Hiroshi looked up at the sky as it began to deliver his doom. *Sometimes I feel as if Susano-wo is Laughing at me... what a mighty fine Joke this time.*

        Ranma hugged herself closer to Hiroshi�s arm, "Sooo.. �Roshi," She looked up as well, but with anticipation. Why she did not know.

        Hiroshi looked back down, and he smiled. It was the old him shining through, even in adversity. *When your path is woven too late to shift, you might as well go with the drift.* He recited to himself. "Yes, Ranma?"

        "I was just wondering...." She looked up at the sky, "If that girl of yours was going to be at the Prom tonight, I mean since you promised me that you would most definitely tell her-"

        "Yes, Ranma, she will be at the Prom tonight.. most definitely," he said with no fear in his voice, in fact there was a certain warmth and acceptance that echoed in Hiroshi�s words.

        Something that seemed somewhat familiar to Ranma, "What is she like, Hiroshi? If I could ask that, I mean?"

        Hiroshi took on a somewhat distant, yearning expression, looking down at the snow gathering on the ground. He brought his eyes back up to connect with Ranma�s and there was such a warm feeling that swelled in Hiroshi�s chest, "Yes, you can ask, Ranma," He nodded to her, noticing how close she was.

        Ranma leaned Against Hiroshi, her head on his shoulder. She didn�t know why, and for some reason she didn�t much care, she only knew that it was comfortable and almost like a dream she had had once.. with the snow falling.

        Hiroshi blinked in no measure of little shock, then sighed, wrapping an arm around Ranma�s shoulders, "She is kind, and she is brave. She has honor, and love, and compassion without measure. She does such little things, so many silly things that seem sometimes childish to do... things that make her wild, untameable, like hard granite that is difficult to shape into what you want of it-"

        "Because it wants to be a certain shape, instead of what you want it to be," Ranma said, smiling to herself.

        Hiroshi sighed, looking up at the sky, "Yeah, I am glad you remember that stuff. She has a big heart, and never wants to hurt anyone, even though there are many people who would be hurt if she said some of the things she felt, and she has a way with people that just somehow makes her seem perfectly charming, despite her somewhat less than traditional Japanese upbringing."

        "Oh really?" Ranma grinned from ear to ear, whoever she was sounded wonderful to her ears, "Is she beautiful? She really should be for a guy like you, you shouldn�t settle for less and all that," Ranma knew in her heart of hearts that some queens couldn�t be enough for Hiroshi, there were very few people who she would approve of for her friend. She was sure of it.

        Hiroshi laughed, causing Ranma to look up at him, meeting his eyes. Those two brown orbs seemed to sparkle with mirth, and he wore a grin on his face as if he knew some enigmatic joke, "Not as beautiful as you are," Hiroshi almost started laughing again at his comment, and couldn�t seem to wipe the grin off his face.

        Ranma pouted visibly, "I am not beautiful, what is it with all the guys saying I am some drop dead gorgeous bombshell that they would just LOVE to go on a date with? Sure, I got a hot bod, and sure, I know I�m desirable, but there�s a LOT of girls more desirable than me."

        "Okay, name one Ranma," There was a slight touch of Humor to Hiroshi�s voice as he asked.

        Ranma thought for half a moment, then grinned, "Ucchan! Ucchan�s very pretty, hah!"

        Hiroshi nodded carefully, a careful expression of thought writ on his face, "True, true, she is beautiful, but I would bet that if you asked any number of guys who they would go out with, they would pick you. You just have this... I don�t know how to describe it, this spark of life I guess. It makes people feel as if everything around you is exciting, and they WANT to be a part of that."

        "So what, am I some kind of perfect drug now?" Ranma asked jokingly, nudging Hiroshi in the rib with her elbow.

        Hiroshi looked down at Ranma, her looking up at him, "Hmm.. let me check and get back to you on that..." the comment earned him a much firmer and more noticable jab in the rib, which he winced at.

        They walked in silence for a good ten minutes more, Ranma bundling the scarf around her neck and hugging closer to Hiroshi.

        Hiroshi opened his mouth at the end of the long silence, and was quickly interrupted before he even began.

        "I am not beautiful," Was the quick reply, with an almost pouting look from Ranma.

        Hiroshi sighed as they walked, "Ranma.. why do you think that you are not as beautiful as everyone claims you are??" He continued walking, noticing that they were walking through the park that Hiroshi and Tofuu often spent time around during Sunday.

        Ranma stared off for a moment, then got a stern and somewhat troubled look on her face. "Cuz� I�m a guy, �Roshi. I mean... I am just a guy in a dress, all the same, that�s what I see, that�s all I see is me being made up to look like some silly girl..." Ranma trailed off, slumping her shoulders and leaning against Hiroshi.

        Hugging Ranma tighter, Hiroshi brought a hand up, brushing some of Ranma�s hair from her face, "Do you relieve see only that, Ranma?" He asked in a calm, soft, caring voice.

        Ranma felt stinging hot tears threaten to overflow quite suddenly, and wasn�t sure why. "I- I Don�t know, Hiroshi. I mean, I think I�ve seen some other stuff.. before... It�s just-It�s just... I.."

        "You�re afraid?" Hiroshi provided, which earned a long moment of silence as Ranma bowed her head.

        "Hai.. I�m afraid of what I�d see if I let myself see it, It�s a little frightening, �Roshi," She shivered, although not from the cold.

        Hiroshi noticed they were walking by the small lake of water that the Kuno statue had been placed. He paused a moment, looking at the water.

        "Hiroshi?" Ranma asked, noticing he had suddenly stopped. She blinked, looking up at him, he had a warm smile to greet her.. he took her hands in his, and her heart pounded for an unknown reason.

        "Come here, I have an idea," Hiroshi pulled ranma towards the cool waters of the lake.

        "Wait, Hiroshi, what are you doing?!" Ranma pulled against Hiroshi, trying to get her hand free as she wondered what he was doing dragging her off the beaten path towards the water.

        "Just trust me, allright??? here.. slip off your shoes and step into the water a little.... just a little," Hiroshi stood by the water, watching Ranma intently.

        Ranma knocked on the top of Hiroshi�s head, "Uhm, you ARE still there, right???"

        Hiroshi smirked, "Funny, just do this for me, please??? Indulge a foolish person for tonight," He took one of her hands, squeezing it gently.

        Ranma blinked and stared at him for a long moment, then rolled her eyes, "I must be nuts t�listen to this stuff," She slipped off her shoes, grinning while she did so.

        She gently touched her feet to the water, shivering a bit as it�s cool feeling assaulted her, nowhere near as cool as the air around though.

        "Okay, I am standing in water now. So what is the point?" She asked, grinning back at him.

        Hiroshi took on that intense, passionate gaze as he looked at Ranma, "Close your eyes, Ranma..."

        Ranma gave him a curious expression, pursing her lips as she was getting ready to ask a question.

        "Just close your eyes for a moment, okay?" Hiroshi asked, looking directly at Ranma with that thoughtful passion of his.

        Ranma sighed again, closing her eyes, "Okay, now what?"

        Hiroshi slowly ran over the concept in his mind, "Do exactly what I say... first, imagine your male self, try and remember every detail you can," He said in a calm, soothing voice.

        Ranma nodded after a long moment, "Okay, now what??"

        "Now imagine a fire burning in your mind along with the image of yourself," Hiroshi closed his own eyes, taking a deep breath and running through the concept in his mind again.

        Ranma nodded again, Hiroshi didn�t need to see to know the positive response.

        "Now toss the image of your male self into the fire-"

        "What?!" Ranma said, opening her eyes and looking at Hiroshi.

        Hiroshi sighed in frustration, "Just trust me, Ranma, it�s ONLY a temporary thing, you aren�t actually burning your male self... it�s a mental trick I want you to try, please?"

        Ranma glared at Hiroshi for a moment, then closed her eyes again. Hiroshi counted up to three minutes before she nodded. "Done," She intoned in a distant manner.

        "Now begin running through your mind all the male things that pop into it... memories, feelings, whatever, anything and everything, try and find as much as you can and toss it into the fire," Hiroshi watched Ranma, who�s brow was furrowed in thought.

        Several minutes passed and Ranma�s stern expression of concentration ebbed, giving over to a more relaxed and calm look.

        Hiroshi continued watching, and found himself studying Ranma�s face, every curve and line... her jaw, her lips, how her hair framed her face.

        His heart ached suddenly for him to reach out and touch her, and as if by some strange independant force his arm raised against his will, his eyes transfixed on the beauty before him. His fingers came within inches of Ranma�s face, trembling, so close yet so far away.

        Then Ranma nodded, causing him to jerk his hand back. Her breathing was easy now, as if she had fallen into a meditative trance. "Got everything, I think, Hiroshi," She kept her eyes closed, making sure there was nothing left.

        Hiroshi sighed at the almost-touch he had made, then forced a smile back on his face, "When you are done with all of that, clear your mind of anything that is left at all.. make it empty and peaceful."

        Ranma nodded only a moment later.

        Hiroshi stepped closer to her, putting a hand on her shoulder instead... "Now open your eyes and look down at your reflection."

        Ranma slowly let her eyes drift open, as if in almost a dream. Her eyes drifted slowly downward, and was suddenly captivated with what she saw, almost causing her to jump in shock. "Is that me?"

        Hiroshi smiled, relaxing, "Yep.. that is what we see when we see you in female form."

        Ranma touched her face, looking down at the reflection calmly, "I- I really am beautiful," She intoned in a hushed, barely audible manner. She ran her hand across her face, her cheek, brushing her hair lightly aside as she gazed in awe at her reflection.

        Hiroshi�s tone was soft as he replied, looking at Ranma with a plainly amorous glint in his eyes, "Yes, Ranma, yes you are... and it�s about time that you realized what everyone else see�s in you," He smiled and held out his hand, a signal that they needed to get going to the Prom.

        Ranma looked at his hand a moment, then took it carefully. She looked at him, something stirring in her heart, "Thank you, Hiroshi," She found herself saying, not really knowing why her voice was low, pleasant, filled with care.

        Hiroshi smiled back in turn, pushing his own emotions into the back of his mind, "You are welcome, Ranma. We should get going, the Prom isn�t going to wait on us you know," And then the moment had passed.

        Ranma blinked, seeming to come out of some far distant dream state, she smiled, stepping out of the water and slipping her shoes back on. "Hai.. let�s go, Hiroshi," She smiled, taking his arm again.

        The snow fell silently all around them, seeming to paint a picture of eternal bliss.

                                                                        *                 *                 *                 *                 *                 *

        The prom was being held in an enclosed Stadium which was, on rare occasions, used for housing various sporting tournaments. It had made very little money in the long run, only enough to keep it open, and concidering it�s relatively small size, it was perfect for a dance.

        It had only needed a little touching up... all of which had been dutifully taken care of by the Prom Commitee, which was.. of course.. headed by Nabiki Tendou. In all sense of truth, Nabiki Tendou headed ANY school project that involved making money. Nobody would say it out loud, of course, but money just seemed to flow towards Nabiki, for fault of a better explanation.

        Akane Looked around at the people who were coming in the doors, at the refreshment table with all the fixings of a banquet. She blinked, noticing some of the intricately fancy dresses and tuxes that the other women and men wore.

        Of course, Most of them were here for the NORMAL version of the prom. Not a lot of people would participate in the Annual Martial Arts Prom Tournament.

        She was also shocked at the size of the dance floor.. while it was a small stadium, that still made for a fairly large area for dancing. Half of it was blocked off, reserved for the contest.

        Akane herself had thought it was a completely ridiculous idea in the first place when it was proposed by Kuno in her freshman year. Just another means to get her to date with him, she had assumed... yet the tradition had stuck, even though she hadn�t participated until this year.

        "It looks very nice, Akane," Ryouga cast a wary look around at the gathered people, some talking, some getting food at the banquet table. Ryouga was adverse to leaving Akane�s side, seeing as how he could get lost so easily, especially in a new place.

        "Yeah... Nabiki sure did a great job, not that it�s surprising," Akane�s last few words were said in a bitter manner, as if Akane had taken a bad pill.

        "Ahhh, to behold the virtuous beauty that hath been gifted most wonderfully to the pure and devout lady of the raven hair, yay, to behold such a precious gem amidst the false glass of the numerous other less than ample flowers is to truly perceive what true maidenhood should represent. 

        Yes, I, Kuno Tatewake, hath been overcome with the vision of kami that hath been gifted to me by the gracious and benevolent spirits of the eve, and mayhaps this noble soldier of virtue may even be so dubious as to give this fair blossom a chance at his noble self upon the grace of the ballroom floor," The familiar voice intoned behind Akane and Ryouga.

        Akane ground her teeth, one of her brows twitching with not a small amount of fury. She rounded on Kuno, about to throw an insult at the arrogant snot who would dare approach her on such a night.

        Kuno stared back impassively, waiting for something to be said, his own eyes meeting Akane�s, respectfully as an equal, "Or perhaps the fair blossom has come to challenge the champion of Furenkin sporting events upon the self same floor that he would choose to declare his devoted self to the cause of her heart, in which case, I must insist that we hold our anger for perhaps a more prudent period of alottment, persay, I would suggest that you hold your fury for the battle which you would wage tonight, for although I have been lenient in my treatment of you up until this point, tonight shall be another matter entirely," Kuno said in a serious manner.

        Ryouga growled and cracked his knuckles, "Don�t you have any respect for a lady, Kunou!? Akane has told you countless times that she doesn�t have any interest in you," Ryouga was angry that the kendoist would choose TONIGHT of all night�s to approach Akane to declare his love, but then again, Ryouga would have expected as much from his mentality.

        Akane held out a hand on front of Ryouga, her teeth clenched, "I hate to say it, but Kunou is right Ryouga.. you want to wipe the floor with his butt, do it in the tournament."

        Kunou bowed in a formal manner, offering a yellow rose to Akane, "A simple offering, if we are to do battle then I wish you the best of luck.. for although I might otherwise allow you more leeway to do as you please, allowing you to win victory of me, my partner is less than lenient about losing.. hence I come to warn you that no mercy shall be shown in this night�s tournament, as would otherwise be the case."

        Akane blinked for a moment in shock, then renewed her stern expression, her hands on her hips, "And why do YOU care to help us, Kuno?"

        Kuno stood, still holding the rose out in offering, "If I once had been an enemy, perhaps I have finally beheld the inherant fault of my nature, and.. have questioned my actions to you as honorable. Though my own benevolent fantasies do me justice, I doubt that others find them so dubiously enjoyable, or as safe as I do. In truth, I am unsure if I should have ever escaped into my own avalon of dreams and hopes.

        I pray that you may perhaps come to forgive me with time for my erronious manners and dishonourable conduct, for I have acted with very little maturity towards a lady of your own caliber, or one of fair Ranma�s caliber for that matter... both of you deserve far better than I may offer. Perhaps, in some strange twist of fate, I have earned a small sample of maturity that you all seem to believe I am lacking from."

        Ryouga growled, almost ready to ignore Akane�s request and pound Kuno�s face into the ground of his own free will. "Why can�t you just talk *NORMALLY* you freak?!"

        Akane put a gentle hand on Ryouga�s shoulder, holding him back again, "Kuno, why should I believe you�ve actually caught a clue after all this time??? How do I know you just won�t revert to mind numbing idiot next week???"

        Kuno raised an impassive eyebrow, looking at Akane carefully. "Because, Akane, my obliviousness on this last attempt was farse."

        Ryouga and Akane facefaulted.

        "Wh-wh-what?!" Akane asked, grabbing Kuno by the lapel. "You mean you were PLAYING stupid!?"

        Kuno looked down at Akane impassively, with a calm and accepting air. "Indubitably so, Tendou Akane... The reaction was a coping strategy to help deal with the truth, as have been all the numerous other seemingly impossible situations that have arisen from my legendary ignorance. Did you never entertain the notion, fair Akane, that I could be capable of scamming??? After all, it is quite possible since I was forced to grow up with that mercenary of a sister you call Nabiki," Kuno spat the words with distaste.

        "Impossible, Akane, nobody can play that stupid," Ryouga glared at Kuno, who looked back impassively, which enfuriated Ryouga even more, *Damn arrogant cocky bastard... should wipe the smirk off his face...*

        Akane let go of Kuno, "I have to agree with Ryouga, Kuno... and why should we believe you now???"

        Kuno sighed, shaking his head, "Admittedly, I chose not to see the truth that I truly knew, this does not mean that I did not perceive the events or actions that all of you believe I misconstrued and modified in my head. I did, most definitely, know the truth in a most unpleasant manner, but one cannot accept insanity when ones vision of a perfect world does not include it," Kuno brushed his free hand through his hair.

        "Since you obviously shall not take my gift when offered from mine own hand, I shall leave it thusly," Kuno set the rose gently down upon the table beside Akane, "So that you might consider accepting it later, if at such a time you deem my apology worth noting."

        Akane glared at Kuno, yet under that facade she was unsure WHAT to think. Last time they had trusted Kuno had figured out the truth, he turned around and started acting the part of an ass again.

        Kuno, noticing that no answer was forthcoming, bowed formally, then rose, turning on his heels he strode off to find his date.

        Ryouga growled, punching the table fiercely, splintering it into two halves. He blinked in a fair bit of surprise and then growled. "I don�t like Kuno, Arrogant Pompous Self Absorbed-"

        "Ryouga, how often do you know Kuno to apologize for something?" Akane�s voice had a curious tone to it, she lifted the rose from the remains of the broken table, sniffing it in an absent minded fashion.

        Ryouga blinked, then thought for a moment. Come to think of it, Kuno almost NEVER apologized about any of his shortcomings. He was usually far more arrogant than to allow himself to be demeaned in such a manner.

        Akane wound the rose into a section of her dress, *Good luck, he say�s... I�ll need it with Ranma.*

        As if on cue, the knockout redhead strode into view, her arm locked in Hiroshi�s, "Yo, Akane!!! This place is pretty jumping, huh?"

        Akane smiled back at Ranma, "You bet, if I had known it would be this interesting I would�ve tried coming last year and the year before."

        Ryouga smirked at Ranma, "So, are you ready to lose Ranma??? With Akane and I paired, I�m sure you don�t stand a chance," Ryouga loved prodding Ranma.

        A cool and calm smile was returned for his taunt. Instead of Ranma replying, Hiroshi spoke up in response.

        "I wouldn�t count on that, Ryouga..." The brown haired boy smiled a knowing smile, a self assured, cocky, confident smile. Ranma simply reflected the expression without a word.

        "Good Luck, P-chan," Ranma said with a slight smile, "And may the best man win."

        Ryouga grinned, looking at Hiroshi. Ranma growled.

        "You know what I meant, Baka," the redhead grumbled, throwing a friendly punch at Ryouga�s arm.

        Ryouga chuckled and nodded, "Yes... the best to you too," And the two clasped hands for a moment.

        Akane blinked in silent surprise, "Wow.. I never thought I�d see both of you act so maturely, I�m shocked."

        Ryouga rubbed the back of his head, laughing a bit and Ranma blushed.

        "Hey, s�not like we fight ALL the time Akane," Ranma�s voice was defensive.

        Akane grinned, nodding, "Right, just most of the time," her answer caused Hiroshi to chuckle quietly.

        They all turned to look at the arena when someone picked up the microphone.

        "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...."

                                                                        *                 *                 *                 *                 *                 *

        Daisuke sat in a corner of the auditorium, alone, typing on his miniature laptop (Pieced together from spare parts, yet again.)

        His mind wandered, thinking of a billion seperate ideas as his fingers tried to keep up with them. His brain awash with equations and formulas.

        Which is a good enough reason that he didn�t notice someone approaching him. That is, not until that laugh...

        "OOooooohohohohohoho!!!" That laugh... caused Daisuke to tense up, his hands to suddenly go cold and clammy, he lifted his head, looking up at the figure who emitted the laugh.

        Some people would say a thing out of a nightmare... others would say a walking wet dream, until they heard that laugh. Daisuke had to agree with the former appreciation of the youngest Kunou sibling. She was, after all, nuttier than a payday candy bar... and a candy bar isn�t expected to drug you or beat you.

        "You will do nicely, peasant.. do you know how to dance?" Kodachi asked, running a hand through her luxurious black hair. She was dressed in a dark red tight fitting gown, with a low cut neckline and a bottom that barely brushed her ankles.

        Needless to say, Daisuke was NOT directly drawn to her face... rather her cleavage, and to that is what he spoke.

        "K-K-Kodachi.. urr.. what are you doing here?? This is the Furenkin High School Prom-" He was cut off abruptly by Kodachi�s laugh, causing the protrusions he was staring at to bounce with her mirth.

        "Ignorant Peasant!! My Father is principal of this school, I have every right to attend a dance that my darling Ranma will be at, do I not?? Now, do you dance or don�t you???" She asked in a stern manner, glaring fire at Daisuke, not really seeming to notice his lewd gaze, or if she did, not bothering to scold him for it.

        "Urrr.." Daisuke asked intelligently, rapidly going through his choices on how to avert himself from the situation. Sure, Kodachi was good looking... but then again, she was also totally bonkers, or that�s what Daisuke thought.

        "Good, then you shall be my partner!!!" Kodachi grabbed him by his tie and began to drag him off to the Martial Arts Dancing Tournament.

        Needless to say, he did not go quietly.

                                                                        *                 *                 *                 *                 *                 *

        Ranma ran her hand around the small metal bracelet fastened around her wrist. It was connected to a thin but strong leather cord of about 3 feet in length, and about 1/4 of an inch in diameter. The other end was attached to yet another bracelet, which was securely fastened around Hiroshi�s wrist.

        The other people participating in the tournament were wearing similar bracelets, each attached to their partners twin bracelet.

        "The rules are simple!" The announcer intoned. "Anyone who�s link is broken will be disqualified! Anyone who leaves the designated fighting area, or is thrown out, will be disqualified! Anyone using deadly weapons will be disqualified! All attacks must be in synch with the music, and must be graceful and in step with the dance!!! Final winner will be judged both on Skill, strength, and grace!"

        Ranma looked at the other competitors... Mousse and Shampoo were there, but they were staring straight at eachother, Mousse whispering in a low voice.

        Kunou had found a partner that definitely did not sit well with Ranma... the girl, Ami, had a lot of experience in rhythmic gymnastics, as well as the soccer team. Not only that, but Ami was smiling at Ranma with a burning glare.

        Ranma glared back, defiant. *I will give her what she deserves, after that night...* She felt a thrill of adrenaline rush through her as she burned her gaze through Ami.

        The girl flinched, if for but a moment, but then turned away from Ranma, looking up at Kuno.

        *Bitch* Ranma mentally growled. Ranma wasn�t one for using vulgarities, even in her own mind, but she would make an exception for Ami.

        "Let the dance beg-" The announcer�s words were cut off sharply with the bounding echo of Kodachi�s laugh.

        She pointed at the announcer, Daisuke next to her and firmly tied with her ribbon, "Surely you would not start such a fiasco without first inquiring of the Black Rose if she might wish to join?" She asked in a commanding tone of voice.

        The announcer began to object, but couldn�t shake the huge grin on Principal Kuno�s face, as if daring him to keep Kodachi out of the tournament. Sweating profusely, he nervously intoned, "Urr, why, urr.. no Miss Kunou!!! We would be honored to have a woman of.. uhm.. your level participate in the competition!!!"

        Kodachi gave a nod of her head, without truly looking at the announcer. Everyone stared at her as Miss Hinako (One of the Judges) gave her and Daisuke a pair of bracelets.

        "Seriously!! There�s someone else who is a MUCH better dancer than me, Kodachi!!! Besides, I don�t really lik-" Daisuke�s nervous string of excuses was abruptly cut off, as the Announcer�s had been.

        "Peasant, you should be honored that a beautiful flower of the Noble house of Kunou would choose YOU to be her partner in this charade! Now be silent and assume the position!" Kodachi snapped.

        Daisuke immediately dropped onto all fours, his behind facing Kodachi.

        Since everyone was watching the exchange, almost everyone burst out laughing as Daisuke grinned.

        Kodachi kicked him in his rear, "Not THAT position, Dolt! The PROPER position!!!"

        "Which one would you prefer??" Daisuke asked, grinning and looking up at Kodachi. Everyone started laughing again, causing Kodachi to turn a bit red in the face.

        Kodachi picked Daisuke up and shook him violently, "Be silent and obey, Peasant!! My patience is short right now, and you will respect my beauteous self, knave!"

        Daisuke gulped at seeing the anger in Kodachi�s eyes. *On second thought..* Daisuke chided himself, *I don�t think I want Kodachi angry with me.*

        After another moment of people trying to control their laughter, the arena was calm again. The Announcer looked around, then smiled, "Allright... Begin the Dance!!!!"

        Each partner in kind linked arms with eachother as the music began, each beginning a somewhat fast paced dance to the beat of the music.

        Ranma linked eyes with Hiroshi, a determined look in her gaze. Hiroshi smiled in return, and nodded slowly, as if knowing exactly what Ranma could be thinking.

        Their bodies seemed to relax, move in an almost uncanny unison... as if fluidly, they were moving as one.

        The lights flashed on the dance floor, reflections of the slowly revolving silver sphere hanging but a few yards above their heads. With the rhythm of their twin beating hearts, they moved as one. Their eyes for only eachother, yet seeing their surroundings far better than most inthe competition.

        A pirouet from a female in one of the other pairs turned into a devious kick at Ranma�s head, deftly avoided with grace as Hiroshi spun her to the other side of him, catching her around the waist as he carefully dipped her in one arm, his eyes locked upon hers.

        His seemingly random dip avoiding a couple who spun through, legs flashing quickly in an attack that caught the couple behind Ranma and Hiroshi, sending them sprawling across the dance floor, they soon recovered themselves, ready to continue.

        On the other side of the Dance floor, Ami averted her eyes from Kunou for a moment, burning them in a pathway towards the scarlett haired temptress that seemed to steal the attention of the judges with expert maneuvers.

        *That arrogant... that.... he will pay, the bastard... Mocking women like he does* She felt the seething fire burning in her, and took the lead of the dance forcefully, causing Kuno to blink.

        "Pardon me, Madame Ami, but it is tradition that the man naturally take the lead, and such as I am so manly a man, it is less than proper that you should even dare presume to take from me what rightfully should be-" His words were sheered quite short with the burning vengeance in Ami�s eyes.

        "Shut up and dance, you idiot," She spat the words out as if they were acid, meant to burn and hurt. To her credit, Kuno flinched, and proceeded to open his mouth, then thought better as she jerked him one way, swinging him like a weapon into a man, throwing him violently from his partner and into a wall, thus breaking the leather strap connecting the two.

        Kuno�s head Rang from the impact, and his shoulder hurt just as much. *Truly, I should pick my dates more carefully, for the fawning mistress seems to hath metamorphosed into a bile filled demoness.... truly, Tatewake, you should think carefully before you presume to act.*

        Ami�s vengeance was not lost on another couple. "Oh, god.. I should have known she wouldn�t have stopped after the party," Akane looked fearfully at Ami, who was burning a warpath straight for Ranma and Hiroshi... reluctantly, at first, Kuno was participating... until he was forced to move with his partner by a few choice words from Ami.

        Ryouga lifted Akane in a spin, taking her away from a barreling girl who was thrown by another pair, also seperated from her partner. "What are you talking about, Akane?" He set her down gently after another moment, looking into her deep brown eyes.

        Akane blinked, bringing her gaze level with Ryouga�s as she quickly stepped forwards in the dance, Narrowly avoiding another attack, "Ami is after Ranma... she.. really really hates him. More than you do, I think... I have no idea why, but she wants to hurt Ranma badly," Akane and Ryouga seperated slightly as someone flew between them, their fragile cord humming as it almost snapped.

        Ryouga took her hand, spinning her towards him and wrapping his arms around her from behind... *Ranma... friend or enemy.. do I really want to see him hurt??? Not that someone as inexperienced as she probably is could hurt Ranma... but maybe I should lend a hand.*

        Taking Akane�s hands, he spun her carefully back into the starting position as the music changed subtly.

        The pace was faster, something of a quick and flighty melody. People began speeding up in their movements, some losing the graceful air that they had maintained, others being easily taken out by more experienced participants. Lights flashing, couples spinning, eyes locked in perpetual union.

        Her gleaming blue eyes, his sparkling brown eyes, fixated on only eachother as their dance, seemingly random and chaotic, took on a beauty that seemed far beyond the kata Ranma had done alone the past few mornings. There was a certain yin and yang about their match, Ranma�s fast paced and often brash maneuvers were contrasted with Hiroshi�s calm, thoughtful, and patient grace...

        Both mixed, meshed, melded into a flawless machine, weaving in and out from between brawling couples, seemingly untouched. *The trick..* Hiroshi told himself, *..Is not in defeating others. It is in not being defeated.*

        Ranma thought the same, although circumstance forced the pair into defending themselves, and often into removing some competition from the arena.

        Neither noticed the deadly siren that was slowly spiraling her way towards them, intentions to dash them out of the rings, as those fell singers had attempted to do to Odysius in that age old legend. Nothing stood in her way, for nothing could. She would not let her anger be quenched for yet another night.

        She weaved, dodged, sometimes jumped over her competitors, all in a single minded attempt to get at Ranma. Kuno was far beyond arguing with her, since he had deduced there was no reasoning with her. A wise sentiment, from one of the biggest buffoons in the school.

        "Mu-Tsu.. why for girl hedging path towards Ranma?" Shampoo asked as mouse spun, arms around her hips as she raised a graceful leg, booting a man in the back and sending him sprawling into the date as Shampoo landed, once more looking up at her husband.

        Mousse cast a glance towards Ranma as he dropped into a sweeping kick, his hand linked gently in Shampoo�s as she leaped over him in a flying kick, both mirrored eachother for a brief moment. The judges noted that Shampoo seemed to hang in midair for a moment before both her and her partner�s attacks impacted.

        A man fell violently to the ground from the sweep kick Mousse had delivered, and another couple�s strong leather cord was snapped in two by Shampoo�s attack as she sent one of the girl�s flying.

        "She seems to be out to get Saotome, Beloved," Mousse noted as they both spun on their heals, joining once more at the hands.

        "What we do?? Can�t have Ranma lose, would not be good fight if She not make it to finals," Shampoo swung Mousse around, and like a rubber band Mousse used the momentum to swing Shampoo at another pair... shampoo�s hand clasped tightly to Mousse�s as she lifted off the ground, spinning in an arc with one leg extended to drop another partner from yet another couple.

        The battle was thick and furious, but was strangely conflicting, the grace and adeptness that each couple took in their movements matched the music well, yet was also mixed with attacks and defenses that seemed to flow with the dance as easily as if they fit.

        Ryouga and Akane rolled to one side together as two couples clashed, the grace of their dance ending in a brawl.. which was quickly ended as the four people were dragged out of the arena, disqualified for their obvious disrespect of the rules.

        "That was close, Akane," Ryouga turned the roll deftly, allowing the two of them to end standing, once again moving to the music.

        Akane looked at Ranma, a worried expression on her face, "Ryouga.. I am worried about Ranma.. have you seen how Ami is barreling through everyone?? Even if it *IS* graceful, for her part, she is also dead set on eliminating Ranma," Akane found herself pulled closely up against Ryouga as he spun gently on his heels, dipping her low as he followed, someone flying where her head had been.

        "Not too bad at what she is doing, either... she definitely has some skills, I will say that. Don�t worry about Ranma, he can take care of himself... he *IS* the best, you know," Ryouga said in a half snide, half mocking tone. He did bother to coat it with a small amount of respect, however.

        Akane sighed, shaking her head, "I just don�t know.. I.. I have a bad feeling about tonight, Ryouga."

        He linked his hands tightly around her waist and jumped into a backflip, landing closer to Ranma and Hiroshi, who seemed completely oblivious to their surroundings.

        Ryouga furrowed his brow in stern contemplation, "You should be, Akane.. after.. the way Ranma was acting around Hiroshi earlier, even I am feeling somewhat uncomfortable with what it could mean."

        Akane blinked, caught off guard as she mulled over what Ryouga could possibly have meant. The moment cost her as a couple, in unison, kicked her square in the back, sending her sprawling forward onto Ryouga.

        They both rolled for a moment, and then stopped, Akane laying atop Ryouga in a somewhat compromising position.

        Ryouga wasn�t surprised that Akane�s cheeks became noticably colored... he only prayed to Kami that she didn�t notice how red he was sure his face must have been.

        Akane scrambled to get up, she knew her cheeks were hot. *What the heck am I embarrassed about? This is RYOUGA... my friend,* Still, the heat in her cheeks persisted, and was echoed by a faint heat from much lower on her body. *Stop that.* She told herself, shoving the thoughts farther back in her head.

        Ryouga scrambled up as well, taking Akane�s hips in his hands, trying to force the blush to leave his reddened face. *IwillnotdefileAkane�smemory, IwillnotdefileAkane�smemory, IwillnotdefileAkane�smemory* He chanted to himself while pushing the improper thoughts to the back of his head.

        Nearby, on the dance floor, Kodachi was using her �Partner� As a bludgeoning tool to beat the other dancers with. Daisuke�s head felt as if it was stuffed with cotton, his body sore all over from the tossing and colliding with his fellow classmates. *When will the hurting stooooop!!* he screamed in his mind.

        Kodachi�s eyes fell on Ranma, and her irises seemed to Narrow, *The VILE Red WITCH attends this Social??? How dare they allow such a venomous heathen to walk the grounds of my Father�s School!!*

        Kodachi spun around in a graceful pirouet, her body contracting almost like a spring as her hand locked on Daisuke�s, wrenching him into the spin, She put all of her strength into it, and then threw the helpless boy into the air, the leather cord connecting her and Daisuke snapping from the force.

        "GAAAAAAAH!! WHYYYY MEEEEE?!?!" Daisuke wailed as he flew through the air, Ranma seemingly unaware of her friends trajectory.

        Kodachi realized that as soon as her �Partner� connected with the ground, she would be disqualified from the competition, she growled with no minor annoyance and tossed her hand forward, a rhythmic gymnastics ribbon lashing out from seemingly nowhere, wrapping around Daisuke�s hurtling form just as he smashed into a couple, narrowly avoiding Ranma.

        The announcer blinked, looking at the Judges, "Can she do that???"

        Several of the Judge�s conferred, Principal Kuno ending the debate with the valid question of if she couldn�t, who was going to stop her?

        Kodachi laughed her hearty, bellowing, disturbing laugh... several of the couples collapsed, screaming about the pain in their ears, which naturally got them disqualified since they couldn�t continue, the laugh being stuck in their heads.

        Kodachi yanked on the ribbon, which brought Daisuke hurtling back towards her.

        "Did anywon git da name o� dat Truck???" Daisuke blubbered, his head ringing as he flew back through the air. He landed in Kodachi�s arms, his head ringing and his eyes seeing two Kodachi�s, which caused him to laugh like a gibbering madman.

        "This isn�t LOGICAL Jim!!!" He screamed, grabbing kodachi by the sleeves of her dress and shaking her violently.

        Kodachi sneered in disgust of the pathetic excuse for a partner she had chosen. With a swift Yank, Kodachi sent him hurling back towards Ranma and Hiroshi, who seemed at peace while dancing.

        "WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE MEEEEEE!" Daisuke flailed his arms as he glided through the air.

        Suddenly, both Hiroshi and Ranma spun, extending their feet to connect directly with Daisuke, and adding force to send him BACK towards Kodachi, both uttering simultaneously, "Sorry �bout this Dai!" as their feet connected.

        As he flew back he crossed his arms across his chest, "Oh SURE, you two WOULD kick me when I�m down, wouldn�t you?!" his comment ushering a giggle from the pretty redhead with the handsome friend of his.

        "It�s nothing personal, Just business," Hiroshi said, quoting many Mafia movies at the same time as he spun Ranma around gracefully to avoid a suddenly VERY close Ami.

        Kodachi was laughing heartily as she looked up, then blinked when she realized her weapon was heading straight for her. She began to make haste the other way, just as Daisuke barreled into her, both rolling end over end, and Daisuke ending on top, his face buried in her bosom.

        "Yu knwww... They Rlly d�make gd pllows..." Her mumbled around the expanse of flesh surrounding his head.

        Kodachi Slapped him mercillesly, to no avail, "Get off me you lecherous heathen!! How dare you defile the virgin grace of the Black Rose!!!"

        "N�thin yu say m�dme.." He mumbled again, then began to purposely get off kodachi, �Accidentally� placing his hands where they shouldn�t go.

        "HENTAI!! DEFILER!! LECHEROUS CRETIN!!!" She brought back her fist and then forward so that it connected squarely with Daisuke�s face, sending him soaring through the air again, She glared death at him as he flew, until she noticed several couples staring at her bosom, which was now very bare and absent of a undergarment.

        Kodachi screamed and ran straight for the bathroom.

        Daisuke clutched the bra in his hands, Tears of joy streamed from his face, "I don�t care what Anyone says.. today is a GOOD day to die!!" he crashed firmly into the wall and began sliding down, a silly, happy grin on his face.

        Akane noticed the tail end of the whole exchange, "Wow.. I feel sort of sorry for Kodachi," She turned with Ryouga, avoiding a carefully planned attack as she and her partner danced amidst severl more skilled pairs.

        "Why?? She is insane, and deserves a bit of humiliation for some of the cheating she�s done," Ryouga leaned down as Akane flipped, her back over his, and landed on her feet after taking out one of the offending competitors with a swift kick.

        "Sure, but... well.. no girl should be shamed like that, on her Prom night no less," Akane found herself having a lot of extra space, only about 10 couples left from the 40 that had started the contest. Her and Ryouga, Ami and Kuno, Ranma and Hiroshi, and two other pairs who seemed to be fairing well enough.

        Ami had been ruthless in her pursuit of Ranma, Kuno half reluctant to harm the red head caused her no end of grief in the contest, until she became so short with him that he finally took her seriously with her threats.

        She had been following Ranma and Hiroshi for a good 15 minutes, and each attack was expertly deflected, be it from her or from Kuno. They moved in unison, in perfect symbiosis of eachother.

        Eyes together, heart together, mind together, two bodies made one. The lights flashed, and they danced. Their eyes never wavered, and they danced. Their graceful movements beautiful yet complex in the same respect.

        Ami was growing frustrated, yet suddenly she saw an opening, something RARE. Yet before she had a time to exploit it, and then a pair spun between her and her target, a purple haired girl and her raven haired date. The Amazon team.

        Ami sneered, and spun as well, aiming a kick at Shampoo, which Mousse blocked with his arm as he spun Shampoo away from the obvious attack.

        "You want Saotome..." Mousse said in a quiet, calm manner.

        "You must go through us," Shampoo finished, as they both lept into the air, flipping and suddenly descending in a twin flying dragon kick.

        Ami squeeled and spun Kuno in front of her, the Kendoist being hit full with both kicks and sending him sprawling, with his date, 10 feet back.

        Shampoo and Mousse continued their dance, watching Ami and Kuno respectively.

        The offending couple rose again, still attached, and Ami once more began her ruthless pursuit of the redhead on the dancefloor.

        Moments later a whistle was blown loudly by the announcer, "TIME!!!! We will have a short break before we continue with the remaining groups. Take your time, there will be an hour.. go socialize with your friends who AREN�T participating in the competition, get a soda, relax while the judges work up their scores thus far for the remaining pairs," After having spoke, he quietly walked over to the judges and began to conferr with them.

        Ranma and Hiroshi relaxed, Ranma didn�t find it too odd how close she was to Hiroshi.. she felt comfortable. She felt SAFE.

        Slow music began to play, a noticable contrast to the upbeat melodies that the dance contest was prone to.

        Neither recognized the song, which was in english.... but the melody had a certain harmony with their souls...

        "There used to be a greying Tower alone on the Sea,

        You became the Light on the Dark side of me.

        Love remained the drug that�s the high, not the pill...

        And did you know, that when it snows, my eyes become large, for the light that you shine can�t be seen...."

        They calmly danced, Ranma holding Hiroshi close, as if she might lose everything important if she let him go.. the lights dimmed, slowly changing to a deep azure that drifted lazily across the dance floor.

        Two as one, one in love, Love in vain, Love Plain, yet distant. Their arms seeming surreptitiously wrapped around eachother, as if nobody else was around to watch them. Alone on the dance floor of life, yet alone together.

        "Hiroshi??" Ranma asked in a quiet voice.. as if she suddenly had some sort of inkling, something that was scraping it�s way slowly up from the pit of her supressed emotions...

        "Shhh, Ranma... Shh.. I know.." He knew she so longed to say those words, those words that she didn�t even know she wanted to say. Words so hard to say, three simple... simple words.

        He held her tighter, his own tears threatening. *What would you do for love, Hiroshi?? Would you give it up, if need be? Would you walk away? Are you that brave, Hiroshi?*

        The words taunted him... that small, nagging concience he had been cursed with. Something that had always made him a compassionate, caring, noble person he now feared and hated.

        A hand came to rest on Hiroshi�s shoulder, breaking the nigh perfect moment.

        "I ask, with infinite humility and great embarrassment, if I might have a word or three with your partner on this eve, fair Saotoe Ranma, so that I might discuss some matters which thine ears are not adept to hear. If you please, that is, M�lady," Kuno looked quite serious as he spoke, and looked directly at Ranma�s eyes as Hiroshi gazed up at him in curiosity.

        Ranma bristled, "Just a second, Kuno... ain�t you supposed to be with mega-bitch-monster?" Ranma glared fire at Kuno, her disposition none too friendly at being interrupted.

        Kuno�s lips tightened into a thin line, "My... date is less than appealing to bear social company with, thusly, I have informed her that she might mingle with her female cohorts and thus leave me to peruse my own modest aquaintances for intriquing debate topic. A needless boast, but enough for her rather simple mind to rationalize that I may, indeed, need mine own personal space," Kuno crossed his arms, looking at Ranma with a level expression.

        Ranma narrowed her eyes, her hand unconciously on her hips in a rather feminine stance of righteous anger, "I don�t like you, Kuno... since I came to this town, you have done nothing but fawn over my girl side, even when I explained to you what was up. If you want to-to-to Talk to Hiroshi, then FINE, TALK TO HIROSHI!"

        Ranma turned on her heels and stomped off, leaving Hiroshi standing somewhat stunned and speechless.

        "Never have I seen the lady fair let down her scarlett blessed locks of hair... nor have I witnessed so divine a wrath, as shown Ranma�s most FEMININE warpath. Methinks all is not right in the world," Kuno frowned in quiet contemplation.

        Hiroshi sighed and shook his head, despite Kuno�s knack for ignoring general reality, he had hit the nail on the head for once. Ranma was acting female... and very bizzarrely female at that. No doubt about it anymore.

        He turned patiently, looking up at Kuno, "What did you want to speak to me about, Kuno?"

        The Upperclassmen looked down at Hiroshi, his lips tightening again as his brow furrowed, a serious expression for the kendoist. "Methinks that a less public surrounding may be more appropot to that which I severely must discuss with you, Miramoto Hiroshi," Kuno brought his hand up, running his index and middle fingers along the line of his jaw and rubbing his chin in a thoughtful motion.

        "The balcony should suffice well enough, if you will but step before me, I shall follow in post haste," He bowed at the waist, waiting for Hiroshi to walk up to the balcony before he did.

        Needless to say, this was an ODD reaction from Kuno.

        "Kuno.. uhm.. are you allright? You aren�t your usual pompous self," Hiroshi looked at the bowing upperclassmen. Kuno was ALWAYS blabbing about his superior status, this seemed like something out of the Twilight Zone.

        "My arrogance is ill fitting on this night, when sternness is much more needed," Kuno rose from the bow. "I am asking of you if I may speak in private with you.... this is not an easy thing for one such as I to do, who has pride and honor that is hard to ignore for very long, so I ask again," Kuno held a hand towards the stairs, waiting for Hiroshi to move.

        Hiroshi sighed, then nodded. Whatever could make Kuno serious HAD to be severe indeed. He began walking up the stairs, followed shortly by the kendoist.

        Nabiki Tendou watched them go, her mind asking a million questions... all of which she had no answer to.

                                                                        *                 *                 *                 *                 *                 *

        She stared at the pool of unmoving water, down into the eyes of her reflection. Those eyes had a disturbing, almost empty quality, or perhaps there was something else. Perhaps it was how the light danced behind that vacant gaze that seemed to insinuate that the person in the body was not alone in the least in their catatonic state of mind.

        Those blue eyes that occassionaly had a bright color dance across them... almost like rainbow fire, her eyes... blue, most of the time though. As blue as the beautiful sky. A somewhat sharp, angular slant to her facial structure, bones, jaw set in a way as to seem somewhat feline.. or almost smooth, as a serpent might be.

        The complexion in the reflection was one of smooth, pale ivory.. almost a ghostly ambience that seemed to hover just ever so slightly above the skin. Hard to notice unless you gazed long enough.

        She sat, in a kimono, at the foot of the pool, on a red silk pillow with a gold dragon embroidered upon it. A gift, from the Amazons. A gift to furnish the temple. Not that she noticed, then... not that she noticed anything but the voices in her head, arguing, debating, considering, insulting.

        The Kimono was a deep crimson, with green trimming and multicolored blossoms depicted across it�s surface, vines winding and decorating the sleeve cuffs and neckline. A midnight black sash was wrapped tightly around her feminine frame.

        The Pool was tiled all around, with a short lip at the edge, jutting several inches from the ground. The water was crystal clarity, yet the bottom could not be seen...

        "Kaoru," A soft female voice came, something that seemed to barely pierce the cloud of darkness that danced across Kaoru�s vacant eyes. Her gaze devoid of any humanity, of any.... intelligence. An Empty shell, only voices.

        "Kaoru.... My Child," The voice was smooth as silk, as sweet as honey, yet with a undercurrent that promised sharp steel as that of a katana�s edge. Such a caring, gentle voice, with such promise of wrath beneath the surface.

        Again, there was no response, just the voidless vacant stare of the young dragon child, staring at her reflection. Kaoru opened her mouth in a seemingly unknowing manner... her breath slowly ushering out from betwixt her silken lips.

        A shiver ran down Shimitsu-Ryuu�s spine, as her child breathed out, a wind seemed to stir from somewhere in the temple, ruffling her clothing and hair.

        The wind caressed Kaoru, seeming to tug and to tease at her crimson locks... moving the band of her braided green hair that hung over her shoulder. The green streak was inherited from her mother�s side... marking her as a Shimitsu.

        Shimitsu-Ryuu cautiously stepped closer to Kaoru, going to her knees beside her child, sitting in the same position and staring at her child�s reflection.

        A pretty girl Kaoru was not... her supernatural heritage, as well as the clothing did much to improve her looks beyond mere beauty. Yet there was this disturbing quality to her presence. It was like walking into a room full of mad people... you feel such infinite sadness and pity.

        It is said, in some places, this is because you can feel the broken souls... the fractured remnants of once happy and lively people. Yet, with Kaoru, it was worse. You could SEE it in her eyes, sometimes her eyes would refract light in such a way as to seem like broken glass... shattered.

        "20 years.. Mother....," The words were quick, quiet, ushered low and calm, no emotion or inflection at all.

        Shimitsu nodded, sighing sadly. For twenty years Kaoru had been hidden, when the villagers had come to speak with her, she had to lie to them. Her child�s fragile sanity had no place for change... it had to heal, it had to gain that strength back, lest she lose Kaoru forever.

        "20 years of pain.. suffering... loneliness," There was emotion thick in that last word. Almost tears. "So much longer, since Mihiru... sometimes it devours me and I cannot sleep, Mother," Yes, definitely near tears. Thick with sorrow.

        Mihiru... a man. *No, never, never JUST a man,* Shimitsu reminded herself with a firm and angry chiding. "Will you dwell, my child?? My darling Kaoru?"

        A shiver ran through Kaoru, and the whole room seemed to drop to a freezing temperature, ice forming on the surface of the water, "It was so cold, Mother..." Her breath was misty and hot, floating through the air. 

        "So cold... I couldn�t help it, they were the only thing I could have of me... the voices, they helped me... the cold.. and dark," the light suddenly seemed to vanish from the room... Kaoru and Shimitsu outlined in a gentle glowing nimbus.. Kaoru�s an icy blue.

        Shimitsu took her child�s hand, holding it tightly, "You are safe now, my darling.. my dear, sweet child. Safe, there is no more darkness, no more cold... we are home, we are here, in Shimitsu Temple," Her tone was urgent, yet at the same time patient. Forcefull, yet at the same time humble and accepting.

        Kaoru turned her eyes towards her Mother, as if seeing her for the first time.. two tears made twin trails down her cheeks, "The darkness is inside of me, Mother.. inside of me, it eats out your insides.. fills you up with cold and pain and loneliness..." her voice seemed to echo.

        Shimitsu held tightly to Kaoru�s hand, looking with painful love at her poor, broken child. She took Kaoru in her gentle arms, even as she felt the painful twisting and shifting of bone, the cracking and popping of joints as they realigned.

        A young man now sobbed in her arm, victim of a heritage that was grim and unyielding... a curse on his birth, at his birth, by his birth.

        "My son... my tortured.. lonely son... How I wish I could take your pain into me, take away your hurting, How I long to hold that laughing child in my arms again, and not have to fear stains of tears," Shimitsu rocked him gently back and forth, as a Mother would her babe.

        "Mother.. Mother, why, why did this have to happen to me??? Is it because of what I am? Why couldn�t the demon just kill me... the pain... it hurts...," Her child howled as another bout of crying began, bones and muscle once again shifting, popping, reshaping as Kaoru shook violently in her mother�s arms.

        A demon... one of the Lords of Darkness had done something to her child. Nothing similar to Jusenkyou, not in the least... this curse seemed locked in trigger to Kaoru�s soul.

        A soul of Chaos, ever changing, so was her son�s body to change back and forth, from female to male... the trigger was never sure, never fixed. It could be as simple as emotion, or as complex as specific roots that were rare and hard to come by... and never was there a full cure. At any time, any where a change could happen.

        *Jusenkyou.. would have been so much more merciful, dear Kami...* She blamed herself as Kaoru shuddered and finally stopped convulsing from pain, a weary, weakened look on Kaoru�s face.

        Shimitsu thought of it as her punishment, punishment for giving birth to Kaoru, to watch her child suffer for the rest of her life. Kaoru, by all rights, should have been killed on birth... other dragons with the same marks had been born throughout history, and all went insane. Kaoru was the 9th of these dragons, destined to go mad people said. 

        Dragons of Chaos, of disorder, of madness... they were well known in chinese folklore, destroying whole cities in fits of insanity and rage. They never seemed so powerful until that moment of insanity... then their full fury seemed to be unbridled in all it�s horrendous glory.

        Shimitsu looked down at her sobbing, pain wracked child. They never seemed to be a threat....

        "M..mother... please, take the pain away," Kaoru�s face was pale, a slight sheen of sweat on her forehead. She had stopped changing, but there was no telling when she would change next. Days, months, years.. or hours...

        Shimitsu took the slight girl in her arms, her child weighing almost nothing at all, as light as a feather to her. She carried the shaking child carefully to the next room, which was wall to wall shelves with various pots, jars, and glass vases full of plants, herbs, and other rare ingredients.

        People feared Kaoru, shied away from the Dragon child. They warded their houses against her, and didn�t like it when she was around.

        By all rights, her very Mother should have feared what she was.. instead, the Guardian Dragon loved her child. There was never a moment that went by that Shimitsu did not cherish and comfort Kaoru, not a moment where she did not do her utmost to make Kaoru feel normal, to feel like a normal child, not a freak of nature.

        She set Kaoru down on one of the pallets in the room, brushing some hair from the young Dragon�s face. She turned, and began searching for ingredients to a special healing salve, unsure if it would work this time or not.

        A few rare people had actually become friends with Kaoru.. most among the tribal Amazons that lived at the base of the mountain. Most of which had died since Kaoru was lost in the battle with Dhim Ta.

        *A thousand years of darkness and cold* Shimitsu stopped for a moment, holding one of the many jars. She looked at Kaoru, the shivering, fragile, scared creature that was her child. She felt the bitter pangs of regret, of sadness... that she could have kept this from happening, she was sure.

        Kaoru was strong.. unnaturally strong. She had always been strong. From childhood on, she had to be in order to survive. Some of it came from her father, *Vintarou... my love*

        Shimitsu shook the memory off, mixing the ingredients she had found. Vintarou... one of five priests of Kami that were dragon purebreds. *No use crying over spilled milk.. centuries past....*

        Her husband had been lost in a battle with the very same demon that took her child from her when Kaoru had gone after the vile creature to avenge her father.

        The demon had done something, and no healer she had ever met could figure out what the Demon had done to her child... on that first meeting, the meeting where Vintarou had died.

        She continued grinding the mixture together into a paste as she walked over to Kaoru, who was breathing in a controlled, disciplined manner, pushing the pain to the back of her mind as much as possible.

        "Mother.. it.. it is hard... I can handle it most of the time now, you know I can. I can... I am not mad, there are voices... they are there, please.. believe me..," Kaoru clutched a hand tightly to one of her Mother�s sleeves.

        Clutching with an almost wild fanaticism that some mad people go through, as if to find something real that could tell them that what they know is real, not just some half-faded dream from a hopeless mind.

        "I know, my lovely Kaoru, I know... I believe you, do not worry my darling one," She smiled, and for a brief moment she seemed her age. Very old, that.

        "Yes.. Yes, thank you..." Kaoru seemed to calm, although she was still shaking from pain. Unlike Jusenkyou, this change was not without torture.

        Shimitsu lifted the bowl of the noxious substance to Kaoru�s lips, "Drink this, dear... it may taste bad, but-"

        Kaoru nodded her head, taking the bowl and drinking as if she had spent weeks in the desert. Her face twisted in disgust at the initial taste, yet she drank it. *Discipline, Order, Control, Humility..* She recited to herself.

        Discipline to work through the pain, both emotional and physical, as well as spiritual. Discipline to know what must be done.

        Order to keep limits to yourself, to know your own limits as well as to know the limits of the world around you. Order to understand, Order to give patience to the Soul.

        Control, to fend off the madness. The madness that so many have told her she would succumb to.. the madness that told her she must in the end destroy. Always it beckoned, tempting...

        *HUMILITY...* Kaoru said loudly as the medicine began to make her muscles burn, her body relax.

        Humility to know. To know that even though she was born by right and blood into a race longer lived and more powerful than man.... that she was, fundamentally, human. Perhaps not by race, nor blood, but by the frailty of her soul.

        Shimitsu waited and watched patiently as her child finished the bowl, handing it back. She noted that her child�s breathing was still carefully being controlled. *Oh, Kaoru.. my baby...* She fought back her tears.

        She loved her child, loved her fiercely, strongly. *Kaoru.. my little Princess.. my darling Soldier of Misfortune..* She squeezed Kaoru�s hand gently, smiling down at her. A tear escaping, trailing down her cheek.

        Kaoru opened her eyes, relaxing her body. She looked at her mother, smiling weakly. "..thank.. thank you Mother. It is still sometimes hard, when I am alone in a room... I begin to wonder if-"

        "Shhh, no.. don�t wonder, please," Shimitsu smiled gently, clasping Kaoru�s hand in her own. "I love you, and I don�t want you to ever wonder if.. if this is all just a dream and you are still in that.. horrible place, My darling Kaoru," She reached out, gently touching Kaoru�s cheek in a soft caress.

        Kaoru smiled somewhat sadly. "I may have left there.. physically.. but a part of me remains there, for all time Mother," Kaoru sat up, her body looking worn, tired.. as if she hadn�t slept in days.

        "Please, Love, don�t exert yourself..." Shimitsu asked calmly, not expecting an affirmation for her request.... after all, it was Kaoru, not one of her Acolytes.

        Kaoru closed her eyes for a long moment, relaxing and just concentrating on breathing. Slowly, they opened again... and turned to gaze directly at Shimitsu�s green eyes. "Who was it, Mother??? You don�t usually interrupt my.. my.." Kaoru�s face twisted in a pained fashion, "My reflection."

        Shimitsu suddenly felt threatened.. somewhat self concious as she turned away from her child�s piercing gaze, "It was no-one. Nobody you should concern yourself with, you�re in no condition to-"

        "Mother," Kaoru�s tone was in no way stern, or hard... it was calm, pleading, the words soft and gentle, "I don�t care who it was, anyone who wants to see me..." She trailed off, frowning and looking inward, as if not liking what she was seeing.

        Shimitsu turned and looked back, watching Kaoru for a moment as she stayed silent. It took her a minute to realize that.. one of them were speaking to her child, a concept that caused a sad, sinking feeling deep inside of her.

        That blue gaze once more returned to Shimitsu, as if hearing her thoughts, "Mother, the people who come to see me are the only people that I can speak to outside of the temple.. I am.. I am trapped here, Mother, don�t you know that? Didn�t you know that when I left to journey??"

        "Yes, Kaoru. But I just want you to heal, to-" She stopped, her jaw moving but nothing coming out, tears threatening once more.

        Kaoru�s expression softened, "I need to go, Mom... I need to leave, staying here, no matter how much I love and cherish you, will not help me heal any more than I have. I need-" She paused, tears welling in her blue eyes as a thought brushed past her memories, "I need the touch of friends, the thrill of travel.. I want to start over fresh. My luck is bound to change, Mom."

        Shimitsu knew her child�s luck had never been the greatest.. that silent curse on her birth might be the cause, or she might have just been picked out of millions to be Kami�s kicking post... she didn�t know.

        "I want what�s best for you, Kaoru, I always have," Shimitsu walked closer, taking her daughter�s hands in her own and looking at her carefully, "Do you think this is best?? Leaving.. now?"

        Kaoru stared back at her mother, considering. All her life, her mother and she had been close.. yet since the curse had come along, somehow she had become closer to Shimitsu, closer to her as a woman and daughter.

        Letting go, that first time, had been torture... agony. Leaving the temple, her home, had been even worse. Yet through all of the hard times, the trials and tests, she had come to a comclusion.

        She would never give up her time outside the temple. Friends, companions, foes, comrades... they were all too precious to give up. Memories she would never EVER long to change, no matter how painfull.

        So she nodded. "The road... the world makes me whole. I need to find myself again... and.. I feel something stirring in the wind, something momentous. Something linked with.. with whoever came to visit me, Mother."

        Shimitsu stared back, something aching inside of her... the part that was a mother to her child, letting go was always hard. She felt that Kaoru still needed her, as a friend more than a mother, still, she nodded, through her tears, and began telling Kaoru of the visitor.

        "Her Name, my child... is Cologne, Matriarch of the Niie Chiezuu..."

                                                                        *                 *                 *                 *                 *                 *

        "You love her," The words were simple, a statement, a very true statement in any case. Three words, from someone who Hiroshi had expected a barrage of litanies from.

        Hiroshi leaned on the railing that overlooked the parking lot, crossing his arms as he cast a sideways glance at Kuno, "Uhm.. what do you mean, Kuno???" Hiroshi asked, wondering if his voice was level.

        The night air was very cool, snow drifting down around them, almost as if it were a dream. Hiroshi had wished, more than once that night, that it was.

        "Miramoto, I may be delusional, but I am in no manner, way, or form stupid. You love Ranma Saotome, the Saotome that you were dancing with, I as a warrior poet know love when I see it, and YOU are in LOVE," Kuno stood, arms folded across his chest, as he looked levelly at Hiroshi, there was no jesting, no joking in his tone of voice. Only firm assuredness.

        Hiroshi frowned, his eyes looking fully at Kuno. Was it so obvious to people??? If Kuno could tell..

        "Like I said, Miramoto-san.. I am a warrior poet, and have had a certain... enamored attitude towards the red-head in question, I doubt the others even cared enough to notice, so don�t worry yourself," Kuno seemed to have read him like a book, and didn�t seem to doubt his assumption in the least.

        Hiroshi let out a long, weary sigh, "Okay.. I do, I love her more every sunrise, Kuno.. but what does that matter??? We�re destinies apart, as far as I am concerned," Hiroshi looked away from Kuno, up at the sky, the swirling snowflakes dancing across his vision, some falling on his face to melt quickly from his body heat.

        "If you love her truly so much, then why have you not spoken with her??? Told her your feelings? Out of all mine peers in Furenkin High, I would never brand you a coward Miramoto Hiroshi," Kuno smoothed his outfit, locking his hands behind him.

        Hiroshi growled in frustration. ALWAYS the same questions. "Because I *CAN�T* Kuno!!! She is engaged to a lovely, bright, caring woman who has FINALLY come around in the relationship! I am a problem, something to be removed, something that.. That.. She just can�t afford to confront."

        "Yet you must confront her, and I am guessing that tonight you were planning on doing this?" Kuno stepped closer, ignoring the tense, unsure demeanor that Hiroshi was naturally exuding.

        Hiroshi�s emotions seemed to collapse in on themselves, and the hurt and pain welled up inside of him again, "God, Kuno... I love her so much, I should never have promised to tell.. the girl I love about it on the first snow. I just couldn�t.. I can�t let it go on forever, I would die," The pain was fresh, as if the wound was new instead of weeks old.

        Kuno nodded, almost to himself, as he turned, looking up at the sky. "So you are trapped in a web of your own making.. forced to tell a woman you care for deeply of your true amorous feelings for her.. feelings which may, in truth, destroy any chance of friendship that you might have had. A betrayal of trust... this is what you feel," Kuno spoke as if he knew, in some way, what Hiroshi felt.

        Hiroshi wiped tears from his eyes, "Y-Yes. If there were only some way to tell her and not lose her, but then I am going to lose her anyways... she is Honor bound to marry Akane, an arranged marriage.. but they both love eachother, YOU should understand better than most the price honor exacts."

        Kuno turned, his face sad and pained at the same time, as if he had been stabbed in the heart by his dearest friend, "Hiroshi," Kuno said in a calm, level tone, "I should know better than anyone else... that Honor�s price is sometimes too heavy to pay. Sanity, friends, respect... all these things I have lost in the name of Honor and Bravery. What Price Honor, Miramoto??? What Price Honor?"

        Hiroshi turned to look at Kuno in silent shock, he was unsure if those words were truly coming from the Kendoists mouth.

        "What price, Hiroshi, is Honor... is it worth losing all the things that are important?? Is it worth giving up all that which makes us whole and happy, our honor?? Sometimes... Sometimes honor is too much to pay," Kuno turned back, leaning on the railing.

        He looked tired, as if he had been fighting his whole life and hadn�t gained any ground... as if he had fought and lost what he was protecting, his humanity. "Yet some people are bound by honor, tied as surely as one would be if they were bound by cords of the strongest steel. Trapped in a guilded cage.... an iron box where nobody can hear them screaming, or crying," Kuno�s voice was solemn, and his eyes grew distant.

        "But then you become used to it, and you begin to like the box you have put yourself into, you begin to make pride and embellishment of how dubiously gifted you are to be trapped, wrapped, and packaged in honor. You forget what emotions are, forget there is anyone else but yourself.. you become what you truly have fought and feared.... your father, in my case," He smiled bitterly, looking over at Hiroshi.

        Hiroshi looked at Kuno. A totured soul, a soul that had suffered and known suffering intimately, "Why???" He asked... he couldn�t think of anything else to say, the words from Kuno so shocking. More shocking that it was Kuno who was speaking them.

        "My mother was a good woman," Kuno nodded, looking out across the parking lot at the city, "She was a GOOD woman, a wonderful, caring, proud woman," Kuno said it with vehement conviction, as if he was trying to convince Hiroshi of it.

        Getting no response he continued, "She was human, and frail.. she did not fear her emotions, her humanity. She did not fear showing them when they needed showing.... she taught me to live by honor, yet never to live by honor alone... honor alone can kill the soul as surely as lack of honor can, Hiroshi," Kuno nodded again... it half seemed as if he was talking to himself.

        "How.. how did you get to this point, K-... I mean, Tatewake?" He asked, leaning against the railing beside Kuno.

        "I was alone... I was thinking. You see, since Ranma has entered our lives, I have lost more and more respect and honor... so much so until I realized that my peers never loved the man I was, they loved my strength.. they feared it, they revelled in my pomposity... when I was proven a fool to them, I became nothing more than a loser to be shunned and loathed, you see..." he trailed off, looking at Hiroshi.

        Hiroshi smiled, "I understand, go on," for some reason, Hiroshi felt Kuno truly was different than the Kuno he knew.

        "You see, they only knew me as Kuno, Champion of Furenkin High, because that is all I showed them. I spoke of honor, because that is all I had when my Mother died. I locked my emotions away... that is dishonorable, far more than our.. our society lets us believe. It kills the soul, Hiroshi, as surely as any blade can. What we feel is far more important than what we have been taught to feel," Kuno grew silent, looking out at the city, yet giving the impression that he was looking deep within.

        "What... what does it have to do with Ranma, though?" Hiroshi asked, silently, calmly.

        Kuno smiled in sad reflection, "Tell her, Hiroshi... then you must leave her. You must... remove yourself from the situation. Let events decide themselves.... is honor more important than what she feels for you??? Choices are rarely made when they are pressed and forced so much that they crush a person�s soul... you must have freedom to choose, freedom to realize, to come to your own conclusion."

        They both sat quietly for a long moment, Kuno reflecting on his shameful actions for so many years, Hiroshi reflecting on the offchance that Ranma really could choose... if it was possible at all for her to choose him.

        Hiroshi reached into his inner jacket pocket, pulling out the yellowed parchment his sister had given him. He stared at it for a long time, wondering, thinking, and finally deciding.

        "Tatewake...," He asked quietly, with calm and patient precision. "Would you like to go on a... sabbatical for a while??"

        Kuno looked up at Hiroshi, nodding silently. "I believe, to speak in truth, that we both are in desperate need of a temporary leave of absence, for the mind and soul," It was a pragmatic answer, with none of the roundabout that Kuno was so well know for... yet Kuno had been speaking over the last several minutes somewhat normally.

        "But what of Ranma?" Kuno asked suddenly, causing Hiroshi to wince, feeling that old hurt welling up again.

        "...I... I can�t face her in the school, it will be tonight but.. but.. I can�t stand being so close to her and not being able to tell her anymore," Hiroshi looked down at his hands, once more wondering why there was no answer within them.

        Kuno sighed, nodding solemnly, "If you leave now.. she.. will be upset, to say the least,"

        "I.. I know, Kuno.. but.. I was doing so good until..." He wiped his eyes, tears threatening to burst from his eyes in a torrent, "Until you opened up the wound I was hiding from..."

        Kuno nodded solemnly. "Then I suggest you... and I, both leave. A single contest will not determine our lives, I am sure. On the other hand, if we are to leave, we both must prepare... I am sure that you meant tonight?"

        Hiroshi could only nod, looking back at the doors into the stadium.. wishing that he could dance one more time with her.

                                                                        *                 *                 *                 *                 *                 *

        Ranma fumed, pacing back and forth on the edge of the dance floor, How could he go off and LEAVE her like that??? A part of her thought it was very rational, since someone wanted to talk to him...

        The larger part was pouting, much like a child who�s had their favorite toy taken from them after misusing it. *Nonsense* Ranma told herself, *How can you misuse a person??? That�s silly.*

        Ranma growled, looking at the clock. Only 7 minutes remained in the contest break. 7 minutes, and no sign of Hiroshi anywhere. She had looked on the balcony, where Kuno and he had vanished after she had stormed off.

        *Dammit, �Roshi... you KNOW that tonight is important to me, it�s not like you to just... BLOW IT OFF....* Ranma frowned, sitting down with a thump on one of the resting benches.

        She looked around at all the people who were happily talking, each of them had a partner, a compliment, someone who they could laugh with, talk to, enjoy the evening with. *Dammit, Hiroshi, where are you?!* Ranma tapped her foot impatiently.

        Naturally, she told herself, it had nothing to do with the loneliness. Nothing at all, she told herself, feeling sure and positive. It just had to be about the contest, she was sure. It didn�t matter about how people were hugging and kissing, it didn�t matter that she somehow wished Hiroshi could hold her...

        That he could hold her like he had been holding her, like he had been holding her before kuno interrupted. The song was nice... that�s why she liked being so close to him, it was the song that reminded her of being relaxed she told herself.

        Yet, that little niggling part of her that she chose to ignore, that part in the back of her head murmured there was something more than just the contest, something more than just the song. She had been feeling something the whole night with Hiroshi, from the moment she saw him smile again her world seemed to brighten up.

        From the moment she set eyes on his lovely, soft brown gaze, she felt complete. She couldn�t explain it, she couldn�t understand it, so she ignored it... rationalized it away, made believe it was something else entirely.

        *Dammit.. where are you, Hiroshi???* Ranma asked, as the clock continued drawing closer to when the contest would resume.

        "Ranma???" Said a soft, yet strong female voice. Ranma looked up, and smiled in recognition of Yuka.

        "Hi!! Are you enjoying the night??" Ranma asked, somehow happy there was someone else to talk to.

        Yuka looked somewhat upset as she looked down at her feet, "Yeah, my date is being a perfect gentleman... not that I can say much more good about him," She spared a smile, her comment drawing a giggle from ranma.

        "Well, all guys can�t be perfect like me, ya�know," Ranma posed for a moment, looking not at all male.

        Yuka smiled softly, then sighed, "Ranma... uhm.. I hate to comeover here and upset you, because I like to think of... us... as friends since the sleepover. Somewhat good friends, I hope..?" She was unsure, and fidgeted slightly with the gloves that decorated her forearms. Velvet.

        Ranma smiled back, then noticed her serious demeanor, "Uhh, Sure Yuka-chan.. we�re friends, I suppose. I mean.. as much as a guy can be friends with a girl, right???" Ranma smiled brightly, trying to cheer Yuka up, not knowing what was bothering the girl.

        Yuka furrowed her brow, looking very serious, "Hiroshi hasn�t talked to you tonight, has he??? Has he said anything serious or anything???"

        Ranma blinked, then thought back over the night, "Naah, �Roshi hasn�t said anything... he�s just been great tonight, a real pal, ya know?"
Yuka sighed, rubbing her eyes a little in vexation, "Ranma.. Hiroshi, he-"

        "He what?" Ranma asked, suddenly very unsure, what could have happened??? Hiroshi wasn�t one to be late... could he have gotten hurt somehow? Fallen off the balcony?? She hadn�t thought of that, "Is.. is he okay??"

        Yuka blinked for a moment, then softened her expression, "He�s fine, last I saw him.. but.. Ranma, he�s left the dance... he looked pretty bummed when he did so, Too," She looked worried, unsure of how Ranma would react to the news.

        Ranma frowned, a heartbroken look in her eyes, "But.. he.. he said he would do the contest with me, he said he�d be my partner and help me try and win... Hiroshi doesn�t lie," She said, as if stating common knowledge to Yuka.

        Yuka sighed sadly, shaking her head. She knew how Hiroshi felt.. how Ranma felt, it was all too obvious after the sleepover, "Ranma, Hiroshi... well, You�re right, I�ve never known him to lie... but, he looked very upset and.. even hurt a little. I don�t know why he left, but I know that something must have happened," She sat down by Ranma, picking up the redhead�s hand.

        "But he wouldn�t! I know Hiroshi, my Hiroshi wouldn�t skip out on me like that, not when I need him, I KNOW he wouldn�t," Ranma sounded as if she was trying to convince Yuka that she hadn�t seen what she had seen, she sounded confused and more than a little hurt.

        "I know what I saw, Ranma-chan... Sayuri saw it too, do you think I would lie to you about something like that?" She squeezed Ranma�s hand gently, as if to reassure the redhead that she was there to talk to if Ranma needed to.

        "But... tonight was important to me.. to Akane too, how could he do that??? I don�t.. understand," Ranma shook her head, feeling stinging tears threaten, not understanding why.. it was only a contest, right???

        "Ranma... I can�t explain it, all I know is he looked pretty hurt and lonely when he left... maybe.. maybe he needs someone to talk to. I just hope he doesn�t do anything brash...," Yuka trailed off, unsure if she should have said that last thought.

        Ranma stiffened, looking fearful all of a sudden, "He wouldn�t do that, would he?? He wouldn�t, tell me he wouldn�t..." Ranma started to panic, was it something she had done?? Did she insult him somehow???

        Yuka shook her head quickly to dissuade Ranma�s panic, "No! No! I don�t think he would.. no, I know he wouldn�t.. but.. maybe you should go see if he�s okay, you know???"

        "But the contest-" Ranma heard the buzzer, cueing the contest to start again, the remaining pairs already gathered on the dance floor.

        Yuka sighed, "Without a partner, you can�t participate.. besides.. which is more important your..." Yuka paused a moment, then started again hoping that Ranma didn�t notice her error, "..Best friend, or a contest???"

        Ranma sighed as the dance began again, looking up at the Announcer as he announced the new rules for the final round, Then she stood, Yuka doing the same.

        "...I... I guess I have to go, Thanks Yuka," Ranma forced a smile, even though she felt very sad for some reason. *The contest, it�s gotta be. I hate losing.* She tried to convince herself.

        Yuka smiled, "You�re welcome Ranma..." She squeezed the redhead�s hand again, then let her go.

        Ranma picked her jacket up and walked towards the door.

        Akane stared after Ranma, wondering why she was leaving.

                                                                        *                 *                 *                 *                 *                 *

        She walked quietly down the street, her arms wrapped around her. The snow fell with a silent yet persistent strength, gathering on the ground.

        She shivered, exhaling a misty vapor as she looked around. The night was quiet. The darkness pushed back only by the dull glow of the city streetlamps, there were no dogs barking, no sirens blaring... not even a car passed by.

        All in all, a strange night at the edge of Tokyo. It made it seem a little unreal, a little unbelievable.. that silent darkness. It also made Ranma feel all the more alone, it reminded her of a dream she had... she couldn�t remember much, only that she was very very alone in a big dark place, and even Akane couldn�t hear her.

        She sighed, looking around at the empty streets, looking at the houses she passed. She figured families were eating dinner about now... *NORMAL families..* Ranma noted with a broken feeling inside. Her family had never been so normal... sure, the Tendo�s had dinner every night, but almost every night something weird would happen.

        She had never grown up with a mother.. never known what it was like growing up with one. All too soon, she was grown up.. forced to accept the world in a harsh new way. *Mom... I wish I could have spent more time with you.. known you better before.. before I became an adult.*

        Regretted time, regretted consequences... Ranma knew there was no going back on some things. Recently her mother had been trying... so very hard to bond with her. To find some connection with the child her Husband had taken away.

        *Pop...* Ranma stared at the sidewalk as she walked, realizing that her father hadn�t been very talkative or social with her lately... a man she had grown up with, a man who she knew and.. yes, and who she loved in some strange way.

        Everyone she knew seemed so far away all of a sudden... Akane so intent on beating her in some fashion, so intent on proving that she was an equal to Ranma. She had turned out to be a wonderful, caring, loving woman.. but sometimes she could be so single minded.

        *Not that you can blame her, Ranma, look at yourself.* Ranma hated remembering that she was no better than her fiancee.... no better at thinking things through, thinking carefully about what their relationship meant.

        *Why now???* She couldn�t understand.... had no idea why she had suddenly, as of a few months ago, began to understand the subtlety of how her relationship with Akane worked. Was it Hiroshi?? Surely one person... one person couldn�t be so influential on so many.

        Ranma looked up at another streetlight that she passed, noting that she was getting closer to Hiroshi�s house. *Hiroshi... a sweet, caring, compassionate friend... a person who�s been nothing but a help to me... someone I value, and trust, and who I hate seeing hurt... that.. woman, whoever she is.... how could she not love Hiroshi??*

        Ranma shook her head.. no use dwelling. She obviously didn�t know something about the relationship Hiroshi had with this woman, and wondering WHY it couldn�t work out didn�t help matters much.. only ended up making her feel even WORSE.

        The night was beautiful, she noted... the wind wasn�t too strong, and the snow seemed to make everything seem tranquil, as if the world was dreaming in some quiet slumber.

        Ranma reflected over the past several weeks.... not for the first time. She was more than surprised at how much had changed in such a short time... Mousse and Shampoo�s Marriage, Cologne�s disappearance, Nodoka�s discovery of her curse...

        For some reason, she missed the chaos.. the zaniness that seemed to invade her day to day life. She missed the adventure and excitement, knowing that anything could happen at any time. She missed having the constant adrenaline rush of wondering what could happen next.

        *Of course...* She mused, *I certainly DON�T miss being malleted. One plus for the changes... although not a big one.*

        Akane had calmed down a lot recently, most likely because of Hiroshi�s little talks with her. Ranma was never surprised at how well Hiroshi influenced people, he had a good heart, a good soul, and cared genuinely about everyone with no motive for himself.

        Ranma sighed, wondering why Hiroshi, her friend, her confidante, would leave without telling her where he was going, why he would leave in such an upset state... if Yuka was to be believed. Which Ranma figured she was.

        She worried about Hiroshi.. perhaps more than she should, but through some of the hardest times lately he had been there to guide her through, to be a protector... *Protector??? Do I really need protection??* She didn�t think so.. but.. somehow she felt safe around Hiroshi, when she was with him she didn�t feel as if events were likely to blow up in her face.

        She stopped at the driveway leading up to her friend�s house, noticing that it was dark inside except for a light in the living room. *That�s right... Memeko and Kaehmi should be asleep by now,* Ranma frowned, wondering if she should just go home instead.

        She steeled herself, *I have to know if Hiroshi is okay.. I HAVE to...* She began slowly walking down the driveway, worry edging itself into her soul.. what could have happened?? Was it the girl?? That must be it.. he must have told the girl, and the reaction was as bad as he had thought.

        *Oh god, poor Hiroshi...* She felt tears threaten, tears she pushed back.. now was NOT the time to cry. Hiroshi needed her, and she would be there for him to comfort him, to hold him...

        She would be strong for him because he was strong for her, all those times when she needed someone strong... someone who could help, and listen.

        She stopped at the door, looking at it carefully for a moment... a small niggling doubt surfaced. What if Hiroshi wanted to be alone?? What if he was upset that she had come??? What if he didn�t want to speak with her?
Something hurt severely inside her at the possibilities... she didn�t know why, but she wouldn�t be able to handle it... Hiroshi not wanting to speak with her. It would hurt worse than her whole body had after the fight with Saffron.

        She had to know.. she had to be sure he was allright... even if he was upset with her, she could tough it. She�d been through worse. *I just have to know.... to make sure. He�s my friend.* She said silently to herself, as if to convince herself that was why she was coming.

        She gently knocked on the door, then blinked as she noticed it slightly ajar. She pushed it slowly open, looking around the dark hallway with the faint glow from the living room. "Hello?? Hiroshi???" She asked, tentatively... her voice echoed in the empty house, no response forthcoming.

        She walked in, carefully closing the door behind her... she flipped on the hall light, and peaked into the living room. The lamp was on, but nobody was around... Hiroshi�s prom outfit was back on the hanger, and hanging on the knob of the closet door.

        She frowned, looking around. Obviously Hiroshi had come back, since his outfit was here... but where had he gone???

        *Maybe he�s in his room,* Ranma pondered, turning from the living room she began walking upstairs, wincing as one of the steps creaked, and hoping she hadn�t woken anyone up.

        She carefully peaked into Hiroshi�s room, seeing that some of the clothes were laying out, as well as several other things, looking as if Hiroshi had been sorting through various objects.

        Again, Hiroshi was strangely absent. A thought occurred to her. If the girl HAD gone and told him off.. he would be downstairs, in The Vault. The place where he was most relaxed, the place where he had been working that first day... that day months ago when Ranma had run from the school while having a nervous breakdown.

        Ranma slowly crept back down the stairs, being sure to avoid the squeek she had caused on her route up them. She walked slowly down the hallway, flipping on the light for the ladder, she looked down carefully, then quickly descended, having a slight bit of trouble since she was still in her Prom outfit.

        She walked slowly down the hallway, carefully avoiding the dripping water from above, and peaked inside the dimly lit carving room.

        For some reason, the air smelled of lilacs and incense. There was a tense feeling to the room as the lights flickered for a moment.

        He was sitting quietly at one of the covered statues, dressed in his casual working clothes that were heavily smudged with clay in various places.

        He hefted the small hammer in one hand, the chisel in his other, staring at them in forlorn sadness... silently asking them why they had cursed him with this love.

        "Hiroshi??" Ranma said, there was worry thick in her voice.. she was startled, but not ashamed that she would care so much for him. She drew closer, her shoes making a clicking noise on the the cement surface of the floor.

        Hiroshi shook his head silently, his eyes on the verge of tears, "You shouldn�t have come, Ranma... you shouldn�t have come here, not now, not tonight..." Hiroshi�s voice wavered... he wasn�t sure if he cared at that point. The time for hiding had come to an end.

        Ranma looked around self conciously, as if one of the stone and clay statues would press her on, give her courage... they all just stared vacantly. She furrowed her brow, stepping forward with more intent purpose in her stance, "I *Had* to come, Hiroshi.. you are my friend, my good and dear friend, and I couldn�t.. let you hurt alone. Not when you were there for me-"

        Hiroshi abruptly held up a hand, anger edging into his voice, "Stop it, Ranma.. please, just.. just stop being so.. so... caring for me, I am not someone you would want to care about, not.. at least... in the way that I want you to," He looked up at Ranma, who stared back with her blue sapphire gaze.

        There was confusion in those eyes, those beautiful crystal blue orbs.. confusion, and pain at the slight anger in his voice... when she spoke, she spoke as a hurt animal trying to understand why they had been hurt.

        "Hiroshi.. why wouldn�t I care? You�ve done nothing but try and make my life easier, better to live... you�ve done everything to make me happy that.. that�s important to me, Hiroshi," She didn�t understand what he meant.. she couldn�t just stop caring for him, that thought hurt even MORE than the others.

        Hiroshi set down the hammer and chisel, then rose slowly, putting a trembling hand on the statue in front of him. On the cover sheet for it, "God, Ranma, don�t you even know how much it hurts?? How much it aches to be so close to someone you love, but never be able to.. to kiss them, to hold them as a lover instead of a friend... don�t you KNOW how painful that is?!"

        Ranma stepped back for a moment in the anger, the vehemence, the torment in Hiroshi�s voice. "Hiroshi.. you are too good of a person to worry about that girl, whoever she is... so she blew you off tonight, don�t let our friendship die because of her!!" She stepped closer, her hand reaching out to touch Hiroshi, yet hesitating partway, as if she�d hit an invisible brick wall.

        Hiroshi stared down at the statue, "I haven�t told her tonight, Ranma.. not yet.... in the next few minutes, she will know," Hiroshi said solemnly, like a man who was talking about his own inevitable death.

        Ranma blinked, confused, "..what.. did you leave a message for her on the answering machine, Hi??? I thought you wanted to tell her in person?" She stepped a little closer, wanting to hold him, to cry on his shoulder and tell him that everything will be okay, that she was here.

        Her mind was reeling, trying to understand why Hiroshi would be so harsh and short with her, Hiroshi one of the people she cherished the most in the world, her closest and most wonderful friend.

        Hiroshi shook his head sadly, still staring at the statue beneath the cover sheet, "Ranma.. did you know the entire time you have known about this girl.. that there has been a statue in this room, countless times you were here.. and the statue under my hand, right now, is the girl that I so love.. that I so long to love. If only you had been more curious and snooped a bit...," Hiroshi sounded like he had been deeply hurt, as if his best friend had done something horrid and unforgivable to him.

        Ranma turned her look from Hiroshi to the statue he stood in front of... about the same height as her. *Why hadn�t I ever thought about that??? I am so stupid, asking him so many times again and again who she was, when I could have.. I could have just found out for myself.*

        "Hair as red as the crimson rose, and eyes that burn bright blue like a sapphires inner flame," Hiroshi slowly lifted the cover sheet, letting most of it slide off of it�s own volition.

        Ranma looked back at Hiroshi as he spoke.. "Hi..Hiroshi, what are you.. what are you talking about??" Her heart was pounding, she could hear it in her head. The smell of incense and lilacs seemed sharp, too sharp.. as if her senses were going into overload for some reason.

        "I shame myself with how much I love, how much have I loved and never been able to say... I shame myself as your friend because of the betrayal... that girl, the girl that owns me, heart, mind and soul... is you Ranma."

        Ranma shook her head, the world seemed to lose all color as Hiroshi turned and looked at her... time stopped, motion stopped, it was a picture from a black and white photo album. Ranma stood paralyzed, unable to move as she stared....

        Ranma�s eyes were locked on the statue, a perfect replica of her, smiling brightly, her eyes almost shining with life.

        *No..* Ranma said to herself. *This is another dream... like that silly one.. that.. that silly one where... where the darkness, and nobody could hear me.* She felt her heart thumping in her head, her breath held almost against her will as she slowly looked at Hiroshi, her movements felt as if she was in a tub of molasses.

        Hiroshi stared back sadly, his eyes looked so old, so worn down, so sad. "No..." She heard herself say, the world slowly seeming to move again, color flooding back into it.. TOO much color...

        "No.. no, Hiroshi, you can�t.. you.. you can�t love me, who is she?? Really???" Ranma asked, her voice cracking, her heart swelling larger yet also full of pain and hurt. Why was she hurting... 

        Hiroshi felt a tear trickle down his cheek, "All I see, all I feel, everything I daily do.. pales in comparison to what I feel, what I see when I am with you. You are the woman.... the person I love, Ranma Saotome."

        He wasn�t joking, Ranma looked at him with wide eyes. He wasn�t joking, there was no tone of joking in his voice at all, only sad and tired and old and so hurt.. so hurt that her own soul ached in agonizing pain. 

        She felt suddenly as if a freight train had collided harshly with her head as she came to the realization that she should have known all along, *Oh god.. oh god, I love him... no, I can�t love him....*

        She stepped back several times, losing her balance as her brain suddenly crashed open, her mind flooded with the emotions, the love, the agonizingly sweet and pure love she held for Hiroshi. *No.. I love him, no, I am a man I love him I am a man.... a MAN...*

        A man, a man couldn�t love another man. It wasn�t allowed, and certainly not for the man among men... not for Ranma Saotome of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts. Everything seemed to be spinning, twisting, expanding in her vision...

        She felt herself falling.. and falling.. and falling, or was the world falling down around her? She felt dizzy, and everything was so filled with color, with life, but only Hiroshi was grey, she�d sucked the life out of him, used him like a vampire uses their victims... she was falling..

        Hiroshi caught her, held her in his strong, stonecutting arms.... looking into her eyes with his gentle, sad, old gaze. "God, Ranma... every day.. every moment, every moment in between a moment... I have thought and breathed and sweated and dreamed you.... I have betrayed you..."
She shook her head, she was crying, she knew she was crying.. she couldn�t love Hiroshi, there was Akane... Akane she loved, she knew she loved... Akane, her fiancee. "No.. No.. don�t love me, Hiro.. don�t... Hiro-chan, please..."

        Hiroshi was crying too, she could feel his hot tears as he held her, his eyes looking into her own, everything blurry and out of focus. "All my life I�ve been looking, hoping, praying for someone like you... all my life, and now... now..." he trailed off... she realized she had put a hand on his cheek.

        "People hurt when I love them, Hiro-chan.. don�t love me, ever.... don�t. I can�t let you.. I love Akane... please..."

        Hiroshi drew her closer, his body sobbing, "You are so beautiful Ranma... not just the way you look, that brave, kind soul... the selfless, honorable warrior that is so fragile inside.. that needs someone to hold them, someone to help them through the tears,"
She couldn�t stop shaking, the world had to be falling apart, she knew it had to be, she COULDN�T LOVE HIROSHI... she couldn�t. It wasn�t allowed. *Man among men.. man among.. men... Hiroshi.. my Hiroshi..*

        She held Hiroshi tightly as if he was going to die in that very moment, she saw the pain in his eyes that telling her had caused, pain she wished she could take away.. pain which she would gladly take in his place. "Hiro-chan.. Hiro-chan.. I don�t want to lose you, please not this... anything but this Hiro-chan..." She pleaded, her voice broken as she was wracked with sobs.

        "I had to tell you, Ranma... I couldn�t hide anymore... how often have I wanted to... to tell you, to show you, and Ranma.. tonight, you looked so wonderful.. so calm, so at peace... tonight.. tonight I just.. wanted to.." She felt him moving closer still.

        "Every moment tonight will live forever in my memory... my love... my beautiful Ranma-chan.. I can never forget the moments... so many moments... that were perfect when I was with you," She felt his breath on her lips as he spoke, she felt the horrible longing, the yearning to be with him forever, to stop this hurting they both were feeling.

        Something warm brushed her lips, something stained with salted tears... she opened her mouth, pressing her own lips against Hiroshi�s... the whole world seemed to explode, or to implode, she wasn�t sure. Maybe it was melting away, or perhaps it was a flash that seemed to burn everything but them in it�s wake...

        It all seemed to shatter like glass and fall away, and she could hear his heartbeat.. or was it her own...

        Maybe it was both.

        She felt his lips on hers... a part of her told her she should be disgusted, a man kissing her was something to be loathed... to be repulsed by... to turn her stomach... but it was too beautiful, too perfect to loathe.. too addictive to hate... a kiss of love, not lust.

        There was a flash in her mind... several flashes, of Hiroshi when he was growing up... Hiroshi�s mind likewise mirrored several flashes from Ranma... snapshots of their life.

        *No..* A part of her soul suddenly murmured in Ranma�s mind. *NO!!!* It yelled.... that part that was the sole core of male Ranma Saotome, the part that objected to it�s very essence the embrace they had indulged in.

        "NO!!!" She yelled, pulling away from the embrace, away from Hiroshi, she didn�t know what had happened, but she jerked out of his arms, running.. running... she half remembered scrambling up the ladder as she kept running.

        She sobbed as she ran, tears flowing freely, only to freeze on her face as she ran outside, she kept running.. fast.. as fast as she could, running away, running from her heart, running so hard, yet somehow she felt she wasn�t getting anywhere. She still hurt.

        She didn�t know where she was running, only she had to get away, she had to somehow outrun the hurting and pain, she had to escape that look in Hiroshi�s eyes when he had told her. Running from feelings she had no right to feel, honor, obligation, promised to another. Her heart promised to another, it wasn�t allowed, no place for Hiroshi.

        She felt the aching pain tear through her, as if she had torn a part of her body away from herself violently and the wound was inside. She couldn�t think of words to explain the horrible sorrow that filled her at running away from Hiroshi.

        "NOOOOOOOO!!" She howled as she ran, through two bouts of sobbing. It was the voice of someone who�s soul had been torn from them, shredded, and burned.

        She fell onto the sidewalk, scraping her knee and tearing part of her dress.. she sobbed, her knee stinging from a mix of blood, snow, and dirt... she sobbed for a long minute, then threw back her head, and screamed in full and utter torment...

        "HIROOOOOOOOOOOOOSHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!"

        And somewhere in China, Cologne heard the wail of a soul.. and knew.. the curse was beginning.

                                                                        *                 *                 *                 *                 *                 *

        Ryouga looked around in the dojo, for the fifth time that night. The last several hours had been consumed by the whole families cooperative search for Ranma, since they had heard that blood curdling scream.

        *This is hopeless.... damn Ranma, getting lost when he needs help the most...* Ryouga thought for a moment, then amended his mental comment, removing the cursing of Ranma.... no matter how much Ranma had put Ryouga through hell, Ryouga could not purposely hate Ranma when Ranma was hurting.

        *I just hope he�s okay, the idiot...* Ryouga couldn�t deny how worried he was, now.... Ranma was his friend, his rival.. his comrade. He didn�t have many friends, and none that could match him in a Martial Arts challenge.

        He looked around at the barren Dojo, hoping that somehow Ranma would drop down from the ceiling and taunt him with that cocky, arrogant, self assured way he always had.

        He didn�t...

        Ryouga sighed and shook his head, making a silent prayer to the gods to watch over Ranma that night. Opening the dojo door, he began to walk out, and was blocked by a petite redhead.. with very puffy eyes, ruined makeup, who looked like she�d been through hell.

        "...h-heya.. P-chan.." Ranma said in a broken, forlorn manner. She was shivering, and very cold, Ryouga noticed as he put a hand on her shoulder.

        "Ranma!" Ryouga squeezed the girl in a bear hug, so relieved to see that she was allright.

        "..I...can�t..breathe.." Ranma wheezed, gasping for air in Ryouga�s strong as steel embrace.

        "Oh geeze, I�m sorry... we�ve all been.. well, *I* have been worried about you... geeze, what a turn. Everyone else has been looking for you because-" Ryouga watched Ranma walk into the dojo with a very tired, shuffling gate to her steps.

        "Yeah... because they want to scold me so�s that I don�t go and fall for some idiot man... idiot..." She wasn�t drunk.. she just didn�t seem to care about how well the words came out now.

        Ryouga frowned, looking back at the house.. wondering if he should tell them first, or if he should...

        He closed the door, turning and looking at Ranma, who was now on her knee�s, crying her eyes out.. yet again for the night.

        "Ranma... are you ok??" Ryouga asked, walking a little closer. He didn�t like the severe stain of dark ki on Ranma�s aura.. this was on his level of depression. Maybe even worse.

        "Am I pretty, Ryouga??" She asked suddenly, wiping tears from her eyes.

        Ryouga blinked, a confused expression plain on his face, "What, Ranma??" It wasn�t every day that the resident expert martial artist in Nerima asked if he was pretty.
"They all say I�m pretty.. I.. I hate.. I hate this curse... being female... or at least I did," She didn�t sound sure, by the way she was talking. There was a time when her hate for her curse was a vehement one.

        Ryouga frowned, kneeling down beside Ranma, "I don�t understand, Ranma... what does this have to do with Hiroshi???"
"Kiss me, Ryouga..." She blurted out, a desperate, panicked look in her eyes. She looked like some wild animal that was being chased by something it couldn�t escape.

        Ryouga facefaulted, "Wh-what?!"

        Ranma held a hand to her heart, pain written clearly on her face, "I have to know.. I have to know if.. if.. if I am like.. like.. if I like guys... or.. or if it�s just him, just my Hiro-chan....," The last word was strangled out in no little amount of pain.

        "Hiro-chan??" Ryouga�s expression softened slightly. "You love him, don�t you?"
"SHHHH!!!" She hissed violently, then her expression returned to it�s dour, depressing state... "..I... I can�t.... it�s... I�m a man..."

        "Answer the question, Ranma," Ryouga said calmly, levelly.

        Her eyes shifted, looking all around her as if she was suddenly trapped.. anywhere but Ryouga.

        "Ranma, you need to be honest with yourself," Ryouga said once again, wondering why out of all the people he could help, he was helping the person who he once thought he hated.

        Ranma looked at Ryouga, pain clear on her face as her mouth moved, but didn�t seem to be working for a long moment... "Yes." She breathed out, as if it was the hardest thing she had ever said in her whole life.

        Maybe it was.

        Ryouga sighed... "Engaged to Akane... and you love her too," there was a solemn nod in response to his observation.

        "Now you know how I feel about Akarii and Akane... I promised myself to Akane, silently.. then met Akarii.... it isn�t easy, Ranma-" Ryouga was cut short by her slap.

        "Don�t ever compare me.... you.. there.. there is something different... Ryouga..." She turned away, looking at the hand she had slapped him with in confusion. "Beyond what you and Akarii have..."

        Ryouga growled, opening his mouth to give a venomous retort to Ranma�s arrogan assumption.

        "Kiss me... please," She said again, looking up at him.. her eyes puffy and red as she pleaded.

        "Ranma, you are my friend... I... It wouldn�t be right," He stammered, feeling more than a little off balance at the request.

        "Dammit, Ryouga... I have to know!!!" She shook with anger, and confusion, and depression. "I have to.. one favor.. one favor, dammit..." She rocked back and forth hugging herself.. "..it hurts.. it hurts.. I can�t breathe sometimes..."

        Ryouga felt a part of him melt slightly at her words, felt a familiar twinge in his glass heart... compassion, he thought it was.. something that had been rarely shown to him in his life... a life of a lonely wanderer who was none to welcome most of the time.

        "If... If I kissed you... would it help any???" Ryouga asked, mentally kicking himself for giving in, but not about to go back now.

        Ranma wipes her eyes again, nodding slowly for a long moment.. "...a little.. not much.. but.. but it would help me.. figure out some of this mess," She sniffed, brushing some of her hair out of her face.. her beautiful hair in a disarray.

        "Okay.. this means NOTHING... okay, Ranma?? Remember that, I don�t feel a thing for you," He didn�t know why, but he felt that he had to make himself DEAD CLEAR on the subject... maybe he was just paranoid. *Likely* he noted to himself.

        Ranma crawled somewhat closer to Ryouga, looking up at him expectantly. She didn�t relish the idea of kissing Ryouga, but she had to know if she felt a constant attraction to all men.. or just to Hiroshi specifically.

        There was several moments of awkwardness as the two stared at eachother, Ryouga noting how run down Ranma looked from the redhead he had seen at the prom. Happiness seemed to have left her eyes.

        A moment later Ryouga slowly leaned down and pressed his lips to Ranma. They both responded to the kiss for a moment, then Ranma pulled away, shaking her head and making a sour face.

        "...that.. that felt.. disgusting," She wiped her lips, as if trying to wipe the feeling off... it had felt NOTHING like what she had felt when she had kissed Hiroshi. There was nothing she found appealing about being kissed by Ryouga... strangely, that made her feel a little better.

        "I�m glad you could flatter me with your opinion," Ryouga commented snidely, yet in a joking manner. A large part of him was also relieved... at least Ranma had stopped crying. Even if Ranma wasn�t a real girl, Ryouga hated seeing him cry.

        Ranma sat silently, her arms wrapped around her legs as she hugged her knee�s against her chest. She rocked back and forth, trying to make some sense of the immense pain she wsa feeling...

        She felt pain, throughout her whole body, as if something had been torn out of her... her heart, maybe, or her soul. Various times in the past several hours she had gone unconcious from being unable to breathe from the pain.

        She loved him... the only explanation for the torturous feelings she had been having since running away from him. But she was promised to Akane, another person she loved... but.. but did she love Akane as much??? When Akane had almost died, she had felt that immense absense... that hurtful tearing inside... but.. she could breathe... she could live, if she had to.

        Who did she love the most??? Perhaps it was only the shock of the revelation that had caused Ranma such pain... even though she tried to convince herself of that, she couldn�t seem to make the pain go away, or the feeling to lessen in any extent.

        "You�re trying to figure it out, aren�t you," it was more a statement than a question, but Ranma nodded anyways.

        "I.. I don�t know anymore, Ryouga... I am feeling very real... very bad physical pain because... because I know I can�t be with Hiroshi. I am promised to Akane... and I love Akane too... it is just all too much pain for me, I.. I don�t know if I can deal with it right now..."

        Ryouga shook his head solemnly, "No good, Ranma.. all of them are inside, waiting for you to come back... everyone knows. Your Mother brought everyone together and announced what she and Nabiki had talked about before the Prom-"

        "What?" Ranma asked silently, looking up at Ryouga as if she had been stabbed... "..everyone... everyone knew but me?!" She felt anger, and an even deeper depression fall in on her.. everyone had known but her, she had blinded herself to the truth, to Hiroshi�s love.

        Ryouga sighed, rubbing his hand across his forehead, and the bandanna... "Ranma, only Nabiki knew... Kasumi suspected, and everyone else was clueless until tonight. Don�t sell yourself short, we�ve all had our naivetes," Ryouga found two arms wrapped around him tightly, a trembling red head embracing him.

        "...Ryouga... thank you for.. for.. for helping me... I don�t know why you would even want to, you�ve hated me for so long," Ranma trembled almost like a frightened child.

        Ryouga was again caught off balance by the sudden change of subject, then he regained himself, "... Ranma.. I�ve never really hated you, I�ve hated some of the things you�ve done.. the things you do sometimes, but you? Overall?" He shook his head, "No, I don�t hate you."

        Ranma relaxed, and stopped trembling after a moment, "..what am I going to do... Ryouga.. god, I.." Ranma gasped for breath again, and Ryouga noted she was trembling again, but this time she didn�t seem able to breathe.

        He shook her, "Ranma.. concentrate, control your breathing..." He slapped her on the back several times, which emitted coughing, some more gasps, and eventually a long, slow breath.

        "..s..see... I feel like I am empty, a shell... when.. when I think about him, I have trouble breathing, thinking about.. about how i left him!" She burst into sobbing again, holding her face in her hands to hide her tears from Ryouga.

        Ryouga held her as she cried, feeling somewhat awkward while doing so... here, one of his best friends was crying in his arms.. one of the strongest men he knew.

        Ryouga didn�t know what to say to Ranma as she cried... Ranma seemed trapped in one of the worst possible situations, a choice between two people she loved more than life itself.

        One person he loved.. one person he longed to be with, but knew it couldn�t be. A person whom he would sacrifice so long as she would be happy... a part of him was tempted to use Ranma�s weakness to his advantage... but he would never do such a thing, not about THIS, one subject that he was all too familiar and intimate with.

        "..wh..what...what am I going to do..." She asked him through muffled sobs against his shoulder.

        Ryouga patted her back gently, relaxing a bit.. a friend needed him, and he was strong enough to be a friend to someone, he had always been strong enough for that. "You live, Ranma... you live."

        It was all he could think to say. All he could muster to tell Ranma... strangely, it seemed to be enough.

        The small redhead drifted off to sleep in his arms... he lifted her, looking down at how haggard and tired she looked... *I never wished this, Ranma.* He told himself silently.

        *I may have been jealous... but I never wished this.*

                                                                        *                 *                 *                 *                 *                 *

        "I do not want him seeing the boy anymore. Part of this is my fault, and I accept that responsibility, but I do not want Hiroshi coming here anymore.... not after what happened to my child tonight," Nodoka sipped her tea, noting that it was a bit more bitter than was Kasumi�s usual style, but then the eldest Tendou girl seemed very agitated and shamed by the whole night�s proceedings.

        Nabiki slapped her hand down on the table, glaring at the Saotome Matriarch, who simply stared down into her tea with a passive, calm heir, "Dammit, Nodoka, YOU have NO idea what Ranma feels for Hiroshi, for god�s sake, Ryouga just told you she couldn�t BREATHE when she thought of how she�d hurt him!!!! Is that not enough pain for someone to go through without TAKING something so precious away from them!?!?"

        Everyone got very silent after Nabiki had spoken.. not that all of them were paying attention.

        Akane was leaning up against the door frame, looking out at the Koi pond as she listened to her sister and aunt have it out.

        Her thoughts were full of Ranma... of how very worn and tired she looked when Ryouga had brought her in, even in her sleep she seemed troubled.

        Soun was sitting beside Kasumi trying to calm the elder sister from her agitated state. Seeing what had happened to Ranma had not done well for Kasumi�s emotional state, since she felt it was mostly HER fault for not being firmer with Ranma in their previous discussion about her feelings.

        After all, she had had a chance to help Ranma come to the realization that Hiroshi felt more than just friendship.. she had dropped her belief because of Ranma�s vehement denial of her own emotions.

        Ryouga was quietly eating his rice, trying to avoid any more involvement for the night.

        He didn�t know WHAT to think about Ranma�s situation... it was so similar to his own, yet so subtely different. He wasn�t promised to anyone by birth.. he wasn�t trapped in an arranged marriage, regardless if he loved the person or not.

        Thinking about it, Ryouga realized that Ranma DID feel trapped... because in a way she was.

        Genma was carefully watching everyone with a slightly detached attitude, he had a silent, very troubled look on his face, as if he were carefully weighing something that was very important.

        Nodoka looked up at Nabiki in response to her harsh words with a cold, level gaze, "You will call me Aunty, or Miss Saotome. I never want to hear you use my first name ever again, young lady," She set the tea down carefully on the tray in a nonchalant manner, as if what Nabiki had said was as common as saying you had mown the lawn.

        "You are not my fucking Mother, NODOKA," Nabiki spat, Standing up, fists at her side, "And I may be one cold calculating bitch most of the time, but I don�t go out of my fucking way to hurt my family members... if I had a child like Ranma, I wouldn�t have screwed with his mind in the first place!" Nabiki knew she was yelling, but didn�t care.

        "N-Nabiki!? How dare you speak to your Aunty Saotome like that, young lady! I raised you better than that!" Soun was in a shocked rage at his daughters foul mouth. Kasumi looked up at her sister in equal shock, Nabiki had never been so.. vengeful in her words.

        "Screw off, Daddy, KASUMI raised us while you wept your little FITS all over the place. If it wasn�t for US you�d be in a HOME by now!" Nabiki didn�t care anymore, she was going to smash the truth into someone�s face before the night was over.

        "That is enough, young Lady," Nodoka said in a level, firm tone as she sipped her tea again.

        Akane sneered as she turned, looking at her sister, "You are so full of it, Nabiki.. you�ve never given a damn about any of us in your life... it�s all been about your money.. cold is too nice a word," She said it in an as-a-matter-of-fact tone that really got on Nabiki�s nerves, the kind Nabiki usually used with simple minded people.

        "Oh really, Akane??? Only money?? I don�t see YOU making money, I don�t see KASUMI owning a regular job to keep the damn house over our HEADS... sure, Daddy has his classes, but that�s never been enough to pull the weight.. especially since there�s only 2 classes, and half the students don�t usually show up," Nabiki glared fire at her sister for even accusing her of not caring.

        Akane walked closer to Nabiki, "You disgust me sometimes, Nabiki... how you exploit anything and everyONE for the fast buck... that is sickening and perverse, so don�t you suddenly start acting so noble when you are a two faced mercenary domineering-"

        Nabiki slapped Akane, "Shut your mouth, or I WILL shut it for you. You aren�t any better, Miss macho tomboy... I think it�s pretty damn sick that until HIROSHI came you were beating the crap out of Ranma any chance you got. THAT is pretty damn messed up, SIS," She pushed Akane back with one hand, her sister giving her an outraged look.

        Akane had had enough for the night, she lashed out in a punch, catching Nabiki firm in the gut.

        Nabiki doubled over, coughing...

        "Oh.. oh... oh my, Akane.. you.. you shouldn�t, Oh my.." Kasumi babbled, unsure WHAT was going on anymore.

        Nabiki coughed a moment more, then laughed, "It�s your fault, Akane... little miss coward..." The comment almost earned Nabiki another attack from her sister.

        Nodoka stood up, yelling, "STOP!" quite loudly so that it carried well out of the house.

        Akane looked at Nodoka, glaring at her for a moment, then sniffed, shrugging and turning back to lean on the doorframe.

        "You have ALL gotten carried away tonight, and I am ashamed at how you have all acted. I am Ranma�s Mother, so I have final say over what will happen in his life until he is an adult. I am saying that Hiroshi is not welcome to be around my son any longer, no matter the circumstance, and that is final," Nodoka looked at Akane, who didn�t even seem to be paying attention anymore, then at Nabiki, who was straightening herself and glaring at her �Aunty�.

        "I bet your son hates his parents, �Aunty� Saotome," That brought a slap from Nodoka, and a somewhat crestfallen expression from Genma, who otherwise had given no other comment.

        "I have had enough of your foul mouth Nabiki dear. I don�t want to see you for the rest of the night," She said in a level, calm, and orderly tone.

        "You are NOT my-" Nabiki was cut off by her Father�s angry look.

        Soun stood up slowly, and spoke in a slow and very precise manner, "Go to your room, Nabiki... and I do mean now, young lady."

        Nabiki�s expression suddenly changed to one of angry confusion, "But daddy-"

        "Go to your room," He said in the exact same manner.

        Nabiki glared at Nodoka as she rose, then at her father. She walked up the stairs, a silent storm boiling inside her gut.

        "Your middle daughter has a problem with authority, Soun," Nodoka sat quietly again, sipping her tea in a very fastidious manner. Nodoka did not like being confronted by headstrong young girls who knew nothing about what life really was like, least of all by those arrogant enough to discount she had lived a hard life since Genma had left.

        Soun sketched a semi-formal bow, "You must forgive Nabiki, Saotome-san.. she is trying to deal with this in her own way, and it has never been a good way I am afraid. Please, be patient with her," Soun didn�t really know why Nabiki was acting the way she was. He had never seen her so verbal with anyone before.

        "There is no need to ask, Soun.. I have patience in very large degrees, one headstrong little girl isn�t going to offend me, I am sure Nabiki will be more rational when she has had time to think," Nodoka set her empty tea cup down.

        "Kasumi, could you fetch us some more tea?? My cup seems to be empty," She said in a level tone, then turned to look at Akane who was doing her best to ignore the people sitting at the table.

        Kasumi was bustling off as Nodoka began speaking gently, "Akane dear, I know that this must upset you deeply by the events of the night-"

        "I don�t want to see him again... I don�t EVER want to see that.. that bastard again, acting like a friend, someone to be trusted, and then stabbing me in the back like this," Akane�s anger was barely suppressed... just barely. It could be heard in her words, if you knew what to listen for.

        Nodoka frowned slightly, "I have already told you that I will not be allowing him to hang around my son, Akane. That should be sufficient enough to remedy the problem," She knew that Akane was thinking about something, something bad. She wished that she knew what the girl was thinking... wished she could understand Akane better.

        "Hiroshi was my friend... Friends don�t try and steal someone away from you," Akane stared out at the koi pond, her fists clenched tightly. She couldn�t get the idea of Ranma kissing Hiroshi out of her mind.

        She didn�t know for sure that Ranma had been kissed... but Ryouga had told about what had happened in the dojo, although she knew he had held some things back so as not to embarrass Ranma, but the way that Ryouga had spoken, it sounded like he was very sure what had happened to Ranma.

        She felt that slow boiling fury, that immense heated anger building up inside of her... she had wanted to hurt Nabiki for saying what she did.. it wasn�t HER fault that Hiroshi was such a backstabbing, selfish, manipulating weasel.

        *How dare he.. how dare he play with Ranma like that, use him like a toy... how dare he hurt Ranma so badly. How dare he fool me into thinking he cared about Ranma and I.. it was Ranma the whole time.*

        She couldn�t imagine what she would do if she would see him again.. most likely try and kill him, he had toyed around with her emotions. Something that she had NEVER let anyone do.

        "I understand how upset you must be, Akane, all I can do is promise that I will do everything I can to make sure this... problem... gets resolved," Nodoka looked at the stairs as she heard someone walking slowly down them.

        Ryouga looked up at Ranma... dressed in the standard red chinese vest and slacks, hair once more bound back. She looked back, then around at everyone else. He noticed that she looked somewhat better than when he last saw her, hours before.... but there was something of defeat in the way she walked.

        Kasumi stood in the kitchen entreeway holding the kettle of tea that Nodoka had requested. She stared at Ranma as the girl locked eyes with her, then looked at Ryouga.

        "I forgot I hadn�t had dinner," She said.. still very female. "Maybe I could get something??" It was a normal request, a quiet one... her voice very meek in the asking.

        Akane heard Ranma�s voice, turning around with a very worried expression. She wondered what Ranma was feeling at that moment... wondered why there was no comment, no mention of the night�s events.

        Kasumi smiled her best bright smile, which didn�t succeed very well, "Of course, Ranma-k... Ranma," Ranma stared at her when she paused in adressing her properly. It was an almost accusing stare.

        Kasumi quickly put the tea kettle on the table and hurried back into the kitchen, perhaps a bit too fast.

        "Ranma?" Akane walked closer to the redhead, "Ranma..are.. are you okay?"

        Ranma shrugged, "I�m fine... just hungry," He avoided looking at Akane.. who noticed her apprehension.

        "Ranma, there are some things that I think we need to talk about, Dear," Nodoka said, pouring herself another cup of tea. It would never do to let her son�s problem go without attempting to remedy it, she was his Mother and was responsible for his well being.

        "Not interested," Ranma said quietly, very quietly. She fiddled with her own tea cup for a moment, then carefully poured herself some tea. She stared at the tea for a very long moment, watching the warm steam rise from the rich colored tea.. she watched her reflection, so feminine, so beautiful.

        Nodoka looked directly at her child, blinking a bit when Ranma refused to look at her, instead staring intently into her teacup. Nodoka spoke in any case, "I didn�t ask if you were interested, Young man, I TOLD you that we needed to talk."

        Ranma looked Nodoka straight in the eyes and answered in the same nonchalant, yet somehow threatening manner, "I am not interested, Mom," She softened her tone, "So please.. just.. just leave me be, Mother," She didn�t want to think about it.. thinking of it hurt too much. Ached too much...

        She could almost imagine now Hiroshi crying his heart out, as she ran away from him... she swallowed. *I will not cry.. not.. not right now.* She silently promised to let herself cry later.

        Akane sat down by Ranma, taking one of the redhead�s hands, whispering to her, "..I�m sorry for what Hiroshi did, Ranma.. I swear I didn�t know at all.... He had no right to do what he did to you-"

        Ranma raised her voice, anger very clear in her words, "HE HAD EVERY RIGHT!" She yelled directly into Akane�s face. Then she turned, sipping her tea as Akane stared shocked at Ranma.

        Ranma had often yelled at Akane, but usually it was some phantom insult used to cover up his true feelings.. the redhead in front of her had just yelled in anger, in frustration.

        Ranma bowed lightly, "I am.. sorry for my outburst. It was inappropriate and rude.... I told you, I didn�t want to talk right now, and... and I would like it if you respected my wishes, please?" She tailed the request with the kindest voice she could muster.

        Ryouga set down his bowl carefully, smiling and turning to Ranma. "Last time I visited Akarii, we went to a fair.. she had a competition for one of her prize pigs. I managed not to get lost for a whole day," Ranma seemed suddenly to relax, and smiled genuinely at Ryouga.

        It was a smile full of thanks, of graciousness.. it was a smile of a friend who was in pain, in need.. and you had somehow helped, even the tiniest bit.

        "Really??? That�s pretty impressive, Ryouga. Did you have any fun while you were there?? I haven�t been to many fairs in my life," Ranma whispered a silent thanks to Ryouga, for being a friend for just a single moment.

        "Ranma.. I think we should really talk, I.. I don�t think I understood what you meant," Akane said in an unsure, almost frightened and angry voice.

        What did she mean, he had every right??? Hiroshi had no right to hurt Ranma like that, in his selfish self serving way. *NO right whatsoever* She told herself, *Ranma isn�t his, he�s an idiot to think he could own him.*

        "Sure, Akarii and I went on the ferris wheel.. it was something like romantic for a while. Until it started to Rain," Ryouga growled at the last part.

        Ranma laughed, even though the laugh was slightly hollow, "I�ll bet... got real wet, didn�tcha???" She ignored Akane�s plea, concentrating on speaking with Ryouga. She didn�t want to think right then, not about him.. not about how she had left him. He needed her.

        "It wasn�t the BEST night of my life, Ranma... but it was pretty enjoyable, we had something called Pizza for lunch that day, you should try it some time.. it�s good," Ryouga smirked, picking up a large chunk of rice from his bowl and shovelling it into his mouth.

        "Right, Pizza.. I�ll have to remember that.. so, have you been anywhere interesting recently?? Paris?? Zimbabwe?? Saskatoon?" Ranma asked, ignoring Akane as once again she begged to just have a moment to talk about HIM.

        "Ranma dear.. your fiancee and I both think that we need to talk about what happened tonight... with Hiroshi," As Nodoka spoke that last word, Ranma�s face contorted in pain, she closed her eyes and carefully controlled her breathing for several moments.

        She had left him when he likely needed her the most, when he likely needed her and ONLY her... she had run away from him, when he had always been there for her.. to hold her, to tell her it would all be okay, to tuck her gently in bed after carving in the vault... she tried to hold back the tears.. no use crying, she had run away.

        Both Nodoka and Akane blinked, staring at Ranma quietly. Ranma opened her eyes and looked intently into her teacup. She spoke in an even meeker, more silent voice, "I will ask again that you please.. please.. for the LOVE of KAMI do not talk to me about this right now. This I ask of you, a simple thing, it�s a simple thing isn�t it Ryouga?"

        Ryouga nodded his assent, sadly looking between Akane and Nodoka. What they were doing was in no way good for Ranma, even he could tell that she was on edge.. that pushing was only going to make her worse.

        "See?! Very easy, maybe I should speak louder all the time," Ranma had to stop and concentrate on her breathing for several minutes.

        Would she ever see him again?? Did she want to?? *That�s silly.. of course I do..* She sadly realized that the feeling was only getting stronger. She loved him, and she didn�t know why she couldn�t just forget that revelation, she wished that it were that easy.

        Akane was becoming angry at Ranma�s attitude, "What�s wrong with you?! I am worried about you, and am afraid for how.. how.. How HE hurt you, and you just.. you just ignore me!" Akane had been worrying for most of the night about Ranma. Her nerves had had enough stress for the night, and she wanted to get this over with so everything would be okay again.

        Ranma turned to Akane with a pleading look on her face, "Akane.. please.. I know that you care for me, but right now I just can�t talk about it. I am asking... do I have to keep asking again and again? Why can�t anyone but Hiroshi listen when I need them to?" Ranma said in a depressed, anguished tone of voice.

        She didn�t want to hurt Akane, that was always the last thing she wanted to do... she just seemed to do it all the time. She hated the fact that she kept saying the wrong thing, she wished that somehow Akane would just see why she couldn�t talk about.. him.. at that time.

        Akane shook her head, "Why can�t YOU listen, Ranma??? This is important to me just as much as it is to you, because it involves US.... and *I* Think we need to talk about it," She slapped her hand on the table as there was a knock at the door. Everyone looked around at eachother.

        "I�ll get it!!! Dinner�s cooking, Ranma...," Kasumi said as she bustled to the door.

        After Kasumi had disappeared to get the door, Soun turned to Ranma. "Ranma, son, I think it would be wisest if we married you and Akane very soon.. within the next week if at all possible. Your Mother and I have been speaking about the arrangements, and feel that soon would be better for all parties involved."

        Nodoka nodded quietly to Soun, "Yes.. one of the things we need to talk about. After all, you were promised to Akane at birth, and it is only honorable to uphold the family�s promise. If you both were still sixteen, I would say you were too young, but since you�re both seventeen now-"

        Ranma felt tears welling up in her eyes again, "You all have to.. have to control me, don�t you??? I don�t have any life outside of what you all choose for me, is that it?? I should nod my head and smile when you pick out the perfect tuxedo for me, I should pretend to be happy the whole time while you plan and map every single goddamn thing in my entire life?!"

        Ryouga looked at Nodoka, "Maybe you should... just leave off for a while, all respect due, Mrs. Saotome-"

        Ranma held up a hand, "No.. no, let�s talk about this right now!! Where am I going to make a choice?? I have to fight you tooth and nail before I even have a CHANCE at a life... I hated your training from the beginning, but I went along with it because you are my MOTHER. I pleaded, begged you so many times, and it took the worst arguments to get you to change your mind.. so tell me, Mom, tell me when I can be grown up enough to run my own life, huh? NEVER?"

        Akane put a hand on Ranma�s shoulder, "Ranma.. I don�t think that you need to be so harsh, your Mother is only trying to do what�s best for you," She spoke firmly, trying to calm Ranma down and make the redhead see that the people here were trying to help her.

        They loved Ranma... they all cared for him, and were all very unsure how to handle what had happened that night. Why couldn�t Ranma see that??

        "Best for me?!?! BEST FOR ME!??!?! FOR GOD�S SAKE I HAVE NO FREE WILL!!!! I love you Akane, and I love you dearly... but I will not be controlled.. I am not going to be everyone�s toy, turn off, turn on, speak, sit, stand, OBEY...." Ranma was shaking Akane, her eyes afraid, like a trapped animals eyes... trapped without a way to escape.

        "Ranma, as soon as you are married you can have free reign of your life.. this was planned YEARS ago, and you have known about it for a year now, you�ve had ample time to prepare for it, so I do not see any rational reason why you should be overreacting about this particular subject," Nodoka sipped her tea.. Ranma reached over, snatching the cup out of Nodoka�s hand and throwing it to shatter against the wall.

        "I JUST HAD MY HEART RIPPED OUT AND YOU WANT ME TO MARRY AKANE, ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE!?!???!" Nodoka stared in complete and utter bafflement at her child as the redhead yelled at the top of her lungs, then turned to stare at the figure standing at the threshhold of the dining room, dressed completely in white.

        Akane, Ryouga, Soun, and Genma all looked, then Ranma realized their attention was elsewhere... she turned, and looked into the eyes of the man who had stolen her heart.

        Hiroshi calmly looked around the room, his eyes sad. He was the cause for all of this tension, this... panic. He was the cause of the hateful look in Akane�s eyes, the uncaring glare that Nodoka cast at him.

        He looked at Ranma, seeing the painful longing in her eyes... longing unfulfilled. He was the cause of that too... all his fault. Yet.. there was love there too... was he the cause of that?

        "Hey," He said, smiling that regal smile... dressed fully in his genji outfit, a backpack on his back as if he was going somewhere.

        "Hey," She said quietly, unsure of what to say.. she suddenly felt guilty, somehow, for changing back into the most masculine outfit she could find. Guilty that in this tiny way she was still running away from him.

        Akane stood up suddenly, looking with unmitigated anger at Hiroshi, "How dare you come here, after what you did," There was bile thick in her voice.

        Hiroshi looked at her calmly, a sad, almost lost look in his eyes, "I suppose so.. I am sorry, Akane," He said quietly.. patiently.

        Ranma stepped closer, "..are...are..," She held back her tears, and forced a smile, "..hey, so, uhm.. what�s with the pack??? Going camping for the weekend??"

        Akane felt her anger Rising with a vengeance, her aura on a slow burn for the moment as she tried to be patient. She noticed how Ranma was speaking with Hiroshi... the way that her eyes looked at his longingly. *So I�m not the only one.... how typical of Ranma.*

        Hiroshi shook his head, looking at Ranma and only Ranma, "I am going.. leaving really. For a while.. I don�t know how long," he took one of Ranma�s hands, holding it in his, "I�ll miss you... while I�m gone."

        Ranma pulled her hand from his. It wasn�t right.. she couldn�t love him. She so wanted to, but it wasn�t right. She saw the hurt in his eyes then... she couldn�t afford loving him, but it was already too late.

        Akane stepped forwards, pushing him away from Ranma, "How dare you.. how dare you pretend to be our friend then go and hurt Ranma like you did, how dare you even THINK of him like that, you sicko!!!"

        Ranma looked in horror at Akane, "Akane!!" She should have known, should have known that Akane would overreact to Hiroshi... she should have known that this sort of situation would be bad.

        Akane kept on, pushing Hiroshi back farther, Hiroshi just bowed his head, taking the shoves and the occasional slap, "You sicko, you PERVERT... thinking of what you did is so disgusting!! I can�t look at you without feeling my stomach turning you demented freak!!"

        Hiroshi only nodded, sadly as he was slapped again and again by Akane... All things he had told himself before, things he had feared hearing spoken aloud by anyone else.

        Ranma tried pulling Akane back from Hiroshi, "Akane!! STOP IT!!! STOP IT!!" She yelled, Akane�s words ringing in her ears, each insult stinging her to her core.

        Ryouga sprang up, trying to help Ranma pull Akane back, both having a tough time of it, She turned around and punched Ranma off of her, then threw Ryouga over her shoulder into a wall as she kept up her viscious litany.

        Nodoka stared on impassively, trying to decide if she should intervene or not... Soun was very adverse to getting in between his Daughter and ANYTHING.

        "Nodoka," Genma said quietly, causing his wife to blink in surprise and look at him. He stared sadly back at her, "Nodoka, it isn�t right," He said quietly under his breath.

        Nodoka gave him a thinlipped smile, "Since when do you know what is right, Genma???"

        "You don�t have a CHANCE with him, do you got it, you freak?? You twisted little bastard?!?!?! He is MINE... and he doesn�t like men that way, so why don�t you dry up and die you piece of crap!!!" She punched Hiroshi hard in the gut, causing him to cough, but not to fold like Nabiki had.

        Ranma was hers.. her love, her one and only. Her man among men, her handsome protector.

        Ranma stepped suddenly in between Akane and Hiroshi, "STOP IT AKANE!!! Please!! Don�t DO this!!! I love him!!!" The words were a shock, something she hadn�t meant to say..

        Akane was no longer listening.. she knew only one thing, Hiroshi was trying to take away the man she loved.

        "Get out of the way, Ranma, so I can deal with this scum... this.. this... disgusting slime who gets his kicks out of seducing other men... who tried taking you away from me, who hurt you so deeply," She was waving her mallet, and smashed Ranma on the side of the head, causing her to fold, clutching her head as it Rang.

        She brought it down on Hiroshi, causing him to fall to his knee�s in pain, clutching his shoulder, and she was about to bring it down again-

        "FOR GOD�S SAKE STOP IT!!!" Ranma, eyes flashing with tears suddenly stood again, and in one swift, lightning fast motion, her hand snapped back, and then in a violent crack like lightning it collided with Akane�s cheek, sending the girl flying back through the air.

        The moment seemed to slow down, distill into that black and white snapshot of Akane flying through the air, for a moment Ranma thought everything had frozen, Akane seemed to hover in place in her vision, a red trickle of blood from a cut on her cheek gleaming through the black and white.. Ranma could hear her own heart again.

        It was beating in her mind... it was padding a steady, loud rhythm in her skull... then it all unfroze and Akane fell harshly to the floor, holding her cheek as everyone stared in graphic horror at her. *I never hit girls.* She heard that male voice from a long time ago say.

        Everyone continued staring at her.. Ryouga included, in complete and utter AMAZEMENT and HORROR.

        She stared at her hand, mortified and terrified at the same time. What had she done??? She had never EVER been that controlled by her emotions before.

        A moment later, Akane burst into tears, and ran upstairs. Everyone continued staring at Ranma, but now there was a look of shame on their faces, all except Genma who nodded very sadly for some reason.

        She wailed an almost sob, and turned, putting her hand on Hiroshi�s chest... "..I.. I.. I have to.."

        "No." he said, with a firm finality.

        "But why?" She asked, her tears brimming.

        Hiroshi held Ranma in his arms, drawing her close and resting her head on his chest. "Because a promise is a promise.... Ranma. You love her, even after this you do... and you must find your own path, I can�t make you choose by taking you from where you are now..."

        "I have to.. I can�t.. I can�t live like this anymore," She began to cry. The tears hurt him, hurt him deeply, more deeply than she could have ever imagined.

        He brought a hand up, lifting her chin, "...It�s never easy, Ranma. That�s why the results are so precious and worth while... remember...," He smiled softly to her, brushing tears from her face.

        "..where.. where are you going??" She asked, wanting to at least know that much.

        Hiroshi smiled that bright, caring smile of his.. regal..., "A place called Everland... I promise to write to you every day, and find some way to get those messages to you."

        She smiled, the tears starting again, "..I.. I would like that..."

        "Ranma, promise me something?" He said in a low voice, noticing that Soun and Nodoka were talking quietly, Genma and Ryouga having vanished somewhere.

        Ranma nodded, "The world, or anything you want Hiroshi...."

        He smiled, thumbing her chin for a moment, "Promise me you will try with Akane, try your hardest and fiercest.... because a promise is a promise," His eyes were sad... they were full of longing and loss.

        Ranma�s tears continued flowing as she felt that hurt, she didn�t know how she could promise that to him. She didn�t know what she was going to do, trapped in this family life that wanted to do nothing but control her every thought and whim.

        She didn�t know how she was going to do it, but she found herself silently nodding.... Hiroshi asked it of her, so she would do it no matter WHAT the cost was.

        He smiled, "Good.. good. I would like you to.. to visit Kaehmi while I�m gone... and to watch out for Daisuke... he needs all the help he can get," He knew he was stalling, finding anything and everything to postpone the inevitable. He knew Kuno was likely waiting at the docks for him at that very minute.

        "Yes.. yes, of course.. I will, I swear I will...," She didn�t want him to go.. she knew what he was doing, trying to give her a few last minutes with him... she knew he didn�t want to leave either.

        "And Ranma??" His voice was low, quiet, it wavered slightly as his eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

        "Yes, Hiro-chan??" She wasn�t afraid of saying that anymore.. her Hiro-chan, the man she couldn�t be with.. the man who was leaving because she was promised to another.

        "I love you, Ranma." It was a statement, one of the truest that anyone could say... something that was full of so much more than words. Something more than a promise, more than a guarantee... something priceless, ageless, deathless.

        "I love you too, Hiro-chan..." She said softly, sadly, another promise.. another guarantee... another thing that had no death. "I love you and.. and.. I understand..."

        They kissed, then, in the twilight... the stars playing gleefully over head. They kissed, and for a moment... the world dreamed of what may be. Of what could be.. the world dreamed...

        And it hoped.

        Then, like a dream.... it ended.. and he smiled... she watched him go. She stood there on the doorstep, watched him vanish around the corner, her hands carefully playing across her lips as she sighed deeply.

        "I�ll see you.. when.. when you come back," Her words were quiet.... and full of longing.

        The wind stirred her hair... and a part of her dared to dream, and wonder.

                                                                        *                 *                 *                 *                 *                 *

        

            <<"Yo, Ranma Here.... I bet you're wondering what's going to happen next, with Hiroshi gone and everything far from okay... Shimitsu Kaoru would like to thank all of you faithful fans for a great first two seasons, so stay tuned, because Volume 3 is coming up... In the next volume, we'll meet some an important new character!!! The next episode, come see me as I zone out and my loved ones have to save my butt... See ya then!!">>



<Ending song is "Equal Romance" With different scrapbook pictures of Hiroshi and Ranma together, starting with...

Ranma Picture, opposite Ranma-Chan

Akane, Kasumi, Nabiki picture

Ryouga and P-chan picture (Opposite) Genma and Panda Picture

Nodoka and Soun Picture (Opposite) Kuno and Hiroshi Picture

Cologne and Happosai Picture (Opposite) Shimitsu and Kaoru Picture

Kaehmi and Memeko Picture  (Opposite) Yuka and Sayuri picture

Episode 1 pictures: Ranma in Hiroshi's arms, Ranma speaking with Hiroshi in the vault, Ranma being chased by Shampoo/Mousse/Ryouga/Kuno/Kodachi, Ranma smashing Tsubasa, Hiroshi talking to Ukyou, Hiroshi talking to Shampoo, Onna-Hiroshi and Ranma looking at eachother, Onna-Hiroshi scolding Ranma after the attack from Kuno, Hiroshi standing between Ranma and Cologne.

.Episode 2 pictures: Onna-Ranma/Onna-Hiroshi/Akane/Shampoo/Ukyou all singing at the beach, Ranma malleting Ryouga after his glomp, Hiroshi defending Ranma from Nodoka, Hiroshi/Nabiki/Kasumi all laughing at Ranma and Akane in the hallway after Nodoka and Genma's Argument, Hiroshi and Aquarius in the back yard,Ranma and Kaehmi, Ranma in her room as Nodoka shows her how to apply makeup, Ranma and Daisuke in school hallway, Ranma hauling ass from Aquarius, Ranma in her gym outfit, Ranma running with neko-shampoo on her head, Ranma running with neko-shampoo on HIS head, Mob/Ranma/Happosai, Big Aquarius, Hiroshi fighting in Genjii garb, Hiroshi/Ranma/Akane/Kuno talking with Aquarius after the battle

Episode 3 pictures: Ranma getting hammered by Akane, Ranma talking with Hiroshi, Ranma playing with Kaehmi, Ranma Reading to Kaehmi, Akane with astounded look, Ukyou with Astounded look, Shampoo with astounded look, Ranma arguing with Nodoka, Ranma cooking, Akane cooking, Hiroshi and Ranma playing chess, Ranma and Hiroshi back to back, Ranma with Hiroshi at the contest, Ryouga smashing through the wall at the contest, Hiroshi with his "Here we go again" face (Along with everyone else)



FINAL PICTURE: Ranma and Hiroshi, the sun Rising behind them as they stare at eachother on the back porch at Hiroshi's house.>