Yes, I FINALLY finished the draft of Part 4!  

::bell chimes, choral music, etc.::

For the people who have already taken a look at my very early drafts, there
are substantial additions in this version.  

C&C always appreciated!   ^_^

---------------------------------
TIGER CLAW
Part 4: VISITATIONS
---------------------------------
A Ranma 1/2 fanfic 

---------------
Disclaimer
	All rights and privileges to Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko Takahashi,
Shogakukan, Viz Communications, Inc., and associated parties.  The
characters of her series are used without her permission for the
purpose of entertainment only.  This work of fiction is not meant for
sale or profit.                
	All original characters are the creation of the author.  All
copyright 
privileges to these characters are reserved for the author.  

---------------
IMPORTANT NOTE:  This is a continuation/ALTERNATE REALITY fanfic. 
While I follow the manga (and video) continuity to just after Mount
Phoenix, the subsequent wedding ceremony (and the related bombing by
Shampoo and Ukyo) does NOT occur.  In this story, a different incident
involving the planned wedding took place.
		 		
---------------
Text Conventions
	(   )  -> thoughts
	>   <  -> sound fx
	<" ">  -> Chinese

**********************************************************************
Part 4a:  THE FAMILY BUSINESS
**********************************************************************

	Ukyo Kuonji woke up and instantly regretted it.  She hurt all
over.  Looking around, she realized that she was in her own bedroom. 
As she tried to figure out how she got there, a young woman walked in,
carrying a tray.

	"Hello, Ms. Kuonji.  How are you feeling this morning?"  The woman
was in her mid-twenties.  She was of medium height, looked athletic,
and was more striking than pretty.  Her hair -- black with the
occasional reddish brown highlights -- was cut short in a functional
pageboy style.

	"Who... who are you?"
	
	"My name's Yuri."  The woman placed her hand on Ukyo's forehead. 
"Good, you're not running a fever." 
	
	The chef had vague, painful memories of getting prodded, poked,
and bandaged.  She tried to sit up and barely managed to suppress a
yelp of pain.  Yuri gently but firmly pushed her back down onto the
futon.

	"You shouldn't be moving.  Here, drink this."  She offered Ukyo a
glass of water and a straw.

	After taking a few sips and catching her breath, Ukyo said, "How
bad...?"
	
	"Well, you've probably cracked two ribs.  On top of that, you've
got a nasty set of cuts on your right side, maybe a slight concussion,
and a lot of minor bruises and abrasions."

	Ukyo ran her hand along the snugly wrapped bandages on her torso. 
"You really seem to know what you're doing."

	"Thanks.  Some of those slashes were pretty deep.  I had to put in
a few stitches.  Fortunately, my needlework is pretty good.  As long
as they don't get infected, you shouldn't have any major scars."  

	"If they were that bad... why didn't you take me to the hospital?"
	
	Yuri gave Ukyo an odd look, then said abruptly, "Do you know what
day this is?"

	Ukyo frowned.  "If I haven't slept through an entire day, it's
Sunday."
	
	"And how many fingers am I holding up?"
	
	"Three.  What's going on!?"
	
	Yuri frowned and peered closely at Ukyo's eyes.  "And you don't
remember?  I didn't think you hit your head THAT hard."

	"Remember what?"
	
	"You don't remember making a big fuss about going to the
hospital?"
	
	"I did?"
	
	"Yes.  You were absolutely adamant."  Yuri gave her a dubious
look.  "Listen, if you're having memory problems, I should probably
take you to the emergency room right now."

	Ukyo's thoughts drifted back to the night before.  She suddenly
flinched as she remembered....

	"The cat monster!  The one that attacked me!  What happened to
it?"

	"I managed to drive it away. I didn't get a chance to finish it
off, though."

	Ukyo gave her a wary look.  "How did you manage to show up just in
the nick of time?" 
	
	Yuri sighed.  "You may not believe me but I have a certain...
knack for being in the right place at the right time."  She shrugged. 
"What can I say?  It's a gift... or a curse, depending on how you look
at it.  I was walking nearby when I heard a disturbance inside your
restaurant.  I'm hopelessly curious so I decided to investigate.  When
I took a look inside, that monster looked like it was just about to
rip your guts out.  By the way, you don't have a back door anymore.  I
think that's how it broke in."

	"You... don't seem at all shocked."
	
	Yuri smiled ruefully.  "Actually, I'm not.  I've got a fair bit of
 experience with weird creatures.  Dealing with supernatural threats
is...."  A flicker of sadness crossed her face.  "I should say,...WAS
a family tradition."  

	"Was?  Wha... what happened?"  The question slipped out before
Ukyo stop herself.

	"It's what usually happens when people mess around with the occult
for too long.  The Funada clan has a sworn duty to hunt and destroy
evil -- you know, monsters, demons, ghosts, that sort of thing. 
Unfortunately, my family had an unfortunate tendency to be somewhat...
overzealous... in their activities.  They made a lot of enemies over
the years.  Eventually, the consequences of their actions caught up
with them."  She made a sharp, expressive slashing gesture across her
throat.

	"But it sounds like you haven't given up... the family business."

	Yuri sank down on a chair and stared down at her hands.  "No, I
haven't.  For one thing, it's the only business I really know.  And
second, there's a few matters of honor still outstanding.  Debts that
have to be settled."

	Ukyo sighed.  "Believe me, I'm all too well acquainted with the
demands of honor."

	Yuri shook off her momentary sadness and resumed her nonchalant
mood.  "So you see, I was somewhat surprised to encounter a cat
monster in your restaurant, but it wasn't a terrible shock."  She gave
Ukyo a curious look.  "I must say that you seem to be taking all of
this pretty well yourself.  Most people would be in screaming
hysterics or acute denial right now."

	"Well, I've run into some pretty strange stuff myself here in
Nerima.  And considering what happened to me yesterday morning...." 
Ukyo looked away for a moment.
	
	When it became clear that Ukyo was not about to discuss that
matter any further, Yuri said, "That's not entirely unexpected.  In
certain circles, the Nerima district's developed a definite reputation
for... weirdness in the last couple of years."

	Ukyo muttered, "Why doesn't that surprise me?"  She hesitated a
bit, then said, "So, how did you figure out my name?"
	
	Yuri grinned at the slightly suspicious tone in Ukyo's voice. 
"Maybe because I read the restaurant sign?  Or took a quick look at
your mail?"  She held up a couple of letters with Ukyo's name clearly
visible.  "It seemed a reasonable guess."

	"Oh."  Looking somewhat embarrassed, the chef shifted restlessly,
then uttered a sudden, "Owww!"
	
	Yuri immediately got up and checked her patient over.  "You need
to stay still.  I'm pretty sure that those ribs are only slightly
cracked but you're only going to make things worse by moving around so
much.  I'll get you something for the pain so you can go back to
sleep."
	
	As Yuri turned to leave, Ukyo said thoughtfully, "So I didn't want
to go to the hospital?"

	"That's right.  You made a real big deal about keeping the whole
incident quiet.  It's a pretty understandable sort of reaction.  Most
people don't want others to know they are being chased or attacked by
something supernatural."  Yuri picked up the tray.  "You also kept
mumbling about this 'Ranma' person,...."

	Ukyo's face went stark white.  In a flat voice, she said, "I did?"

 	Yuri nodded solemnly.  "But I couldn't tell whether you were
scared FOR him or OF him."  

	She stepped out of the room, but before she could close the door,
Ukyo called out, "Yuri, have you ever heard about something called the
Neko-ken?"
	
	She stuck her head through the doorway.  "The 'Neko-ken'?"  Yuri
frowned thoughtfully.  "The 'cat-fist'?"  She thought a moment, then
shook her head.  "No, can't say that I have.  Why do you ask?  Does it
have something to do with that cat monster that attacked you?"

	"No!  No, it's nothing...."  

	Yuri didn't seem particularly convinced by Ukyo's feeble protests,
but she simply shrugged and left the chef staring blankly at her
bedroom ceiling, lost in thought.

**********************************************************************
Part 4b:  FORESHADOWINGS  
**********************************************************************

	Ranma yawned, then stretched long and hard before opening his
eyes.  He stared at the ceiling in lazy contentment as he basked in
the warmth of the morning sunlight pouring through the open window.  
	
	(Mmmmmmmm......  A good night's sleep.  No interruptions.  No
nightmares.  It's a minor miracle.  Maybe my luck's finally changed?)

	He frowned at the odd noise in the room.  It certainly didn't
sound like the raucous snore of his father.  It was definitely a snore
but it somehow sounded... daintier?

	Ranma turned his head slightly.  His eyes widened in surprise as
he saw Akane sitting on his father's futon, sound asleep.  Her mouth
gaped open and her head was canted at an awkward angle.  He rolled
over on his side to get a better look.  He couldn't help thinking that
she looked absolutely adorable, even with that little bit of drool
coming from her mouth.  

	(Aw, man.  I gotta be in love.)  

	He suddenly blinked, taken aback by the thought that had popped so
easily and so naturally into his head.  A bit rattled, he sat up and
crawled over beside her.  In a soft voice, he said, "Akane?  Hey,
Akane?"

	She continued to snore softly.  
	
	He reached out and gently shook her shoulder as he repeated her
name.

	Akane instinctively responded to the sound of a male voice where
no male should be.  Still half asleep, she swung her fist, hard. 
However, this time Ranma casually moved his head a bit to the side,
letting Akane's punch whiff harmlessly by his ear.  The force of the
missed blow pulled her off balance and sent Akane toppling over.  She
awoke to find herself sprawled face down on Ranma's lap.  For a dazed
moment, she didn't react, then she suddenly made a hasty attempt to
get up. 

	"What the... what am I...?"  She jerked her head up a bit too
quickly and felt a stab of agonizing pain as her neck muscles spasmed.
 

	"OW! Ow! Ow!"

	"Akane?  What's wrong!?"  When he saw her clutch at her neck,
Ranma immediately realized what the problem was.  "Oh, good grief. 
Let me do it."  

	She felt her fumbling fingers being nudged aside as a pair of
warm, callused hands gently began to knead her neck and shoulders.  As
the muscles loosened and the pain gradually faded away, Akane couldn't
keep herself from relaxing and going limp.  It felt so GOOD....  She
wanted to whine in protest when the wonderfully soothing massage
stopped.

	"Uh, Akane?"
	
	She blinked, then abruptly remembered just where she was.  She
quickly scooted off Ranma's lap and stared at the floor, her face
flaming red with embarrassment.

	"Your neck feeling better now?"
	
	"Uh, yes.  T-t-thanks a lot."  She gave him a skittish, sideways
look.  Aside from a slightly concerned expression on his face, Ranma
appeared to be quite calm and relaxed.  It was if he had forgotten all
about the worries and anxieties of the previous day.

	"How did you....?"
	
	He shrugged nonchalantly.  "Come on, Akane.  We've all handled
muscle cramps before."

	"Oh,... right."  She was beginning to think that her blush would
never go away.

	"Uh, what were you doing in my room, anyway?"
	
	(Oh boy.  He would have to ask that!)  Akane looked away and
mumbled something under her breath.  Her words should have been quite
inaudible, but Ranma somehow managed to decipher what she said.  

	"You were worried about me?"

	"Well, um...."  When in doubt, attack.  "Yes, I was!  I couldn't
get any sleep so I came in to keep an eye on you, okay?  Are you happy
now!?" Akane folded her arms and glared at him belligerently, daring
him to say anything.  Naturally, Ranma couldn't resist.

	"Oh, Akane."  He looked down and uttered a soft chuckle.
	
	"What's so funny!?" she snarled furiously.
	
	He glanced up at her.  The faint grin on his face made her fists
clench.  Before she could pummel him into the floor, he quickly put
his hands over her fists and said, "No, no!  I wasn't laughing at you!
 Really!  Thanks for the concern."

	Akane gaped in blank astonishment.  He wasn't making fun of her? 
He wasn't pulling his macho 'don't worry about me' act?  She yanked a
hand free and pinched herself -- hard.
	
	"Akane?  What are you doing?"  He sounded rather bewildered.
	
	She muttered, "I'm not dreaming."
	
	"Huh?"  Ranma only looked more confused.  
	
	"Nothing!  It's nothing!"  
	
	"Okay, if you say so...."  He cocked his head slightly.  "I think
I just heard your Father's voice.  And someone's coming upstairs."
	
	She hadn't heard a thing herself but she scrambled to her feet
anyway.  "Oh no!  I've got to get back to my bedroom!  If he finds out
I've spent the entire night in here...."

	Ranma winced and quickly stood up.
	
	Any hopes of concealment were instantly dashed as soon as Akane
flung open the door.  When they saw Soun, Nabiki, and Kasumi standing
just outside Ranma's room, both he and Akane started to chatter at
once.

	"It's not what you think...."
	"I was just visiting...."
	"She was only in here for a moment...."
	"Nothing happened...."
	"Don't blow this all out of...."
	"It's no big deal...."
	
	They continued for nearly a minute until the tense, anxious
expressions on the others' faces finally registered.  Even Kasumi
looked worried.  Ranma felt a sudden chill in his soul as the warm,
fuzzy pleasure from his morning's encounter with Akane abruptly
evaporated.

	In a quiet voice, he said, "What's wrong?"

	Soun coughed uneasily.  "Son...."  He then gave Nabiki a helpless
look.  
	
	She uttered an exasperated sigh.  "Ranma, last night during the
thunderstorm, a lightning strike apparently set your mother's home on
fire.  It burned to the ground."

	Akane's horrified gasp was covered by Ranma's shout of "WHAT!?" 
She could see the memories and fears of yesterday come flooding back
into Ranma's mind.
	
	Nabiki held up her hands.  "They're both alive.  Hurt, but alive."

	He snapped, "Where have I heard THAT before?"  
	
	She shook her head.  "No surprises, Ranma.  Dr. Tofu said your
mother's suffering from severe smoke inhalation.  Your father has a
few second and third degree burns.  But neither of them have anything
truly life-threatening."

	He took a deep breath and stared at the floor.  He quietly asked,
"When did it happen?  Why wasn't I told earlier?"

	"I don't know.  Maybe it just didn't occur to anybody.  Dr. Tofu
called us as soon as he found out."

	Ranma turned away from the Tendos and took a few steps back into
his room.  As he stared blankly out the window, they could see his
right hand clench slowly into a fist.

	Soun muttered, "Nabiki, don't forget to remind Ranma about... you
know."
	
	In a dismissive voice, Nabiki answered, "Sure, Daddy.  I'll remind
him about the appointment with Dr. Tofu."

	With all the unpleasant tasks delegated to his daughter, Soun
bolted down the stairs.  Kasumi trailed after him, murmuring something
vague about breakfast.

	Nabiki frowned.  Ranma's reaction to the bad news was much too
subdued for her liking.  It made her uneasy.  She had expected Ranma
to go stampeding out the front door as soon as he found out about his
parents.  Instead....

	She maneuvered her sister out into the hallway and softly
murmured, "By the way, Akane, just WHAT were you doing in Ranma's
room?"

	"Nabiki!"

	Akane's older sister merely raised an inquisitive eyebrow and
patiently waited.  Akane finally sputtered, "I couldn't get to sleep
so I decided to see how Ranma was doing."
	
	"And just how long were you 'checking' on him?"  Seeing Akane's
scowl, Nabiki made a small, placating gesture.  "Just wondering."
	
	Akane watched Ranma's stiff back.  "I... most of the night."

	"And...."

	"And nothing.  Nothing happened."

	Her older sister looked more than a little skeptical.  "Indeed?"

	"I said nothing happened!  Just what on earth do you think we were
doing?"

	Nabiki sighed.  "I wasn't talking about THAT.  I just wanted to
know if anything unusual happened.  For example, did he have any
dreams or nightmares?"
	
	"No, nothing like that.  All he did was sleep like he didn't have
a care in the world.  In fact, he certainly got a lot more rest than I
did."
	
-----------------------------

	While Ranma appeared to be quite calm, his thoughts were actually
in a state of turmoil.  

	He thought, (A fire?)

		An inner voice murmured, / Big deal. /

	(Damn it!  It's a hell of a coincidence.  I don't like it at all.)

		/ Why get so upset? /

	(Was it really an accident?  Or was it a deliberate warning?)

		/ Does it even matter? /

	(Even though Mom and Pop weren't seriously hurt....)

		/ Now that's damn too bad. /
		/ After what they've done.... /
		/ ....after what they've said.... /
		/ They bloody well deserve to suffer. /

	(If this was deliberate,....)

		/ Wish I'd thought of it sooner.... /
		
	(Somebody's gonna pay.)

		/ Oh YES.  It's definitely time for paybacks. /

-----------------------------

	Ranma suddenly turned around.  "What about... Kuno and Ryoga?"  

	In the hallway, the two girls started at his abrupt question. 
Nabiki said, "The doctors managed to get them stabilized some time
last night.  Dr. Tofu says that they're no longer in any immediate
danger.  But it'll probably be a slow, hard recovery for both of
them."

	He closed his eyes briefly, then relaxed in visible relief.

	"Visiting hours start at 11 AM, but Dr. Tofu wants to see you
before then."

	"You spoke to him?"  Nabiki nodded in response to Ranma's
question.  "What did you tell him?"
	
	Her gaze didn't falter one bit.  "He wanted to know what happened
yesterday morning.  I explained things the best I could over the
phone, but I'm sure he wants to talk to you himself and give you a
thorough examination.  We can go to the hospital after breakfast."

	He looked a bit startled.  "'We'?  You're coming along, Nabiki?"
	
	"Ranma, do you have a problem with that?"  The middle Tendo
daughter gave him a hard stare.
	
	He mutely shook his head.

	"Dr. Tofu might ask some more questions -- questions that you
won't be able to answer.  I think that between me and Akane, we've
pretty much got those things covered."  

	He glanced at the clock.  It was just past eight in the morning.
	
	"Ranma, there's no reason to go dashing over there right now. 
It's still too early.  Why don't we grab something to eat before we
leave?  It's probably going to be a long day."

	He dragged his fingers through his hair and muttered, "Yeah,
you're probably right."  

	Akane headed back to her room as Ranma started to get dressed.  He
pulled on his regular black pants and shoes.  But instead of his usual
red Chinese shirt, a sudden impulse made him pull out a blue shirt
from the closet.

-----------------------------

	As Akane brushed her hair, her thoughts kept returning to her
early morning encounter with Ranma.  She was naturally worried about
his parents but she couldn't stop thinking about what happened in
Ranma's room.  

	Instead of insulting her or making some stupid remark, Ranma
actually thanked her.  What was even more unnerving was the way he
said it.  No nervousness.  No stammering.  And he sounded totally
sincere.  

	Ranma was usually so skittish about his feelings.  Actually, she
wasn't much better herself.  But this morning, he seemed so
confident....  

	No, that wasn't right.  Ranma's confidence usually bordered on
cocky arrogance.  This was completely different.  It just seemed that
he was much more... comfortable... with what he was saying.  

	One would have expected that the horrible experiences of yesterday
would have made him feel more uptight, not less.

	(How peculiar.)

**********************************************************************
Part 4c:  DOUBLE-DEALING
**********************************************************************

	"Double or nothing."

	There was an exasperated sigh over the cellular phone, then Dan
Xin's current employer said in a sharp female voice, "You've known all
along that you'd be crossing paths with Cologne."

	"While I don't mind dancing on the razor's edge, I certainly feel
I should be adequately rewarded for doing so.  And having that old
ghoul hanging over my shoulder all the time is starting to get
irritating."  Dan Xin couldn't sense Cologne's presence at the moment,
but she had no doubt that the old crone was lurking somewhere in the
vicinity.

	"I've already agreed to pay you a ridiculously large sum of
money."

	"So what?  As I said, I want double or you can find someone else."

	"You know that there is no one else."

	"That's not my problem.  Pay me or you can go looking for a
replacement."

	There was a longish pause, then the employer said in a tense,
chilly voice, "Fine.  Same arrangement as before.  Half to your
designated account, half when this job is completed -- to MY
satisfaction."

	Dan Xin said snidely, "See, that wasn't so bad, was it?"

	The woman ignored the taunt.  "Your primary task is to keep
Cologne occupied, but don't forget that you -- or rather, your people
-- have an additional job to do."

	"You mean, besides playing a self-propelled target for a crabby
old woman?  I remember, I remember," said Dan Xin in dismissive tones.
 "You also want the Shadow Scroll.  My team's ready.  Although I wish
that you'd simply tell me where the damn Scroll is."

	"Because I still don't know its precise location.  The only thing
I'm sure about is that it's somewhere in Nerima.  I'm currently in the
process of deciphering the clues I have.  It is a difficult task and I
don't want your great grandmother interfering."

	"Fine.  You're the one paying."

	"Please remember that fact.  Now, I've already warned you about
the martial artists in Nerima.  As events progress, your people will
probably have some run-ins with them and you might suffer some...
employee attrition.  Do you have any problem with that?"
	
	Dan Xin shrugged.  "I don't care how supposed skilled these
youngsters are.  If my people can't handle some teenagers, they're
completely expendable."

	"Very well.  Oh, and a warning."

	"What?"

	"As I decipher the clues to the Shadow Scroll's location, I will
have some additional errands for you.  The specifics of performing the
errands will be up to you.  However, whatever you do, do not harm or
threaten Akane Tendo."

	Dan Xin snapped, "Why not?"

	"Because you'll make Saotome extremely angry.  You won't be able
to handle him in that state."

	"Who says I can't!?  Are you saying that I can't defeat a
half-grown BOY!?"

	The woman said very dryly, "That boy beat your cousin, the
champion of your former village, with ridiculous ease.  And your great
grandmother seems to have selected him as her new protegee."
	
	Dan Xin laughed contemptuously.  "Is that supposed to scare me? 
Cologne would never consider a MAN worthy of learning her most
powerful techniques."

	Her employer's voice turned softly taunting, "Indeed?  But she
taught him the Hiryu Shoten Ha.  And he learned that skill in a matter
of a few short days."

	Dan Xin bared her teeth in a silent snarl.

	"Just remember what I said.  Good-bye."  Her employer abruptly
hung up.
	
	Dan Xin glared at the phone.  

	(Not able to handle him, indeed!  We'll just see about that....)

	However, the anger in Dan Xin's eyes was soon replaced by the
glitter of greed.  The money was good but cash alone wasn't enough to
lure her into a possible confrontation with Cologne.  No, what she
really wanted out of this job was the Shadow Scroll.  According to
legend, the Shadow Scroll pointed the way to a great treasure -- not
of material wealth, but of arcane power.  And if there anything Dan
Xin coveted more than money, it was pure power.

	She was content to let her employer do all the work locating the
Scroll.  But once she got her hands on it, Dan Xin had no intention of
handing it over to anyone.  Once she located and mastered the Shadow
Scroll's power, she'd finish off Cologne, then teach her old tribe the
perils of denying Dan Xin anything she desired.  

-----------------------------

	Yonoko put her phone away with a faint expression of disgust.  She
could practically hear the greed dripping from Dan Xin's voice.  Money
was of no concern to the sorceress.  She could have easily handled Dan
Xin's demands for ten times more money.  However, Dan Xin's conduct
just seemed so blasted unprofessional.

	She shrugged away the annoyance.  As long as the ex-Amazon did
what she was told and didn't act prematurely, Dan Xin could play her
little games.  

**********************************************************************
Part 4d:  BLACK ROSES
**********************************************************************

	Earlier that morning Sasuke managed to sneak back to the Kuno
mansion to air out Kodachi's room.  He took special care to remove any
trace of the black rose incense he used to keep her sleeping
throughout the night.  Nabiki Tendo had warned him to keep Kodachi
away from Ranma and the Tendos for 24 hours.  Well, he had done as
much as he could.  He slipped away again to inform Principal Kuno
about his son's condition.

	An hour or so later, Kodachi Kuno woke with a sore head and a foul
mood -- fouler than usual, that is.  

	"SASUKE!" she shrieked.  No answer.  "SASUKE!"  When the little
ninja failed to appear, she flung on her frilly black bedrobe and
stormed out of her room.  She made a quick stop by her laboratory to
chug down her own headache concoction -- one that drug companies would
have paid handsomely for if it weren't for a few minor, mood-altering
side effects.  Kodachi swept through the mansion, terrorizing the
house maids and sending the other servants ducking for cover.  She
eventually ended up in the kitchens, still without seeing any trace of
the Kuno family's faithful retainer.

	"SASUKE!  You miserable little worm!  Show yourself this instant!"
 She waited, tapping her foot impatiently.  There was a knock on the
back door.  Kodachi ignored it.  The knock came again.  She continued
to ignore the sound.  Someone knocked again and this time did not
stop.  Finally, she couldn't stand the incessant rapping and flung
open the door.

	"YES!?" she snarled.
	
	The young, very handsome delivery man blinked at the vision of a
beautiful young lady, surrounded by clouds of black lace.  

	"Uh, uh...."
	
	Kodachi, noticing her appreciative audience, instantly reverted to
her demure, school girl persona.  She tittered behind the back of her
hand and pulled her bedrobe modestly around her.

	"So sorry, ma'am.  I was looking for Mr. Sasuke Sarugakura.  I was
supposed to drop off a few packages for a Ms. Kodachi Kuno."
	
	She giggled again.  The young man was still too bedazzled to
notice the unnerving edge to her laughter that would have sent wiser
persons running for their lives.

	She tossed her head.  "You're very lucky.  I'll have you know that
it's hardly the place of the lady of the house to answer the back
door."

	He smiled and nodded eagerly.  "Oh yes, ma'am!  I never would have
mistaken you for one of the servants!"

	She preened a bit, then murmured, "You said something about
packages?  Bring them in.  I'll have Sasuke sort them out later."

	"Certainly."  Soon the young man was carrying in box after box. 
"Uh, ma'am?  There are four boxes from the Nashinaho Chemical Company,
two packages from Hokkaido Horticultural Exotics, one box from Oki
Pharmaceuticals, and a package from this Indian company that I can't
pronounce.  Please sign here."

	Kodachi carelessly scrawled her name on the receipt slip and
started to tear into one of the boxes.

	"Uh, ma'am?"
	
	"Yes?" she muttered irritably.
	
	"I need you to sign separately for this particular package."  The
delivery man held up a small, plain parcel.  Recognizing the company
name, Kodachi snatched it from his hand, signed her name one last
time, and shoved him out the door.

	Her eyes glittered with excitement as she ripped off the paper. 
Inside the package was a plain but well crafted wooden box.  She
opened it and found a slip of paper sitting on a pile of dried rose
petals.  Black rose petals.

	The letter read, "Ms. Kuno.  In response to your repeated
inquiries about an obscure rose variety known as 'Umbra', we informed
you several months ago that no such plant exists to our knowledge. 
However, it has come to our recent attention that this rose does in
fact exist.  This plant grows wild in the northern end of Honshu but
is extremely rare.  The only known cultivator of this rose is a
horticulturist located in a town near Mt. Iwate.  The address is as
follows:....

	"We cannot provide any guarantee as to the accuracy of this
information or as to the alleged properties of this rose.  However,
since you are a highly valued customer and since you have expressed
great interest in this plant, we are forwarding this information to
you along with the entire sample given to us.  Sincerely, Koiaka and
Sons, Imports."

	Kodachi reached into the box and pulled out several petals.  Even
though they were dried, the rose petals was velvety soft and had a
distinctly blue sheen when held to the light.  She gently crushed a
handful of petals and buried her face in them, intoxicated by their
subtle scent. 

	"So this... this is the fabled 'Umbra' rose.  And if the legends
are true...."
	
	She reached into the box for another handful and felt something
sharp lying hidden beneath the petals.  Carefully emptying the
contents onto the tabletop, she saw a single dried rose bloom. 
Kodachi picked it up and immediate cut her fingers on the large,
vicious thorns which completely covered the stem.  But the pain was
nothing compared to the elation filling her heart.

	"Mistress Kodachi!"

	Startled, she jumped and nearly knocked the precious rose petals
to the floor.  "Sasuke!  Where have you been?  I've been calling you
for hours!"

	"Forgive me, mistress.  I went to inform your father about your
brother's condition."

	Kodachi's lips curled in a sneer.  "And what did my esteemed
parent have to say?"

	Sasuke nervously scratched his head.  "Uh, he was so busy with
plans for the upcoming school quarter, I don't think he heard me."

	She snorted.  "He never paid much attention to either myself or my
dear brother.  Why should he care now?"  She scooped the dried rose
petals back into the box and carefully picked up the now bloodstained
rose bloom.

	"But Mistress Kodachi!  Your brother's...."

	She froze in mid-turn and said in an odd voice, "Does he live?"

	"Yes, but...."

	She swept her hair back from her face.  "Well then, I fail to see
what all the excitement's about."

	"But...."

	"But what?" she snapped.

	"Something's terribly wrong with him, Mistress Kodachi.  He seems
to have gone quite... insane."

	(Oh, Tatewaki....)

	Kodachi ruthlessly crushed the brief flare of sentiment, then
tossed her head and said airily, "My dear brother has always been
notoriously feeble-witted.  I suppose it was inevitable that his mind
would snap one day."

	"Mistress Kodachi!"  Sasuke sounded a bit shocked.

	"Never mind my idiot brother.  I want you to locate Ranma for me."

	"Ranma Saotome!?" the little ninja squeaked.

	She whirled around in a swirl of black lace and snarled, "What
other 'Ranma' do you think I'm talking about?"

	"But... but....  What will you be doing?"

	"HO HO HO HO HO!!!"  
	
	Sasuke cringed under the onslaught of her maniacal laughter.  

	"I have to prepare a new addition to my toilette!  I must make
myself suitably enticing for my darling Ranma!"  She scowled at the
little ninja.  "Well, don't just stand there!"

	"Y-yes, mistress.  I go!"  
	
	Kodachi walked back to her bedroom and contemplated her plans. 
All her life she had been surrounded by shadows -- shadows of history,
shadows of long faded family glory, shadows of her mother....  Her
brother Tatewaki had chosen to lose himself in the past by spouting
old, dusty poetry and playing the noble samurai warrior.  Her father
had gone the opposite path.  Except for name, the elder Kuno had cast
aside everything related to his family.  Instead, he had chosen to
wallow like a pig in the gaudy trappings of modern Hawaiian culture.

	As for herself, Kodachi had been well on her way to being forever
trapped in a shadowy half-existence like her brother.  She played the
demure schoolgirl, going through the motions expected of a daughter of
an old and respected family.  Just like a pretty doll.

	Kodachi hated dolls.

	But she hadn't been truly alive until HE showed up.  Kodachi
sighed wistfully.  She could remember it perfectly, the first time she
saw HIM.  Even in the darkness of night, he was so vibrant, so alive. 
As she had plunged to the ground, he had scooped her up in his arms. 
And in that moment, held tight against his warm body, she knew that if
she could have Ranma, she would never have to worry about being lost
in the shadows again.

	(No, I'm not going to rot away in this old house, lost in some
pathetic dream world like my poor fool of a brother.  I want to live! 
And with Ranma by my side, I will!)

	Even yesterday's incident could not deter her.  Her encounter with
Ranma's feral side only seemed to confirmed what she had felt all
along.  Ranma was like the sun and she coveted his light -- his energy
-- like nothing else in her life.  Even black roses needed the sun to
grow.  Everything else in her life had been mere wants.  Ranma was a
NEED.  He was going to be her salvation and she would do anything,
endure any pain, to make him hers.

	Her eyes drifted down to the box of black rose petals in her hand.
 According to the old herbal scroll she had found, the 'Umbra' rose
could be used to make a scent that would awaken a man's deepest
passions and desires.  Ranma would finally lose his silly infatuation
with that Tendo girl.  And Kodachi, the Black rose  would be waiting
for him with open arms.

	At the moment, Kodachi's only worry was whether the dried petals
would be potent enough.  She would give it a try.  And if the dried
roses weren't sufficient, she would simply have to obtain some fresh
ones.  

	After she finished dressing, she took one last sniff of the dried
Umbra rose bloom before dropping it back into the box, ignoring the
numerous tiny wounds inflicted by the near razor-sharp thorns. 
Kodachi then headed for her lab, absently licking away the blood
oozing from the cuts on her hand.

**********************************************************************
Part 4e:  UNQUIET MINDS
**********************************************************************

	Lying unconscious in a hospital bed, Ryoga twitched and whimpered
softly as hazy images flitted through his mind.  There was one scene
that kept repeating -- one of Akane glaring down at him.
	
	(What is she shouting at me?  I don't understand!)
	
	The look of horror, shock, and anguish in her face was like a
knife being plunged over and over again into his chest.  His entire
being throbbed with pain.  His gut felt as if it had been ripped open
with dull hooks and it was like the entire side of his face was flayed
raw.  But all his physical misery was nothing compared to the horrific
feelings of guilt that threatened to drown him.  He knew that he had
done something terrible....

	(Akane, I'm sorry!  I'm so sorry!  I didn't mean to hurt you!)

	It was his worst nightmare.  She knew.  Somehow, she knew his
terrible secret.  

	....P-chan.... 
	
	But how... of course.  
	
	It HAD to be Ranma's fault.

	Aloud, he muttered, "Ranma, you bastard...."

-----------------------------------

	In a different wing of the hospital, Tatewaki Kuno thrashed
restlessly in his restraints as a voice whispered softly in his mind
-- a voice both urgent and plaintive.

		[ Master, I have awakened.... ]  
		
	"What?  Who said that?" he muttered aloud.
	
		[ Master, where are you? ]
	
	"I... I don't know...."
	
		[ Master, the shadows.... ]
	
	"Shadows...?"
	
		[ The shadows are stirring.... ]

	"What.... what do you mean?"
	
		[ Come.... ]
	
	"I...I can't."  Kuno twisted helplessly in his bonds.
	
		[ Fulfill your blood's pledge.... ]

	"Blood....?" 	
	
		[ Guardian, abide by your duty.... ]
	
	"Duty?  What...what duty?"
	
		[ To hunt down the darkness.... ]
		
	"Darkness...?"
	
		[ And strike it from the earth.... ]
		
	"Strike....  Yes...."

	Kuno's soft laughter echoed in the room.  "Of course... who else
could be the blot of evil in this fair city....  Oh no.  You're not
going to escape so easily.  I WILL destroy you...."
	
	Dr. Tofu grimly watched as Kuno opened his eyes to stare vacantly
at the ceiling.  It was nothing more than a single whispered word, yet
that one word was spoken with a fierce, unshakable determination.
	
	"Saotome...."

--------------------------------------
(continued in Part 4f)