HONOR LOST
A Ranma 1/2 fanfic by
Paul Meaney

Part One - CRISIS

	Ranma sat cross-legged in the center of the Dojo, lost among his
own thoughts. In front of him lay the Saotome family Katana. The edge
sharpened beyond what would be considered normal. Ranma stares at the
weapon's glint from the high polish. It's fine gold and jeweled endpiece. 
The worn leather wrapped around the handle.
	A knock at the door disturbed him. "Are you all right, son?"
	"Just a minute, father." The words shocked him. In all of his life,
he had always called him "Pop". He quickly put the sword away in it's
sheath, and back into the weapon cache. " Come in."
	Genma slid the door open and walked in. Age had not taken it's
toll on the man. Other than a few wrinkles, he still held his form well.
It must have something to do with the curse, Ranma thought. Having been
the only one cured, Ranma hasn't known what other effects would have
occurred to him over the past few years.
	"You have a visitor."
	"Really?" Ranma replied. Most everyone Ranma knew from those
care-free days had moved on. The few who were still around he hardly ever
spoke to. "Who is it?"
	"Just me, you old pervert" came a familiar voice. 
	"Ryoga!!" Exclaimed Ranma. "How did you ever.."
	"Part of my latest training, my old friend." Ryoga and Ranma
embraced like long lost brothers. "I was lucky to be in the area and came
as soon as I could."
	"I'm glad you're here." Ranma took a good long look at his
compadre. Ryoga still spent most of his time traveling, but now it was
mostly training journeys. His hair was long and braided down the center of
his back. His smile framed with a goatee. The lin es in his face carved
with the long, hard experiences of the road.
	"I want to clean up and get some food. Perhaps rest for a while."
	"Of course."
	"And then... I want to visit Akane." 


	They arrived at the Medical Center later that afternoon, greeted,
of course, by Dr. Tofu. 
	"Ranma! Ryoga!" Tofu exhaled. "How are you?"
	"Fine, Doc." Ryoga replied. "Long time, no see. How is Kasumi??"
	"Doc.. Any change?" A nervous Ranma interrupted. 
	"Not yet, Ranma. I'm sorry. The test results should be ready soon.
Why don't you two go in and see Akane." 
	Ranma and Ryoga walked down a hallway, leaving Tofu behind to tend
to his business.  They arrived outside a plain white door with a "Do Not
Disturb" sign placed perfectly in it's center. Ranma considered not going
in.. He couldn't go in there again. He didn't have the strength. Or the
courage. <<Not that long ago, I would have laughed at such lack thereof.>>
	"Ranma?" 
	"....."
	"It's okay." Ryoga assured him. "Let's go in."
	The room was exceptionally bright. The window on the far wall was
left slightly ajar, letting a comforting breeze in.  Next to the window in
a bed lay a still figure covered in a simple white sheet...
	"Akane.." Ryoga looked at the young woman. Her skin was a little
pale, but she still was as pretty and vibrant as ever. Her arms showed a
few marks from whatever event had taken place.
	"Ranma.. No one has actually told me how this happened." 

	Akane stormed out of the house. "BAKA!" She cried. Another fight
ending with Ranma in a heap on the floor. Some things never change, Ranma
thought. In a minute or so, I'll go meet her at the gravesite. Then I'll
apologize.. again. 
	Ranma picked himself up and brushed the debris off of his tunic.
It's amazing how the little things wound up into such large arguments.
"POP!" He shouted, "I'm going out to get Akane!"  Genma met him at the
front door, as usual. For an old man, he could still move pretty fast.
	"Son, one day you're going to learn that you cant be fighting with
Akane forever. I figured you two have been married long enough to have
gotten around those petty arguments."
	"Pop, you should know that old habits die hard."
	"Ranma, Ranma, Ranma. You've grown up a lot in the past few years
and you still don't understand.."
	"You know we've tried before, Pop, we kinda _like_ to fight. It's
our way. The best thing about fighting though, is making up when you're
finished." He finished with a sly grin.
	"Mark my words, Ranma! You're going to learn the hard way!! Did I
ever tell you about the time I.." With a large splash, Genma was
transformed into his panda form. Ranma had a habit of knowing exactly
where to place an extra bucket of water in key areas of the house, just
for occasions like this.
	"Spare me the lecture for later, Pop. I want to catch up to my
wife." Ranma bolted out before his father could think twice. Running
through the back streets, knowing Akane would have taken the same path.
Ahead of him was the old covered bridge, a crowd of people gathered at the
entrance. <<It must have finally collapsed.>> Ranma thought. <<The city
should have repaired it a long time ago.>> Then a terror ran through him..
	"Akane..." 


	"It was an accident." Ranma choked.
	"Oh..."
	Never had Ryoga seen Ranma in such a state.
	"Ranma..." He started, "I.. I.. I'll go and talk to Dr. Tofu and
see if there's anything I can do." 
	Ryoga left the room quietly.
	<<There's nothing anyone can do.>>
	"I'm sorry, Akane." He kneeled by the bedside and took her hand.
Surprisingly, it was warmer than he had expected. "I should have been
there for you."
	"Please, Akane. Don't leave me. Come back. I can't go on without
you. I need you here with me." Ranma pleaded, but his cries fell on deaf
ears. "I love you."
	"AKANE! You stupid girl!" Ranma felt the rage flowing through him,
building up with no way to release it. "You can't do this to me!! Not
after all we've been through!! I won't let you go!!"
	He releases a punch on an unsuspecting night table, shattering it
to bits. It's contents spew across the room. 
	"STUPID TOMBOY MACHO CHICK!" A helpless chair finds it's way out
through the window. All of course, to no avail.
	Weeping hysterically, he plants himself by her side on the floor
amongst the broken glass and wood splinters. Not caring about the cuts and
slowly flowing blood from sitting in such hazardous objects.
	"I won't let you go.." he whispers. 


	Tofu came running down the hallway, nearly knocking Ryoga over.
	"What's the hurry, Doc?"
	"We must get Ranma!"
	They burst into the wrecked room together. "Ranma!!" Tofu cried.
	"I'm sorry about the room, Doc."
	"Never you mind.. I know what's wrong!"
	Ranmas' face lit up. "You do? Tell me! what is it??"
	"Akane was in no accident! She was poisoned!"
	"What?" Ranma and Ryoga both Shouted.
	"I tested her blood. It's some sort of virus, but it did not come
from any injury that you reported." Tofu moved towards the bed and began
checking Akane's bruises. Finally he stopped. "Here! You see?"
	He held up her arm and pointed out a bruise with a tiny mark in
it's center. She had been injected!
	"Who would have done such a thing?" Ryoga asked.
	"And why?" Tofu added.
	Ranma pondered it over. Back in the old days, it was fairly easy
to tell who was up to what.
	But now...
	No one was left. There were no would-be alternative brides. No
ploys to separate him and Akane. Nothing.
	Everyone seemed to figure this out as a deathly silence filled the
room. 


Part Two - COMPLICATIONS

	Dinner went by very quietly. Genma tried to start some small talk,
but to no avail.
	"I wish Soun were here" He muttered.
	"We all do, Mr. Saotome" replied Nabiki.
	Tofu walked in with Kasumi, each bringing plates of assorted
desserts.
	"Come on, everyone." Kasumi said. "There still is hope." 
	"Without knowing what Akane was injected with, we cant make an
antidote" Ranma blurted.
	"I never said that, Ranma." Replied Tofu. "It will be a little
harder to find an antidote."
	"Time is something we don't have, Doc." Ranma said. "We can't wait
for you to develop that cure."
	Dinner was obviously over. Everyone eventually went their separate
ways about the house. Ranma sat on the futon in the room he shared with
Akane. A knock came at the door. "Come in."
	"Hi, Ranma, can we talk?"
	"Of course, Nabiki."
	"I don't know if this is a good time or not.. But I have something
to discuss with you. It's rather important."
	"Go on, Nabiki. I can use a little distraction. What is it? Your
holdings go down or something?"
	"No, Ranma. This isn't about money. It's about... well..."
	"What?" Ranma never saw Nabiki like this before. She never seemed
to be bothered by anything. This was.. different.
	She slipped him a piece of paper. "Read this."
	Ranma opened the paper. It was in Soun's handwriting. "This is
part of your father's will, Nabiki." Ranma observed. After the funeral,
everyone got a personal note from him each with advice and his final
wishes.
	"I know that, Ranma. Just read it, please."
	Ranma read the paper, eyes widening as he went on.  Soun had
wanted the Dojo to go on no matter what had happened. He and Genma, the
last two "official" students of Happosai, had arranged for the
Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts to carry on with the Marriage of
their future children. Of course, if conditions had changed, backup plans
had to be in place. It looked now that one of those plans would come into
reality.
	"I see why you came to me. The situation has developed where you
would get nervous." He said when finished. "Who else knows about this?"
	"Just your father I suppose." She replied.
	"Let's keep this to ourselves then." 
	"Hai."  Nabiki replied. "We can.. talk later." 

	"Pop.." Ranma called as he entered his father's room. "You still
awake?"
	"Yes." Genma replied. "What is it, son?"
	"I had a little talk with Nabiki a while ago.."
	"Oh?"
	"Why didn't you tell me about Mr. Tendo's final arrangements?"
	"Because no one ever thinks these things will ever happen, son. I
saw no need to tell you."
	"And what about Akane? If she dies am I to so easily forget all
about her?"
	"Of course not, son. I never said that. But with no heirs of your
own to carry on the dojo, you must be wed to another. Soun's final wish
was that if a situation like this arose, you would marry another of the
girls and the dojo would carry on. Luckily, Nabiki has not yet married."
	"This is ridiculous, pop!! I love Akane! And what about Nabiki?
What if she doesn't want to marry me? What if Kasumi hadn't married Tofu??
Or.."
	"No questions, Ranma." Genma said.  "I understand what you are
going through. I'm sorry. But we have all been through enough to
understand where our responsibilities and honor lie."
	Ranma thought about it. As long as Akane was alive, these
arrangements didn't exist. If Akane did die.. well.. Ranma didn't think he
could go on. Keeping the thought to himself, Ranma finally spoke "Hai. The
dojo must carry on. I'll do as you ask."
	"Thank you, son. You do Soun and I great honor. He would be proud."
Genma said, tears churning from his eyes, as Ranma left.
	Ranma had left the light on in the bedroom. He missed Akane by his
side at night. He never felt as bad as he did now. The only world he knew
was crumbling around him, and there was nothing he could do about it. He
lay on the futon, not bothering to undress and tried to think of more
happier times...but none would come to him as sleep embraced him. 


	With some time to kill before going home, Akane and Ranma had
wandered off together away from the others, trying to get some time alone.
Akane was safe from the plans of Colonge, who led them to China and had
once again tried to trick Ranma into marrying Shampoo.
	"I hate this place. It gives me the creeps." Akane said.
	"I'm surprised no one has destroyed it." Ranma commented. "It's way
too dangerous."
	They looked out together over the cursed springs. A common chill
brought them together in a embrace.
	"Do you know which ones are which?"
	"Of course not. The only one who knew was the Jusenkyo Guide, and
he never bothered to mark any of them."
	"Ranma... Why didn't you or your father ever ask him which one was
nannichuan and reverse the curse?"
	Ranma had never thought about it. That solution was too... simple.
"Uhhh... I dunno"
	"Maybe you like being a girl half the time?"
	"No I don't stupid tomboy!"
	"Jerk"
	"Macho"
	"Baka"
	"Uncute, unsexy..."
	The kick sent Ranma high into the air. She had promised Kasumi
never to strike someone in anger, but Ranma made things easy for her to
forget. 
	Akane had just realized that she had directed Ranma towards the
springs. "Oh no!! Ranma!! I'm sorry!" She couldn't stand for him to be
cursed with something else. Everyone was used to his girl side. This was
bound to cause more problems and bring more hardships to their
relationship.
	A loud splash directed Akane to Ranmas' landing point.
	"Ranma!! Ranma!!!" She kneeled in front of the pool.
	Ranma's form moved under the surface. Akane could not make out
what was going on under the bubbles and ripples.
	"AHHHH!" Ranma surfaced... as Ranma??!
	"RANMA!!" Akane shouted! "It's.. You..."
	"I'm a guy!" Ranma looked at himself in disbelief. "I.. I'm cured!!
I'm CURED!!!"
	With new found joy, Ranma leapt into the air, bouncing from tree
limb to tree limb. Akane watches him, crying with shared happiness.
	Ranma finally calmed down enough to be by Akane's side.
	"This is the happiest day of my life!!" He bursts.
	"Oh, Ranma, I'm so happy for you!"
	"Akane?"
	"What is it, Ranma?"
	"I want to make this day really special. I want the icing on my
cake.."
	"What are you talking about?"
	"Akane, we've known each other a long time and.. well, even
though.. uh... and our parents really want us to.."
	"Ranma what are you saying??"
	"Akane... I love you." he brought her in close. "Will you marry
me?"
	Akane was shocked, for the longest time she wanted to hear this.
It seemed so unreal and yet.. "Ranma... of course I'll marry you stupid
baka." She whispered as she kissed him.
	"Macho" He replied with his own.
	After a few more insults, each with a kiss more passionate than
the one before, Ranma came up with an idea.
	"We have to mark the Nannichuan somehow." He ran to a nearby tree
and with a loud kei, lopped off a branch. He returned and placed the
branch firmly in the center of the pool between the two bamboo poles.
"There. Now everyone can return to normal. Pop, Mousse, Ryoga.."
	"Why would Ryoga need the pool, Ranma?"
	"Uhhhh.. Err... Because he can use the extra help."
	"I wish you wouldnt make fun of him, Ranma. He's your friend and
deserves better. You treat him almost as bad as P-Chan."
	"Yeah.. well. Let's get back. It looks like it's going to storm
soon.
	Upon their arrival back at the long aboandoned Jusenkyo
grounskeeper's house, Ranma boasted of his discovery of Nanichuan, his
cure and his and Akanes' final breakdown to get married. After several
dousings to prove his point, a great celebration went underway. Outside,
however, The oncoming storm Ranma and Akane witnesed before grew with as
much rage as the happiness in the house.
	The next morning, when the party had returned to the springs,
branches and leaves covered the springs from the violent storm, erasing
the mark Ranma had left. 


	Ranma, with Ryoga in tow, returned to Tofu's center. After
checking on Akane, they went into a small, private room. 
	"I have news, Ranma. I've identified the poison." Tofu announced as
Ranma perked up. "It's called Iocane. A very slow acting poison. It's
origin is in..."
	"..China, isn't it?" Ranma said.
	"I'm not an expert on such things, but I'm pretty sure.. how did
you know?"
	"It all fits now. The slow poison acts as a time limit. It's
Colonge. She wants me to come to her."
	"But Shampoo and Mousee.." Ryoga interrupted.
	"Are married, I know. I don't know why she wants me there, but I'm
sure she'll have the cure."
	"I'll go with you, old friend." Ryoga said.
	"I wish to go also.."
	"No. Doc, you have to stay and watch after Akane. I know you will
take good care of her."
	"Hai."
	"Ryoga."
	"To the death, my friend, lets go!"
	"No."
	"WHAT??"
	"This is something I have to do alone... For Akane."
	"Yes." Ryoga said, with an odd grin. "I suppose it is." 

	Upon his announcement at the dojo that he was leaving for China,
Ranma was showered with tear-filled "good-lucks". Ranma then retreated to
his room to pack a few things when a figure appeared at the doorway.
	"Nabiki?"
	"Ranma-Chan. I request to accompany you on this journey." The
ultra-seriousness in her voice caught Ranma by surprise.
	"What? You can't be serious, Nabiki. I don't know what kind of
situation I'm going into, but I know it will be dangerous. I can't risk
your life, also."
	"You will not refuse me." She demanded. "I will go because Akane is
my sister, I will do her honor. Believe it or not, I still have some
skill."
	"Akane told me that you and Kasumi used to practice when you were
young. But I don't.."
	"Also if we come back to.. the worst, we will need this time
together to prepare ourselves."
	What she said began to make sense to Ranma. Although he didn't
know which reason she gave was more valid, he made his decision. "I
suspect that you're packed and have booked us for a flight to China?"
	"Hai, I have."
	"Then let's go." 


Part 3 - THE PLANE

	The plane ride was not unpleasant. Ranma and Nabiki talked about a
lot of different things. Ranma got tired of the small talk, and still
being somewhat awkward towards women, asked her outright. "Nabiki.. Do
you... like me?" 
	"Ranma.. You are my sister's husband."
	"That's not what I asked."
	"..."
	"The truth, Nabiki. You said this time was for us to.. well..
prepare for the worst."
	Nabiki had a sad look on her face. Ranma had seen her expel so
more emotions in the past 24 hours than in the many years he knew her.
	"When you first came to us, I had no idea what to expect. All I
knew was that one of us was to be your wife. I did know it would be
between Akane and I, because Tofu and Kasumi were already seeing each
other." She paused and took a deep breath. "Upon the announcement that you
were to choose one of us.. Kasumi didn't want to give up Tofu and I..."
	"You what?"
	"I was scared."
	"Scared? You?"
	"I didn't know anything about you. I panicked. So to rid ourselves
of problems, we 'mutually' decided it was to be Akane."
	"I see."
	"Don't get the wrong idea, Ranma. We were quite young at the time."
	"I can understand that."
	"And.. believe it or not.. I was.. jealous sometimes."
	"It never seemed that way. The only thing you ever seemed
interested in is money."
	"You should know better than that. Our father raised us better. We
all knew where our duties lied. A good portion of that money went to the
house, you know that."
	Ranma had been taken aback by everything Nabiki had told him. He
sat bewildered in the chair, not knowing what to say. 
	"What about you, Ranma?"
	"..."
	"Did you ever think of me?"
	"To be honest, It did cross my mind on several occasions." Ranma
said.
	"The thought of a fiancee never was your main concern."
	"I was pre-occupied. A curse and a arranged marriage is a bit too
much for someone that age to bear." Ranma paused. "Besides, manipulating
Kuno all the time must have made up for it."
	"Kuno.. was...." She blinked. "A mistake."
	"I thought you really liked him."
	"For a while, yes." Nabiki started. "But he was.."
	"Nothing like me thank god." Ranma joked.
	Nabiki took a long deep breath. "Exactly."
	Ranma was blown away from that one. "...what..."
	"Kuno was nice, but he didn't have a clue most of the time. Taking
advantage of him wasn't much fun after a while.. it was.. a job. That's
when I thought I'd have been better off with an arranged fiancee."  She
finished, tears welling in her eyes.
	"Nabiki... I'm sorry. I had no idea."
	"Ranma.." She grabbed his hand, "What it all comes down to is.. I
hope we succeed. I think it will be too hard for both of us to start over
again."
	With that said, he smiled his agreement and squeezed her hand. She
then laid her head on Ranmas' shoulder. Ranma slipped his arm around her
to help comfort her.
	He held her for a while. It felt good to hold someone again. A
long time ago, he had admired Nabiki (If only she hadn't worried about
money all the time..), and again pondered over what it would have been
like to be engaged to her... or Kasumi. 
	With a sudden realization that this felt _good_, he began to push
her away. They looked at each other. A heartbeat passed.
	Nabiki moved in closer.. "Ranma... keep in mind that I may be a
better choice than seppiku." She whispered. He wondered how she knew.
Nabiki was very special, indeed. He moved to meet her when he looked into
her eyes. In them he saw Akane. He flooded with guilt.
	He turned bright red. "I'm sorry, Nabiki."
	"Ranma.. It's okay."
	"It's not, Nabiki. I.."
	"Ranma... We're only human. I think Akane would understand."
	I hope she lives long enough to tell me that herself, Ranma
thought as the plane and his thoughts drifted on.. 


	The wedding went on without any major outbreaks. All was quite
peaceful at the reception. Soun couldn't stop crying from the happiness he
felt. If he doesn't stop soon, Ranma thought, in this heat he'll cry
himself into dehydration.
	"Ranma, why didn't Ryoga show up?" Kasumi asked. "Wasn't he
supposed to be your best man?"
	"You know him, he's as lost as yesterday." He said eyeballing
P-Chan in the corner of the dojo. I have a feeling that he'll show up
tomorrow"
	"Ranma, I thought I told you to talk nice about him!!" Akane
remarked.
	"It's hard to be nice to someone who wants to kill you half the
time."
	"Does that include me?" She asked.
	"Of course, not." He said, kissing her nose. "You're my little
tomboy."
	"I don't know whether to kiss you or kill you."
	"If you kill me, you won't get to kiss me anymore."
	Akane thought it over. "Death it is.." She said. "It will be a
long, slow death where I'll torture you by being your wife for the rest of
our lives."
	"GOOD LORD, NO!" Ranma said. They both smiled and hugged each
other.
	Ranma decided to finally go talk to Ryoga. "Hiya P-chan."
	The pig let out a snort of disgust. 
	"I thank you for not ruining my wedding. I know you had something
planned to break it up, but I didn't think you counted on being a pig for
the day."
	Ryoga twitched with anger.
	"One more thing, I hope you don't plan on being in our marital bed.
You may be used to sleeping with Akane, but I think it's my job now."
	The last straw being broken, Ryoga sunk his teeth into Ranmas'
arm.
	"YEEEEOOOOW! You little.."
	Ranma threw Ryoga across the room. Ryoga quickly recovered. Taking
up what would be a pig's battle stance.
	Akane witnessed the entire incident, and quickly ran to her new
husband. "Ranma! Leave him alone!! Don't you DARE ruin this day!!"
	Ranma did not want to cause a scene at his own wedding. "You're
right, Akane." With a last leer, he turned away intending to cool off
outside by the pool and mingle with some guests. Akane went started over
to P-chan , ready to calm the pig.
	P-chan, however, had other ideas and leapt over Akane towards
Ranmas' turned back. 
	"Ranma! Look out!" Akane cried.
	Ranma turned, and seeing the pig-shaped blur coming towards him,
instinctively ducked. The pig went over his intended target and crashed
into Kasumi, who happened to be carrying a tray of hot water for tea.
	The room fell silent as a naked Ryoga materialized.
	No one could move. Ryoga was bright red, a combination of the
scalding water and embarrassment. He ran out the door, crying
hysterically.
	Everyone was still frozen in place in disbelief.
	All but Ranma, who stirred himself awake. 

	Ranma awoke with Nabiki curled up next to him on the plane. The
dream was what had happened long ago. Why were pieces of his past coming
to him in his sleep? Before he could think any more of it, the plane went
into It's final descent. 


Part 4 - CHINA

	Ranma let Nabiki drive the rented land rover. He didn't mind very
much, not knowing how to drive. Unfortunately, neither did Nabiki. Several
near-accidents later, they came to the outskirts of the Amazonian village,
just a few short miles from the cursed springs.. the long banned training
ground of the Amazon tribe.
	"Nabiki... I want you to wait here."
	"No." She said stubbornly. "I have to go through with this all the
way."
	Ranma didn't want to put Nabiki in danger. Too much was already on
the line, and he told her so.
	"Please, Ranma."
	"I need you to stay here in case I need a fast getaway."
	"But.."
	"No buts.. I'll be back as soon as I can."
	Ranma jumped out of the vehicle before Nabiki could say another
word.
	He made his way through the village. Finally he reached his
destination. He pounded on the flimsy door.
	"OLD GHOUL!" He shouted. "COME OUT AND FACE ME!"
	"Son-in-law?" came a voice from within. The door opened and Colonge
emerged on her staff.
	"You have no right to call me that. Especially when Mousse married
your precious Shampoo."
	"You will _always_ be the rightful son-in-law. No matter who else
Shampoo has married."
	"Have you poisoned Mousse, too, Old ghoul? A last chance at
bringing Shampoo and I together?"
	"I don't know what you're talking about."
	"LIAR!" Ranma shouted, as he attacked the old woman.
	"I don't know what you want, son-in-law, but I will defend myself
accordingly."
	In a blind fury, Ranma attacks again. Colonge, being well more
than experienced, blocks Ramna's attempt. Smacking him back into the front
yard. "You have to do better than that son-in-law." She boasted. "And I'll
not have you wreck my house in the process. If it's a fight you want,
follow me! I know the appropriate place." She bounced away on her staff.
She still had her vitality after all this time. And she still knew how to
push Ranma's buttons, for he followed her blindly. 

	Nabiki caught a glimpse of Colonge and Ranma dashing though the
trees. Heading back towards... without a second thought, she turned the
engine over and went after them. 

	<<I should have known better>> Ranma thought. The old woman had led
his straight to the cursed springs. "An interesting trick, Ghoul." Ranma
said, trying his best to remain calm. "I thought your tribe is forbidden
to use these training grounds."
	"Yes, but..." She grinned with malice. "..this is -not- a training
session, now is it?"
	With that said, she leapt into a series of attacks which Ranma
blocked easily. However, she had repositioned him to where he would have
to retreat to the poles sticking up from the pools. He leapt upward,
landing firmly balanced on top of one. Colonge took position A few poles
away in front of him.
	"Stop now, son-in-law. I wouldn't want you to make a mistake."
	"If Akane dies because of you, old ghoul, I'll make she won't be
alone!"
	He leapt towards her. His kei was shouted, but his mind was
preoccupied with hundreds of visions and scenarios featuring Akane..
mostly dead. The strength from the anger was easy to tap into, but harder
to focus into a useful fighting tool.
	Ranma went easily into Colonge's counter-attack. Failing to land
on a bamboo pole, he fell, dizzied and earthbound...
	NO! He thought. Don't let me land in a... Before he could finish
he was underwater. The change was swift. He knew just by the sensations
alone that he was back to where he had started.
	He surfaced, not even bothering to look at his restored-female
form. He had given in to his rage, and had paid the price for it.
	Nabiki came running out from a path from the edge of the pools.
"Ranma!! Oh no! What have you done to him?" She ran to Ranma and led her
out of the pool. Ranma was beaten.. badly. She seemed in some sort of
shock.
	"Only what he wished for.. I gave him his fight. I hope he has
learned his lesson."
	"He didn't want a fight, only the antidote for the Iocane!!"
	"Iocane? It takes way too long to be of any practical use. Besides,
we have to import it from Australia."
	"What?" Nabiki asked.
	"We have a distribution deal with the manufacturers there. Only our
assassins use it when they want to be long gone after the victim is
injected."
	"Then you have an antidote?" Nabiki asked.
	"Like I said, only our assassins use it. Assassins rarely carry the
cure for an intended taget, now, do they?"
	Nabiki thought for a moment. "Ranma, come on, snap out of it. I
don't think she's responsible."
	Colonge, sensing that whatever it was they wanted had been found,
and quietly left.
	Ranma's head was reeling. Everything fell into place. "You're
right. We have to get back to Japan."
	"Ranma, what about...your.. uh.."
	"I'll deal with it later!! I know who's behind it all!!" 


Part Five - HOME

	Ramna burst into the Tendo-Saotome Dojo with Nabiki behind him.
	In the dining area was Genma, Kasumi and...
	"RYOGA!!"
	"Ranma! You're back! Did you get the antidote?"
	"YOU BASTARD!!" With a powerful punch, Ranma sends Ryoga through
the wall into the dojo.
	Ranma began to move forward for another assault, when his father
grabbed him.
	"What are you doing??"
	"It was you, wasn't it Ryoga?"
	"Ranma!" Genma shouted, "Stop this!"
	"You poisoned Akane! And you thought that with the lead to China,
that Colonge would finish me off as well!!"
	"What?" the others gasped.
	"Only someone like you would wind up in Australia!! That's where
you picked up the Iocane, right? What did you intend to do if word came
back I was dead? Would you have revived her and lied to her?"
	Ryoga stood, trickles of blood dripping from his mouth and nose.
"Yes." He admitted. "I hadn't thought you would catch on this quickly,
Saotome. And I didn't think that Nabiki would be around to help speed up
your travel time." He paused. "I love Akane still. More than you'll ever
know. I'd do anything to be with her."
	"Even kill her?"
	"I had no intention of letting her die!" He shouted. "Everything
was under control! I was just waiting to hear of your death!"
	"What if your little plans had failed, Ryoga?"
	"If she had died, I would have the pleasure of seeing you in
torment for years. Either way, I would have Akane or my revenge!!
Bwaaahh-ha-ha-ha!" He said "The way you lied to us about the nannichuan."
	"That was no lie and you know it!!"
	"The humiliation at the wedding!!"
	"That was you're own fault!"
	"And for being the one directly responsible for my cursed from!!
It's because of you had fought me back in junior high, I would never have
followed you into any of these tortures!! All these years living as a pig!
Not knowing who will try to eat me!! I could bear it no longer!"
	There was no way Ranma could reason with Ryoga now. Driven by
hatred and pain carried for so many years had finally brought Ryoga over
the edge.
	"Akane understood! She took care of me!! She protected me from
those who would turn me into stir-fry!! She LOVED _ME_ Dammit!" Ryoga
screamed. "NOT YOU!!"
	Genma stepped forward, ready to pound the insane man..
	"He's mine" Ranma announced.
	Both men took up their standard poses. Ranma fuming with anger,
desperatley tried to keep himself in control, remembering his mistake from
his recent battle with Colonge. He also had to get that antidote from
Ryoga.
	Ryoga, seeing that he could not stand against both Ranma and
Genma, launched his attack, hoping to down at least one of them before his
time. "I won't let you eat me, Ranma! I'll see you go to hell, first!!"
	Ryoga had learned much on the road, Ranma thought as they traded
blows. But Ranma always was, still is, and always will be better than him.
Bouncing around the walls of the dojo, both of the men begin to tire.
Feeling fatigue set in, Ryoga powered up his last chance, fuming with a
red aura. Ranma seeing he should waste no time, made his counter-attack,
using the simple roasting-chestnut technique.
	For what seemed like an eternity, Ranma hammered into the man.
Slowly, Ranma began to hear the others in the room. Kasumi crying. Nabiki
trying to comfort her elder sister. His father screaming to finish the
job. A vision of Akane set in his mind. 
	Ryoga had had enough. Killing him will bring me down to his level,
Ranma thought as he stopped, leaving Ryoga a bloodied, broken heap on the
floor. 
	"It's over." He announced. He kneeled down, and quickly rummaged
through the beaten man's pockets, finding the antidote. "Kasumi, bring
this to your husband.." he said tossing her the vial, "Quickly, I don't
know how much time there is left."
	Ranma straightened up and turned to join his father and Kasumi.
	"Not yet, Ranma." A ruff Ryoga muttered. He released a Kei, and the
previously stored red power blast that until now, had been unreleased.
	"NO!"
	In the blink of an eye, Nabiki, had knocked Ranma out of the way,
taking the blast in her chest. Genma leapt over the two, picking up the
fallen Ryoga, whose remaining strength had left him.
	"Nabiki.."
	"I'm sorry, Ranma." She said weakly.
	"Don't be. Everything will be all right.. I'll get you to Tofu.."
	"No, Ranma. I lied about my training. I'd forgotten all I'd learned
years before you even came to us... I just don't have the strength."
	"..."
	"Ranma.. hold me.. please.."
	Ranma held her tight. "Nabiki."
	"Ranma..."
	"Anything.."
	With her strength ebbing away, she drew him closer and kissed him.
"Take.... care of my sister."
	Nabiki went limp in his arms. Ranma, tears running down his face,
lay her down. He took off his shirt and covered her.
	"You little bastard.. " Genma said to Ryoga. Ready to pick up where
his son had left off.
	"Go ahead.. Do it." Ryoga spit back. "You'll finally get the
stir-fry you've wanted for years.."
	"Gladly.."
	"No, Pop."
	"What?"
	Ranma had a grim look on his face. He tried to compose himself,
and went on.. "Of all things, you've tried to make sure I knew where honor
lies. It's part of martial arts training. Even within that twisted mind of
his, Ryoga knows this. With what he has done, he has failed to become a
true martial artist. Let him go, knowing that for the rest of his life, he
is a coward, a failure.. and has no honor."
	Genma realized this was true. He had brought up his son better
than he had hoped.
	"Ryoga," He announced "get out of here." And dropped him to the
floor. 

EPILOGUE

	A tired Ranma and a wheelchair-bound Akane were the last to leave
Nabiki's service. They had laid her next to her father. She was coming
along quite well, and according to Dr. Tofu, should be back to normal in a
week or so. The money Nabiki had left them was a shocking amount. They
wouldn't have to worry about much.. except for..
	"Ranma, aren't you afraid Ryoga will come back?"
	"I don't think so. His disgrace should keep him away. I'm sure
he'll take caution and read road signs a little more carefully in the
future. I hope the authorities find him first, though. He needs
professional help."
	"That's good. I don't think I could look at him.. or P-chan again
after all he's done." She started.
	They went over the newly-rebuilt bridge and stopped, looking over
the flowing river into the setting sun.
	"Your father told me about you falling in the spring.."
	"I should have known better..."
	Ranma thought it over for a moment.
	"Akane, do you want to revoke our marriage?"
	"What? Why?"
	"Since I had this curse, I never felt comfortable.. with myself. I
wanted to rid myself of it before I married you. Now that I'm cursed again
I dont feel that.." 
	"Stupid baka, listen to me." Akane started. "I don't care about
some silly curse. I never did. What matters is that I love you. Deep down
I always have."
	Ranma finally understood that it didn't matter what came between
him and Akane. The barriers he thought would keep them apart so long ago
never really existed. They were in love and destined to be together.
	He smiled and knelt down to kiss his wife. "You are so uncute." He
said.
	"I love you, too." 


The End

-----------------------------------------------------------
Author's notes & raves.. 
For those of you who are reading this, please ignore all of my ignorant
points of the series and of Japanese culture. I just thought this would be
a cool story to tell. A revision may or may not be re-posted about.. 

Iocane is, of course, a fictitious poison, and also stolen from another
story (Two points to whoever figures out where from). I was to lazy to
look up a real one. 

This story is dedicated to my Bestest bud, GMANN7 for turning me on to
Ranma to begin with. 

Comments (No flames, please!!) can be sent to: 
IMAFREEK@AOL.COM