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This is jsut something to let people know that I am still writing and
that the next chapter of A Fresh Start will be ready soon.  This story
started with the desire to right a story dealing with Akane and Ryouga's
curse, but it turned out a littledifferent.  If you want to find out
more, you'll have to read it.  All comments are welcome.

Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 is owned by Rumiko Takahashi who has way more
money than me and deserves it.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

     Ryouga waited for the water to heat impatiently.  The new electric
kettle in Ranma's room was convenient, but he begrudged ever second
spent as a pig.   Especially since he'd bough a special present for
Akane this time.  At last satisfied that the water would be hot enough,
Ryouga began the laborious process of tipping the kettle onto himself.
It was hard without opposable thumbs, but he'd managed before.

     "Ranma, are you in there?"  Ryouga immediately recognized the voice
of the person in the hall as that of his beloved Akane.  Panicking, he
tried to halt the kettle's motion, but it was a futile effort.  The door
slid open and at the same moment he felt the familiar sensation of hot
water flow over him.

     The sight filling the door way realized his worst fears.  A white
faced and wide-eyed Akane gazed down at him disbelievingly.  Ryouga's
mind raced desperately; maybe she hadn't actually seen him change.  Sure
it would be hard explaining what he was naked in Ranma's room, but it
was a lot better than the alternatives.  "Akane, I..."

     With an incoherent sob, Akane raced out of the room, leaving Ryouga
behind.  Ryouga knew that he had to clear thing up as soon as possible,
so he sprang to his feet and dashed after Akane.  Two steps into the
hallway he realized he was still naked.  Luckily, it only took him a few
minutes to find his way back to Ranma's room.

=================

     An unearthly sound drew Nabiki irresistibly towards the kitchen.
The slamming of cupboards, the rattling of pans, Kasumi never made that
much noise cooking.  The sight that confronted her confirmed her worst
fears.  Akane was peering into the fridge and muttering something about
garlic.  Before she turned to flee, her eye was caught by the look of
desperation that covered Akane's face.

     "Sis, are you all right?"  Nabiki wasn't prepared for the reaction
her cautious question provoked.  Uttering a stifled cry, Akane caught
Nabiki in a crushing embrace and buried her head on Nabiki's shoulder.

     "Ryouga's P-chan!" Akane wailed, tightening her grip.

     That explained a lot, Nabiki realized, but there was a point of
more immediate interest.  "I understand that you're upset, but don't you
think that you're over reacting?  Even if he does have a curse, co-"

     Akane released her sister and shook her head vigorously.  "No, he's
a vampire!  It all makes sense.  He's inhumanly strong, has fangs and
can assume the form of an animal."

     "Come on.  If he was a vampire he couldn't stand sunlight."

     The panic faded from Akane's eyes and was replaced by a look of
profound sympathy.  "That only works in movies," she explained gently.

     "Akane, you're just not being rational.  Ryouga's sense of
direction is so bad he can't even find his way out of a closet."

     "Of course!  That must be why you're supposed to bury them at a
crossroads."

     Nabiki winced slightly.  This was getting out of hand.  Even if
Ryouga was a perverted, lying pig who'd spied on Akane and slept in her
bed she couldn't...  "I think I know where the garlic is.  You get
whatever else we'll need."

     "Right.  Are there any hawthorn trees in Japan?"

=================

     Ryouga smiled.  He'd managed to find the stairs that led to the
ground floor and it had only taken him half an hour.  With that kind of
luck, he'd be able to explain things for sure.  In fact, he could he
could see Akane standing beside Nabiki at the foot of the stairs.  There
was something wrong though.  The crucifixes, prayer bead and garlands of
garlic were probably some kind of fashion statement.  However, the
bandoliers filled with thick wooden stakes and the large mallets the two
girls were holding seemed a little odd.

     "Unholy spawn of the night, your reign of terror ends now!"
Advancing swiftly, Akane drew a stake and raised her hammer.  At her
side, Nabiki brandished a large silver cross and tried not to laugh.

     "Ah, it looks like you need some time to calm down.  Why don't we
talk later?"  Ryouga didn't know what going on, but Akane seemed to have
taken things worse than he'd expected.  A lot worse.  Without a backward
look, Ryouga turned and bolted up the stairs.

=================

     "To happiness."  Souun grinned and echoed Genma's cheer.  Life was
good.  Ranma and Akane were getting along, the Master was still missing,
and the dojo hadn't been seriously damaged in almost a week.  It was
more than enough to justify going out for a little sake with his friend
Genma.

     Turning to enter the gate to his home, Souun was surprised to
encounter his eldest daughter coming out.  At this time of day Kasumi
was usually hard at work preparing supper.  "Is there something wrong,
Kasumi."

     "No.  It's just that Ryouga seems to be a vampire, so I have to buy
some incense and prayer wards."

     Souun and Genma were still struggling to process that, when a
horrendous scream split the air.

     "Oh my.  I'd best be going."  As Kasumi hurried off, Souun raced
towards the house all thoughts driven from his mind by the desperate
need to protect his family.

     Genma stood undecided for a moment, and then rubbed his hands
together.  If a vampire were around, Kasumi would need protection.  It
was his duty as a martial artist.

=================

     Warned by the faint hiss, Ryouga jinked to the right and watched
the air slam into the wall beside his head.  He didn't know how Akane's
father could manage to keep up wearing full armor and that wasn't
considering the bow and katana.  He had to find his way out of the house
soon.  It didn't seem likely though, as he skidded to a halt in the
corner of the Tendous' living room.

     Turning to face his three pursuers, Ryouga considered his options.
Nabiki would be the weak link he decided.  He'd wait until they attacked
and try to make a break for it.

     "Be careful, he's still dangerous."  Hardening her heart, Akane
prepared to strike down the creature that wore the face of her friend.
"He's probably not the only vampire either."

=================

     Ranma sighed contentedly.  It wasn't often a day passed so calmly;
the most exciting thing had been Ukyou's free okonomiyaki.  He should be
just in time for supper too. He could almost smell Kasumi's delicious
cooking.  Suddenly Ranma stopped.  He should have been able to smell it,
but there didn't seem to be a single sign of food.

     He was considering this when he heard a baffled cry from the room.
Frowning, Ranma strolled towards the sound.  Was one relaxing day too
much to hope for the pigtailed martial artist wondered?

     The answer was apparently yes.  The sight in the living room was
strange even by his standards.  Ryouga stood in the corner, surrounded
by three bizarrely armed members of the Tendou family. Ranma was about
to ask for an explanation, when Ryouga caught sight of him.

     "Ranma, this is all your fault," the Lost Boy roared, one arm
pointing at the bane of his existence.

     Startled the Tendous whirled to face Ranma, giving Ryouga the
chance to make a dash for safety.

     "Looks like he got away," Nabiki commented, lowering her mallet.

     "But what did he mean?"  Slowly, Akane's blood chilled and she
looked towards her fianc� with dread.  "Oh, Ranma..."

     "Akane? Mr. Tendou?  Why are you looking at me like that?"  Ranma
slowly stepped backwards.  It was too bad; he'd really wanted to relax.

=================

     As the sun slowly set, Ukyou sadly prepared to lock up.  It had
been a good day, but it was over now and Ranma was back at the Tendous'
with his other fianc�e.

     There was at least one person who felt worse than her though.  The
guy across the street carried depression with him like a shroud and his
broad shoulders slumped as if he bore the weight of the world.
"Ryouga?"

     "Ukyou?"  Ryouga's voice was little more than a dry rasp. \

     Ukyou frowned, he wasn't the world's cheeriest person, but she'd
never seen her sometime confederate this low before.  "Something wrong,
sugar?"

     "Akane hates me."  Ryouga's voice was stronger, but seemed devoid
of life.

     Ukyou sighed internally.  It would be something like that.  "Why
don't you come in?  Things might seem better in the morning.  I bet I
can get everything back to normal in no time."

     Ryouga's lips twitched upwards in a sardonic grin that barely
revealed one fang.  "You could be right.  Maybe a bite to eat will help
cheer me up."

     "That's the spirit."  As Ukyou led the way into her restaurant, one
thing puzzled her.  For a moment Ryouga's eyes had seemed blood red.
Probably just a reflection from the sunset she decided.  What else could
it be?

The end.

Afterward: This is all Chris Jones' fault.  Honest.  At least it would
have turned out a lot different if I hadn't reread The Clan before I
started writing it.  The ability of sunlight to destroy vampires was
introduced in the 1922 movie Nosferatu, burial at a crossroad is
supposed to prevent a vampire from rising and hawthorn is the
recommended wood for staking.  More info can be found at
http://www.pathwaytodarkness.com/facts/index.html .

Kent Hyam


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