost everything again, would he
turn against the world and the people on it? Ranma had the potential to
literally become a Destroyer, a rogue warrior burning for vengeance
against a world that had not cared. Could he take that chance with his
son?
     It would almost be better to let him die. It would mean he would
take his own life, that was a given, but it solved so many problems. He
would explain to his wife, tell her he was sorry and let her remove his
head. It was the last act that was possible after he allowed his son to
die.
     But to allow him to die was giving up on his son. Genma had done
that too many times in his life. Just given up. He knew he was not
strong, was in fact weak and cowardly, but his son had never been like
that. Ranma had faced everything with the same confident courage and
flair that marked him as a great fighter. He at least deserved a chance to
make his own decision, to find his own way. For all he knew, ranma
would turn from his and Akane's wishes and do what he pleased.
     Yet then why hadn't he with all of fiancees? Because he is bound by
honor and duty. It is all he has. I made sure of that. Genma hung his
head in shame. He did not know what to do. If he gave his son up,
something terrible could happen. If he didn't, well Ranma died. The boy
did not deserve that either. Do I trust him or don't I? I wish we had
talked as Father and Son more. I don't know what he wants, what he
dreams of, what he needs. I can't decide. I don't want to.
     With an anguished cry, Genma threw himself into the pond, turning
himself into a panda, retreating from the world and his decision. Pandas
did not think, pandas did not have to deal with life and death choices
for their sons. Pandas were free. Then why do I still feel so bad?

     Nabiki listened intently to Dr. Tofu for a few moments before a
smile appeared on her face. "I'll tell them right away. We'll be down
there first thing in the morning. Akane-imootochan and Saotome-san
will be ecstatic. Bye." she hung up the phone and headed upstairs to
her sister's room. I'll tell Akane first. She deserves a break. I just hope
Dr. Tofu is right about this. 

     

     Author's Notes:

     I know that this part seems like a waste of time, well it isn't.
You'll notice that I do these transitional pieces a lot. It is a way of
advancing the story just enough that I keep some interest and at the
same time spenmd good amount of time revealing characters. In this
one it is mainly Genma and Akane that are revealed more, mostly
Genma though. I've been concentrating a lot on Akane so far, and
Ranma just seems to get explained naturally, go fig.
     If you're really worried about this chapter ever ending, don't
be. Right now I can only write two or three more parts at most. That is
all there really is in this Chapter. Stop looking at the computer screen
like that! I inow exactly what your thinking. He writes three parts
without going anywhere major and then he says he'll finish it in two or
three? This guy must be insane. -Hey I never deny my sanity or lack
thereof- But yes it will end, and then I can get to Chapter IV where the
stakes get higher and things just get more and more complicated. I love
complication. 
     Let me see. I explained about the Nabiki characterization last
time. I just think she is like that. Now I know you are al probably
telling me I should go figure Tendo Soun out, well I did, and personally
I don't think he is a dense as many people think. I mean he is heavily
into delusions of Akane marrying Ranma, but he has some common
sense and odes use it. It jst takes a lot of strength to bring things
forward. Don't worry, Soun gets explained later.
     Now Genma was a fun one to write. I didn't expect it to turn
out like it did. I've always considered him a coward, and I think a lot of
people do, but no one ever really digs into him. I'm going to do much
more digging with him just now, latter I will, but not now. Genma and
Ranma have problems they need to work out and that is just not
important to this Chapter. I love giving away tidbits that really make no
sense until you read them later.
     A few more clarifacations. Yes Ranma did say I loe you to
Akane in Atonement and Akane returned the sentiment; however, their
relationship is so insecure and on such tenuous footing, especially with
the engagement broken off that it is about right that Akane would not
know Ranma's true feelings. He never said it to her after that or
mentioned it. Instead he sort of acted like it did not happen (that is not
in the story exactly) But they admitted their feelings under emotional
duress and therefore it loses some of its sincerity and strength. Make
sense? I hope so.
     I do have one apology to make to everyone that has been
reading MASN. As you might have noticed it is Meiyo Ai soshite (not
shoshite) Nikushimi. In the first title I wrote shoshite, and just did not
realize it, then I copied it to the additional installments. That is not a
real word. The real word is soshite. I noticed this several days ago and
have fixed it. Also, soshite is used wrong. I just found that one out too,
but I am not going to change the title. Soshite is used like  and' to
connect sentences. Basically it means that the preceding happens at the
same time that the following does. The correct word to use was  to'
which is a connector for nouns basically like  and' in English; however
I'm not changing this to MATN, MASN sounds better. 
     Oh many people have asked about meaning, and here is the
answer.
     Meiyo - honor
     Ai - love 
     soshite - and
     Nikushimi - hate
     
     Personally I recommend the Random House Japanese-English
dictionary for translation. It is very useful and has most words you
would need. But then I also use a second dictionary from a self-teaching course, that course's instruction book and a small black book
called Japanese in 30 Hours, that deals with all of the grammar.

     Well this is long enough for my notes. I still ask for comments
and criticism, preferably criticism, but my ego doesn't mind praise. 
     BAP
     CRUNCH
     "Itai! Stop that! No, not the mallet. Arghh...SPLAT"
     
     Sorry my humility just smashed my ego into very tiny pieces. I
think I see one of the pieces in the cat's food dish, better go get it while
I can. "Hey, Rocky, get away from there. That's mine!" 
     
     Until Next time

     Joseph Ashira Kohle