Okay, so I'm sending it tonight instead of tomorrow, and giving that last
prereader a half-day less to reply than I'd planned.  I got impatient. 
Besides, I'm anxious to know something:  Is anyone on the FFML actually
reading this fic?  So far, I've gotten a few comments on it outside of my
prereaders, but more of those have been asking about Return of the Sisters
than they have been saying anything at all about this fic (in fact, I
haven't recieved anything from the FFML dealing with the content, except
that chapter 2 was confusing after having been sent out so long after
chapter 1)  If I don't get a few responses on this thing soon, I might just
going to skip the FFML stage and send it straight on to the RAAC when I'm
ready.  Ah, well- maybe I won't- I don't want this to sound like a threat
or anything.  Oh, and if anyone still has some scenes for my patchwork fic,
I'm still desperately searching for some- I don't want to start on it until
I get at least four or five more fragments (though I do have an idea of
where I'm going with it, now- I've got enough scenes for that).  Ah, well-
back chapters and any of my other fanfics (and any of the scenes I've
collected so far) are available on my web page (see .sig below).  Here
goes...

Chapter 3:

After 'thanking' him for their impromptu vacation, the Amazons, Saotomes,
Tendous,  and Ukyou dropped the unconscious Kunou off into his sister's
care before heading off to the Nekohanten for a brief welcome-home meal. 
Marie had taken Yoshii to the hospital alone, following the directions
Akane had given her.  Ryouga was sidetracked, and wound up at Furinken High
School instead.

After a short time, everyone had eaten their fill and it was time to return
home.  Ukyou left first, mumbling something about making sure Konatsu
hadn't run her out of business.  Happosai went on one of his usual nightly
raids.  Shampoo had disappeared upstairs- she and her great grandmother had
been on the last watch the Nerima company had participated in, and hadn't
slept in nearly thirty-six hours.  Mousse soon followed, not having any
reason to stay up himself with Shampoo gone.  With her two helpers gone,
Cologne shooed everyone out of her restaurant, in order to clean it up in
preparation for business the next day.  So it wasn't until night that the
Tendous and Saotomes returned home.

"What?" came a scared voice from upstairs as they made their way in through
the front door, coupled with the sound of metal being drawn from cloth
wrappings.  "Who's down there?!"

"It's us, Mother!" Ranma called from the bottom of the staircase.  "We're
home!"

"RANMA!"  Nodoka's voice cried from upstairs.  The sound of steel hitting
the floor was followed by her bounding down the stairs and giving Ranma a
crushing hug.  "When I heard about that storm, I didn't think much of it,
but when you didn't get back....  Oh, I was so worried!"

"Hey, relax," Ranma soothed.  "We were just stranded for a while... but
everyone's okay now.  You should know by now you don't have to worry about
me...."

"Ranma, my son, I can't help but worry... because of my stupidity in
sending my husband out to turn you into a man, I lost you for ten years of
your life!" she cried.  "When I began to think that the storm could have
sunk your boat, I was afraid I lost you for the rest of it...."  Ranma was
shocked to feel one of his mother's tears fall onto his neck.  "And that I
wasn't there for you when you might have needed me, just because I get
seasick...."

*	*	*	*	*

'Oh, so THAT'S why she didn't want to go with us,' Akane, who had been
standing in the doorway during the entire exchange, thought to herself.

'Looks like ALL the Saotome's have problems with water, Akane,' the Voice
suggested.  'Guess that makes you perfect to join them...'

Akane blinked.  'Eh?  I don't have any problems with water...'

'Oh, really?  When was the last time you went swimming?'

Akane couldn't answer that one, though having some weird voice in her head
which STILL hadn't told her who or what it was point out her flaws was not
making her happy.  

She was about to start listening in again before a gruff "Out of the
doorway" was sent her way by Ranma's father.  Sighing, she moved on inside
and up the stairs, pretending not to pay any attention to Ranma and his
mother as she passed them.

*	*	*	*	*

Genma had not seen what caused Akane to stop in the doorway, but when he
did he paused himself.  Hesitantly, he caught his wife's eyes and held his
arms open.  They had not... completely... reconciled since his return, but
she was his wife still.

Nodoka considered things for a little bit, before releasing Ranma and
giving her husband a brief hug.  It would be quite some time before she
completely forgave him, but she had to admit that he still had whatever it
was that initially attracted her to him... and that he would probably be
quite warm to cuddle up to as a panda.  "Welcome home, dear..."  Looking
back at Ranma, who was shifting uncomfortably, she smiled at Genma and
asked, "So, dearest, why don't we let our son take your bags up to our room
while you tell me about what happened on your little boat trip."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Ranma grabbed his and Genma's bags and darted
up the stairs in a blur.

*	*	*	*	*

Alejandro Perez groaned in frustration as his body cowered in the alley. 
'We are getting nowhere, fast,' he complained.  'Every time we start to
move through the streets, we encounter a woman, and you run away from her
in terror.  Why don't you leave my body?  Or let me take control of it?  We
could move much faster then!'

The oni sighed.  'No, we couldn't.  For one thing, you don't know where we
are going, and I wouldn't be able to tell you.  More importantly, though,
is what Happosai's curse has done to me- it has weakened me and slowed me
down.  I can move quickly for short distances, like I did when I possessed
you, but until the curse is lifted I won't be able to move very far outside
of a host.  Besides, if anyone were to see me it would give away our
intentions.  No, we must move together, and just try to avoid... women...
until we reach the Tendou's house.'

'And then?' Perez asked.

'Then we separate... you cause a distraction, and I sneak into Akane's
room.  Once I am inside, you must run and hide.'

Perez frowned.  'We won't be able to avoid women in the daytime- not in a
busy city like this.  We should wait until it's dark out, at least.  And
even then, you should give me as much control as you can- that way, we
might be able to stop before we get too far off course.'

'Moving at night will take a long time- we might not arrive at the dojo for
another day or two.'

'If we don't move at night, we'll never get there- we can barely stay
inside the city limits as things stand now.'

'True,' the Oni acknowledged.  'Very well, we shall do as you suggest.  In
the meantime, though, your body is very tired. Let us rest until
nightfall...'

*	*	*	*	*

Ranma finished putting away his and his father's packs and lay down on his
futon.  'It's about time Mom and Pop started to act like a married couple
again.  I was starting to worry there...  But why was Mom so worried about
me?  I mean, yeah, there was that storm and all, but she should know by now
there isn't anything I can't face....'

"Ranma?"

'Well, almost anything I can't face,' he grinned ruefully as he sat up. 
"Hi, Akane.  What's up?"

"Are you settled in?" she asked.  

"Yeah," Ranma nodded.  "Why?"

'Indeed, why?' she asked the Voice.

'As I already told you, it's a good opportunity to get him alone for a
while and ask him about why he was still so uncomfortable around his
mother.'

'But why do I care about that?' she asked defensively.

'Because you want to be able to help him... and because you KNOW you're
curious.'

'Well... yeah, I am curious,' she acknowledged, refusing to admit she
wanted to help him.  'But I'll only do this if you agree to tell me who you
are!'

'I promise to tell you next time you're alone and not about to fall
asleep... but right now, I think your fiancee is beginning to wonder why
you haven't told him what you're doing here, and it's beginning to make him
nervous.'

Akane was mildly surprised to see that Ranma was, indeed, looking at her
rather nervously.  'Probably thinks I'm mad at him or something...' she
thought, and decided to try and make him realize she wasn't.

"Ranma, do you want to go out for ice cream?" she asked.

That made Ranma even more nervous, after waiting a full minute for her to
say something.  It was almost like she was building up her resolve in order
to ask him something very important to her, and with what she asked... 
'She wants to go out for ice cream?  Does that mean she wants to go on a
date or something?'  He swallowed.  "Uh... now?  Isn't it a little late?"

Akane frowned.  "Well, maybe a little, but I was thinking that, with
Shampoo and Ukyou at home resting from the trip..."  She paused.  'Which we
probably should be doing, come to think of it.  Still...'  She cleared her
throat.  "Well, we wouldn't have too many distractions and we could... talk
privately."

'It sure sounds like a date to me, but at least she's not calling it one...
yet.'  Ranma nodded slowly, saying, "Okay... give me a minute to freshen up
first, and I'll meet you downstairs."

As Akane left the room, she asked the Voice, 'Do you have any idea why
Ranma's still so nervous?'

'He thinks you asked him on a date,' it said.

'A DATE?  But... why?  And how do you know this?!'

'You just asked him out for ice cream at an ungodly hour so you and he
could have some time alone together.  If I were he, I'd think it was a
date, too.'  Before Akane could object, the Voice continued, 'And as to how
I know this... well, his mind shouted in panic "It sure sounds like a date
to me."'

'Last time you said you heard his mind speak was when you said he wanted to
tell me he loved me- after the battle with Saffron.  You were wrong then,
how do I know-'

'HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I WAS NOT WRONG!' The voice shouted
in anger.  'He thought the words... maybe he didn't say them, but he
thought them.'

'Oh?  Considering how he acted when I confronted him about it, I can't
really say I believe you.'

The voice just sighed.

*	*	*	*	*

Akane knew something was wrong with Ranma when he didn't go overboard
ordering his ice cream.  However, she didn't know whether it was because of
his parents or because of something else.  Curiosity, eventually, overcame
her shyness, and she had to know.

"Ranma, what's wrong?" she demanded.

"Wrong?" he looked up, surprised.  "What do you mean?"

"I mean..."  Akane didn't want to come right out and ask about his family
problems, so instead she noted, "Er, you aren't eating your ice cream with
your usual... gusto.  Is there something wrong with it, or are you upset
about something?"

Ranma seemed surprised.  "Er, well... I just didn't want to upset you by
eating like a pig again," he admitted.  He had decided that, whether it was
officially one or not, this sure seemed like a date to him, and he wasn't
going to do anything to mess it up if he could help it.

That explanation didn't give Akane the answers she wanted, however.  'Fine,
I guess I'll have to come right out and say it,' she thought.  "Oh... I
thought it might have something to do with why you were so nervous around
your mother earlier today."

"Huh?  No, not at all...  I've got no problems with my mother right now. 
It's just going to take me a while to get used to being around her.  For
several months, every time I was around her I had to watch what I said,
what I did, how I acted, and how I... looked, or else I was going to die. 
That's no longer the case, but she still makes me... nervous, if you know
what I mean."

Akane frowned.  Of course, that was the obvious explanation, but it still
didn't explain why he was so nervous now.  She decided to press the issue,
certain that his relationship with his mother was the cause.  "Are you
certain that's the only reason you're nervous around her?"

Ranma shrugged, figuring Akane was just trying to keep a conversation going
without letting it drift off into another one of their arguments.  "Well, I
suppose it worries me a little that my mom thinks the ideal man would be
Happosai," he joked, managing to get a chuckle out of Akane despite
herself.

"Oh, she's not that bad," Akane grinned.  "At least, she isn't when she's
not trying to get you to peep on me."

Ranma surprised her by not taking the opportunity to insult her figure, and
the night proceeded smoothly for them from that point on.  Akane was
essentially satisfied for the moment, and moved on to discussing other
things.  They talked casually, their earlier light teasing of Ranma's
absent mother relaxing them a bit, and managed to avoid insulting each
other the entire time.  

As they headed home from the ice cream parlor, Ranma looped his arm through
Akane's and laughed happily, grabbing her hand and squeezing with delight
that the evening had gone so well.  Akane was too tired because of the late
hours and too happy with herself to remember that she should blush, and
just returned the squeeze affectionately.

They were lucky almost everyone else had passed out with exhaustion by the
time they'd gotten home, because they had forgotten to let go of each other
until they were at the duck sign by Akane's door.  

"Thanks, Ranma."  Akane smiled up at him, grinning.  "Tonight's been
great."

There was no goodnight kiss, which was not how Ranma had always thought his
first real date with her would end, but she still gave him a smile that
would happily haunt his dreams for days.

*	*	*	*	*

The one other person in the house still awake watched the little exchange
at Akane's door before turning around and heading right back down the
steps.  P-Chan sighed with loss, regret... and acceptance.  He had much to
apologize for...

*	*	*	*	*

"So..." Toma said, frowning.  The Nerimites has left the previous morning,
and he'd had a hard time sleeping since then.  But it wasn't a lack of
sleep that was worrying him this time.  "We haven't had a single incident
since we let our friends leave for Japan, and all of those soldiers
unaccounted for have been found EXCEPT Alejandro Perez.  You have scoured
the entire island, and found no trace of him or the oni...  You believe he
left with Ranma and his friends?"

Bird-man nodded.  "I'm not certain how- he certainly wasn't on their boat-
but it appears as if he has given us the slip.  The only place where he
could have done that would be Japan."

Toma thought for a moment.  He had been in training to be ruler of
Tokenkyou since he could remember, and that training kept him from
embarrassing his kingdom, but even he knew he could sometimes make stupid
policies resulting from his youthful arrogance and immaturity.  The two
years he had spent looking for a wife by stealing hundreds of women from
various countries had been such a policy, as he now realized.  So his next
action would require SERIOUS thought... and maybe some words from his chief
advisor.

"Bird-man... should I order the island to return to Japan so we can help
our friends with this oni?"

"Of course, My Prince, if you so desire it- you are the ruler of Togenkyou,
after all."

"No, Bird-man," Toma admonished, sighing.  "I don't want you to answer me
like that.  I don't want you telling me I'm doing the right thing just
because I can.  I..."  Toma hesitated.  He had always been told by his
parents never to admit failure.  This would be a serious failure he would
be admitting to... but if he did not admit to it, he would not be able to
get the advice he needed.  Bird-man had been his father's advisor for a
year before his father died, and yet Toma had not sought his advice in the
two years since he had taken the throne.  Perhaps it was time... but he had
to explain himself, first.  If he didn't, he would never get the help he
needed.  But that would mean admitting to a failure...

"My liege?" Bird-man prompted patiently.

"When my father d..." Toma's voice trailed off.  He cleared his throat, and
tried again.  "When my father d-died in that hurricane that destroyed the
Government House... I was so lonely.  I wanted... someone to help me.  I
was not READY to rule- I wasn't even supposed to be able to until I turned
eighteen and could be crowned king.  But... along with my father, the
regent and most of his advisors were killed.  All that was left of the
Royal Court was you, me, Dog-man, and Monkey-man.  I needed... someone to
talk to.  Monkey-man was a good diplomat, and most of his duties at the
time consisted of keeping us from foreign intrusion.  Dog-man is...
incoherent.  And you... you reminded me of my father too much, at the
time."  

Bird-man's mask concealed his entire face except for his eyes, but these
now flashed with visible concern. "I..."  He didn't know what to say.

"I wanted... well, I wanted a mother," Toma continued.  "I was twelve- I
knew mothers did not grow on trees- mothers were people who married
fathers.  So, without asking anyone for advice on how to proceed, I ordered
our island to begin collecting as many women as possible so I could find
someone to marry me... a mother, really, who would be joined to me as my
wife.  When Akane Tendou approached me, slapped me, and admonished me... I
knew I found someone who would be a good mother.  She did not strike me
harder than I could take, or harder than was justified; she just...
corrected me, like my REAL mother used to do."  He chuckled a little.  "I
admit, my mother used to slap me in a bit different location- one which
would sometimes not let me sit down comfortably for days- but it was still
the same idea- discipline."  He sighed.  "And then I learned that I cannot
always have what I want, no matter how badly I want it.  She did not love
me, she loved another... and so she betrayed me to help him.  And I was so
petty about it I nearly destroyed her.  Talking to her later, I realized I
would never have gotten what I wanted even if she had not loved Ranma- if I
had succeeded in forcing her to marry me, she likely would have lost what
she needed in order to give me that discipline- her free will."

"Wh... why are you telling me all this, My Prince?" Bird-man asked,
hesitantly.

"I have yet to ask for any help ruling this kingdom, despite knowing I am
not really capable of doing so alone.  I have already made one major
mistake by trying to find a new mother when doing so was impossible.  I
want someone to help advise me before I send this nation on another foolish
errand- and before I do something to destroy my kingdom.  I nearly left
with Akane and the others to find a new bride in Tokyo- and would have,
too, if I hadn't suddenly realized that doing so would be abandoning my
responsibility to my people... we can thank the oni for that.  But now, I
wonder if I would be abandoning a responsibility to our friends if we don't
turn around and help them capture the oni which escaped us- which we said
we could take care of.  But I don't know... Bird-man, is turning around the
island and returning to Japan the right thing to do?"

Underneath the mask, Bird-man smiled.  It was about time the Prince started
asking for help.  "It will take a fortnight to return, My Prince- turning
around an island this big is no easy task, but yes, I think it is
appropriate.  However, perhaps we should try to open communications with
the Tendou residence, and inform them that the Oni has escaped us and is
loose in Tokyo, in case they are still unaware of it."

Toma smiled.  "Get Monkey-man to send the Tendou residence such a warning
and then send off the orders to get us turned around.  And... thank you,
Bird-man."

*	*	*	*	*

Akane woke to a light tapping on her door.  "Akane?  You've overslept.... 
You'd better get up now if you want to join us for breakfast," Nodoka's
voice echoed into her room.  "If you hurry, you can still take a bath."

Akane quickly slipped out of bed, and noticed she'd fallen asleep before
changing clothes the previous night.  Sighing, she quickly rushed to her
wardrobe and found some shorts and a T-shirt she could quickly slip on, and
dashed out to the bathroom.  Haphazardly stripping and tossing her previous
night's clothes into the laundry hamper, she slipped into the bathroom and
began cleaning herself with the buckets of cold water.  After soaping up
and rinsing down, she slid into the hot water of the furo, hissing in
sensuous pleasure as the heat warmed her up.  Closing her eyes, she leaned
back and relaxed.  She had rushed faster than Mrs. Saotome had expected,
probably, so maybe she had time to ask that mysterious voice in her head to
do what it had promised and let her know who or what it was.

"Ack!"  Or maybe not.  "Oh, no, not again!  Sorry, Akane, really!  Sorry,
sorry...."  Ranma's female voice echoed as she streaked naked from the
doorway, down the hall, and probably back into his room.  Akane looked in
the direction he had departed and very nearly darted up to chase after him,
giving him a good pounding for peeping on her like he did.  However, she
was too relaxed to get up right away, and that split second gave her time
to realize it was partly her fault- she had been in such a hurry she hadn't
put out the sign.  As she thought about it more, she realized it might have
even been another attempt by Ranma's mom to make him show some more
'manliness.'  She shook her head and laughed- poor Ranma.  Caught between a
fiancee who would pound his head in if he looked at her funny and a mother
who might chop his head off if he didn't occasionally try and look at said
fiancee while she was naked, and his own shyness which caused him to panic
and shout insults instead of admitting feelings.  For once, she actually
realized he WASN'T trying to look at her, and it really had nothing to do
with her appearance, either.  Maybe she hadn't figured out the real reason
why Ranma was so nervous last night, but his jokes about his mother's views
on manhood were still ringing in her ears, and she knew....

Sighing, she realized she had to get out of the tub before Ranma and his
father sat down to breakfast, or there would be nothing but miso soup to
eat again.  Without thought, she grabbed a towel and headed out into the
changing room.  She'd just have to ask that voice about itself later.

*	*	*	*	*

Akane sat down at the table, surprised that she was the first one ready for
breakfast.  Nodoka followed her in, sitting down a couple of places away
from Akane to leave room for her husband and son.  Soun, Nabiki, and Genma
all strolled in after her, taking their usual seats and waiting for Kasumi
to show up with the food.  Akane turned her eyes to the kitchen doorway
expectantly.

"Ranma!" Nodoka's voice cried out sternly.  Akane spun to look at her
fiancee, who was still female.  "Why are you still in that form!?  Did you
not take that bath when I told you to?"

'I was right!  She knew I was in the bath, and she sent Ranma in after me-
she WAS trying to get him to walk in on me!' Akane realized.  'And now she
thinks he didn't... well, maybe I could help him out some...'

Akane slowly stood up, allowing an angry expression to mask the devious
smile that was trying to come to her lips.  "Ranma... no... BAKA!" she
cried as she grabbed him by the pigtail and slammed him towards the ground.
 She let up at the last second, however, and only tapped him to the ground-
though to all outside appearances, it looked as if she had pounded him just
as hard as she usually did.  "Quit sneaking in when I take a bath!" 
Turning around, she walked back to the table and sat down, not risking a
glance at Nodoka until she was seated.  As she expected, Mrs. Saotome was
beaming at her slightly crumpled son with pride.

Ranma recovered and returned to the table just as Kasumi walked in. 
"Breakfast, everyone!" she called, setting the food out.  Ranma looked at
Akane strangely for a moment before digging in.

*	*	*	*	*

Akane had just finished breakfast when the phone rang.  "I'll get it!"
Kasumi called, darting to the phone with her usual grace.  Akane picked up
her dishes and took them to the kitchen, setting them in the sink for
Kasumi and Nodoka to wash later before returning to the dining room.  By
the time she had returned, Kasumi had finished her conversation.

"Oh, my...  Everyone, that was a message from Toma.  Apparently, the Oni
isn't on his island anymore.  He thinks it followed us here to Tokyo,
though he's not sure how.  He said he's on his way to help, but it will
take at least two weeks for him to get here."

"Hmm... this could be bad.  Remember the last time the Oni entered our
home, Tendou?" Genma asked nostalgically.

"Yes, I do, Saotome," Soun nodded.  "Let's start making wards..."

With that, the two fathers left the room, grabbing a couple of bottles of
sake as they went.  Akane sighed- if those two succeeded in making more
than one legible ward, it would be a miracle.  Still, they WERE the only
ones who seemed to care about the news.

"Well, I'm going out," she said.  "I promised Marie I'd go see her at the
hospital."

"If you wait a minute, I'll go with you."

Akane looked at Ranma in surprise.  She had been hoping again to have a
chance to talk with that voice in her head while strolling on out to the
hospital- she hadn't had a moments peace since she went out with Ranma for
ice cream- but as pleasant as last night was she wanted her fiancee's
company as well.

"You know, Ranma," Nabiki began casually, inspecting her nails
meticulously.  "I didn't know you particularly cared about Ms. Marie or
that young soldier she keeps watch over.  Why would you want to go along
with Akane?"

Ranma glared at Nabiki before turning back to Akane.  "Um... er... well,
uh, there is that oni out there, and he did swear to attack you again..."

"I can handle myself, Ranma," Akane growled.

"I know you can beat it," Ranma admitted.  "After all, you chased it away
when it attacked you the first time.  But it DOES have the ability to
possess individuals, so if it were able to surprise you...  I really don't
think ANYONE should go out alone until this thing is caught."

'I don't think it really would be able to surprise me, with the Voice's
sixth sense, but I don't think I'd mind his company.'  Akane shrugged.  "If
you really want to, I guess you can come."

Ranma nodded, and turned to get ready.  "Kasumi, would you call Ucchan's
and the Nekohanten to let them know about the oni?"

"Of course, Ranma," she said, smiling.  "I'll see if I can get in touch
with the Kunou's, too."

Ranma nodded.  He didn't really care about them, but the more people who
knew, the better.  "Nabiki, can I talk to you a minute?" he whispered.

That caught Akane's attention.  Looking at the pair, she tried to see what
they were saying.  She didn't hear anything outside of a mumble, but she
did see Nabiki mouthing "How much," and shortly thereafter hand Ranma
twenty thousand-yen notes.

'Twenty thousand yen?  What's he planning on using that for?' Akane
wondered.  Her musings were cut short as she noticed Ranma approach her.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

She nodded, and they were on their way.  They were silent all the way to
the fence, and Akane tensed, expecting Ranma to leap up on to it.  She was
surprised when he didn't- the times he walked beside her instead of above
her were very rare indeed, and usually only happened when he had something
really important to talk about.

"Ranma?" she asked tentatively.

He was silent for a moment.  "What was all of that fuss you made this
morning about my walking in on you?" he blurted out.  "If you were really
mad at me for it, why didn't you hit me as hard as you usually do?  And if
not, why not?  And why the show?"

Akane smirked a little.  "Well, don't take it as permission to walk in on
me whenever you want.  No, I wasn't mad at you for this morning- actually,
I was trying to help you out."

Ranma blinked.  "Help me out?"

Akane nodded.  "Your mother set you up, Ranma.  She KNEW I was in the
bathroom, and sent you in after me.  She was trying to see how manly you
are again...  The show was just so you didn't get in trouble with her.  I
forgave you because you seemed so sorry about it, and it was partially my
fault, anyway, for not putting out the sign to let you know I was in there.
 But, like I said, don't take that as permission to walk in on me whenever
you want..."  She frowned.  "By the way, why did you borrow so much money
from Nabiki?"

Ranma laughed a little nervously.  "Er, actually, I didn't 'borrow' that
money.  It's money Nabiki owes me..."

Akane's eyes widened.  "Nabiki owes YOU money?!"

"Er, well... yes and no.  See, when Nabiki started that mail-order company
with those napkins of my female form, she was trying to blackmail me into
giving her permission to use my likeness.  I don't even remember what she
was blackmailing me about- I think it was about my debts to her, or
something like that- at any rate, I couldn't just plain refuse her or else
I was going to be in serious trouble.  Anyway, I didn't agree to just give
it up to her without getting SOMETHING out of it.  So I made her a deal- I
get ten percent of the net profits in return for the rights to my likeness.
 Kasumi helped me look over the contract to make sure there weren't any
loopholes or anything like that.  The money I made was to go to paying off
her blackmail and any loans I had, but Kasumi noted that there was a chance
the business would make enough that it would more than pay all that off. 
So, I included the clause that Nabiki would keep any profits past those
debts in trust for me to use later, either to pay off future debts or to
take for future debts."

Akane wasn't certain she followed all of that about clauses and loopholes-
it sounded like Nabiki sometimes did when she was trying to confuse her out
of a few thousand yen- but was able to figure out the gist of what he was
saying.  "You out-manuevered Nabiki?  How much money have you made?"

"Well... actually, Kasumi out-manuevered Nabiki for me.  She said something
about how I let Nabiki take advantage of me too often, and that I should at
least be getting something back for it.  At any rate, her business
skyrocketed.  Ten percent of the profits amounted to about a million yen,
but with all my debts I only have about seven-hundred and fifty thousand...
er, make that seven hundred and thirty thousand, now that I've made this
withdrawl."

Akane's eyes widened.  For one thing, she would never have expected Kasumi
to act that way.  For another, she was amazed that Ranma had that kind of
money at his disposal.  "If you've got that much, then how much does my
sister actually have?"

Ranma shrugged.  "It's been a while since I've seen her books- the last
time was a few months ago when I cleared into the black, and wanted to
check and make sure she hadn't charged me for things I didn't need to pay
for.  The mail-order business makes most of her money, by far, but I'd
guess by now she has about fifteen million yen saved up.  Half of that she
has in a trust fund in the bank for her future college tuition and
expenses.  I don't know about the rest- it's just labeled in her books by
'project number.'"

Akane shook her head in disbelief and they continued walking.  After a few
moments of silence, she looked back at him.  "Say, you still haven't told
me why you got all that money out..."

Ranma blushed a little.  "Oh, well... see, I was thinking that when we were
done visiting Marie, we might go around town and do some things- eat out,
catch a movie, you know- make a day of it."

Akane was about to object- after agreeing to let Ranma walk her to the
hospital, she had decided she would talk to the Voice after she got back
home.  However, she could do that later- she might as well spend as much
time with her fiancee as possible while he was still in this pleasant mood
of his.  "Sure thing, Ranma," she agreed, smiling.

Ranma smiled back.  She'd asked him on one unofficial date- now he'd
reciprocated.  If this kept up, they might unofficially be more than
friends before too long.

*	*	*	*	*

Ranma sighed and leaned back, giving up on his attempt to read the dull
article on sports injuries he'd found in one of the hospital's decades-old
waiting room magazines.  The staff had decided that Akane could go in with
Marie, but that he should stay behind so that Yoshii wasn't too crowded. 
So, he was stuck alone with nothing to do until Akane finished her visit. 
Thankfully, he knew that the visit couldn't last TOO much longer- the
hospital staff had said the patient was doing fine, but that they could not
allow extended visits by anyone other than Marie (who was listed as
Hideki's 'Significant Other').  Still, that meant he could be here for a
couple of hours.

Suddenly, an all-too-familiar voice called out to him from down the
hallway.  "Ranma!  Come over here- I want to talk to you!" Ryouga boomed.

Ranma leaped up and darted down the hallway, carefully avoiding the
doctors, nurses, and patients along his path.  "Ryouga, you idiot," Ranma
growled.  "Keep your voice down- we're in a hospital!"

Ryouga looked around him as Ranma guided him to the waiting room, and
realized for the first time that he was, indeed, in Nerima General.  "What
are you doing here, Ranma?" he asked.

"I walked Akane here from the dojo- she's keeping Marie company for a
little while.  The oni escaped Togenkyou with us, apparently, so I don't
think it's a good idea for anyone to go out alone."

Ryouga nodded.  "Good idea..."

Ranma sat back down and leaned his head back.  It looked as if his quiet
day with Akane would be ruined.  Sighing, he decided to get it over with
quickly.  "So, you wanted to talk to me?"

"Um, yeah," Ryouga began nervously.  "I wanted to... um... apologize for my
behavior when we were shipwrecked."  He took in a deep breath, noticing
Ranma's confused look.  "While we were on the island, I thought... well, I
thought we weren't getting off- at least not for a long time.  So, I
returned to my old behavior, and started once again trying to win Akane
from you.  I... haven't been doing that in a while, because I realized that
the two of you love each other, and because... well, I was turning into
Kunou.  I love Akari... yet at the same time I was going after Akane...  I
eventually chose Akari, and have been... comfortable with my decision.  But
when we were stuck on that island, I thought..."

Ranma chuckled.  "Relax, Ryouga.  To tell you the truth, I barely noticed
it- you weren't acting all that different."  Then he narrowed his eyes a
little.  "But why do you assume Akane and I love each other?  I mean, true,
we don't hate each other as much as we pretend to, but we barely get
along..."

Ryouga laughed sadly.  "Ranma, give it up.  I know already, alright?  I was
with you at Jusendo when you thought she was dead, and I know that you
sacrificed our cure for her at Togenkyou.  And I saw you when the two of
you came home last night, mooning at each other like a pair of lovers. 
Trust me, Ranma, I know you love her."

Ranma's eyes widened.  "Um... hey, it's not like we kissed or nothing...."

Ryouga laughed again, with a little more humor this time.  "Oh, please. 
You both are just too shy for your own good.  I wouldn't be surprised if
you considered the kiss at the altar your honeymoon when your parents
finally get you hitched- you two would be two embarrassed to try anything
else!"

Ranma winced, knowing it was probably true.  "Well, maybe...."  After a few
uncomfortable moments of silence, he decided to change the topic before
things got even more embarrassing.  "So, anyway, have you got any ideas for
what to do about the oni?"

Ryouga shrugged.  "I don't see what we can do until it shows itself, except
travel in groups and try to keep an eye out for it."

Ranma sighed.  "Yeah, I guess you're right.  In fact, let's try and get
you... hmm, well, the dojo doesn't really need any more fighters between my
parents, myself, and Akane... how about I take you to Ucchan's and you keep
an eye on things there?"  Ryouga nodded, and Ranma got a nurse to get Akane
for him.

"What's up, Ranma?" Akane asked, before glancing over his shoulder.  "Oh,
Ryouga!  Hi, nice to see you!"

Ryouga blushed and stuck a hand behind his head.  "Uh, hi! Akane...."  

Ranma sighed, realizing Ryouga still wasn't over her yet.  "I was going to
take Ryouga over to Ucchan's so he can help look after her during this oni
mess.  I'll be back right after dropping him off- I just wanted to let you
know where I was going in case you got done before I got back."

"Oh, well, if you want I'll..." Akane stopped.  She was just about to
volunteer to go with him on the way, but she couldn't just leave Marie like
that.  She'd been talking non-stop since Akane had gotten there, and really
needed someone to comfort her.  She couldn't just abandon her friend like
that.  "Never mind.  I'll be here when you get back."

Ranma led Ryouga out of the hospital as Akane slowly walked back to
Yoshii's room.  Why had she so casually forgotten her friend, just to spend
some more time with Ranma, who she seemed doomed to spend the rest of her
life with, anyway?  The Voice was buzzing, trying to tell her, but she
didn't have time to listen to it right then.  Shaking her head to clear it,
she stepped back into the room.  She didn't have time to sort out all of
her feelings right then; she needed to help out a friend.

*	*	*	*	*

Akane smiled as Ranma led her home, holding her hand.  Night fell nearly
three hours ago, so there was no worry of being caught, and that just
helped her to relax.  It had been a wonderful night.

Ranma had gotten back to the hospital just as she'd finished visiting
Marie- who looked hopeful when Hideki said something in his sleep just
before she left.  Ranma had proceeded to treat her to an excellent dinner
at a fancy French restaurant, noticibly restraining himself from pigging
out too much.  The food was all the more delicious because niether one of
them had eaten lunch (Ranma hadn't even had a snack okonomiyaki at Ucchan's
when he dropped Ryouga off).  Then they had gone to the movie.

The movie, America's latest blockbuster 'Titanic,' was sad and romantic-
not Ranma's first choice, Akane knew.  But he had given her choice of
movie...

In the middle of the movie, Ranma had shocked her by hesitantly putting his
arm over her shoulder, pulling slightly to hint she should lean into him. 
The whole experience was... delightful.  He didn't even tease her for
tearing up at some of the sad parts... though Akane noticed his eyes
glistening more than usual during one or two of those scenes as well.

After the marathon of a movie ended, they wound up in a small coffee house,
eating and talking much like they had the previous night in the ice cream
parlor.  Finally, they started on home, and he clapsed her hand in his as
they went out the door.

Akane felt the strangest desire to kiss him... but she couldn't find the
right moment.  The mood was right, the night had gone well... but there
wasn't really any opportunity to meet his lips.  Sighing contentedly, she
relaxed, realizing that it wasn't yet the right time.  Still, she kept her
eyes open- something inside her wanted this to be the night....

*	*	*	*	*

'Hah!  We made it!' the oni proclaimed, staring at the wall of the Tendou
residence.  Night had fallen two hours ago.  'I'll separate from you, and
hide in Akane's room.  If I need one, I'll call for you to cause a
distraction.'

'And if you don't?' Perez asked.

'Then keep an eye out for Happosai and warn me if he shows.'

Perez nodded, then waited as a small, floating beachball with horns emerged
from his head.  It took a few seconds to regain his equilibrium, but when
he did, he saw the oni still floating before him.  "Good luck," he said.

The oni nodded, floating out from him and through a window on the second
floor of the dojo.  Taking cover, Perez began to wait.

*	*	*	*	*

Smiling, Akane withdrew her hand as she and Ranma passed through the door. 
They both started upstairs, slipping past their parents unnoticed, and
headed for Akane's door.  As they moved, Akane heard the Voice buzzing
inside her, but she shut it out.  She knew that it was probably telling her
this was a now-or-never moment with Ranma, and that she had a rare
opportunity, but if she stopped to hear it out she was afraid of zoning out
at a critical moment.  Stopping at her doorway, she turned to Ranma and
smiled brightly.

"Thank you, Ranma... this evening has been lovely."  With that, she leaned
over to him, standing on her toes as she wrapped her arms around the back
of his neck, and pulled him in for a brief but sweet kiss on the lips. 
Ranma's arms went around her, and he started returning the kiss, but the
fear of getting caught kept both of them from continuing it for long. 
Releasing him, Akane smiled and rocked back onto the balls of her feet. 
"Good night, Ranma," she whispered as she turned and went into her room. 
The buzzing in her head was getting incessant now, but she couldn't listen
to it until she'd finished closing her door.  She smiled at the blank but
happy expression on Ranma's face as she slip it shut, and then went over
and sat down on her bed.

'Okay, what is it you're trying to tell me?' Akane thought to the Voice.

'...Oni!  The Oni is HERE!'

That was all the warning Akane had before she was possessed. 

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

---
Sir Desaix, member # 116 of the Knights of the True Fiancee
                             desaix@sysnet.net
    http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/7872
                           fanfics available at 
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/7872/fanfics.htm