Appearances


By Richard Lawson




Ranma stared at his hands. His fingers were twitching involuntarily.

He made fists out of them. They started shaking. This was bad. He unclenched

his fists and grabbed his thighs. That helped.



So, Saotome Ranma, shall we begin?



Ranma looked up and across the table. The woman across from him was

smiling sympathetically. Ranma supposed that, in her own way, she was trying

to calm him down. It wasn't working her smile couldn't hide who she was,

and what she was doing in the small room with Ranma.



Ranma fought to control himself. He was teetering on the edge, and needed

to use all of his willpower to keep himself from exploding in a rage.



Ranma looked over at the mirror that covered one wall. He wondered who

else was listening.



Please, Saotome-san. I know you have been over this before with

the others. I know it hurts to talk about it. But I need to hear it again,

one more time, from beginning to end. Tell me how this came to be. In your

own words.



Ranma stared at the woman. He swallowed he wasn't sure his sanity would

survive a retelling, but he knew he had no choice.



He drew a deep breath. I suppose it began with Ukyo. Wait Cologne

was probably first. I just thought of that. About two weeks ago....



***



Ranma walked through the front door with Akane. He dropped his bag on

the ground and walked down the hall, ignoring Akane's sound of disgust.

Who was she to judge him, uncute tomboy that she was?



Akane called after him. You'd better start showing some respect

around here, Ranma!



He turned back to her in surprise. Why?



Akane glared at him. It's called 'growing up'. If you think I'm

going to be your slave and clean up your messes after we get married, you're

sorely mistaken.



Ranma preferred not to think about marriage hopefully that day was

far off. Yeah, whatever. He turned his back on her scowl.



He went outside to enter the dojo and get in his afternoon workout.

He found Kasumi hanging the wash. He waved at her.



She smiled at him. Ranma-kun! I need some help.



Ranma immediately changed course and walked over to Kasumi. She was

the one person he could never refuse. Whaddya need?



She turned to face him. I have fallen behind on my chores today,

so I don't have time to cook dinner. Would you go over to the Nekohanten

and pick up some dinner for us? There's money on the table by the front

door.



Ranma grimaced why did it have to be the Nekohanten? That meant having

to endure Shampoo. Worse, it meant having to face Cologne. He tried to

work up the courage to refuse Kasumi, and failed utterly. Sure,

he said with as little enthusiasm as possible.



Kasumi beamed at him. Thank you very much, Ranma-kun. She

went back to hanging the wash, humming to herself.



Ranma couldn't help but feeling uplifted. Kasumi's good nature always

made everyone around her feel good. He was damn lucky to be living in her

house.



He grabbed the money from the table and ran to the Nekohanten. Best

to get it over with quickly.



Ranma skidded to a halt in front of the restaurant and tried to slide

open the door. To his surprise, it was locked. He blinked, noticing for

the first time the Closed sign on the front. That was odd.



He banged on the window. Yo, Shampoo! The restaurant seemed

dark. Open up! What're you up to? C'mon, I'm hungry! He pounded

some more.



He heard someone moving inside. The door was unlocked and opened to

reveal Mousse. His face was very somber.



Ranma looked at him for a few seconds. Something was very wrong. What's

going on, Mousse? Why aren't you guys open?



Mousse bowed his head. Shampoo's Great-grandmother passed away

last night.



Ranma's heart sank into his stomach. Oh man. He'd never

much liked the old hag, but she had taught him a thing or two. Shampoo

must be devastated. How's Shampoo?



Deep pain crossed Mousse's face, and he shook his head. Not good.

We're going to be taking Cologne back to China so that she can be buried

properly. I don't know if we'll be coming back.



Ranma reached out and gripped Mousse's arm. He felt like he owed something

to Cologne, but was unsure how to repay it. If you need anything,

man, let me know.



Thank you, Ranma-san. Mousse nodded, and began to close

the door.



Wait! Mousse paused, and suddenly Ranma felt guilty. Not

in time to prevent himself from asking, How did she die?



Mousse looked at him blankly, and Ranma wished he could recall the words.

She had a heart attack and passed away in her sleep. If you will

excuse me. He closed the door firmly.



Ranma sighed and berated himself. Would he ever learn to keep his mouth

shut?



He turned and began to make his way back to the Tendo home, slowly coming

to realize that he would miss Cologne, Shampoo and Mousse terribly.



***



Cologne? A Chinese national?



Ranma nodded. No one thought it was anything other than natural

causes. She was very old.



The woman frowned. How unfortunate that the body is in China where

we cannot examine it. The simple comment sounded like an accusation,

and Ranma had to fight himself to keep from shouting into her face.



Ranma contented himself with glaring at the woman. After a while, she

spoke again. So you say this Cologne was the first. Then came...

She examined some papers in front of her. ...Kuonji Ukyo?



Ranma slumped in his chair. We only heard about it on the news.

That shamed Ranma he hadn't seen much of Ukyo. She was his friend, he

should have gone to visit more often. If only he'd gone to visit that day.



If only.



***



Ukyo sat at the counter of her restaurant, staring dreamily into space.





Hope was such a fragile thing. She'd always hoped for a chance at Ranma.

She'd done her best to be everything he could want. Yet he seemed to be

pulling farther and farther away from her, and closer to Akane. Ukyo had

felt her hope slipping into despair.



Ukyo was a very determined woman, however. When it had seemed that all

hope had vanished and that Ranma was going to be lost to her forever, she

had teamed up with Shampoo and together they'd pulled Ranma back from the

brink of disaster - marriage to Akane.



Just now, she'd been given more hope. A new partnership, with a powerful

ally. Ranma would be hers.



Ukyo wiped the crumbs off the counter just as the restaurant went black.



Ukyo grimaced power outages were so inconvenient. Still, it could be

worse. The restaurant was closed and she'd finished cleaning up for the

most part. She only had to make her way to bed by morning the power would

be back.



She heard footsteps. Ukyo stood absolutely still, trying to get her

eyes adjusted to the dark. She could just make out two shapes entering

from the kitchen.



One voice, female, whispered fiercely. Attack!



Another voice, male, cried out ferociously with incoherent rage. He

came at Ukyo.



Ukyo tried to leap away but fell over a chair. Something whistled in

the dark, and Ukyo felt the flesh of her left arm give way as a blade cut

through it.



She screamed and clamped her right hand over the gash, trying to stop

the blood. She scrambled across the floor. She would have died right then,

but the attacking figure was too clumsy. He tried to charge her again,

but kept crashing into chairs and tables.



Ukyo got to her feet and ran behind the counter. She was familiar enough

with the layout, and her eyesight had adjusted enough, that she found her

throwing spatulas without too much trouble. She could only use one hand,

but that should be enough. She threw three in rapid succession at the male

shape, and felt a small bit of triumph as one of them connected. There

was another cry, and the figure went down on one knee. Ukyo grabbed more

of her spatulas she just might live through this.



She cocked her arm back to throw a spatula. If fell out of her hand.

She looked at her hand in surprise, and saw that it was shaking. She tried

to grab another spatula, but she seemed to lack the energy to lift it.

She stared stupidly at the cut in her arm, and wondered if the blade had

been treated. She turned to run away, but fell to the floor instead.



The female voice called out in an amused voice. Nice try my dear.

The voice then barked a command. Kill.



The male voice shouted in triumph, and it seemed to Ukyo as if a hundred

knives were thrust into her back one after the other. Fortunately, only

the first one or two thrusts caused any pain. Ukyo slid into blackness

to the sound of the woman's laughter.



***



She was your fiancee, wasn't she?



Ranma nodded glumly. It's something her dad and my dad set up.

Of course, my dad had already had me engaged to someone else. A spurt

of disgust at the old man filled him, to be quickly washed away be the

pain of Ukyo's murder.



You had nothing to do with the engagement.



Nope. No matter what Pop said, it hadn't been his idea.



Good, isn't it, that your life won't be complicated by your unwanted

engagement to Ukyo? The woman's voice was somber accusing without

malice. 



It still infuriated Ranma. He leapt to his feet, slammed his fists against

the table, and leaned to shout into the woman's face. What're you

saying! I liked Ukyo, I really did! You ain't gonna accuse me of nothing,

you hear me? Ranma felt something making his cheeks wet, and ignored

it.



The woman looked surprise. Who was making accusations? You seem

awfully defensive, Ranma-san.



Ranma slammed himself back into the chair, nearly breaking it. There

was no winning with these guys. Damn them all anyway.



The woman was silent for a minute, then shuffled some papers. Then

there was the incident with your friend, Hibiki Ryoga?



Ranma nodded. Friend. It sounded strange to hear that, but it was true.

Ryoga was his friend.



Had been his friend.



***



Ryoga settled himself in Akane's arms, sighing in contentment. These

were the best times. He looked over at Ranma, who was glaring at him. This

made it doubly satisfying. To be with Akane and at the same time annoy

Ranma was the best of all possible worlds.



Akane sighed, looking out into the yard, petting Ryoga absently. The

rest of the family was around the table. Kasumi had just set out tea and

cookies, and everyone was digging in with enthusiasm.



Have some cookies, Akane. Kasumi's mellow voice called out

from the far side of the table.



Akane seemed to wince. No thank you, older sister.



Ryoga looked up at Akane, and saw she apppeared to be in some sort of

pain. Ryoga snugglled deeper into her grasp, trying to comfort her. He

wiggled against her stomach.



Akane gasped and dropped Ryoga as she stood up. She held one of her

hands over her stomach and leaned against the wall.



Ranma looked at her with alarm. What's wrong, Akane?



Nothing. She sounded annoyed. Akane walked slowly down the

hall. I'm going to my room for a while. Don't bother me.



Ranma looked after her as she walked off. That ain't true. What's

up with her?



Nabiki looked a little concerned herself. She's been clutching

her stomach for a couple of days. She's so stubborn, she doesn't admit

it when she gets sick.



Kasumi smiled. She's proud, that's all. I'll look in on her in

a while.



Ryoga looked around the table, seeing varying degrees of concern etched

on everyone's face. He turned and ran after Akane. He flew up the stairs

and squealed at her, but she only closed the door to her bedroom on his

face.



Ryoga sat in the hall a while, nearly frantic with worry. Still, there

was nothing more he could do here. It had to be Ranma's fault somehow,

of that he was certain. Time to go pound some answers out of him.



Ryoga stopped in the bathroom for a minute, emerging to fly down the

stairs and into the dining room. Saotome Ranma, what have you done

to Akane!



Hello, Ryoga-kun. Would you like some cookies? Kasumi's

smile and simple greeting surprised Ryoga and took the wind out of his

sails. She had that effect on him. On everyone.



Ranma, meanwhile, was glaring at him. You're the one who was aggravating

her, Ryoga. Don't come crying to me. Ranma looked ready for a fight,

and Ryoga prepared to oblige him.



A cookie was thrust in front of his nose. Its scent caused his mouth

to water Kasumi's cooking also affected most people that way. He took

the cookie and bit into it as Kasumi held out another one. Have some

more, Ryoga-kun. We have plenty for everyone!



Ryoga blinked at her, and took the cookie from her as he finished the

first one she had given him. Th-thanks, Kasumi-san. Kasumi

the peacemaker. He couldn't fight Ranma with her around.



He glared at Ranma for a second, and promised himself that he'd be calling

on him soon. Ranma seemed to hear what Ryoga was thinking, and smiled wickedly

evidently he was looking forward to the fight as well.



Just you wait Ranma, Ryoga thought to himself. It'll be different this

time.



Ryoga nodded at Kasumi. Thanks again for the cookies. He

turned and left the house. He picked up his backpack from where he kept

it hidden behind the house and wandered off, munching on his other cookie.

It was delicious. Kasumi was sure a good cook.



A shout was his only warning. Ryoga reflexively leaned to the side as

someone rushed by him, swinging a katana at his back. It only grazed his

shoulder slightly. Ryoga gritted his teeth. He'd taken much worse, this

wouldn't slow him down in the least.



He shrugged out of his backpack, grabbing his umbrella as it fell to

the ground. 



The figure ahead of him turned. It was a man, dressed all in black,

a hood covering his face, very much like a ninja. He was carrying a katana,

and cried out to Ryoga in a voice that seemed to have lost all connection

to rationality.



A voice called out from somewhere behind Ryoga. Do not hesitate.

Kill.



The man in black responded. He charged Ryoga. Ryoga held his umbrella

in readiness, and met the man's charge. They exchanged a rapid series of

blows. Ryoga examined the man's technique it seemed familiar. Rapid, enthusiastic,

but without much in the way of real skill. Where had he seen that before?



Ryoga shrugged it didn't much matter. There was no way this man was

a match for him. Ryoga opened his umbrella, causing the man in black to

jump back in surprise. Ryoga threw it at him, and the umbrella knocked

the man's sword away. A grim smile came over Ryoga's face hand-to-hand,

there were few who could approach Ryoga's skill. This man was not among

them.



He took a step forward and stopped. That had taken a surprising amount

of effort. He took another step, and his legs started to shake. Ryoga cried

out and charged the man in black, but took two running steps, two stumbling

steps, then landed in a heap on the ground.



The man leaned down and began to rain blows on Ryoga. Ryoga hardly felt

them if the man in black thought he was going to beat Ryoga to death with

his bare fists, he would be in for an unpleasant surprise.



Ryoga struggled against the blackness claiming him. He was lost, he

was going to be killed. This man was going to keep him from Akane, from

professing his love to her.



Ryoga began to feel depressed. Very, very depressed.



He could feel the chi building up in him, more than he had ever felt

before. The man beating him didn't seem to notice. Ryoga concentrated the

chi, let the depression fill him with energy, pulled as much as his body

could hold. More than his body could hold.



Suddenly a woman appeared in front of him. She barked something at the

man in black. Ryoga couldn't make it out his senses were failing him.

All that mattered was the chi filling him. He poured more and more energy

into it, and could almost feel his body quivering with the force he was

building.



The woman pulled on the man in black. He was lost in his rage, however,

and ignored her. Desperation written on her face, the woman took a packet

out of her robes and blew its contents into the man's face. He slumped,

and the woman, with difficulty, began to drag him away.



Ryoga wouldn't let them get away. Time to release the chi.



He couldn't do it. He wanted to shout his familiar cry. His lips wouldn't

move. He tried to lift his arms, point them at the retreating couple. Nothing.

In the meantime, the chi filled him, and his body began to shake, as the

despair he felt continued to fuel the chi, adding yet more energy. He was

in a vicious cylce the more depressed he felt, the more chi was drawn

into him. And he couldn't release it. And it made him feel more depressed.

And it drew in more chi.



Ryoga knew how this was going to end. The knowledge made his despair

complete, and hastened the process.



Akane, I love -



***



We didn't find much of your friend. The blast that took him apart

must have been quite impressive. We haven't been able to find any traces

of explosive, either.



Ranma grimaced it would be hard to explain. He'd seen the aftermath

of the explosion, had felt the lingering traces of chi energy. Ryoga had

evidently tried a Shishi Hokodan, but had been unable to release it before

it blew him apart. Ranma knew something of chi attacks drawing chi was

dangerous unless you could focus it, control it, and release it. Ryoga

had somehow lost his control.



You were there very quickly. The woman was looking at a

report. A police officer interviewed you at the site. You were at

the scene, evidently, when he arrived.



Ranma sighed it was almost pointless to get angry. It happened

very near our house. I went to see what happened.



The woman raised an eyebrow. Do you often run around trying to

rescue people?



Ranma felt the anger rising again despite his best efforts. Look,

I was only trying to help. Does that make me a murderer?



The woman shrugged almost apologetically. Very often, those who

kill think they're only trying to help.



Ranma hung his head. That damned womman would take any words he spoke

and twist them. There was no point in trying to argue with her.



The woman spoke again. So this man, he liked your other fiancee,

didn't he?



Ranma snapped his head up. How did you know?



She shrugged. We spoke with other members of the household.



Ranma grimaced. Yeah, he liked Akane. What do I care? He

felt a twinge at that, and realized that he *did* care. If only this particular

bit of self-realization had come under different circumstances.



The woman seemed to notice. You're lying to me, aren't you?



Ranma glared at her, then relented. Okay, so it did annoy me.

But I coulda stopped him other ways. Just revealing who P-chan really

was would have been more than sufficient. I didn't need to kill him.



I don't recall saying that you did kill him. The woman spoke

in a soft tone of voice, and Ranma had to close his eyes in an effort once

again to keep from shouting.



A minute passed, then two. Finally the woman spoke again. That

then brings us to today.



Yeah.



Another minute passed. The woman prodded him gently with her voice.

Where, by your own admission, you did, indeed, kill a man.



Ranma's fingers began twitching again, and he grabbed his thighs. Yeah.

It, uh, was like this. Akane still wasn't feeling too good....



***



Ranma looked at Kasumi with concern. Shouldn't we take her to

the hospital or something?



Kasumi smiled gently at him. I've spoken with Tofu-sensei on the

phone. He says it's just a stomach flu, and she should just rest for a

few days and she'll be okay.



Ranma bit his lip. Akane had looked wasted this morning, still clutching

her stomach and barely able to stand. Kasumi had sent her right back to

bed, while Ranma had gone off to school alone. He'd rushed back after school,

hoping to hear that Akane was all better. Evidently her condition hadn't

changed much.



Ranma turned away from Kasumi and walked towards the stairs. He'd just

peek in on her a second and see how she was.



Ranma-kun. Kasumi's voice sounded sharper than usual. Don't

disturb Akane. She needs to rest, and you'll only get into a fight with

her.



That sounded harsh for Kasumi, but Ranma had to admit she had a point.

He sighed and clenched his fists. The whole world was unravelling around

him. Ukyo, Ryoga, and now Akane. At least Akane would be okay, eventually.

Ranma didn't know what he'd do if he lost her. He didn't want to find out.



Ranma-kun. Kasumi's voice had returned to the cheerful thing

it usually was. Akane told me that she was meeting some of her friends

right after school in the park. She's worried that they'll wait for her,

and she can't get a hold of them to let them know she's ill. Would you

go to the park and send them Akane's apologies? She would be ever so grateful.



Another time Ranma might have grumbled about being Akane's messenger

boy. Too much had happened in the past few days, however. All the fun had

gone out of life. Sure, Kasumi.



He ran off to the park, glad to be able to do something mildly useful.

He followed Kasumi's directions, and found a relatively isolated part of

the park. Nobody was there. Evidently her friends had already left.



Ranma let out a sigh of frustration. Nothing was going right.



Something cried out behind him. Ranma jumped up, but felt something

slice into his right calf. Ranma flipped in the air, landed on his hands

and bounced to stand on his left leg. His right leg burned like fire.



He looked at the figure that had attacked him. It was dressed in black,

with a hood covering its face. The height and build was familiar, as was

the way it held its katana. Ranma was an expert at reading people's martial

arts styles, analyzing them and exploiting their weaknesses. The person

who stood before him was someone he knew well.



Kuno.



With a snarl, Kuno attacked Ranma again, slicing with his katana. Ranma

jumped up and grabbed a branch of a nearby tree with his hands. Something

was wrong with Kuno. He was attacking blindly, without much thought. He

was also moving faster than Ranma had ever seen him before. The way he

was snarling and crying, without much coherence, left Ranma with one conclusion

to draw. Kuno was on some sort of drug.



If Kuno was the one who had killed Ukyo, it sort of made sense that

he was on drugs. Ukyo was an even match for Kuno, maybe more than even.

In fact, in the berserker rage Kuno was in, Ukyo should have been able

to defeat him easily, despite his extra strength and speed. Kuno was capable

of nothing more than vicious, straight-ahead attacks, which Ukyo should

have been able to counter easily.



Which meant something else had happend to her. Something had slowed

her down, allowed Kuno to finish her off. The same thing had probably happened

to Ryoga, too, causing him to lose control of his chi.



It all was coming to Ranma in a flash. Kuno drugged and Ukyo and Ryoga

poisoned meant one other person was involved.



Kodachi.



Almost as soon as he came to this conclusion, he could hear her voice

screaming from the nearby bushes. No! Not Ranma-sama!



That's right, Ranma realized. Akane was supposed to have been here.

They'd been expecting to kill her.



Kuno, meanwhile, was trying to slash at Ranma's legs and failing. With

a cry, Kuno leapt straight up and grabbed Ranma. Ranma was amazed he had

no idea that Kuno could jump so high. Probably another effect of the drugs

Kodachi had him on.



They fell to the ground, Kuno on top of Ranma. Ranma felt his breath

leave him. He pushed Kuno off of him and tried to stand, but his leg buckled

and he fell to one knee, still trying to breathe.



Kuno snarled, brought his katana back, and thrust it directly at Ranma's

head.



NO! Kodachi leapt forward and interposed herself between

Ranma and Kuno's katana. It caught her right in the ribcage. Ranma saw

the tip of the katana protrude from Kodachi's back.



Kuno cried, this time a cry of despair, and yanked the sword out. Ranma

caught Kodachi as she fell. Blood was spurting out of her, so much that

Ranma knew she had seconds to live.



Kodachi looked at Ranma's face. It... wasn't supposed... to be...

like... this.... She reached up and touched his cheek. Ranma-sama....

Her arm dropped and the light left her eyes.



Ranma looked down at her, in a state of complete shock, unable to feel

anything. He looked up at Kuno, and saw the same shock there. For the briefest

of seconds, they shared grief together.



Then Kuno's face clouded, and rage seemed to radiate from him. He tilted

his head back and let out a howl of anger and despair. He looked back at

Ranma and brought his katana to bear, his sister's blood still dripping

from it.



Ranma's options were severely limited. One of his legs was non-functional,

and he was kneeling and grasping Kodachi's body. Kuno was deep into the

beserker rage, and would not stop until Ranma was dead, and not even then.



Kuno swung his sword in an arc at Ranma's neck. Ranma dropped Kodachi

and brought his hands up, one hand grabbing Kuno's wrists while the other

struck at Kuno's jaw. He slowed the approach of the sword, brought it to

a stop. The hand he brought to Kuno's jaw struck, and should have hurt,

but Kuno seemed oblivious to pain. Ranma pressed Kuno's jaw as hard as

he could with the one hand, while trying to stop the katana with his other.



Normally, he was so much stronger that Kuno that he could just rip the

katana out of Kuno's hands. However, Ranma had no leverage, not with one

of his legs out of commision and in the prone position he was in, and Kuno

had the strength of a beserker. The sword stayed poised very close to Ranma's

neck.



Ranma pressed harder with his hand against Kuno's jaw, using the tension

from that to brace himself against the advance of Kuno's arms, still being

gripped by his other hand.



Something had to give. Surely Kuno could see how dangerous this situation

was. He had to back off, give them both time to reset themselves. Kuno

had to feel what was going to happen.



Kuno was beyond reason, however. Beyond rationality. He only pressed

with greater strength, the katana getting closer and closer to Ranma's

neck. Ranma had no choice but to push harder with the hand pressed against

Kuno's jaw.



Finally, something did give.



Kuno's neck twisted to the side with a crack. All voluntary movement

left Kuno's body, and he sagged to the ground in front of Ranma. Kuno's

eyes were wildly moving from side to side. He wasn't breathing, however,

and the movement of his eyes lessened. The last seconds of Kuno's life

were spent staring directly at Ranma.



Ranma stared at the bodies in front of him. They were dead, both of

him. He shouldn't care they had intended to kill Akane. At least, Kodachi

had been trying to. Kuno had just been her puppet. Damn Kodachi for doing

this to her brother.



All so that she could have Ranma for herself. 



Ranma took his shirt off and bound his leg with it. It was adequate

enough for him to limp over to a phone to call the police.



***



The woman was looking through some more folders. So you claim

that these two meant to attack your fiancee instead of you, and that you

merely defended yourself against them. Kuno Kodachi tried to save you,

since she wanted you for herself and was unable to control Kuno Tatewaki.

In the end, two more people who were making your life miserable ended up

dead, and you lived through the experience.



Ranma nodded. He knew better than to say anything the woman would just

find a way somehow to turn it against him.



The woman stared at him a moment longer, then continued. She was

merely eliminating the obstacles that stood between you and her, but in

the end was caught up in her own machinations. That's how you see it?



Ranma nodded again.



Killing Kuno Tatewaki was an unavoidable act of self-defense?



Ranma winced and hung his head.




The silence was broken by a knock on the door. The woman went over to

it and talked in a low voice to someone outside for a minute. Ranma heard

her close the door again and resume her seat. More papers were shuffled.



Finally the woman spoke again. You're free to go.



Ranma snapped his head back up and gaped at the her.



She smiled at him, with somewhat genuine warmth. Don't be shocked.

You want me to believe you, don't you?



Ranma wasn't going to be baited. He had to know, however. Why?



The woman indicated the folder he was reading. Autopsy report

on Kuno Tatewaki. He was under the influence of a powerful hallucenogenic.

Had been, for some time. He would have acted more or less how you described

him.



She raised another folder. Psychiatric report on Kuno Kodachi.

Just this side of psychotic. I don't know why she wasn't in a hospital

somewhere evidently the family was rich enough to buy her freedom. Her

father will have a lot to answer for, but he doesn't even seem to be able

to understand that his children are dead. There will be no one left to

buy his freedom.



All other people we've talked to confirm your story. Akane's friend

were going to meet her in the park, but when they saw that she wasn't as

school, they assumed she wouldn't be joining them later. Also, many people

have told us about Kuno Kodachi's obsession with you.



Finally, and most importantly, you don't get to my position without

being a somewhat good judge of people. I believe every word of what you've

said. At least, I believe that *you* believe it. The woman put the

folders she has holding back on the table. She shook her finger at him.

Just don't make any travel plans. We'll probably still have questions

about Kuno Tatewaki's death. 



The woman smiled at him again, and spoke in a bright but still serious

tone. The fact that you're a martial artist makes self-defense a

somewhat shaky claim, but I think we'll make it stick. Best that you get

yourself a lawyer, just in case some assistant D.A. gets all riled up.



Ranma looked at her, only slowly coming to believe the woman's words.

He stood up, wincing a little as he put weight on his leg. He looked at

the woman for a few seconds, then turned to leave.



One last thing, young man. The woman sounded both sympathetic

and disapproving at the same time. Next time, don't let your life

become so complicated. You let situations like these develop, they have

a tendency to explode. Not always as messy as this, of course, but it does

happen, more often than you might think. Try to act a little more responsibly,

and you just might live a long and happy life.



Ranma drew a deep breath, feeling despair come over him. He felt his

mind slipping, begin to slide into madness with the knowledge that this

was all his fault.



He needed Akane, needed her desperately. Time to stop pretending with

her.



He limped over to the door, opened it, walked out into the hallway and

made his way home.



***



Ranma hadn't realized how long he'd been at the police station. It had

to be about 3 or 4 in the morning. Yet he wasn't tired his mind was still

buzzing with all that had happened. At the same time, he felt numb. He

couldn't help it if he allowed himself to feel, he'd go mad.



He opened the front door to the Tendo Home. It was dark inside. He was

disappointed he thought that everyone would wait up for him. Or, at the

very least, that Akane would wait up for him.



He heard a noise from deeper inside the house. He walked down the hallway

and discovered that the light was still on in the kitchen. He entered,

and saw Kasumi, still fully dressed, preparing tea.



Hello, Ranma-kun, good to see you. She poured a cup and

handed it too him. Did it go well for you at the police station?



Yes. Ranma leaned against the counter and drank the tea.

It felt very good going down. Good ol' Kasumi, you could always count on

her. Where is everyone?



Kasumi smiled at him. The others are sound asleep. They wanted

to stay awake and wait for you, but I convinced them that it would be best

if they rested and talked to you in the morning. After all, you'll want

your rest, too.



Ranma shuddered. He didn't want to think about what his dreams might

be like. He looked over at Kasumi's smiling face. She wasn't Akane, but

maybe she would do as well. Maybe even better. If you don't mind,

I'd just kinda like to talk a few things out. It helps me sometimes.



Kasumi nodded and walked over to stand across from Ranma. Her face was

warm and inviting, and Ranma found that very reassuring.



Kodachi's last words bothered him. She said it wasn't supposed

to be this way. Which way was it supposed to be? Did she mean she wasn't

supposed to die? That I wasn't supposed to be there? Ranma sighed.

I just got the feeling she was trying to tell me something.



He sipped some more of his tea and shook his head. It just doesn't

make sense. Why would Kodachi go nuts all of a sudden and start killing

everyone?



Kasumi tilted her head. Maybe she was worried that things with

you and Akane were going too well. You did almost get married.



Ranma thinned his lips. That's the obvious answer. But why kill

Ryoga? What did he have to do with anything?



Kasumi didn't answer. Ranma thought some more things out. How'd

they set up the ambush in the park? Akane was going to be with her friends

how were they going to separate her?



Ranma drained his tea and stared into the empty cup. You know,

Kuno and Kodachi on their best days couldn't match Ryoga. Ryoga should've

beat them to a pulp. Kodachi poisoned him and Ukyo somehow. With what?



Maybe Tatewaki's katana was coated with poison. Kasumi's

voice sounded quiet, encouraging, helpful.



Ranma shook his head. No. I got cut with it, and nothing happened

to me. It had to come from somewhere else. Ranma looked up at Kasumi.



Kasumi.



Sending him to the Nekohanten. Too busy to cook dinner? Never, with

Kasumi. Cooking was her passion. The laundry could have waited. Funny that

the day after Cologne died, Ranma was sent to the Nekohanten to find out

about Shampoo's decision to leave Japan.



Kasumi.



Akane had been awfully sick. She should have gone to see a doctor. Tofu-sensei

was a chiropractor what would he know about a stomach flu? He certainly

would have insisted that Akane go see a General Practioner, or even someone

in the emergency room.



Kasumi.



It was sure convenient that Ranma had shown up, too late to meet with

Akane's friends, but in time to spring the trap meant for Akane. All because

Kasumi had sent him there.



Kasumi.



Kasumi practically stuffing a cookie into Ryoga's mouth. Offering him

more. Could she have given a cookie to Ukyo? Yes, it would have been easy.

Everyone liked Kasumi. Everyone trusted her. Probably even Cologne.



Kasumi.



Kasumi smiled at him. Yes, Ranma-kun?



Ranma saw red. In a cold fury, he stalked over to her. Slowly, carefully,

he grabbed her throat.



She didn't stop smiling. What is it, Ranma-kun?



Why? His voice was thick, strangled. His fingers wanted

to wring her neck, but he needed to find out first. Why did you do

it?



Aren't you happy? Kasumi looked slightly puzzled. Now

there's nothing standing between you and Akane. This time you can get married

and no one will stop you.



Ranma's breath was coming in ragged gasps. You. And Kodachi. But

you double-crossed her, didn't you?



Kasumi beamed at him. I was so proud of you, Ranma-kun. I knew

that you could handle Kodachi and Tatewaki. You didn't get hurt, much.

You eliminated them both, which was more than I expected. I had other plans,

but this wrapped everything up very neatly. She reached up to pat

him on the cheek. Well done.



Ranma snarled, aware that he was beginning to sound like Kuno. He tightened

his grasp on Kasumi's throat. You won't get away with this.



Kasumi, despite the difficulty she was having breathing, managed to


give him a reproachful look. Now, now, Ranma-kun, what are you going

to do? Kill me?



Ranma grit his teeth, held his breath for a full minute, then relaxed

his hold on her neck. No, I ain't like you, Kasumi. But I know someone

at the police station who would like to have a word with you.



Kasumi put on a cute frown. But why, Ranma-kun? You have everything

you wanted. Ryoga won't sleep with Akane Shampoo, Kodachi, and Ukyo won't

bother you anymore and Tatewaki won't be obsessing over you or Akane.

Her smile returned in full force. Don't you want to make my sister

happy?



What Ranma wanted so much to do was to beat that look off Kasumi's face.

Come on. We're going to the police station *right* *now*.



I doubt that very much, Ranma-kun. Kasumi reached up, lifted

his hands away from her neck, then pushed him in the center of his chest.





To Ranma's suprise, he fell over. Only now did he realize how weak he

was. His rage had kept him strong and upright now it was being replaced

by horror. He tried to shout out, but all that came out was a very weak

cry.



Kasumi grabbed him under his arms and dragged him out into the hall.

Ranma managed to be surprised she was stronger than she looked. He tried

to reach out and grab at things as they passed by. He had one success,

knocking over the telephone, where it fell with a crash and a ring.



Don't strain yourself, Ranma-kun. Kasumi's voice sounded

pleasant and warm, as always. Everyone else drank from the same tea

you did. They'll be asleep for hours. I just wanted you to rest, Ranma-kun.

I had so hoped it wouldn't come to this.



She dragged him outside, and into the dojo. She dropped him in the center

of the floor and went off to the side. Ranma tried to move, tried to talk,

anything. His strength was gone, and he had to struggle just to remain

awake.



Kasumi came back holding a tanto blade. She knelt on the floor behind

Ranma and lifted him to a sitting position. She reached around him, bared

the tanto, and made his hands grasp the handle. She held her hands over

his, and made him point the blade at his stomach.



Ranma wanted to cry out in horror. No no no. This can't be happening.

This is Kasumi, she's nice and sweet. Please, it can't be like this, someone

make it stop.



Ranma wanted to cry. He couldn't.



Ranma-kun, you disappoint me. Kasumi's voice was a cheerful

counterpoint to the thrust of the blade. Mother disappointed me,

too. The blade entered his stomach. Ranma felt a mild discomfort.

I told her I was ready to run the household for her, but she would

just smile at me and say that I could run my own house when I grew up.

Kasumi's voice grew colder as she made his hands move the blade from side

to side. I *was* ready. I *wanted* to do it. She wasn't going to

stop me. *Nobody* could stop me. She pulled the blade out of his

stomach with his hands, and thrust it in one more time. She let go, and

he fell to his side, watching in horrified fascination as his blood pooled

on the floor in front of him.



Kasumi came around, knelt, and bowed her head to look into Ranma's eyes.

She smiled and her voice was pleasant again. Don't worry, Mother

felt as little as you did. This will hurt Akane, just like Mother's death

did, but she'll get over it. She's a strong girl.



Kasumi knelt back and sighed. I'll have to find another fiancee

for her now. A shame about Ryoga and Tatewaki. Maybe that nice Gosunkugi 
boy....


Ranma's last sight was to see Kasumi humming to herself as she stared

dreamily into space.



His last thought was: Appearances can be deceiving.





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