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                        Nabiki - New Horizons
                             Chapter 19
                          by G.L. Sandborn



     Nabiki slept fitfully, her dreams - rather her nightmares - were
full of rampaging Chinese Amazons and exploding buildings.  Waking
from one such dream, her eyes cracked open to see a face hovering over
her.  She tried to focus but found the lighting so bad she couldn't
tell just who it was.  It was certainly a familiar face.  Whomever it
was also smelled familiar.
     Her mind sluggishly sorted through all the possibilities but
couldn't settle on a single name to go with the silhouette she saw. 
Something took hold of her hand and squeezed.  Odd, that pressure felt
comforting, like a warm cuddle in the night.  A cuddle.  Slowly,
Nabiki forced her eyes open wide and the face swam into focus.
     "Jeffrey," she gasped, her voice hoarse.
     "You've had us all worried, Nabs," he answered tenderly.  His
other hand slowly stroked her soft brown hair.
     "How..."  Her voice failed either from emotion or disuse.  In any
case, she had more to say than her words.  Seeing Jeffrey there by her
side was a dream come true.  Her other arm slowly rose from the bed. 
Reaching for his face her hand clumsily brushed his muscular shoulder. 
The solid feel of her husband's body caused her to pause before
allowing her fingers to lovingly trace a path across his back until
her arm was fully around his neck.  As she pulled him down into an
embrace, Nabiki Tendo-Lawrence, Elder of the Cold Moon Clan, choked
back the first of her tears.
     "Jeffrey," she whispered as she clutched him tightly to her
battered body.  "I've made such a mess."  That was all she could
muster.  With shaking body, she let loose the grip on her emotions and
cried.  Over and over, she whispered her husband's name.  Over and
over, she choked back her loneliness with words that formed deep
inside but broke apart on her lips.  She wasn't alone anymore. 
Jeffrey was here.

     Hours later, Nabiki was ready to leave the hospital.  Despite her
eagerness, she endured a lecture by the doctor on what she was and was
not allowed to do for the next few days.  Quietly, she nodded her
agreement and vowed obedience.
     Once in the taxi, however, she immediately began to remove the
bandages around her head.
     "I don't think that's advisable, Nabs," Jeff said with a worried
look.  "You took a pretty good shot to the head."
     "I'm fine," she insisted unwinding the last of the gauze binding
and trying to fluff out her hair.  "Stupid bandage made my hair all
funny.  Hand me my brush."
     Jeff stared at her open hand for only a moment before retrieving
the requested item.  As he placed it in her hand, he held it just long
enough to get her attention.  "I'm still worried about you, Nabiki."
     "I said I'm fine."  Nabiki scowled into the mirror she was
balancing on her knees.  "Why didn't the doctors let me go yesterday? 
I was fine then as well."
     "That was Kasumi's doing --"
     "WHAT?"  Nabiki winced at the pain caused by the sudden turn of
her head.
     "She did it at my request."  Jeff's hands gently pressed his
wife's shoulders back onto the seat.  "I didn't want you to go home
until I got there."  It was clear from Nabiki's look she didn't
approve.
     "I wasted two days in that hospital.  Jeffrey, I had to share a
ward with nine other people!"
     Jeff's voice lowered and his expression became more serious. 
"Unlike your little expedition, it won't kill you to lounge around in
a hospital for a few days, Nabs."
     "But I have --"
     "You have nothing to do but get better.  You're off the case,
Nabiki."
     Nabiki's look hardened.  "That's not fair, Jeffrey."
     "That's not fair?"  Jeff finally had enough.  "What's not fair is
a wife that hasn't been home in almost a month.  What's not fair is a
daughter who asks the same question every night - When's Mommy coming
home?  What's not fair is that you insist on doing everything by
yourself.  What's not fair --"
     "I get the picture." Nabiki waved her hand in a pleading manner.
     Jeff's voice turned soft and his expression the same wistful look
Nabiki came to love.  "What's *really* not fair is I've got a wife who
is putting herself in danger without me being there."  Jeff paused to
caress his wife's hair.  "What's *really* not fair is I might lose
you.  You had me worried.  You had me scared."  Jeff's expression
changed like a thought just occurred to him.  "And just what possessed
you to jump through a plate glass window?"
     Nabiki sighed and gently rubbed her forehead with her finger-tips.  
"I was desperate.  I was trapped.  The only way out was through
the window."  She stopped rubbing her forehead and covered her face
with both hands.  "I probably killed them all," she moaned.
     Jeff pulled her into his arms.  "No, no one was killed.  The
government guy was probably the worst injured and he only suffered a
broken arm.  The police officers had only a few bruises.  Pretty tough
guys.  They're already back at work."  Jeff stroked Nabiki's head with
his cheek.  "You were very lucky.  Considering how skillful Cologne
and Shampoo are, they probably refrained from inflicting serious
injuries on purpose."
     Nabiki nodded and cuddled closer.  She missed just being in
Jeff's arms where she felt so warm and safe.
     "Of course, someone was playing with something pretty powerful
considering all the damage."
     Nabiki bit her lip and glanced apprehensively at her husband.
     "There was a huge scorch mark from the broken front window all
the way into the back room."  Jeff kissed the top of Nabiki's head. 
"You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"
     "Well..."  Nabiki swallowed hard.  "I *do* remember a bright
flash of light."
     "Yeah, I suspect Cologne probably had a go at you for all the
trouble you've caused her."
     "Actually..."  Nabiki rubbed her nose and flashed a pained
expression.  "It might have been from me."
     Nabiki felt Jeff stiffen, his cheek no longer pressing against
her head.  "You're kidding."
     "I don't exactly know how it happened but I suddenly felt sick,
like I was going to throw up, and... IT just happened."
     "IT?  What IT just happened?"
     "I'm... not really sure."  Nabiki pulled away just far enough to
look her husband in the face without letting go.  "It all happened so
fast."
     Nabiki failed to find further words to describe what happened as
the taxi pulled up to the Tendo compound.  The doors of the taxi
popped open.
     "Just from the look of what was left of the interior, that was
something pretty powerful."  Jeff wasn't quite ready to get out.  The
driver was content to keep the meter running.
     "I guess so."  Nabiki's eyes lowered before abruptly looking up
at her husband again.  "But I didn't do it on purpose."
     "Maybe you're turning into a shadow warrior."
     "That's not funny, Jeffrey."
     "Okay, then maybe it's part of being an elder they forgot to tell
you about."
     "There's a lot they forgot to tell me about being an elder,"
Nabiki grumped.
     "Well, just as long as you remember to not to go off on your own
like that any more, I think you've learned a valuable lesson on being
an elder."
     Nabiki sadly nodded.  She'd made a mistake in the way she handled
the Chinese - one she vowed would never be repeated.  
      
*****

     "How is he, Brother Toyota?" asked a young monk as he waited
anxiously outside the door of the monastery's guest quarters.
     "Resting quietly, brother," the older monk said as he stepped
through the doorway into the hall and softly closed the door.  "I'm
troubled by his fever."
     "Who is he?  Was there any kind of identification on him?"
     "Nothing.  We still have no idea of his identity."
     "What about his wallet?"
     "He has no wallet."  Brother Toyota paused.  "You really need to
spend more time in meditation, Brother Suzuki.  Your continual relapse
into concerns about material things troubles me."
     "How so, brother?"
     "Like the computer.  I know I originally agreed with you about
purchasing a computer and establishing a web site.  It has proven to
be a most efficient way of sharing enlightenment with the people.  But
sometimes I wonder if you've gone too far."
     "I've just been in search of other followers of Zen."
     "I understand, brother.  A worthy endeavor.  But I think you went
overboard when you wanted to contact that person in Tennessee?"
     "Well, he talked in third person.  He was so humble.  He liked
the Lovely Angels.  I just thought he might be ..."
     "I told you, Elvis is dead."
     "I thought no one really died, Brother Toyota."
     The monk sighed. <Every time I talk to this noodle I wind up in
meditation for weeks trying to re-find my enlightenment.>  Brother
Toyota frowned at his young companion.  "In any case, your creeping
materialism is most distressing."
     "Yeah, well, computers are expensive.  It's difficult surfing the
net and searching for enlightenment at the same time."
     "Still in search of Nerdvana I see."

*****

     Little Sodoshi Lawrence wandered silently towards the large wood
doors at the end of the richly carpeted hall.  She was hungry and
smelled food cooking somewhere beyond those doors.  Her grandmother,
Anne Lawrence, had left her alone in the embassy play room at the
other end of the hall but it was past her lunch time and she was
hungry.  The enticing smells of cooked food drew her like a magnet.
     Her father had left her in the care of his mother and the embassy
staff earlier that morning.  It wasn't often Anne Lawrence got to see
her only grandchild and delighted as she was to see Sodoshi, the
affairs of state got in the way.  She needed to be somewhere for only
a little while.  Figuring Sodoshi would be fine in the rarely used
play room, she left the child in the care of one of the younger
members of the staff.  When a phone call distracted the impromptu baby
sitter, the hungry Sodoshi decided to take matters into her own hands
and follow her nose.
     Sodoshi stopped at doors and listened carefully.  Inside she
could hear the sounds of dishes, laughter, and running water.  Her
father had drilled her over and over again about how important it was
to consider carefully before entering a strange place.  She should
have waited but her hunger quickly won out over her five year old
discipline.
     Carefully, she pushed open one of the swinging doors.  Her eyes
roamed over the activities in the embassy kitchen.  People were
scurrying this way and that, carrying clean dinnerware and wiping down
the kitchen.  The lunch rush having ended, the kitchen staff was
winding down and looking forward to a break between serving meals.
     "Well, what do we have here," came a friendly voice from over by
the pans.
     Sodoshi stood her ground and stared as a pudgy, middle-aged
Japanese man wearing a cut-down version of a chef's hat approached
while drying his hands on a large towel.
     "And who's little girl are you?"  The man paused with a tilt of
his head.
     Sodoshi's eyes darted over the rest of the kitchen staff.  Some
were smiling, some were looking at her questioningly, but none seemed
to be all that concerned by her presence.
     A young lady, probably only a year or two out of high school,
quietly approached Sodoshi and bent over.  "You lost?" she said in
polite Japanese.
     Sodoshi shook her head.
     The lady smiled.  "You hungry?"
     Sodoshi eagerly nodded.
     "And you expect me to start cooking again?"  The man in the
chef's hat pouted with his hands on his hips.  Sodoshi couldn't be
certain if he was serious or not.
     "Hush, Satouro-san," the young lady admonished with a scowl. 
"You would turn away a hungry child from your kitchen?"  She reached
out and slowly stroked Sodoshi's long hair.  "Don't listen to him. 
He's always such a bully."  
     Sodoshi smiled briefly at the lady but continued to frown at the
man.
     "Aw, you make Satouro sound like a monster," he said while waving
his hands in front of him.  "I like children."  He leaned over towards
Sodoshi and grinned impishly.  "Especially in a good teriyaki sauce."
     Satouro's laugh set off the rest of the kitchen staff.  All
except for the nice lady.
     "Don't listen to him.  He's just teasing."  She gently picked up
Sodoshi.  Surprisingly, the girl didn't resist.  Instead, she
instinctively put an arm around the lady's neck.  The index finger of
her other hand remained fixed in her mouth as she stared at Satouro.
     An older lady scurried over, followed by two others to coo and
make a fuss over Sodoshi.
     "Who is she?"
     "Don't know.  She just wandered in."
     "Think she belongs to one of the other staff?"
     "No, I've never heard any of them having a little girl her age."
     "Maybe she belongs to a visitor.  Her mother is probably worried
sick."
     "I'll call the front desk," offered another young lady as she
made a bee-line for the kitchen phone.
     Satouro, however, wasn't impressed.  "All this fuss over some
cleaning woman's little girl."  He snorted and crossed his arms.
     "Come on, Satouro-san.  It's time for our afternoon dart game,"
called one of the assistant cooks.  He already had uncovered the 
well-used dart board and was tossing a few warm-up throws.
     "Yes, go play your little boys games," the young lady holding
Sodoshi said with an air of importance.  "This is woman's work."  She
ended with a gentle cuddle of the girl in her arms.  Sodoshi smiled
and giggled at all the attention.  To an affection-starved child like
her, all this female attention was better than a good meal - almost.
     That reminded her of food.  Her frown returned as she pointed
towards the grill.
     "She's hungry.  Remember?" one of the older ladies said with a
shake of her head before leaning in close.  "You want a hamburger?"
     Sodoshi removed her finger from her mouth only long enough to
crow happily: "Hai!"
     All the ladies giggled and the older lady hurried to restart the
embassy's grill.
     "Don't make a mess," warned Satouro as he concentrated on his
dart throwing.
     "Hush, Satouro-san.  The child's hungry," the lady holding
Sodoshi admonished with another cuddle.
     A little later, Sodoshi Lawrence sat happily at the counter
eating a freshly cooked hamburger on a trimmed-down bun.  The ladies
kept coming and going, bringing her potato chips, chopped vegetables,
and cups of drink.  The couldn't seem to do enough for her.
     In the mean time, she watched the men's activity with increasing
interest.  As she chewed a big bite of hamburger, catchup drooling
down her chin, she carefully studied the technique of each player.
     The dart game ended once again with Satouro's victory.  As the
men laughed and joked among themselves, Sodoshi took advantage of a
momentary lapse in attention from the ladies to crawl down off her
stool and quietly walk over to the men.
     "Oh Ho, Satouro.  You have a new challenger," laughed one of the
men.
     Mr Satouro looked down at the little girl who was seriously
examining the pointed objects in his hand.  "You play darts?" he asked
like a friendly old grandfather as he held out the objects for
Sodoshi's closer inspection.
     Sodoshi looked over the little darts with a serious frown.  They
certainly looked like the things her father practiced with every day -
except for the plastic bits on the end.  Carefully, she reached up and
picked one out of Satouro's hand.
     "You want to try?" he asked with a friendly smile.
     Sodoshi nodded as everyone backed away slowly.  A child with
sharp objects she could throw was not to be taken lightly. 
     Sodoshi had seen her father practice almost every day at home. 
She was impressed with how he could hide the little bit of metal in
his hand and throw it with hardly a movement.  With a serious frown of
concentration, she carefully placed the dart length-wise in her hand
so that it's tip extended beyond the ends of her fingers - like she'd
seen her father do.  Satouro frowned at the unorthodox grip.  It
reminded him of another dart player long ago.
     Sodoshi dropped into a five year-old's version of a Shinobi
fighting stance, her legs perpendicular to the target, her weight on
the leg farthest away, and held the dart in a hand draped lightly
above and behind her head.  Her other hand was held palm forward
towards the target.  Her face became a determined scowl.  The kitchen
staff exchanged nervous glances and backed a little further away.
     "I sure hope she at least hits the wall," one mumbled.
     "I just hope she doesn't hit one of us," another said a little
louder as he continued to back away.
     Sodoshi glared at the target.  You could see her breathing
slowing down as her eyes narrowed.  Satouro decided not to take any
chances either and backed away himself.
     With a tiny cry, Sodoshi hopped towards the target and snapped
her rear hand forward.  The tiny dart wobbled unsteadily for a moment
before completing its flight to the target.  With a solid 'thunk' the
dart embedded itself in the dart board about two thirds the way out
from the center.
     "Not bad," Satouro chuckled as the others clapped their approval. 
"Not bad at all."  He stroked his chin as he examined the little girl
carefully.  There was something disturbingly familiar about her.
     One of the other kitchen workers pressed a fresh dart into
Sodoshi's hand and urged her to throw again.  With a smile and bow,
she assumed her position again, went through the pre-attack scowl and
tossed a second dart.  This time it stuck much closer to the center. 
The men exchanged excited comments as Satouro continued to try and
remember where he saw that throwing style before.
     "Just what is your name?" he finally asked.
     His answer came from an exasperated voice from the kitchen door. 
"Sodoshi Lawrence!  There you are.  I've been looking all over for
you."  Anne Lawrence stalked into the kitchen, shaking her head and
looking annoyed.
     "She belong to you?" Satouro-san said in English with a bow. 
Things were beginning to fall into place for him.  "Then she must be
daughter of..."
     "My son, Jeffrey," Anne said with a smile as she reached for
Sodoshi.  "And my daughter-in-law, Nabiki."  She wiped Sodoshi's face
with her fingers.  "So messy."  
     Sodoshi just made a face and allowed the cleaning.
     "Ah, now Satouro understand," he finally said in English with a
wide smile as he bounced a couple of shallow bows.  "Explain dart
throwing style.  Very unusual."
     "I hope she wasn't any trouble."
     "No.  Satouro always welcome daughter of Jeffrey Lawrence in
kitchen."  His dart playing might have improved but his English was as
bad as ever.
     Anne kissed her granddaughter's cheek and smiled.  "Did you have
fun?"
     Sodoshi nodded and pointed to a little knot of kitchen ladies who
were cleaning up her mess.  "Got hungry.  Nice ladies gave me
hamburger."
     "Forgive us for not asking first," the one who first encountered
Sodoshi said with an embarrassed bow.  "I hope the child is not
restricted from such foods."
     Anne chuckled and lightly waved her fingers in front of her face. 
"I'm certain everything was just fine.  Thank you for taking such good
care of my granddaughter."  She ended with a light bow.
     The ladies giggled together, their hands almost obscuring their
faces as they looked at each other.
     "Say goodbye to everyone.  It's time for your nap."  Anne started
for the door.  Sodoshi, looking over her grandmother's shoulder, waved
to everyone.
     As Mrs Lawrence disappeared, the kitchen ladies were left with a
bit of a puzzle.
     "Sodoshi?  Why on earth would anyone name their child 'Tumultuous
Death'?"
     "Beats me.  I heard Jeffrey Lawrence married a girl from some
mountain clan and you know what kind of people *they* are."
     "Yeah.  Strange."

*****

     "Where's Akane?" Nodoka asked as she entered the kitchen.  The
family had finished breakfast and she was helping Kasumi clear the
dishes.
     "Still up in her room," Kasumi said with a sigh.  "She's been
that way ever since Ranma disappeared."  She paused to blush towards
the older woman.  "Except for the time she wandered off and you found
her."
     Nodoka smiled and chuckled softly.  "Actually, she found me."
     "Well, in any case, she refuses to come down until Ranma is
found."  Kasumi looked towards the ceiling.  "She's still blaming
herself over his disappearance."
     "I know."  Nodoka placed the plates she was carrying on the
counter.  "She told me everything."
     Kasumi bit her lip nervously.  "She did?  I hope you don't hold
her responsible for all the deceptions when you came to visit in the
past."
     Nodoka shook her head.  "No, *that* I understand.  She was honor
bound to protect Ranma's secret.  I respect that."  She smiled
pleasantly.    
     Kasumi, an expert on smiles, couldn't help but admire the
sincerity behind Nodoka's.  "That's very kind of you to say.  Akane
would never do anything to betray her family name."
     "Good.  I was hoping to hear that."  Nodoka placed a hand on
Kasumi's shoulder.  "You've done a fine job raising your sisters.  You
should be proud."
     Kasumi shook her head.  "It wasn't all my doing.  I had help."
     "Of course, your father is a good man..."  Nodoka looked towards
the open engawa and scowled.  "Unlike someone else I could mention."
     Kasumi acted like she was going to say something else, something
about the *other* source of help she received over the years but
hesitated.  It would be too much too soon.  Nodoka didn't need to know
about mother just yet.  Perhaps later.
     "If you don't mind, I'd like to go up and talk to Akane."
     "Certainly.  You can take her something to eat as well."  Kasumi
dried her hands and quickly put together a small tray of food.  Not
too much, just enough to sustain her little sister until she felt like
coming down and eating with the family.
     Nodoka carried the tray upstairs to the room her son, until
recently, had shared with the youngest Tendo daughter.  Knocking
lightly on the door, she slid it open and stepped into the room.
     <Well, she's certainly no housekeeper,> she thought while
surveying the mess in the family main room.  It looked like Akane
hadn't cleaned in over a week.  Clothes were stacked or thrown in
haphazard piles mixed with old magazines and parts of newspapers. 
Nodoka frowned.  This was no way to run a home.
     "Akane?" she called.
     She was answered by sound back in the bedroom.  Curious as to why
Akane failed to answer, Nodoka crept towards the door leading to the
bedroom.
     "Akane?"
     "I'm in here, Auntie Nodoka," Akane said sadly from beyond the
door.
     Nodoka paused at the closed door debating what to do next.  "Can
I come in?"
     "If you wish."
     Slowly Nodoka pushed open the door.  As her eyes adjusted to the
gloom of the darkened room, she spotted her daughter-in-law kneeling
in the corner facing the wall.  Nodoka stared at her, curious as to
why she was in such a position.  Silently, she chose to join her
daughter-in-law.
     Setting the tray on the floor, Nodoka knelt in a seiza position
near Akane.  "I brought you something to eat."
     Akane continued to stare straight ahead.
     A long pause dominated the room as Nodoka considered what to do
next.  "Is this some sort of meditation?" she finally asked.
     "No."
     "Then... why are you kneeling in the corner?"
     Akane took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.  "When I was a
little girl and couldn't control myself, my father would often place
me in a corner to contemplate my failures.  In time, I would
understand how my actions were inappropriate and what I needed to
change."
     "I see."
     "Since I..."  Akane paused to sniff and bite her lip like she was
trying to keep from crying again.  "Since I was fortunate enough to be
found by you, I've been thinking of my inappropriate actions.  I've
come to the conclusion that I'm not a fit wife."
     "Nonsense," Nodoka snorted with a shake of her head.  "You're
just young, that's all."
     Akane's head turned just enough to look at the older woman out of
the corners of her eyes.  "Would a good wife strike her husband and
drive him away?"
     Nodoka stared at her knees for several seconds.  "You were just
upset," she whispered.
     "You needn't say such things for my sake."  Akane turned back to
the wall.  "I already know the answer."
     "Things are not always as they appear."
     It was Akane's turn to snort and shake her head.  "You sound like
my sister."
     "Maybe that's because we're both older and more experienced in
the ways of the world."
     "Things *are* as they appear - always."
     Nodoka sighed.  "You're so wrong, Akane.  Most things are never
as they appear."
     Akane looked at Nodoka as if she were trying to determine if the
woman was sincere or not.
     "Akane, do you believe everything you've been told about Ranma?"
     "I guess not."  Akane hung her head as she remembered some of the
wild tales she'd heard about him.
     "Do you believe everything you've been told about Genma... and
me?"
     Akane didn't answer.  It was true she'd accepted at face value
everything she'd heard, from Ranma and others, about his parents but
she couldn't understand what importance this had and how it effected
her.
     "Akane, when you came to my home the other night, you took me
into your confidence and told me things no wife should ever tell about
their husbands.  Because of that, I feel there is a bond of trust
between us.  Do you understand?"
     Akane slowly nodded.
     "There are things a mother carries in her heart, unspoken things
that can never be shared except with the person that marries their
child."  Nodoka took a deep breath and slowly let it out.  "I want to
tell you something but you must promise me it will never leave this
room."
     A short frown crossed Akane's face - just enough of one to prompt
the older woman to tell her tale.
     "When I was a little girl, the Saotomes were land-owners up near
Sendai.  They owned large tracts of land and were considered wealthy. 
My family, following the new rules of the American occupation, were
allowed to farm a section of that land and, if we were lucky, would be
able to buy the land from the Saotomes.
     "Things went well for a few years but a couple of failed harvests
and my family fell far into debt to them."
     Nodoka took a deep, ragged breath before continuing.  Akane,
whether she showed it or not, hung onto every word.
     "They had a son - a gruff bully of a boy - who terrorized
everyone in the district until his grandfather took control of him. 
By the time he reached maturity, he'd become the heir to their method
of martial arts.  He was still inconsiderate and inappropriately blunt
to people but no longer the bully he once was.  For the most part,
people tried to ignore him, figuring he'd grow out of such behavior as
he aged.  Mind you, he wasn't a bad person, just one who thought
little beyond his martial arts.
     "When it came time for him to marry, my family offered me as a
wife in order to settle their debt.  At first, the Saotomes were
resistant.  I was from a poor family and marriage to their son
wouldn't improve the Saotome family name.  Two years passed as they
tried in vain to find someone to marry their Genma.  By then, the
Saotome family fortune was almost gone and no longer was the male heir
of their family considered a good marriage prospect.  One cold winter
evening, Genma's father came to our home and accepted me as his son's
wife.
     "The wedding was forgettable and the wedding night a nightmare. 
For one so skilled in the martial arts, Genma was terrible in bed. 
Enduring sex with him was akin to rape.  I hated it.  I hated him but
submitted because it was my duty."
     Akane had turned completely towards the woman now.  She could see
even in the dim light of the room a single moist trail streaking
Nodoka's cheek.
     "Despite repeated attempts, I was unable to conceive a child.  We
consulted doctors, priests, even prostitutes attempting to find out
what it was I was doing wrong.  In shame, he began to take long
training trips to refine his martial arts, leaving me alone for months
at a time.
     "At first, it wasn't so bad.  His parents treated me well enough
and the people of the village regarded me with pity.  Soon, however,
the whispers began.  People would look at me on the street like I was
a failure of a wife.  They said I'd driven my husband to take long
trips to avoid me.  The shame was unbearable."
     Nodoka drew another ragged breath and closed her eyes before
plunging forward into the rest of her story.
     "One day, while I was shopping for something to fix for dinner, I
met a vendor pushing a yatai.  He was everything Genma was not.  He
was kind, friendly, and attentive to me.
     "At first, I just stopped to sample some of his cooking each
afternoon.  He was a most talented cook.  His okonomiyaki seemed to
melt in my mouth.  He was married too but took little joy in his own
forced marriage.
     "The more we talked, the stronger I felt about him.  Akane,
forgive me, but I was alone.  I was young and pretty.  My husband was
gone."  Nodoka choked before covering her mouth with both hands.  She
slowly began to rock back and forth, her eyes screwed tightly shut. 
"It was only one night.  It was everything I ever dreamed it would be
like.  He was gentle.  I'd never felt anything like it.  I know I
shouldn't have..."
     Akane gently took Nodoka's hand in an effort to sooth her.
     "When Genma returned," she choked.  "He took me once again -
differently, like he actually cared about me.  I don't know if it was
because he'd learned something on his last trip or because he'd heard
rumors about me.  A few months later, it was obvious I was pregnant. 
By spring, I'd presented him with a son, Ranma."
     "But why are you telling me this?" Akane whispered.
     "I *have* to tell somebody.  It's a secret I've carried for over
twenty years."  Nodoka forced a painful smile.  "You were so good
about keeping Ranma's secret, I just know you'll keep mine."
     "Is Genma Ranma's father?"
     "I don't know."  Nodoka closed her eyes again and set her jaw. 
"I just don't know.  I made love to both men just days apart."
     "But --"
     "The point is that I know you love Ranma more than I ever loved
Genma.  I know how you're suffering over his absence just as I
suffered when my husband was gone.  But you must NEVER blame yourself. 
Ranma is a product of his father."  Nodoka forced a painful smile. 
"Genma is not an evil man.  He's selfish, self-centered, impulsive,
driven by his desire to secure his own future but not an evil person. 
Since you told me about his curse, I've come to view it as something
imposed upon him by the gods for is past deeds."  Nodoka drew herself
up so she displayed her proudest posture.  "Anyway, It now falls upon
the women to maintain the honor of the Saotome family name.  You now
share that burden with me.  Together, we can assure that no one will
ever question our honor - regardless of what those idiot men do."
     Akane hesitated only for a moment before melting into Nodoka's
arms.  The two women held each other, giving comfort in their
loneliness as they faced the daunting task of protecting and
preserving the family name of Saotome.
     "Now," Nodoka said as the two women separated and she wiped her
face with her hands.  "Let's say no more about this and go down stairs
to rejoin the family."
     As the two women passed through Akane's main room, they paused to
look out side.  Nodoka wanted to check on her husband.
     "Auntie, how long are you going to leave him like that?" Akane
asked as she surveyed the rotund Genma strung upside down from a large
tree in the Tendo compound.  With crossed arms and wearing a pout, he
swung gently in the breeze.
     "Until Ranma is found, dear."  Nodoka smiled.  "Then I'll cut him
down."
     "He doesn't look very happy."
     Nodoka shepherded Akane out into the hall.  "He's not supposed
to, dear."

*****

     "Brother Honda, we've asked you here because you're the most
knowledgeable about medical matters," Brother Toyota said with a
respectful bow.
     "Well, I was a gynecologist before I joined the priesthood."
     "Ah... yes... well, I know this is a little outside your
expertise but would you please take a look at the person in our guest
room?"
     "Certainly.  I'm more than willing to lend a helping hand." 
Brother Honda reached under his robes and produced a pair of surgical
gloves.  Snapping them on, he smiled as the other monk opened the door
for him.  "Please wait out here and I'll return in a few moments."
     Brother Toyota watched his fellow monk enter the room and quietly
closed the door behind him.
     "How's our mysterious visitor?" Brother Suzuki asked as he joined
Brother Toyota in the hallway.  He was casually leafing through a 'Zen
for Dummies' book he'd purchased earlier in the week from Amazon dot
com.
     "He's being examined by Brother Honda now."  Brother Toyota
leaned over to see what the young monk was reading.  "You really need
that book?"
     "Naw, I just got it for the cartoons."  He held it up to show a
cartoon about two space aliens discussing transcendental meditation
and how it related to interdimensional space travel.
     The two monks spent the next half hour thumbing through the book
until the door to the guest room slowly opened.
     "Well, how is our guest?" Brother Toyota asked idly while
continuing to examine Brother Suzuki's book.
     "Oh, fine, I guess."  Brother Honda snapped off his gloves.  "Of
course, I'll have to complete the pap smear before I pronounce her
perfectly healthy."  He held up a microscope slide to the light and
smiled.  "I'll say this much for her, she's a very healthy *looking*
specimen."
     The two other monks looked at each other and blinked.  "She?"
they asked in unison.
     In a sudden rush, they tried to squeeze through the door at the
same time.  Inside, Brother Toyota looked carefully at the dark haired
male still slowly writhing on the bed.  He even went so far as hold up
the blanket long enough to determine that the person in bed was indeed
a male.
     "I think Brother Honda has been here too long."
     "I agree," Brother Suzuki said with a solemn nod.  "What bothers
me is how he did the pap smear."
     The two monks looked at each other for a few seconds before
saying together: "Ewwwwww."
     Brother Honda was still in the hallway when the two other monks
emerged from the guest room.
     "Healthy looking female, ne?" he said with a confident smile.
     "Uh... well, not exactly."  Brother Toyota exchanged looks with
Brother Suzuki.
     "Not exactly what?"
     "Brother Honda, when was the last time you had your eyes
examined?"
     "Last month.  Why?"
     "Well, that 'female' isn't really a female, if you know what I
mean."  Brother Toyota looked at the older monk with pity.
     "Don't be ridiculous.  I examined her.  How do you think I got
this?"  Brother Honda held up the slide.
     "We'd rather not know."
     "Oh for..."  Brother Honda pushed past the other two monks and
back into the guest room.  
     Once again, a red-headed woman was nakedly sweating gloriously
all over the bed.  He paused to make certain 'she' had all the right
equipment before shaking his head and calling in the others.
     "You call *that* a man?" he asked while looking at the other
monks and indicating the now dark haired male with his hand.
     "Well, he's not as big as Brother Nakajima but he's definitely a
'he'," Brother Toyota claimed with a frown.
     "How do you know about Brother Nakajima?" the young monk asked.
     Brother Toyota frowned.  "After the temple basketball tournament
last month I saw him in the showers.  Hung like a --"
     Brother Honda's shriek interrupted their conversation.  They
turned to see the medical monk holding his mouth and pointing to the
figure in the bed.  As all three watched, it turned from male to
female and back again.
     "Well, there's something you don't see every day."
     "Now *there's* a guy in touch with himself.  That is, if he
*wanted* to touch himself."
     "This is way above me," Brother Honda finally said, his hands
shaking.  It was beginning to look like he'd picked a bad week to give
up smoking.
     "This looks like a job for --"
     "No!  Not *him*." Brother Suzuki gasped.
     "I'm afraid we have no other choice."  Brother Toyota started for
the door.  "He's the only one who can explain what's happening here."
     "The man has been in meditation for years," Brother Suzuki
whined.  "He hasn't left his chamber for the last ten months.  He
doesn't eat, he doesn't drink, I heard he hasn't gone to the bathroom
since the last time Japan hosted the Olympics."
     "Well, that's not so long.  The Nagano Olympics were, what, last
year?"
     "I meant the last time we hosted the *summer* Olympics."
     "Fasting will do that to you," Brother Honda said seriously.
     "Well, we will have to make a stop at the toilet, order a pizza,
and get him a Fosters or two but he is still the only person who can
solve this mystery."
     Brother Toyota disappeared down the hall as Brother Suzuki and
Brother Honda watched their strange visitor change genders several
times.
     "You know, I wonder if he's really a 'she' who's cursed to be a
'he' or the other way around."
     "Beats me."  Brother Suzuki shuddered.  "Gives me the willies."
     "You just need more meditation, brother."
     Brother Suzuki watched the stranger transform into a woman again
and shook his head.  "Either that or a girl friend."
     "Well, there's nothing I can do to help you there."  Brother
Honda paused as a thought struck him.  Holding up the pap smear slide. 
"Wanna sniff?"

     Brother Toyota returned with the oldest monk in the monastery. 
He had to be close to 150 years old but in surprisingly good shape.
     "So, you say the war's over," he said between bites of his pizza. 
Brother Toyota handed him the one liter can of Fosters from which the
aging monk took a long drink.  "Damn, that's good to hear.  Who won?"
     "The Allies."
     "Oh, that's fine.  What do you suppose they'll do with the Kaiser
now that the war is over?"
     Brother Suzuki exchanged dubious looks with Brother Honda.  "This
will never work."
     "Button it, junior," the elderly monk growled.  "So where's the
goy?"
     All three monks pointed to the guest room.  
     The elderly monk gulped down the last of the pizza and took one
more swig of beer before handing the can to Brother Suzuki.  "Here,
hold this.  I'll be right back."  The monk rolled up his sleeves and
stumbled through the door.
     It was silent for a few moments before they heard him exclaim:
"Holy Sister Agnes Marie!"  The three remaining monks scrambled for
the door only to get stuck as they all tried to enter at the same
time.
     After some struggling, Brother Toyota finally popped free and
fell face first onto the stone floor.
     "Gimme that beer, kid," the elderly monk growled as he snatched
the oversized can out of Brother Suzuki's hands.  Taking another long
swig, he glared at the other monks.  "You made me break my fasting and
meditation for some bimbo who got herself cursed?"
     "It could be a 'he'," Brother Honda ventured.
     "Whatever!"  The elderly monk dismissed the assertion with a wave
of his hand before draining the last of the beer.  Shoving the empty
can in Suzuki's hands he growled: "Get me another, kid.  And while
you're at it, bring me the big red book on my top bookshelf.  It's the
one under the 'Kama Sutra for Dummies' book you got me last New
Years."  He nudged Brother Toyota and winked.  "Damn fine book that
one.  You ought to borrow it some time.  The pictures alone will keep
you meditating for the better part of a year."
     While they were waiting, Brother Toyota filled the elderly monk
in on the details of what they had discovered.
     "We think this person is married by the wedding band he or she
wears."
     "It's a 'he', you doofus.  That's a guy's ring," the old monk
growled as he bent over and examined the patient's left hand.
     "Oh, okay.  Then we can assume this is a 'he' cursed to be a
'she'."
     The elderly monk pinched Brother Toyota's cheek.  "You're a
bright one, you are."
     "So what kind of curse is it?"
     "A curse that turns a man into a woman, ya schmuck."  The elderly
monk scowled at the door.  "Where is that kid with my book?"
     As if on cue, Brother Suzuki scurried in gasping for breath. 
Under his arm was a large book that looked centuries old.  In his hand
was a fresh can of Fosters.  "I had a little trouble getting the
beer," he gasped.
     "So where did you go for it?  Australia?" the elderly monk
growled as he snatched the can out of Brother Suzuki's limp hand. 
Popping open the lid, he took a long drink before handing it to
Brother Honda to hold.  He hesitated then took the can back and handed
it to Brother Toyota.  "Sorry, kid, but there's no telling where your
hands have been."
     Taking the heavy red book he dropped it on the bed, pinning the
writhing figure's legs under it's weight.
     Thumbing through the pages, he mumbled at each entry.  "You
didn't know this monastery used to be dedicated to a specific Zen
order, did you?"
     "What order?"
     "We used to be called the Keepers Of Odd Knowledge.  We gathered
trivial bits of lost wisdom from all over Asia.  This book is the sum
of their labors."
     "What happened to them?"
     "The KOOKs?  We had a kegger one night and the police raided the
place.  I only escaped because I was passed out in the trunk of an
abandoned '37 DeSoto down by the street.  Damned lonely around here
after that."  He tried to wet his finger several times and failed due
to his age or all the fasting he'd done.  So, he stomped on Brother
Suzuki's foot causing the young monk to yell.  Wiping his fingers on
the monk's exposed moist tongue, he calmly went back to turning the
pages.
     Brother Suzuki, holding his foot with his free hand while making
sure not to spill any of the old monk's beer, frowned at Brother
Toyota.  "I told you getting him was a mistake."
     "Aw, stick it in your robe, kid.  If you didn't have me, you'd be
sitting around the bed in here drooling on your sandals."  The old
monk paused when he found the page he was looking for.  "Here it is. 
What you kids got here is a victim of..."  He leaned in close to the
book.  "Nyanniichuan.  Wonderful, Chinese crap," he mumbled
sarcastically.
     "What the hell is that?" Brother Toyota blurted out.
     "What do you think it is, baka?  You got a guy here that fell
into some Chinese cursed springs - probably that miserable excuse of
an ancient amusement park those Chinese clowns called Jusenkyou."
     "A what?"
     "The old Chinese royals had a bunch of natural springs cursed by
some wizards about 3000 years ago or there abouts.  They got their
jollies by throwing odd combinations of critters in to fix the curse
to a particular style and then tossed in various peasants to watch
them change."
     "That's entertainment?"
     "Better than TV, kid."
     "So what's this guy's story?" Brother Toyota asked while gulping
down some of the elderly monk's Fosters.
     "Who knows?"  The old monk shrugged and snatched the can of beer
out of Brother Toyota's hands.  "They closed down that loser of a park
when one of the Emperors started throwing in odd combinations like...
oh, a yeti riding a bull carrying a crane and eel.  Real weird stuff." 
He took another long gulp of the beer and wiped his mouth on the back
of a hand.  "Got so bad there were all sorts of creatures wandering
about the countryside.  No one could tell who was related to who
anymore.  People were starving because they couldn't eat anything on
account it might be somebody's brother or aunt."  He nudged Brother
Honda in the stomach.  "You wanna fetch me some more of that pizza? 
It's much better than last time I went off my fast.  Had to eat squid
on a stick.  You ever eat that garbage?"
     "Uh... not that I can recall."
     "Just as well.  This 'pizza' stuff is a marked improvement."
     Brother Honda started to protest being dispatched just when
things were getting interesting but Brother Toyota just waved him off.
     "Anyway, the tract of land sat idle for a couple of centuries,
catching the odd passer-by, until about 200 years ago when a bunch of
martial arts types thought it would make a fine place to train."
     "You're kidding."
     "Well, the upkeep on the property was killing the dynasty.  Just
keeping people around to chase after the poor unfortunate folks that
fell in was costing them a bundle.  So, when a bunch of crazy martial
artists showed up wanting to buy the place, the authorities thought
they'd died and gone to heaven.  The clowns paid cash too."  He shook
his head and chuckled.  "Couldn't deduct the interest on their taxes
you see."
     "That's insane."
     "They were a loony group all right.  Stuck a bunch of poles in
the pools and practiced hopping from pole to pole while doing 'the
crane' or 'the wombat' or whatever goofy style they were in to."  The
old monk drained the can of beer and crushed it against his head. 
"Learned that one from Ted Kennedy.  Anyway, in about fifty years or
so, most of them had fallen in themselves or their students had been
transformed into panda bears or yaks.  The rest decided to cut their
losses and the place was abandoned.  Nobody in their right mind goes
there anymore."
     "Didn't Japan have something like that too."
     "Now you're pissing me off, kid."  The old monk scowled at
Brother Suzuki.  "Yeah, we had some too.  But we got smart and drained
them years ago.  Earthquakes did the rest.  Nothing left."
     Brother Toyota shook his head.  "So what can we do for this poor
soul," he said indicating the transforming figure now naked to the
waist.  All three of the remaining monks watched the female form
jiggle a few times before reverting back to male.
     "Well, we could get a camera and make a movie," the old monk
chuckled.  "I understand Americans really go for that kind of smut."
     Brother Toyota frowned at Brother Suzuki before the two men shook
their heads.  "Naw, it would be tough to explain to the authorities."
     "Okay, then we could try to cure him."
     "You can do that?"
     "Donno, never tried before."
     "Then --"
     "Hey, what harm could I do?" the old monk asked with a grin.
     "He could get stuck half way.  His wife might not approve."
     "Suit yourself."  The old monk snapped shut his book and started
for the door.
     "Well, we *are* supposed to help others seek the true path to
enlightenment," Brother Suzuki said to Brother Toyota.
     With a sigh Brother Toyota nodded his agreement.  "Very well. 
Let's at least try to help him."
     "That's the spirit," the old monk crowed as he rubbed his hands
together and returned to the bed.
     "Brother Takahashi, have you ever heard of anyone curing this
before?" Brother Toyota asked the old monk.
     "Not really.  I have a relative down in Tokyo who wrote 38
chapters of a manga on the subject once."
     "What happened?"
     "She couldn't figure it out either."

*****

     Nodoka Saotome leaned lightly against the wall of the Tendo
kitchen and listened intently to the men gathered in the living room. 
Nabiki's husband, Jeffrey, was leading an intensive meeting with
another gaijin he called 'Jamie', the former police Inspector Abe, and
two other Japanese males that looked dangerous.
     Kasumi scurried about fetching tea and edible things for the men. 
Akane and Nabiki just huddled together near the back of the kitchen
and spoke in low voices.
     As the men began to debate the geopolitical considerations of
their search for either the Chinese suspects or Ranma himself, Nodoka
sighed.
     "This is ridiculous," she muttered while pushing herself upright.
"All men do is *talk* about doing something."
     She intercepted Kasumi on her way to the living room with a tray
of sweets.  "Let me take that for you, dear."
     Kasumi smiled happily and relinquished the tray to 'Auntie
Nodoka'.  She had other things to do in the kitchen.  Lunch was only a
couple of hours away and with all the company she felt obligated to
produce something really special.
     Nodoka took a deep breath as her face assumed a vacant,
submissive, properly subservient wife expression before gliding into
the room with the men.
     "More sweets, ne?" she said in a syrupy sweet voice that sounded
like it should be coming from a 12 year old.
     Inspector Abe acknowledged Nodoka with a stoic nod and went back
to listening to Jeffrey Lawrence passionately describe how necessary
it was for *him* to take the initiative in seeking out his kidnapped
daughter.
     "Excuse me," Nodoka said in a high pitched, sing-song voice. 
"Could I just borrow this for a moment?"  She pointed to one of the
survey maps open on the table.  "It looks so pretty."
     When Inspector Abe just nodded and dismissed her with a wave of
his hand, she bowed deeply several times and snatched the large map
from the table.  "Oh thank you, kind sir.  You are most generous."
     With map in hand she scurried back to the kitchen.  Nabiki and
Akane were waiting with arms crossed and frowns gracing their faces.
     "Well, *that* was a thoroughly disgusting performance," Nabiki
said flatly.
     "Yeah, I thought you were more independent than that," Akane
sniffed.
     Nodoka just sighed.  "When dealing with men who think they are in
total control, you must sometimes appear to be less than you really
are."  She glanced back at the men and sprung a sly smile.  "Besides,
by the time those idiots get around to doing something, I'll be too
old to enjoy my grandchildren."
     Akane blushed deeply at her Auntie Nodoka's remark.  It didn't
help that her sisters both giggled at the comment.
     "Come on," Nodoka took Akane's arm and waved the survey map in
front of her.  "Let's all go up to your apartment and make a few plans
of our own."
     As the three other women left the kitchen, Kasumi hesitated. 
Looking between her initial preparations for lunch and the retreating
women, she was torn between her usual domestic duties and the
excitement of what Nodoka was up to.  With a final sigh of
resignation, she threw a towel over her chopped vegetables, wadded up
her apron and followed Nodoka.
     "Excuse me, daughter," Soun leaned away from the table and
gestured with a free hand.  "Could you fetch us some more tea?"
     "Not now, I'm busy."  Kasumi never broke her stride as she
hurried after the others.
     Soun blinked several times in stunned amazement before slowly
rolling over onto his back, Kasumi's words still ringing in his head. 
"But... I want my tea," he blubbered softly.

     Up in Akane's apartment, Nodoka spread the survey map over the
table in the living room.  Akane opened the curtain that covered the
sliding glass door to the deck to let more light into the room. 
Nabiki and Kasumi pushed aside some of their sister's mess and made
room for themselves at the table.
     "Alright," Nodoka said while leaning over the table and studying
the map carefully.  "We're here."  Her finger tapped a blue 'x' that
covered the Tendo neighborhood on the map.  "And Nabiki caught up with
the Amazons here."  All looked at a red 'x' over a place down by the
harbor.  "Now, I understand the police searched the Amazon hiding
place before the trouble began."
     Nabiki nodded and frowned at the map.  She felt a pang of guilt
about the mention of her disastrous expedition.
     "Only the two female members of the group were present, correct?"
     Nabiki nodded again.  She wished Nodoka would hurry up and move
on.  She didn't particularly like having to rehash this debacle in
front of family.
     "And they didn't find any sign of my son."
     "... or Mousse."  Nabiki exhaled hard and crossed her arms before
leaning heavily on the table.  "From the way Cologne and Shampoo
acted, I believe they were as surprised to find Ranma gone as the
police were.  I'm certain where ever Mousse and Ranma are, they're
together."
     "Fine.  Then we don't have to locate the two females, only Ranma. 
I think it's safe to assume that he's with this... Mousse person." 
Nodoka bit her lip and glanced between the three other women in the
room.  "If you wanted to hide, where would you go?"
     Kasumi scowled at the table before looking at Nodoka.  "Well, if
I were trying to hide just myself, I'd hide in a big city.  It's
easier to get lost hiding among thousands of people who look like me."
     "True," Nodoka slid her index finger thoughtfully across her
chin.  "But we're dealing with an obvious Chinese male and his
captive.  I'm assuming my son would not willingly go with them."
     "Of course not!" Akane gasped.  Only the hands of her two sisters
kept her from leaping to her feet in protest.
     "I was just suggesting we now need to look for a way of moving
Ranma around the country without attracting any undue attention.  As I
doubt this Mousse person can operate a vehicle, he would naturally
need to have some simple transport for his captive."  Nodoka tried a
painful smile on Akane in hopes it would calm her down.  It seemed to
work because the girl relaxed enough for Kasumi and Nabiki to release
their grip.  The look on the girl's face however warned Nodoka she was
getting too close to a sensitive topic.
     "Perhaps a cart of some sort," Kasumi offered hopefully.
     Nodoka nodded as she tore her eyes away from Akane and refocused
on the task at hand.  "Yes, that would be logical.  And since he would
not want to be around many people, I'd suspect he'd head out of town
into the countryside.  Less chance of being caught by a Tokyo
policeman, you see."
     All agreed with Nodoka and leaned over the map trying to figure
out how Mousse would get himself and a cart containing Ranma out of
the city.  Several potential routes were plotted and rejected, mostly
because they'd pass through too many shopping areas where a person
pushing a cart would be obvious or because they'd involve too many
uphill stretches.
     Only one route seemed the most plausible.  Ironically enough, it
took the fugitive and his cart right past the Tendo home.  Akane did
not take this news at all well.  This time, her sisters weren't fast
enough.
     Leaping to her feet, Akane bolted for the door, evading Kasumi's
grasp and sidestepping Nabiki's attempted open-field tackle.  Only
Nodoka was able to get a hand on the girl.  Akane spun around in her
mother-in-law's grasp, her eyes blazing.
     "Let go of me," Akane growled venomously.
     "Don't give in to your anger, Akane.  It won't help Ranma. 
Remember what we talked about."
     Akane responded only with a martial arts move that was so fast
and powerful that Nodoka had only time for a short cry of alarm before
she felt herself tumbling backwards, colliding with Kasumi before they
both ended in a tangled heap on the floor.  Akane was beyond words
now, her anger recapturing her reason and plunging her headlong into
hasty action.  Only Nabiki stood a chance of stopping her.
     Nabiki, untrained in martial arts, made the mistake of grabbing
her sister's arm.  Akane quickly bound her sister's arm with her own,
pinning Nabiki's hand with her armpit and snapped her other hand
forward, grasping Nabiki's throat painfully in a vice-like grip.
     "Akane!" Nabiki croaked as she felt her windpipe constrict from
her sister's grip.  Her look was pure panic as she frantically grabbed
at Akane's hand.
     Akane's expression changed only slightly.  She still looked
frighteningly out of control, like homicide of her own sister in
pursuit of her husband was not out of the question, but her eyes
softened as if some spark of control still existed.  Instead of
crushing Nabiki's throat, she hooked a foot behind Nabiki's legs and
shoved her over onto her back.  Nabiki's body painfully bounced off
the tatami matted floor while she clutched at her damaged throat with
both hands.  In a heart beat, Akane disappeared out the door.  Like a
ghost or a trained Shinobi shadow warrior, she vanished from the Tendo
residence before the three women could recover.  Only Kasumi could
follow for any distance but she ended her pursuit at the open front
door.  Akane was no where to be seen.
     "Daughter?  Is there something wrong?" Soun asked as he poked his
head into the front hall.
     "No father.  I just thought I heard something, that's all."
     "Oh.  Then would you get us some more tea?"
     "Get it yourself.  I'm busy."  Kasumi scowled at her father in a
manner that suggested she meant it.
     "Yes.... I... suppose that would be best," he said after a hard
swallow.
     "Yes, it would," Kasumi growled as she stomped back up the
stairs.
     "Must be that time of month," Soun mumbled as he shook his head
and started for the kitchen.  "Better mark it on my calendar so I know
when to watch my step around her."
     Despondent, Kasumi returned to Akane's living room.  Nodoka was
holding Nabiki's head in her lap while slowly stroking the gasping
girl's forehead.
     "Is she going to be alright?" Kasumi asked as she quietly shut
the door again.
     "Yes, but she's going to be badly bruised tomorrow."
     "What made Akane do that?"  Kasumi dropped to her knees next to
her sister, her face screwed into a mask of disbelief.  "I've never
seen her so possessed."
     Nodoka sighed.  "She still blames herself for Ranma's
disappearance.  I thought our talk earlier today had some effect but I
guess not.  I'm afraid until Ranma is found she's going to be this
way."
     "We have to find her before she does something to hurt herself."
     "I agree but we also have to follow our plan for finding Ranma. 
Time is of the essence."
     Nabiki took Nodoka's hand and painfully pushed it aside as she
tried to sit up.
     "I'll go after her.  You two find Ranma."  Nabiki tried to get to
her feet.
     "Are you sure that's wise?" Nodoka asked as she helped Nabiki
stand.  "After all, she could have killed you here."
     "Could have - but didn't," Nabiki answered running a hand through
her hair.  "I saw something in her eyes just before she tripped me. 
She's scared.  I've only seen that look one time before,..."  Nabiki
looked at Kasumi.  "...the night mother died."
     Kasumi gasped and covered her mouth in surprise.  Slowly, her
hands slipped downward until they were clutching the front of her
house dress.  "Of course.  I remember now.  She was so terrified of
being alone that night."  Kasumi glanced at Nabiki before frowning at
the floor.  "After that night, she wouldn't sleep alone.  I had to
sleep with her for two years until she would even go into her own room
without someone being there with her."
     "She never allowed herself to become attached to anyone else all
these years."  Nabiki placed a hand on Nodoka's shoulder.  "Then Ranma
came along."
     "When she finally accepted him, it was the first time she allowed
*anyone* to get that close to her."  Kasumi took a deep breath and
sighed.  "She didn't blame herself for mother's death but I fear that
after allowing Ranma to get that close to her and driving him away
like she did..."  She shook her head.
     "That would explain why she wouldn't let me leave the room the
night she stumbled into my home," Nodoka said with a knowing nod.
     "She's teetering between rational fear and..."  Nabiki swallowed
hard.  "... and something much worse.  That's why I have to find her. 
If she was going to hurt me, she would have done it here."
     "But why you?" Nodoka asked.
     "Because of who I *don't* represent.  Kasumi is too close to
mother and you..."  Nabiki ended with an exasperated gesture.
     "I'm Ranma's mother, her mother-in-law."  Nodoka shook her head
at the floor.  "You're right, of course.  You are the only one she
doesn't associate with her mother *or* Ranma.  Very well, Kasumi and I
will follow our original plan while you try to find your sister."
     "Auntie, why don't we just give what we've discovered to the men
and let them find Ranma?" Kasumi asked with her head cocked slightly.
     Nodoka sighed heavily.  "They won't listen to us, dear.  Men
always think they have all the answers.  They posture and pontificate
but are really only good at procrastination.  No, if we want anything
done, we women have to do it."
     "Come on."  Kasumi took her sister's arm as they left the room. 
"I've got some herbs down stairs that Tofu gave me for a sore throat. 
It'll help you swallow."  She glanced at Nodoka.  "Anyway, I have to
get father his tea.  If I allow him in the kitchen too long, he'll
just make a mess."
     "Typical," Nodoka said sarcastically.

*****

     "You must learn to breathe properly," Brother Kawasaki said
sternly.  "Seek your inner self, my son."
     "It's so difficult, sensi."
     "Concentrate."
     "How can I concentrate when I don't even know who I am?"
     "That will pass, my son.  Brother Takahashi assures me that your
amnesia only is temporary."
     "But what if it's not?"
     "Never neglect that what is by fearing that what is not." 
Brother Kawasaki repositioned himself next to the young, dark haired
male and assumed a matching meditation position.  "We will begin
again."
     Issuing a pair of low, throaty hums, the two once again began
their meditation.

-- Listar MIME Decryption --------------


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G.L. Sandborn  
	Keeper of Uncle Fester
	Guardian of 12 Foxes
	Ersatz Cardinal Richelieu

Home on the range at:   sandborn@microlink.net
                        sandborn@burnsmcd.com

All my stories can be found at: 
		 http://www.microlink.net/~sandborn/ 

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