Part V
Revelations
<Where am I?> Ryoga asked himself. <Your back where you
started fool!> the voice growled in his head. Ryoga tried to ignore it. But it
was insistent, demanding his attention.
<This is all Ranma's fault.>
<True> the voice affirmed. Ryoga ignored it.
<If it had not been for him, I would not have been cursed.>
<True> the voice said again.
<If it wasn't for him, I would not have to deal with you!>
<True, but if you find Ranma, I can be free of you. You'll be rid of
me>
<True...Shut up damn you. I am sick of listening to you.>
<Well you had better find Ranma than.> Ryoga screamed in
frustration, smashing half a dozen boulders lying about him.
Ever since he had jumped into the nannichuan, ever since, the voice
had been there. At first it had only muttered to itself in the back of his
mind, but the first night had changed everything. The dreams had been the
worst. He had relived everything. He had watched all the tragedies of his
life, all the injustice Ranma had inflicted on him. His struggle to win Akane,
finally having her love him, and then reject him.
<She rejected me. She wouldn't marry me. She still wanted Ranma
even though he was dead to her.>
<You can still have her. You just need to show her that Ranma is
weak. Show her how strong you are. Show her you are her protector.>
<Shut up!>
When he had crawled out of his nightmares in the morning, the
voice had been there, talking to him, pushing him on. Everything he
thought, everything he did was commented on. And always fermenting his
anger against Ranma.
This was the third day with the voice. Slowly Ryoga was feeling
himself slipping. It was inexorable that the voice would win. It said all the
right things. It hated Ranma as much as he did. It promised him Akane.
Looking around Ryoga realized he was back at the Jusenkyo pools.
It even knew where he was.
<Let me help.>
Ryoga laughed. What did it mater if a voice was talking to him? He
wasn't turning into a pig anymore. He was a man. He would destroy
Ranma.
<Hai. Time to return.> Ryoga turned on his heels and walked
away from the pools, glowing with a dark aura of hatred.
<Your walking north, fool. Japan and Ranma are south.> Startled,
Ryoga looked at the setting sun and realized the voice was right again.
<Do you know everything?>
<I know how to help you. That's all you need.> The voice started
laughing in Ryoga's headed, dark and cynical, echoing hollowly in Ryoga's
mind. After a few moments, Ryoga joined his own laughter to the voices.
"You will die Ranma!" he shouted, releasing a blast of dark chi into
the sky. <And Hui-cheng will be mine again.> the voice answered
whispering through Ryoga's mind like the Reaper's scythe.
Ranko fidgeted nervously as she walked down the street next to her
father and Akane. Something was out there and it scared her. Pushing
herself into her father's legs where she felt safe, she made a small nuisance
of herself until her father picked her up, and held her gently in his arms.
Sighing she sunk into the warmth of her father's chest, trusting in him,
feeling the fright disappear beneath his love.
Feeling the fear subside in his daughter, Ranma turned back to his
own problems. He was nervous, almost terrified. Two days of anticipation
and dread and put him on a fine edge. <Why did they have to change the
dinner? Why did my parents have to be there? What do I explain to my
mom? Oh God, what do I do?>
He was glad Akane was walking slowly from the train station to the
Tendo Dojo. Getting there fast was of no importance to him. Actually
getting there at all was not seeming that important right at the moment. A
bath in Akane's apartment was sounding much more so.
For the last two days, he had watched things slowly unravel. He
had known he would face the Tendo's and maybe his father, on the next
day. It was easy to forget about that. Especially since he still had to deal
with Akane. Her mood swings, though coming less frequently, were still
terrible. They had had one nasty fight when she had told him dinner had
been postponed, and that his mother would be there. She was still mad at
him.
No matter what had been said in the park, no matter what they had
promised, it was going to be very difficult for them to reconcile everything
that had happened. Akane was still hurt by his disappearance, still trying
to decide how to respond to the stranger he ad become. And there was
something else bothering her. Something that he did no understand.
It was just too much. He had his own problems to deal with. That
voice in his head had come back after the fight with Akane. Telling
him what he had done wrong, berating him like a child. Ranma just did not
know if he was up to this. He did not know if anyone was.
Sighing, he hugged Ranko against him, seeking comfort in her
presence. It suddenly seemed the most confusing thing in his life had
become the least. Ranko was just there for him. No matter how many
questions and problems she gave him, she had become a source of stability
for him, and that is what he needed now. She needed him, he needed her. It
was very simple. Nothing like what he would have to face tonight.
It had been bothering him for the full two days. What would they
say? How would they react? He did not think he could handle it alone.
<Then don't. Tell her> the voice said. He looked at Akane walking next to
him. She could help, but she was still mad at him. He knew the fight had
been both of their fault in some way, but he knew Akane would not
apologize. It would be easier for him.
"Akane, " he said. She did not answer him, continuing to walk in
silence. He sighed. He had to get through to her, somehow.
Reaching out he grasped her shoulder, bringing her to a stop.
"What do you want, Ranma? We'll be late if we don't hurry," she snapped.
"Well you don't really seem to be in a hurry, yourself," he regretted the
words the moment he said them.
"Ranma no.."
Her voice was rising quickly, her anger showing through, but
Ranma cut short her insult with his apology, "I'm sorry, Akane-chan. It's
just that this has me so on end. I am so confused."
Glancing at Akane, he saw her watching him waiting, still slightly angry.
He pushed on, "I don't know how I am going to explain everything. With
you everything just sort of fell out of my hands. I don't want that to happen
here. If it does, I know something horrible will go wrong. Just like it
always does."
"I'm scared, Akane-chan. What will my parents say? How about my
mom? Have I become a real man, or will I have to commit seppuku? I need
your help in this, Akane-chan. I can't do it alone."
She was still waiting, although the anger was gone now. "I don't
want to shut you out, Akane-chan. I want our engagement to work this
time. No misunderstandings ruining it, or our pride getting in the way. We
have to trust each other, Akane-chan. But we cannot do it unless we let the
other know what we are thinking." <Your getting better. I only had to help
with about half of it.>
<Who are you?> Ranma asked impatiently.
<You know.>
"Ranma?" Akane's voice woke him up quickly.
"Huh?"
"I said how can I help? What is wrong with you?"
Ranma thought for a second. The cure could be as much a curse.
Could he tell her that? How could he explain what was happening? She
would think he was going crazy. He couldn't tell her a lie though, not now.
He sighed and settled for generalities, "To many problems. Too much
keeps distracting me. I'm sorry."
Akane looked thoughtful for a minute and then nodded her head
slightly, "Okay, I'll help Ranma. Your right about all this." That sounded
weird on her tongue. Ranma being right? What was going on here? Akane
shook her head and continued. "We need to trust each other. So what do
you want me to do?"
Ranma smiled slightly. Maybe things would go right for once in his
life. He quickly began talking, explaining what he wanted. Akane jumped in
every so often with her own ideas. By the time they arrived at the dojo,
they were as ready as they could be.
Akane glanced quickly at Ranma. He smiled at her and squeezed
her hand in response. "You'll do fine," he encouraged. She nodded and
opened the door, and walked into her home.
The plan was really simple, but it depended on her. She had to keep
them untroubled and not expecting this. Ranma had said he wanted the
upper hand, more than usual. He wanted to keep them in complete
surprise, so they could not react to him, giving him the ability to have the
whole situation in his control. It would work as long as Akane could keep
things moving along steadily. She was to be the referee, according to
Ranma.
Ranma had laid the entire meeting out like a martial arts match. He
wanted Akane to introduce him into the ring, and then he would introduce
his daughter, hoping the shock value would keep everyone quiet and
stunned long enough for them to herd them to the table. It was a good bet
the table would be set and the family simply waiting for Akane to show.
She had jumped in at that point saying that she could get them to
the table by herself, since they were only expecting her. Then once at the
table she would have him show up with Ranko. It would start them out on
even better footing. Ranma had nodded his acceptance and continued
explaining.
If they could get the entire group to the table and eating, he could
make the whole thing very informal. Besides food was a distraction to even
someone with something more exciting to think about, especially when it
was Kasumi's cooking. She and Ranma could then control things within
reason, and maybe make the night go smoothly. The main point was to
explain everything before they could jump to conclusions.
She was still standing in the entrance way. Behind her she could
feel Ranma and Ranko waiting right at the door. Akane could see her
family moving about in the living room, most moving around aimlessly,
waiting for her. She took a breath and entered the living area.
"I'm here," she said as she entered, "Sorry I am late, but you now
how it is sometimes." Everyone looked up from what they were doing.
"Oh, my daughter, your here!" Soun cried looking up at his
daughter from the shogi game tears in his eyes. Genma-panda quickly made
half a dozen moves and then held up a sign Good to see you.'
"Could you not have been three more minutes, sis?" Nabiki said
from the couch, "Now I won't win the bet." Nabiki smiled, "But it is good
to see you. It has been a long time. How were finals?"
"Oh, they were great," Akane answered. At least Nabiki had not
invited Kuno over for dinner. Those two had become very close lately, and
she did not want to deal with Kuno at Ranma's throat, more for his safety
and her own sanity than any worry over Ranma. She winced as she
remembered their sparring match. He was unbeatable. "I got an A- on my
last final, so that means I will graduate with honors at the end of the
month."
"That's great sis!"
"Oh my daughter is so smart!"
Good job. We knew you could..'
..do it." He finished on another sign, stealing half of Soun's pieces
and rearranging the others. Soun looked perplexed as he saw his position
suddenly reversed, but was too happy with his youngest to care.
"Is that you, Akane-chan?" a voice said from the kitchen.
"Hai, Aunt Nodoka," she answered, "Sorry I am late."
"No problem, we were just finishing up. Is that not right. Kasumi?"
"Hai," Akane's older sister answered.
"Konban wa, Akane," Dr. Tofu said walking in from the back yard,
"How are you feeling?"
"Uh, fine, Tofu-sensei," she answered. The comfortable atmosphere
was making her uncomfortable. Something would go wrong she just knew
it.
"Have you had any more of your spells?" he asked walking over to
look at her.
"Just one, four days ago, but I am feeling better."
"My poor daughter, still grieving."
My son was so lucky.' Genma said accidentally removing half of
his pieces in his grief.
"Four days ago," he said thinking about the date, "That makes a
little bit of sense. It wasn't too bad, was it?"
"No, Ukyou was there," Akane answered quietly, she still hated
when they made all this fuss over her, "I'll be fine, stop worrying about
me."
"You should have invited Ukyou over for dinner, Akane-chan,"
Kasumi said smiling as she brought the food to the table.
"She had to work, and some other things came up," Akane
answered.
"Oh, that's too bad," Kasumi answered, "Well dinner is ready."
Everyone moved quickly towards the table taking their places.
Akane sat between Nabiki and Dr. Tofu. Kasumi set the plates of food on
the table. Nodoka hurried out of the kitchen with the rest. After setting the
table, she sat down next to Genma, and Kasumi sat next to Dr. Tofu. Her
father was at the head of the table, starting to dish out the food.
Everyone began to dig in, the conversation picking up.
"This smells great."
"Arigato, Nabiki," Kasumi and Nodoka answered.
Taste's great too,' the sign said as Genma wolfed down his food.
Akane looked at her food and took a few bites. She was not really
hungry. She was trying to think of how to announce Ranma.
"What's wrong, Akane-chan?" Nabiki asked looking at her sister,
"Aren't you hungry?"
"Not really."
In that case,' Genma reached for her food but was stopped by
Nodoka's katana.
"What's wrong, musume?" Nodoka asked. She had taken to calling
Akane that after she had been told about Ranma, adopting Akane as her
own.
Akane looked at Nodoka and the rest. They were all watching,
waiting for her to answer. It was now or never. <But maybe I can make it a
little easier for Ranma.>
"I guess I'm nervous."
"About what?" several people asked.
"How to tell you."
"Tell us what?" everyone was hanging on her words. Genma had
even stopped eating.
Akane took a deep breath and looked at her father. <Go for shock
value, Ranma had said.> "I have an announcement, Otoosan. I am getting
married." Only Kasumi and Nodoka did not facevault, both looking happy
as ever.
"Oh, my daughter is moving on with her life. What a lucky father I
am to have such a child," Soun cried into his food
"Who is he?" Nabiki asked, "Do we know him?"
"Ah-huh." Akane answered.
"Is it Ryoga?" Nabiki asked quickly.
Akane started, how had they found out about that, "No."
"Well I am sure, whoever he is, he is someone my Ranma would
have approved of," Nodoka said. Akane could barely stop herself from
laughing.
"Oh, Ranma would approve of him very much."
"Well, who is he?" everyone nearly shouted.
"Honey!" Akane called, "Would you please come out here."
Everyone looked towards the entrance of the house. Ranma
stepped out of the shadows, a smile on his face. "Sorry, I'm late, but I have
been a little busy." No one facevaulted. They couldn't there minds had
suddenly shorted out, even Kasumi was stunned.
Before they could react, Ranma was sitting down next to Akane,
and starting to dish out food, still talking, "You wouldn't believe some of
the things I have seen and done. It has been incredible, but I was missing
you all so much, that I just had to come home. Good idea, huh?" He smiled
at everyone, and squeezed Akane's hand.
"R-Ranma," Nodoka finally muttered, staring at her son. "Y-your
alive?"
"Ah-huh," Ranma said, "Sorry about the misunderstanding, Akane
explained it to me. Really I did not know I was dead. If I had, I would have
corrected." Everyone was starting to move again, questions forming on
their lips, everyone was about to ask him a question.
Ranma noticed this and dodged, "Oh, I want you to meet someone.
Musume, you can come in now." Ranko burst from the entryway with
great speed, completely excited by the game her father had created for her.
Rushing forward she squeezed between Ranma and Akane, then settled
down in Akane's lap. Akane hugged the girl tightly to her, and began
getting a plate for her.
"Himechan, this is our family. They are your sofubo," pointing at
Nodoka and Genma-panda, both of whom were having their eyes jump
back and forth between Ranko and Ranma, "That is Aunt Nabiki, and Aunt
Kasumi." Kasumi was actually trying to get over the first complete surprise
in her life, and it had been two surprises, "That is Dr. Tofu, your Aunt
Kasumi's husband. And that is Mr. Tendo, your future sofu."
"Everyone, this is my daughter, Ranko," Ranma announced, "Well I
am starved. I haven't had Kasumi's cooking in ages." He started eating.
That was his mistake. Once he added just a bit of his normal personality, he
lost the edge, and the family overwhelmed him.
Suddenly he was surrounded by everyone. They were crying,
hugging him. He felt his mother kiss him over and over again. Genma and
Soun were both making Niagra look small.
"What happened?"
"Who is her mother?"
"I am so happy your back."
"How could cheat on Akane?"
"Why were you gone so long?"
"Are you cured?"
"We have missed you, Ran-chan."
"What were you doing?"
"What are you going to do?"
"Are you and Akane finally going to get married?"
"Oh my son-in-law. I am so happy"
I knew my son would never die that easily.'
"Quiet! Will you all be quiet!" Ranma shouted. He was on edge.
Ranko was crying at his side. Akane looked like she was about to bolt. "I
said be quiet and I will explain everything." He was floundering.
"SHUT UP!" Akane suddenly screamed, "Let him explain. He does
not need this from all of you!" Everyone stopped what they were doing and
looked at Akane. She was crying again. Ranma took the sudden lull in
combat, to reach out and pull the sobbing Akane and his crying daughter
into his arms. Gently soothing them, he looked at everyone circled around
him.
"Maybe we should not have done it this way, but I knew this would
happen. Neither Akane or myself need this. I came back for your support. I
came back because my life was slowly getting out of hand. I came back
because I missed Akane. I will explain everything. Just give us a moment,
and don't bother us." With that he stood up and walked into the living
room with Akane and Ranko. Sitting down on the couch, he started to
comfort them. <You did well.> <Be quiet!> Ranma snapped, not wanting
to deal with that now.
"He's right," Dr. Tofu said sitting back down at the table, "They
are both very unbalanced right now. Look at them. Let us finish diner and
then talk to them."
Everyone nodded, though their curiosity made them watch Ranma,
Akane, and Ranko. Everyone had questions. Nodoka wanted to go to her
son. She had not seen him since he was a child. When she had found out he
was dead, she had almost killed herself. Genma had prevented her. And
now against her wildest dreams, he was alive and back. She watched him
comfort Akane and his daughter. The way he did it, the way he had
handled the situation. "He is a man, Genma." She said, tears in her eyes,
her voice choking up.
Genma watched his son and nodded. He has grown up. I wonder
where he got the girl?' the sign asked.
"So do I," Nabiki said, seeing dollar signs from all of this. But even
that was held back by her emotions. For some reason she felt ashamed for
swamping Ranma. She couldn't wait to hear his tale, but right now she
could not bring herself to leave the table. What Ranma had said just made
sense. Nodoka was right, he was a man.
Soun was crying uncontrollably, telling everyone that this was the
happiest night of his life.
Kasumi collected a few plates of food and took them over to
Ranma. Setting them down next to him and his crying companions. Ranko
looked at her as she came up. The girl was no longer crying, but she
seemed reluctant to leave her father's company. She was a beautiful child.
Kasumi idly wondered where she had come from.
"Okagesama de, Kasumi-chan." Ranma said looking up at her.
"We're sorry, Ranma," she said.
"I know, Kasumi-chan. There was just no way to do this
comfortably. Finish dinner, and then we will talk then." He turned back to
Akane who was still crying, though it was softer now. Ranma's presence
seemed to comfort and soothe her. Kasumi smiled as she walked back to
the table. She had always known those two were right for each other.
The rest of dinner was a subdued affair. The family at the table
trying to eat and not bother Ranma and Akane. They watched Ranma and
Akane talk together quietly. Finally both of them started eating. When
everyone was finished, they moved into the living room, sat down in
different spots and listened as Ranma told his tale.
The hot water was soothing. Seeping into his muscles and tendons,
relaxing his whole body. The night had not gone as he had expected, but he
had realized a long time ago that nothing ever does. He had survived the
night, that was all that mattered.
Sighing, Ranma closed his eyes, glorifying in the heat of the water.
The night had been an absolute nightmare for him. Akane's breakdown had
been the worst for him. Sitting there holding her, he had found out how
much his death had hurt her. She had become extremely vulnerable. Similar
to Soun Tendo's reaction to his wife's death, in that a small thing could set
her off, Akane's tears were of desperation and depression. It was her way
of retreating from what had hurt her.
For nearly half an hour he had held her and listened to her cry to
herself, talking above her sobs. So much had poured out of her. Ranma had
thought he had understood her pain, but tonight. It had wrenched his heart
listening to Akane. She had suffered so much.
Listening to her, he had discovered that his death had robbed her of
everything she loved. Losing him had just been too big of a blow. She had
never gotten over her mother's death, and just as she had found someone
who could make her happy, she had lost him. It had been too much for her
to bear. She had tried to kill herself that very night, only Nodoka checking
on her had stopped it.
From there he had listened as she cried out the past four years of
her life. The agony of making herself continue each day. If it had not been
for Ukyou and his mother he would have lost Akane years ago. They had
been there to support her through so many days. It was because of them
that she had finally made an attempt to appear normal. She had started
going through with her days, making an effort to live, but she had not
wanted to.
She had told him that she only lived because it would kill those she
loved if she died. Eventually she had to start believing he had not died to
continue. Every day she woke up and told herself that she would see him
again, and every night she would cry herself to sleep, when he did not show
up.
She had lived in denial for those years. Ukyou had been right about
Akane blaming herself, but Ranma had been surprised when she had told
him that she at times she had found her grief turn to anger and hatred
towards him. He could not blame her. Listening to her, he had started to
hate himself for going on his stupid quest. He had ruined her life. How
could she still love him?
Her depression was not all that had happened. She had lost
confidence in herself. She had started to retreat from confrontations. She
could not take the pressure, the uncertainty in her own abilities. She did not
want to face anyone, trying to protect herself. She had lost the spark in her
that had made her Akane. No one had seemed to realize this though. She
had hidden it very well.
Every time that the pressure became to much, she simply broke
down. Everyone thought it was just her grieving at some memory. She had
been crying because she was helpless, unable to do anything. She had come
to depend so much on him as a protector, a friend, someone she could
always count on to be there for her that she lost her own strength in his
death.
That was why she had broken down after yelling at everyone. The
pressure had been too much. She had lashed out, trying to help him, trying
to help herself. She had found her old strength for a second, but then had
collapsed in on herself, not wanting the pressure anymore. She did not
want to face the changes in her life.
Ranma had listened to this and more as Akane had cried in his arms.
He had just listened and soothed her, letting her emotions to run their
course. There were still so many questions. She had mentioned Ryoga
again, and Ranma wondered what he had done. Ukyou had said he had
helped her, but where had it gone? Those were things he knew she would
tell him in time, and he was prepared to wait.
He had finally convinced her to eat, and they had ate in silence,
simply taking comfort in each other being there for the other. After they
had finished, Ranma had noticed the rest of the family watching them.
Taking a deep breath he had motioned them over to hear his tale.
Akane had stayed with him, although he had suggested that she get
some sleep. He was actually glad she had. At times she had helped him
smooth over a few things.
The session had started out with the hundreds of questions he had
been dreading. The crying parents and family trying to get his attention,
touching him to make sure he was not an illusion. He had almost lost it
again, before Dr. Tofu had brought everyone to heel.
Once the questions had died down, Ranma had told them his story,
in a very abbreviated form. He had covered the highlights of his
adventures, but even this had caused so many questions, that it had taken
him several hours to complete the tale. Just telling his story had been the
easiest part of the night, dealing with his and Akane's families had been the
hard part.
Tendo Soun had nearly killed him once he had realized Ranko was
his daughter. As Akane, he had thought he had been sleeping with another
woman. It had taken him ten minutes to stop them all from deciding killing
him would be a good idea. His mother had been bad too.
Ranma had found out that his father had decided that Nodoka did
not need to know of his curse. So Ranma had had the unpleasant task of
explaining to his mother why he had gone off in the first place. The worst
part had been that his mother had understood. He had found out that the
promise his father had given was only a threat for his father not Ranma,
and considering it was a curse that made him unmanly' his mother would
have forgiven him. Killing his father right there had entered his mind
instantly when he had found out. Only Akane's hand on his shoulder and
Ranko sitting in his father's lap, now a human, had prevented him.
His father's stupidity and pride had kept Ranma from his mother for
his entire life. It had taken everything in him to not howl in pain right then
when his mother had told him that she would have forgiven him. Tears
came to his eyes as he thought about it. Not having a mother had affected
Ranma's life greatly. Having to hide from her had always hurt him more
than anything else. He had always wanted to just be loved by his mother, to
have her as a confidant, as someone who would hold him when his curse
and the frustrations of his life became too much. Without her he had grown
up not knowing how to face himself. It was only with the birth of Ranko
that he had been able to face his feelings. She had forced him to grow up.
Explaining Ranko had been the hardest part in the tale. They had
taken his story of the progress of his search in stride. Asking questions for
clarification occasionally, they had listened attentively. When he had told
them of what the old man of the mountain had said about the cure and
what it meant, they had mostly just starred at him, their mouth's opening
and closing, in unison.
Finally Nabiki had said, "How much money do you have on you,
Ran-chan?" He had simply ignored her. Nodoka and Genma had starred at
Ranko, shock etched into their features. Kasumi had only stated "Oh, my!"
Dr. Tofu had starred at him and said simply, "I would like to examine you
and Ranko. Tomorrow?" Ranma had only nodded.
He thought they had finally accepted after a while. Especially after
he had explained that him and his cursed form were two different bodies,
only sharing a soul and mind. It helped that it was impossible for them not
to love his daughter.
Things had died down from there. It had been getting late, so
Ranma had pressed that they all get some sleep. Sleeping areas were
quickly figured out. He and Ranko had been placed with Akane in her
room. Ranma had dragged a futon in to the room, and set it up. Then he
had tucked Ranko in and said good-night to Akane before slipping out for
a relaxing bath.
He had been soaking for at least half an hour. It reminded him of
the dips in the hot springs back in the Himalayas. Maybe he would take
Akane there so they could relax and work everything out. It was secluded
and relaxing. Yes that is what he would do.
His thoughts were broken off as the bathroom door. He glanced up
at it wondering who it was, when he felt a familiar prescence. He sank back
into the water, unworried. Waiting for her.
She was standing in a place she had never been. Although the place
did look familiar. It was rocky and barren, but hundreds of pools dotted the
features. Each had a single bamboo shaft standing in its center.
"Where am I?" she asked, a little scared. This place was dangerous.
It was filled with grief and suffering, she did not like it.
"Your at the beginning and the ending," a woman's voice
answered.
She spun around and looked at the woman. She was slight of build.
An elfin face framed with braided dark hair held light hazel eyes that
starred compassionately at her. She looked familiar, like she should know
her or had met her but forgotten her name.
"Who are you? Does Otoosan know you? Do you know where
Otoosan is?" she asked suddenly remember she could not find her father
anywhere. She could not even feel his prescence in the back of her mind
like she had always been able to do. Suddenly she was very scared.
"I am Hui-cheng. I am part of you, and part of your father. So I
would say your father knows me," she smiled, her face lighting up with life
and beauty.
Though her presence was comforting, and she was not lying,
somehow she knew the woman wasn't, there was something wrong in this
place. Almost like a nasty odor that found you wherever you were, or just
a shadow that blocked the sun for a moment sending a chill down your
spine. "I don't like this place," she whimpered, "I want Otoosan back.
Please let me go home."
"This was never a nice place," the woman said, "Numerous tragic
things have taken place here."
"Then why am I here?" she asked, "I've done nothing tragic, have
I?"
"No. None of this is your fault, Ranko," Hui-cheng explained to
her, "But you are part of what it will take to heal this place."
"How do you heal a place?" she asked perplexed.
"I don't know, but you and your father must do it. I can only.." she
stopped in mid-sentence and looked around, worry and fear on her face. Something malevolent touched her mind. She tried to scream, but
the woman put her hand over her mouth, silencing her. "Shhh, child," she
cautioned, "Don't say a word. We are in danger."
She nodded her head, willing to do anything to get out of this place.
The evil was growing in strength, she felt like she was going to vomit. Just
when she thought she could take no more two figures walked over the lip
of a cliff and down towards the pools. The woman pulled her tighter to her
and moved behind some rocks.
As they came closer she could make them out. One was a man who
looked liked her father. He was about the same size with dark hair caught
in a pig-tail. He wore bandanas and carried an umbrella over his shoulder.
There was a dark splotch on his soul. She could see it. It was eating at him
slowly, but it would eventually consume him. There was something else
there though, pity, sorrow, and repressed love. She could not hate him, he
looked so forlorn, so alone. She wished she could help him.
The man next to him, almost mad her scream. He was a large
muscular man with fierce eyes and shoulder length jet black hair. His body
was covered in black leather armor, a wickedly curved sword hung at his
side, swinging with each step. His soul was a dark whirlwind of hate,
anger, rage, and death. He was slowly feeding the dark splotch on the other
man's soul, encouraging it to grow.
They were close enough now that she could hear them speak.
"Why are we here?" the bandana clad figure asked, motioning at the
pools.
"Because I can only show you what you need to know here." the
dark figure growled.
"As long as I get to kill Ranma and have Akane, I don't care," the
other answered fiercely, the dark splotch on his soul doubled almost
instantly before sinking back to something slightly larger than before. The
dark man watched this and smiled evilly.
Her heart fell like lead in her chest as she heard this. "I won't allow
them to hurt Otoosan." she whispered. The thought of her father hurt
struck terror in her soul. She could never survive without her father. He
gave her everything. He was always there for her. He had been both her
mother and father, taking the roles of both. She loved him completely. She
only wanted to please him, make him happy, and she knew that was all he
wanted to do for her.
Anger flared in her, no one would hurt her father. Jumping up she
shouted, "You leave Otoosan alone!"
"Ranko, nooo!" Hui-cheng shouted pulling her down.
The dark man spun to face the rocks. "You!" he shouted.
"Run!" Hui-cheng shouted, pushing her out of the boulders away
from the pools. Terror gripped her heart, as she sped away from the pools.
Behind her she heard the rage filled shouts of the dark man, ordering the
other man to find and kill her.
She did not look back, she ran and ran, her breath rattling in her
throat, the adrenaline pumping in her veins. Mist slowly enclosed her. She
could hear the scrambling sounds of footsteps behind her. She ran faster,
the mist filling with light. She felt a hand touch her. Screaming she
wrenched forward, and sat up in her bed, tears streaming down her face.
"Otoosan?" she asked looking around, "Where are you, Otoosan?"
She was suddenly scared. Had that man taken her father? She jumped out
of bed. Aunt Akane was sleeping in the bed, she tried not waking her, but
she made a lot of noise trying to get out of the room. As she left the room
looking for her father, she did not see Akane eyes flutter and open, looking
around the now empty room.
She entered the hallway. She saw a light coming from the
bathroom. Her father must be in there. Crying she ran towards the door
and cracked it open. She could feel him. He was in there. Sobbing softly,
the fear still pounding in her heart she pushed into the bathroom.
It was only Ranko at the door, but suddenly his mind opened. Fear
and terror entered his mind. Then he heard her soft sobs. Jumping out of
the bed he rushed to her, picking up his daughter, he held her close to him.
She was shivering in fright.
"What is wrong, himechan?" he asked his voice full of worry.
"He said he would hurt you," she cried, "Then he chased me. Don't
let him hurt you, Otoosan."
"Shh, darling," he comforted as he rocked her slowly, "No one is
going to hurt me. No one will take me away from you. I'll always be with
you. It was just a dream. You had a bad dream."
"But Hui-cheng told me to run," Ranko sobbed, "She was so
scared."
"What?" Ranma exclaimed. How did Ranko know about Hui-cheng? And why was she having dreams about her? Oh God, what is
happening?
"C'mon, let's get you back into bed," trying to think of several
things.
"I don't wanna." Ranko said, "I don't wanna leave you."
Ranma stopped and looked at her, how should he handle this. She
had never refused him before, but then she had never been so high strung
after a dream. "Hai, you can stay here and finish my bath with me. Would
you like that?"
"Hai," she said her face lighting up a bit as she snuffled.
"C'mon, himechan," he said tugging off her pajamas, and carrying
her over to the tub. He hoped this calmed her down enough to sleep. He
was not up to all night child-care.
Sinking down in the tub, he sighed as the still hot water covered his
body. Ranko snuggled against his chest, hugging him tightly, "Don't leave
me, Otoosan." she said.
"I won't, musume," Ranma assured her. He was becoming worried.
She had never acted like this before. He was used to her clinging to him,
especially after the incident at the hot springs, but she had never been
possessive, or scared that he might leave her. That was the farthest thing
from his mind. Losing Ranko was one of his worst nightmares. <What can
I do.>
<Ask about her dream.>
<What?>
<Just ask her, Ranma.>
He sighed and looked at his daughter's red head cradled against his
shoulder. He could still feel her shivering, even in the hot water. "Ranko,
what was your dream about?" he asked.
"Bad," she said.
"Why was it bad?" he asked.
"There were two men who wanted to kill you," she said, "Hui-cheng wouldn't let me protect you. She made me run away."
"Do you know who Hui-cheng is?" Ranma asked.
Ranko shook her head, "No, she was just nice. She told me things."
"What did she tell you?"
"She told me that the place with the pools was very tragic. She said
we had to heal the place, and she couldn't help us. Then the men came, and
they were bad."
"Who were the men?" Ranma asked trying to get everything he
could from his daughter.
"One was a big dark man. He had an evil soul. It was all black and
horrible. The other man was sad. His soul was being devoured by the black
thing. I wanted to help him, but then he said he wanted to kill you. I don't
like him anymore" With that she just huddled closer against him and held
him tightly. She was crying. Gently stroking her soft hair, he sang softly to
her, trying to make it alright. Slowly she settled down, and fell asleep in his
arms. Ranma sighed, she was sleeping peaceful.
<What's this about?> he demanded, <You had better not be
messing with Ranko, Hui-cheng!>
<I see you have finally realized some things, Ranma. But on others
you are still lost. Why would I want to hurt your daughter? She is me, in a
way.>
<Well then why are you in my head? Shouldn't you be in
Ranko's?> He gulped as he said that. Be in Ranko? He looked at his
sleeping daughter. No, she was his daughter, not just some dead Chinese
woman.
<You don't understand, Ranma. She is a reincarnation of me. My
soul is in her, but it is not this one. It is a clean soul that was me. She will
be my second chance, my chance to make things right with my destiny.>
<So who is this man.>
<You know.>
<Stop saying that. I don't know who he is.> Then something
connected in his head. <It can't be Kaidu.>
<It is.>
<He is after me and my daughter? What is going on here.>
<I don't know. The only reason I am here is because the pool's
magic still binds me to you. I can not be free until you finish with the
curse.>
<But I gave birth to Ranko. That was supposed to cure the curse. It
takes a lot for me to change now.>
<Ranko was only one cure, but she is a cure more than for your
curse. You asked how to cure the curse of Jusenkyo. The old man told you
how. My soul entering your body was part of the curse as was the change.
Now my new soul resides in Ranko, but my old self is still in you. Why do
you think you always know what Ranko is thinking about and feeling? It's
the connection I have with her.>
<Was that what that thing that happened at the hot springs was
about? I mean I get in the hot water with her, and suddenly I am screaming
in pain, and then all those images, followed by waking up eight months
later. Were your old and new soul connecting?>
<I'm sorry, Ranma. I don't know what that was. I felt everything
you did. I saw everything you saw, and when you woke up I could hear
your thoughts. I had never been able to do that. Be fore it was like I was
watching a play through your eyes. And I had always been able to talk with
Ranko. I think that is one thing you have to discover for yourself.>
<But, what..?> he stopped. He knew she was not there anymore. It
felt empty in his head. <I must be going nuts.>
During the time the water had turned warm. Ranko was still
sleeping, curled on his chest. He decided that sleep would be a good idea.
Tomorrow was going to be a busy day. He had to go see Dr. Tofu,
shopping with Nabiki and Akane. Time with his parents. Maybe a match
with his father. So much to do.
Yawning he slipped out of the tub, and dressed himself and Ranko,
careful not to wake her, then headed for the door. Turning the lights out he
went back to Akane's room. Quietly he opened the door and went in.
Akane was in her bed, sleeping. Ranma softly put Ranko in the futon, and
walked over to Akane's bed.
The sheets were wrapped around her body tightly. Her breathing
even and deep. She looked so peaceful, so innocent. "I'm sorry for
everything, Akane-chan," he whispered watching her, "I never wanted to
hurt you. I won't ever let anything hurt you again. You have my word."
Bending down he kissed her cheek lightly. "I love you, Akane-chan."
He went back to his futon. And slipped into next to Ranko. Soon
he was asleep.
Akane watched Ranma fall asleep, her mind a confusion of
emotions. She had followed Ranko out of the room and down to the
bathroom. Sitting outside the bathroom door, she had listened to Ranma
comfort his daughter. Listening to him had given her another insight into
Ranma. She had never knew how deep his emotions were. She felt her own
love for him rise as she listened to him and Ranko.
After awhile he had gone quiet, but a little later, she heard him
murmuring to himself. She could not make out the words, but he sounded
like he was talking to someone. She wondered what was going on. Maybe
he was just talking to his Ranko. Finally she had heard him leave the bath.
Quietly she slipped back into her room and into her bed.
As he walked in, she had feigned sleep. After tucking Ranko in, he
had come to check on her. He had watched her for a second and then
whispered that promise to her. She had almost started crying when he had
said those words. She began to see how important she was to him. It made
her feel safe like she used to when he would always protect her. She had
missed that. Then his lips had brushed her cheek. She could still feel them.
She watched Ranma for a time. How could she hate him? He was
so kind now, so different. He loved her, and would do anything for her.
She knew she loved him, but now it was deeper. She wanted to be with
him, she realized. It did not matter what had happened. She needed him
back. She would make it work between them. She promised herself that as
she slipped into sleep.