Chorus

 by Conrd O Whittle III

This is a work of fanfiction. The characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi
and are being borrowed with out permission.

Warning-This fiction deals with the death of a character and as such may
be OOC. Further, this is not an endorsement of any particular religion
or belief system and i do not want to be involved in a religious flame
war.
======================================

Akane Tendou opened her eyes with a start.The first thing she noticed
was the all-encompassing light which came from everywhere and
nowhere.The second thing she realized was that she was dead. Curoiusly
that fact did not bother her and she looked around to get her bearings.
That was when she saw the One  who sat on the throne.

Akane fell to her knees as if pushed and bowed her head as a wave of
indescribable joy washed over her being. She stayed that way for a time
until a angel flew down and landed beside her.It was at once beautiful
and terrifying and it spoke to her.

"Sing", it screamed/whispered to her. "You  must sing to the One on the
throne".
Akane raised her head and ,gathering her soul, began to sing to the One.


She sang of her birth. The terror of being forced from the warm darkness
that she had been accustomed to. The pain of the blinding light at the
end of the tunnel.The sadness that some thing special was ending.The
anger she felt as the doctor slapped her bottom and her subsequent
scream of rage. 

She sang of her parents and sisters. Her mother ,warm and kind but with
an underlay of sadness. Her father, tall and proud but with a consuming
fear about his wife.Her next older sister funny and bright and her
oldest caring and kind like her mother.

Akane sang of her child hood. Her trainng in the martial arts and her
mothers exasperation at little Akane always fighting.It was a happy time
.There were picnics and zoos and the love flowed. There were times of
worry as mother was sick,but they were few and far.

She then sang of the Day.Mother had been unusually long recovering from
her recent sickness. The doctors had been coming and going quite often.
Akane had been used to them but this was different.Kasumi was crying and
the light had ran from Nabiki's face.For the second time in her life
,Akane felt soul deep terror.

"Akane", her father said coming up to her,"your mother wishes to speak
to you". She looked up at the tall man and noticed he seemed to be
tired. He looked bent down by an unseen weight. His face however showed
the iron control he had when teaching classess.

"Yes, father "Akane replied moving towards the door. Her progress was
suddenly stopped as her father swept her up in a fierce embrace. She
returned it shocked to feel the wetness of tears from her father on her
cheek.

After a time he realesed her and turned to hug his other daughters.
Akane used the distraction to slip in side her parents room. In later
years she would always remember the smell most of all. It was sickly
sweet and cloying.The smell of death.She hugged the door edge fearful
and ready to bolt.

"Akane , What are you doing over there? Come here child". Her mothers
voice. Sweet, clear and always there. Akane relaxed and thru her self at
her mother . It would be all right , everthing would be fine.

But it wasnt to be . That night her mother died and the dark times
began.

Akane sang of the dark years. Her father s decline and near collapse .
Nabiki closing the world out and Kasumi taking the role of mother.They
all coped. Father with his memories Nabiki and her deals and Kasumi took
care of the family., Akane coped with her rage. "How DARE she leave"
Akane thought  They had been abanoned , left alone and Akane would never
forgive her.

As her rage grew so did her skill. Til that fateful day she meet a
certain pig tailed martial artist.

Akane sang of Ranma and her friends. The fights, schemes the confusion
and chaos.She then sang of her death.

They had been at the beach when they had been attacked yet again. The
fight went as expected and soon much power was being unleashed A chi
blast went array and blew her off her feet.Up and out over the water far
from shore. Akane hit the water hard and was stunned.Vaugly she felt the
water enter her lungs but could nothing.

She only felt ....disapointment. So much left unsaid and undone.Then
darkness folded over her.

She then awoke here. 


While she had been singing, others came up to join her with their
voices. Her mother,grandparents, ancestors. All joined in singing to the
One in a Chorus that had a number that no one could count.

Akane ' s final thought as she gave her self to the Chorus was that soon
her beloved Ranma would join her and he too would have to sing of his
life to the One.


Fin

For  Rev.Conrad O Whittle II
 March 1995 r.i.p