ONION TEARS
Part IV.  Epilogue (revised)


To a normal observer, the dojo might have seemed empty; aside from 
myself standing in the middle of the room and the calligraphy hanging 
on the back wall, the place looked devoid of life.  But that was the 
idea, and I knew better: this was my class I was teaching.  It was a 
game of hide-and-seek, in plain sight, one of the most basic of the 
ninja techniques, and yet one of the most difficult to master.  Still, 
this was my advanced class, and they were doing well... except for a 
slight rustling noise in the corner.

I walked over to the corner and stomped my foot.  There was a yelp of 
pain, and a young boy stood up, grasping his hand.

"Hey, wha'dja do that for, anyway?"

I gave him a reproving glower.  "Because I could, Kyouma.  I could 
actually find you, and that is a fatal mistake for a ninja; you know 
that.  Now, I didn't mean to hurt you so much (why don't you head to 
the living room and ask Auntie Akane to bandage that up for you), and 
I apologize.  But do try to remember that invisibility means you need 
to be inaudible, too."  I let my expression soften, and I got down on 
one knee to face him directly.  "Kyouma, you're an excellent student. 
You're picking up techniques even your father never learned to 
master, and with the same speed that he had.  You're one of the 
youngest to ever reach this level of expertise in the ninja arts. 
And I've got the advantage of experience -- it takes a ninja to catch 
a ninja, more or less.  An ordinary person would never have seen you 
there.  But you've still got to be careful.  When you're in ninja 
mode, assume there's always a fellow ninja out there that might be 
able to detect it.  If you can hear yourself moving, so can he." 
I smiled warmly. "Anyway, you go get that hand looked at, okay?"

He returned my smile.  It didn't take much to cheer Kyouma up; at any 
rate, he was as impervious to pain as his father had been.  He ran out 
the dojo door, nearly tripping over one of his fellow students as he 
left.  I smiled at the student Kyouma tripped over.  "You can get up 
now, Hideo.  If Kyouma missed you, it's definately a sign you're doing 
well."  I looked around the room, and clapped my hands together.  "In 
fact, everybody get up.  That's good work, all of you.  But let that 
be lesson to each of you.  Always assume there's another ninja out 
there, and you have to fool *him*."  I received an audible glare from 
a pair of kunoichis in my class, and corrected myself quickly.  "Or 
*her*.  Yes... sorry about that.

"Dismissed, everyone."  and in a flash, the room was indeed empty, 
save for myself.  There were two hours to kill before Akane's own 
martial arts class was to begin arriving; I decided to check up on 
her and Kyouma in the meanwhile.

***

The dojo had been emptier than this before... and yet there had been 
more people in it at the time.  When the wedding guests had departed 
from the scene of the ceremony, Kasumi and I had carried a profusely 
weeping Mr. Tendo to his room.  I returned to the dojo find Nabiki, 
standing at the entrance, gazing out into space, and Akane, on her 
knees, by the makeshift altar.

I stared at Nabiki first, trying to read her; a difficult task under 
the best of circumstances, now nearly impossible.  The best guess as 
to her emotional state I could muster was... confusion.  I doubted 
whether even *she* knew how she felt.  I waved a hand before her 
glassy-eyed face.  "Nabiki?"

She turned to me, slowly.  "Isn't the pain supposed to go away?"

I could only shrug.  "Maybe it's just being replaced."

"Replaced?"  Her mask turned quizzical.  It was at that moment that 
Akane took a deep, choking breath in between quiet sobs.  The look of 
horrified realization grew on Nabiki's face -- the same look that 
developed when she first partook of the fateful onion.  "Oh my gosh... 
Akane!"

She rushed to her sister's side, agonized.  "Akane... I'm so sorry... 
I had no idea what I was doing... I... I..."  Her voice trailed off as 
Akane looked up at her. 

A bluish glow began to form around the younger girl, and the tears 
evaporated on her face as she answered.  "Get.  Away.  From.  Me."  
Nabiki sat there on her knees, eye to eye with her sister.  She was 
almost too stunned to move.  Akane's voice rose in fury.  "NOW!"

Nabiki got up and scurried out of the dojo.  Akane stood and watched 
her sister as she ran out of the Tendo compound entirely.  Kami alone 
knew where she was headed.

Now Akane turned her aura on me.  "You, too."

I stood my ground.  "I can't do that, Akane."

"I said GO!"

Several years ago, that would have been more than enough to send me 
off in the same manner Nabiki had.  After my father died, my step-
mother and her two daughters beat me into total submission.  Whatever 
they said, went.  Immediately.  No matter how distasteful, dirty or 
dangerous.  THe woman who rescued me from that false family, however, 
taught me to think for myself, and that orders were not always to be 
obeyed without question, and sometimes defiance was better for all 
concerned.  At this moment, she was never more right.

And yet... I was about to put that knowledge to its best use to 
benefit her own victim.

"NO!"  I strode over to Akane and put my hands firmly on her shoulders. 
She struggled to escape my grasp, but I held onto her tightly.  "Akane, 
I'm not going anywhere.  You're hurt... you need someone to be with you 
right now...

"Like it or not, I'm going to be that someone for you now.  Come on... 
let's get you to your room.  It's been a long, hard day for all of us; 
you need your rest."  I took her hand to lead her out of the dojo.

She yanked her hand away and dropped back to her knees.  "I'm not 
going anywhere.  Leave me alone."

I knelt down beside her.  "Then I'll stay here, too."

A silent eon passed between us in that empty room.  I watched as the 
light flowing into the dojo from outdoors began to redden, then 
disappear.  As darkness began its final descent, Akane collapsed 
into my lap, weeping afresh.  I gathered her up in my arms, and began 
to carry her to her room.

***

I sat by her bedside as she cried herself to sleep, seemingly unaware 
of my presence.  It occurred to me that my former mistress must have 
had no idea how much Akane really cared for Ranma.  Certainly, if I 
had a yen for every time Akane called him 'baka,' I'm sure I would be 
wealthier than Nabiki.  Uk... my mistress sort of assumed that since 
neither of them liked each other very much, and since it was evident 
that Ranma liked *her* (at the very least, as a friend), all would be 
better served by she and Ranma getting together rather than him and 
Akane.

Trouble is, sometimes just because one doesn't like another person 
doesn't mean they can't love each other.  And Akane had just lost her 
dearest love, a man whom she just so happened not to like very much.

The human mind has a nearly limitless capacity for self-deception. 
I guess to a certain extent, it keeps us sane in the direst situations, 
allowing us to cling to hope even against all odds.  It was that self-
deception, after all, that kept... my former mistress... going in the 
days leading up to the wedding: somehow he'd come to his senses and 
realize that she was truly the one for her.  She had blinded herself 
to Akane's love for her Ran-chan.

Akane, on the other hand, must never have even considered the 
possibility of any of Ranma's fiancees disrupting the wedding; 
well, maybe she had, but I could probably state without fear of 
contradiction that any of them could ever succeed in carrying him 
off.  Of course, neither had Ranma, but then, he did end up getting 
married regardless.

But now... now that the truth had reared its awful head over her, 
Akane was in a fragile state.  I'd seen it happen before...

A quiet snort shook me from my contemplations.  Akane had rolled 
slightly in her sleep, and was now snoring quietly.  I decided to 
slip out and get someone's permission to move in... I doubted I'd 
be welcome at the Ucchan anymore.

***

Actually, considering how late the hour was, I should have been 
surprised that anyone was up and about, Nevertheless, I found Kasumi 
sitting on a kitchen chair, with a worried look on her face.  Upon 
seeing me, she gave a bit of a start.

"Oh, my... Konatsu, what are you doing here?  I thought you might have 
gone home."

I shrugged.  "Sorry to alarm you like that, Kasumi, but Akane needed 
some support after what happened today, and well... I was there." 
Kasumi nodded in comprehension.  The worried look would not pass, 
however.  "I-is something wrong?"

"Hm?  Oh, no... nothing, really.  Only... have you seen Nabiki?  She 
left a while back, and I haven't seen her since."

Once explained, her concern was contagious.  I pulled up a chair, and 
sat down next to her.  "Afraid not.  Akane-san ordered her out of the 
dojo, and she just ran off.  No idea where she went.  Sorry."  Again, 
an understanding nod from Kasumi.

"Uh... Kasumi?  Would it be too much trouble if I brought my things 
here?  I think Akane-san could stand some looking after."

She was about to answer when she was interrupted by a sardonic "You've 
got another reason to go get your things, kunoichi.  Your old home is 
gone."  I turned to face the voice; it had to be Nabiki, both by dint 
of tone and content.

But the Nabiki Tendo that faced us did not match the cocksure voice we 
were so familiar with.  Her face was ashen, and she looked haggard, as 
if she had been running thoughout all of Tokyo.  Maybe she had been.

True to form, Kasumi didn't acknowledge that anything was amiss (and 
perhaps, from her point of the, the fact that Nabiki was *home* meant 
that things were at least *less* amiss already).  "Oh, Nabiki!  You're 
back."

After flashing her sister a 'fine-grasp-of-the-obvious' look, she 
turned to me.  "Yeah, I'd get my stuff out of the Ucchan pretty quick, 
if I were you.  Or rather, what *used* to be the Ucchan."

"*Used* to be...?"

"Yeah.  I went there to try and undo what I did to Akane.  The place 
was locked, but I broke the door down.  Don't look at me like that, 
Kenzan... I know martial arts pretty well, too.  I just don't normally 
use 'em.

"Anyway, the place was empty.  Picked clean.  Even the grill had been 
dismantled and removed.  Looks like she's headed back to Kansai, and 
taking Ranma-kun with her.  I was a bit frustrated at that -- I don't 
have too many contacts there to exact revenge from her... unless she 
goes to Osaka."

"Oh..." I looked over at Kasumi.

"It's all right, Konatsu-chan... you need a place to stay, and now 
that the Saotomes are gone, we should be more than able to make room 
for you."

I'd forgotten about that.  Evidently, Genma would have been kicked out 
of the dojo now that it had become clear that his son would not have any 
part of the dojo.  I had inherited several of my mistress' prejudices, 
and wondered with malicious glee how he would explain this situation to 
Nodoka.  To be commandeered from one's bride on one's wedding day she 
could hardly consider the actions of a man among men.

But I put these thoughts behind me as I prepared to take my leave.  
"I thank you for your offer, Kasumi-san.  I shall be back shortly."

***

I had some difficulty in finding the restaurant.  Not because I didn't 
know where it was, or perhaps I should saywhere it was supposed to be. 
Even in the dark, I knew my way flawlessly.  But once I stood before 
the storefront that used to be the Ucchan, I had a difficult time 
recognizing it.  The signs were gone, the windows were barren; could 
she have dismantled the place so fast?

I placed my hand on the entrance, and the door fell open.  More 
dismantling had taken place here, only this was as much Nabiki's 
doing as anyone.  Cabinets and bar stools had been ripped from their 
mooring and thrown hither and yon.  There were holes in the plaster 
walls throughout the dining area.  Boy, when Nabiki gets frustrated...

In the kitchen, again the scene was one of desolation.  Everything 
that could have been picked up and taken was gone; everything that 
could not had been smashed.  I found my few worldly possessions 
untouched in a rear corner, and I gently placed them onto my futon, 
rolled it up, strapped it to my back, and prepared to return to the 
dojo.

Then, I saw it.  Lying in the floor a few paces from the walk-in 
cooler, was an onion.  A Bayakala Onion.  I picked it up, and looked 
at it as intently as I dared.  Again, the juices began to sting my 
eyes.

To think, this harmless-looking vegetable had caused so much trouble. 
I left via the back entrance, and found myself facing the trash, still 
lined up in preparation for Monday's pickup.  I weighed the onion in 
my hand, and threw it as hard as I could against the fence upon which 
the garbage leaned.  The onion hit the fence and shattered with a 
satisfying SMACK.

***

The days and weeks wore on, and while it was not always easy to 
encourage Akane to eat and exercise, I did what I could to help 
keep her strength up and her mind off the past events.  I started 
to accompany her to school, and found myself sitting in the seat 
that Ranma had vacated.  Occasionallu, I would glance at Akane, to 
check her mood.  More often than not, I found that she had been 
looking at me already; but when I turned to check on her, she would 
look away absently... quickly, but not quickly enough.

***

A number of months had gone by.  Akane had regained her rosy glow, 
to the point that she had resumed battling the boys off every morning. 
I did my best to help, but I got knocked down at least once a week. 
Some of the boys actually seemed to *want* to date me, in fact; mostly,
they seemed a rather dim lot.  I could understand Akane's contempt for 
them.

As we neared the end of term, however, Kasumi took the two of us aside.

"You know, Akane, Konatsu, Nabiki's going to be going off to college 
in a few months," (she had been accepted to the prestigious Tohai 
University, in fact) "and I won't be here much longer either, so I 
need to know whether the two of you are ready and able to take care 
of the dojo and Father."

"Wait a minute, Kasumi... You won't be here?  Why not?"

She smiled gently.  "Well... that dear Doctor Tofu..." and she didn't 
need to speak further.  The two of us embraced her and offered her our 
congratulations.  It was a magnificent ring she showed us, too... the 
finest a medical salary could provide, without doubt.  After this brief 
celebration, she set us back down again.  Her face took on a serious 
aspect.  "But you see, I still have a duty to ensure that the dojo is 
in good hands.  And..." her face gathered a sheepish aspect, "that an 
heir to the Tendo school can be produced.  Akane, the dojo is yours, 
but you really must choose a husband.  Might I recommend the man 
sitting next to you?"

I was floored.  It never occurred to me to consider myself worthy of 
Akane-san's hand.  All my life, I was someone's servant; someone to do 
the bidding of another, be it out of filial piety, obligation, or mere 
gratitude.  As far as Akane was concerned, it was the least I could 
do to serve and protect her, in some small recompense for the havoc 
my former mistress had wrecked upon her.

***

"Akane Tendo, do you take this... man?"  Akane nodded, as if to 
confirm the preist's questioning tone.  Well, I could understand. 
As far a dress sense was concerned, I did look more like a bride than 
a bridegroom; hey, I just prefer kimonos to hakamas; it's what I was 
raised with.  "...to be your wedded husband?"

All I could was to look into her eyes and shake my head in wonderment. 
Did she realize what she was about to do?  It never ceased to amaze 
me how Akane had taken to her elder sister's suggestion.  Did I even 
have the right to become hers like this?  Did she have the will to 
do so?

"I do."  Oh, Akane!

***

"Where are you going, Konatsu-kun...?"

I gave my... bride?  a puzzled look.  "I'm going off to bed, Akane-san."

Her smile was warm and brave and sad.  "Konatsu-kun... you're not 
going to be staying in the guestroom anymore, you know.  You're my 
husband now.  Take your things and put them into my room, why don't 
you?"  My heart still ached for her.

***

I did as she asked me to; I went to her room and unrolled my futon at 
the foot of her bed.  And I slept there, at her feet, for the next 
year and a half.  By day, we operated the dojo together -- I taught 
classes on the ninja arts, and she instructed students in the more 
conventional arts such as kenpo and karate.

Shortly thereafter, Kasumi and Dr. Tofu tied the knot, and Nabiki 
left for Tohai University with a full scholarship; although thankfully, 
she still came by occasionally to review the dojo's books.

Not much was ever mentioned about our sleeping arrangements -- Akane 
really never said anything about it, and I wasn't about to press 
her about her feelings toward it.  I did know I wasn't her first 
choice for a husband.  In fact, I knew there were at least two or 
three others besides Ranma who I think would have been preferable 
to me.  And so, I vowed I would never touch her -- I wanted to 
give her an out, if she so chose.

***

There was one night, several months later, when her little pet P-chan 
came back to her after a long absence.  I was lying on my futon in the 
dark, staring at the ceiling, when I heard a squeak and a thump.  Not 
long afterward, there was a tapping on my shoulder.  I rolled onto my 
side and stared into a pair of eyes that were asking "What are you 
doing here?"

I decided it would be easier to answer a human than a pig.  I carefully 
picked him up, and carried him to the bathroom.

Through the steam, Ryoga's expression was glum.  "I heard about Ranma 
and Ukyou... and about you and Akane."  His face grew darker as he 
mentioned the two of us.

"I'm sorry, Ryoga.  I did what I could to break it up.  And I know you 
cared about Akane..."

"Do you know HOW MUCH I cared for her?!"  Ryoga's temper flared and he 
bared his fangs at me.  "How DARE *you*, of all people, take her away 
from me!"

I looked around frantically for something to deaden the sound. 
Finding nothing, I waved my hands at him to keep it down.  "Look, 
Ryoga... Kasumi suggested it, and she agreed.  She asked me.  I'm 
sure she would have asked you if you'd been there... maybe she still 
will."

"She married YOU, you little freak of nature!  It's too late for me!"

"Shh!  No, it isn't!  We can still get an annullment, if she wants you."

All the anger drained from him in an instant.  "A-a-an... annullment?"

I nodded.  "Well, yeah.  I've never touched her."

"You're kidding!  It's been nearly a year!  I was sure that... you and 
Akane... must have..."  He was turning bright red and fidgeting.

I shook my head.  "I couldn't do that to her.  I don't know if she 
ever really wanted me."

"You just said she asked you to be her husband..."

"Yeah, well... It was Kasumi's idea, after all.  I don't really know how 
much she meant it, really..."

Ryoga looked at me.  Stared, actually.  For a long time.  The darkness 
begin to lift from his, but the cloudiness remained; a sadness I could 
not quite understand.  Then he stood up.  "I think I'd better get my 
clothes."

"Let me take care of it.  She's got a spare dresser you can put them 
into."

"No, Konatsu... I've got to go.  If I had been in your shoes, I would 
not have had your honor, your willpower.  I would have taken her that 
first night, had I the strength.  I would have known I wasn't her 
first choice, but I wouldn't care.  That is not the sort of conduct 
worthy of her.  You've earned the right to her, Konatsu.  You belong 
in the spot I've been occupying these past few years.  I suggest you 
take it; I shall vacate it for its rightful owner."

"But Ryoga... what about P-chan?  She loves that little piggy of hers. 
How could I take your place?"

Ryoga shrugged.  "What *about* P-chan?  Akari loves him, too."  Oh, 
yeah... I'd forgotten about her.  "And if that's the only way left for 
me to be with Akane... it's not worth it, anyway."

"Well, why don't you stay the night, in any case?  I can call the 
Unryuu farm in the morning, and have her come and pick you up.  That 
way, you won't get lost."

"I'd appreciate that, Konatsu."

***

There came a day when, after I had finished with my classes, she met 
me in the living room.  She hadn't gotten ready for her class; instead 
of her traditional gi, she was dressed in a simple yukata.  It was not 
typical for her, and I knew something was up.

I didn't have to wait long to find out what it was.

"Konatsu... I want to have a baby."

"Uh... a baby?"

"Uh-huh.  Don't you remember?  We're supposed to be creating an heir 
to the Anything-Goes school of martial arts."

"I... uh..."  I wasn't prepared to deal with this.  I was ready and 
willing to raise a child with her; but... "How do you propose to go 
about accomplishing this?

Her smile quirked its way up one side of her face.  "How do *you* 
think, Konatsu?"

I don't believe I'd ever completely facefaulted before.  But now, my 
whole *body* faulted, and the next thing I knew, I was picking myself 
up off the floor.

"Konatsu...?"  The smile was gone, and a worried expression had taken 
over.  She was worried... about me!

I hauled myself up to a sitting position.  "Akane-san... do you realize 
what you're saying?"

"More than you know, Konatsu..."  She undid her yukata, and let it fall 
to the floor... she wore nothing underneath.  I had never seen her like 
this before.  Oh, I had had the opportunity, I'm sure -- but I never 
allowed myself to look before.  It had all been part and parcel of my 
vow that I not take advantage of her.

And here she was... standing before me like this... asking me to...

I'm sure there were tears running down my face.  "Akane-san... b-b-but 
this means that..."

"...that you and I really will be husband and wife in more than name.  
I know."  She knelt in front of me.  "Konatsu... please.  You've never 
even touched me like this..." and she took my hand and placed it on her 
breast, "since we were married.  Don't you find me attractive?"

I pulled my hand away as if I had touched a hot poker.  But my hand 
wouldn't let me pull away entirely... *Akane* was afraid *I* didn't 
like *her*?  "I... I -- yes!  I do!  But... what about the others?"

"Others?  What others?"  She looked genuinely confused.  I had never 
told her of my vow.

As I did, she began to undo the knots in my obi.  "Konatsu... now I 
understand why you've been keeping such distance.  But you don't need 
to do that anymore.  Ryoga, Shinnosuke, Ki-rin... none of them were 
there when I needed them.  You were.  And you have been ever since. 
Isn't that enough?

"So now, I need one more thing from you... that is, if you're willing 
to give it to me..."

I was.

And I did.

***

The first few times were tentative; neither of us really understood 
what we were doing.  And to add to that, I was still a bit nervous 
about turning myself into a lesbian for real.  Somehow, I knew I 
wasn't ready for this part of marriage.  Not as a man, anyway.

But we continued our efforts, and it wasn't long before it ceased to 
be a duty we did for the dojo; rather, it was a joy we looked forward 
to whenever we could.  When I was inside of her, I knew that this was 
what it really felt like to be a man, and decided to renounce my 
girlish ways for good.  I also came to the conclusion the Ranma 
didn't know what he was lost out on...

I didn't know what had possessed her to ask that we begin relating to 
each other fully as husband and wife, but whatever it was, I was 
grateful for it.

***

Nearly fifteen years passed before I discovered the cause of Akane's 
passion.  During that time, we had succeeded in producing an heir, a 
beautiful little girl we named Junko.  She grew up to be a very pretty 
child, and quite popular in the midst of a great boomlet of children; 
many friends who had been at that first fateful wedding had decided, 
independantly and simultaneously, to have children, too.  So Junko 
had plenty of friends her age, and shone out amongst them like a 
little human star... or am I sounding like a doting parent?

It was a Sunday, a cold, rainy day even for Nerima, when a vaguely 
familiar-looking boy, a little older than Junko, came pounding on 
the door of the dojo.  I let him in, and called for Junko to come 
downstairs; I assumed it was one of her numerous suitors intending 
to take her on a date.

When she came into the living room, she had a puzzled look on her 
face.  "What is it, Father?"

This, in turn, puzzled me.  I turned to the boy, who was as perplexed 
as I was.  "Didn't you come here to see Junko?"

He gestured at her.  "Junko?  Is that her name?"  Now I was *really* 
confused.  I turned to my daughter, who waved her hands frantically in 
front of her, and mouthing 'I've never seen him before in my life!' 
The boy resumed speaking, and my attention returned to him.

"Naw, I wasn't lookin' for her.  I was lookin' for the Tendo dojo."

I nodded.  "Well, you've come to the right place.  Have you come to 
train?"

"Dunno.  It's just that my old man useta always talk about how great 
things were around here, and I guess I figgered that I could do worse 
than come here, now that I'm on my own."

'My old man...' The turn of phrase sounded familiar...  "On your own, 
did you say?"

"Yeah, I've ditched 'em.  Pop's always talkin' about turning me into a 
'man among men,' and Mom's always threatening to bring *his* mother 
over if he tries.  So I saved 'em the trouble and headed out."

The pieces were starting to fall into place.  "You wouldn't be..."

He extended a hand, nonchalantly.  "Name's Kyouma Saotome."  I took 
his hand and shook it -- it was limp and clammy; of course, that could 
be just from all that time in the cold rain.

"Not... Ranma's boy?"

He looked up.  "You knew my Pop?"  Then he blinked and muttered half 
to himself.  "Well, duh.  Of *course* you would.  He lived here for 
what?  Three, four years?"

I smiled.  "Something like that."

***

Several years went by, and I was amazed at how quickly Kyouma picked 
up on the ninja arts.  He did have an advantage to my other students, 
of course, in that he was around the dojo 24 hours a day, watching 
me and Akane...

...and Junko.  Over time, the two of them took quite well to each other, 
and I got some satisfaction out of the thought that perhaps the vows 
that Mr. Tendo and Mr. Saotome had once made of uniting the families 
to run this dojo might actually come true... a generation later than 
originally intended.

Pity Mr. Tendo couldn't understand...

***

I brought a bowl of miso soup into his room.  "Here you are, Father. 
Please drink this... you need to keep up your strength."

Mr. Tendo would join us for dinner, of course, but we needed to ply 
him with salt and liquid; he had never ceased crying since that day.

He took the soup from me with a grateful smile.  "You're so good to 
your old father, Kasumi."  Unfortunately, the emotional drain the 
onions had caused was beginning to take its toll on him.  Dr. Tofu 
could not recommend anything else for us save to keep him comfortable 
and as happy as he could be under the circumstances, and to make sure 
he did not lose too much salt or water.

He drained the soup at a single draught.  I smiled.  In some ways, it 
was good that he thought I was Kasumi; in his former mental state, he 
would never have eaten anything that Akane had prepared.  Of course, 
one's skills can improve vastly over the course of a decade of practice,
but his memory of her reputation had prevented him from eating much of 
her cooking for a long time.  It was only as his memory began to erode 
with the emotional drain that he began to consume her cooking with an 
enthusiasm once reserved for Kasumi's meal.  Of course, if he thought 
it was Kasumi who was bringing it to him...

"As always, magnificent, my dear.  You do your dear mother proud."

"Thank you, Father."  I took the empty bowl from him, and bowed deeply 
as I backed out of the room.

***

Once Akane had finished patching up Kyouma's hand, he and Junko headed 
out to the shooping plaza to hang out with the rest of their friends. 
We watched the two of them depart; my eyes were fixed on Kyouma.  "Do 
you ever have any regrets, Akane-san?  That could've been your son, 
you know."

"I don't think so.  Back then, I may have figured I was settling for 
some kind of second-best when I asked you to take his place.  But I'm 
starting to believe I got better than I ever deserved."  I blushed, 
but she continued.  "No, it's true.  You listen to me, you put up with 
my tirades, you offer a shoulder to cry on sometimes... you *know* I'd 
never be so lucky with that 'baka'."  She smiled as she recalled the 
'pet' name she had for him.  I smirked within myself -- another yen! -- 
but I wasn't quite convinced she wasn't still carrying a torch for him.  
Still, who was I to complain, when she lavished me with so much praise?

"Well, what about that promise between your father and his?  An heir 
to the dojo and all that?"

"What of it?  The dojo's in good hands, and so is Dad.  Besides, I 
think Kyouma's got a thing for our Junko.  We may be a generation 
behind, but there's always a possibility..." she smiled.

"Yeah, but I won't go making any stupid promises like that."

"Amen."

"Anyway, you know that my class starts in an hour and a half..."

"Yes, I do."

"...and since, Kyouma and Junko have headed off to the plaza, I 
thought maybe we could..." Her voice trailed off.

My turn to smile.  "I like the sound of that."

She headed for the stairs.  "Come on up in about ten minutes, okay?"
She had a spring in her step that made her still seem like she was 
only twenty.  And still as beautiful, too...

***

Upstairs, Akane was waiting in the bedroom.  "Are you ready, 'Natsu-chan?"

I loosened my obi, and walked in.  I knelt down by the bed, where she 
reclined, naked as the day she was born.  She was a marvellous sight...
Ranma hardly knows what he's missing.  I prostrated my face and arms 
onto the bed before this magnificent sight, before the woman who 
really and truly loved and wanted me.  "I am ready to please you, 
my mistress Akane-sama."

She sat up abruptly and lifted my face from the mattress.  There was a 
bit of a pout on her face.  "Oh, please, Konatsu-chan.  Knock off the 
'mistress' bit, will you?"  Then she noticed the grin on my face.  "Hm. 
Well, if you insist, mabye sometime I'll wear some leather or whatever.
But for now..." and she shifted herself over to the wall a bit, and 
patted the portion of mattress she had just vacated, "just get up here, 
will you?"

I could not wipe the smile off my face.  "Your wish is my command, my 
dear."  I kissed her as I climbed next to her.

*****
*****

Author's notes...

*sigh*  I feel like I lost my way on this revision.  Even if it *is*  
more realistic, this was labored, and I'm afraid it shows.  I don't 
really know if this is an improvement.  So I'm going to leave it up 
to you all, the FFML readers, to decide:  Which ending do you prefer? 
I'm not gonna send any of it to the r.a.a.c. until I get a definitive 
answer, so please, cast your votes with me at ukyoukwnji@aol.com. 
And an explanation or C&C wouldn't hurt either.

Anyway, thanks again for putting up with my own indecision.

Until next time, I remain yours.

Itsu mo,
Ucchan  ^_^