Ranma 1/2 is used without permission

C&C is, always, welcome and appreciated

Find my other works at http://web.infoave.net/~jedediah

=========================

        "Oh!" Nodoka exclaimed, startled. "What brings you, Ukyo?" The two
stood outside the gate to the Tendo Dojo, the gentle light of the midday sun
bathing everything in it's cheerful glow despite the pronounced chill in the
air.
        "I was wondering where everyone went," Ukyo replied, casting a
curious glance to the large carry-on bag hanging from Nodoka's left shoulder.
        "I suppose no one told you," Nodoka said. Ukyo's eyes widened when
she noticed the slight puffiness around the elder woman's eyes.
        "Mrs. Saotome," Ukyo whispered, "have you been... crying?"
        "Yes," Nodoka answered. "Come, girl, I'll explain on the way."

        "WHAT?!" Ukyo's face carried a mixture of shock, rage, and horror.
"Who... what...."
        "I know, Ukyo," Nodoka said gently, placing a steady hand on Ukyo's
shoulder. The girl's face had become pale, almost sickly at the news of
Kasumi's ordeal. Tears began falling from her eyes, leaving salt-water
streaks down her face.
        Ukyo's mind struggled to wrap itself around the concept of someone
hurting Kasumi Tendo, of all people. It was something that just wasn't done.
It was always Akane who got kidnapped/threatened/whatever, not the other
two. Especially not Kasumi.
        They were all at the hospital, especially Akane and Ranma. Despite
herself, Ukyo felt a twinge of jealousy. Even though the fiancee wars were
unofficially over, she still had strong feelings for Ranma. And though she'd
admit it to no one, she felt guilty about the whole ordeal that brought the
two together.
        Despite the fact that she and Akane mostly got along, Ukyo had
wished fervently for something, ANYTHING, that would get her out of the way.
Just a small chance to claim Ranma's heart as her own was all she prayed to
the Kami for.
        When she recieved news of Akane's terminal diagnosis, she realized
that her prayers had beeen answered although in a most twisted fashion. She
recalled an old gaijin saying, "There are two great tragedies in life. One
is not getting what you want. The other is getting it." For the life of her,
she couldn't remember the author who coined it, but it didn't matter. At
that moment, the meaning of that little adage had become crystal clear. The
Kami NEVER answered your prayers the way you'd like.

=========================================

        Enma, one of the kings of the Underworld, sat atop his enormous
throne in the middle of the empty room. The floor was decorated with many
pictures of Buddha in various poses of meditation, four or more on each
tile. The floor seemed to stretch into eternity, the walls and ceiling being
so far off they could not be seen through the thick shadows.
        Enma himself was garbed in his flaming red Samurai armor, lending
the gigantic Kami a fearsome look indeed when paired with his fierce visage.
A sudden noise in the shadows caused him to shift his frightening gaze
upward. Amidst a flurry of black feathers, a man dropped from the darkness,
landing on one knee once he hit the floor.
        "You called, Lord Enma?" he asked. He was garbed in a long coat of
black material, a black bodysuit giving generous emphasis to his whipcord
muscles. Long black hair fell over his shoulder in a tight ponytail,
bunching a little on the floor of the enormous chamber.
        "I did," Enma replied, his voice like rumbling thunder. "Rise,
Karasu." Karasu rose from his knee, showing his sharp, angular face. His
eyes were like pieces of sky, deep and blue though somewhat cold. "Observe."
        A thick mist materialized to Karasu's right, a swirling cloud of
vapor like morning fog. The cloud began to shift as an image formed on its
surface. The image was of two men, a fat balding man who looked to be in his
late forties and a young hoodlum who couldn't bemore than eighteen.
        "These souls," Enma began, "Were supposed to have left the Mortal
Plane. The fat one a few days ago, while the other just the previous night."
Enma's references were to time as it passed on the Mortal Plane. Time in the
Kami Plane passed at a much faster rate. "They have yet to come to me."
        "Forgive my impertinance," Karasu began in a humble tone, "But what
do they have to do with me? Either I or my subordinates would have brought
them soon enough."
        "A wise question," Enma said. "Those two souls are not wandering the
Mortal Plane. They have vanished."
        "Pardon?" Karasu asked after a couple of seconds. "They vanished?"
        "On their journey here," Enma explained, "both of them disappeared.
I am not able to find them. Do you know what this may mean?"
        "That someone is harvesting souls," Karasu said. "But why?"
        "That is one thing you must find out," Enma said.
        "Yes, Lord Enma," Karasu replied. "Do you have any more information
for me?"
        "Sadly, no," Enma replied. "I do not even know the identity of the
man who killed them. A strong spell has kept it hidden even from me." The
mist vanished in an instant, the air clearing as though the cloud had never
existed at all. "Now go, Karasu." Giving a deep bow, Karasu leapt into the
shadows, a few jet black feathers drifting to the floor as he ascended.

======================================
        
        Akane sat in the abysmally uncomfortable chair, her eyes never
leaving Kasumi's face. She had refused to leave when the doctors came to
tell them so. Kasumi never left Akane's side when she had cancer, and Akane
wouldn't leave Kasumi now. Not for anything.
        The doctor on call had tried to order Akane to leave with the
others, but she would have none of it. Ranma and Nabiki tried to convince
the doctor to let her stay, citing that it would be much easier than the
alternative. Instead, he had called in two orderlies, both looking easily
capable of bench-pressing Volkswagens.
        In roughly five seconds, Akane had sent the two orderlies sailing
out the door, leaving two man-sized impressions in the wall beyond. Stunned
beyond belief, he hastily ordered up a chair for Akane to use while she stayed.
        The sound of the door opening snapped her out of her reverie.
Craning her neck, she saw Ukyo enter the room. Her eyes were puffy and
bloodshot, and tears began to fall anew when she saw Kasumi.
        "How is she?" Ukyo asked as she drew up next to Akane, placing a
hand on her shoulder. Akane's hand covered hers as she answered,
        "She's stable, but the doctors say she's still in critical
condition." Akane's voice was only a little shaky as she related the news.
She felt she should be crying more, but somehow, the tears wouldn't come.
She'd shed all her tears, and there simply weren't any more left.
        "Whoever did this is gonna pay, sugar," Ukyo said in a soft yet
determined voice. "I promise."
        "Thanks for the thought, Ukyo," Akane said, squeezing her hand. "But
we have no idea who's responsible. I mean, who could..." Akane's voice
choked off as another sob threatened to wrench from her chest. Desperately,
she tried to gather her confidence and her calm.
        //Crying won't help, damnit!\\ she told herself repeatedly until the
tightening in her chest eased. //I don't know what WOULD help, but crying
certainly won't.\\
        "You okay, honey?" Ukyo asked.
        "Yeah, I'll be all right," Akane replied.
        "Listen, are you hungry?" Ukyo asked. "I'm pretty sure I could whip
up a good okonomiyaki here if I tried."
        "No, thanks," Akane said. "I'd really rather stay with Kasumi."
        "Suit yourself," Ukyo said. "Remember, we're right outside if ya
need us." With that, Ukyo released Akane's shoulder and quietly made her exit.

=========================================

        Ranma woke on the rock-hard thing people laughingly called a couch.
He had to admit, it wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but he'd
slept on worse. Streching the muscles in his back, he winced a little as his
spine popped a few times.
        Ranma looked about, and was surprised to find the small waiting area
empty, save for the sleeping form of his mother in a chair at the right end
of the bench. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Ranma glanced at the clock
acoss the hall.
        It was already well past nightfall, and he had two more people to
find. Not willing to waste anymore time, Ranma rose form the bench as
silently as he could. There was no need to wake his mother, after all.
        "Hello, Ranma," came Nodoka's voice as he took his fifth step. Ranma
froze in his tracks, a startled look crossing his face. He turned to face
Nodoka, hoping that he could get away from her fast.
        "Hey, mom," Ranma said as he locked eyes with her. "Sorry if I woke ya,"
        "Oh, you didn't," Nodoka replied. "Come, sit by me." Ranma did as he
was told, silently cursing. Of all the times for his mother to want a
heart-to-heart chat with him...
        "Sure, mom," Ranma said as he took a seat on the bench near Nodoka.
"What's up?"
        "Son, I was wondering just what this was," Nodoka said as she
reached into her kimono.
        Ranma's heart nearly stopped when he saw the vial in her hand. The
soft fluorescent lights gave the emerald surface a muted shine, transfixing
Ranma's gaze.
        "It's...uh...ah.. well that is..." Ranma stammered. His mind was
running around in panicked circles, trying to come up with a convincing
story on short notice. For once, he found himself envying his father's
ability to spin lies. It would definitely be handy right now.
        "Yes?" Nodoka prodded.
        "It's a PRESENT!" Ranma said as an idea came to him. "For Akane,
that is."
        "Ranma," Nodoka said with a critical look on her face. "Why would
you buy Akane something THIS foul?" She un-corked the vial and waved it
under his nose. The musky odor seemed to grab him by the nose as it leapt
down his throat. Looking in, he saw a little bit of Crimson Dawn in the bottom.
        "I... was gonna wash it out, but I ain't had time lately," Ranma
said, hoping against hope that his mother bought it. "Maybe put some a that
fancy perfume Akane likes so much in it."
        "Ranma," Nodoka said in a firm voice, "You wouldn't be lying to me,
now, would you?"
        "NO!" Ranma yelped. "No, of course not!"
        "Hey, Ranchan!" Ukyo cheerfully called as she walked into the
waiting area. "We thought you'd never wake up!"
        "Ucchan!" Ranma said in surprise as she sat next to him. "When'd you
get here?"
        "I met your mom outside the dojo," Ukyo answered. "She filled me in.
I'm sorry."
        "Don't be," Ranma said as he frantically searched for a way out.
        "You hungry?" Ukyo asked.
        "You bet!" Ranma replied quickly. "Man, I'm starved. C'mon, let's
go!" Ranma leapt up from the bench, grabbing Ukyo by the hand and nearly
bolting out of the waiting area.
        "Ranchan! What's gotten into you?" Ukyo asked as she was
half-dragged into the hall.

        
        Nodoka watched her son run off almost in a panic. She knew he was
lying through his teeth about the vial and its contents. If there was one
thing she had to be thankful for, it was that Genma hadn't taught Ranma how
to be an effective liar.
        She still had no clue as to what was in the vial, but she had her
suspicions. Perhaps it was some sort of drug? Could Ranma be... an addict?
Nodoka almost laughed out loud at that. Ranma would never become a junkie
for any reason. It almost certainly wasn't booze, for she'd never smelled a
brew with anywhere near that powerful an odor. One thing was for certain,
she'd have to find out what was in the vial. It almost sent Ranma into a
tizzy, therefore it had to be rather important to him.
        "I must admit," Came a scratchy voice from seemingly out of nowhere.
Nodoka jerked her gaze upward, beholding the wizened visage of Cologne.
"That's one nice hunk of jade you have there."
        "Hello, Cologne-san," Nodoka said with a nod. "I take it you heard."
        "Yes, I did," the old woman replied. "Say, you wouldn't know where
the others are, would you?"
        "Akane is with Kasumi, the rest are in the cafeteria."
        "Ranma seems agitated, doesn't he?" Cologne asked.
        "Yes, he does," Nodoka replied. "I wonder what could be the matter
with him? Perhaps all this has placed him under too much stress."
        "Perhaps," Cologne agreed. "May I see that vial?"
        Nodoka, seeing no reason not to, placed the emerald vial in
Cologne's hand.

        Cologne un-corked the vial, peering inside at the dark red liquid.
Curious, she sniffed the vial.
        "Do you know what it could be?" Nodoka asked as Cologne gagged on
the overpowering odor.
        //This can't be...\\ Cologne thought, a cold chill racing up and
down her spine. "I may," Cologne said slowly, her eyes narrowing at the
vial. "Would you mind if I took this with me? I may be able to discern its
nature back at the Nekohanten."
        "If you think it will help," Nodoka said with a curious look on her
face.
        "I'll return shortly," Cologne replied as she bounded off, her staff
clacking on the floor with every hit.
        Cologne had been entirely stumped by Akane's miraculous recovery.
When she had told Ranma to heed the advice of doctors and help make Akane's
remaining time as comfortable as possibe, she didn't mean that there wasn't
a cure. If she had told him that there were means of reversing the cancer,
Ranma would have jumped at the chance.
        Of course, he would never have survived obtaining the cure. But if
this was what she thought it was, then quite a few pieces of the puzzle of
Akane's recovery would fall into place. She just wasn't sure she'd like the
picture.

====================================

        "How Kasumi?" came a voice from behind Akane. Leaping from the
chair, she came face-to-face with Shampoo, who was standing in the open
doorway. Mousse was conspicuously absent, most likely unconscious somewhere
after professing his love to Shampoo for the seven thousandth time.
        "Kasumi's getting better," Akane replied in a guarded tone. She had
no idea why the other girl was here, but it could only mean trouble as far
as she was concerned. Shampoo let out a sigh as she approached the bed.
Akane made room, her eyes not leaving the other.
        "Akane not need worry," Shampoo said in her broken Japanese,
"Shampoo not here fight."
        "Then why ARE you here?" Akane asked. She trusted the Amazon about
as far as she could punt a tugboat, and was prepared for anything.
        "Shampoo only concerned how Kasumi doing," Shampoo said with a note
of exasperation to her voice. 
        "I didn't think you'd be concerned about her," Akane said.
        "Do Akane really think so little of Shampoo?"
        "I just don't trust you," Akane said. "I haven't forgotten what you
did at my wedding."
        "Shampoo still love Ranma," she said, "that no change. But that no
important now." She cast a gaze mixed with anger and grief at the vulnerable
form of Kasumi lying amidst the machines.
        Akane remained silent, willing to accept that Shampoo was genuinely
here to visit Kasumi. She had never expected it to happen, but she was
willing to go along.
        "Shampoo know what Akane going through," the Amazon said out of the
blue.
        "What?"
        "Shampoo had sister, back in China," she said.
        "You mean Rin Rin and Ran Ran?" Akane asked, not noticing how
Shampoo had phrased her first sentence.
        "No," Shampoo replied, "they sisters by tribe. Xi Fan sister by blood."
        "I never knew you had a sister," Akane said, looking at her.
        "Is not something Shampoo like talk about," the Amazon girl replied.
"It happen years ago, when Shampoo only fourteen. Xi Fan was younger sister,
only thirteen.
        "Shampoo was Xi Fan's hero," she continued, "she always want be like
Shampoo. Be strong like Shampoo, be good fighter, good hunter. Shampoo love
her, in ways more than she love Ranma.
        "One day, Shampoo's mother give her necklace, one that been in
family for many generation. Shampoo loved necklace, was beautiful, but also
emblem of Shampoo's family. Was given only to one who would be head of
family one day.
        "Xi Fan so happy for Shampoo that day. Month later, Shampoo come
home from hunt, and see Xi Fan wearing necklace in front of mirror. Shampoo
was furious, snatched off Xi Fan's neck."
        Tears began to fall from Shampoo's eyes, surprising Akane. She had
never seen the proud warrior-woman shed tears before.
        "To make long story short, Shampoo and Xi Fan have fight. Shampoo
hurt Xi Fan's feelings. She always more sensitive one. Xi Fan go running
into forest, crying. Shampoo know now she too harsh on Xi Fan, but at time
thought nothing of it.
        "Xi Fan not come home that night. Shampoo no worry, Xi Fan can take
care of self. She no come back next day, Shampoo get worried. Search party
go out find Xi Fan, but Shampoo get to her first."
        Tears were streaming down Shampoo's cheeks as she related the story.
As she continued, her voice lost its steadyness as she nearly lost control
of the whirling emotions the memories dredged up.
        "When Shampoo find Xi Fan, it too late. Xi Fan was dead." Akane
gasped audibly as Shampoo finished the statement. She had no idea...
        "Xi Fan... used... and left like piece of trash." Shampoo's voice
carried tones of grief, guilt, and rage as she related her sister's fate.
        "I... I'm sorry..." Akane whispered as she placed a hand on the
taller girl's shoulder. Shampoo glanced at it, then returned her gaze to the
still unconscious Kasumi.
        "No be sorry, Akane," Shampoo said. "Is over. Shampoo feel guilty
for long time, though."
        "It wasn't your fault," Akane whispered.
        "It too late to place blame, Akane," Shampoo said.
        "So, did you ever find who did it?" Akane asked.
        "We find," Shampoo replied, her face darkening slightly. "Xi Fan get
justice." Akane repressed a shudder at the thought of facing the wrath of a
village of pissed-off Joketsuzoku.
        "Shampoo still have necklace," she said. "Shampoo keep as reminder,
though can no bear look at it." Shampoo reached into her blouse and produced
a small piece of jade on a gold chain, bearing the symbol of Joketsuzoku
above another symbol which Akane gathered was that of Shampoo's family. "You
have. Shampoo no need any more." Akane accepted the necklace silently, a
look of compassion on her face.
        "It's beautiful, Xian Pu," Akane said, finally getting the other
girl's name right. "Thank you."
        "Akane welcome," Shampoo replied. The two just stood there, gazing
at Kasumi and praying for her recovery. And justice.

==========================================

        Nabiki sat atop the roof of the hospital, her back against one of
the ventilation ducts that lined the top of the structure. The rough surface
of the roof dug into her legs through the thin jeans she wore, but she
didn't mind. She had a lot on her mind at the time.
        Reaching into her handbag, which Nodoka was kind enough to bring,
she pulled out a black case. Opening the top, she pulled out a long cylinder
of paper. Putting it in her mouth, she struck a match on the surface of the
roof, sucking on the end as she lit the other.
        Kasumi was the only one who knew Nabiki smoked. She seemed unable to
hide anything from her older sister. Kasumi didn't approve, but wasn't about
to preach about it. Nabiki wasn't a chain smoker, she just took a quick drag
now and then when she needed to calm her nerves.
        Lately, she had been smoking quite a bit. Everyone had their own
ways of dealing with crises, and this was her's.
        A soft noise floated across the rooftop, almost like a footstep.
Wondering who else could be up here, she sliently rose to her feet. Taking a
look around, she saw Ranma kneeling at one of the vents.
        Not making a sound, she observed him remove a black bundle,
replacing the grate in the shaft afterward. Wondering what the hell he was
doing, Nabiki watched him don a black ninja's dogi. He then put on black
gauntlets, with metal knuckles gleaming dimly in what little light was on
the rooftop. Lastly, he put on a hooded cloak, affixing a mask about the
lower half of his face.
        Without another word, Ranma made for the edge of the roof. Without
pause, he leapt into the shadows and vanished. Nabiki stood there, stunned.
What the HELL was he doing? Was he pretending to be Batman or something?
Then she remembered his late appearance that morning, and his rather lame
excuse. Could this have been the real reason why he was so late coming in?
        Whatever it was, the others had to know. Stubbing her smoke, she
popped a mint into her mouth and made her way down the stairs into the
hospital proper.

================================================

        Well, there's chapter four! This is coming along quite nicely, and
Ihope to have it done soon. I also plan to have Preying Angels done, and a
new chapter of Jet Moto (no, I haven't dropped it) soon as well.

        The scene in Kasumi's hospital room with Akane and Shampoo was
written to the songs "Don't Cry" and "November Rain". Both were written by
Guns N Roses and are on the Use Your Illusion 1 CD.

        Jed.