Hiya!

	Well, here's my latest story... parts 1 and 2 are completed 
drafts, and part three, which is already half done, oughta be finished by 
the end of the weekend, even if it kills me.  C&C is very, very much 
desired - I want to get this one just right.
	Again, I'd like to thank those who C&C'd the first part when I 
sent it a while back.  When I do the final revision, I'll fix up the two 
major flaws that were consistently pointed out to me - the Ryoga/Ranma 
scene, and the scene where Ranma tells of Akane.
	As for the title... absolutely no one who I've already passed it 
by liked it.  I thought it was a rather neat reference to another part of 
the song that I used for the opening quote... but I'm quite open to 
better suggestions.  Please.
	Anyways, here's part one...

	-Mike Noakes
***
                          Apron Strings


     "Mama now I'm coming home
               I'm not all you wished of me;
      A mother's love for her son
               Unspoken, hear me be;
      Well I took your love for granted
               And all the things you said to me;
      I need your arms to welcome me...
               But cold stone is all I see."
-                              Mama Said, by Metallica


     Ranma stepped back, wiping the sweat from his brow, the
training post quivering from his last flurry of punches.  The
bright afternoon sun glinted off his bare chest as he took deep,
calming breaths, winding down from his workout.  He cooled off
quickly, the air crisp and fresh, carrying both a sharp edge
hinting at the coming winter, and the rich, cloying scent of fallen
leaves and cherry blossoms.
     Behind him, Kasumi was laying out the laundry to dry, the
shirts and pants and sheets billowing in the wind.  Some ditty she
was cheerfully humming to herself drifted to his ears; he couldn't
make out the words, but it still brought a small smile to his lips. 
The fathers were playing shogi outside, enjoying tall glasses of
iced tea and the weekend sun, as Nabiki read a book, stretched out
beneath the tree by the pond, listening to a new CD on her discman.
     Turning away from his exercise, he let out a contented sigh. 
Ranma wandered over to the dojo steps while slipping on his shirt,
gingerly stepping around the shattered remains of cinder blocks. 
He smirked slightly - trust Akane to spend such a beautiful day
smashing bricks.  Oddly, though, he hadn't found her loud kiais
annoying, or out of place; instead, they'd sounded, felt, just
right.  Glancing around for her, he caught a glimpse of Akane
heading into the house.  Ranma caught himself smiling at her
retreating back, made a half-hearted effort to stop, and kept on
smiling.
     Sitting on the stairs, he languidly stretched out his legs. 
Everything just feels great today, he thought.  What a beautiful
day.  
     [Behind him, a figure detached itself from the shadows and
skilfully crept toward Ranma, its eyes gleaming evilly.]


     Akane straightened her gi, tightened her belt, and closed the
broom closet with one foot.  She leaned back against the door with
a small grin, feeling happy and relaxed - a mood she'd been in all
too infrequently since Ranma and his father had arrived.  But the
last week had been wonderful: Ranma had managed to remain at least
civil at the worst of times, polite and friendly at his best.  And
then there'd been the firework display two nights ago... their
shoulders had brushed and they'd held hands, watching incandescent
showers bloom in the evening sky.  She smiled at the memory.
     And today... today had been perfect.  No arguments, no snide
comments, just a wonderfully relaxed day of leisure.  A soft
grunting reminded her that even P-Chan had found his way back,
discovered this morning by Kasumi.  Her pet pig wandered out of the
kitchen and towards the stairs, looking confused.  She scooped him
up from behind and held him in a tight embrace.
     "Does P-Chan want to help Akane sweep up her mess?" she asked. 
The piglet nodded with a snuffle as she started to walk back
outside.  She'd sweep up the remains of the cinder blocks, and then
maybe go for a walk in the park.  Seeing Ranma waiting for her by
the dojo, she wondered if maybe he'd like to come as well.
     "It's such a nice day, isn't it, P-Chan?"  she said, looking
to her pet.  "I don't think anything..."
     There was a sudden surprised yelp, quickly sliding upwards an
octave or two.  With a sigh Akane glanced outside.  Ranma - now
female - was jumping around, screaming, something firmly attached
to her rear.  When she reached over to grab it, it slid to the
front, fondling the red-head's breasts.  Happosai.  Well, he was
bound to show up eventually, thought Akane.  It was probably
Ranma's fault, anyway.  As she watched, Ranma tried pummelling the
old man in the head, only to stumble backwards into the pond,
losing her shirt in the process.  Well, maybe it _wasn't_ Ranma's
fault.  Maybe she should help her out.
     Akane took a step towards the door when the phone rang.  She
glanced around, but everyone was busy: Nabiki turning up the volume
of her music, Kasumi protecting the laundry, her father splitting
his attention between the shogi game and Ranma's struggles with the
pervert.
     "I'll get it!" she hollered, then muttered "not that any of
you probably heard it in the first place!"  She reached the phone
by the fourth ring.  Releasing P-Chan, she picked up the receiver.
     "Hello?  Tendo Residence." she said.  A brief pause as she
listened.  "The Saotomes?  One second, please!"
     She placed the phone down and headed back to the door.
     "GIMME BACK MY SHIRT!" yelled Ranma, chasing after the old
man.  With a leap she disappeared over the wall.  Ok, guess _he_
wasn't available for the phone, thought Akane.  Maybe Mr.Saotome...
     Or maybe not.  Judging by the Panda bear playing shogi and
sipping iced tea, Mr.Saotome had been splashed during the brief
struggle.  Akane shrugged and returned to the phone.
     "I'm sorry, sir, but the Saotomes aren't, ah, available right
now.  Can I take a message?"
     She listened intently as the voice over the phone spoke.  Her
hand started to tremble, ever so slightly.  After a minute, she
spoke in a wavering voice.  "I... yes.  Tha... thank you."  The
receiver was carefully returned the receiver as she took a deep
breath.   "Oh no... " she whispered.
     She stood still for several moments, P-Chan looking up at her
in concern.  Finally, she headed outside, her pet pig and broom
forgotten.
     Akane told Mr.Saotome what the man on the phone had said.
     Moments later, the tortured howl of a panda bear echoed eerily
throughout the neighbourhood.


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


     Ranma wearily hopped over the wall of the Tendo household. 
What a day.  From peace and calm and relaxation to... well, what
could only be called a six-hour martial arts marathon through the
streets of Nerima.  He'd finally caught the little creep, though,
and made him pay.  Since, by then, he'd already missed supper, a
small stop by Ucchan's had been in order.  Probably better off that
way, anyway - Akane had been threatening to cook supper again. 
Although, he admitted as he reached the door, she _had_ been
getting better at it... and her rice curry really wasn't all _that_
bad.  He shrugged.  I'm sure she'll understand, he thought, then
smirked.  No, not likely.
     He slid the door open, stepped into the family room... and
froze.  The entire family was there, waiting... waiting for _him_ 
No.  Not everyone.  Akane  was missing.  And the tension in the
air... something was wrong, terribly, terribly wrong.
     He took them all in at a glance: Nabiki's face a mask,
unreadable, neutral, and carefully controlled; Mr. Tendo with tears
running down his cheeks (though that wasn't anything special in
itself); Genma, sitting next to him, a contorted image of grief,
back bent, body trembling, eyes puffy and red from heavy crying,
the tears obviously barely held back.  And Kasumi... even Kasumi
appeared drawn and pale, hands wringing nervously in the folds of
her apron.  Kasumi, worried - that scared him most of all.  A sick
feeling formed in the pit of his stomach.
     "Hey!  What... what's going on here?" he asked, closing the
door behind him, trying to hide the slight tremor that had crept
into his voice.
     There was a subtle shifting, as Nabiki and Kasumi looked
towards the two fathers.  Mr. Tendo let out a small sob, while
Genma started to shake.
     "Hey!  What... " Ranma glanced around the table.  "Wait! 
Wh... where's Akane?"  A sudden fear gripped his heart.  Akane! 
Where was she?  Was she ok?  What happened?  "Is she... "
     "Akane's fine." said Nabiki, her voice a chilling monotone. 
"She's in her room."  Ranma relaxed slightly, the terrible
sensation seeping from his chest.
     "Oh."  He tried to force a grin.  "Hey, c'mon, her supper
couldn't have been _that_ bad!" he said.
     His words sounded obnoxious even to him in the resounding
silence that followed them.
     "What, did someone die or somethin'?" he joked.  A terrible
wracking sob tore itself from Genma's throat [and he pitched
forward, his head hitting the table with a loud thud].  An acrid
taste rose in Ranma's throat.  The hollowness returned to his
belly.  He suddenly realised he was starting to tremble.
     "WILL SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON?!" he yelled.  His
father looked up, eyes rimmed red and filled with tears.
     "Your mother..." croaked Genma, then was overcome by another
sob.
     "WHAT ABOUT MOM?" He was at his father's side now, grabbing
the man by the collar of his gi.  He hauled Genma off the ground. 
"What happened?  What's going on?  ANSWER ME, OLD MAN!" he
shrieked, violently shaking him.  Genma responded with another sob.
     "Your mother..." started a voice behind Ranma, hesitantly. 
Ranma spun and saw Akane, her eyes and nose crimson, P-Chan cradled
in her arms.
     Ranma dumped his father to the ground and looked at Akane
beseechingly.  "What... what's happening, Akane?" he pleaded.
     "Your mother... is dying, Ranma.  She's in the hospital. 
We've been waiting for you to get back, to go visit her.
     "They say she probably... she probably won't live out the
week."


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


     "Please understand... you won't be able to stay for very long. 
She's very weak, and it's very late."  whispered the nurse.  "I'm
sorry."  The nurse backed out of the room, softly closing the door.
     The figure lay upon the bed, the hospital bedsheets a sheath
encasing her to the neck, arms lying at her side.  Nodoka.  Her
face was pale, drawn and tired looking even in sleep.  Akane felt
a slight trembling in her lower lip, but resolved not to cry; she
had to be strong, if not for herself, then for Ranma.
     Nodoka stirred slightly at the sound of the door clicking
shut.  Opening her eyes, she looked at her visitors, and smiled;
suddenly, the Nodoka that Akane knew was back, the caring eyes and
pleasant face replacing the frail woman who'd been there a moment
before.  "Mr. Tendo!  Kasumi, Nabiki!  And Akane!  I'm glad you
came." she said, her voice still strong and cheerful.  There was a
pause, and then she added.  "Oh... Ranko couldn't make it. 
That's... too bad."  She sounded disappointed, or hurt.
     There was a brief silence amplified by the tension in the
room.  It was Soun who broke it.  "Mrs. Saotome, " he started, his
voice carefully controlled.  "We didn't come alone.  We brought...
visitors."  Akane stepped aside with her sisters, as did their
father.  Behind them, huddled together nervously, were Ranma and
Genma.  Ranma was staring at the ground, but his father's eyes were
locked upon Nodoka's.
     "Husband!" she whispered.  "You came!  At last..." Her voice
rose with expectation and hope. "And... and is that... Ranma?"
     Upon hearing his name Ranma's head snapped up.  His face wore
the same mask he'd slipped into since they'd first left the house:
a carefully neutral expression that revealed little of what he
felt.  Yet when Akane saw his eyes, she could tell, she _knew_,
what he was feeling: intense grief, burning shame, seething anger. 
Since when have I understood what going on in _his_ head?, thought
Akane, as both father and son stepped forward, kneeling next to the
bed.
     "Mother... " whispered Ranma, enfolding Nodoka's hand in his. 
"I... " His head drooped forward, forehead touching lightly against
their coupled hands.  "I... I'm sorry.  I'm so sorry..."
     Nodoka slowly reached over with the other arm, her hand
falling upon the back of Ranma's head like a benediction.  "For
what?" she asked softly.
     "For... not being here.  Being with you.  Being your son....
For leaving you behind." he whispered.  "I... "
     "Shhh..." she hushed.  Her hand slid down his face, caressing
his cheek, lifting his head by the chin.  "There is nothing to be
sorry for.  You were with me.  Where and when it most mattered." 
She smiled at her son, who tentatively returned it.  Nodoka looked
pleased, but to Akane Ranma's smile seemed terribly forced, a
facade meant only to make his mother happy. 
     Nodoka drew her son into an embrace, arms weakly draped around
Ranma's neck, their foreheads meeting.  "I'm so glad to finally
meet you, Ranma.  Son.  _My_ son."
     Akane jumped slightly as she felt a hand fall on her shoulder. 
"I think we should leave now." whispered Kasumi in her ear.  "This
is their time together."  Akane nodded numbly as her older sister
steered her out of the room, bringing Nabiki and her father as
well.
     "I'm so proud of you, my son." said Nodoka.  "And of you,
husband, for raising him to be such a fine man..." Her words were
cut off as Kasumi firmly closed the door behind them.  The
following silence in the darkened hospital hallway felt chilling to
Akane.  She sat down heavily on a wooden bench near Nodoka's room,
lost in thought.  What were they saying?  What was Ranma thinking? 
How was he taking this?  Then her thoughts turned darker as
unpleasant memories intruded.
     "Hey, you ok, sis?"  Nabiki's voice interrupted her brooding.
     "Huh?"
     "I was asking if you were alright."  Akane turned to face
Nabiki, who had seated herself next to her.  Her face seemed as
impassive as ever, yet Akane thought she could detect a trace of
concern in it.
     "Ye... Yes.   Yes.  I'm... ok.  I was just thinking of Ranma." 
said Akane.
     "No you weren't."
     "What?"  Akane's eyebrows shot up at Nabiki's remark.  Her
sister's face hadn't changed, and her voice was as steady as ever.
     "You say you were thinking of Ranma, because that's the right
thing to say.  But you weren't.  You were thinking of Mom, right?"
     "I... yes.  A little."  Akane took in the entire hospital with
a sweep of her arm.  "This hospital, that room, Mrs. Saotome in
that bed... it all made me think of her.  Kinda.  I was so young
back then..."  She hesitated.  "Is... is that wrong, Nabiki?"
     Nabiki shrugged.  "I dunno.  Ask Kasumi - that's her
department.  I'm not good with that stuff.  All I know is that this
is gonna cost us a lot."  She stood up, brushing her clothes off
with quick, sharp movements.
     Akane felt appalled at Nabiki's statement, but bit back an
angry retort.  Nabiki began walking away.  "I need to get a breath
of fresh air.  I'll be back in a couple of minutes."  she said over
her shoulder.
     "Nabiki..." said Akane.  Her sister paused.  "How... how did
you know that I was thinking?  About mom?"
     "Because... " Nabiki answered, a slight wavering in her voice. 
"Because I was thinking the same thing."  And she walked away,
quickly disappearing around a corner.


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


     Wood shattered.  Rock splintered and earth scattered as Ranma
vented his fury upon the dojo, its equipment and surrounding
terrain.  With a final yell he sank to his knees, pounding his
fists into the ground with a dull thud, a dark shadow amidst pools
of electric light.    
     The Tendos watched from the safety of the house, unsure of how
to approach the enraged boy, apprehensive of his unrestrained
anger.  "Wow.  Ranma's really losing it!" muttered Nabiki.  
     "His mother, Nabiki.  His mother." said Kasumi softly, placing
one hand on Nabiki's shoulder.  "He's losing his mother."
     Nabiki shrugged.  "Well, somebody oughta go talk to him.  He's
tearing the place apart."
     They watched as Ranma staggered to his feet and into the dojo. 
Moments later there was a loud smashing noise.  Kasumi winced, her
grip tightening slightly on Nabiki's shoulder.  "At least..." she
started, then hesitated.
     Nabiki glanced at her elder sister questioningly.  "What?"
     "Pardon?"
     "You said: 'At least...', then stopped.  At least what?"
     Kasumi winced slightly as a hole was torn in one of the dojo's
walls.  "At least he's letting it out..." she said.
     Nabiki snorted.  "Oh yeah, lucky us.  You have any idea how
much this is costing us?  Where's that mighty martial artists'
famed discipline I keep hearing about?"
     Kasumi shot her a slightly disapproving look.  "I'm sure you
will think of a way to cover the costs, Nabiki.  But for right
now..." she said, returning her attention to the dojo, "He needs to
vent his anger.  It will be better in the long run.  I remember
when mother died.  I found a way to deal with the pain; so did
Akane."  She paused for a moment.  "Actually, Akane dealt with the
pain in much the same way that Ranma is now.  Father understood as
well that she had to let it out.  Pain like that... pain like that
couldn't be, shouldn't be held in."  The hand on Nabiki's shoulder
squeezed once.  "I can't imagine what it feels like, carrying that
kind of pain inside every day."
     Nabiki was silent as Kasumi pulled away.  Outside, two figures
silently crossed the distance from the house to dojo.


     Akane glanced at Genma as they approached the training hall. 
Beneath the glasses, his eyes were dark and slightly bloodshot, a
grim resolve apparent in his unflinching gaze; apart from that,
however, Akane found it impossible to determine what the man was
feeling or thinking.  His quick, solid stride forced Akane to hurry
alongside him, almost stumbling in the late night darkness.
     All too soon they arrived at their destination.  Only then did
Genma hesitate, briefly, as a scream and crash escaped from the
building.  His hand dropped from the door handle to his side,
quivering, fist clenched - and a moment later, gripped the door
frame and hurled it open.
     Akane gasped at her first clear sight of Ranma.  His hair was
wild, his clothes dishevelled, face gaunt and flushed with anger. 
The few lights in the dojo cast his shadow across the floor and
onto the far walls, where it danced threateningly over them all. 
He spun as his father stepped into the dojo, pulling his fist from
a hole in the floor.  Pulverized cinder blocks and wrecked
equipment surrounded him.
     "Ranma!" stated Genma in a stern voice.  "This must... "
     "Shut up, old man..." growled Ranma.
     "No!  You WILL listen to..."
     "SHUT UP!" screamed the boy, launching himself at his father. 
Genma stood unflinching till the last moment, sidestepping,
grappling, and throwing his son to the ground.
     "Listen to me, boy!  You can't keep tearing the dojo apart! 
We are _guests_ here!  I understand that you're hurt..."
     Ranma stared at his father as he slowly regained his feet. 
"You understand?  You _understand_?"  His tone turned venomous. 
"How could _you_ understand, old man?  You have no idea what I'm
feeling; no one does!"  Ranma stared down at the ground, trembling
with rage.  "You were there, you heard... she called me honourable. 
She called me brave and strong and manly.  Manly!"  He gave a
bitter laugh then shot a hateful look at his father.  
     "But it's a lie!  All lies!" he spat the words out through
clenched teeth.  "All of it!  Honourable?  How often have I lied to
her, how many times have I played Ranko to save my own life? 
Brave?  Not brave enough to tell her the truth!  Strong?  No,
weak... too weak to stand up against your stupid ideas!  Manly?" 
He slowly sank to his knees, falling back on his haunches, back
bent.  "Yeah, right..."
     Genma softened as his son crumbled before him.  Taking a step
forward, he placed a comforting hand on Ranma's shoulder.  "Son..."
he began softly.
     Ranma's head snapped up, eyes blazing.  "I am _not_ your son,
old man..." he snarled.  Before the man could move, Ranma rose,
twisted, grabbed him by the arm and hurtled him across the dojo. 
Akane watched in shock as Mr. Saotome smashed into the far wall and
tumbled to the ground in a heap.  Slowly struggling to his feet, he
tried to speak.  "Ranma.  Son.  Don't...  Listen..."
     "NO!" growled Ranma, running toward the dazed figure.  "Don't
you _dare_ tell me what to do, old man!  Don't you _ever_ dare tell
me what to do... Never.  Again!"  His kick caught Genma in the
stomach, doubling him over; he fell to the ground as Ranma hooked
his father's legs and tore them out from beneath him.
     "This is all _your_ fault!  It's your fault I'm a girl!" he
slammed his fist into Genma, screaming, with each statement.  "It's
your fault I never told mom the truth!  Your fault she thinks I'm
Ranko, your fault she never had a son, your fault I wasn't with
her, couldn't protect her, couldn't know her, couldn't save
her...".  Never once did Ranma's father try to dodge, or block, or
break free - instead, he silently absorbed his son's rage, eyes
squeezed shut with pain.
     Finally Ranma stopped and hauled Genma up by the collar. 
["Why don't you defend yourself, old man?!"
     The battered man flinched away from his son's glare.  "I... I
can't..."]  
     "What kind of father are you?" demanded Ranma in a hoarse
whisper.
     Tears spilled from Genma's eyes as he saw the hurt and hate
etched in his son's face.  "I'm sorry... son."
     For several moments Ranma held him, Genma limp in his grasp. 
Slowly, the boy's arm started to quiver.  "Not.  Good.  ENOUGH!" 
He screamed, releasing Genma and fiercely kicking him in the
stomach.  The older man went flying backwards, crashing through the
wall and out of sight.  "Not... enough..." mumbled Ranma.  "Never
enough..."
     As Akane watched, he slowly sank to his knees.


     Ryoga watched from the doorway as Akane hesitated, walked
forward, stood behind Ranma, her hand falling gently on the pig-
tailed boy's shoulder.  His rival started slightly at her touch,
then reached back with one hand and clasped hers.  Ranma's eyes
never left the floor, Akane never spoke a word, the two perfectly
still in the flickering pale light.  For once Ryoga realised that
he didn't feel any jealousy or animosity towards his enemy.
     I've often wished Ranma dead, thought Ryoga.  I've wanted him
hurt, tortured, punished for all the pain and misery he's inflicted
on my life.  But this... _this_ I would have never wished upon him. 
Even if he brought this pain upon himself...  even if he blames his
father for everything...  he doesn't deserve this.  Ryoga watched
as Akane kneeled before her fiance, taking both his hands into
hers.  She said something, words of comfort and reassurance, spoken
so softly that Ryoga couldn't make them out.  He looked away.
     "I'll have my revenge on you someday, Saotome." he whispered
under his breath.  "Just... not today."  Ryoga turned away from the
dojo.


     "... it's ok for you to cry, you know." said Akane softly. 
"There's no shame in it."
     Ranma shook his head in denial, eyes still downcast.  Akane
sighed.  "Listen, Ranma..."
     "NO!  You listen!" interrupted Ranma, sounding upset.  "You
weren't there, Akane.  You didn't hear what she said, how happy she
was to see me, how happy she was that I was a _man_.  A manly man.
     "And that... that's why I can't cry.  Not for her, not for my
mom.  I'm a man.  Even with this curse, I'm a man.  And if there's
one thing men don't do... it's cry.  For as long as she lives, I
won't betray the image she has of her son.  I can't betray that
image, that idea... it's all I've ever given her, all I _can_ give
her, to make up for all those lost years.  So don't ask me to cry,
don't tell me it's ok... 'cus it's not."  Ranma raised his head,
looked at Akane, his eyes seeming to beg for understanding, for
support.
     Akane sadly shook her head from side to side.  How could he
think that, how could he honestly believe such a thing?  Seeing
Ranma's eyes narrow in anger, she sighed.  "I knew you wouldn't
understand..." he muttered.
     Akane slowly stood.  Ranma's features were mostly cast into
obscurity in the darkened dojo, her shadow overwhelming his
crouched figure yet melding with his on the far wall.  She walked
over to the doorway, looking up at the night sky.  The district
lights obscured most of the stars, but the few strong ones shone
through.  "You were wrong about one thing, Ranma" she said,
speaking softly but clearly.  "Some people _do_ understand what
you're going through."
     She heard a bitter laugh from behind as Ranma stood up. 
"Yeah, right." he said.  "Like who?"
     "I do."
[    There was a deep silence.  She heard Ranma walk up behind her,
till she could almost feel his body pressing against her back.  She
heard him take a deep, ragged breath, sniff slightly.  And then, a
moment later, he spoke, his voice cold.  "No.  You don't."
     Akane felt a familiar, savage pain in her chest, unpleasant
thoughts rearing in her mind.  "Yes!  I do!" she spun to face
Ranma.  "I do understand!  I've lost... I...  When I was..."  Her
voice trailed off as Ranma's eyes drilled into hers.
     "No.  You don't.  You couldn't."  Akane's eyes widened in
shock and hurt.  She felt tears form and tried blinking them away. 
Why... why is he acting like this?, she thought to herself.  Why? 
He knows how I feel about... about mother.  Her vision blurred as
more tears came.  He took a step forward and she fell a step back,
stepping out of the dojo.  "How could an obnoxious girl like you
possibly understand what I'm going through?"
     Akane gasped, fell back, stumbled down the dojo steps.  Ranma
loomed over her, cast into silhouette by the light beaming from the
open doorway.  "Ranma... why...?" she pleaded, looking up at him. 
She could feel his gaze staring down at her, though his face was
hidden in darkness.  After a few moments he turned away without a
word.
     ["Ranma... you jerk..." sobbed Akane.  She ran back to the
house without another word.]]


     Ranma staggered to the centre of the dojo.  "Akane..." he
whispered, wrapping his arms around himself.  "I... I'm sor..."
     "You know, Ranma, sometimes you surprise even me." interrupted
a voice from behind.  He turned to see Ryoga stepping through the
hole in the wall left by Genma's exit.  "To do that to Akane, to
hurt her like that... that's real low, even for you."  Ryoga leaned
back against the wall, arms folded across his chest.
     "Go away, Ryoga." said Ranma, turning away.
     Ryoga smirked.  "You know, I was going to.  I had no intention
of getting involved.  Then I heard what you said to Akane."  He
leaned forward slightly, lips twisting into a scowl.  "There's no
way I can let that go unpunished, you know."
     "Leave, now."  Ranma slowly turned.  He smiled - and it was in
no way friendly, or nice.  "Before I hurt you, pig-boy.  Before I
hurt you bad."  He took a threatening step forward.
     Ryoga shook his head.  "No.  Not till I've had my say."
     Ranma stared at his rival.  "If you don't go... I'll tell
Akane that you're P-Chan."
     Ryoga gave a mean-spirited chuckle.  "Oh, yeah, sure, Ranma. 
Very honourable.  Mother would be proud, I'm sure."
     Ranma froze.  He began to shake in anger, fists trembling at
his side, face contorting with rage.  His mouth worked wordlessly,
incoherently, a low growl rumbling at the back of his throat.
     With a slight, savage smile, Ryoga walked forward, towards the
dojo's door.  He paused as he passed by his rival, who was still
quivering with rage, and stared him straight in the eyes.  "It's
all your own fault, you know..." said Ryoga softly.  "You blame
your father, you blame your curse, but there's no one to blame but
yourself.  You had the chances, you had the time... you could've
told her, faced her, let her know who and what you are."
     Ranma hand snaked out and latched onto Ryoga's throat.  "Shut. 
Up." he hissed.
     Ryoga smiled.  "Brave, Ranma.  Really brave.  Isn't that what
your mom called you?"  The grip tightened.  Despite himself, Ryoga
reached up and grabbed Ranma's arm - and found it solid and
unmovable.
     "Oh yeah," he rasped, still smiling.  "Really strong... but
not strong enough to hear the truth.  Like a man.  If only your mom
could see you now."  The grip tightened again, cutting off all
air... and then dropped away, Ranma's hand falling limply at his
side.
     Ryoga walked away, speaking over his shoulder.  "But of
course, she can't.  It's too late, now.  And it's your fault.
     "It's time you face your responsibilities like a man.  For
ruining my life.  For ruining Akane's.  For ruining your mother's. 
Hell, for even ruining your own.  There's no one to blame... but
yourself."  Ryoga reached the door and turned to face a livid Ranma
one last time before leaving.  "We'll settle the score some other
time.  Defeating you now would be... wrong.  Not the actions of a
honourable martial artist."  He paused.  "You know, I was going to
leave on a training voyage, Ranma.  But now... I can't.  After what
you said to Akane, how you hurt her...  it's my duty to go and
comfort her."
     "I'll never forgive you for this..." snarled Ranma.
     Ryoga smirked a final time before disappearing into the night.


     Ranma watched as Ryoga stepped away.  Anger drained away,
leaving only cold emptiness and bitter pain.  Ryoga's words...
hurt.  Hurt... because they were true.  It was his own fault.  His
mom... she should've know, should have been told, she didn't have
to live alone, without family, without husband and son.  And all
because he had been too afraid to face her.  Ryoga was right.
     And now Ranma was alone.  Everyone had been driven away: his
father, battered; Akane, battered as well,  emotionally; and
finally Ryoga, the bastard, the pig, probably already snuggled up
with Akane in her bed.  How could he?, thought Ranma.  How could he
say such things?
     Because they're true, whispered back a part of his mind. 
Because you needed to hear it, instead of pinning everything on
your father.
     Ranma squeezed his eyes shut.
     She can't die!, he thought.
     I barely even know her!
     I should've been with her!
     If I had been... maybe she wouldn't be sick.
     I...
     I won't cry.  I won't.  I'm a man.  Men don't cry.
     And then he was standing in the corner of the dojo, staring
down at a bucket of water.
     Men don't cry...
     Moments later, wet and shivering, Ranma slumped down in the
corner.  The first wracking sob tore itself from her chest; the
tears soon followed.


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	(Part Two follows...)