Kuno met them on the way to the clinic.  He had been on his way to the 
training hall to ask Akane out.  After a some what subdued argument with 
Ranma over who Akane was to be dating he seemed to catch the mood of the 
group and fell in step next to Nabiki.[1]  Akane wondered about that.  
Kuno seemed really subdued, like it was all just a formality he felt 
obligated to perform.  Weird, but then that whole family was weird.

   "Nabiki Tendo, what tragedy has befallen you to bring you to this state?"
   "What?"
   "What happened to your eye?"
   "Oh.  Akane hit me."
   "What?!"
   Nabiki began to enjoy the conversation, this could get good, "Oh its 
ok.  She was being possessed be an evil sorcerer."
   "Akane was possessed?!"

   Ranma wished Nabiki would shut up.  She was going to get Kuno riled 
up, and then there would be a fight.  Then everything would get blamed on 
him.  Somehow it always did.  He could see Akane beginning to fume.  She 
knew what was coming next as well as he did.

   "She seems to be better now . . . but you never know.  It could be a 
trick."
   "WHAT!?!?"
   "Come to think of it none of us might be safe."
   "Do not fear Nabiki Tendo, I, Tatewaki Kuno will be more than a match 
to any sorcerous attacks upon your sister."
   Nabiki paused.  It was the first time she had ever, in memorable 
history, heard Kuno refer to Akane indirectly.  She thought of the rose 
in her room, "Gee Kuno baby, I feel safer already."
   He looked at her oddly.  She wished she hadn't said that and looked away.

   Ranma leaned close and whispered, "is it just me or is Kuno acting weird."
   Akane glanced back at Kuno and Nabiki.  It was weird, they almost 
looked like a couple, "uh, i think your right, he is acting weird.  why?  
are you jelous?"

                               *

[1] Actually Kuno had no idea of the mood of the group.  It was just that 
he was beginning to find it hard to chase after Akane and the Pig Tailed 
girl in front of Nabiki.  It, it didn't seem, well, it just didn't seem 
polite.  It felt wrong, and some how he felt like he needed to a perfect 
gentle man near her.  A part of him would have liked to hate that, but he 
really didn't.

                           ************

   Ryoga clenched his fists.  The black man refused to tell him 
anything.  How he got here, why he didn't wake up after dying, what came 
next, "Look, damn it!  If this is the afterlife then you have to tell me 
what's going on!"
   The black man smiled, it wasn't a pretty thing to see, "Mr. Hibiki, I 
believe you are mistaken in your impressions of the afterlife.  No one 
need tell you anything.  However I will tell you that this is a test."
   "A test?!  Of what?!"
   "It is a test of you."
   "Of course its a test for me!  But what is the test about?!"
   "You."
   "Damn it!  If you keep this up I'm going to kill you!"
   "oh?"
   Ryoga was not slow, though Ranma made him look slow.  Nor was he weak, 
there weren't many people who would argue that point, however, the black 
man could.  Ryoga never saw him move.  One minute Ryoga was sure to put 
fist in the black man's face, the next the black man was holding Ryoga's fist 
in his hand.  Then he squeezed.  Ryoga thought he felt bones break.  He had 
never begged for mercy in his life, but he was beginning to consider it.
   "Does it hurt?  I know a thousand ways to hurt your hand worse.  This 
is the beginning of what will happen to you if you should fail this test."
   The black man let go of his hand and Ryoga gasped, "But how will I 
know what the test is?"
   The black man looked stared into his eyes, "It begins now."
   Ryoga heard Akane scream behind him.

                           ************

   Akane screamed and then backed into him.  Then it caught his eye, 
Ryoga.  Ryoga is dead?  Akane spun around, there were already tears 
running down her cheeks.  Ryoga is dead?  Akane put her face against his 
chest and began to sob.  Ryoga is dead?  Ranma heard Nabiki ask what had 
happened to him.  Dr. Tofu said something about jumping.  Ryoga is dead?  
Dr. Tofu brought out a picture of him in his girl form and Akane.  They 
seemed to be holding each other.  Ryoga is dead?  Dr. Tofu explained that 
the picture was found in Ryoga's hand.  He suspected suicide.  Ryoga is 
dead?  Ryoga?  Nabiki stumbled back out of his line of sight.  Ryoga?!  
But, Ryoga knew!  He couldn't think.  Why would he.  Ranma thought about 
all the other irrational things Ryoga had done.  oh no . . .

   Kuno watched the scene.  He felt completely out of place.  Akane was 
screaming and crying, Ranma was holding her and starring at the body in a 
daze.  He listened to the doctor talk about the possible suicide.  He saw 
the picture.  He recognized the quality.  It was no doubt a Nabiki snap 
shot.  He'd bought enough to know what they looked like.  It featured 
the pig tailed girl and Akane in an embrace.  Kuno wondered why those two 
would be holding each other like that.  He'd have to ask Nabiki, she 
apparently knew.  
   It was a strange feeling.  Nothing seemed very important.  Some part 
of him wanted to grab Nabiki and demand to know what the picture was 
about, but it was a small part of him.  It just didn't seem as 
important.  Kuno looked at the body again.  He knew this man.  He'd seen 
him before . .. Ryoga?  The name seemed right.  He had never struck Kuno 
as the suicidal type.  Something seemed wrong.  Like a flower in winter.  
There was something going on.
   Nabiki stumbled back from the photo like she'd been struck.  Kuno 
reached out and stopped her from falling.  If it was her photo that 
caused Ryoga to kill himself, then it made her a murderer by default.  
No, Nabiki wasn't that type.  There was a set up here.  He could feel it.

   "Akane.  Ranma, how can you," Ryoga noticed the blank look on Ranma's 
face, "Ranma," he turned back to the black man, "Why are you doing this 
to them?!"
   "Why do you think I am?"
   "Cause your evil!  Cause you want me to feel bad!"
   "Oh, I suppose evil plays a small part in this, but not really."
   "WHY THE. . . ."
   "RYOGA!!!!  YOU MORON!  WHY'D YOU GO AND DO SOMETHING STUPID LIKE THIS!!!"
   Ryoga stared at Ranma, what?  How dare he say that, "You jerk!  I 
didn't do anything!  Why are you molesting Akane while I'm here dead!  
You . . ."
   "YOU big jerk," Ranma's voice cracked, "don't you know I would have 
let her go. . . ."
   Ryoga stared at Ranma, he could see Ranma was going into hysterics.   
But, why was, he and Ranma were, they were rivals.  They . . .
   "Ryoga Hibiki, is that what you really think," asked the black man.
   "But I never . . ."
   "I asked you a question."
   "I always thought he . . .," Ryoga wished he could talk to Ranma.  
This wasn't fair.  Ranma had always seemed like his worst enemy, but now, 
now, looking back . . . Ranma had always looked out for him.

                           ************

   Anger looked at his hand, two queens, a jack, a five, and three 
fours.  He was loosing.  He hated to loose.  He really hated to loose to 
Emotion and Fellowship.  They were so cheery and happy to win, but if you 
yelled at them they got that scared defenseless look.  That was worse.  
Stinking Doubt had to open his big mouth . . . "You got any fours?"
   "Your supposed to ask someone Anger.  Does who have any fours?"
   "DO YOU HAVE ANY SODDING FOURS!!!"
   "No.  Go . . "
   "If you say fish I'm gonna tear your head off and sh . . ."
   There was a crash, like all the china in the world being knocked over 
by the cat and suddenly there was a whirling cloud of electricity.  The 
cloud lasted only seconds before coalescing into Sarcasm.

   Fellowship immediately tried to read his mind.  Quit it Fellowship.  
We have to go to Dr. Tofu's clinic.  He heard her whimper, "We're going 
to the clinic.  Now lets go."
   Anger looked up from his hand, Sarcasm was is a shitty mood.  This 
promised to be good, "Right."
   Despair put his cards down, "I don't think its a good idea.  I think 
something bad. . ."
   Sarcasm cut him off by throwing his hand forward.  The wall opposite 
him exploded away like glass under pressure.  On the other side of the 
wall was Dr. Tofu's clinic.

                           ************

   "This can't be happening!  I'm not ready!  This isn't fair!!!"
   "The test is over Ryoga Hibiki.  It is not a matter of ready."
   "But I can't leave them like this!"
   "You must.  You have other things ahead of you.  There is no time for 
this mortal realm."
   "SHUT UP!  There's are my friends!  I'm not leaving them crying!"
   "You have no choice."
   Ryoga saw the portal appear.  Where one minute there was a blank wall 
suddenly there were six people.  Four men and two girls.  The men looked 
pissed.  The one with stars on his forehead yelled at the black man, "YOU!  
I've been meaning to kick your ass!  I . . ."
   "Shut up," snapped the pale man, "Well," he addressed the black man, "This 
is your party.  What's supposed to be so fucking wonderful?"
   Ryoga noticed the guy named Kuno was watching the people as well . . . 
Hey!  He can't see them!  They're ghosts like me!  Maybe he can see me, 
"Kuno!  HEY!  Kuno!"
   "He can't see you."
   Ryoga spun around, "Then why can he see them?!"
   The black man smiled, "Because Sarcasm does not care."
   The pale man spoke again, "I asked you a question.  I expect an answer."
   The black man held up a finger, "After I take this one to the pits."
   "Fine," growled the pale man.
   The girl in yellow almost fainted, "You can't let him do that Sarcasm!"
   Ryoga panicked, "Help me damn it!  He's trying to . . . "

                           ************

                               STOP!

                           ************

   The shout rang out across the clinic.  It almost seemed to 
reverberate.  Kuno turned away from the scene, almost reluctantly.  He 
felt as if it were some kind of family reunion.  The pale man in black, 
the girl with the red shoes.  He wanted to know what was going on.  They 
were talking to someone.  Then there was the shout.  The only person in 
sight was a man wearing white.  White shoes, slacks, shirt, Kuno would have
bet money on white socks and underwear.  He was in the doorway.  The aura 
of power that radiated off of him was terrifying.
   "Did you think you could out wit me demon?  I know your every move.  
Your powers are futile."
   The man appeared to be listening to something, then, "Death is no 
obstacle.  My power is beyond the realms of life and death!  WHAT!?!"
   As Kuno watched the man's aura began to swell, and swirl around him.  
Then with a movement like lightning, the man made a single hand gesture 
and a column of bluish fire shot forward toward Ryoga's body.  Just before 
it impacted it seemed to strike some kind of wall, causing it to spread 
out briefly before dissipating.  When the fire was gone, there were two 
more people in the room.  A ghostly image of the boy Ryoga, and a 
creature best described as a demon.  Kuno pushed Nabiki behind him and 
drew his weapon.  He noticed Ranma stepping in front of Akane.  Ranma looked 
ready to jump the demon already.
   "So you show yourself, pitiful.  Observe the power of Morphine," 
cried the man in white rushing forward and slapping his open palm onto 
the chest of Ryoga's corpse.
   The corpse sat up with a sickening crunch.  The ghostly image of 
Ryoga blurred and than disappeared like a piece of static tuned out of the 
universe.  Kuno took two steps forward and prepared to behead the man in 
white, out of the corner of his eye he saw Ranma and Akane rush forward 
their auras flaring.

   Ryoga groaned.  After Morphine had slapped him everything had gone blurry.  
Now his neck was killing him, and it felt like his ribs had been used for a 
xylophone.  He looked around and noticed everyone was starring at him.  
Everyone except the pale man, he was glaring at the black man.  Ryoga 
reached up and rubbed his neck.
   "R r r RYOGA?!"
   It clicked, they were staring AT him, "Ranma?  you can see me?!!"
   "Your not dead!"
   Akane rushed up and threw her arms around his neck (ouch), "Ryoga!  We 
thought you were dead.  I'm so glad your not."
   Akane!  At last you do love me!  Now . .
   "I wouldn't take it quite that far Hibiki," said a voice like a drill 
bit tooth pick.  Ryoga shivered, he'd forgotten the black man.
   Morphine put his arms across his chest triumphantly, "You are helpless 
against my power demon."

   "So what.  Was there some point to this?"
   Morphine looked to his left.  Where the hell did those six people come 
from?  They hadn't been here when he came in.  And just who was this pale 
man in black to address him like . . .
   "Pay attention.  This is the only time I will give you an example."
   Morphine felt his skin crawl.  There was something else going on 
here.  Something he didn't understand.  The demon wasn't even interested 
in him now.  Its concentration was on the others, "Prepare yourself 
demon, your doom is upon you.  Morphine will have his . . ."
   "Shut up."
   Two simple words of command and the pale man froze him in his tracks.  
Morphine could not move.  There was something else about the man.  An 
anger and pain.  Fear, remorse, self loathing.  Morphine smiled.  All the 
emotions that he used to focus himself.  His pain and anguish would take 
Morphine to new highest of power.  And then, the demon was sure to be 
destroyed.
   "Well?"
   The demon held up a finger.  It was a universal thing.  It said "wait 
for it".  Morphine pushed himself.

   Sarcasm watched Ranma, Akane and Ryoga talking.  He was sure 
Fellowship would start up with the ole "look now everything's great" crap 
in a minute.  People didn't think.  Two days, at the most and Ranma and 
Ryoga would be back at each others throats.  They liked it.  It was how 
they related to each other.  He watched Kuno.  He had yet to drop his "at 
the ready" stance.  Nabiki was watching the whole thing like it was a movie.
   "Give"
   Morphine started to move.
   "Me"
   Impressive.
   "Your"
   Most mortal creatures forgot the presence of divine beings immediately, 
or were paralyzed in their presence.
   "Pain."
   He looked at Morphine.  The man had tremendous power.  He was one of 
the few who would excel at anything they chose to do.  It hit him.  That 
was the point.  He could see the possibilities.  It was a complete set 
up.  It was a good example.  No one had seen it.  Morphine didn't get it, 
the others didn't get it.  Sarcasm realized it had even fooled the gods.  
There was just one problem.  What would set him on the right path.
   "You," said Morphine pointing at Sarcasm, "give me your pain.  I can 
make it go away.  You can be happy.  I can take it, I . . ."
   Sarcasm scowled at Him.  That cheesy bastard.  Fine if that's how it 
was to be, "You want my pain?"
   "Yes!  I am the medicine to affect the cure.  I can . . ."
   "Then take it."

                           ************

   At one time or another every one in the world screams.  They all have 
pain, anger, bitterness, regrets, remorse, sorrows . . . They were all 
there.  instantly all the pain in the world flooded in it was gigantic  
it was like a hurricane of pain it never stopped it just went on and on 
and on and the was a little girl in Africa crying because her mother had 
just died of starvation and a wife in Chad was weeping for her husband as 
he died of aids and a monkey screamed as its spine was torn out by the 
tigers claw and adopedealersmotherwasshotbythekidacrossthestreetandanamerican
mancriedandheldhidchildrenontheanaverseryofhiswifesdeathansomekidsdoggothitby
acarandathreeyearoldwasgettinghisfirstspankingandsomeoneflunkedherfinaland
someonelosthislastdollarinaslotmachineandthebankforclosedonaloanandthefamily
dosn'thaveahomeandtheboxesarecoldatnightandheonlyneededonemoredollartobuythe
boosefortoniteandtheworldisn'tfairandmyparentshatemeandatwelveyearoldmissed
themetallicashowandacattoreitsclawonthescreendoorandadogbitagirlonthearmand