Part 7.

Eyes! Mirrors to One's Soul!
By Kagami

In the heart of Zefielia Castle rested a massive gate of
black-coloured stone. Towering tall and dark, it dwarfed
the four people standing before it.

And it was closed.

Lina placed her palm upon the smooth stone. "In the name
of those seeking to travel the mists of time, in the name
of the Knights of Ceiphied, and in the name of the Flare
Dragon, I bid you: Open!"

With a thunderous groan of protest, it shuddered open.

"Ah, Lina," Gourry muttered as he stared into the
swirling depths of chaos, "can't we just walk there?"

"Just get in there, Gourry," Lina growled as she shoved
the hapless swordsman in.

"Aiiieeeeee ..." Gourry's voice faded as he spun out of
sight.

"Coming?" she asked the other two.

---

"I made a couple of presents to celebrate Luna getting a
job at Timas' tavern and Lina's eighth birthday." Ranma
brought out two gift-wrapped boxes and handed them to
the eagerly waiting girls.

Luna quickly unwrapped hers first. "A mirror! It's
beautiful, Mom."

"There's a secret to that mirror, Luna-chan. I'm sure
you'll figure it out," Zelgadis added.

"Hah, it won't even take me a day," Luna bragged.

"Mommy, it's a pendant," Lina said as she unwrapped her
present and opened the clasp. "But why is daddy's face
all black?"

Ranma coughed in mild embarassment. "I dropped some ink
when I was finishing it earlier but I wanted to give it
to you tonight, Lina. I'll clean it up tomorrow."

"S'okay, Mommy. I like it like that." Lina held the
pendant in her hands tightly. "Thanks, Mommy." She ran over
and wrapped her mother in a tight hug.

A massive thud outside interrupted Ranma's reply. It was
soon followed by a chorus of angry voices.

"Luna, take Lina upstairs and get to bed! Zel, get the
door!" Ranma snapped. "Though I have a feeling I know who
it is."

---

Zelgadis opened the door to see Lina pop out of the tangle
of arms and legs. It looked like Gourry was on the bottom
of the pile.

"Eh, Zel, how surprising to see you." Lina laughed
nonchalantly in an effort to disguise her discomfort at
seeing the cured Zelgadis in reality. Her father. So alike
and yet unlike. Was this why she had always felt a
connection with him, even when he had been an enemy?

"Lina, you've found us," Zelgadis said softly. Were his
words thanks or protest? She couldn't tell. "Come in.
Ranma is waiting inside."

Lina walked into the warmth of the waiting home. Ranma -
no, her mother - was sitting by the dinner table. The
years sat well with her. Taller than she had been though
still below average height and with her hair still the
colour of living flame, Ranma sat cool and poised.

"So, are you guys ready to come home yet?" Lina asked
casually. It would hardly do to run towards that
waiting figure, bury her head in that lost warmth and
cry ... no, she had to be stronger than that.

"Lina-chan, you've grown." Ranma eyed her with maternal
approval. Zelgadis continued, "We want to stay, Lina,
Akane. Ranma and I have had a good life here. She ...
she's no longer who you think she is." His hand crept to
cover hers.

Lina felt the tears well up, threatening her calm. With
a choked cry, she whirled and stepped past a startled
Akane. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "I can't ... this is up
to you, Akane."

Akane wilted as she stared at the scene of domestic bliss
before her. Where was Ranma? Her Ranma; who would have
kicked and screamed and died before even considering such
a thing. "But how? I don't know how to reach him."

"Ask her," Lina said. "Ask her why she never married Zel-
my father. Why she gave us her name instead of his?" She
clasped Akane's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I can't give you
any more."

"It's enough. More than enough." Akane's voice firmed
with determination. "Ranma, can I talk with you? Alone?"

---

Gourry, Amelia, Lina and Zelgadis formed an uncomfortable
quartet around the dinner table. Silence loomed like a
spectre over their heads.

Akane closed the kitchen door on the silent tableau. She
looked questioningly at Ranma. Was this beautiful adult
woman really him? Was this how he would look after years
of marriage? It was so unfair. She wanted to anticipate
all those things which hadn't yet happened. She didn't
wasnt to see it before her eyes, not like this.

The pain gave her the resolve to speak. "Ranma, do you
remember me? What you felt for me?"

Her blue eyes never changed. "Of course, I remember you,
Akane. I still consider you a friend. But we never had
anything more. After all, we're both girls and I know
how you feel about that." Ranma continued calmly, "I've
been with Zel-chan for over twenty years now. I love
him."

"You feel nothing? Nothing at all?" Akane exclaimed in
disbelief. Ranma, her Ranma was gone. How had the mirror
done it? He would have fought ... "Ranma, I love you!"
she cried despairingly.

"I'm sorry, Akane. I really don't feel any ..." Ranma
paused, eyes widening. "I don't ... I ..." Ranma clutched
her head and screamed in pain.

She staggered and fell.

---

The kitchen door exploded into a hail of wooden dust.
Zelgadis stepped through looking angry. "What did you
do?!" Lina and the others crowded in behind him.

Akane looked up defiantly from where she knelt on the
floor, Ranma's head resting on her lap. "Nothing, she
grabbed her head and collapsed." Hope glittered in her
dark eyes. "I think Ranma ... may be coming back."

Fear, guilt, pain. Emotions stained the windows to
Zelgadis' soul. "I ..."

Then, Ranma opened her eyes.

---

Still more to come! Comments?