And here's the aftermath of the big fight in CMD22. Don't kill me for 
this one... please?

C&C (other than death threats) is always appreciated.




=======================================================================
Childhood of a Modern Dynasty
Chapter 23: The Heartbreak of Love; the Sorrow of Death; the Children of
Tomorrow

Ranma 1/2 characters/situations created and copyright by Rumiko
Takahashi/Shogakukan/Kitty/Fuji/Viz - Used without permission

Childhood of a Modern Dynasty series created, written, and
copyright 1998-1999 by Jim Lazar

An ongoing series set after the end of the Ranma 1/2 manga and anime.

<Speech text in angle brackets is thought by character.>
"Speech text in double quotes is spoken as Japanese."

E-mail comments and/or criticisms to: mailto:jimlazar@earthlink.net

Make sure to check out my Modern Dynasty website for
all released CMD stories, graphics files, and other information:
http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime/md
=======================================================================
>From the personal journal of James Davidson:


October 9, 2057

     As we roared overhead, I watched a building explode into more
fragments than I could count even I was trying. The hoverjet shook as
the explosion's shock wave caught up with us and I reflexively dug my
fingers into the arms of my chair. Or further into the indentations I
had already made in the padded arms.

     "Target one destroyed. Control, give me vector to target two,"
Hanaki called out as she fought the controls of the hoverjet. She must
have gotten the information she needed on her displays or headset,
because she responded after only a brief pause. "Roger, Control, mark
two by six-seven. Is evacuation complete?" Another pause. "Understood...
Team, we still have civilians in the area. Stay sharp."

     Through the hoverjet's window I could see the cityscape fly by
underneath us. It was hard to believe that the Buyierfei were using
abandoned buildings to hide their nests, but that's why we're here.
Well, I'm here to watch THEM clear out the nests. I had enough trouble
clearing out a hornet's nest out of my parents old home... I doubt I
could handle a Buyierfei nest."

     Without warning, a large black avian appeared in front of us. Like
the one that had destroyed Akane's house it had a thin black body, a
wide gaping mouth full of tentacles, and two long tails that trailed
from its wings, which flapped slowly as it soared towards us. It was
hard to tell for sure at this distance, but it looked to be at least
twice the size of the hoverjet. "Hanaki!"

     Hanaki glared at me. "James, you promised!"

     I gulped and nodded. In order to be allowed to accompany them on
this mission to clear out the avian nests that they discovered after the
avian attack on the Compound, I had promised not to interrupt her or ask
a bunch of stupid questions. I guess it was going to be harder for me to
keep silent than I thought. I sat in a chair behind Yohachi and
diagonally across from Hanaki. A couple other Task Force members were in
the other seats at the front of the hoverjet. I dug my fingers in deeper
when I recalled where the rest of the Task Force members were at that
moment.

     Hanaki put the hoverjet into a tight turn while climbing steeply.
"A-team... FIRE!"

     I kept my eye on the black flying object and saw some blue balls of
chi energy fly towards it. They all missed after the flying Buyierfei
dove out of the way.

     "Follow up! A-team and B-team... blanket fire to aft in five!"
Hanaki suddenly twisted her control stick forward and put us into a
steep dive. Within a heartbeat, she pulled the stick backwards and to
the left. Exactly when I had mentally counted off five seconds, the
creature appeared centered in the rear view display. The display also
showed about two-dozen chi balls impacting against the creature.

     "Got the bastard!" Hanaki shouted as the creature fragmented into
tiny pieces that fluttered downwards. "Incoming shock wave. Brace
yourself!"

     I had thought I was used to her use of bad language when she got
excited, but she still managed to shock me.

     The shock wave hit us and caused the hoverjet to shake violently.
You wouldn't think a living thing--if you could call the Buyierfei
living--could produce an explosion of that magnitude. But Akane had told
me once that the Buyierfei feed off chi energy. The larger the
Buyierfei, the greater amount of energy within them. And the avians are
the largest form of Buyierfei, but not necessarily the most dangerous.

     "Oh... shit... A-team, incoming pipers."

     I looked in front of the hoverjet and could see a swarm of smaller
flying black blobs. There were too many for me to count them, but I did
notice one of the displays showed a counter. It currently read
one-zero-seven. And it was still going up. "Oh.... fuck."

     "Hey! Watch the language!" Hanaki's scolding look suddenly turned
into a broad grin. "Hang onto your lunch, Honey."

     I kept my mouth shut, but I had a bad feeling about that warning.
My bad feeling was quickly confirmed as Hanaki put us into a steep climb
at a right angle to the approaching 'pipers'.

     "Lift and separate in ten. Two delay." After two seconds, she
yanked her stick to the left and put us into a corkscrew dive back
towards the flock, for lack of a better word, of pipers.

     After the ten seconds were up, we were directly in the middle of
the flock and I could see chi balls flying all around us and blasting
the small pipers into smaller jagged pieces tat fluttered earthward.

     It wasn't until she repeated this maneuver for the third time that
I actually lost my lunch into one of the handy barf bags that she had
provided me before we had taken off.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     Yohachi and I stepped down from the hoverjet's ramp and into the
large underground hangar that lay under the Compound. I relished the
feeling of the nice stable and unmoving ground under my feet. "That
was..." I couldn't find the word to express the horror of what I had
just gone though.

     "Intense?"

     I looked over at him. "Nope... more than that."

     Yohachi seemed to be enjoying my discomfort. "Made you want to
throw up and promise that you'll never step on another aircraft, right?"

     "That's a bit closer..."

     "Relax... flushing out a avian nest is pretty intense sometimes.
You should try it on the outside and then you'll understand the true
meaning of hell."

     "No thank you. I don't know how they can stand those maneuvers
being on the outside like that." I looked up at the outside of the
hoverjet, where some of the ground crew were servicing the apparatus
that most of the Task Force members that had just accompanied us on the
mission had been strapped into. This is the first time I've seen a
hoverjet outfitted with this kind of apparatus, so I figured it must be
something they only use when combating the flying variety of Buyierfei.

     "Avian Buyierfei are very hard to battle from the ground... so the
rack is the best way to fight them," Yohachi explained.

     "The rack?"

     "That's what we call that inhumane torture device." Yohachi pointed
at one of the three 'racks' that were currently attached to the
hoverjet. "Hurts like hell when you're pulling G's, but it's the only
way to fire MT blasts at the avians without becoming a stationary--and
easily killed--target."

     "But Akane and Sanma took out that large one from the ground."

     Yohachi shook his head. "And lost her house in the process. If we
could all generate the shift blast, the Buyierfei would have never
lasted this long."

     "So that huge blast she generated..."

     Yohachi nodded. "Is one of her unique attacks."

     "It must piss Sanma off that she can generate such a large blast."

     Yohachi laughed. "Yeah, the little oinker hates the fact that he
can't do that one. But Sanma has a few techniques that Akane hasn't been
able to master either, so it sort of evens out."

     "Like pig-fu."

     Yohachi chuckled.

     I looked at the apparatus that they called 'the rack' again. It
consisted of a series of articulated arms and platforms holding anywhere
from three to six 'pods' each. The arms and platforms seemed to be able
to move independently of the hoverjet itself. Probably so the pods could
be aimed as needed.

     Each pod was big enough to hold one person, and during our mission
each of those pods did in fact hold a member of the task force. A thick,
clear bubble shield was on the top of each pod, allowing the person to
see three hundred and sixty degrees around them. The rest was enclosed
in thick armor plating.

     Even the two circular protrusions designed to allow the person
inside to aim his or her hands were covered in armor, only not as thick
as the main part. Although fully enclosed to protect them from the
intense stresses that must be placed on them during flight, the were
apparently able to form chi balls and blasts outside of the pods in
order to fire them at enemies.

     In short, the people inside were living gun turrets.

     Yohachi noticed me studying the pods. "As you can see, while in
flight we can position our hands in order to fire Moko Takabisha and
other blasts at the avians, both the large and small versions. We focus
our chi just beyond the armor that separates our hands from the outside
atmosphere."

     "Doesn't the G-force damage the arms of the person inside?"

     "Not really, it's padded pretty well. Only a little soreness that
goes away after an hour or two," Yohachi explained. "The kids actually
get a kick out of being in the pods. But I just can't stomach it
anymore."

     "I can understand that." I clutched my stomach.

     Yohachi lowered his voice. "Just don't mention that to the old
man... he'd never let me live it down."

     "I won't."

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     After Hanaki finished doing a post-flight check on her hoverjet and
had a short debriefing with her team, we walked back toward the South
Building. "I never knew the hangar was so big. How far does it extend?"
I looked down at the ground wondering what was hidden under the grass.

     Hanaki smiled. "It's only under the northern part of the Compound
reserved for the Task Force. It's too dangerous to have it under the
residential area, plus the Charter doesn't allow us to have military
equipment like that in the residential part of the Compound."

     "Someday I hope Akane will let me see the Task Force's Charter."

     "Don't be surprised if she can't. I don't think the governments
involved want the details becoming public knowledge." A devilish smile
formed on her face.

     "You know, a lot of people never liked the fact that the Charter
isn't public knowledge."

     "I know, but they would probably hate it more if they did know what
was in it."

     "You've seen it?"

     Hanaki nodded. "All Task Force members are required to read it and
abide by the terms and conditions. But before you ask, I can't tell you
anything else. I'm not even sure Akane has the authority to tell anyone
without causing some problems with the bureaucrats."

     I nodded. What I did know about the formation of the Task Force led
me to believe that the governments involved were not exactly please with
having to sign the Charter. For now, I can only imagine the negotiations
that took place.

     "What I can do is give you a tour of the main hangar someday."

              "Main hangar?" I was shocked at the thought that the large
hangar we had just left was not the main hangar. It was the size of
several football fields put together.

     "Yes, its down the coast a bit. Can't keep everything here in the
Compound, after all."

     "Ah, I see. I should have guessed you might have a bigger facility
somewhere. You Tendos never do anything small do you?" Hanaki shook her
head. "Well, although my stomach may never stop doing cartwheels, I'm
glad I went along."

     Hanaki smiled at me. "Well, don't get used to it. Auntie only gave
permission for you to come along this time because clearing out an avian
nest is a fairly routine mission."

     "That was routine?"

     "Pretty much. I'd have never let you come along if I thought we'd
get into a ground battle. It's too hard to keep track of everyone and
I'd be worried sick about you."

     "I can understand that." I gave my wife a reassuring hug. A part of
me worried every time Hanaki took off on one of her training flights.
Now that she was on the combat roster, that only made my worry more
intense.

     As we neared the suite we lived in, Akane was sitting on the porch
cradling her husband between her breasts. "So, have fun, James?" She
stroked Sanma gently as she spoke. I'm still getting used to seeing
Sanma as a pig, but by the looks of things Akane and Sanma are very
comfortable with it.

     I, on the other hand, probably still looked a bit ragged from the
flight. "It was everything I expected and more... but I wouldn't call it
fun. Looks like Sanma is having more fun than I did."

     Akane laughed softly. "He's actually pissed that he couldn't go on
the mission and blow something up."

     "Why didn't you go on it, Akane?"

     "The kids can handle a few avian nests. And I can't stand those
damn pods."

     I laughed at that and sat down next to Akane. "I can understand
that. After experiencing it from the inside, I'd hate to see what they
go through on the outside."

     "So what did you want to talk about today?"

     "Well, you said things were pretty bad after the Buyierfei attack
in Nerima. The records showed the extent of the damages and the...
injuries, but you mentioned the physical problems were not the worst
part."

     Sanma hopped out of Akane's arms and tapped some keys on his
keyboard that had been sitting at Akane's side. "They weren't, I think
the after effects of that one battle changed most of our lives."

     Akane nodded her agreement to her husbands comment. "In ways I
still regret and, at the same time, I'm glad we managed to get through
them as well as we did."

     Sanma seemed to smile as his hooves hit more keys. "Like Kang going
crazy?"

     "He didn't exactly GO crazy."

     "True, but he might have been better off if he did."

     "Maybe we were all a little crazy..."


***********************************************************************
July 9-19, 1999 - Nerima, Japan


     "Ukyo? Ukyo, are you alright?"

     Ukyo opened her eyes. She blinked a few times trying to clear them.
"Huh?" She finally recognized the face looking down on her. "Kang?"

     Kang helped Ukyo to her feet. "Don't worry, the battle's over. For
the most part... we won."

     Ukyo rubbed her sore head. "I feel like a mountain fell on me." She
looked around and saw Ryoga getting to his feet. "Ryoga? Are you okay?"

     "Yeah... just got knocked around by that creep." Ryoga felt his
side and looked around. "Where is he?"

     "After the Buyierfei were defeated, they rushed the most severely
wounded to the hospital."

     Ryoga was amazed that he was unconscious for that long. "Who was
injured?"

     Ukyo barely was able to gasp her worse fear. "Not Akane?"

     Kang shook his head. "No, Akane was a bit battered, but looked
okay. I didn't get a chance to find out the extent of the others'
injuries. I only saw that one of the Amazons got burned pretty badly and
I think Ranko was hurt too, but I couldn't tell how badly."

     "I hope they are all okay," Ukyo said. She finally got a good look
at Kang. <Why isn't he wearing a shirt?>

     Ryoga squeezed her shoulder to reassure her. "I'm sure they are."

     "Anyway, I was left behind to make sure you both were okay when you
woke up. I think some of the chicks are still around, they were starting
to rebuild the fence when I last saw them."

     "Chicks?" Ukyo asked, momentarily puzzled. "Oh... the Amazons.
You'd better be careful with them, they bite." She grinned
mischievously. "Is that why you're walking around without a shirt? To
impress the 'chicks'?"

     Kang looked nervously around. "No... it got ripped in the fight."
He decided not to mention that he had actually been trying to impress
them with his fighting skills. "Anyway, let's go to the hospital and see
how the others are." He turned around and started walking.

     "Good idea." Ukyo fell in beside him.

     Ryoga took one last look at the destruction and sighed. Then he
turned and followed Kang and Ukyo. Suddenly, he stopped and stared at
Kang's shirtless back in shocked silence. Or more precisely, he stared
the scar on his back. "That... scar..."

     Kang stopped and looked back over his shoulder at Ryoga. He
grinned. "Yeah, Big Croc did that to me a few years back." <At least
that was the nickname of the girl who dropped the truck on me after we
broke up.>

     Ryoga shuddered as he realized where he had seen that scar before.
"That scar... the man who Akari dumped me for had that scar."

     Kang frowned. "Akari? I don't know a... oh... you mean Ms. Unryu."

     Ryoga threw a punch at Kang, who dodged it. "How dare you steal
Akari from me and then come after Ukyo too!!" More punches followed.

     Kang dodged most of the punches, but took a couple in the side of
his chest. "What are you talking about??"

     Ukyo suddenly slipped in front of Kang and restrained Ryoga.
"Ryoga, what's this about?"

     Ryoga pointed at Kang. "I saw him with Akari... he's the bastard
who stole her from me!"

     Ukyo flinched. "But he's here..."

     Ryoga pondered this for a brief second before jumping to the wrong
conclusion. "He's out to steal all the women I've ever loved!" Ryoga
sidestepped around Ukyo and started throwing punches at Kang.

     Kang dodged the punches and tried to calm Ryoga down. "Listen,
mate... I've given up on Ukyo and I never dated Ms. Unryu. She just
helped me after her pigs got my clothes muddy on my way to Tokyo."

     Ryoga stopped in mid swing. "Really?"

     Kang nodded. Ryoga shoulders slumped and the anger left him.

     No one spoke for several moments. Kang decided it was probably
better if he left, so he slipped away without anyone noticing.

     "Akari..." Ryoga looked towards the Unryu farm, or at least where
he thought it would be. <I can't believe Akari isn't...> He took one
step towards the east, even if he should be headed west to get to her
farm from Tokyo.

     A part of Ukyo's heart was ripped out with that small step. Her
knees gave out and she dropped to the ground.

     He took another step.

     Her heart recoiled under the stress of another chunk being ripped
out. Tears came to her eyes.

     He took another step and then gasped when he realized what he had
just done. "Ukyo..."

     Her heart skipped a beat and became an empty shell with that third
step. She buried her head in her hands and started to sob.

     He turned around and took a step back toward her.

     "Go to her, you bastard!"

     "Ukyo..."

     "That's all I was, wasn't it? Just a consolation pr..." Ukyo
stopped as she recalled her conversation with Sanma in China. <Both of
those bastards... always coming to me after they can't get the woman
they really love.>

     "Ukyo..." He reached out to her.

     "I don't need your love out of pity."

     He flinched. "It was never pity. I... I..." He trailed off as the
words left him.

     She didn't want to look at him, so she didn't. "Just go to her. You
took those steps without even considering me!"

     "I... I... was just so surprised at the news."

     "You mean thrilled. Go to her!"

     "I can't. I've lost my way too often. I want to..."

     She snapped her hear and glared at Ryoga. "I'm not going to help
you find her, you directionally impaired jerk!! Find her yourself, if
you can!!"

     "Ukyo... I didn't mean..."

     "Shut up!!" She turned away from him and started walking. "If you
can find my restaurant, you can get your things. Other than that, I
never want to see you again." Before she got out of earshot, she added a
sharp, "EVER!!"

     Ryoga watched her walk out of his life, unable to think of anything
he could say or do to stop her. The worst part of it was that Ryoga
wasn't sure if he wanted to stop her. He        collapsed to the ground
and started pounding the pavement repeatedly. "Dammit... dammit...
dammit!!!!!" As despair overtook him, a large aura formed around him. He
only stopped pounding the ground after blood started to flow from his
bruised knuckles.

     Suddenly, he realized why he could only form the Moko
Takabisha-like blast he had first used in China when he pictured Akari
in his mind. Deep down he knew that he had never given up his love for
her, even if he thought her out of his reach. He'd fallen in love with
Ukyo, and could have been happy, but his heart had chosen his path when
the door back to Akari had opened the tiniest crack.

     "Akari!!!" He was suddenly enveloped in a perfect Shishi Houkou Dan
blast that created a deep crater and destroyed one of the nearby houses
the Amazons had bought.

     Ryoga lay at the bottom of the crater, smoke rising from his body.
"Ukyo... I'm sorry."

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     After the battle was over, Soun, Nodoka, and Kasumi had quickly
returned to where main battle had taken place at the insistence of one
of the Amazon warriors who had been sent to find them. After checking on
Ryoga, Ukyo, and several of the unconscious Amazons, they decided to get
the most seriously wounded to the hospital right away instead of waiting
for the authorities to respond.

     They had put the wounded into a couple of cabs that the Amazons had
'appropriated'. The cab drivers complained at first, but their protests
soon stopped after being 'persuaded' by several Amazons with swords.

     Akane waited outside the intensive care ward, pacing nervously.

     Soun, Nodoka, Kasumi, and two Amazons waited with her, but they
were seated.

     "I'm sure she..." Nodoka trailed off, as she found herself lost for
comforting words.

     Kasumi stood up and walked over to Akane. "Akane, these things
happen. I'm sure..." She tried to put a comforting hand on her sister's
shoulder, but Akane shook it off.

     "Don't try to comfort me! I don't deserve it." Akane stomped away
from her older sister. "If only I had been more careful. Taken all the
warnings more seriously."

     "You did. I don't think you could have done any more to protect..."

     "Yes, I could've!!"

     Nodoka suddenly stood up and walked over to her daughter-in-law.
"Akane dear, these things happen. I'm sure she thought protecting you
was worth it."

     "No! It's not fair that... that..." Akane suddenly collapsed and
started to cry. Nodoka and Kasumi quickly engulfed her in a tight hug.

     "Don't blame yourself."

     "It was her choice to protect you... it's not your fault."

     "Another death... for my life." Akane said softly to herself.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     Nabiki sat on a chair between two hospital beds. Between two
injured men. Between the two men that she loved. She sighed heavily as
she looked back and fourth between them.

     "Thank you for saving me, Mousse." She looked at the other bed.
"And thank you for helping free Tomu from those horrible creatures'
control."

     She sat silently and studied the faces of the two men she loved.
<I'll have to choose one.> She debated using Akane's solution of
marrying both of them, but decided that it was unlikely that would work
in this situation. She looked back at Mousse. "He looks so cute when
he's sleeping." She reached out and fingered a strand of his long black
hair. She flinched when his eyes suddenly opened. Seeing those
pearl-green eyes up close always sent shivers down her spine. This time
was no exception.

     "Huh? Where am I?" Mousse started to rise, but Nabiki held him
down.

     "Mousse, don't move. You're in the hospital. Your side is badly
burned, but they say you'll be okay."

     Mousse squinted. "Nabiki?"

     Nabiki nodded and held out a spare set of his glasses she had
retrieved from Mon Canard after the battle.

     Mousse put them on and smiled at the vision that befell him.
"Nabiki, you look... beautiful."

     Nabiki smirked and fingered her messy hair and her dirty face.
"Thanks, but I'm still a mess."

     Mousse held out a hand and cupped her chin in his palm. "If I could
only wake up to such a sight always."

     Nabiki blushed. <That... that was a proposal.> Her eyes briefly
flicked over to Tomu. "Um... Mousse, let's talk about this later. I need
to sort out my feelings."

     "I understand. I..." Mousse went silent when he finally noticed
Tomu in the other bed. "Him!"  He started to lift himself from the bed,
grimacing in pain as he did so.

     "Mousse, stop!"

     "I won't let that bastard steal you from me!"

     "Mousse, he's not possessed by the Buyierfei anymore! He's normal
now!"

     Mousse frowned and stopped moving. "Possessed? Buyierfei?"

     "Yes, why else..." Nabiki gasped. "Oh... Mousse. You didn't know
that and you still tried to kill him?" She didn't know why she was
surprised, but a part of her wanted to believe that he wouldn't try to
kill someone just to win her love. After they had found out Tomu was
possessed, she had tried to rationalize Mousse's actions to herself by
deciding that he had attacked Tomu because he somehow knew Tomu was
being controlled. <I should have known better after all the times he
tried to kill Ranma over... Damn, I just hate macho guys who think women
are prizes to be fought over.> Nabiki sighed. "So, I assume Shampoo
dumped you and you came running back to your number two love here." She
tapped her chest sadly.

     "Um.... yes, she did... but I do love you, Nabiki! I just... I just
had to see her in person."

     "So... did you choose to leave her, or did she kick you out of the
village?"

     "The latter... I'm sorry. I was just so overwhelmed when you told
me she was still alive... I... I... I'm sorry."

     "That's not good enough." In the heat of the moment Nabiki made a
choice, one she would latter regret. "I'm sorry, Mousse, but I love Tomu
and am going to marry him. You can try to kill him, but that won't
change my mind. Or my heart." To drive home her decisions, she turned
away from him and put a hand lovingly on Tomu's bandaged cheek.

     Nabiki's words took the fight out Mousse and he turned away from
Nabiki and Tomu.  A tear dripped down his face as he did so.  <How...
how can I get you back then? Fighting is all I know...>

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     "Mrs. Tendo?"

     Akane didn't move from her position in Kasumi's lap.

     "Mrs. Tendo?"

     Kasumi nudged her sister. "Akane, that's you."

     Akane blinked and lifted her head. "Oh, yeah..." She looked at the
nurse that had been calling her married name. "What is it?"

     "She's asking for you."

     Akane nodded. "How is she?"

     "I'm sorry. There is nothing we can do except make her more
comfortable now."

     Akane shuddered at hearing the news that she had secretly known was
coming, but had been unwilling to let herself admit it. She stood up and
slowly walked over to the door. Pausing before entering, she finally
pushed the swinging door open and crept inside. She had to restrain
herself from bursting into tears and running in horror from the bandaged
figure.

     The bed the figure was on was surrounded by an assortment of
monitoring equipment. Several I.V.s dripped their contents down into the
veins of the still figure.

     Akane swallowed loudly and walked slowly to the bed. She reached
out and took one of the figure's bandaged hands. "Soapring?" The figure
didn't respond. Akane tried to look closely at the eyes of the figure.
"Soapring?" Akane stumbled backwards when the eyes suddenly opened.

     "Leader..." Soapring muttered softly.

     Akane regained her composure and went back to Soapring's side. "I'm
here, Soapring."

     "Did... did we win? Is everyone else safe?"

     Akane nodded, not trusting her voice.

     "Good. I can die honorably now."

     Akane touched the bandaged cheek of the woman and sighed. "I'm
sorry I resisted your help... maybe if I had let you do what you needed
to..."

     "Do not worry, Leader, as long as you and your family are safe, my
honor is ensured and my duty has been fulfilled."

     "But if I hadn't resisted..."

    Soapring coughed and a bloody puss dripped from the corner of her
mouth, staining the already bloody bandages further. "No... Your
concerns saved us all."

     "Huh? I almost killed us all by constantly challenging your
decisions."

     Soapring's eyes locked onto Akane's eyes. "No... You and your
sister's actions forced us to setup a larger parameter than I originally
thought was necessary. If I had stuck to the original plan to just
defend your small yard, the black demons would have surely killed you
all."

     Akane realized that Soapring must have been thinking about this for
a while. "I guess... but..."

     "Do not worry, Leader, I die with honor and die knowing I have not
dishonored my people's sacred duty to fight the Blackness."

     Akane just remained by Soapring's side for several more minutes
before speaking. "Thank you."

     The figure didn't reply at first. "It was my duty."

      A tear rolled down Akane's cheek. "You did your duty well. I'll
make sure everyone knows you died with honor."

     "Thank you... Leader." Soapring's head slumped suddenly.

     Akane flinched violently when a loud steady beep started sounding
from the equipment surrounding the bed.

     The door burst open and an assortment of nurses and doctors rushed
in and pushed Akane aside. As they worked, Akane looked on helplessly.
<No... it's not fair. Why do they all have to die for me?>

     Akane was shaken out of her shocked silence by a nurse. "You'll
have to go now."

     Akane didn't resist when the nurse led her out of the room. The
last thing she heard was a doctor saying, "She's gone. Note the time of
death."

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

      Later, Akane was sandwiched between Nodoka and Kasumi in a tight
embrace. They were one of three things keeping her from screaming and
losing what was left of her sanity.

     The second was her hope that Ranma and Sanma would soon return home
to her.

     The third reason walked down the hall and spoke softly to her.
"Akane? Are you okay?"

     Akane looked up with tear filled eyes and leapt out of Kasumi and
Nodoka's arms. "Ranko!!" She started to give Ranko a big hug, but then
stopped and touched Ranko's stomach gingerly, afraid she might break
something. "Are you okay?"

     Ranko nodded. "Yeah, and the baby is fine too."

     "I... I'm sorry I couldn't be at your side when they were checking
you out."

     Ranko stroked her wives hair. "No... Soapring needed you more."

     Akane suddenly flinched. "No, you are always more important to me."

     Ranko shook her head. "Don't worry about it. I'm built of sturdier
stuff that most pregnant woman."

     Akane allowed a smile to form on her face for the first time that
night come morning. "I know. I love you."

     Ranko smiled and gave her wife a long kiss.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     That afternoon, Soun sat in his wheelchair and looked at his home
with disbelief in his eyes. "It's a total loss."

     Kasumi sighed and looked at the house she had grown up in. Or what
remained of it. "Not entirely, Father. I'm sure we can rebuild it."

     "Yes, and maybe even make it a little larger," Nodoka added from
the other side of Soun's wheelchair.

     "Perhaps." Soun looked up when he saw Genma approach from around
the back of the ruins.

     "Well, the frame of the new dojo held up pretty well," Genma added,
walking carefully out of the debris. "And the section of the house by
the stairs is intact along with the kitchen."

     Nodoka glared at her husband. She hadn't forgiven him for seemingly
abandoning them in the middle of the battle. She wasn't sure if he had
intended to bring the Amazons back to help, or had just alerted them by
accident. "Glad you are so concerned... now."

     Genma gulped at the bitterness he heard in her voice. "Honey, I
told you that I thought that the best course of action was to bring the
Amazons back to help. And they did..."

     Nodoka and Genma drifted away, bickering all the way.

     Dr. Tofu walked out of the ruins, carrying several bags. His
glasses were fogged up and his face was flushed with embarrassment. "I
think I've got everything you asked for.

     Kasumi rushed to his side and helped him with the bags. "Thank you,
Tofu, I wish you would've let me help."

     Dr. Tofu shook his head. "No, it's too dangerous in there until the
workmen arrive and start removing the debris and stabilizing what's left
of the frame."

     "Did you get enough bras and panties for everyone?"

     The blush on Dr. Tofu's face deepened. "Yes... I think so."

     "I hope father and I won't be any trouble for you."

     Dr. Tofu laughed off his embarrassment. "No, of course not. I just
wish I had enough room at my clinic for all of your family."

     Kasumi smiled sweetly. "Well, it was nice of you to invite us."

     "Yes, my lad, that was very considerate of you." Soun thought back
to the discussions where they had ironed out where they could all stay
until the Tendo house was rebuilt.

     The new leader of the Amazon squad, Deeod, insisted that Akane and
Ranko stay in one of the houses the Amazons had bought. They considered
Akane and Ranko to be in the most danger of attack by the Buyierfei and
that was the easiest house to protect currently.

      Unfortunately, that house was the only one within the newly
repaired Amazon fence with running water and was too small to hold
everyone comfortably. Genma and Nodoka would be staying with Akane and
Ranko there, while Soun and Kasumi had accepted Dr. Tofu's offer to stay
at his place, along with two Amazon warriors to protect them.

     "Our home!" Akane's shocked cry caused everyone to turn their heads
in her direction. She had walked up behind them hand in hand with Ranko.

     "I'll be okay, Akane." Kasumi said softly.

     Soun nodded. "And we may make it bigger to hold this large family
we have become." He smiled at his youngest to reassure her.

     "Bigger?" Akane asked.

     "Well, our family is expanding, you know," Soun said, looking at
Ranko's belly. "I'm sure my grandson will be the first of many." He
turned his gaze to Akane, who blushed.

     Kasumi started thinking. "It might be nice to have the nursery
closer to Akane and Ranko's room."

     Ranko chipped in her two cents on the redesign. "And a larger
bedroom would be good too. It gets kind of crowded in there with four
people."

     Akane seemed troubled by the talk of changing the house, but didn't
join in the discussion.

     The discussion continued until Kang stumbled out of the wreckage
carrying a wrapped bundle in his arms. "Um... I found your pet. It's
unconscious, but it's still alive."

     Akane frowned. "S-chan?! I was so worried when he wasn't in the box
with P-Chan and her babies." She took the bundle and quickly uncovered
it. "What? This isn't S-chan."

     Ranko looked into the bundle and grimaced. In a heartbeat, she
backpedaled halfway down the street. "Cc... cc.... caaaaat!!"

     Kasumi walked over and stood between Akane and Ranko. She peered at
the bundle. "Oh... how cute."

     Akane finished unwrapping the cat from the blanket Kang had carried
it out with. "Where did you find it?"

     Kang pointed to the ruins of the family room. "It was buried under
some debris."

     Kasumi gave it a quick check. "Well, it's breathing regularly. It
must have been knocked unconscious. We should get it to the hospital Amy
works at... oh, she's gone to China."

     "I'll check it out at my clinic," Dr. Tofu offered. "Won't be the
first time I've treated a sick pet."

     "Thanks." Akane nodded. "I've never seen a cat with red hair
before... at least this bright of a red." She stroked the cat's back and
smiled when it started to purr at her touch. "Where do you think it came
from?"

     Kasumi looked at the cat. "I don't know. None of the neighbors have
a red cat that I know of. It could be a stray."

     "Maybe I'll keep it," Akane said casually.

     "No way!!"

     Akane smirked at the outburst she had anticipated from her husband.
"Just kidding, Honey."

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     "Ukyo?" Akane waited and rapped on the door to Ucchan's again.
"Ukyo, it's Akane..."

     After Akane was about to leave, the door suddenly opened revealing
a very disheveled Ukyo in her bathrobe. "Akane?" She brushed the hair
out of her eyes. It looked like she hadn't slept or cleaned up in the
three days since the battle. Mostly since she hadn't done much of
either.

     "Um... Kang told me what happened. Do you... want to talk about
it?"

     "Not really. What's there to talk about? I'm either second fiddle
to Ranma or third fiddle to a pig. What's there to talk about?"

     "That mostly."

     "Akane, I appreciate the thought, but I really don't want to talk
to you of all people."

     Akane frowned. "Why? We're best friends."

     "Yes... we are." Ukyo smiled slightly. "That makes it all the worse
to always get your rejects and then end up getting rejected myself."

     "Huh?"

     Suddenly finding herself wanting to pour out her soul, Ukyo
gestured inside. "I guess you might as well come in."

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     Ryoga found himself outside Ucchan's... again. He had been trying
to get to Akari's farm, but somehow keep ending up in front of Ucchan's.
<I made my choice! I've already hurt her enough, why can't I just
leave...> It was then that he realized that a part of him didn't want to
leave Ukyo on such bad terms, even when he knew he had made his choice
already when he took those three steps. <I guess that's why I keep
ending up here; I can't stand seeing Ukyo hurt.>

     He suddenly ducked down behind some garbage cans when he saw Akane
walk out the restaurant's front door. Apparently he wasn't as ready to
be seen by Ukyo as he thought.

     "Thanks, Akane, I... I'm sorry I was blaming you." Ukyo said,
looking a little more stable than before.

     "You're welcome. Please clean up and then come over tonight... Um,
Ranko and me are staying at the old Wasabi place."

     "I'll do that. Thanks." Ukyo and Akane hugged before separating.
Ukyo went back inside.

     After the door closed, Ryoga popped his head up. <Maybe I should
just leave it as it is...>

     He waited there for an hour, still torn between returning to Akari
and trying to part on better terms with Ukyo. Finally, he approached the
door and knocked.

     A few moments latter Ukyo opened the door. Her jaw dropped when she
saw Ryoga. "Oh... here for your things?" Before Ryoga could reply, Ukyo
closed the door again.

     Ryoga waited for five more minutes and then turned to leave.

     "Here."

     Ryoga turned back in time to catch his backpack and umbrella...
with his face. "I'm sorry, Ukyo," he muttered as he pried the backpack
off his face.

     "Save it."

     "Ukyo... I really did fall in love with you. I never considered you
a replacement for Akari or Akane."

     Ukyo looked ready to hit Ryoga. "Then why?"

     "Why, what?"

     "Why did you fall in love with me?"

     Ryoga looked awkwardly at the ground. "Um... I don't know. You're
fun to be with. You make me happy. You kiss..." Ryoga stopped suddenly
and blushed.

     Ukyo echoed his blush.

     "I know we can't go back... but I don't want to leave you with any
doubts that I... I... cared for you deeply."

     Ukyo suddenly asked about one of many reasons she had dreamt up
over the past three days. "This is because I always made fun of your
being a pig, isn't it?"

     Ryoga flinched at the unexpected question. "No... I can't say I
appreciated being reminded of this damn curse like that, but I never
hated you for the pet names."

     "I see." Ukyo stood back moment, collecting her thoughts. "If... if
I promise not to call you.." she cut herself off. "No. It's over, Isn't
it?"

     Ryoga looked up at Ukyo. "Yes... I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt
you."

     "Akari might have found someone else after Kang left her farm, you
know."

     "I know... but I've... well... you know that blast I discovered in
China?"

     "Yes."

     "Um... I figured out that I can only form it when I concentrate on
Akari. I guess my heart knew something my brain didn't."

     "I see... so you were having doubts about our relationship!!"

     "NO!! I... my heart just never gave up on her. I was very happy
with you. I... I..."

     "Okay, Ryoga... I believe you. I'm sorry... I'm sorry I hit you."

     "No, I deserved it."

     "No... you didn't." Ukyo looked at Ryoga one last time. "Take
care." She jumped forward, gave him a peck on his cheek, and then rushed
back into her restaurant, closing the door behind her.

     Ryoga held his cheek and stared at the closed door for several
minutes. Finally, he hefted his backpack onto his shoulders and then
turned towards the west, the real west this time, and started walking.
"Goodbye, Ukyo, I did love you. I guess..." He touched his cheek again,
"I guess I still do. I'm sorry."

     Back inside the restaurant, Ukyo was leaning against the door. "I
love you too. Goodbye." A tear dripped down her cheek.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     Sanma awoke to a darkened room. <Huh? Where am I?> He looked around
trying to get his bearings. <Ah! This is one of Dr. Tofu's exam rooms.
But where is everyone... Akane?!>

     Sanma hopped down from the table he had been placed on and scanned
the area. A small part of his mind wondered why that leap seemed so much
easier than he was used to since he got stuck in the form of a pig.

     Sanma walked over to the door, hoping to get out. As he did so, he
passed a full-length mirror. Spotting a cat out of the corner of his
eye, he let out a terrified squeal. <Cat!!!> He ran away from the feared
creature, which seemed to be growling in terror.

     Sanma desperately tried clawing through the closed door,
occasionally looking back to the hideous eyes of the red cat glowing in
the darkness. <Cat!!!>

     Suddenly, the door opened and Sanma tumbled backwards. "Oh, Mr.
Cat... you're awake."

     Sanma looked up to see Kasumi leaning down to pick him up.
<Kasumi!!> He started squealing to get her attention. It was then that
he finally realized that his squeals sounded more like meows. <Odd...
what could...>

     Kasumi picked up the red cat and stroked its back. "Well, you look
like you came out of that nasty battle okay, Mr. Cat."

     <Cat? Mr. Cat?> Sanma looked down at his body, hoping to see the
black pot belly and hooves. Instead, he saw red fur and paws. <I'm a
cat!!> He started squirming madly, terrified at the sight of his own
paws and the terrified meows that were coming from his own mouth. <Cat!!
Cat!! Cat!!>

     Kasumi had no choice by to the drop the terrified cat. "Calm down,
Mr. Cat. You're okay. You just had a house fall on you."

     The calm way Kasumi said that snapped Sanma out of his terror.
<House? The battle!!> He tried asking Kasumi if Akane and the others
were okay, but it just came out of his mouth as a series of meows, which
didn't exactly help his nerves any. He finally realized that he couldn't
ask her directly and bowed his head in thought. When he caught sight of
his fur, he started to panic again. His head shot up and he looked
straight ahead. Then he looked to the side to avoid the sight of his own
reflection from the mirror in front of him.

     <Okay, Sanma, get a hold of yourself. You're a c.. c... one of
those things. That means I'm not stuck in the form of a pig forever and
hopefully not in the form of... one of those things forever either.
Maybe I'll get to be a man again too.> He looked up at Kasumi. <First
things first. I have to find out if Akane and the others are okay and
then try to get them to realize who I am.> He knew he had tried before,
but maybe he would have more luck as a... one of those things.

     Once the cat seemed to have calmed down, Kasumi smiled and bent
down to pick up the cat. The cat leapt into her arms. "That's a good
cat."

     Sanma shuddered. <Please don't keep calling me a... one of those
things.>

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     Kang walked down a hallway with a middle age woman. "Well, Mr.
Kang, you can get started down here."

     "Yes, ma'am. I'll do my best." Kang bowed slightly and then grabbed
a cart. <Well, it's a job at least. Might be better than working at that
burger joint.>

     Suddenly, a screaming man ran by cursing like a drunken sailor.

     <Or maybe not.>

     Kang did his assigned tasks and eventually reached the end of the
hallway. He paused to check the chart and then knocked on the door. "I
have to change your sheets."

     "You dare try to take my sheets, you common peasant!"

     Kang gulped loudly. "Um... I'll give you new ones."

     "Oh, that's okay then."

     Kang rolled his eyes as he unlocked and opened the door. He grabbed
some new sheets and walked in. He gasped when he saw the room was filled
with paper roses. Black paper roses. "Huh?" He scanned the room and
realized the roses were everywhere. On the floor, on the walls, on the
steel furniture, and some were even stuck to the ceiling. You could
barely see the padding on the walls through the roses.

     "I normally don't allow men into my boudoir, but for you I'll make
a exception."

     Kang followed the sound of the voice and saw Kodachi sitting primly
on a steel chair. She was wearing what looked like a leotard, but it was
obviously made up of little black paper roses. <It's... that crazy
woman!>

     Kodachi looked at Kang with a hungry look in her eyes. "So, Mr.
Kang, you've come to spirit me away to our hidden love nest, haven't
you?"

     Kang gulped loudly. <Have to remain calm and just do my job.> He
steeled his nerves and walked over to the bed. "I'm just here to change
the sheets, ma'am."

     Kodachi stood up and walked towards Kang. "No need to be so formal,
darling. You can call me 'sugar muffin'."

     Kang dodged an attempt by Kodachi to grab him. "Um... I don't think
so... I'm just here to change the sheets."

     "Well, shouldn't we use them first to make sweet love?"

     "No!!" Kang shouted, and ducked another attempt by Kodachi to
ensnare him. "I'm only changing the sheets." He quickly started to pull
the old sheets off.

     "But why else have you come to me, if not to take me away from this
dreadful place where I have been imprisoned?!" Kodachi fluttered her
eyelashes, trying to look pure and innocent. She didn't quite manage to
get the desired effect from Kang.

     <This bitch is as crazy as a dingo on pocoweed!> He threw a sheet
on the bed, not even pausing to make sure the corners were on straight.
Then he tried to get Kodachi off his back, literally. "Listen, you loon,
I have no interest in a chick who is obvious crazy and a nut case. So
leave me alone already!!"

     Kodachi flinched. She pulled herself off Kang's back and tears
formed in her eyes. "You... you're so cruel! I only wanted to be
friendly."

     Kang's resolve to get out of there as fast as possible faltered at
seeing her start to cry. "Um... I'm sorry, but I just can't get involved
with the patients."

     "Oh... but if I wasn't a patient?" Kodachi asked sweetly.

     Kang suddenly recalled some of the training they had given him to
deal with the patients. "Well, let's not worry about things like that.
You just concentrate on getting better." He casually went back to
finishing the sheets on the bed.

     Kodachi silently studied Kang as he changed the sheets.

     After finishing with the bed, Kang started towards the door. "Um...
all done. You be good now."

     "Goodbye, darling. I will." Kodachi watched the door close.
Suddenly she started cackle loudly. "He will be mine!!"

     Beads of sweat dripped down Kang's forehead after he heard the loud
cackle and declaration. <I've got to get out of this job.>

     As he pushed his cart down the hallway, the cackling continued.
"Fast..." he muttered to himself.

     Suddenly the public address speaker came to life. "Doctor Jubai to
ward five. Doctor Jubai to ward five. Cackle emergency. Repeat, Doctor
Jubai to ward five for a cackle emergency."

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     A few days later, Akane sat in Dr. Tofu's waiting room playing with
the red cat, who had been staying at the clinic with Kasumi. "Aren't you
the silliest thing." She scratched the cat's neck, earning a contented
purr in response.

     Kasumi walked in from outside, carrying her school bag. "Oh... Hi,
Akane. What brings you here?"

     Akane smiled. "Hi, Kasumi. Just wanted to see where my sister was
shacking up with her boyfriend." She smiled devilishly.

     Kasumi blushed. "Akane! I... we... Father is here too!"

     Akane smirked at the reaction. "I know that... I was just kidding."
Inside Akane suspected that Kasumi and Dr. Tofu probably are getting
fairly... comfortable with each other, but Kasumi wasn't one to talk
about such things. "So, still planning on getting married after you
graduate from college?"

     Kasumi sat down next to Akane and stroked the cat while she
responded. "Probably a little sooner than that, but we haven't decided."

     Akane nodded, confirming her inner suspicion that they wouldn't be
able to wait for Kasumi to finish college before getting married. "So,
how is dad?"

     "He's making progress. After being able to get on his feet during
the battle, he finally feels like there's hope he'll be able to walk
again. It's really changed his attitude during his therapy sessions."

     Akane smiled and started rubbing the cat's belly. "I'm glad to hear
that."

     "Has Mr. Cat-" The cat flinched. "-been doing his tricks for you?"
Kasumi asked, noticing how happy Akane seemed to be with the cat.

     Akane nodded. "Yes, it's almost like he's trying to tell me
something."

     The cat sighed in resignation. Sanma had tried repeatedly to get
someone to notice who he was, all to no avail. <No wonder Akane never
figured out Ryoga's secret. They only see animals as animals and make up
logical reasons for everything I do to try and let them know who I do.
Tricks indeed.>

     "Well, no one has answered the fliers yet, so you could keep him,"
Kasumi suggested.

     The cat perked up at hearing this.

     "Well, that would be nice, but I have Ranko to consider."

     "Yes, I understand. I'm sure we can find her a good home."

     It took Akane a second to register what her sister had just said.
"Kasumi!"

     Kasumi smiled innocently.

     Sanma became very worried. <No! I have to stay close to Akane to
protect her. I should have never thought about leaving before.> Since
finding out he wasn't stuck as a pig forever, he had decided to stick
around even if he couldn't get them to realize who he was. <Water still
doesn't effect me... what can I do to make them keep me?>

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     A little later, Akane walked out of the clinic and turned towards
home. She stopped when she saw Ukyo pushing her okinomiyaki cart down
the street. Ukyo's two giant spatulas were strapped to the sides.
"Ukyo?"

     Ukyo smiled. "Hi, Akane! They said you were here when I went by
your temporary home."

     "What's up?" Akane glanced uncertainly at the cart.

     Ukyo looked a little nervous. "Um... I wanted to say goodbye to
you."

     Akane gasped. "Goodbye?" She eyed the cart with concern.

     Ukyo nodded. "Yeah... I decided I needed to get away from Nerima
for awhile. Clear my mind and try to get over Ryoga."

     Akane put her hand on Ukyo's shoulder. "Are you sure? I don't think
you should run away from your problems."

     "I don't think I am. I just need a change of pace and everything
about my restaurant reminds me of him. The futon he slept on. The bucket
he kept tripping on and transforming into a pig with. The bathroom where
he scrubbed my back. The..."

     "Scrubbed your back? I didn't know you were that far along. So, did
you ever do IT with him?"

     Ukyo blushed. "No... um... well... kissing and petting, but
somewhere along the line we got comfortable enough to bathe together
without being embarrassed about it. I'll miss those times..."

     Akane hugged Ukyo closely. "You really loved him, didn't you?"

     "Yup... but I think I can handle it. I just need to get away from
the crazy things that happen in Nerima."

     Akane sighed. "THAT I can understand. I kind of wish I had the
freedom to travel and go on the road."

     "You shouldn't have gotten your husband pregnant then."

     Akane grinned slightly at the joke, but her face showed that her
problems didn't end there. "If that was my only concern, I'd be okay
with it."

     "Hang in there, Akane, you can handle it. Just enjoy the good times
and deal with the bad times with the determination and strength I've
always seen in you."

     Akane smirked. "Yukiko said the same thing... that I'm a strong
woman."

     "You are."

     "Sometimes I wonder, but I won't let having a pregnant husband, two
missing fiances, living in a fortress patrolled by women warriors,
demonic creatures from the blackest depths of hell trying to kill me and
my family, and everything else get to me." Akane paused, then added,
"Probably."

     "Where are Sanma and Ranma anyway?"

     "I don't know. We haven't received a response yet to the message we
sent to the Amazon village after the Buyierfei attacked here. I asked
about them in the message."

     "Don't worry about it, they'll be back."

     "I hope so."

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     After talking in the clinic for awhile, Akane and Ukyo had one last
hug goodbye.

     "Take it easy out there."

     "I will. You take it easy too. I'll be back after I have a chance
to get over Ryoga."

     Ukyo turned to leave, but Akane interrupted her. "Wait... do you
want a traveling companion?"

     "Um... I'd like it, but you really belong here."

     "Not me... wait here." Akane rushed back inside and returned with
the red cat in her arms. "He doesn't have a home and I can't keep him
with Ranko's cat problem."

     The cat's eyes went wide and he looked between Akane and Ukyo. He
saw the troubled look on Ukyo's face and grew concerned for her.

     "I don't know..."

     "Come on... he's well behaved and I think you could use someone to
talk to while you're on the road." Akane held out the cat to Ukyo.

     "It's just a cat. What good is it to talk to an animal?"

     "You'd be surprised. I talk to P-chan... and she's an animal."
Akane noticed Ukyo face fall at the mention. "Well... now at least. It's
sometimes nice to let yourself open up completely to something that
can't blab all your secrets and inner thoughts to anyone."

     "Well... if you're sure." Ukyo found herself accepting and took the
cat into her arms.

     Sanma started to squirm. <I can't leave Akane alone. I...> He
stopped squirming when he saw Ukyo's troubled look turn into a pleasant
smile as she rubbed his belly. He started to purr.

     "Ah, you've found his soft spot already. He just loves to get his
belly rubbed, don't you?" Akane finished her question with a kiss on the
cat's head.

     Sanma couldn't disagree with that. <I wonder if Yukiko feels this
good as a... one of those things?>

     "Now, you take good care of my best friend, Mr. Cat."

     Ukyo smiled. "I'll have to think up a good name for him, I guess.
Thanks, Akane, it'll be nice to have a traveling companion."

     "Take care, Ukyo."

     The friends hugged again and then Ukyo pushed her cart away, the
red cat resting on the rooftop. He looked back at Akane and sighed.
<I'll be back, Akane. But if you think Ukyo needs my help more, I'll do
what I can to cheer her up and keep her safe.>

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     A week passed and things started to slowly return to normal. Normal
for Nerima at least. The Tendo yard was cleared of debris and the new
frame was in place. As they had talked about, the floor plan had been
altered to provide for the unique family that was now living within it.
Or would be when it was repaired.

     Akane was on the porch of her temporary house reading a textbook
when a shadow crossed over her. She looked up to see a very tall,
green-haired Amazon standing over her. "Can I help you?" Akane realized
she had never seen this particular Amazon before.

     "Leader, I am Nipplering. I have been sent to reinforce the Amazons
protecting your family and replace Soapring," Nipplering said,
stoically.

     "Ah... okay." Akane rose, but was still dwarfed by the tall woman.
"Um... reinforce?"

     "Yes, two dozen warriors have accompanied me to defend the
compound."

      "Compound?"

     Nipplering frowned. "That is the proper term for the defensive
layout Soapring created. It was most clever of her to provide a buffer
space between you and the outside."

     Akane opened her mouth to speak, but then decided to let Nipplering
think that it was Soapring's idea to make the fence from the beginning.
<She deserves all the praise she gets for her sacrifice. Thank you,
Soapring.>

     "We will be able to reoccupy the corner houses soon and I have
given orders that the middle houses are to be torn down."

     Akane frowned. "Huh?"

     "The corner houses can be used for us Amazons to live in and will
form protective turrets to defend the perimeter."

     "But why tear down the middle houses?"

     "It is easier to defend from Buyierfei in open space than in small
cramped buildings or between them."

     Akane shook her head. "It's going to look like we're living in a
military base!"

     "You are more than welcome to oversee the design."

     "I'll do that." Akane sighed in resignation. <So this is my life
from now on? Separated from the outside world by fences patrolled by
women who could use a shave? Can we live like that? Well... I can't deny
the fact that we could have all been killed by Tomu and the Buyierfei if
the Amazons weren't here. I'm sure the Amazons will be able to defeat
the Buyierfei soon and then we can go back to our normal lives.>
 
     "Leader, can I see Soapring now?"

     Akane started when her thoughts were interrupted. "Um... yes. This
way." She led Nipplering to the house where the coffin containing
Soapring lay.

     When the reached the house, Akane opened the door and led
Nipplering inside. The walked into a large room on the ground floor
where the casket sat. A photo of Soapring was placed above the coffin
along with some personal possessions.

     Nipplering walked determinedly toward the casket. She looked
between the picture and the casket. "How did she die?"

     Akane spoke softly. "When the Buyierfei attacked, she came to help
battle Tomu, who was possessed by the Buyierfei. During the..."

     Nipplering interrupted. "No... HOW did she die?"

     "Huh? It was at the end of the battle, but she was hit..."

     "No... HOW did she die?"

     Akane suddenly grasped what the woman was really asking. "She died
honorably. She saved my sister and me. I am forever in her debt."

     A slight smile appeared on the formerly expressionless face. "There
is no debt to be repaid, she did her duty to the end. A very honorable
death." She placed a hand on the casket and spoke softly. "Could you
leave me alone with my sister now? I'd like to talk to her privately for
awhile."

     Akane gasped. "Sister? Yes... I understand." She turned and left
the room, just catching the start of Nipplering's talk.

     "Oh, Soapy... you wanted to be a warrior so badly didn't you?
Mother would be proud. And I am too... I just wish you could have earned
your honor some other way."

     Akane closed the door and whispered to herself. "So do I."

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     The next day at the hospital, Akane touched her sister's shoulder
and nudged her. "Nabiki?" When there was no response, Akane repeated the
action.

     Nabiki lifted her head from Tomu's chest and looked around with
weary eyes. "Huh?"

     "Nabiki, I don't think you should spend so much time here."

     "Akane? Um... I've got to be here for Tomu when he wakes up."
Nabiki straightened up and tried to make order out of her messy hair and
face. She wasn't successful in hiding the fact she hadn't been taking
care of herself.

     "Please, Nabiki, I'm worried about you. It's been two weeks, if...
when he comes out of his coma they'll call you."

     "I'm fine. I... I just want to be with him. He's all I have left
now."

     "What about Mousse?"

     Nabiki's face darkened. "He made his choice when he flew back to
China."

     "Fine, it's your choice. But can you at least go home and get some
decent sleep and clean up?"

     "When did you become my mother?"

     "I'm just worried about you."

     "Don't be. I can take care of myself."

     "I used to think the same thing. Don't isolate yourself from the
family."

     "I won't."

     "I've got to get going, can I walk with you at least as far as your
restaurant?" Akane held out a hand.

     Nabiki lips parted as she let a smile form on her face. "You should
leave the subtle prodding to Kasumi, you're better at the direct
approach."

     Akane smirked. "Okay then..." Akane grabbed Nabiki's arm and pulled
her to her feet. "If he wakes up now, you're just going to scare him to
death looking like that. So get up and go home already!"

     Nabiki shook her head. "That's the Akane I grew up with. Although,
I was expecting a mallet."

     "It's in the shop." Akane walked out of the room with Nabiki in
tow.

     As they walked, they talked about events. One comment from Akane
stopped Nabiki in her tracks. "Soapring's wake is tonight if you want to
come." Akane noticed Nabiki had stopped and looked back. "What's wrong."

     "Um... I don't know if I should. It's my fault she got killed."

     Akane frowned. "If anything, it's mine for not taking their
preparations seriously."

     Nabiki shook her head. "You know that crystal thingamagigger they
use on people coming into the fence?"

    "Yeah, it detects Buyierfei energy apparently."

    "I... I... wouldn't let them touch Tomu or me with it that night. I
was just so sick of them that..." Nabiki trailed off and sighed.

    Akane soaked in this information slowly.

    "It's all my fault. The house, the destruction, Soapring getting
killed, and most of all, Tomu getting hurt."

    Akane pulled Nabiki into a hug, headless of the people passing by.
"Nabiki, it isn't your fault. The Buyierfei used him and you to get at
the house. If anyone is to blame it's me for getting our families
involved in the Amazon's battles in the first place."

    "No, it's my fault."

    "Fine... we're both at fault. Now, I've got a pregnant husband to
take care of, so I have to live with the Amazons. I feel safer that way.
If you can't move back with us when the house is rebuilt, that's fine,
but don't beat yourself up over this."

    "But..."

    "Nabiki, I feel horrible over Soapring's death and Tomu's condition
too. But my therapist has helped me see that I can't take the blame for
all these events that are outside my control. I can do my best to
prevent them, but I am not some sort of invincible super hero."

    "Like your husband?"

    "Don't get me started on his ego."

    They continued walking, Nabiki looking nervously at her hands. "But
you've never had a death on your hands."

    Akane's mouth dropped open. "I've had too many... Shampoo, Ranko,
Sanma..."

    "They aren't dead!!!"

    "No, but I thought they were. And they did 'die' to save my life."

    "Just like Soapring when she jumped in front of us..."

    "And Mother when she saved me from that car."

    Nabiki frowned and a confused look crossed her face. "Huh?"

    "You know, when I was little Mom was hit by a car."

    "Yeah, but she died of cancer. She just broke a leg in that
accident."

    Akane's face went blank. "No... she died after that accident."

    "Yes, but it was months afterwards." Nabiki gasped as she realized
what Akane had thought about their mother's death. "Akane... Mother was
sick for a couple years before she died. The car accident being so close
to her death was only a coincidence."

    Akane shuddered. "No... no..."

    Nabiki drew her little sister into a tight embrace. "Dammit, Akane,
why didn't you ever talk to us about this?"

    "I... I talked to my therapist about it... but before that I always
felt too guilty and ashamed to talk about it. I... I always thought you
would hate me for causing her to..."

    "Oh, Akane..."

    The two sisters held each other tightly, oblivious to the stares of
the people passing by.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

    Later that day Akane sat and fidgeted in a small cozy office. "All
this time... I thought it was my fault."

    "And how does it feel to know that your mother didn't die because of
the car accident?"

    "It's confusing. I feel relieved that it wasn't my fault, but at the
same time I still feel guilty."

    "If it wasn't your fault, then why do you still feel guilty?"

    "I don't know. Maybe because it doesn't change the fact that my
mother's dead?"

    "Possibly. Akane, there are no quick fixes in life. Even knowing
that it wasn't the car accident that killed her and wasn't your fault
isn't going to magically erase the guilt you've built up over the
years."

    Akane frowned. "I guess that makes sense. I still hate that Shampoo
lost her memory due to me."

    Doctor Higawa sighed and made some notes in her notebook. "Akane,
there you go again. Does 'Yukiko' seem unhappy?"

    Akane shook her head. "No, she doesn't particularly like being the
leader of the Amazons, but I think she's adapting from what the last
letter from her said."

    "So why do you still feel guilty?"

    "Because I still 'killed' Shampoo. Yukiko's not the same person."

    "Everyone changes. That's part of life."

    "But she's so different."

    "You said the three Ranmas changed over the course of a few months
of being separate people. It's the same thing. There's no telling how
Shampoo would have changed even without losing her memory."

    Akane flinched at the mention of the three Ranmas. <Still no word
from either of them.> "Maybe..."

    "Akane, if you put everything on your shoulders you'll break
eventually. Not everything is under your control. You can do your best
and things can still go wrong. You mother did her best to save your life
and she still ended up with a broken leg. You did your best to save
Shampoo on that roof, but she still lost her memory."

     "I guess that makes sense, but what if..." Akane suddenly went
silent as something occurred to her. "How... how did you know my mother
broke her leg? I didn't mention it to you today."

     "I talked to your father and Kasumi shortly after Shampoo fell from
the roof."

     Akane looked her therapist in the eyes for several seconds before a
shudder ran up her body. "You... knew that I didn't cause my mother's
death and you didn't tell me?! I know I should have talked to them about
my feelings, but they had no idea I felt responsible." She jumped to her
feet and glared at Doctor Higawa. "How could you let me go on thinking I
killed my mother?!"

     "Calm down, Akane. Remember that you were in a very fragile
condition after Shampoo's 'death'. If you'd have known then that your
mother died of cancer instead, what would you have felt?"

     Akane thought back. "I would have felt relieved, like I do now."

     "And you would have just transferred more guilt over to Shampoo's
death."

     "No!"

     "You were in a delicate state at the time, Akane. And then the
added problem of Ranma splitting and then Ranko and Sanma's 'deaths'.
You needed to come to terms with their deaths before you could release
your guilt over your mother's death in a constructive way. Otherwise
you'd have just transferred guilt from one to the other and never been
able to release it."

     "That's still no excuse to not tell me!"

     "Maybe not. I did what I thought was best for you at the time. So
how much guilt do you feel now for Soapring's death?"

     Akane frowned. "Um, I do feel guilty that she died saving me, but
she did seem at peace with herself at the end."

     "So you don't feel as guilty as when Shampoo, Ranko, or Sanma
'died'?"

     Akane flinched. "Oh no... I've gotten used to death. How can I be
so shallow and callous about it now?"

     "You aren't. You've put your anger and guilt behind you and can now
deal with these events with a more open mind. A year ago you wouldn't
have been able to handle this. It doesn't mean you don't feel sad and
have some guilt over Soapring's death, you've said so yourself, but it
does mean that you've matured to the point were you understand that bad
things can happen without it being your fault."

     "But it is my fault Soapring died!"

     "Just like your mother, Shampoo, Colonge, Ranko, and Sanma?"

     "No... yes... I don't know. She died when she kept a blast from
hitting my sister and me."

     "Did you order her to do that?"

     "No. In fact I didn't really want her around. I even threw her out
of my house and then didn't even try to get her back when Nabiki made
them leave our yard."

     Doctor Higawa raised her eyebrows. "There's the source of your
guilt."

     "Huh?"

     "You don't feel guilty about her death, you feel guilty that you
didn't even want her around and then she ended up saving your life. You
feel guilty not for her death, but that you treated her badly when she
was alive."

     "No..."

     "Akane. If you told her to jump in front of you, then you'd
understandably have guilt over her doing so. Your guilt lies more in the
fact that you spurned her attempts to protect you and then she had to
sacrifice herself in the end to accomplish that."

     "But..."

     "You think that if you had let her protect you from the start
without questioning her at every turn she might still be alive, don't
you?"

     Akane was trembling. "Yes! Dammit, she didn't have to die like
that!! I should have let them do whatever they wanted!"

     "But you didn't. You have to live with that choice. We all have to
live with the choices we make. Good or bad. Sometimes even the best
choices have bad results. And sometimes the worst choices imaginable
have happy endings."

     "So how do I choose next time?"

     "Like you always have, make the choice that seems likely to have
the best result at the time and don't dwell on choices that end up going
wrong. Learn from them."

     "Learn from them," Akane repeated softly.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     "One pork okinomiyaki with everything on it!"

     "Yes, sir."

     "One squid!"

     "Coming right up."

     "Damn, this is great, miss."

     "Thanks." Ukyo casually tapped the tip jar and then went to work on
the other orders. She tried not to react when she heard the coin drop
into the jar. <Well, I didn't TELL him to tip me.>

     On the roof, the red cat was performing little tricks to attract
customers. <This is so degrading, but if it'll help Ukyo, I'll do what I
can. It's only been a week, but she already seems so cheerful. At least
when she's cooking.>

     Ukyo smiled broadly at her next customer. "What can I get you,
Sugar?"

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     Ukyo lay on her sleeping mat that night and with her face buried in
her pillow.

     Sanma poked his furry head into the small tent attached to the side
of Ukyo's cart and let out a soft meow. Ukyo didn't respond, so he
shuffled over to her head and let out another inquiring meow.

     Ukyo pulled her face up and looked at the cat. It was then that
Sanma realized she had been crying. <Every night she cries herself to
sleep.. what can I do?> He let out a concerned meow.

     Ukyo smiled slightly. "So, Red-chan, what do you want?"

     Sanma thought about what he could do to make her feel better.
Reluctantly, he decided he had to do the most demeaning and lowest thing
that he had ever had to do in his life.

     He licked her nose and started to purr. He quickly went into a
'cute cat' routine and rubbed his side against Ukyo's face.

     Ukyo giggled as the fur tickled her nose. "Red-chan... If I didn't
know better, I'd say your were trying to cheer me up." She rolled onto
her back and pulled the cat onto her chest.

     Sanma started to purr as Ukyo stroked his back.

     "If only all men were as nice as you."

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     Ryoga looked around the unfamiliar place he found himself in.
"Where on Earth am I now?!"

     When no one answered his question, he started walking away. He
stopped when he heard a voice from behind him.

     "Ryoga?"

     Ryoga turned around. "What? Where did this farm come from?

     The young woman standing in front of him was still in shock at
seeing him. "That's my line... this is my farm silly."

     Ryoga looked around. "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought this was the Unryu
farm."

     "It is..." The woman frowned.

     "Then.. where is Akari?" Ryoga looked around desperately.

     "Ryoga, I'm right here. Have you forgotten what I look like?"

     Ryoga studied the woman in front of him. "No, but weren't you
shorter and didn't you have long hair?"

     "I'm standing on the porch and my hair's in a braid, silly." Akari
absently pulled her long braided pigtail around to show him.

     Ryoga looked down at her feet and noticed the porch steps for the
first time. "Oh. Um... hi."

     "Hi, Ryoga." Akari smiled, but it was clear she was uncomfortable
with his sudden appearance and didn't know how to take it.

     "Um... I know this isn't fair after all this time... but I... love
you."

     Akari smiled. "I love you too."

     "You didn't get married or anything, did you?"

     Akari laughed. "Of course not, silly. After I heard Akane and Ranma
were getting married, I waited for you." Her expression suddenly
darkened. "Took you long enough."

     Ryoga blushed. "Err... I'm sorry... I sort of got lost on my way."
At first he meant that he physically got lost on the way to the farm,
but as he thought more about it he realized he had gotten lost on the
road of love. <Three destinations on that road and I've finally arrived.
I'm sorry Ukyo and Akane, please be happy.>

     "That's what I thought happened. Would you care to come in." Akari
smiled sweetly.

     "Yes. I have some things to tell you." Ryoga sighed. <Confession
time.>

     Akari smiled and opened the door. Then she reached out and grabbed
Ryoga's arm before he could wander off in the opposite direction. "Oh
no... I'm not letting you get away from me this time."

     Before Ryoga knew what was happening, she pulled him into a hug and
gave him a deep kiss.

     And despite all the times he'd kissed Ukyo, Ryoga found himself
going weak in the knees at the passionate kiss from Akari. It was at
that point that he knew for sure that he had finally found his true
love.

     Now all he had to do was not get lost again.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     Nabiki walked out of the elevator and made the familiar walk down
the hallway towards Tomu's room. Until Akane forced her out of the room,
she had practically lived there. She had reluctantly started to limit
her visits to twice a week.

     At first she had to deal with the awkwardness of Mousse being in
the same room during her visits, but Mousse had been discharged a few
days after the battle. She sighed as she remembered him walking away
from her after she told him clearly that she had chosen Tomu. <I'm sorry
for doing it that way, but I had to make sure you understand it was over
between us, Mousse. I know you don't give up easily.> She hadn't seen
him since.

     As she rounded the corner a voice called out. "Ms. Tendo?"

     Nabiki turned around and saw a young nurse walk up to her. "Yes?"

     "Mr. Sagawa is..."

     Nabiki's eyes widened, mixed with concern and at the same time
hope. "Is he okay?"

     "Yes, he came out of his coma this after..."

     Nabiki's eyes brightened and she shot off down the hallway towards
his room.

     "...noon. Yes, you can see him now if you like," the nurse said
softly, with a knowing smile on her face.

     Nabiki burst into the room, saw the man she loved sitting up in the
bed, and jumped into his arms. "Tomu!!" She gave him a long kiss.

     After the kiss ended, Nabiki pulled back and ran her hand lovingly
through his hair. "Thank goodness you're alright."

     "Um... thank you."

     Nabiki smiled.

     "Err... just who are you, anyway?"

     Nabiki's face fell.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     "Leader, everything is secured for the evening," Nipplering barked
as she entered the dining room.

     The entire Saotome and Tendo families looked up from the first meal
they had been able to have together since their house was destroyed.
Only Nabiki was absent, but she had said she would drop by after
visiting Tomu.

     Akane sighed. "Thanks, Nipplering, but I really don't need to be
reported to. Do what you feel you need to, but try not to make us into
an army."

     Nipplering frowned. "If you say so, Leader." She turned to leave,
but caught sight of Genma, who was trying to hide behind his wife.
"You!"

     Genma cringed and tried to blend in with the wall. He was
completely unsuccessful due to the fact that the wall had a flower
pattern on it and his gi was solid white.

     Nipplering's expression grew very angry. "You thief!! Where is my
bra!!"

     Various confused looks washed across to room and ended with
everyone watching Genma run from the room in shear terror.

     "Damn, I knew one day my slug of a husband would finally start
acting like his perverted master." Nodoka grabbed her katana sword and
followed Nipplering out the door.

     The others soon joined the pursuit, although not as fast as the two
very motivated women in the lead. When they caught up to the pursued and
the pursuers, Nipplering had Genma cornered with her sword pressed
against his neck. "Now tell me, you dishonorable thief... where is my
bra!!"

     "Former husband of mine, what did you do with her bra?"

     Sweat dripped down Genma's face and he tried to reassure his wife
with a dashing smile.

     Nodoka drew her katana slowly from it's sheathe.

     Genma gulped. "Honey... it's not what you think!!"

     "Then what is it?" Nodoka took a menacing step towards her cornered
husband.

     "I simply accepted a gift... that's all."

     Nipplering snarled. "That golden bra was in my family for
generations. I gave it to you for..."

     Genma quickly interrupted her. "Okay... okay... I'll give it back."
At the back of his mind he tried to remember where the pawnshop was.
<Was it the one in Shinjuku or Tanashi?>

     Nipplering relaxed a bit, but kept her eye on her hostage. "You had
better. It's bad enough your son nullified our engagement, but for you
to..."

     Akane gasped as Nipplering's words sunk in. "What?! En...
engagement?"

     Nipplering looked over at Akane. "Yes, Leader, he touched my breast
in battle, so I claimed my right to make Ranma my husband."

     Akane's lip twitched and started to tremble. "He... he... got
himself engaged-" Her eye twitched. "-again?"

     Ranko put a hand on Akane's shoulder. "Calm down, Akane." She
quickly removed her hand when an angry aura started to form around
Akane.

     "Yes, Leader, but he claimed prior engagement to the Matriarch to
nullify our engagement."

     Akane absorbed this information for a few seconds before speaking.
"And that's why he's not here? Because he's engaged to Shampoo now?
Again?" The aura around her burned brighter. She had been planning to
ask Nipplering about Ranma and Sanma, but hadn't had the chance until
now.

     Nipplering shook her head. "Ranma was declared unsuitable for
engagement to the Matriarch after losing a trial by combat and left the
village over a month ago."

     Ranko recoiled visibly at the news. <Ranma lost a fight?
Impossible. Unless he was fighting me, of course.>

     Akane picked up on a different part of Nipplering's statement.
"A... month?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had
accepted them having to stay in the Amazon village for a while, but
knowing Ranma had left that long ago made her very worried. Not to
mention pissed off. "And Sanma?"

     "He left shortly after that."

     Akane dropped to her knees. "He?"

     "The Spring of Drowned Man reactivated and he was declared
unsuitable to be Eldest due to his penis and testicles."

     "Oh my."

     Ranko face brightened. "Reactivated?! I can be a man again?"

     Nipplering shook her head. "It dried up shortly after. An expert on
the Jusenkyo springs thinks it might have something to do with there
being a new moon on that particular night, but it didn't refill on the
next new moon, so it might have been a one time occurrence."

     Ranko's face fell. <Well, I couldn't use it for at least four more
months anyway.> She touched her pregnant belly.

     "Sanma's a man again and HE didn't come back either?" Akane
muttered softly to herself, then spoke loudly. "Those... those...
IDIOTS!!"

     "Akane dear, I'm sure they'll be back soon."

     "Yes, they are probably just blowing something up," Kasumi
suggested sweetly. Everyone except Akane glanced in the direction of the
partially rebuilt Tendo house.

     Akane didn't seem to be listening to anyone. "So... where are they
now?" Her voice trembled with each word.

     "I'm sorry, Leader, I do not know."

     Akane started to shake. "Why... why... haven't they come back?"

     Ranko wrapped her arms around her shaking wife. "I'm sure they are
okay... maybe they just wanted to wait until my baby was born. It'd
probably be awkward for them to be around when we're married and all."
She knew that was probably the truth, since she would probably have
trouble coping if the situation was reversed.

     "And what about *MY* baby?!"

     Everything went quiet. Even Nodoka stopped tracing Genma's shaking
form with her katana.

     "What?!" Ranko gasped.

     Akane trembled and looked at her husband. "I wanted to tell him
first... but I'm... carrying Ranma's child."


***********************************************************************
>From the personal journal of James Davidson:


October 9, 2057

     I have a headache. And it's not the first one I've had one since I
started interviewing Akane. "YOU were pregnant in nineteen-ninety-nine?"

     Akane nodded. "Surely your research showed me giving birth at the
start of old y-two-k?" She used the term for the year two thousand that
most people who were around at the turn of the millennium use. I've
never understood why that term came into use, I'll have to look it up
sometime.

     "Yes... but I always thought those records were created by Nabiki
to cover up Ranko giving birth. At least once I found out she was
pregnant."

     "Hmmmmm, I guess I have one more secret than I thought." A demonic
smile formed on her face.

     "As if you needed another." I sighed and then looked her straight
in the eye. "So then Yohachi really is your child? I thought he was
Ranko's child, despite what the records say."

     Akane smiled devilishly. "Maybe..."

     "I'll ask him if you don't tell me."

     "My son would never give out any of my secrets."

     I suddenly shut off my palmtop. "I can't do this anymore, Akane."

     Akane frowned. "Huh?"

     "I can't write the book with you feeding me these little tidbits
whenever you feel like it. I need you to answer some of my questions so
I can know where events lead. Although biographical, the book is
intended to be entertaining. I can't do that if you won't tell me some
things ahead of time. So, until you start answering my questions, the
book is off."

     Akane looked over at Hanaki. "Your husband suddenly grew a
backbone."

     Hanaki huffed. "He's always had it, Auntie. It's real cute too."

     "Yeah... I remember from the hot spring."

     "You won't distract me with talk like that!" I tried not to, but I
probably was blushing.

     Akane's voice softened and she grew serious. "James... I'm sorry. I
never knew it upset you that much."

     "Well, it does." I crossed my arms.

     "Well, in that case..."

     I leaned forward.

     "Yes, Yohachi is..."

     My eyes widened.

     "...Ranko or Ranma's son by Ranko or me."

     I toppled over backwards and started to twitch in pain.

     Akane walked over and stood over me. She smiled sweetly. "You'll
just have to wait, James. I'll tell you when the time is right. I know
you want to finish this book too badly to ever really stop writing it
just like that."

     Sigh. She called my bluff.


[End - Chapter 23]

Coming soon: Chapter 24: Man Gives Birth, Film at Eleven
=======================================================================
The real author's (Jim Lazar) notes/ramblings:


Before anyone complains, I personally think that Ukyo and Ryoga make a
cute couple, unfortunately events in CMD required that they take this
painful path.


I'd like to thank my pre-readers Thomas C. Kinnen, Stephie-chan, EBJ,
David Johnston, and Michael A. Chase for helping me find and fix
problems with this story. Thank you all. Of course in the end, any
mistakes and botched characters are my fault.


Revision 0.0 - Rough draft (July 15, 1999)
Revision 0.2 - Pre-reader draft (September 12, 1999)
Revision 0.3 - FFML draft (September 26, 1999)

-=-
Jim Lazar

E-Mail - mailto:jimlazar@earthlink.net
FanFiction - http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime