Ohhh, yeah.. insert typical disclaimer someplace in this thing... ^_^ 

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

      Kodachi stepped into the entrance way of the Kuno mansion, P-chan held
tightly against her chest as she did so. Her hands unknowingly petted his
back gently, fingers skimming lightly down the small pig as if seeking
comfort as her eyes were inevitable drawn to the spot at the bottom of the
stairs.

      The carpet had been replaced all those years ago but somehow, there
was a blotch there for Kodachi to see even to this day. A blotch on her
soul, she thought sometimes, the ghost of her mother in her, twisting and
turning and driving her mad.

      That thought wasn't productive, however, so she put a stop to it then
and there. With practiced movements, she dropped the schoolbags beside the
doorway in her accustomed place and moved into the parlor for a moment. One
hand shuffled through the mail, taking note of the Chemists' Convention in
Yokohama next month before she moved to the patio doors and peered out of them.

      Outside, she could see Tatewaki, his bokken a blur as his practiced
motions moved as smoothly as well-oiled machinery. She stepped out onto the
flagstones of the side patio and waited patiently for him to be done, only
chuckling occasionally with wild laughter as the stress of the day worked
itself through her, P-chan held loosely in her arms as if she had forgotten
about him.

      Kodachi could see the prints of feet on the side of her brother's face
as he turned around and moved towards her, a half-smile crossing his face
sheepishly.

      "Your 'pony-tailed girl' and Akane again, Brother-Dearest?" she asked
idly, scritching P-chan behind his ears before looking up into Tatewaki's
face tiredly.

      Kuno looked down at his feet for a moment, a tiny muscle working in
his jaw as he shrugged, tight with anger, and nodded, a jerky, "Hai," his
only response.

      Kodachi shook her head. "You know who she is, brother dearest. Why can
you not face the veritable FACTS? We have both seen Ranma and the pig-tailed
girl change from one to the other and back. They *are* the same person! You
know this, *WHY* do you keep trying to..."

      Tatewaki's voice broke he r diatribe, his hands waving in the air with
a violent slash, anger written across his face and in the glitter of his
eyes. "Begone, woman!, and leave me be from thy impertinent ramblings! Thou
knowest not what thou say, impugning the pig-tailed goddess so, she who
would love me despite her fragile nature!"

      Kodachi shook her head  firmly, scowling in her brother's direction.
"You are blind, brother, and there is no other way for you to see that which
you must. The pig-tailed girl and Ranma-sama are one and the same! I have
*seen* the mysterious 'transformation', as have you and YET you resist the
truth of the matter! Perhaps you desire the excruciating 'delicacy' of their
treatment, ne? They remind one much of Mother, do they not?" The cold
deliberation of her voice seemed cruel, heartless in their precision.

      Tatewaki's face colored deeply and then paled with rage, his bokken
flying and stopping within centimeters of her face. Kodachi didn't flinch,
her arms still wrapped lightly around P-chan's tiny body, her thoughts
flickering for a single second to the show they were providing Ryouga-sama.
Her response was calm as she looked up at her brother, her face set in
steel. "Striking me, brother-dearest, will not change the fact of the
matter. I see your heart's desires behind your eyes, and I see the truth in
them. Why do you persist in these unnatural affections? Allowing them to
denigrate and humiliate you before others... It is not the sort of behavior
to which a Kuno may subscribe."

      Tatewaki winced as her words drew figurative blood, making him shudder
and flush more deeply, a look of panic crossing his face. The progression of
his loss of control played in his eyes for an eternity of silence before he
fell to his knees, betraying the weakness that he could only show before
her, the single person in this small world who truly loved him. Helplessly,
he leaned forward, trembling, to bury his face in her school skirt and, with
burning eyes, he cried.

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

      The police came, and they wrote down all of the information on their
little pads. They wanted to take Father away, but Father was sick now, and
they had sent him away to an island, somewhere warm. Maybe Father would feel
better soon. Kodachi missed him already, the calm businessman who had held
them together for so long.

      There was a new addition to the house -- a young ninja called Sasuke.
He didn't seem to be all that adept, but he was an adult, and that meant
they could remain in their home. Their relatives didn't want them,
particularly their mother's relatives, and their father had so few. It was
easier if they just remained.

      Brother was so smart! He had gotten that Tendo girl to help him learn
about their finances, juggling their monetary concerns back into shape and
taking control. Brother had developed a few peculiarities of late -- an odd
habit of speaking in haiku and quoting from Shakespeare or _The Tale of
Genji_. There was also that strange fascination that he seemed to have
developed with the youngest Tendo daughter...

      The girl folded her hands in her lap. It was time to make dinner, now.
Perhaps she could add some spice to the meal and bring Brother back to
himself, the strong loving person he had once been, if she added a few
things to the mixture...

      With a shrug, she went to the kitchen and began work on her newest
culinary masterpiece.

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

      Kodachi lightly touched Kuno's face, his hair waving beneath her
fingers as she whispered to him, soft soothing noises of comfort meant to
calm him until the heaving sobs passed and he lay quiescent beneath her
touch. Wordlessly, he rose and looked down at her, ashamed for his sudden
outburst, mortified that he could have done so. The iron wall around his
heart had broken once again, an occurrence that abashed and embarrassed him
to no end every time. His shoulders slumped tiredly as he sat on the rock
wall of the small patio, burying his face in his hands. For a few moments,
no words came as P-chan listened desperately for something, his tiny heart
aching with the pain that seemed to suffuse this large house[3] with
despondency.

      Kuno's voice was muffled as it came from behind his hands, his face
still hot with shame as he waved one hand wearily. "I...I realize, sister,
that my affections have been placed in areas that are...unsatisfactory, both
to you and myself." He stopped momentarily to shake his head, as if in a
state of confusion. "I cannot resist them! It is as if my soul yearns for
their... their...cruelty, their humiliations. I," he gulped, "I know that
the pig-tailed goddess is not all that she seems. But neither can I declare
that my affections have been false, for that is equally as dishonorable as
simply existing within the realm of their unmerciful tenderness." Kuno gave
her a tortured glance as he dropped his hands so that they dangled between
his knees. "Surely you understand, sister? Surely you know the torture that
sears my soul, knowing that I cannot resist that self-same violence of
emotion, the destructive force that drew our father in so!"

      Kodachi looked at her brother sadly, her eyes suspiciously damp as she
glanced down into her lap at the wide-eyed little black piglet. The thought
that they were furnishing Ryouga-sama to quite an exhibition crossed her
mind once again, but some things were more important than mere
embarrassment. Her brother's well-being was one of those things, despite
their seemingly callous attitudes towards one another. Perhaps Ryouga-sama
would be so kind as to refrain from discussing this problem with others...or
if it became necessary, she had a little drug in her lab upstairs that would
apply a certain amount of forgetfulness to this afternoon, this whole day if
she so chose. {No,} she concluded, {Ryouga-sama will tell no one about the
actions of this afternoon.}

      Kodachi's voice was soft as she finally spoke up, h er head tilted to
one side. "Yes, Brother-Dearest. I understand the affliction all too well."

      Kodachi reached out and took Tatewaki's hand in her own, dropping
P-chan nearby and kneeling before her brother. "I know, Tachi," she
whispered, his pet name from their childhood springing easily to her lips.
"I know, because Ranma-sama feels even less for me than he does for you.
Ranma-sama's heart is claimed, and, as such, the pig-tailed girl's as well.
For all that they would deny it, the youngest Tendo daughter holds him close
to her and returns his affections. Naught can be done for it, brother, save
live with their decision and find a better place for one's affections. One
not so..." {Like Mother..} she thought, continuing to say, "One not so
devoted to another."

      Kuno leaned forward and hid his face against her shoulder, holding her
tightly for some time. In the background, Sasuke could be heard lecturing
Midorigame fussily over an imagined breach of etiquette on the part of the
large reptile.

      Their laughter was shaky, uncertain in its actual humor, but it filled
the afternoon with a glow that hadn't been felt in the Kuno household in
some time.

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

      Laughter echoed through the halls, and she could see them pointing at
her. Her glasses were a little large, and her hair had an irregular pattern
across the bottom instead of the usual straight lines. She had dodged as
expeditiously as possible, but not quickly enough, and Kuno hadn't caught
him in time.

      Father wasn't the same since he came back. He was always wearing those
loud, brightly colored shirts, and he had this fascination with scissors and
palm trees. Father obviously hadn't gotten better in his two year trek to
that warm island.

      Kodachi didn't like being laughed at. It hurt. The pranks were almost
as bad, notes passed in class talking about the "awkward one". She didn't
like this girls' school, she wanted to go to Furinkan with Tachi, but he had
simply blathered on about "the feminine art and mystique", losing her
attention, in truth.

      He had found deadly nightshade garnishing his breakfast as a sign of
her displeasure. Obvious, so that he wouldn't actually eat it, but an
excellent warning.

      Perhaps, Kodachi thought, the girls here need the same lesson that
Brother dearest does....

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

      Kodachi walked solemnly towards her small suite of rooms near the back
of the house, humming in a tuneless little laugh as she snuggled P-chan
tightly to her chest. Tatewaki was feeling better now, and he had laughed,
so perhaps he would be capable of actually putting the two out of his mind.
Oh, not entirely. She didn't doubt Tachi's capacity for emotional masochism
and blackmail a single whit, for Mother had manipulated Tachi with more
precision than Kodachi had ever thought possible. Mother simply had a way of
making men fall at her feet, willing to wrap themselves around her fingers
at the first sign of affection without questioning why she would wish them
to do so.

      Pushing open the door, she stepped inside, shutting it behind her with
a well-placed kick of her heel. She could feel the humidity coming from a
nearby dark room and she smiled, avoiding it for the time being. With
calculated precision, Kodachi began to open her nearby trunk, withdrawing
her bath items and towels, her hands sure as she searched in her closet
before finding her favorite ankle length skirt and cream bodysuit. Paired
with the underwear from the trunk, she stacked the clothing at the end of
the bed carefully before beginning to remove her school uniform.

      P-chan's eyes widened as that cleavage began to come into sight once
again. To say that Ryouga's mind was a whirl of Kasumi-like
'oh-my-ohmyohmy!'s would, perhaps, be an understatement of sorts. In a
whirlwind of embarrassment, he thrust himself beneath one of the ruffled
lace pillow-shams, only his curly-tailed bottom poking out from beneath. He
could hear Kodachi's laughter at his antics and that made him feel
wonderful, somehow, special for being able to make this girl laugh like that
instead of her usual terrifying guffaws. Ryouga sensed a kindred soul in
Kodachi, something that he had never before noticed.

      In truth, it seemed to him that Kodachi was more than an analogous
soul. Spending today in her presence had brought her reality closer into his
grasp than before and had made her a person instead of the nightmarish
horror reflected in the memories of Ranma and others (including himself,
although he had blocked out most thoughts concerning the day of the infamous
match in which he became chained to Ranma-chan). He removed himself from
beneath the pillows cautiously, giving a little piggy smile as he noted that
she was once again well-covered, a thick bath sheet wrapped tightly around
her as she picked him up in her arms again, moving forward with purpose.
{Yeah,} Ryouga thought, {I think I could get used to being around her more
often.. She's not as bad as I thought she was!}

      P-chan's thoughts took up so much of his attention that he didn't
notice the American style claw-foot bathtub full of steaming water until he
was held directly over it....

      ....and by then, it was too late.  As Ryouga sputtered helplessly,
flaming crimson in his shock and embarrassment, Kodachi sat down on the lip
of the large tub and flashed him a quick smile that was somehow full of
misery. "So, 'P-chan'..." her cultured voice intoned, "why don't you give me
all of the details.. starting with why you and Ranma-sama seem to become
something other than yourselves so often."

      With that, Ryouga fell backwards into the tub with a ~*SPLASH!*~; he
had fainted dead away.

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

      Kodachi tilted her head back defiantly, her eyes shimmering, contacts
firmly in place, hair evened across the bottom, her fourteen year old body
nimble as she turned, tumbled, flew across the practice mat. She pulled a
hoop from nowhere and continued her practice, unaware that she was being
watched.

      Akemi moved up from nowhere, smirking. "Sure, practice all you want,
you stupid witch, you can't ever take *my* position on the team." The girl
threw her black-as-night hair over her shoulder defiantly, pinning Kodachi
to the mat with her glare.

      Kodachi, her temper held firmly in check for so many years, exploded
in anger. "I CHALLENGE YOU!! TO A MATCH BETWEEN EQUALS!"

      Akemi raised an eyebrow. "Date and time, madam. I shall satisfy you."

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

      Kodachi raised both eyebrows, shock registering on her face as Ryouga
became silent, his tale told. "So what you're saying," she whispered in a
strangled voice, "is that you're both cursed to become these... other...
beings?"

      Ryouga nodded, a towel now draped tightly around his hips, keeping
most of his modesty intact. "Well...yes.. exactly."

      Kodachi shook her head in amazement. "And you've been sleeping in the
Tendo girl's bed all this time believing yourself to be in love with her
despite the fact that you have deceived her endlessly, a thing not to be
forgiven lightly. Do you truly expect her to love you in return should she
find out about this.. 'curse' of yours?"

      Ryouga shrugged. "She doesn't seem to have figured it out yet, and
Ranma won't tell her. He's a man of his word, I'll give him that much." Here
he stopped and bit his lip tightly, peeking up at Kodachi, a look of
depression creeping across his features with every second. "Do you really
believe that I've done something that unforgivable?"

      Kodachi looked contemplative for several moments before answering
slowly, "Hai... Under the circumstances..." She whispered softly, her voice
not cracking a single time, "She and Ranma-sama love one another, despite
what they say to all others. She does not, nay, *cannot* love you,
Ryouga-sama. I'm sorry to have to tell you, but it would seem that we must
all face the truth this day or continue in this never-ending cycle,
n..never.. never ha..having anything b..bu..but..a br..broken..
he..heart..." Kodachi began to shudder, tears streaming down her face
helplessly as she went limp, her body slumped back against the headboard of
her bed as shudders wracked her furiously.

      The Lost Boy, momentarily lost in funereal thoughts of being twisted
into pretzels by a furious Akane, came to with a violent start as Kodachi's
heartfelt sobs set her body ashiver. He rose and cautiously placed an arm
around her shoulders, his hands light and uncertain. As she curled closer
against his chest, his other arm came around her to hold her tightly, her
tears affecting him deeply.

      Ryouga held Kodachi until she cried herself to sleep, feeling the
hiccoughs of her little breaths against him for a long time before he
drifted into the silent brilliance of dream as well.

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

      Kodachi crossed her arms, looking at the cowering group of girls
before her. One had a bruise on her temple where a gymnastics pin had
*pinged* off of her moments before, another rubbed a welt across a thigh
that a ribbon had whipped across only seconds ago.

      Kodachi had discovered the power that her mother had possessed. She
didn't want to use it the way her mother had, but for now... For now, it
would protect her from their biting sarcasm, and from the way they tried to
hurt her. It was good to be the one in charge, she thought with a private
smile, glancing at the vanquished Akemi. It was good to have the power.

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

      Sunbeams danced their way in slowly, not daring to disturb the
peaceful slumber of the room's occupants. The sun was always sluggish in
showing its face here first thing in the morning due to Kodachi's choice of
location -- not to mention her genuine dislike of sunligh t, as a rule. Even
such eternal creatures as the sun knew better than to irritate Kurobara no
Kodachi too early in the day and this morning was excellent proof of that
statement.

      Kodachi stirred against warmth for the first time since she was a
young girl and Tachi had slept with her to prevent the nightmares that came
after Mother's death. A little moan of reluctance whimpered from her as she
realized that morning had once again inexorably arrived. Her fingers splayed
across the warmth of a bare chest, her mind only half on the actuality of
what lay beneath her hand. She opened a bleary eye to see dark hair, much
darker than her locks, tumbling across a bandanna covered forehead so close
to her own. She watched as the eyelids fluttered open, almost as reluctant
as her own to face the morning, the most beautiful pair of dark eyes she had
ever seen peering into her own with annoyed acceptance of the new morning.

      Ryouga's eyes widened as he realized several things at once. The first
was that he was in a girl's bed. The second was that he was not P-chan, he
was Ryouga, HIMSELF, not the pig. The third was that the girl snuggled so
closely against him was Kuno Kodachi.

      Somehow, Ryouga expected the nose bleed to arrive shortly. He just
knew that it was coming, the way one knows the inevitability of rain after
one mows the lawn or washes one's car. It came as quite a surprise to him
when the nose bleed didn't announce itself at all.

      When the softness of her lips pressed lightly against his own in a
surprisingly shy motion, every muscle in his body trembled with the sudden
understanding of his recent fascination.

      Light laughter, full of enchantment, floated on the warmth of the late
morning air.

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

                              Five Years Later..

       Kodachi smiled as Akane shifted the gurgling baby on her hip and
twisted so that she could stir the miso soup, the sun shining in brightly
from the window over the sink. Outside, she could see Ranma and Ryouga
sparring back and forth, laughter filling the yard as one or the other of
them almost fell into the pond and the other stopped that fall. It was good
to see her husband and his friend getting along so well, no longer fighting
for possession of something that could never simply be "possessed". She
reached down and lifted the sweet little girl with her mother's eyes and her
father's fangs and thought for a moment as she looked at the happy child.

      Kodachi's voice was slow and sober as she spoke. "You know, Akane, I
never thought that I would have occasion to say such a thing to you, but we
have done well for ourselves, have we not?"

      Akane settled down in the kitchen chair across from Kodachi, lightly
snuggling her son into the convenient carry-all on the table. "Yeah. I never
thought any of us would stop fighting long enough to talk!" Akane gave a wry
smile. "And I certainly never would have thought that you, of all the
fiances, would take the road you've taken."

      Kodachi shrugged her still delicate shoulders and winked, laughing
softly, a perfectly natural laugh now that she slept nights and had learned
the wonders of Risperdol[4]. "I agree, Akane, I agree." She stood and walked
to the door, peeking out with the girl-child sleeping, its head on her
shoulder as she watched the formerly shy, reticent Ryouga laugh with Ranma
as the two settled onto a boulder, an older child running out, pigtails
flying in the wind as she launched herself into Ranma's arms. Kodachi
couldn't help the feelings of pleasure that sight gave her. It was nice to
see children enjoying themselves, especially considering the way in which
they had wasted their own youth amidst bickering and dissention. She turned
and gave Akane a brilliant smile, kissing the bridge of her daughter's nose
gently before she put her hand on Akane's and smiled. "I'll never regret
taking this one."

      With that, the two women settled the children and began to finish b
reakfast, content in their worlds.

      *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

[1] Iron roses! How charming, thinkest thou not? 
[2] Ok, I can't spell that very well. The stuff you use to test acid
        levels... And it really does work to give someone an upset tummy --
        Ah, Mr.Branton was such an evil man. Best chem teacher a girl could
        ask for.. helpful saboteur, too. ^_~
[3] Note that I said house, not home. Even thought Kuno and Kodachi love one
        another, I don't think that their house could ever be a home to them
        after such traumatic experiences
[4] Risperdol (sp?) is a drug used to control psychotic episodes and manic
        depression. Kodachi and Ryouga would do well to learn all about
        Risperdol.... or maybe Zoloft.....except I understand that Zoloft
        kills your sex drive.......


Other things: The romanizations may be mixed, somewhat. I used the spellings
that I prefer (regardless of which romanization I should have been using..).
We tried to get the grammar and spelling mistakes out before this, the only
things left should be the occassional sentence which ends with a preposition
and the random spaces left over from decoding the binhex -- call it creative
license ^_^ Last of all, I'd like to state that a lot of this story should
be happening between the lines. Look closely and you can see the direction
in which I tried to nudge the story. Even if you don't see the story between
the lines, this one should stand up (despite its use of flashbacks -- the
flashback and the storyline don't necessarily coincide, as you may have
noticed.)

      Originally, I had slated this to be comedic -- something light and
funny and quick to pick up and run with. Unfortunately (or fortunately,
depending upon one's point of view!), things just didn't work out that way.
You know, there are so many "Nabiki's not a bad type, she's just lonely"
fics that it's quite possible that just looking for them all could make
one's eyes cross -- permanently. That's not to say I don't like them because
I enjoy them a great deal, it's more a way of saying... "If someone can do
it for Nabiki, then by gum, I can do it for Kodachi!" (ie, "Kodachi's not
crazy, she just needs a little help and a good prescription!") I admit it. I
like Kodachi. I like the *IDEA* of Kodachi. Apparently, there are others out
there as well (judging from the recent outpour of Kodachific on RAAC). I
also planned for this to be a bit longer, but I went through cutting and
slashing to avoid having to expand the plot to the point of banality.

      "Why," you ask, "would Ryouga abandon Akane so easily? I don't believe
it!" My answer is simple. Why not? He can't choose between Akane and Akari,
Ranma fools him easily and sways his emotion with disguises... Why NOT
Kodachi? Particularly an "elseworlds" sort of Kodachi with not ONLY the
capability to reason (which I believe is at least partially true for
Takahashi's Kodachi) but the CAPABILITY OF UNDERSTANDING what reason tells
her. Ranma gets splashed with water. Reason says: Well, Ranma-sama turns
into a girl. Stubbornness says: BA! There's that pig-tailed girl brother
dearest goes on about all the time! A Kodachi who truly comprehended what
reason told her would be a highly dangerous Kodachi, indeed....

      Constructive criticism is welcome. Sorry this note has been so
outrageously humongous.. there was a lot to be said. -- tzi@hotmail.com

      Thanks go to Angel with my love and adoration, a never-ending source
of ethereal delight and kitchen implements....

        To sappho and turtle, for being special, and for always being there
when I need them -- or vice-versa..... 

        To Kasumi99 because she's a great editor, and an even better sister....

        To Ridgewolfe for the line about the long fall.. I remembered it,
sweetie ;)

        And to Risha-chan, for her faithful belief in the fact that talent
really *is* hiding somewhere in these stories ^_^
        ***************************************************
        *  If I die let it be with you...                 * 
        *  Hold me close while the world falls in on me.. *
        *  Whisper my name as the darkness rises...       *
        *  And I fall into the dream that never ends...   *
        *      From:"The Scarlet Letters" by Scott Urban  *
        ***************************************************